Directional interconnect cables


I see several big-name interconnect vendors mark directional arrows on the outer jacket of the cables.

How is it that a wire can be directional? It's a simple electrical conductor, how is it possible for it to be directional, to sound "better" when connected in one direction vs. the other? This does not make sense to me, perhaps someone here can explain how this can possibly be so...
lupinthe3rd

Showing 2 responses by honest1

I disagree! On my MIT cables, the arrows point to the end with the box, which goes downstream. My interconnects even have a marker that has an arrow that says signal flow, pointing in the direction of the arrow (which puts the network box downstream). Maybe it's best to check with the manufacturer.
How does a manufacturer decide directionality? If they get a spool of cable, terminate the ends the same, without doing anything differnet to either end, and the reason for this directionality is unknown, how do they make sure they've got it right?