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Cable/Fuse Direction Matters?

I've been following several threads and there are several references to this "Phenomenon".

I've just finished some interconnect upgrades and got me wondering whether it happens in cables regardless of connector type

E.g. does it occur more frequently in cables with RCA connectors or equally spread across cables with DIN or XLR?

A similar effect also appears to be true for fuses

So here's my question - is there some dark force out there that seems to alter the laws of physics as we understand them?

OR - is it simply a case that both fuses and interconnects are actually seating better when connected one way as opposed to the other way?

if someone has a logical explanation for this please post it

Thanks
williewonka
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
You can't switch XLR cables end for end as they are different.
For RCA i have never bothered to test for which way RCA cables should go.
Also Powercables cannot be reversed..
So it boils down to some guru claiming RCA cables have a direction.
Try them See if they do for yourself if it matters to you.
Not to me so I never did bother.
(though I DO make certain both are the same way, if it matters..)
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
The crystaline structure of any metal, forms into a chevron shape when drawn(as into a wire or strand). ie: >>>>>> It is inferred that the boundaries of these crystals(and their inherent potential copper oxide) will create a sort of diode effect(direction and probably freq dependent) or internal connection impedance/capacitance, to signals passed though the wire. OCC(Ohno Continuous Casting) wire is used in the construction of many high-end cables, in an attempt to(successfully to my ears) mollify this phenomenon. (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/mst/2010/00000026/00000008/art00020) (http://audiosensibility.com/blog/technology/ohno-continuous-casting-occ/)
williewonka OP
1,826 posts
 
Rodman99999 - ok, so if there is diode effect - it would effect one half of the signal when connected one way and the other half of the signal when connected the other way.

So would the impact be...

When the cables are connected - if the left cable is altering the top half and the right cable alters the bottom half the overall image would be distorted and the phase of the entire audible output would be shot to hell - resulting in distortion and unfocused sound

Whereas when reversing one of the cables so that only the bottom half (or top half) of both left and right channels would be effected - the resulting audio signal would have
- a near perfect top half
- a slightly distorted bottom half
- but much better phase alignment
- resulting in a significant improvement in sound

Does that sound reasonable?

Personally, I have never experienced this phenom, perhaps because I have always used occ copper in my cables, but I do appreciate that a discernible difference can be detected since so many people have reported it - it's just nice to finally understand a possible reason and what to look for.

However, I cannot see how that same reasoning can be applied to fuses

Do you have any input on that?

Thanks so much for the feedback
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
I've never bothered to reverse the many Hi-Fi Tuning fuses, scattered about my system, BUT- I don't doubt that some have discerned a difference. The element/burn wire that most of our 250V miniature(AGC/MDL/etc) fuses contain, must be drawn, like any other electrical wire. If the supposed effects of the afore mentioned internal connection impedance/capacitance should cause what some are hearing, I would not be surprised. I learned long ago; even slight improvements to a component's power supply, can yield large sonic benefits. When you get down to the basics of most gain circuits(especially- the output of a power amp); that's what you are listening to(the power supply). Happy listening!
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