ZERO-TECH (UNDEFINED CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE) FOR UNCOMPRESSED CURRENT TRANSFER AND LINEAR NOISE CANCELLATION

The only complete way to eliminate characteristic impedance differences between a cable and the connected source and load is for the cable to have no fixed characteristic impedance value. ZERO-Tech achieves this by eliminating the interaction between the insulation (dielectric) and the conductors of the cable, allowing for uncompressed current transfer. The important transient current is unlimited, and the RF noise cancellation is linearized (consistent from octave to octave).

GND-TECH (GROUND NOISE DISSIPATION)

This highly effective patented common-mode noise cancellation technology is applied to the ground path in almost all AQ AC power cables, in addition to the AQ BASS Bass & Midrange speaker cables. The effectiveness of GND-Tech compromises audio above 10,000Hz, making the special Bass & Midrange cable less ideal for Full-Range use.

FIREBIRD CONDUCTORS: SOLID PERFECT-SURFACE SILVER (PSS) AND SOLID PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER+ (PSC+)

Solid conductors prevent electrical interaction between strands, important sources of distortion. The quality of the surface is crucial because a conductor can be considered as a rail guide for both the fields within a conductor and for the magnetic fields extending outside the conductor. The stunningly smooth and pure surface of all AudioQuest Perfect-Surface metals eliminates almost all roughness and significantly increases clarity compared to lesser materials. The careful choice of dimensions of the PSS and PSC+ conductors ensures that the performance of FireBird comes close to using all PSS Silver, but at a much lower cost.

72v Dielectric-Bias System with CARBON-Level Radio Frequency Trap (DBS)

All insulation is also a dielectric whose electrical properties affect the integrity of the signal. When the insulation is insensitive, dielectric influence (absorption and non-linear release of energy back into the signal flow) causes different amounts of time delay (phase shift) for different frequencies and energy levels, which is a significant problem for highly time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest's multi-patented DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field that saturates and polarizes (orders) the molecules of the insulation. This minimizes non-linear time delays, resulting in clearer sound emerging from a "blacker" background. The inclusion of an RF Trap (a technology developed for AudioQuest's Niagara series power products) in the DBS battery pack further reduces radio frequency noise. The DBS battery packs last for many years. A test button and LED allow occasional checking of the battery.

ON CARBON-BASED LINEARIZED NOISE DISSIPATION SYSTEM (NDS)

Today's environment is saturated with radio frequency noise that is extremely difficult to filter or reject. The frequencies of this noise, originating from satellites, mobile phone towers, Bluetooth, etc., are so extremely narrow that conventional shielding or series or shunt filters are completely inadequate. Much of the low-level signal carrying the harmonics and spatial signals that are critical to high-resolution audio is masked by the induced radio frequency noise. AQ's extensive linearized noise dissipation system combines multiple shields and a carbon-based linearized resistance network that converts most of this noise into heat. By "linearized," we mean that the system is equally effective over a very wide bandwidth, rather than only at certain frequencies as is typical. The remaining bad energy is effectively drained from the sensitive amplifier circuits via directionally dependent signal and shielding conductors.

FireBird Bi-Wiring

If possible, using separate cables for the high and low "halves" of a speaker significantly reduces distortion. Bi-Wiring keeps the large magnetic fields associated with low-frequency energy out of the high-frequency cable, allowing the delicate high frequencies to travel a less magnetically disturbed path, just as you remove waves from the water when you swim. The GND-Tech (patented Ground-Noise Dissipation) of the AudioQuest BASS cables draws RF energy away from the amplifier output. Bi-Wiring has always been a cost-effective way to get better performance for the same or less money, when properly applied. With GND-Tech, the benefit of Bi-Wiring is even greater. FireBird BASS cable is ideal for the Bass input of a Bi-Wireable speaker in combination with a FireBird ZERO on the treble input. A BiWire-COMBO with BASS and ZERO cables combined at the amplifier is usually the most convenient. For Tri-Wiring, use BASS cables on the midrange and bass inputs. Note: Do not Bi-Wire with two ZERO cables. Two or more ZERO cables in parallel can cause a very high resonance peak (ringing), resulting in poor sound. On a Bi-Wired speaker, use only a ZERO in combination with a BASS cable, otherwise use a single ZERO cable with jumpers.

MYTHICAL CREATURE COLD-WELDED CONNECTIONS

Mythical Creature cables are cold-welded to AudioQuest's extremely pure red copper spades or bananas. The bare copper is immersed (suspended) in a vat of pure silver instead of being tumbled in a lower-quality solution. AudioQuest speaker terminations and plug housings are non-metallic to avoid inducing RF noise into the conductors.