Signal direction


My father is going to inherit my Kimber 8TC's but to use them in his system we would have to reverse the direction of the signal flow. Is this a audio no-no?

I don't want to re-terminate as he may one day upgrade the amp. If this shouldn't be done, is there a way to adapt a spade end to fit an old receiver with those bear wire push in connections?
revdog
While you'll get differing opinions on this subject, i would say that you shouldn't really experience any "directionality" problems with this cable. That particular cable is comprised of dozens upon dozens of stranded cables. It would be next to impossible for Kimber ( or any other manufacturer ) to make sure that each individual strand of wire was oriented in the "right" or same direction. While one direction might be "more correct" than another, i would not give this topic two seconds of thought if i was in your shoes.... Sean
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Most cables are not directional and 8TC is definitely not (only some of the special geometry molecule cables are). However, when you reverse direction it will be a brand new signal path, so you will have to break in the cable all over again. It is to preserve the benefits of break-in that they mark the directionality on most cables. So go ahead, but count on a new break-in period.
Totally agree with Sean. I have tried this myself with my own 8TC and 4TC.
i once asked homegrown audio why they did not mark the direction on their interconnects and was told whatever direction you burn them in is correct but if you reconnect them in the opposite direction they have to re-burn in in that new direction. since then i notice they put arrows on their interconnects.
Excellent! That's good news. Thanks for your imput. Now if I can get him a new amp everything will be wonderful.
I agree that you may find the cables need breaking in again. This is the only directional issue that may or may not appear and goes away with use.
Theoretically saying every conductor has chrystalic malstructures of the semi-conductor nature("impurities")
Let's consider these impurities as diodes(one-way conductivity devices) randomly connected in different directions of the current flow.
Even the cleanest 99.999% cooper conductor has these impurities despite of having almost no oxides. Within the break-in time we bypass such micro-diodes that are in direct connection and "electrically break" micro-diodes with the opposit connections relatively to the current flow.
That's why cables will have to be reburn for the opposite direction.
How it is different sonically?
I do not believe that human ear is capable to distinguish it even on $10k amps with $10k speakers for example.