Scar,
I am afraid I agree with a lot of what Steve says. Below is a post with 2 links in it I suggust you read.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1160450950&openmine&zzArtizen65&4&5#Artizen65
What you are refering to is skin effect. Now in my training 100mhz and above is where skin effect really starts to matter. In the link above it deals with skin effect in the audible frequency range. Now I have been told by an EE friend of mine that it is a weak proof.
Not that I now necessarly agree with him at this point in my life strictly from a theoretical stand point not a mathimatical one.
If you start at 1hz the electrons use the whole wire as the frequency increases the electrons migrate to the outside of the conductor. It is not untill your reach the upper frequency's that you actually get into the skin effect theory. It is at these frequencies that the dialectric becomes more of a factor as the electron interaction between the conductor and dialectric becomes more acute.
It is at this point where I might disagree with Steve from a theoretical standpoint. Oxidation will decrease the interaction between the conductor and dialectric and could possibly affect the upper frequency range of the cable. This could have a positive affect or a negitive affect it depends on the frequency and the level of oxidation and or corrosion. IMHO in the lower frequencies it should have no affect at all.
Three major things things come into play with the conductor, material used, purity and quality of the extrusion. Imperfections in the conductor be it purity or vairing raidi of the conductor will affect electron flow through the wire. This will have more of an effect at higher frequencies than at lower frequencies.
Silver has a slightly higher frequency response than copper in the 20hz to 20khz range. Hence why some people perceive silver as being brighter than copper.
So lets assume that skin effect exists in the upper frequency range of the audible band 20hz to 20khz. Other than preventing corrosion or oxidation of the conductor the dialectric should be selected for minimum interaction with the electrons in the conductor. It is this reason that air is the best dialectric. It by nature attracts the fewest electrons from the dialectric or has the least negitive impact by passing stray electrons to the dialectric which allows the electrical signal to stay more completly in-tact as it travels down the conductor. Keep in mind this has a lot more affect in the upper frequencies than the lower frequencies.
Ok I am all tapped out for now although there is more I suggust you read the two links posted in the other thread.
There is also a paper on the same site about wire topology.
I am afraid I agree with a lot of what Steve says. Below is a post with 2 links in it I suggust you read.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1160450950&openmine&zzArtizen65&4&5#Artizen65
What you are refering to is skin effect. Now in my training 100mhz and above is where skin effect really starts to matter. In the link above it deals with skin effect in the audible frequency range. Now I have been told by an EE friend of mine that it is a weak proof.
Not that I now necessarly agree with him at this point in my life strictly from a theoretical stand point not a mathimatical one.
If you start at 1hz the electrons use the whole wire as the frequency increases the electrons migrate to the outside of the conductor. It is not untill your reach the upper frequency's that you actually get into the skin effect theory. It is at these frequencies that the dialectric becomes more of a factor as the electron interaction between the conductor and dialectric becomes more acute.
It is at this point where I might disagree with Steve from a theoretical standpoint. Oxidation will decrease the interaction between the conductor and dialectric and could possibly affect the upper frequency range of the cable. This could have a positive affect or a negitive affect it depends on the frequency and the level of oxidation and or corrosion. IMHO in the lower frequencies it should have no affect at all.
Three major things things come into play with the conductor, material used, purity and quality of the extrusion. Imperfections in the conductor be it purity or vairing raidi of the conductor will affect electron flow through the wire. This will have more of an effect at higher frequencies than at lower frequencies.
Silver has a slightly higher frequency response than copper in the 20hz to 20khz range. Hence why some people perceive silver as being brighter than copper.
So lets assume that skin effect exists in the upper frequency range of the audible band 20hz to 20khz. Other than preventing corrosion or oxidation of the conductor the dialectric should be selected for minimum interaction with the electrons in the conductor. It is this reason that air is the best dialectric. It by nature attracts the fewest electrons from the dialectric or has the least negitive impact by passing stray electrons to the dialectric which allows the electrical signal to stay more completly in-tact as it travels down the conductor. Keep in mind this has a lot more affect in the upper frequencies than the lower frequencies.
Ok I am all tapped out for now although there is more I suggust you read the two links posted in the other thread.
There is also a paper on the same site about wire topology.