Author Topic: RCA/Speaker cable directional  (Read 2362 times)

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Offline xixianlai

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RCA/Speaker cable directional
« on: April 22, 2010, 10:27:57 AM »
Hi folks,

Do any of you experienced in this matter? I'm confusing this moment.

I have Wireworld cable in my car, it's without arrow direction but text on it. Normally, we are using the text as directional guide. My specialist claims that this cable should install reversely.

My situation is:
Reverse direction: My system sounds more bass but transparent/smooth high gone. Fuller sound. Dry sound. Better phase (I'm not sure).
Standard direction: Smooth & transparent high, but lack of bass. Thinner sound.

Power & Ground cable installation
My installer claims that Power cable is follow text and Ground cable is reverse.

PS: I used full Transparent speaker cable for my ICE. Same situation as Wireworld's.

Please. I'd appreciate reply on those who "believe" in cable directional. I knew some people would say its nonsense. Thanks

Offline Zenn

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2010, 11:57:54 AM »
usually if no arrow follow the label text....

but its good that u can hear the difference, so u can choose what suits u

Offline xixianlai

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2010, 12:41:34 PM »
usually if no arrow follow the label text....

but its good that u can hear the difference, so u can choose what suits u

Hi fren, i liked the standard installation sound, more "hi end" but bass is weak and thin, the reverse side sounds ya bigger fuller but a bit "pasar malam" very bold and messy. Don't know what happen.

Offline iamkroll

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2010, 03:06:38 PM »
wow this is a good question. im currently using canare cables. are they also directional? the original jacket has been stripped off to make way for a cloth netting sleeve. so i have to way to tell which way is the 'intended' way, if the cable is directional. my sub has the problem of sounding very soft & thin too, i had to put the gain up to almost 11oclock to get the desired level. maybe i have the same problem as u?

to ur problem, u could keep the RCAs for ur components as the right way and just switch the sub one as inverted. that way u can keep the smoothness and transparent sound for ur components and a bassy for the sub? sounds like the logical thing to do to me. hmm makes me wanna try switch mine but im so lazy to take out the seats and carpet just to switch it around :(

Online craziechild

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2010, 03:19:02 PM »
well... i think its down to your preference...

if you like your fuller sound... reverse it, if you like "hi-end" sound... then follow the wordings...

for me... i would always follow the directions on all directional cables...

Offline xixianlai

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2010, 04:30:06 PM »
wow this is a good question. im currently using canare cables. are they also directional? the original jacket has been stripped off to make way for a cloth netting sleeve. so i have to way to tell which way is the 'intended' way, if the cable is directional. my sub has the problem of sounding very soft & thin too, i had to put the gain up to almost 11oclock to get the desired level. maybe i have the same problem as u?

to ur problem, u could keep the RCAs for ur components as the right way and just switch the sub one as inverted. that way u can keep the smoothness and transparent sound for ur components and a bassy for the sub? sounds like the logical thing to do to me. hmm makes me wanna try switch mine but im so lazy to take out the seats and carpet just to switch it around :(

Canare. Wow, fren you are using one of the best value cable in the market, personally, I used it for my previous system. I'm using the grey shielding (thicker) speaker cable, it's well in order, just stick with right directional will do.

My case is I removed the woofer setup, I decide to concentrate on the component 1st. It'll be easier for me to justice if any problem occurred.

Offline xixianlai

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2010, 04:33:19 PM »
well... i think its down to your preference...

if you like your fuller sound... reverse it, if you like "hi-end" sound... then follow the wordings...

for me... i would always follow the directions on all directional cables...

hi fren, I'm those typical "greedy audiophile" person, I cant scarify either side leh~ /71

Offline xixianlai

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2010, 04:38:26 PM »
I knew something wrong with the reverse side. So i'm hoping not to reserve and stick to standard. But standard side... Can it be the Power or Ground cable there? I really donno where more I can blame..hehe~

Please. Any die hard ICE fan around, i beg for a solution.

PS: Those basic phase checking, sound proof thing is set.

Offline xixianlai

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2010, 04:40:48 PM »
wow this is a good question. im currently using canare cables. are they also directional? the original jacket has been stripped off to make way for a cloth netting sleeve. so i have to way to tell which way is the 'intended' way, if the cable is directional. my sub has the problem of sounding very soft & thin too, i had to put the gain up to almost 11oclock to get the desired level. maybe i have the same problem as u?

to ur problem, u could keep the RCAs for ur components as the right way and just switch the sub one as inverted. that way u can keep the smoothness and transparent sound for ur components and a bassy for the sub? sounds like the logical thing to do to me. hmm makes me wanna try switch mine but im so lazy to take out the seats and carpet just to switch it around :(

FYI, you may simply reverse the polarity on both end. It's same as you reverse the direction. Save your work.

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2010, 06:12:03 PM »
hmmm... perhaps go with the standard ways...

some EQ works to get the "fuller" sound... but if you are those purist audiophile who disllike EQ works... well... not sure if xover/slope tuning could help you or not... it might, it might not...

cheers...

Offline iamkroll

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2010, 06:57:13 PM »
hey what do u mean by reverse the polarity? by switching the RCA L & R? does that affect the direction? i thought you have to change the end that goes into the amp to the HU and the end that goes into the HU to the amp.

or u mean the reverse the amp to 180degrees phase? or whatever its called... my amp dont have that feature. but i did play around with my amp just now and i think the sub sounds much better. i didnt change the gain, just bass boost from zero and i just touched abit of it, hardly any movement felt, and the sub came alive!

Offline xixianlai

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2010, 07:17:18 PM »
hmmm... perhaps go with the standard ways...

some EQ works to get the "fuller" sound... but if you are those purist audiophile who disllike EQ works... well... not sure if xover/slope tuning could help you or not... it might, it might not...

cheers...

U r right, my wish will definitely stick to standard way. Sounds like you're familiar with audiophile people, yup, no EQ. I tried xover/slope but... never mind. Thanks anyway.

Offline xixianlai

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2010, 07:26:16 PM »
hey what do u mean by reverse the polarity? by switching the RCA L & R? does that affect the direction? i thought you have to change the end that goes into the amp to the HU and the end that goes into the HU to the amp.

or u mean the reverse the amp to 180degrees phase? or whatever its called... my amp dont have that feature. but i did play around with my amp just now and i think the sub sounds much better. i didnt change the gain, just bass boost from zero and i just touched abit of it, hardly any movement felt, and the sub came alive!

Sorry, I thought u r talk about speaker cable, RCA i'm not sure but should be the same theory:
Just reverse the RCA heads attached both way. You're LR will remain unchanged then hear the different, if it's like what we heard in speaker cable then should be same.
(Ps: speaker cable's positive is forwarding signal while negative is the other way round. That's why, we examined this b4.)

Honestly if you like good sound, less distorted sound, better phase, I would say, please, EQ bass boost loudness etc, off it.

Offline iamkroll

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2010, 08:48:57 PM »
yea i am against all this EQ-ing too. treble, mid, bass controls are all flat on mine. loudness off. i just dont want to increase the gain up too much. the bass boost on the amp that i tinker with barely moved. its very minimal so i dont mind that. to me its almost nothing but it helped my problem. hehe. and this is just a temporary solution. tuning is not my strongest point so i know the amp is not fully utilized yet. waiting for rbl84 and craziechild to help and assist me when they have time hehe. they've been in this business a long time so theyre more experienced  /78 /78 which gave me an idea, i should open a thread too regarding gain settings :D

Offline bafukie

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Re: RCA/Speaker cable directional
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2010, 09:33:30 PM »
dun really understand the word purist or against eq thing... so u guys are ok with watever comes out from ur system even though u know there is juz something location/installation/x-over cant do?