Directionality of wire

Geoff--how about audible directionality in glass optical "cable?"

almarg
Geoff, the gentleman asked a question, and I responded by stating a fact. It was neither an appeal to authority nor a statement that involved logic, fallacious or otherwise.

Regards,
-- Al

>>>>>Of course it’s a logical fallacy. No one ever suggested that wire directionality was evident anywhere except in the audio hobby. So to state that it was never discussed in your high tech/digital workplace sounds a little bit like you’re actually trying to say, since no one ever discussed it in high tech or computers or NASA then it doesn’t exist, therefore audiophiles must be delusional. I.e., some guys with big foreheads somewhere would have found evidence of it. It’s obviously a Strawman Argument, in other words a *logical fallacy*. Is it just coincidence that it was YOU who responded to his question?

cheers

stfoth
Geoff--how about audible directionality in glass optical "cable?"

I wouldn't think so. I pointed out recently on this thread that cables like those that employ carbon conductors shouldn't exhibit directionality. Since glass is homogeneous it should not exhibit directionality. Metal conductors, you know, like copper, silver and gold, etc. have crystal structures and thus are not amorphous, especially after the metal wires have been drawn.

Geoff--I asked the question of anyone who may be aware--of course, if inherent directionality was noted in other applications, it might support the directionality camp.  Their research and usage could have some transferable context.

If not, I would think that the absence of it in other applications where stakes are infinitely higher and arguably more sensitive than our measly listening devices would support the non-directionality camp.

Then, of course, perhaps one could argue that it's apples to oranges and that there is something inherently electrically different and unique about audio from everything else.  Couldn't definitively argue against that.  I have a difficult time believing "we" are that unique, though.

I didn't take Almarg's response as anything other than experiential and anecdotal, which he qualified, FWIW.  You may know him well enough to read between lines.  I dunno.

Anyway, I have not been able to detect any difference from flipping cables around, but I, of course, have stone ears, crappy gear, and am too dumb to even understand how MQA is supposed to work.  And I use comparatively inexpensive (so, probably crappy) cables--mostly stranded copper speaker, rca, and xlr.  A couple of rcas with a touch of silver.  Silver plated solid copper for digital, because I got a deal on them.  Might directionality only apply to premium cabling?