Signal Flow Direction?

fox

Not to appear overly stupid here, but I did get yesterday a better interconnect and speaker wire. Just one query here, when it comes to the interconnect between the CD player and preamp, in order to get it hooked up in the direction of the signal flow, wouldn't you connect it with the arrows pointing toward the receiver preamp and away from the CD player? The CD being your source and therefore the signal flowing from the CD player to the preamp? I tried it both ways and it works both directions, just want to have it hooked up the right way.

Thanks..

bobman1235

Those arrows are nonsense.

here's another thread on the same subject.

VR3

they flow south... far far south!

BjornB17

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

they flow south... far far south!

but if you are in the southern hemisphere they flow noth.

HBombToo

fox wrote:

The CD being your source and therefore the signal flowing from the CD player to the preamp?
Thanks..

You are correct Sir.

F1nut

Those arrows are nonsense.

That's an uninformed comment.


"Most use the Bruce Brisson design (he designed Monster Cable, then MIT) With these, the shield is connected at the arrowhead end, and not at the arrowtail end. The arrowhead end should be at the preamp because for lowest hum, the preamp should be the only component grounded at the wall, and therefore, you want all currents from the shields to drain out through the preamp ground. This means that the IC connecting the preamp to the amp should also have its arrowhead pointed to the preamp -- so (even though it's counterintuitive) it really has nothing to do with direction of signal flow."

dorokusai

I agree.

It's typically used to show the ground or drain wire for the shield and for some people, that's important, not nonsense.

I've never heard or experienced a difference personally, but I'm not going to launch a crusade about it....it's an arrow, use it, BFD.

madmax

F1nut wrote:

The arrowhead end should be at the preamp because for lowest hum, the preamp should be the only component grounded at the wall, and therefore, you want all currents from the shields to drain out through the preamp ground. This means that the IC connecting the preamp to the amp should also have its arrowhead pointed to the preamp -- so (even though it's counterintuitive) it really has nothing to do with direction of signal flow."

Is this true of the MIT's? It doesn't matter right now because I'm using an integrated but if so I've often had them hooked up wrong when using seperate amps.
madmax

HBombToo

madmax wrote:

Is this true of the MIT's? It doesn't matter right now because I'm using an integrated but if so I've often had them hooked up wrong when using seperate amps.
madmax

I agree with F1's approach and the primary benefit is the prevention of a ground loop. If there was a loop the additional shielding should help suppress the hum.

HBomb

danger boy

if you hook them up backwards.. with the arrow pointing in the wrong direction.. your music will play backwards.. with satanic messages hidden in the songs. LOL

Where have i heard that before? Hmmmmmm????

LiquidSound

The direction doesn't matter, neither do the types of cables you use. Actually, cables themselves are overrated. Since I stopped using them, I've had no ground loop problems, no hums..and my system sounds much more "airy". My speakers completely disappear sonically. It's a true night and day difference!!

F1nut

Interesting point. I copied that from the other thread because it gave a good example of why cable direction matters, ie., grounding. However, I didn't notice the part about the pre amp/amp direction. I have always run the cables (direction of arrow) from the pre amp to the amp as it is stated in the MIT literature.

"The arrows on the cable indicate the direction of signal flow- the network boxes go closest to the destination. (Reversing the direction will affect the sonic performance of the system!) Twin Terminator boxes are marked "Input" and "Output."

Since the amp's power cord is grounded and there is no ground loop problem, I'll continue to do it the way they tell me.

Somebody want to call Pete at MIT and ask him?

polkatese

danger boy wrote:

if you hook them up backwards.. with the arrow pointing in the wrong direction.. your music will play backwards.. with satanic messages hidden in the songs. LOL

Where have i heard that before? Hmmmmmm????

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/stairway.php

heiney9

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

they flow south... far far south!

Unless you're in Australia, then they flow in the opposite direction...mate

H9

WilliamM2

There is no direction for the signal flow, since it's AC and goes back and forth in BOTH directions.

BjornB17

heiney9 wrote:

Unless you're in Australia, then they flow in the opposite direction...mate

H9

LOL look further up the page, and you'll realize that i made that joke already :cool:

HiPerf360

WilliamM2 wrote:

There is no direction for the signal flow, since it's AC and goes back and forth in BOTH directions.

I think a lot of people don't understand this concept, or i have always been misled on the travel of electrons. I have always found there to be no audible difference between quality interconnects. In my experience as long as it has a good conductor and a well braided shielding layer you are good to go.

And as far as speaker cable goes, the power going to your speakers is no different than the AC coming out of the wall (except frequency changes). As long as the wire is large enough for the current levels i've never heard a difference.

Just my opinion though...

Jonathon

BjornB17

i just buy modestly priced cabled because they dont cost too much and look nice enough to not have to hide

HiPerf360

BjornB17 wrote:

i just buy modestly priced cabled because they dont cost too much and look nice enough to not have to hide

I would have to agree with you on that point... must be a well manicured installation, and good cables routed correctly help that tremendously.

F1nut

It would be pc for me to say, "I don't know if you guys that can't tell a difference are the lucky ones or the unfortunate ones." However, I'm not pc, so I'm going to say you're the unfortunate ones.

HiPerf360

It must be my years of sports car racing that has ruined my ears, but it seems to be affecting my eyes now too... i keep seeing all of these long time members that just want to start **** and not just respond with an intelligent response that can be backed up. If you want to be some professor of audio you cant just go around and insult people, try educating them on your view.

Only the ignorant believe in something without asking questions.

F1nut

My, what thin skin we have. What part of, "I'm not pc", didn't you understand?

If you'd like to do a search here, you'll find plenty of info by many of "these long time members" that have addressed this very topic, in detail, countless times.

HiPerf360

Not thin skined...

Backed up by fact or just the placebo effect?

I am not a very pc person myself, but i do believe in the "golden rule".

TroyD

Discounting F1's sunny disposition ...........

I don't see any real differences in terms of substance on either side of the discussion. All anyone can offer in this particular debate is opinion.

I hear a difference in wire/cables. As my gear has improved, I notice it more. If you don't, that's cool too.

BDT

HiPerf360

I agree hearing the difference in cables, these are just an item with a really bad diminishing return bell curve. I can hear the difference between "good" and "bad" interconnects, but the differences between a $50-100.00 cable compared to a $1000.00+ cable are inaudible.

TroyD

HiPerf360 wrote:

Not thin skined...

Backed up by fact or just the placebo effect?

I am not a very pc person myself, but i do believe in the "golden rule".

Ok, for the sake of argument, why should we buy your argument that all wire sounds the same? Who says the burden of proof is on us to prove you wrong?

BDT

TroyD

HiPerf360 wrote:

I agree hearing the difference in cables, these are just an item with a really bad diminishing return bell curve. I can hear the difference between "good" and "bad" interconnects, but the differences between a $50-100.00 cable compared to a $1000.00+ cable are inaudible.

I agree that wire/cables are a) insanely overpriced b) more susceptible to voodoo and BS c) in no small part due to a, b where the law of diminishing returns kicks in to high gear....

However, you are offering your opinions as facts that would appear to require no corroboration. Regardless if I agree or not, your agrugment doesn't, inherently, hold any more water than an opposing view point.

BDT

LiquidSound

You people are so silly. My findings are SOLID!! Don't use cables and you notice an IMMEDIATE difference. Night and day people...

F1nut

HiPerf360 wrote:

Not thin skined...

Backed up by fact or just the placebo effect?

I am not a very pc person myself, but i do believe in the "golden rule".

Good, we'll get along just fine.

If my ears tell me it's a fact, that's good enough for me. The real question is how does one prove to another that they can hear a difference. I mean, I believe you when you say you can't, but having heard the differences for myself I do feel sorry for those that can't as I really feel you're missing something.

Do onto others as they would do to you. That one? Yeah, I believe in that, she was fun too.

F1nut

Maybe I'm not understanding you correctly, but first you say,

I have always found there to be no audible difference between quality interconnects. In my experience as long as it has a good conductor and a well braided shielding layer you are good to go.

And as far as speaker cable goes, the power going to your speakers is no different than the AC coming out of the wall (except frequency changes). As long as the wire is large enough for the current levels i've never heard a difference.

And then say,

I agree hearing the difference in cables, these are just an item with a really bad diminishing return bell curve. I can hear the difference between "good" and "bad" interconnects, but the differences between a $50-100.00 cable compared to a $1000.00+ cable are inaudible.

I'm not trying to pick on you, but those comments seem to contradict themselves.

Have you read the reviews in the Cable Swap Program? In there you will find one I did between $100.00 Nordost Solarwinds and $900.00 MIT S1's. Huge difference in sound quality, IMO.

fox

Well, I think I have my answer now. Really did not mean to get a controversy started on this.