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Directional cables - what does that really mean?

Some (most) cables do sound differently depending on which end is connected to which component. It is asserted that the conductor grain orientation is determining the preferential current flow. That might well be, but in most (all) cases the audio signal is AC (electrons going back and forth in the cable), without a DC component to justify a directional flow. Wouldn't that mean that in the 1st order, a phase change should give the same effect as a cable flip?

I'm curious whether there is a different view on this that I have not considered yet.
cbozdog
andy2
1,619 posts
 
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tweak1
3,766 posts
 
As I understand it, wire is pulled through a specific size thingy (can't think f the name) the outer diameter tends to fold back creating measurable resistance necessitating a direction of least resistance to be determined  
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
All of that may be true, it’s all been said before, but it actually doesn’t explain why the sound is better in one direction vs the other. If resistance was the deciding factor we’d all just use large gauge wire. Hel-loo! The only thing a difference in measured resistance tells means is the wire is not symmetrical. It’s evidence but not proof. So, it looks like we’re back where we started. Nowheresville.
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