Audio Accessories: "A Discussion on Audio Cables"

Cables are increasingly evolving intoHigh-Fidelityhigh-performance cables. High S/N ratio, wide bandwidth, and high resolution are not only due to the improved quality of the conductors, but also largely due to better insulation materials and materials with superior electrical properties. This likely results in a marked difference in quality and expressiveness between old cables and the latest cables. If your audio system uses old cables, you may only get old sound. It is important that the music signal is transmitted from output to input without signal loss and without picking up noise.Bakoon ProductsExcept for systems using current signals, the above is unavoidable, so cable manufacturers are engaged in developing cables that use better conductors and superior materials. Cable length affects sound quality. This applies not only to audio signals but also to video signals; the longer the cable, the greater the signal loss, so it is better to keep cables as short as possible to avoid information loss, delay, and noise. Short cables also help to keep wiring neat, which is recommended.




It is also said that the sound of a cable is ultimately determined by the connectors. This is actually the part that connects directly, so it is important. It is expected that the sound quality of a cable with connectors would be influenced 50% by the cable and 50% by the connector, but in practice, the connector’s influence is said to be 20–30%. In any case, the final sound should be a combination of both. Broadly speaking, there are connectors with gold plating and those with rhodium plating. The difference in plating is that gold plating offers a smooth midrange and charm but tends to be less delicate in the upper midrange, while rhodium plating tends to provide a tight, high S/N ratio and high resolution consistently across all ranges, giving a slightly cool texture. Cable compatibility and personal preference play a part, but rhodium plating is generally considered better in terms of precision and purity. Strictly speaking, some connectors use two-layer or four-layer plating with copper or silver, so it’s better not to assume that gold or rhodium plating will automatically have certain characteristics. Additionally, some luxurious connectors use the same excellent conductor material made of uniquely developed precious metal alloys of 5N–6N gold, silver, and platinum, like Mutoh Works’ AuGrain.




Here is the product page for RCA cables.
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/list.php?category_id=59
Here is the product page for XLR cables.
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/list.php?category_id=60

The cables that ultimately drive the speakers producing sound are the speaker cables. The purpose of upgrading speaker cables is to elevate the audio quality of your system to a new level by using cables with high-precision transmission capabilities. Connecting cables to speakers is not particularly difficult as long as you carefully attach the positive and negative terminals correctly. However, as mentioned earlier, the final sound quality is determined by the terminals used, so if you are using bare wires, attaching terminals can allow for an upgrade. Attaching terminals ensures a more secure connection and maintains consistent sound quality without damaging the core wire.




Here is the product page for speaker cables.
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/list.php?category_id=131

When connecting cables to speaker terminals, using bare wires is fine with cables that have a small conductor diameter, but with cables that have a thick dual-conductor structure, it is often better to use terminal treatments such as Y-lugs or banana plugs for more reliable connection and better sound quality. Regarding choosing between Y-lugs and banana plugs, Y-lugs tend to offer parts with superior resolution and high-frequency characteristics, but tightening with fingers can be surprisingly difficult, and for small speakers with thick, heavy cables, they may come loose. For this reason, banana plugs have the advantage of being easier and more reliable. In any case, ideal terminals are those that are high-resolution, wide-band, and precise.



Cable length affects sound quality. To avoid timing delays and sound quality changes, ensure both left and right speaker cables are equal in length. While the shortest necessary length benefits sound quality, it is advisable to allow some extra length for future terminal replacement or system changes and relocations.
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/detail.php?product_id=461