User Manual

CABLE THEORY

Page 13

has multiple compound character aws. SST does not do the impossible: it does not eliminate this type

of distortion. We can’t actually strip away the undesirable artifacts, but we can make them virtually in-

visible (to the ear).

Biwire versatility-using two speaker cables: As discussed previously, it is important to biwire speak-

ers whenever you have the option. The two cables must be identical, or must use essentially identical

designs in order not to compromise the coherence of the speaker. If money were no object, double runs

of our best cable would be an easy choice for everyone. However, since money usually is relevant, it

is important to consider the best sounding and most cost-effective alternatives. As you will see below,

many AudioQuest speaker cables are grouped into families which use very similar or identical designs.

Within a family, cables can be mixed to create some very effective combinations. Since bass frequen-

cies can never be harsh, it can be advantageous to use a cable with a lower quality conducting material

for the bass in combination with a superior cable for the upper ranges. Within the AudioQuest line there

are many opportunities to take advantage of this cost efciency: Type 4 could be used on the bass with

CV4 for treble; Bedrock on the bass might be used with Granite on the treble; Caldera on the bass with

Kilimanjaro on the treble. You can biwire by using two separate pairs of cables, or you can use what

we call a Double Biwire set. In such a set the two cables are joined together at the amplier end so that

only one spade lug goes to each amplier terminal.

Biwire versatility-using one speaker cable: Many AudioQuest

cables have the built-in ability to biwire with a single cable. Almost

every AudioQuest cable can be used as a single biwire set in which

the cable is prepared normally at the amplier end. However, at the

speaker end there are four connections instead of the normal two.

Two of the ends are prepared 2” (5cm) longer (for the tweeter input)

so that the cable will hang properly from all four connections. Please

read individual cable descriptions and consult your dealer for recom-

mendations.

Biwiring within a single cable is a compromise, though often a very practical and cost-effective com-

promise. Much of the advantage of biwiring is due to magnetically isolating the high and low frequency

conductors, and they cannot be isolated quite as well within a single cable.

However, single-biwiring with Slate, Bedrock, Granite and Gibraltar speaker cables is always the most

cost-effective way to biwire within their price range. This is true whether the speaker has its frequency

range divided above or below the midrange. The conductor sizes and placement have been optimized

to not only make the lowest distortion full range cable, but also to make the best universal single-biwire

cable. The “at rock” models, Slate, Granite and Gibraltar use double quad-helixs, creating an unprec-

edented isolation of magnetic elds when these cables are used to single-biwire.

When the speaker is a three way or a panel/dynamic hybrid, the bass cable needs to have a good

design and be big, but it doesn’t have to be the best full-range cable since it carries such a limited fre-

quency range. On the other hand, the cable carrying the midrange and high frequency information has

to be a good full-range cable. It needs good design and size because the lower midrange has much the

same requirements as the bass, and it must be extremely low distortion so that the more delicate high

frequencies suffer minimal distortion.