2. cables
  3. 1395250013

Directional speaker wires, what and why.

I've been aware for a long time that some speaker cables are designated as "directional". To a limited extent I can understand the rational behind choices based on wire size and construction, biwiring, etc. but don't understand how any conductor can have directional characteristics even in a DC circuit. I'm not denying the possibility but can someone please clarify this for me?

The only reason this comes up is that some time ago, I changed from spades to locking bananas on my wires. It was just yesterday that I noticed that my cables have arrows printed on them indicating, I suppose, that they should be hooked up with the arrows pointing toward the speakers from the amp. The cables in question, btw, are Straightwire Octave 2's.

I've experimented with speaker wires in an attempt to optimize my system but have never been able to discern much, if any, difference between them. That being the case, though, I now don't know whether these have been situated incorrectly since about 2004 when I bought them with my Martin Logan Odyssey speakers.

How can there be a directional character to a conductor and how does that affect sound?
broadstone

Showing 5 responses by grannyring

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,592 posts
 
Helps the owner hook up the wire in the same direction as they were
originally burned in. Don't want to keep reversing direction.....

Some cables are twisted in a manner that requires directionality.

Other factors such as the way the metal is drawn and how the shielding is
applied can affect directionality.

You will indeed hear a difference if you reverse a set of cables that have
been playing in one direction for years.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,592 posts
 
I can't believe folks think speaker cables will sound the same when reversed after they have already been burned-in in one direction. You must be kidding?

To not hear the difference means your ears are bad, you don't care, or your system is not at all resolving....or perhaps you need an ear cleaning.

Come-on this is audio truths 101 stuff that can be experienced or learned very quickly.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,592 posts
 
You must be. Why even hang on this site? Use lamp wire and Sears 1970 electronics as it must sound the same as all this exotic, Aphile stuff you bark against.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,592 posts
 
Read what I said - after burn in only. No, I am not saying anything less than what is completely obvious. After they burn in going the new direction they will sound the same again. Unless.....

If a cable is made to sound right in one direction, then those few cables will sound different backwards. A few cables are indeed wound in a manner that is directional. Try hooking up your amp backwards (with the polarity switched)and it will indeed sound different based on the way it was built. A few cables are constructed to be used in one direction, not many or most, but a few.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,592 posts
 
Burn in in one direction is the main reason for the night and day sound experience you had. This is something all of us can test quickly in our own systems with the same results every time......it will sound different until they burn in all over.
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