Directionality of wire

Let’s clear up one thing. The accusation of hype and unsubstantiated claims is a common pseudo skeptic ploy but be aware there’s actually nothing wrong with marketing one’s product, even using hyperbole or what Judge Judy refers to as puffing. You know, like World’s Best Coffee. Or, "you will hear things in your records you never realized were there."

Audio manufacturers, perhaps in particular tweak manufacturers, are under NO OBLIGATION to reveal measurements or method of operation or prove the operation of their products. That they are under any such obligation is an old wives’ tale perpetrated by naysayers and pseudo skeptics who employ that tactic all the time as if it means something, like bringing up controlled bind tests as if some device or tweak under would be proven a hoax if it were subjected to controlled blind tests.

Getting back to reality, the manufacturer might not know how his particular product works. Or he may wish to keep the information under his vest. In fact, as I just pointed out earlier, HiFi Tuning admits perhaps even a little sheepishly 🐑 🐑 on their web site that measured data of fuses doesn’t really completely explain the relatively large differences heard in listening tests. Hel-loo! But at least they tried. You know, unlike pseudo skeptics.

True enough. Caveat emptor. Wouldn't have it any other way, myself.

I was only trying to focus on the theory 'apart from fact' in an effort to get a sense of what is in the minds of those who believe things like wire directionality might be real....or maybe I should say 'theory "apart from established fact"...or is it "apart from already established fact"??....or "the most familiar already established universally accepted fact"???....or whatever level of truth needs to be met - sometimes that makes my head hurt.

I myself have heard the directionality effect a few times over the last few years. Sometimes I've heard it when I didn't expect to. Sometimes I didn't hear it when I was expecting to. But, when on those (few) occasions that I did repeatedly hear it, most often I heard it a little more plainly with fuses than with wire in my setup.

Oddly, I can no longer hear the effect under my roof. I've been steadily acquiring more and more electronic noise reduction gear (quantum based) from Alan Maher Designs since coming across that site in 2010. Slowly since then the effect has started growing noticeably weaker as my system improved in sound and performance. Now I can switch out seemingly any wire or fuse and even while hearing an improvement or at least change in sound vs the original wire or fuse, I no longer can audibly detect any delta from directionality, no matter what the test. As if the rest of my system's performance has improved to the point as to 'swallow up' the differences, perhaps??...not really sure... I do know all the "hifi-ness" is gone...almost as if directionality and hifi-ness were somehow being 'bouyed up by electrical noise' as it were.

I can't explain or account for why that would be the case, I just know that it is.

I do recall a Mapleshade digital IC I bought (very affordable) that came with instructions that warned of intermittent audio (dropouts!) if connected in the wrong direction. And sure enough it was true! Now That's a directionality effect Anyone could hear! 

Again, not that I could explain that one either.

Ivan, I don’t know which Alan Maher products are giving you conniptions but if they are crystal based devices then one thing you might try, since crystals should really be "reconditioned" periodically as they lose effectiveness over time and get all like gnarly. They could hurt the sound if placed in non-ideal locations. So, if there are crystals inside remove them and do any or all of the following: wash them for 2 minutes under cold tap water, Demagnetize them using any type of demagnetizer, roll them around and squeeze them in the palms of your hands for 2 minutes, expose them to direct bright sunlight for 2 hours. 🌞

georgehifi

1: Every component you have has been designed using measurements.

2: Any changes to the sound the designer needed to make was done using measurements then listened to.

3: There is no voodoo in designing equipment by any designer of any component you have in your system.

Cheers George

>>>>Well, yes and no. For example John Curl and Bob Crump had a process for amplifier and preamplifier development which was essentially John would design the circuits, the third individual Thompson did the topology, then, now get this, Bob Crump would try different brands of capacitors (that all had the same value and precision!) for example or volume control pots or whatever and pick the one that sounds best. So, obviously, it's not all about measurements. Not at all! Stop following the wrong sheep! 🐏 🐏 🐏 🐏 🚶