Interconnect direction?

[guyhayton]

I have found some old Audioquest Ruby interconnect cables -badged as Arcam on the RCA plugs.

Now I have a vague memory from 20+ years ago of them being directional and the one of the plugs at each end of the cables have an extra painted ring.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4142/img0222small.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/img0222small.jpg/)

Can anyone help as to which end goes in the source and which in the amplifier???? I'm thinking that the end with the extra ring is the source end.

Any help gratefully received.

[Harry Hill]

I have found some old Audioquest Ruby interconnect cables -badged as Arcam on the RCA plugs.

Now I have a vague memory from 20+ years ago of them being directional and the one of the plugs at each end of the cables have an extra painted ring.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4142/img0222small.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/img0222small.jpg/)

Can anyone help as to which end goes in the source and which in the amplifier???? I'm thinking that the end with the extra ring is the source end.

Any help gratefully received.

Try one connected the reverse of the other, if you can hear any difference between each speaker then great! If you can't it's a Foo claim. :cool:

[Reffc]

If they're twin core and shield, they could be directional by virtue of the shield being floated (lifted) at one end, usually the amp end. The idea is that any unwanted interference picked up by the shield is grounded at source and not passed on where it could be coupled with the signal.

Try them both ways round, in reality it often makes little difference which way you use them although it's best to ensure both are orientated the same way. Looking at the picture, the cable looks fairly slender to be twin core, in which case,if coaxial, it shouldn't matter which way round you use them.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I have a set of these somewhere - they are solid core conductors. Arcam were importing them for a bit, hence the badge and I seem to remember the opposite to you Guy - single ring at the source & double at the destination. But God knows, how wrong I can be sometimes!
Right or wrong, I never noticed any difference either way.

[guyhayton]

I know the real answer is try them both ways and see if you can hear any difference... to be honest I couldn't be ar5ed messing around at the back of the rack and wondered if someone could say "oh yes, I've got some like that... they go this way blah" :eyebrows:

I've just disconnected my current setup for my new(old) amp to be inserted into the rack tomorrow - hopefully City Link wont let me down.

Think I may stick with my good old Chord Company Chrysalis interconnects with the DAC - these arcam cables really are stiff and inflexible.

Thanks everyone... sorry for being lazy!

[Rare Bird]

Not seen them with the Arcam plugs before but i remember the Audioquest plugs had little arrows printed on em so they are looking at directional! As Paul points out see if one end has the core & sheild connected together..

[The Grand Wazoo]

I think I'm typing in invisible ink this evening!

[twickers]

Can the mods sort this thread out? it seems to be blank on posts 4 and 7.

[The Grand Wazoo]

!

[twickers]

!

Ahhh, wise words :D

[Barry]

If they're twin core and shield, they could be directional by virtue of the shield being floated (lifted) at one end, usually the amp end. The idea is that any unwanted interference picked up by the shield is grounded at source and not passed on where it could be coupled with the signal.

Try them both ways round, in reality it often makes little difference which way you use them although it's best to ensure both are orientated the same way. Looking at the picture, the cable looks fairly slender to be twin core, in which case,if coaxial, it shouldn't matter which way round you use them.

So called semi-balanced cables do indeed have the screen/shield connected (grounded) to the the signal return at one end only. However it is incorrect to say the shield should be grounded at the source end. The shield is there to shield against RFI and so should be grounded at the point of lowest electrical potential; that is, the mains earth. If the source is double insulated (such as a CD player) the metalwork is not be connected to the mains earth, then the signal ground will not be the point of lowest potential. In most cases the point of lowest potential will be the amplifier, whose metalwork will be connected to the mains earth.

Otherwise, I agree with what has already been said: try the cable one way and then the other; if you can hear a difference then (as in all things audio) let your ears be the final arbiter.

[morris_minor]

!

The visual equivalent of one hand clapping ... ?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[The Grand Wazoo]

As I said above, I understand the cables are of solid core construction - no shield, no pseudo balanced earth connection, just two bits of wire.

[Rare Bird]

As I said above, I understand the cables are of solid core construction - no shield, no pseudo balanced earth connection, just two bits of wire.

Are you sure its not two solid cores, one insulated for signal, the other uninsulated to make contact with a Shield?

[The Grand Wazoo]

No!
I think there were at least 3 versions Andre.
If I can motivate myself (& I actually doubt it), I'll take a look at mine tomorrow.

[Rare Bird]

No!
I think there were at least 3 versions Andre.
If I can motivate myself (& I actually doubt it), I'll take a look at mine tomorrow.

:lolsign: i was just trying to remember, the only Audioquest ive owned were 'Jade' they were only cheap at the time, i remember swapping them for some really good Hitachi interconnect cable, i forget the model but it was in a light fawn colour jacket!!

[Audioman]

If cables are claimed to be directional they usually go by the printing on the outer insulation / braid. The name on the cable should read from source to amplifier. Unshielded cable can represent a problem. Kimber/RA fix tags to indicate direction.

[MikeMusic]

I know the real answer is try them both ways and see if you can hear any difference... to be honest I couldn't be ar5ed messing around at the back of the rack and wondered if someone could say "oh yes, I've got some like that... they go this way blah" :eyebrows:

I agree. So much easier than all that messing around !
:)