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Listed in The Absolute Sound 2012 High-End Audio Buyer's Guide
The Absolute Sound "Best Interconnect" 2008/2009
Columbia is the Gem of AQ's River Series
Here's a gem that's truly affordable. Columbia brings the full benefits of AudioQuest's premium Rivers series interconnects at a fraction of the cost of its 'bigger brothers.'
Columbia features a triple-layer Noise Dissipation system with the 48-volt DBS system that protects the entire cable from airborne noise. And it uses the same no-compromise PSC+ conductors as the more pricey Colorado.
AudioQuest Columbia interconnect was honored by being included in The Absolute Sound 2012 High-End Audio Buyer's Guide. According to the magazine, "The Columbia's highs are well-defined and sweet-sounding; its bass is taut yet possesses plenty of weight, warmth, and three-dimensionality."
"Bass That's Taut and Weighty"
The Absolute Sound magazine rated the AudioQuest Colombia interconnect and AudioQuest CV-8 speaker cable as the "Best Interconnect and Speaker Cable" in the Winter 08 / Spring 09 issue. "The entry-level interconnect and speaker cables in AudioQuest's battery-powered DBS (dielectric bias system) technology offer well defined yet sweet highs, bass that's taut yet weighty and warm, and a neutral midrange."
It's Materially Superior
Columbia's solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of cable distortion. Extremely high-purity Perfect-Surface Copper™ (PSC+) minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries that exist within any metal conductor, eliminating harshness and greatly increasing clarity compared to all other conducting materials.
Did we mention Columbia's noise-quashing shielding? Two different shield strategies (conductive PVC and foil) are used to greatly reduce RF energy BEFORE getting drained to ground. This significantly reduces signal modulation distortion.
Even Columbia's dielectric goes the extra mile. Air is the best insulation because it does not absorb and later release energy. The large PE Air-Tubes used in Columbia have almost nothing but air around the PSC+ conductors.
The Dielectric Bias System (DBS) Difference
A constant 48-volt charge on Columbia's insulation yields a huge performance leap. When insulation is unbiased, its dielectric properties cause different amounts of time-delay for each frequency and each signal level, as if each were a coin dropped in different thickness/viscosity shampoo or engine oil.
Similar to how the earth's magnetic field makes all compasses point north, the AQ DBS system creates an electrostatic field which causes the molecules of the insulation to all point in the same direction. This minimizes the multiple nonlinear time-delays. Sound appears from a surprisingly black background with unexpected detail and dynamic contrast.
Because DBS battery packs are attached when Columbia cables are assembled, Columbia does not require any additional run-in period. Because there is no "load" on the batteries, they will last for years. A test button and LED allow for occasional verification of battery performance.
Triple-Balanced Design
The three conductors in "Triple Balanced" Columbia cable ensure that whether prepared with RCA or XLR connectors, the positive and negative signals have equally low distortion conducting paths. The 100% coverage shield is never used as an inferior audio conductor.
AudioQuest's new cold-weld system provides a superior connection that ensures that the structural integrity of the conductor is kept completely intact. | 
