Speaker cable arrows???


I bought a used pair of Silverline Audio's Conductor cables. Plugged them in 
and was very pleased with the neutral sound I was getting. Bare wire to the 
speakers, and bananas on the amp end. Then I realized that the arrows on 
the cables where pointing towards the amp. OOPS, I reversed the path 
direction, and couldn't hear any difference. Zero.
My preference would be to have the bananas on the amp end.

Can I disobey the arrows, and run the cables effectively backwards?

markj941

Showing 2 responses by oldhvymec

I know this for sure, if the cable comes with a project box and or a lump or a bump in the run, direction does matter.. Will it harm anything? NO. Will it change the way it works? YES, Will it change the sound, YES.

If the cable has a high pass filter, hooking it up backwards, reversing polarity, would turn the High pass filter into a low pass filter.  Think about that one. A  resistor and cap from pos to neg = a 6 db HP first order filter.
If you reverse it,  it becomes a cap and resistor, network. 6 db LOW PASS first order filter. 

That network would burn out in  about 30 seconds @ 20 watts....(depending on the component ratings)

Second the inductor in a network cable on the pos leg would then be on the neg leg, what would that do?.... I duno..
 
If it's not a network cable, one way, MAY or MAY not  sound better after it settles in.  The cable is all ready broke in (so to speak) so it need to settle in a bit and flow in "a" direction.. The cable will sound better in hours or days as opposed to weeks or months. 

Direction matters

Be aware static discharge to the cable ends can screw thing up to.. cover the ends of unused cables. Ground yourself OUT.... Then do your work..
A simple 5 second process that VERY few observe... Why do it? It adds to the longevity and quality of the cable being installed. Handle your cables with care.......Hook the speaker end first, (why? no place for the discharge to go, if the other end is still covered) then Discharge yourself on the preamp, phono ground, unwrap the cable end and plug in.

Ok 22 cent worth....or 2.22...

Regards

djones51
1,895 posts05-11-2020 3:56am

Doesn’t matter.



It won’t matter if you can’t HEAR the difference. I do believe that is the point. Some people can hear the difference and some can’t. Still doesn’t change the fact for those who can. Some folks need to wear corrective eyewear, WHY? They can’t see as well without them.... Not hard to see the correlation, but it sure seems hard for the "Doesn’t matter group".

Ask a lefty why they can’t throw the ball right handed, because they can’t (very well). Same with hearing...

I have two arms two legs, just like MR weight lifter, why can’t I bench 350 lbs? I have two arms, and two legs.

We’re not all able to hear so good. My LF hearing is taking a shi#. Bummer, I don’t get to hear the neighborhood BOOM BOOMs as well.
LOL My sub system is working great, how well do I feel it through my feet, my bottom, about 30 hz and down...Pretty good...

Before saying it makes no difference, go get a hearing test, 50-350.00 USD. Even free some places... Start there..

If you come back good, go see a shrink, they’ll help with the denial thing....LOL Don’t get all upset at me now... I got my own issues...

Respectfully and with regard...