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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
128x128broadstone
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jea48
4,453 posts
 

I want to clarify something. I honestly believe that some people hear a difference in the directionality of cables. I just do not feel there is a scientific explanation for this. This a belief thing.
I find that the only evidence that has been submitted is evidence from people that could make money off of cables, like cable manufacturers.
12-19-14: Scvan

"I find that the only evidence that has been submitted is evidence from people that could make money off of cables, like cable manufacturers."

Not true.

Just spend some time searching the archives on the subject on Cable Asylum and Tweakers' Asylum.

Scvan,

Your problem is unless the differences can be measured by existing test equipment the differences cannot exist.

You posted on this thread that cable differences can be heard when connected to an audio system. Yet you have failed to say one way or the other the differences can be measured by any test equipment that exists today. If the differences cannot be measured then the differences do not exist and therefore are merely manufactured snake oil.

audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Scvan, all Tara Labs cables are hand made in the u.s.a., years ago, Tara Labs did make some cables in china, they got into alot of trouble with saying that they were made in the u.s. and was not, now that was only the lower tier cables when all that happened, that said, I asure you, all Tara cables are hand made in the u.s., and the answer to your question, since I personally know and speak to Matthew Bond, The engineering department is in Australia where Matthew lives, there is a whole team that works with him engineering, Tara Labs also has the purest copper in the industry, 8-nines, occ copper is 6-nines, both are mono crystal copper, absolutley there is a sound difference between the two, I have owned them both, Tara Labs use to use occ copper before they started extruding their own copper, manufacturing is done in Ashland, OR.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Thankyou jea48 for the microscoptic images of mono crystal copper, and the proof of the differences that is analized that you provided by the link called-images.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Jea48, excellent point. One wonders why nobody ever measures wire or cables or fuses to see if they meaure differently when inserted into the system one direction or the other. Wait, someone did meaure fuse directionality! Is that good enough for you? Hi Fi Tuning published the results of a third party test of HiFi Tuning fuses compared to some other fuses, comparing one direction vs the other and with and without cryo. So it's not true that differences cannot be measured and don't exist. They do exist and can be measured, and have been measured! Hel-loo!
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