HDMI Cable: Directional?

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by C_Doc

Although not the same retailer, nor length or price, here is a 3M version of the cable I had picked up, that had the directional markings on the casing...

I must say, it certainly has stirred up some debate on the matter.... Carry on the discussion while I make popcorn.

Quite interesting...dug through it, found this from Ultralink:

http://www.ultralinkcables.com/guides/Ultralink_20Q.pdf

When it comes to two of the most controversial aspects of cable marketing—cable
directionality and cable burn in—are they fact or fiction?
Fact, on both counts.
Earlier we talked about copper-oxide impurities at the juncture between the copper
crystals in the matrix and how they have a tendency to act as little diodes. Diodes pass
current better in one direction than another. This slight polarization characteristic makes
the cables do so, as well. It’s subtle but noticeable as a bit more natural and open
sounding. Unfortunately, there’s absolutely no way of telling which direction is the best
one in a predictable way on the spool. You must listen to it—and do so before you mark
it for directionality. We listen to every batch of cable and then clearly mark the
directionality of that spool and the cable so that it’s always right. Many companies don’t
do this. Knowing the effect to be a subtle one in most cases and that there is a 50 percent
chance of the direction being right; they just mark the cable’s signal flow as it comes off
the spool without listening. So, in that case and for that product, it would be a fictional
feature. In our case, it’s very real.

More voodoo. They can't measure it; they have to "listen to it", to get this directionality.

Interesting interview, but this part left me cold. It still makes no sense.