Directional speaker wires, what and why.


I've been aware for a long time that some speaker cables are designated as "directional". To a limited extent I can understand the rational behind choices based on wire size and construction, biwiring, etc. but don't understand how any conductor can have directional characteristics even in a DC circuit. I'm not denying the possibility but can someone please clarify this for me?

The only reason this comes up is that some time ago, I changed from spades to locking bananas on my wires. It was just yesterday that I noticed that my cables have arrows printed on them indicating, I suppose, that they should be hooked up with the arrows pointing toward the speakers from the amp. The cables in question, btw, are Straightwire Octave 2's.

I've experimented with speaker wires in an attempt to optimize my system but have never been able to discern much, if any, difference between them. That being the case, though, I now don't know whether these have been situated incorrectly since about 2004 when I bought them with my Martin Logan Odyssey speakers.

How can there be a directional character to a conductor and how does that affect sound?
128x128broadstone
Burn in in one direction is the main reason for the night and day sound experience you had. This is something all of us can test quickly in our own systems with the same results every time......it will sound different until they burn in all over.
When I turn my rig off for just a few min, I hear improvements or let's say differences that are more often more pleasant than not even without swapping or reconnecting wires. Simple reset for semiconductors and ICs as well.
I hope you've either muted or turned off component(s) before swapping wires vice versa.
The real reason cables can sound different regarding direction is not because of the way they are wound or the grain boundary of the metal conductor, but because all insulation or dielectric material off gasses oxidising the surface of the conductor. Oxidation causes diode effects at certain frequencies, and this is what you hear as directional cables. The more the oxidation, the more you will hear a difference.
Chrissain, that is quite interesting. But I don't see how out gassing and oxidation on the conductor would make the cable directional. Furthermore, your explanation is a little troubling since it cannot account for directionality in fuses, for which there is no dielectric material.
all extruded metal has oxide on the surface of it, no matter how small the amount. It would have to be extruded in a total vacuum, and stay in a total vacuum for this not to happen, which is impossible.