Cardas Audio Crosslink Interconnect Cable - RCA to RCA

Cardas Built the Crosslink for Systems Just Getting Started

Cardas Audio's Crosslink is the entry to the Cardas interconnect line. Cardas built it for entry-level and mid-level stereo and home theater systems, and describes it as warm and forgiving but still detailed and musical. The copper is Cardas Grade 2, drawn to 99.99% purity.

Other length & termination options are available. Call us to discuss your needs.

Golden Ratio Stranding, in the Entry Cable

Each conductor is Litz wire: many fine strands, each coated in a clear SPN enamel so no strand touches its neighbor. Strand sizes step up in Golden Ratio proportions from the center out, a Cardas signature. Two conductors run at 20.5 AWG, and the layers cross at an angle Cardas calls cross-field geometry.

Cotton, Foil Tape and a Spiral Shield

The two conductors are twisted together around a natural cotton filler and bound in FEP tape. A spiral shield of tin-plated copper wraps the pair to keep radio and electrical noise out. A PVC jacket covers the whole cable. The outside diameter is 7.69 mm, slim enough for a crowded rack.

The GRCM Plug, Explained

Crosslink ends in the Cardas GRCM RCA plug. Cardas machines it from high-copper, non-magnetic brass. The contact surfaces are plated in silver with a rhodium flash, and a gold-plated cover screws on over the cable. The cable opening is 7.77 mm. It is the plug Cardas fits to its entry cable, and it is still machined, not stamped.

Who Is This Interconnect Best For?

• You are building a first serious system — a DAC, streamer or phono stage into an amplifier over RCA, with Cardas Litz copper in the path, so the cable is no longer the weak link
• Your gear lives in a tight rack or cabinet — at 7.69 mm the Crosslink is slim and the PVC jacket flexes, so it routes behind a shelf without straining the jacks
• You run home theater alongside stereo — Cardas built the Crosslink for both, so one cable type covers the sources, the preamp and the surround gear
• You want a plug that holds — the GRCM's machined brass body and rhodium-over-silver contacts grip the jack and resist corrosion, so the connection stays clean for years
• Your source and amplifier both offer XLR — the Crosslink is single-ended RCA. Balanced gear wants the balanced version, and Cardas builds Crosslink in XLR too. See the Cardas Crosslink XLR, or call us and we will match the connector to your gear

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run the Crosslink from a line-level output, a DAC, streamer, CD player or phono stage, to a line-level input on your amplifier or preamp. Keep left to left and right to right. Push each GRCM plug straight on until it seats. Pull it off by the barrel, never by the cable.

Then leave it alone. Cardas says its cables settle with use, so plug in and listen.

Measure the Path, Then Add a Little Slack

Measure the route the cable will really take between your components, around shelves and behind the rack. Then add a little slack. As audio legend George Cardas puts it, "A cable that's just long enough usually turns out to be just not long enough." Keep the left and right cables the same length. We recommend a matched pair.

RCA or XLR? Check Both Ends

If both components offer balanced XLR jacks, we recommend using XLRs. If one has only RCA jacks, use RCA, and skip the adapter. You only get the possible benefits of a balanced output with a pure XLR-to-XLR connection.

A Long Run Between Components?

If your amplifier and speakers sit far from your source, we recommend a long interconnect over a long speaker cable. A really long interconnect affects system performance less than a really long speaker cable.

When Is It Time to Upgrade?

An interconnect often stays in a system for years, so it is easy to overlook. Look again when something else changes: a new DAC, streamer or phono stage, a better amplifier, or a move to components with balanced XLR jacks.

Pairs Well With

An interconnect is one link in the chain. It usually joins these categories.

• Integrated Amplifiers — the usual input end
• Digital-to-Analog Converters — DAC output to amplifier
• Phono Preamplifiers — phono stage to line input
• Speaker Cables — the last link to the speakers

Frequently Asked Questions

What copper is in the Crosslink?

Cardas Grade 2, 99.99% pure oxygen-free copper, in Litz form with each strand enamel coated. Strand sizes are scaled to the Golden Ratio.

How long does break-in take?

Cardas says at most 200 hours, and usually half that. Its advice is simple: "Plug them in, leave them plugged in, and enjoy your life."

What warranty does Cardas give?

A lifetime warranty. Every Litz strand is sealed in enamel, so the copper does not oxidize. Cardas says that is why its cables last.

Is there a step up from the Crosslink?

Cardas Iridium is the next rung. It moves to Cardas Grade 1 copper at 99.9999% purity, a four-conductor star-quad layout, and the GRMO plug.

See It in Action

Audio Advisor walks through how Cardas builds its cables, from Litz strands to hand-soldered plugs.

Need a Different Length or Connector?

The most popular configurations are shown on this page. If your system requires a different length or termination, call our audio experts. We’ll help you choose the right configuration and arrange a custom cable for your system.

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Learn More

Want to learn more about interconnects, RCA versus XLR, or cable break-in? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.