Speaker Cable Iconoclast speaker cables use a unique configuration of Belden's bonded pairs -- developed originally for data cable applications -- insulated in a thin Teflon skin and woven tightly together for low inductance without the usual problematic high capacitance. The design works to flatten the VP (velocity of propagation) curve through the audio band for the best possible timing performance in speaker cable.
TPC Electrolytic Tough-Pitch Copper: 99.9% pure; used in most quality communications cable99.9% pureOFE Oxygen-Free Electrolytic Copper: 99.99% pure, higher grade than traditional OFHC (Series-1 cable only)99.99% pureSPTPC Silver-Plated Tough Pitch Copper: our TPC with an electroplate of silver99.998% pureTime Braided bonded-pair construction helps to flatten the VP curve through the audio bandPower Large circular mil area means low effective AWG, low resistance and damping factorSolidity Ultrasonic welding brings 48 or 96 solid wires together into a durable termination
Design Details: Approach:
Some people believe in having a dozen different designs, all completely distinct from one another; but electrical performance is our guiding star. How can so many different configurations each be well-optimized? We offer only two designs: our original Series-1 cable, with 48 conductors of 24 AWG, and our Series-2 cable, with twice as many conductors but in 28 AWG. Both designs have the same central objective, which is to flatten the VP curve through the audio frequency band, with the Series-2 a bit flatter than the original Series-1.
The pairs:
Iconoclast speaker cables begin with Belden's "bonded pair" technology, originally developed for high-precision paired data cables, where pairs are closely spaced with high dimensional precision. The photo below shows a typical bonded-pair Ethernet cable, with the jacket stripped and the blue pair straightened out. Here, we take those pairs, use a PTFE (Teflon) dielectric rather than the normal polyethylene, and use them in a completely different application: analog, not digital, and parallel rather than balanced. These pairs are woven tightly together, allowing a large number of discrete conductors to be used in parallel in a compact form.
Bonded pairs, in their original application: precision Ethernet cabling (note that the blue pair has been straightened out)
The Weave:
Weaving these bonded pair runs together gives us a tight braided assembly, with the large number of conductors and small conductor size keeping inductance down. This also means that each conductor occupies every path (or its precise mirror image) in the weave as the pattern repeats, for perfect electrical symmetry (as opposed, for example, to such things as ribbon-cable designs). Note that this differs from other manufacturers' arrangements which may appear superficially similar; the polarities are not woven together, allowing the cable to have low inductance and low capacitance.
Our Series-1 conductor weave, above, and the Series-2, below The pairing of polarities:
The two polarities are held tightly together by an overall nylon jacket, over which is wrapped a tight Teflon covering.
Our Series-2 SPTPC cable, showing the jacket and the split of the two polarities Jacket colors:
The jacket color and conductor color indicate the product: TPC in a red jacket, OFE and SPTPC in blue (the SPTPC and OFE, though they have the same jacket, show the underlying conductor color through the translucent exposed pairs).
The outer jackets: PTFE over nylon braid--> Connectors:
Our standard connectors are our gold-plated locking banana plugs and Rhodium-plated copper spade lugs (available in 6.2, 7.0 or 9.2mm size). All of these connectors are welded to the cable using our unique ultrasonic welding process -- no solder, no intermediary metal -- just a straight strong weld between wire and connector. If you need spade lugs but don't know what size, let us know and we'll send you our binding-post measuring card which will allow you to check before ordering. And, if you need something else in the way of connectors -- Speakons, nonstandard forks or spades, or the like -- just give us a call.
"After hundreds of hours of listening, the overriding character I get from the Iconoclast Series 2 cables is one of resolution and transparency while maintaining a neutral timbal balance. These qualities aren't limited to higher frequencies but extend into the midrange and bass regions. This defining characteristic, plus superb dynamics, make for a truly outstanding cable design. "
Speaker Cable
