Bob, I'm afraid you are incorrect about "unbalanced" ICs. First of all, the correct terminology is "single-ended" ICs. Some single-ended ICs have a coaxial configuration, where the shield is indeed used for a signal carrier, but they are usually only found today in 75 ohm coaxial FM and TV cable and in some 110 ohm digital interconnect. They are no longer used for audio signal IC, except in those cheap RCA patch cords which are packed with inexpensive gear to get the consumer "up and running" -- and they don't have arrows on them.
The audio ICs I was referring to are known as "shotgun" interconnects, and were the original Bruce Brisson design which put Monster Cable on the map. Bruce left Monster early on to start MIT, which he still owns. The shotgun design is a single-ended interconnect (which means one ground conductor and one hot conductor), but there are TWO identical (double-barreled?) signal conductors surrounded by a ("floating") shield which is only connected at one end and therefore cannot carry any signal or current. The conventional (though not universal) indication for the end at which the shield is connected to the ground ring of the RCA, is an arrow which points to that end. This configuration applies to the majority of decent conventional audio cables today, from the cheapest Audioquest, Straightwire, Monster, XLO, Cardas, etc., to expensive (and even unconventional) designs like Magnan, Purist, Transparent, and Siltech. Two of the well-known brands that represent exceptions to the shotgun design (and only in certain models now) are Nordost (flat conductors) and Kimber (braided conductors). Using the old single-conductor-and-braid/shield design for audio signals anymore is just asking for "hum trouble."
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The audio ICs I was referring to are known as "shotgun" interconnects, and were the original Bruce Brisson design which put Monster Cable on the map. Bruce left Monster early on to start MIT, which he still owns. The shotgun design is a single-ended interconnect (which means one ground conductor and one hot conductor), but there are TWO identical (double-barreled?) signal conductors surrounded by a ("floating") shield which is only connected at one end and therefore cannot carry any signal or current. The conventional (though not universal) indication for the end at which the shield is connected to the ground ring of the RCA, is an arrow which points to that end. This configuration applies to the majority of decent conventional audio cables today, from the cheapest Audioquest, Straightwire, Monster, XLO, Cardas, etc., to expensive (and even unconventional) designs like Magnan, Purist, Transparent, and Siltech. Two of the well-known brands that represent exceptions to the shotgun design (and only in certain models now) are Nordost (flat conductors) and Kimber (braided conductors). Using the old single-conductor-and-braid/shield design for audio signals anymore is just asking for "hum trouble."
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