Back to front cables

[nickjj]

Like most people, I've always had a healthy cynicism for cables, particularly of the 'high end' variety. Six months ago I 'downgraded' from chord chameleon ICs and chord epic twin speaker cables to some ridiculously cheap silver/PTFE jobs from a bloke who makes them on ebay. These were a third the price of the chord cables, but it was shocking how much better they sounded with the vinyl front end and I promptly flogged the chords off.

I didn't really listen to the CD that much until recently but didn't think it sounded good at all however. It was murky sounding and distorted with poor high and low frequency extension. I hadn't considered that it might be the cables initially, and had assumed the TT was just showing it up and that I might have to upgrade the Apollo R. I don't know why, but I thought I'd try the IC the otherway round, having read a bit of unconvincing stuff somewhere about cable directionality. To my amazement and delight I was astounded how everything was suddenly right again. There was clarity, sophistication, emotion, separation, musicality, and extension in spades. I then realised the arrows marked on had been pointing in the wrong direction all along - it had been back to front.

It's possible this effect may be more important with some cables rather than others. Maybe solid silver is more prone to it. Even if your cynical about this, it's worth checking cable direction and experimenting if things don't sound as they should. This was not a subtle effect in my own system. I am certain I have not imagined it and didn't believe in the phenomenon until experiencing it. Why it might happen, I don't know - there's stuff postulated about the asymmetrical crystal structure of pulled / rolled metal, but then again the signal is AC in nature, so it doesn't make that much sense.

[AlanS]

I will save that one for a rainy day.

I wonder how much it depends on the length of the cable. The more wire there is to be different sounding, etc. I keep mine to less than 1m, except for one the rest are 0.5m long or less.

What are your cables lengths? Some folks run several metres.

[nickjj]

1m for most of the ICs. 0.5m between SUT and phono stage. So not long by any means.

[walpurgis]

I've never heard any difference having cables either way round. Although not exactly AC as such, analogue audio signals reciprocate in a similar manner, so cable polarity means nothing as far as I'm aware.

Perhaps somebody can provide a justification for cable polarity?

[Barry]

Do you know the construction of these cables? If they are so-called semi-balanced type, comprising a screened two-core cable where the screen is connected to the outer part of the phono plugs at one end of the cable only, then being asymmetric they could well be directional.

If they are of a conventional coaxial construction, then being symmetric, I fail to see how they could be directional. However if you can clearly and repeatably hear a difference then I wouldn't argue - just enjoy the improved result!

[nickjj]

Yes -it does have a screening wire attached at one end. I hadn't realised, so maybe that's all there is to it.

[Marco]

Hi Nick,

Did you witness this phenomenon occurring by any chance on a Tuesday?

Marco.

[Barry]

Hi Nick,

Did you witness this phenomenon occurring by any chance on a Tuesday?

Marco.

Why - what's so special about Tuesdays? (Apart from the fact that the Second Coming is scheduled for a Tuesday.)

[Marco]

Well, I usually have a curry on a Tuesday…. Other than that, I was just having a giggle!

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Like most people, I've always had a healthy cynicism for cables, particularly of the 'high end' variety. Six months ago I 'downgraded' from chord chameleon ICs and chord epic twin speaker cables to some ridiculously cheap silver/PTFE jobs from a bloke who makes them on ebay. These were a third the price of the chord cables, but it was shocking how much better they sounded with the vinyl front end and I promptly flogged the chords off.

I didn't really listen to the CD that much until recently but didn't think it sounded good at all however. It was murky sounding and distorted with poor high and low frequency extension. I hadn't considered that it might be the cables initially, and had assumed the TT was just showing it up and that I might have to upgrade the Apollo R. I don't know why, but I thought I'd try the IC the otherway round, having read a bit of unconvincing stuff somewhere about cable directionality. To my amazement and delight I was astounded how everything was suddenly right again. There was clarity, sophistication, emotion, separation, musicality, and extension in spades. I then realised the arrows marked on had been pointing in the wrong direction all along - it had been back to front.

It's possible this effect may be more important with some cables rather than others. Maybe solid silver is more prone to it. Even if your cynical about this, it's worth checking cable direction and experimenting if things don't sound as they should. This was not a subtle effect in my own system. I am certain I have not imagined it and didn't believe in the phenomenon until experiencing it. Why it might happen, I don't know - there's stuff postulated about the asymmetrical crystal structure of pulled / rolled metal, but then again the signal is AC in nature, so it doesn't make that much sense.

Most cables are directional to varying degrees and there are a number of possible explanations as to why that might be the case.

That these were better is not necessarily a reflection on price i.e the better cables being cheaper. In reality in many cases home built or direct sales cables are the same basic price as the big brand cables its just that a distributor (if applicable) and or dealer margin is missing from the direct sales/home built items price. Though again that's not always a gauge either as some of those items still contain the what should be missing margins that a direct sales model should infer on the purchaser but sometimes doesn't. So in reality you didn't downgrade, just because these items were cheaper.


Regards Neil