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RCA or XLR — Which Do I Need?
The fastest way to know is to look at the back of your gear. XLR jacks are larger, three-pin, and roughly cylindrical. They are sometimes called "balanced." RCA jacks are smaller, round, and color-coded — red and white or black.
If both your source and your amp use XLR, this is the cable you want. If both use RCA, get the RCA Parsec instead. XLR is the better pick for runs over 3 feet because it rejects more noise. Both work fine on shorter runs.
One caveat: some gear has both RCA and XLR outputs, but only one is true balanced. The other is just derived from the balanced signal. Check your manual or call us at 800-942-0220 if you're not sure which one to use.
What You Need to Know
What Is the Parsec Interconnect Cable — What Does It Do?
An interconnect carries music between two pieces of gear. From a DAC to an amp. From a streamer to a preamp. The cable sends a small line-level signal between source and amplification. Every home audio system needs at least one pair.
This is the XLR (balanced) version of the Parsec. XLR plugs are larger and have three pins. They are common on high-end preamps, integrated amps, DACs, and pro audio gear. If your source and amp both have XLR jacks, this is the cable you need.
The Parsec sits two rungs above the Crosslink and one rung above the Iridium. It brings the air-tube dielectric and Kevlar-core construction from the Clear range down to a more affordable cable.
Above the Parsec, the next step is the Clear Sky — the entry to the Clear product line and the lowest-priced Cardas cable with Matched Propagation Conductors.
What's the Difference With Cardas Parsec Cable
The Parsec is the successor to Cardas's legendary Quadlink cable. It keeps what people loved about Quadlink — warmth, richness, musicality — and adds the transparency and dynamics from the Clear product line.
The wire is Cardas Grade 1 Ultra Pure copper. It is 99.9999% pure (six nines). It is built as Litz wire, which means many tiny copper strands, each one coated, twisted together. The coating prevents oxidation and keeps each strand apart from the others.
Inside each Litz conductor, the strands grow from small in the middle to bigger on the outside. The size jump follows the Golden Ratio (1 to 1.618). George Cardas earned two patents for this stranding back in the 1980s.
Each conductor sits inside a poly-e air tube. Air has the lowest dielectric constant of any practical material, which means it stores almost no electrical charge between the cable's conductors. Cardas uses air-tube construction in their higher-tier cables.
The conductors are arranged as a shielded twisted pair, wrapped in carbon-impregnated FEP tape. A tin-plated copper braided shield wraps the whole thing, blocking RFI (radio, Wi-Fi, cell signals) and EMI (transformers, motors). A flexible alcryn rubber jacket finishes the cable.
The connectors on this XLR version are Neutrik XLR plugs. Neutrik is a well-respected Swiss connector maker. Cardas uses Neutrik XLRs on this cable rather than a Cardas-branded XLR. Each plug is hand-soldered to the wire with Cardas Quad Eutectic Solder, in Bandon, Oregon.
Cardas has been a family business for almost 40 years. George Cardas started the company in 1987. He used to be a phone-line engineer. He moved the shop to Bandon, Oregon in 1992. His daughter Angela runs it now. The Parsec is hand-built there.
Where Does the Parsec Cable Belong in Your System?
The Parsec XLR is built for systems where both your source and your amp have XLR jacks, and you want the warmth and air-tube transparency the Parsec is known for. It is one of Cardas's best sellers for good reason.
- Good fit: Mid-level to nicer balanced systems; integrated amps and preamps with XLR inputs; tube preamps with balanced outputs; runs over 3 feet where XLR rejects more noise; bright digital sources that could use a touch of warmth.
- Not a fit: Reference-level systems where Clear or Clear Reflection match the gear better; equipment with RCA-only jacks (use the RCA Parsec instead); systems where only one side of the chain has XLR — RCA is fine in that case.
- Different connector? If your gear uses RCA, see the Cardas Parsec RCA sister page.
- Looking to step up? The next rung is the Cardas Clear Sky XLR, the entry to the Clear product line.
Length: Use the shortest cable that reaches your two pieces of gear, with a little slack. See the length selector above for the SKUs we stock. Need a custom length? Call 800-942-0220.
What About the Parsec Warranty?
Cardas backs the Parsec with a lifetime warranty. The warranty covers shorts, loose plugs, and other defects in the cable. It does not cover normal wear, scratches, or pet damage. Cardas honors the warranty out of their Oregon shop.
If your needs change later, Cardas can re-terminate the cable. They can swap XLRs for RCAs, or cut a long pair into two shorter pairs. Pricing varies. Call us at 800-942-0220 or contact Cardas for a quote.
Pairs Well With
Building your system? Here are some natural matches for the Parsec XLR:
- Step up the Cardas ladder: The Cardas Clear Sky XLR is the next rung up and the entry to the Clear product line.
- Different connector? See the Cardas Parsec RCA if your gear uses single-ended connections.
- Matching speaker cable: The Cardas Parsec Speaker Cable is the natural partner. Same family, same construction philosophy.
- Matching power cable: The Cardas Parsec Power Cable brings the same family to your wall outlet.
- DACs and streamers: Browse the DACs and digital sources at Audio Advisor.
- Integrated amps and preamps: See our integrated amplifiers and preamps.
Features & Specifications
Conductor
Cardas Grade 1 Ultra Pure OFHC copper, 99.9999% pure (six nines), in Litz construction with SPN clear coat, built around a Kevlar core. Two conductors total at 23.5 AWG each.
Geometry
Shielded twisted pair with poly-e (polyethylene) air-tube dielectric. Braided cross-field layer geometry inside each Litz conductor. Gauge sizes scaled to Golden Ratio. The compressed poly-e air tubes also suspend the shield away from the conductors.
Dielectric
Poly-e (polyethylene) air-tubes around each conductor. Carbon-impregnated FEP tape wrap. Compressed poly-e air tubes also suspend the shield away from the conductors.
Shielding
Tin-plated copper braided shield. Rejects both RFI (radio, Wi-Fi, cell signals) and EMI (transformers, motors).
Connectors
Neutrik XLR plugs (Swiss-made). The Parsec RCA sister cable uses Cardas-machined GRMO RCA connectors instead.
Termination
Hand-soldered with Cardas Quad Eutectic Solder in Bandon, Oregon.
Outside Diameter
0.360" / 9.14 mm.
Jacket
Extruded alcryn rubber. Flexible and easy to dress behind a rack.
Available Lengths
Multiple lengths stocked at Audio Advisor. See the length selector above for current SKUs. Need a custom length? Call 800-942-0220.
Warranty
Cardas Audio lifetime warranty against functional defects.
Quick-Reference Specifications
| Conductor | Cardas Grade 1 Ultra Pure OFHC copper, 99.9999%, Litz, Kevlar core, 2 x 23.5 AWG |
| Geometry | Shielded twisted pair, Golden Ratio strand sizing, Crossfield, air-tube suspension |
| Dielectric | Poly-e air-tubes, carbon-impregnated FEP tape |
| Shielding | Tin-plated copper braided shield |
| Connectors | Neutrik XLR (Swiss-made) |
| Termination | Hand-soldered with Cardas Quad Eutectic Solder |
| Outside Diameter | 0.360" / 9.14 mm |
| Jacket | Extruded alcryn rubber |
| Available Lengths | See length selector above for stocked SKUs |
| Country of Origin | Hand-built in Bandon, Oregon, USA |
| Warranty | Cardas lifetime warranty against functional defects |
Frequently Asked Questions
What components benefit most from an upgraded interconnect?
The link between your source and your amp matters most. That means the cable from a DAC, streamer, or CD player to your preamp or integrated amp. The Parsec is a strong choice for this hop in nicer mid-level systems.
Is the XLR Parsec a better cable than the RCA Parsec?
Generally no. The internals are very similar — same copper, same Kevlar-core geometry, same air-tube dielectric, same Litz construction. The main difference is the connector. XLR can reject more noise on long runs because it carries the signal on three conductors instead of two.
My equipment has both RCA and XLR outputs. Which should I use?
If the run is over 3 feet between your two components, XLR is generally the better pick — it rejects more noise. For short runs on the same shelf, RCA does just as well. Some gear is also "true balanced" only on the XLR side, so XLR may sound better there. Check your manual.
What length do I need?
Use the shortest cable that reaches your two pieces of gear, with a little slack. Most rack systems do well with a 1-meter pair. Measure the actual path the cable will take and round up to the next length we stock.
How does the Parsec compare to the Cardas Iridium?
The Iridium uses the same Grade 1 copper but a star-quad geometry without air tubes. The Parsec adds Kevlar-core construction and poly-e air-tube dielectric — design language Cardas uses across the higher-end Clear cables. Both are warm, but the Parsec adds more transparency from the air-tube dielectric.
Can Cardas re-terminate or repair the Parsec later?
Yes. Cardas offers re-termination and repair on their own cables, in their Oregon shop. They can change XLRs to RCAs, or cut a long pair into shorter ones. Pricing varies. Call us at 800-942-0220 for a quote.
See It in Action
Audio Advisor's video tour of the Cardas factory shows how the Parsec and the rest of the Cardas line are built — the same shop, the same hands, on every cable.
This second Audio Advisor video walks through Cardas cable construction step-by-step — Litz strands, Golden Ratio sizing, Crossfield layering, and hand-soldered terminations.
Quick check before you order — RCA or XLR?
This is the XLR (balanced) version of Cardas Parsec. The internals — conductors, geometry, dielectric, and termination quality — are similar to the RCA version. The difference is the connectors.
RCA and XLR are not interchangeable. Confirm both your source and your destination have matching XLR jacks before ordering. Need the RCA version? See the Cardas Parsec RCA page.
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Want to Learn More?
Want to learn more about interconnects, system building, and how cables fit into the chain? Visit our Audio Advisor Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.
