The direction a cable is connected in does not tend to dramatically affect either the tonal quality or the amount of information transmitted, the differences are in the way that the information is transmitted. The direction of the cable can have a significant effect on the coherence or timing of the music being listened to. Timing and coherence are terms used to describe a system's ability to deliver the often very subtle rhythms that are so critical to the involvement in and enjoyment of music. From this it is possible to assume that the direction of the cable can alter the attack of individual notes (even subtle changes in the attack of a note will affect the way that a rhythm is perceived). It could also be assumed that the cable direction has a small but significant effect on the noise floor level.

In listening terms, a cable connected in the optimum direction will produce a more involving and coherent sound.