Directional Cables - WTFO?

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pchorman

pchorman

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OK Guys, get a load of this: I was inspecting a Monster Studio Pro 1000 instrument cable today, you know - the one that costs $40 for a couple of feet, and noticed it was marked:

Signal Flo --->

Can someone kindly tell me how an instrument cable could possibly work better in one direction than the other when transmitting an AC signal, the current of which alternately flows both directions - by definition?

Thanks in advance for setting the rules of physics straight for me.
 
The short answer: it can't. Yet another marketing ploy by Monster to make people think that their cables are Something Special- which, regrettably, they are not.

The sheer chutzpah of the Monster folks will never cease to amaze me... But many people routinely shell out the bucks for them, and feel good about it. So, whatever works for them is fine with me. Frankly, I wish Monster would leave the pro-audio market alone, and just concentrate on the slammed-Acura-with-fartpipe-and-chrome-reverse-wheels-outside-the-bodywork-and-gigawatt-subwoofer market. Which is certainly where they belong.

There is *one* valid reason for certain cables to be directional, though- I have some ProCo cables that are. These use a special TS connector for one end that shorts tip to sleeve when the connector is partially unplugged, allowing you to unplug from one guitar and plug into another without the usual burst of hum. In that case, you want the shorting plug to be on the axe end, not the amp end. Viola'! A "directional" cable that actually makes a difference.

I think we need an HR equivalent to Godwin's Law: whenever the phrase "Monster Cable" comes up in a discussion, by definition that discussion is over!
 
Skippy, I found plenty of that Belden and other low-cap cabling for sale by the foot from various internet vendors. I think I need to get out the soldering iron and forget the short-cuts of buying "the best" of pre-built, price-inflated patches; just can't trust them.

Even if there were a TS connector on the end, it is misleading to point an arrow in the direction of a fictitious signal flow. If they cared not to insult those who know better, it should have been marked:

amp--->
 
When I bought my hi-fi amp and speakers the guy in the store tried to tell me the speaker cable he was throwing in for free was "directional cable". It has a little white row of arrows on it to identify one half of the cable so you can keep the polarity the same. He was throwing it in for nothing so I have no idea how much he would have charged me to actually buy some.

What beats me was the fact that it was an "audiophile" kinda store... all high end specialist retail stuff. How many of these people buy into this? I know my neighbour who bought his hifi from the same place did cos he told me how great his speaker cable was "its directional cable so it only works one way....." Mind you he also spent ages looking for green marker pens.

As the americans would say... Go Figure
 
The most frightening thing is that the monster cable thing proves its an industry scam and not just one shop owner trying his luck on unsuspecting punters....

its a conspiracy i tells ya
 
Which side was green. Was it the input side or the output side
 
Originally posted by OneLouder
What beats me was the fact that it was an "audiophile" kinda store... all high end specialist retail stuff. How many of these people buy into this?

All of them. "Audiophile" seems to be a business codeword for "rich, easily suckered male".
 
"slammed-Acura-with-fartpipe-and-chrome-reverse-wheels-outside-the-bodywork-and-gigawatt-subwoofer market"

Hey, great description! May I use it please?

- Wil

(Ah, but you will, Wil, you WILL! ;> )
 
Go for it, with my blessings, even though I can't take credit for most of it- I didn't even invent the word "fartpipe", though I devoutly wish that I had. Shoot, let's even define a new acronym for it!

The *only* good thing to come out of the SAWFACRWOTBAGS market is the Dynamat family of products. Period. That stuff is downright miraculous for quieting noisy computer/recording hardware by damping cabinet resonances. Other than that, the whole SAWFACRWOTBAGS industry could disappear and I wouldn't shed a tear.

The parallel is appropriate. On the whole, Monster Cable offers roughly the same performance improvment over a quality normal cable as you'd get by installing that 4" diameter exhaust tip on the stock exhaust on your Civic...

But don't get me started. You know how I get.
 
Audiophilia gives rich folks another reason to say they are better than you......their golden ears.

Sort of the aural equivalent of "car-as-penis"......."hi-fi-as-proof-of-superior breeding"

Much laughter from my corner.

peace.
 
effedupstrat

ROFLMAO!

Hey, drop me a line sometime and let me know what you're up to!

-wp
 
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