Bill Low's impressive success story began in 1980 with the founding of AudioQuest. At that time, no one could have predicted the enormous influence this company would have on the audio world. Through his passion for high-quality sound and his goal of reproducing the original sound unadulterated, Bill Low laid the foundation for the remarkable success the company enjoys worldwide today.
For him, the difference between good and bad hi-fi is how long it takes for the sound to become fatiguing. This fatigue results from all kinds of misinformation. That's why he is always looking for design elements that reduce distortion – and avoids those that merely add misinformation.
Many of the fundamental distortion mechanisms in cables are addressed with the four AudioQuest elements: solid conductors, metals, geometry, and insulation.
It's the passion in the air, the dedication to detail that inspires employees: every step in production, every decision in material selection is driven by a deep conviction: Do no harm! The philosophy is not to improve the sound, but to reduce disruptive factors to faithfully reproduce the original sound. The goal is to do no harm.
Our encounter with the engineers opened up numerous new insights, from special power cables to power filters that can connect a complete audio system.
In the cable burn-in station, all cables undergo a 72-hour burn-in process.
By using first-class materials and implementing advanced design and construction techniques, an increasingly precise reproduction of the audio signal is enabled.
Solid Conductors: Solid conductors prevent strand interaction – one of the predominant causes of distortion in conventional cables.
Metals: The quality of the conductor metal is crucial. The best metals have fewer grain boundaries, smoother surfaces, and lower oxygen content, bringing more clarity and detail without ever sounding harsh or aggressive.
Geometry: The physical relationship of conductors to each other, whether of the same or different polarity, is crucial for a cable's fundamental electrical characteristics. Using the best geometry for different applications significantly reduces distortion.
Insulation (Dielectric): Insulation forms an electrical boundary and, because it is in the conductor's magnetic field, is also a "dielectric." Dielectrics absorb energy, which is released into the signal with a delay, causing smearing and distortion. Good insulation absorbs little energy.
Beyond the four elements – four more elements in cable design that are unique to AudioQuest:
Directionality: When metal is drawn to form the long conductors needed for cable construction, specific grain structures are created that affect the sonic performance of that cable. Every drum of metal wire from which conductors for AudioQuest audio cables are made is tested for directionality, and the cables themselves are aligned and marked accordingly. Cables whose direction of flow matches the directionality of the metal sound softer, less fatiguing, and more relaxed, spacious, and enveloping.
Plugs: AudioQuest's low-distortion plugs are designed from the ground up. Current designs include hanging-silver plugs, which feature very thick direct silver plating. This completely avoids intermediate layers, such as nickel or alloys, that degrade performance.
Dielectric-Bias System (DBS, US Patent Numbers 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1):
AudioQuest's patented DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field that polarizes (aligns) and saturates the insulation's molecules. This prevents both energy storage in the dielectric and the numerous non-linear time delays found in insulations without electrical tension.
Noise-Dissipation System (NDS): Alternating layers of metal and carbon-loaded synthetics in NDS "shield the shield," absorbing and reflecting most of the high-frequency interference before it can reach the grounded layer.
Our visit was inspiring and informative. It was impressive to see how the company continuously drives innovation and quality improvements and has earned a reputation as one of the leading cable manufacturers worldwide. With their passion for audiophile excellence and their pursuit of the highest fidelity, they have secured a firm place in the industry.
The founder, Bill Low, believes in human lived experience. Credibility doesn't come from getting a lot of facts. You only know it when you've experienced it. In this spirit, we invite you to a listening session to personally experience the sound quality of AudioQuest cables, hear the differences, and decide if they meet your own requirements and preferences.
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