Topic: RCA/Speaker cable directional

[xixianlai]

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

[Zenn]

usually if no arrow follow the label text....

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

[xixianlai]

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.

[iamkroll]

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 :(

[craziechild]

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...

[xixianlai]

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.

[xixianlai]

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~

[xixianlai]

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.

[xixianlai]

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.

[craziechild]

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...

[iamkroll]

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!

[xixianlai]

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.

[xixianlai]

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.

[iamkroll]

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  which gave me an idea, i should open a thread too regarding gain settings :D

[bafukie]

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?

[iamkroll]

no la, not until like dat. i just try to minimise the use of EQ if possible.

[mnkh27]

Some cable makers use a two conductor, shielded cable with the shield connected at one end only. This type of cable should have the end
with the shield connection connected to the input of the device. Cable manufacturers design their cables based on various properties and
schematics (some cables have networks etc.) so when they suggest the best direction to follow (from basically no direction) that sounds best
during their meticulous test, you must as well follow them.

However, nobody is stopping us to use otherwise  but take caution because it is known that some cables can induce some buzz, hum, noise when wired the
other way around. To be safe, follow the direction as recommended by the manufacturer.

If you are the type that diy your own cables, you should at least test them in different directions, different shielding etc. to determine which one
contributes to better sound, take note of it and mark down the direction. If your cables constantly give you a 50/50 results even after run-in, you might want to try something else that gives you a more positive result from a single direction.

Happy trying...

The issue of EQing is a large topic and should be discussed in a new thread.


 

[mnkh27]

http://www.russandrews.com/article-Truth-or-Myth-Cable-Directionality-russdirectionality.htm

the following site may prove useful and easy to understand. there is also a tip on the left, telling you how to pick the direction of a cable that has no marking.

[rbl84]

sorry to tumpang thread..it is true 2 turn off all sort of EQ bass boost n loudness...but then hoh...if u understand car acoustic, EQ is darn important :D experience it and u will understand :) 

[iamkroll]

nice one sifu micheal! but that means i have to take everything out again and thats not cool. lol takes quite a bit of effort!

[iamkroll]

sorry to tumpang thread..it is true 2 turn off all sort of EQ bass boost n loudness...but then hoh...if u understand car acoustic, EQ is darn important :D experience it and u will understand :) 

i experience it from ur car later ;) do fast fast we all wana TT alrdy! :P

[xixianlai]

Yup, EQ thing is good for easy solution, I would say in car, reducing EQ will be acceptable, i'll stay away from boosting it.

[xixianlai]

Some cable makers use a two conductor, shielded cable with the shield connected at one end only. This type of cable should have the end
with the shield connection connected to the input of the device. Cable manufacturers design their cables based on various properties and
schematics (some cables have networks etc.) so when they suggest the best direction to follow (from basically no direction) that sounds best
during their meticulous test, you must as well follow them.

However, nobody is stopping us to use otherwise  but take caution because it is known that some cables can induce some buzz, hum, noise when wired the
other way around. To be safe, follow the direction as recommended by the manufacturer.

If you are the type that diy your own cables, you should at least test them in different directions, different shielding etc. to determine which one
contributes to better sound, take note of it and mark down the direction. If your cables constantly give you a 50/50 results even after run-in, you might want to try something else that gives you a more positive result from a single direction.

Happy trying...

The issue of EQing is a large topic and should be discussed in a new thread.


 

Great explanation, i visited the website b4, it's speaking the fact. Ya, I hope the problem is not from the cable. Perhaps something else.

[rbl84]

Yup, EQ thing is good for easy solution, I would say in car, reducing EQ will be acceptable, i'll stay away from boosting it.

reducing some is ok..but also have 2 compensate back some as well to balance everything up :)

[CSA]

i never know that cables have directional....maybe i shd go and refer mine as well

[mnkh27]

reducing some is ok..but also have 2 compensate back some as well to balance everything up :)

robert sipu, this thread is abt cable directionality la. Eq diff story...

My analogy of an eq is simple actually. don't laugh ok, but giggle is acceptable. hehe!

"An EQ is like having a girlfriend. Have also headache, coz we don't know how handle, but don't have also cannot"

Conclusion?

[rbl84]

mike sipu i know la...coz jst now somepart of the thread is being "EQ" a bit mah so i mah "eq" here n there la aahaha

[calvinhpk]

robert sipu, this thread is abt cable directionality la. Eq diff story...

My analogy of an eq is simple actually. don't laugh ok, but giggle is acceptable. hehe!

"An EQ is like having a girlfriend. Have also headache, coz we don't know how handle, but don't have also cannot"

Conclusion?

conclusion is to have as many girlfriend as you can afford 

[iamkroll]

conclusion is to have as many girlfriend as you can afford 

conclusion is, have flings instead 

[krayden]

conclusion is to have as many girlfriend as you can afford 

Learning the right buttons to push at the right time and how far to twist the knobs will be a lifetime pursuit  .