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Precision Hand-Crafted in Bandon, Oregon
Every Cardas Parsec speaker cable is meticulously hand-terminated at the Cardas factory in Bandon, Oregon, where craftsmen have perfected their art over four decades. Using proprietary compression termination techniques instead of solder, Cardas ensures the purest possible signal transfer from your amplifier to speakers. Each cable is built to order, allowing you to specify the exact length, termination type, and configuration for your unique system requirements.
The Sweet Spot of the Cardas Line
Parsec represents Cardas's vision of the perfect balance between performance and value. Positioned strategically in their lineup, Parsec incorporates core Cardas technologies - Golden Ratio conductor spacing, Matched Propagation conductors, and Cross-Field construction - without the extreme cost of their flagship models. This is the cable that proves you don't need to spend a fortune to experience the Cardas difference: natural tonality, expansive soundstaging, and the musical flow that makes you forget about equipment and remember why you love music.
Cardas Grade One Copper - The Foundation of Excellence
At Parsec's core lies Cardas Grade One Copper, widely acknowledged as the finest copper available for audio applications. George Cardas's proprietary drawing and annealing process creates copper of exceptional purity with elongated crystal structure that minimizes signal distortion. The copper is drawn in a hydrogen-rich atmosphere to prevent oxidation, then annealed in inert gas to achieve optimal conductivity. This meticulous process results in copper that exceeds six-nines (99.9999%) purity, delivering smoother highs, more natural midrange, and controlled bass compared to conventional copper.
Golden Ratio Conductor Geometry
Cardas doesn't randomly space conductors - they follow the mathematical Golden Ratio (1.618...) that appears throughout nature. This deliberate geometric arrangement minimizes electromagnetic interference between conductors while eliminating resonances that plague conventionally designed cables. The result is a cable that neither adds nor subtracts from your music, allowing each component in your system to perform at its full potential.
Matched Propagation Technology
Different frequencies travel at different speeds through cables - a phenomenon that causes time-domain smearing in most designs. Cardas's Matched Propagation technology ensures all frequencies arrive simultaneously at your speakers, preserving the coherent wavefront essential for realistic soundstaging and imaging. This isn't just theory - the difference is immediately audible as improved focus, depth, and the uncanny ability to "see" into the recording space.
Configuration Options for Every System
Termination Choices:
- Cardas Spades: Rhodium over silver-plated copper for maximum contact area and corrosion resistance
- Cardas Bananas: Patented expanding design ensures consistent pressure and perfect contact
- Bi-Wire Configuration: Single cable run from amplifier that splits to four connections at the speaker end
- Custom Combinations: Mix terminations as needed (spades at amp, bananas at speakers, etc.)
Length Options: Available in standard lengths from 1.5 meters to 6 meters, with custom lengths available for unique installations. Cardas maintains consistent electrical characteristics across all lengths, ensuring predictable performance regardless of cable run.
The Compression Termination Advantage
While others use solder that can oxidize and degrade over time, Cardas employs proprietary compression termination. This technique creates a gas-tight connection between conductor and termination that actually improves with age as the metals cold-weld together. No solder means no additional materials in the signal path, no potential for cold joints, and no sonic signature from inferior metals. Your Parsec cables will perform as well in twenty years as they do on day one.
Cross-Field Construction - Eliminating Interference
Parsec utilizes Cardas's Cross-Field construction where conductors are arranged to cancel electromagnetic fields naturally. This sophisticated geometry eliminates the need for heavy shielding that can adversely affect sound quality. The result is a cable that rejects interference while maintaining the dynamic capability and openness that makes music come alive.
Why Parsec Makes Sense
In a market flooded with exotic claims and pseudo-science, Parsec delivers genuine engineering backed by decades of research. George Cardas's background in telephone transmission line design brings real-world expertise to audio cable design. Every aspect of Parsec - from the Golden Ratio spacing to Matched Propagation technology - addresses measurable electrical phenomena that directly impact sound quality.
System Matching Excellence
Parsec's electrical characteristics make it compatible with virtually any amplifier/speaker combination. Its moderate capacitance won't destabilize wide-bandwidth amplifiers, while its low resistance ensures full power delivery even to demanding 4-ohm loads. The neutral tonal balance complements both solid-state and tube amplification, neither warming nor brightening the sound but simply revealing what your components are capable of.
Lifetime Investment Value
Cardas cables are legendary for their longevity and value retention. The combination of Grade One Copper, compression terminations, and robust construction ensures decades of consistent performance. Parsec cables regularly appear on the used market at 60-70% of retail, testament to their enduring value. When you consider cost-per-year of ownership, Parsec represents one of audio's best investments.
Ordering Your Parsec Cables
When configuring your Parsec cables, consider:
- Length: Measure carefully, allowing for equipment placement and cable routing
- Termination: Match your amplifier and speaker binding posts
- Single vs Bi-Wire: Determine if your speakers benefit from bi-wiring
- Future System Changes: Consider terminations that offer flexibility
Each pair is hand-built at Cardas's Oregon factory to your exact specifications, typically shipping within 7-10 business days. This isn't mass production but careful craftsmanship by people who take pride in their work and understand their role in your musical enjoyment.
The Cardas Difference
For over 30 years, Cardas Audio has pursued a single goal: creating cables that preserve the emotional content of music. Parsec embodies this philosophy perfectly - sophisticated technology serving a simple purpose. Whether you're upgrading from basic cables or building a reference system, Parsec delivers the natural, engaging sound that has made Cardas the choice of recording studios, equipment manufacturers, and discerning listeners worldwide.
