Vintage MIT MI-330

Hi Forrest,

Generally speaking, speaker cables are non-directional. Some have shields, but they are passive (i.e., not electrically connected to either of the signal conductors.)

Some manufacturers (and consumers) say they can hear a difference depending which way the (speaker) cables are oriented in their system. Personally, I can't understand from a physics point of view why this would be. But if you're one of those who does hear a difference, then the arrows (or other markings on the cable) can come in handy for making sure that if you have to remove the cables from your system for some reason, that you re-install them in the same orientation.

So let me restate for the record, that (in my ever so humble opinion ;~) arrow markings on audio cables only have a functional purpose when the are applied to SINGLE-ENDED SHOTGUN-TYPE INTERCONNECTS. And (unfortunately, these days) even with that type of cable, manufacturers sometimes DO NOT follow the convention of pointing the arrows toward the grounded end of the shield. So it's always best to double-check with the manufacturer, or as I suggested above, remove the connector barrels and check visually.

Neil
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OK ! Let clear this up !! I just picked up a pair of MIT MI 330 plus cables that a friend gave to me . Of course I googled them and came across this post! Then called MIT !! Spoke to "no Name " and told him about this post.
He said , that the arrows are in the direction of the signal ! That means those of you who have the arrows pointed to your amp are correct ! Just like any other cable ! The end with the box is the end that should have the braided soldered to the RCA plug ! The other end stays floating !!

When in doubt go right to the source!!

Hemihead, it upsets me to learn that you encountered someone who simply perpetuated the misinformation started long ago by audio sales people, and I stand by my explanation!

It's especially upsetting to me in this case because the "source" of this myth was someone at MIT, whose owner, Bruce Brisson, is the person who (while working for MonsterCable) invented the so-called "Shotgun" single-ended interconnect; and I would expect his people to know better!

Try and understand WHY it's important to have the GROUNDED end of the shields of ALL the single-ended interconnects in a system, attached to the preamp. It's called "Star Grounding" (Google it for an explanation) and is the most direct/effective way to drain off any noise intercepted by the shields.

The fact that implementing this configuration (often) results in the arrows pointing "backwards" on the interconnects between preamp and amp is unfortunate, but that's how it is.

Most people can understand the reason for this practice (of having all shields grounded to the preamp) if it's explained to them clearly. And they can also easily understand that an audio signal is an "alternating current" which of course flows back and forth in both directions! But if you're still unconvinced, why don't you try your amp/preamp cables in BOTH directions? Turn up the volume control on an unused input, stick your ear in the speaker, and then decide which "direction" results in the least background noise?

Or maybe you should call back to MIT cable and ask to speak to Mr. Bruce Brisson directly! ;~) I'm sure he will give you the same (correct) explanation he gave me (in person!) back in 1988, when he left MonsterCable to start MIT . . .
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Ok - engaging in a little necro-threading here (ran across this old, dead thread while looking for something else entirely), but I just wanted to clarify that while I have read elsewhere what nsgarch wrote about the arrow direction on the ORIGINAL MIT MI-330, that is clearly NOT the case with MIT interconnects which have boxes on them on which the arrows clearly state “signal direction”. Also the networks (boxes) are directional, and are intended to go closer to the output end of the cable.

I have a set of the MH750`s and the arrows are supposed to go in the direction of the signal.
The signal comes from the amp so the arrows should point towards the speakers not the amp...