trug, i've never read your way, however, it does seem more complicated, (for this 15yo at least). just a question, my phono plug has black coating over the wires, when i cut it, i see a red wire and a white wire, is the red wire the positive? also, my wires has this configuration in it, first off, it's a black coating, under this black coating there is a ring of copper wire strands, then there's a red/white wire coating inside the ring of copper wire strands, then within the red/white wires, there is copper wire strands too.