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Audience's Au-24 LCR Set
Speaker Cables by Audience
Manufacturer's Description:
Au24 ... where less is more
High Resolution Audio
Cables
Loud Speaker LCR Set
We believe 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 soundas 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 1000’s 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 we 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 we made it look better it sounded worse. We were 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 our lower and mid-priced cables as well.
Audience
loudspeaker cables are terminated with rhodium plated spade connectors.
Audience will provide custom lengths and termination.
The Au24
cables will begin to sound good after 2 to 3 hours playing time and will continue to improve for approximately 50 hours.