MASSIVE PERFECT-SURFACE COPPER+/PERFECT-SURFACE SILVER+ (PSC+/PSS) CONDUCTORS

Massive conductors prevent interaction between the strands, which is a significant source 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 the magnetic fields extending outside the conductor. The astonishingly smooth and pure Perfect-Surface Copper+ eliminates roughness and significantly increases clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N, and other high-quality coppers. The highly pure Perfect-Surface Silver further minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries, which occur in any metal conductor.

ZERO-TECH (NO DEFINED CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE) FOR UNCOMPRESSED CURRENT TRANSFER AND LINEAR NOISE SUPPRESSION

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 suppression is linearized (consistent from octave to octave).

GND-TECH (GROUND NOISE DISSIPATION)

This highly effective patented common-mode noise suppression 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.

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 issue for highly time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest's multiple 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 reduces radio frequency noise even further. The DBS battery packs last for many years. A test button and LED allow occasional battery checking.

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 crucial 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.

Robin Hood Bi-Wiring

If possible, distortion is significantly reduced by running separate cables to the high and low "halves" of a speaker. Bi-Wiring keeps the large magnetic fields associated with low-frequency energy out of the cable for high frequencies, allowing the sensitive high frequencies to travel a less magnetically disturbed path, as if you were removing waves from the water when swimming. 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, if applied correctly. With GND-Tech, the benefit of Bi-Wiring is much more dramatic. The Robin Hood BASS cable is ideal for the Bass input of a Bi-Wireable speaker in combination with a Robin Hood ZERO on the treble input. A BiWire-COMBO with BASS and ZERO cables merged at the amplifier is usually the most convenient. For Tri-Wiring, use BASS cables on the midrange and low-frequency inputs. Note: Do not Bi-Wire with two ZERO cables. Two or more parallel ZERO cables 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.

DIRECTIONALITY

All audio cables are directional. The correct direction is determined by listening to each batch of metal conductors used in each AudioQuest audio cable. All signal conductors are checked for digital audio direction in AudioQuest HDMI cables, and even the conductors used in the Audio Return Channel are deliberately led in the opposite direction to ensure the best performance for that application. The arrows indicate the direction from source to display and are clearly marked on the connectors to ensure superior sound quality.

FOLK HERO COLD-WELDED CONNECTIONS

Folk Hero 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.