[Spirit]

In reviewing the Luminous Allegro Digital cable in 1995, Martin De Wulf made the following
comment in his audiophile newletter "Bound for Sound":
Quote:
"For reasons unknown, this link is extremely directional. Which is not bad if you know which way is which. IF you look carefully, you will notice some faint writing on the jacketing; run the cable in the opposite direction of the writing. "
I am not a scientist or an engineer.  Just a devoted music lover.  Could someone please
explain to me if the direction of a cable can actually make a difference to the sound quality. Teach me....

[mfsoa]

I think the directionality of cables can arise from the way the shield is attached. If only attached at one end, the shield will drain to the component it's attached to.
There may be other reasons, but some cables are made asymmetrically and therefore directionality becomes a possibility.
-My understanding anyway

[Hantra]

I think the directionality of cables can arise from the way the shield is attached. If only attached at one end, the shield will drain to the component it's attached to.

That's true.  Also there is the possibility that the manufacturer burned it in with some device.  Even non-directional wires should be kept going the same direction once they get broken in a certain way.  No, I can't explain why this is, and I don't know many people who can prove this empirically.  But I am just basing this on my listening experience.