Interconnect Directionality


Have I lost my mind? I swear that I am hearing differences in the direction I hook up my interconnect cables between my preamp and power amp. These are custom built solid core silver cables with Eichmann bullet plugs. There is no shield so this is not a case where one end of the cable’s shield is grounded and the other isn’t. 

There are four ways ways to hook them up:
Right: Forward. Left: Forward. 
Right: Backward. Left: Backward
Right: Forward. Left: Backward
Right: Backward. Left: Forward. 

There is no difference in construction between forward and backward, but here are my observations:

When they are hooked up forward/backward there appears to be more airy-ness and what appears to be a slight phase difference. When hooked up forward/forward or backward/backward, the image seems more precise like they are more in phase. The difference between forward/forward and backward/backward is that one seems to push the soundstage back a little bit while the other brings it towards you more. 

What could possibly cause this? Does it have something to do with the way the wire is constructed and how the grains are made while drawn through a die? Am I imagining this? Have I completely lost my mind?
mkgus

Showing 3 responses by jetter

cleeds…."Here we go again with a call for blind testing, an exercise that is of very limited value - if any at all - to the typical audiophile."

Respectfully Cleeds, I have no ideal why what I believe is a small group of persons on A'gon would think that blind testing won't yield fair and impartial results.  Please do not repeat the GK arguments against it that the testers are going to rig the test.

Simply put, if you were blindfolded and tasted Coke and Pepsi, would not the one that you like the best be a fair indicator of your preference?  Now I do understand that if the blind test was not performed in your home with your audio system, what sounded best in a foreign system might not sound the best at your home.

As I remember Upscale Audio did a blind test including the Prima Luna gear that was well received?


JEA and all, WTF.  For those of us who have no clue and maybe a bit less interest, what does the answer to above mean to the sound of the music? 
geoffkait, you have again advanced the henny penny argument that "the sky is falling".  That all the small chances of something not being correct in the double blind test outweigh the much larger chance that nothing will go wrong.  In order for all the things to happen that you say could go wrong there is the unwritten inference that one of the test sponsors has something to gain from a certain choice and will sabotage the test to achieve his advantage.