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
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!
Geoffkait,

You really need to brush up on your reading and comprehension skills of what you have read.
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Am I the only one that clicked on the link and got 1000's of images of miscellaneous stuff?

Using the same logic, obviously hi-fi does not exist:
more_images

I would really be interested in the study from hi-fi tuning. Can someone point me to a link?

I am willing to concede that, at this moment, not everything in the universe can be measured. But I will not concede that anything in the audio domain cannot be measured. If you can hear a difference there are microphones that measure it with much better accuracy than human ears.

Has anyone done these tests? tests To think a machine cannot out do you on this tests can easily be proven.

Some may disregard laws of physics on this board, but doing so just goes to show that they are clearly not open minded and willing to use evidence to make judgements.

I too believe in Santa Claus because you can't not measure his existence, he just has decided to not give me gifts in several years.
I'm thinking that mono-crystal is the name used because single crystal is a real term and is only used in labs. Single crystal and mono-crystal are probably two different things.

Here is a piece of single crystal copper that is not as pure as Tara Labs claims their copper to be.

http://www.mtixtl.com/Mc-Cu-e-50D10C1.aspx

I'm considering buying some Tara lab cables, and sending them to a lab to see what they really are.
12-23-14: Scvan
I would really be interested in the study from hi-fi tuning. Can someone point me to a link?
Here it is. My comments on it can be found in the first of my posts dated 5-14-12 in this thread.

If I recall correctly, there was a revised version of this paper that was subsequently issued by HiFi Tuning, providing measurements of some additional fuses and incorporating some minor changes. I recall stating that my comments about the first paper remained applicable to the second one, but I can't find the link offhand.

Regards,
-- Al