Awsome Jea48, very well done indeed, that was one of the best post of revelance that I have seen in a long time, are you a electrical engineer?
Directional speaker cables - switching direction
Some time ago I started a thread regarding speaker wire directionality and my inability to understand how it could have any affect on sound quality. The question was inspired by the fact that, after quite a few years using them with my Martin Logan Odysseys, I discovered that the cables (Straightwire Octave 2) had arrows printed on them. Not surprisingly the opinions expressed were pretty strong on both sides of the argument but those supporting directionality were the most vociferous and in greater numbers, one to the point of being downright insulting. In no case, though, was an explanation given by those supporting the importance of cable direction for how this phenomenon occurs except that it should be obvious that when a cable is broken in in one direction only someone with an uneducated ear would be unable to discern the difference.
Even though I still don't get it I'm not taking the position that there is no validity to the directional claim; if there truly is I just don't understand how. This leads me to my two part question. I haven't been using the Octaves for a few years but now, because of cable length issues, I want to put them back in my system partly to avoid the cost of new quality cables.
IF, then, the directionality theory IS valid and I don't recall which way the arrows originally pointed or which direction they were "broken in" do those in support of directionality think I should install them with the arrows pointing toward the speakers
Even though I still don't get it I'm not taking the position that there is no validity to the directional claim; if there truly is I just don't understand how. This leads me to my two part question. I haven't been using the Octaves for a few years but now, because of cable length issues, I want to put them back in my system partly to avoid the cost of new quality cables.
IF, then, the directionality theory IS valid and I don't recall which way the arrows originally pointed or which direction they were "broken in" do those in support of directionality think I should install them with the arrows pointing toward the speakers
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.....,are you a electrical engineer? No, but I did stay at a Radisson Inn once. I must have lead a sheltered life until 5-17-10 when I read a response by Herman to a thread here on Agon. My first thought was, what planet is this guy from? The Thread. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1274104190&openusid&zz I believe Kijanki has a degree in electrical engineering or physics, or both. Al, Almarg, is also an electrical engineer. Herman used to teach the theory. . Jim |
Thanks for quoting me... Sure cables can sound different. Crappy ones sound different from good ones. There is no magical synergy with a speaker or amp though. The cables purpose to to move the energy (voltage) from the amp to speaker. It's a simple job. Copper, silver, aluminum, any decent conducting metal can do it, but they due it differently. (I'm referring to cables that do not have "networks" on them because that is a different discussion completely) Electrical energy is NOT in the cable. It is stored in the magnetic field around the cable. This is ampere's law. As the voltage is reversed the electrons move in the opposite direction with the field reversing. "...while energy flows fast" Energy does NOT move or flow. Energy cannot move it is just a scalar number (joule). It just exists. Power is a measurement of energy / time, like a watt is a Joule/second. We never say the flow of power it is just 10 watts just like energy. Power (in watts) = Joules/Second = (Joules/Coulomb) x (Coulomb/Second) = volts x amps = number of Watts Energy is never gain or lost it is always preserved. Energy is never directional. Thermo 101 Electricity is directional (we usually say + to - but that is a different discussion). So electricity/ electrons/ current moves back and forth on a AC circuit, and energy does not. How can a cable be directional when the energy is not in the cable and it doesn't move, but the electrons that do move back and forth equally prefer the direction of the cable? How do they know they direction of the cable? |
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