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Topic ClosedDirectional Audio Cables - myth or reality?

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Tony R View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 13 2007 at 07:40
Originally posted by darqdean darqdean wrote:

 
So the real irony is not that Audiophile believers are wasting their money buying unnecessary directional cable, but that we sceptics and non-believers could be using "directional" cable anyway. Wink
 


and inserting them the wrong way?

Tongue
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mystic fred View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 13 2007 at 07:55
Originally posted by Tony R Tony R wrote:

Originally posted by darqdean darqdean wrote:

 
So the real irony is not that Audiophile believers are wasting their money buying unnecessary directional cable, but that we sceptics and non-believers could be using "directional" cable anyway. Wink
 


and inserting them the wrong way?

Tongue
 
 
OWWWCH  Pinch
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 13 2007 at 08:11
Originally posted by mystic fred mystic fred wrote:

Originally posted by Tony R Tony R wrote:

Originally posted by darqdean darqdean wrote:

 
So the real irony is not that Audiophile believers are wasting their money buying unnecessary directional cable, but that we sceptics and non-believers could be using "directional" cable anyway. Wink
 


and inserting them the wrong way?

Tongue
 
 
OWWWCH  Pinch
 
 
You don't sound so mystic now.Ermm
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mystic fred View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 13 2007 at 16:30
My question to Kimber Cables, Utah, U.S.A. ......
 
"Problem/Concern Description:  cable directionality.
cable directionality, fact or fiction,  is the subject of heated discussion
on many internet forums - i asked Russ Andrews for their opinion on the
subject and they referred me to you - do you have instruments that can prove
which direction particular cables are suited for? or is it something that
establishes itself after burn-in time?

many thanks in anticipation

steve trowbridge"
 
Their reply I recieved this evening..
 
"Dear Mr. Trowbridge,
 
Thank you for your question.  I'm afraid the comment on the RAA website, "The engineers at KIMBER
KABLE are now able to measure cable directionality and quantify it using some new and very expensive test equipment,"
has taken us a bit by surprise mainly because we hadn't read it before (until yesterday anyway).  While this comment has validity we (Kimber Kable proper) have not issued this statement.  Russ Andrews Accessories is our oldest and dearest international distributor and they have a great deal of knowledge and expertise with regard to the audio industry.  They have brought many interesting issues into light over the past many years.  I have found many of their findings quite fascinating and always valid. 
 
The issue of cable directionality is always a tricky one to address.  We have studied this for years, utilizing both sophisticated measurements and measurement apparatus.  What really happens during cable break-in or the forming or origin of directionality is still based somewhat in theory.  In other words can one see inherent directionality in the crystalline structure of the copper?  How about after burn-in, can one see a change in the copper or the dielectric?  These questions are still open for debate. 
 
Our (Kimber Kable) copper wires are basically amorphous in their structure.  In other words, they don't begin life with any inherent directionality.  After "burn-in" or a period of "break-in" there is some belief that changes may occur in the conductor and the dielectric - forming some directionality.  We certainly do have a well equipped research lab and some very expensive test equipment.  We do have the ability to perform some special measurements at special frequencies which has helped us greatly in our research and product development.  Since we are a private business and not a public research facility we tend to keep these tests and the research to ourselves.  Through the type of testing that we do we have observed changes in this area.  Standard audible band frequency response measurements would never reveal such results.  Naturally, we have preferred to be reticent with regard to stating such.  The topic is controversial.  We are not looking to re-write the laws of physics or change public perception.  Rather, just to make a better product, both technically and sonically.  If we discover some special technologies along the way, which we certainly have, than it makes our quest all the more meaningful.
 
In summary,  RAA's statement is based in truth.  It is just not a statement we have chosen to make.  As such, it is still not our factory's statement.
 
Thank You,
 
Dick Diamond
Kimber Kable"
 
 

  so that's about it....same as they told Dean really .Wink



Edited by mystic fred - June 13 2007 at 16:31
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Dean View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 13 2007 at 20:04
^ exactly the same. Word for word, punctuation for puntuation, extranious spaces for extranious spaces Stern%20Smile
What?
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Tony R View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 14 2007 at 10:01
Originally posted by darqdean darqdean wrote:

^ exactly the same. Word for word, punctuation for puntuation, extranious spaces for extranious spaces Stern%20Smile


Dick Diamond sounds like a made up name....however judging by the spelling in your reply at least we know you're real Dean...Tongue

You've not met Professor Peter yet have you?Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 14 2007 at 10:50
Originally posted by Tony R Tony R wrote:

Originally posted by darqdean darqdean wrote:

^ exactly the same. Word for word, punctuation for puntuation, extranious spaces for extranious spaces Stern%20Smile


Dick Diamond sounds like a made up name....however judging by the spelling in your reply at least we know you're real Dean...Tongue

You've not met Professor Peter yet have you?Wink
 
I'm brilyunt at speling - it's just my typing that lets me down. Wink
 
Professor Peter? Fairly tall handsome looking chap, generous to a fault, never argues or raises his voice, would give you the shirt off his back, always gets his round in at the pub?
What?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 21 2007 at 23:53
Seriously. I just read the Kimber Kables, I am fully convinced that it is indeed a myth.

Did you read how many times he mentioned that the equipment is "very expensive"? Well apparently it wasn't expensive enough to provide them with a real answer. All they really told you is that the subject is "still open for debate", and that the "topic is controversial" which means THEY DON'T KNOW.

I like how in the 3rd paragraph they simply tried to confuse the reader with big, vague words.

"we tend to keep these tests and the research to ourselves"
HAHA of course you do... because the research shows that your over-priced cables are no better than ones you could buy at the grocery store!

I used to think I was an audiophile, but then I realized I was becoming a sucker.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2007 at 06:36
I have got some very esoteric cables and they perform beautifully. I did discover after having them in the system for some time that they were "directional". So off they came for an examination - not a mark anywhere to show the consumer which direction was the appropriate one! Perhaps the direction required was to use from end to end and not laterally!
 
Anyway I did try swapping - and surprise, surprise, not difference.
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