Well If I remember correctly, gold plating does nothing to the sound. Its done to prevent oxidation. His constant refferal to "Low Level Detail resolution" for both taking off the gold plating and rubbing wax on the connectors... is well BS. In so far as I'm concerned Low Level Detail Resolution is a meaningless term. To think that wax affects the sound is just beyond any electronic theory. Unless were moving beyond the world of physics I'd dismiss his statement regarding the wax (don't forget we are talking about stationary RCA plugs here, not headphone cables). Then when he uses the EXACT same "low level detail resolution" for removing the gold plating... well let's just say I'm suspicious to say the least.
When we open up data transfer cables (ie lan cables) we find twisted pairs. These twisted pairs are like one channel + ground in terms of headphones. They are twisted in an effort to make sure that the noise is "evenly" applied to both cables (to ensure they are in differential mode). Now take two of those twisted pairs, rotate one at 90 degrees and manage to find a way to put them together. Take a VERY close look at the Litz 4 braid:
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/100_0945.jpg
Notice that one pair (the black or red) is the hot + ground. This form of braiding does the EXACT same thing as twisted pairs in the data cables. At some length, there is a 1/2 turn so that the wire exposed to the noise keeps changing back and forth. This is the same for both sets (red and black). Now when we're dealing with cross talk what we have to worry about is the magnetic field caused by the wires. The magnetic field is perpendicular to the flow of electrons, so what we have is here:
Magnetic field: || || || || || || || || || || ||
Wire: =============================
Magnetic Field: || || || || || || || ||
you can imagine a magnetic field that moves in a clockwise direction around the wire. This magnetic field when next to another wire, will induce another current. In this case it induces cross talk in the wires. so now lets examine the braid again. There are two points of interest (relative to one set of wires, either black or red):
1. Wires intersect
2. Wires do not intersect
Lets take the black wires for example
When the wires intersect you have the black wires intersecting in the middle with the red wires on opposite sides.
We have two opposing magnetic fields, one rotating in the clockwise direction and one rotating in a counterclock wise direction, so they end up canceling each other out for the black wires.
When the black wires do not intersect and we have the red wires in the middle, we have the magnetic field on the black wires inducing crosstalk on the red wires. But once again the induced field from one side is canceled out by the other. So what you end up getting is a net result of zero.
This is for Standard L/R/G audio When using a balanced set up, you actually have crosstalk taking place... BUT it doesn't matter because of the differential mode/operation of your equipment. In fact the 4litz braid is probably your best option for balanced set up because what you have is a constantly induced field on all 4 wires. The red wires induce crosstalk on the black wires, and the black wires induce crosstalk on the red wires, but when you look at the differential on both ends, all the noise cancels out and all you are left with is the signal itself. The real issue with balanced set ups is that the wires MUST, MUST be the same length, and you MUST keep a constant pitch with the braiding. Otherwise you will get crosstalk that will not cancel out when you look at the differences.
Hope that helps
