AUDIOQUEST CV-4 48V DBS

CV-4 with NEW Dielectric-Bias System might look like a normal round cable, but inside is a fully optimized combination of extraordinary materials and extremely refined design.

Dielectric-Bias System (DBS, patent pending): Unfortunately, because insulation stores and releases energy, it is also a “dielectric.” In a cable application, all released energy is distortion. The misnomer “break-in” is often used to describe the pronounced improvement in performance as the dielectric adapts to a charged state as the cable is used. Whenever a cable does not have a charge on it, it is re-adapting to an uncharged state; it is becoming new again.

By maintaining a 36 volt dielectric-bias, far above the voltage of delicate audio signals, the DBS system provides considerably better transparency and dynamics than is possible even from a cable in continuous use. It takes a couple of weeks for the DBS system to reach maximum performance. Since DBS battery packs are attached when Mont Blanc cables are first terminated, Mont Blanc will be approaching or at peak performance by the time it is installed in your system. Since there is no “load” on the two standard hardware-store batteries, they will last for years. A test button and LED allow for occasional verification of battery performance.

Conductors: All four of CV-4’s conductors are solid. Electrical and magnetic interaction between strands in a conventional cable is the single greatest source of distortion, often causing a somewhat harsh, dirty and confused sound. Solid conductors are the most important ingredients enabling CV-4’s very clear sound. Whether a conductor is solid or stranded, skin-effect is a prime distortion mechanism in speaker cables. CV-4 very simply keeps this effect out of the audio range by using conductor sizes that are below the threshold for audible distortion.

SST (Spread Spectrum Technology): Any single size or shape of conductor has a specific distortion profile. Even though radially symmetrical conductors (solid round or tubular) have the fewest discontinuities, any particular size does have a sonic signature. SST is a method for significantly reducing the awareness of these character flaws by using a precise combination of different size conductors. SST has enabled CV-4 to be the biggest possible four conductor cable that avoids audible skin-effect.

Metal: CV-4’s PSC (Perfect Surface Copper) has an astonishingly smooth and pure surface. Proprietary metal processing technology protects the wire’s surface at every stage of drawing and fabrication. When high-purity low-oxide copper is kept as soft, pure and smooth as possible, it becomes a wonderfully low distortion conductor. For fifteen years AudioQuest has pioneered the use of superior metals; yet even we were surprised by the huge leap in performance. PSC clearly outperforms previous AQ metals that cost over ten times as much.

All drawn metal exhibits directionality, whether in hardware store wire or in the best AQ cable. We wish we could design away this awkwardness. Since we can’t, we pay close attention to optimizing performance by clearly marking the cables and our terminations. Please watch for these markings when installing any audio cables.

Geometry: The relationship between conductors defines a cable’s most basic electrical values (capacitance and inductance). However, even when those variables are kept in a reasonable balance, the relationship between conductors can be varied in ways that greatly effect the sound. The spiral construction of CV-4 allows for significantly better dynamic contrast and information intelligibility than if the same conductors were run in parallel. The specific 4-cross geometry used in CV-4 maximizes this advantage.

Insulation: In a low level cable the insulating material significantly affects the cable’s performance. However, in a speaker cable the electrical effect of insulation is almost only heard as a dry irritating sound prior to a cable being fully “run-in” … technically “adapting to a charged state.” The term “break-in” does not apply because taking away the charge will slowly return the cable to its “new” condition. The insulation’s mechanical (hard vs. soft) properties make an important difference in stranded cables. The harder the better in order to minimize strand movement. Since solid conductors don’t need hard insulation, they can take advantage of the vibration damping advantage of a softer insulation.

Terminations: AudioQuest offers a wide range of high quality connectors that allow CV-4 to be securely attached to any type of equipment. “Quality” is in the low distortion sound, not necessarily in the eye-candy effect. AQ ends are either a dull looking gold or silver because these metals are plated directly over the connector. There is no shiny and harsh sounding nickel layer underneath. AQ spade lugs are soft because better metal is soft, and facilitates a higher quality connection. AQ spade lugs are available in several sizes. AQ Benda-Pins fit all equipment, except pieces requiring a banana plug or BFA connector, in which case the AQ Crimp BFA/Banana provides unprecedented performance at a fraction the cost of those not-so-good sounding big eye-candy versions.

CV-4 Biwire Jumpers are available to use when a single CV-4 is used with a biwirable speaker. These Jumpers have 100% trade-in value towards a second set of cable. A combination of these major ingredients, and many more subtle details add up to explain how even an affordable cable like CV-4 can sound so good.