Anybody here terminate DH Labs BL-1 cable?

Um, assuming there are no ground loops, and perhaps no other ground path, then the shield would absolutely become part of the circuit. Consider devices without a ground pin, otherwise yes, current would be distributed exactly as stated above.

If I’m paying for pure silver conductors, or fancy litz, etc. with an aluminum foil shield and AL drain, then I would want to avoid having any current in that shield at all. To do that I must avoid connecting the drain at both ends.

Now, what you may like to listen to is another story. :)

Best,

Erik

Auxinput 10-27-2016
... the primary driver of the audio signal is the main signal wire - as it is the only one connected to the input/output legs of the operation amplifier circuits.

To clarify further, in the case of an unbalanced input the active stage receiving the signal will respond to the difference in voltage between what it receives on its input signal connection and its own circuit ground. That stage will have a certain input impedance, which represents the impedance between its input signal connection and its own circuit ground. Any current flowing into that stage via the signal connection can be thought of as flowing through that input impedance to that circuit ground, and from there back to the source of the signal, via whatever path(s) is or are available. If no return path is available, no signal current will flow, and the input will "float," with unpredictable and perhaps damaging results if the signal line is connected by itself.

So the signal current and the total of the return currents that flow through whatever return paths exist will always be equal, while alternating in direction on each half-cycle of a given frequency. Just as the currents in the hot and neutral conductors of AC wiring are equal and opposite.

Similarly, the output stage of the component providing the signal can be thought of as an ideal voltage source (meaning a voltage source having zero output impedance) in series with some output impedance. And the current it provides can be thought of as flowing through that voltage source and that output impedance, between the output signal connection and the circuit ground of that stage. And if the only return path that is present between it and the component receiving the signal is via the ground sleeve of the RCA output connector, equal and opposite currents will be caused by that voltage source to flow through the center pin and the ground sleeve of that connector.  And correspondingly through the cable.  Although the currents may be unequal if other voltage sources contribute to what flows through that ground connection.

Best regards,
-- Al

I don’t know why people are getting confused. It’s exactly the same as with a speaker or AC plug. The circuit, to be a circuit, is a loop.

Try cutting off the neutral wire on an AC plug and see how well your amp plays then. :)

I think part of the confusion is the AC safety ground. You should never rely on the chassis, and AC ground conductor to carry a signal. That’s not what it’s there for. The signal ground and chassis ground should either be completely disconnected, or have high impedance isolation.

And never disconnect the AC safety ground pin.

Best,


Erik

@williewonka I'm waiting on some cable then I'll be building a couple of your power cables.. I'm interested to hear what change they bring, if any. I'm currently using diy cables I made based on the VH audio designs. However, I filled the PVC tubing that contains the conductor and neutral with aluminum oxide powder to act as a mechanical damper. My conductor and neutral are silver plated copper..

Thanks for posting the designs. I love diy! I just made a y cable using your helical architecture and some plenum cat 5 cable for playing music from my phone. It sounds great and looks pretty. Which is more than I can say about myself..