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Directionality of wire

I am a fan of Chris Sommovigo's Black Cat and Airwave interconnects. I hope he does not mind me quoting him or naming him on this subject, but Chris does not mark directionality of his IC's. I recently wrote him on the subject and he responded that absent shunting off to ground/dialectric designs, the idea of wire directionality is a complete myth. Same with resistors and fuses. My hunch is that 95% of IC "manufacturers", particularly the one man operations of under $500 IC's mark directionality because they think it lends the appearance of technical sophistication and legitimacy. But even among the "big boys", the myth gets thrown around like so much accepted common knowledge. Thoughts? Someone care to educate me on how a simple IC or PC or speaker cable or fuse without a special shunting scheme can possibly have directionality? It was this comment by Stephen Mejias (then of Audioquest and in the context of Herb Reichert's review of the AQ Niagra 1000) that prompts my question;

Thank you for the excellent question. AudioQuest provided an NRG-10 AC cable for the evaluation. Like all AudioQuest cables, our AC cables use solid conductors that are carefully controlled for low-noise directionality. We see this as a benefit for all applications -- one that becomes especially important when discussing our Niagara units. Because our AC cables use conductors that have been properly controlled for low-noise directionality, they complement the Niagara System’s patented Ground-Noise Dissipation Technology. Other AC cables would work, but may or may not allow the Niagara to reach its full potential. If you'd like more information on our use of directionality to minimize the harmful effects of high-frequency noise, please visit http://www.audioquest.com/directionality-its-all-about-noise/ or the Niagara 1000's owner's manual (available on our website).

Thanks again.

Stephen Mejias
AudioQuest


Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-15-audioquest-niagara-1000-hifiman-he1000-v2-p...


128x128fsonicsmith
muzzleblast
9 posts
 
For those that believe wire is directional (be it low-level signal IC or high-level outputs to speakers), suggest you open your amps and pre-amps, look for the arrows showing the direction within the unit that are marked by the manufacturer (note: not the + or -, red or black connect point), then insure you are installing your IC correctly.  Of course all manufacturers pay attention to these details when they design and build the signal inputs within the unit

However, having said that, you'll be reviewing schematics and making phone calls to your respective manufacturer, because you likely won't find those provided within the unit.  Those can be are trade secrets.

As for directionality in speaker IC's, remember that speaker outputs are basically AC- one would NEVER want directionality in speaker IC wiring. However, you should be using IC wiring that is broken in.  Meaning that you actually used your 14 ga. lamp wire in a actual lamp @  120V/60 Hz for a period of time, this "season's" the wire, aligns the electrons, drives out the free oxygen in the copper- try it you can hear the difference! 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
There are so many things wrong with the last post I hardly know where to begin. I will say almost everything in the post involves the typical, tried-and-true non-believer arguments, what we commonly refer to as false arguments, all of which have been addressed on this thread already and shown to be false idols of the overly skeptical. I realize it’s the OPs first post. Better luck next time. Great name, though. Muzzleblast. Seems appropriate somehow.

hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,611 posts
 
Welcome muzzleblast!  

 As Geoff states above, a difficult first post using confusing terminology i.e. speaker IC.  IC is usually interpreted as shorthand for interconnect.  Interconnects connect one component to another either in single ended (RCA style connectors) or balanced configuration.  What leaves the amplifier and attaches to the speaker inputs are usually referred to as speaker cables.

What is your system like?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
hifiman, I’m getting a bad feeling that maybe he’s pulling our leg. You know, what with the looking for arrows inside the component and trade secrets, making phone calls, driving out the free oxygen from the copper, things of that nature. Perhaps he just has a very refined sense of irony and sarcasm. 😛 My guess we just witnessed a drive by shooting. Muzzleblast. Get it? 😳

muzzleblast
9 posts
 
LOL, yes...  I've been a lurker for a while... but usually stay busy enough, I don't have much time for forums.  It's like watching Trump and Kim Jong Un sparring...

I'm an engineer by profession... work in defense industry... while lots of instances where this matters, it isn't in consumer electronics between audio sources.

My system is based around klipsch k horns with Crites mods and crossovers and altec valencias driven by either a mac mc240 updated and modded by mufich audio, or with a fully restored citation 2 with all Jim mcshane updates, that I completely rebuilt, then tested at mufich.

I build my own preamps, but also have a mac mx110 for comparisons... I prefer tube over ss, but some ss products sound quite good.  I like glow of tubes, but also how easy tube equipment is to mod and upgrade.  I make my own signal ic cables, and build my own speaker cables.  No snake oil needed, or used.
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