 Audio cables performance is initially determined by their loop resistance (R) & inductance (L) & shunt capacitance (C). For most speakers R & L must be low, but capacitance value, C doesn’t matter [1,2] as speakers already act as large cap loads. But simply using larger wire makes R low, at the expense of an increasing ratio to L with musically unacceptable effects. Ways to make inductance L low also with low resistance, include tapes, either stacked or arranged in ribbons. But these types are impractical to fit to nearly every speaker connector without discontinuities, & are stressed & often unsightly when bends are required in real installs & also aren’t suited to mobile uses. Litzing with multiple, insulated conductors is more practical, but quality Litzes are expensive and termination not easy. Other types are gross, like industrial pipes, unsuited to many domestic spaces.
Buy PLY2.0 (14 AWG)
Buy PLY3.4 (12 AWG)
Buy PLY3.4/S (12 AWG), Shielded
Simplistic fat conductors’ rising impedance (due to L) of +6dB/octave is further raised by internal eddy currents causing ’Skin effect’, like ’the square root of inductance’, adding. +3dB/oct, to the L-reactance slope. For typical cable runs, net inductively is such that performance in heavy plain conductors is measurably affected with steady signals just above 1kHz.
Cables with copper or silver stranded conductors suffer from complex oxidation. The semi conductive ’diodes’ between the strands aren’t seen by steady tests, but look like a high capacitance to music signals. This causes energy storage/release cycles, that regular tests miss, yet which is audible with music. This problem is also describable as the electron flow being ’trapped’ inside strands & twisting away from the direct route.
Supra Ply is a large section, low resistance cable, overcoming skin effect & transient distortion, using pure tin plating. Tin melds to copper with-out any diodic barrier, & also protects the copper from common corrosions - ideal for outdoors & 12 volt. Most audio grade cables’ conductors are damaged by contamination, by plastic out-gassing, from the impure atmosphere, & liquid spills. Some are protected but only by a thin coating that’ll one day crack with use and age. Neatly, oxidation forming on Ply is sonically benign.
Other Advantages
When installing, Ply’s rectangular conductor is readily circularized for insertion into receptacles of most regular connectors. Square outer profiling suits most housings too - unlike ribbons, tapes & litzes. Ply is readily coiled, more like thinner, basic cables - making it friendly in temporary setups.
Demonstrating the Difference
Unlike some audio products, benefits of Supra Ply are readily shown by repeatable measurements. Ply’s low-loss behavior for hf audio (incl. bass transients), is evident. Figs. 1, 2 are time domain scope pics, showing typical dynamic/damping differences with a square wave. After transients, Supra’s Ply restrains the peaking & accelerates the signal’s return to 0 volts at the speaker end. Peaking in wide spaced cable shows limp damping & hf loss, because it has high L & low C, the opposite of what’s required to drive most speakers.
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