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Audience believes the
Au24 cables attain the elusive goal of combining exquisite sonic detail with the beauty of true musicality.
This is due in large part to the Au24's incredible time domain performance. One look will tell you these
are not "me too" products. The materials, design and construction techniques utilized in the Au24
cable line reflect the latest thinking in state of the art, high-resolution technology.
Contributing to the
excellent time domain characteristics of the Au24 cables are high quality materials and proper
configuration. Most audiophiles are aware of the importance of good insulating and conducting materials.
The Au24 cables are constructed of OHNO continuous cast single crystal copper conductors with polypropylene
insulation and cross-linked polyethylene jacket material. Relatively few people are aware of the role
geometric configuration plays. If a given cable is not optimally configured to perform the task it was
designed to do it will never sound as good as a cable with the correct physical/electrical characteristics
regardless of which exotic materials are used in its construction. All Audience cables and especially the
Au24 series are designed for low eddy-current resistance. This is the key electrical characteristic for
good time response. Eddy-currents are created by the magnetic field found around a cable when an electrical
signal is present. This magnetic field builds up and collapses as the signal varies. When the field
collapses it induces an opposing voltage back into the cable. This opposing voltage causes eddy-currents in
the conductor. If they could be seen, eddy-currents would look like swirling water in a river. This late
arriving, opposing voltage disrupts the original signal by inducing a time-smearing artifact. These effects
are clearly audible. Cables that sound "detailed" or "powerful in the bass" are usually
victims of high eddy-currents. Eddy currents plus high capacitance can cause a cable to sound overly
"relaxed." The particular type of coloration caused by eddy-currents is dependent on the
materials, construction techniques and the geometric configuration of the cable. The Au24 cables exhibit
extremely low eddy current resistance.
Many cables are designed
for the lowest possible capacitance. Other cables are designed for the lowest possible inductance.
Actually, for properly balanced sound reproduction these inductive and capacitive values should both be
minimized and the ratio of inductance to capacitance (L:C) must be optimized. By designing for the lowest
possible eddy-current resistance at the correct specific frequency, proper L:C ratio is naturally arrived
at and both of these properties are minimized. The result is natural reproduction as heard in real life
without added emphasis or editorializing. The Au24 cables may not sound as exciting at first but the
virtues become apparent as the listener becomes familiar with them. Perhaps even more importantly, the
musical overtones arrive in their proper time relationship with the fundamentals. This creates a more
convincing illusion of reality and improves sound staging. For example, when properly recorded, a drummer's
cymbals will now be placed back with the rest of the drum kit instead of appearing to emanate from the
speakers.
There is a common
misconception that loudspeaker cable must be large in diameter and have a low DC resistance in order to
provide good bass response. DC resistance is relatively unimportant. What really matters is the
characteristic impedance (AC resistance) of the cable. Music is an AC signal after all. Most of these large
diameter/low DC resistance cables have excessively high characteristic impedance anywhere from 100 to 600
ohms with some measuring in the 1000s of ohms. The Au24 Loudspeaker Cable is only 4mm or 1/8" in
diameter. Although the DC resistance may be slightly higher than the garden hose variety speaker cables the
characteristic impedance is only 16 ohms. Musical signals from the bass to the overtones pass through this
cable with less actual impedance than a cable with a lower DC resistance. The Au24 Loudspeaker Cable
provides nearly perfect bass timbre and extension. Plus, the low eddy-current resistance means the cable is
very quick and linear in the time domain. Voices and instruments sound strikingly real with this
loudspeaker cable.
In developing the Au24
line audience discovered how important simplicity is when highest possible performance is the design goal.
Fancier connectors and layers of cosmetic sleeving would have made the cable look more expensive. However
every time they made it look better it sounded worse. Audience was truly amazed at the sonically
detrimental effects caused by bulky, high-end connectors and decorative sleeving. The lessons learned with
the Au24 cables have now been applied to their lower and mid-priced cables as well.
Audience exclusive Au24
RCA connectors are used on all cables requiring RCA termination. These simple, high quality connectors are
far less colored than bulkier, fancier connectors. They are an advanced, minimalist design and have
excellent grip and low contact resistance.
The Au24 cables will
begin to sound good after 2 to 3 hours playing time and will continue to improve for approximately 50 hours.
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Questions?
1.973.239.1799
