Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: Directional cables?  Is this a joke?
References: <[email protected]>
Endymion Seiler  writes:

> Hi all,
>      How can interconnects or speaker cables for that matter be
> directional?  

The direction does not matter at all on speaker cables normal 
interconnection cables. In speaker cables directionality is a 
fiction concocted by cables designers or marketing people.
For normal interconnection cables where the shield are connected
on both ends there is no such thing as dire directivity.

> What would make a coaxial or any other sort of cable non-isotropic?  
> By my reckoning, even if the cable weren't isotropic it
> would all average out with an AC signal. Someone tell me what's wrong
> with this logic.

Nothing is wrong in your logic. That is wrong are the claims
of some cable manufacturers and hifi "gurus".


For the directivity of the cable, I must mention one
thing where direction of the cable might have an effect:
special cables with telescopic shield or shield connected
only on one end to reduce ground loop problems. In normal
audio cables you are not propably going to get in
touch of those (they are just used in some special cases).
And even on those cable the reson for the intended direction
is not that the electricity would travel better in one direction.
Some two-conductor telescoping shield cables have markings
for direction so you can be consistent with your shielding
arrangement (consistent shielding arrangement works usually better).


-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/