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Interconnects, some have directional indicators, why?

I'm curious as to why some interconnects are directional? Is there a physical internal difference and do they generally sound better and cost more than non-directional cables? Thanks for your interest.
phd
jetter
1,035 posts
 

Thanks atmosphere.

Geoff, not quite sure the meaning of your last sentence.

jea48
2,944 posts
 

jetter said:

Repeat of a question I asked above (simplified).

For single ended interconnects that do not have directional arrows, how can you determine at which end the the shield is connected?

Or if the shield is connected at both ends or neither?

Take apart the plastic covering at the end of the interconnect?

Thanks,

If the end is molded plastic, not sure how you could check. You might ask the manufacture how the cable is made up.

As a rule if arrows are not on the ICs the printed labeling on the cable is used for direction. Direction is with the wording on the cable from source to load.

Just make sure the lettering is running in the same direction for both the L&R channel ICs. Listen to them closely in one direction and then flip them both and listen to them again in the other direction. IF YOU can hear a difference pick the direction that sounds the best to you.

For listening material use music with a strong solo female voice. Instruments, I find a solo playing of a piano works good.

IF the ICs are made from stranded wire I doubt you will hear a difference, though you might.

Solid core wire ICs is easier to hear for differences. Especially silver soild core ICs.

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atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Uh, I don’t think so. That was kind of the whole point of the Audioquest dude’s article on wire directionality. You know, the article you apparently mis-read. Besides, if a shield was connected at both ends of the cable you couldn’t really blame cable directionality on the shield, could you? Please don’t try to tell me it has something to do with the contact the male RCA connector makes with the female end.
You misread or did not read the question to which I was responding. He was asking specifically about cables that are not marked with arrows. My answer was correct.

Nor did I misread the Audioquest quote FWIW. While it does mention directionality of conductors, the quote is careful to also mention that they hook them up in such a way that the shield is only connected at the 'correct' end of the cable. Hence the only conclusion that can be drawn remains that the shield is the important bit since the manufacturer took the guesswork out of the 'directionality' of the wire.
mihorn
104 posts
 

Jetter

For single ended interconnects that do not have directional arrows, how can you determine at which end the the shield is connected?

Or if the shield is connected at both ends or neither?

Take apart the plastic covering at the end of the interconnect?

 I'll listen both directions of ICs. If one direction is noticeably better than another, the IC is good. If both directions sound similar, then that may be a problem. This test should be done in a revealing and transparent sound system.

The signal goes in a positive wire and comes in a negative wire. Both wires in IC could be all same directions which is wrong. The bad IC has be disassemble (desolder) and check one wire by one to find the correct direction. Taking apart the plastic or connector will not help.

The shield is to block the RF signal from air and nothing to do with the audio signal. The shield can be connected to drain In XLR IC. Electron charged shield is more effective to block RFs. In RCA, grounding the shield diffuses the audio signal. So, I don't connect the shield in my ICs to preserve purity of the audio signal. The shield without the charge works fine. Grounding the shield is one's decision and may be fine for some cables.
Alex
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
sorry to report, atmasphere, the dude from Audioquest was actually referring to folks like you who insist that any directionality in the sound is due to the shield and who keep insisting there is not such thing as wire directionality whether it be fuses, cables, interconnects what have you. Mr. Low, in fact, is quite outspoken in this regard. Maybe you better read the article again.

Let’s summarize, shall we? copper and any metal wire is direction, both in measurement and in listening. If there is a difference is sound for shielded cables of any type due only to the direction of the sheld the manufacturer of that cable would be well advised to consider the directionality of the conductor as well, you know, in order to acheive maximum results. What cable manufacturer - unless he's lived in a cave somewhere for the past 30 years -wouldn’t do that? By the same token, any cable manufacturer who doesnt employ cryogenic treatment is living in the eighties. Its really a question of staying competitive, at least for the high end. I actually don’t care about mid fi particularly. 
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