Propeller Head Plaza

Nordost doesn't believe in wire directionality

174.196.128.47

This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: Nordost cables are marked with direction posted by E-Stat on December 02, 2022 at 17:06:13

From Nordost web page,
Q: I recently bought a pair of Nordost interconnects, and I noticed arrows on the heat-shrink. Is there are reason that these cables are directional? If so, which way should I install them?
A: Typically, when cables are manufactured they do not have any directionality—they acquire directionality as they break in. However, Nordost single ended (RCA) interconnects are built as directional cables, since the shield is only connected at the source, or output, end. When installing the cables into your system, the arrows should always point away from the source. For example, from a CD player to an amplifier, the arrows should point towards the preamplifier or power amplifier.
>>>>Nordost actually doesn't believe in "directionality," in the sense I'm always discussing - that wire sounds different depending on direction. Nordost cable arrows are only for proper installation for cables with *shields* Their belief that cables acquire directionality as they break in is incorrect. All wire is directional (physically asymmetrical) as a result of the manufacturing process. So cables that have thoroughly broken in will sound different when reversed. Just like fuses.
People jokingly say power cords can't be directional because they have a plug at one end. Yet power cords are directional too, they need to be "controlled for directionality" during manufacture, like AudioQuest does.
By the way, I would take air dielectric constant of 1.0 over 1.5 EDC any day.

Edits: 12/03/22

Follow Ups: