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What You Need to Know
What Is This Cable and What Does It Do?
This is an aftermarket power cable. It replaces the black cord that came in the box with your gear. Its job is to carry clean AC power from your wall outlet to your audio component. Parsec is the second step in the Cardas power line, just above Iridium.
Cardas first showed Parsec at the 2015 CES show. It replaced their older Quadlink cable. Parsec brings high-end ideas to a real-world price.
What's Different About This One?
Parsec is hand-built in Bandon, Oregon. George Cardas started the company in 1987. He used to work as a phone-line engineer. He holds three U.S. patents on cable design. His daughter Angela runs the company today.
Parsec borrows its wires from the Clear Cygnus power cable, which sits higher in the line. So you get higher-end wire at a lower price. The wires are tin-plated 99.9999% copper. Tin plating slows tarnish over time. It also smooths the way the wire passes audio signals.
The wires are sized using the Golden Ratio (1:1.618). Cardas patented this method in the 1980s. Cardas uses Crossfield geometry too. The strand wind direction flips on each layer. This helps the cable reject radio and electrical noise.
Parsec adds noise filtering on all three wires. The Iridium cable below it filters one. The three-leg filter helps clean the AC feed before it reaches your gear. The cable also has two layers of shielding for extra noise blocking.
The wires sit in a PTFE jacket with PVC air tubes. PTFE is the same plastic as Teflon. Air tubes are hollow tubes that lift the wires apart. This keeps signals stable and lowers noise. A soft TPR jacket on the outside makes Parsec easy to bend.
Where Does This Cable Belong in Your System?
Parsec works on a wide range of audio gear. It's a strong fit for mid-level systems. It also makes a great upgrade from a stock cord.
- Good fit: DACs, streamers, network players, CD players, preamps, phono stages, integrated amps, and most power amps. Use it on the gear that matters most to you first.
- Not a fit: Very large high-current power amps or monoblocks. Step up to Clear, Clear Beyond, or Clear Beyond XL for those.
Length: Use the shortest cable that will reach. Measure the real path the cable will take, not a straight line. Add a foot of slack. Shorter is better.
Hand-Built and Backed for Life
Every Parsec is built by hand in Bandon, Oregon. It comes with a Cardas lifetime warranty. Cardas can also re-end the cable if your system changes. They can swap connectors or change the length. Call us at 800-942-0220 for current re-termination pricing.
Pairs Well With
Building your system? Here are some good companions:
- Step up: When you're ready, Cardas Clear Reflection Power or Clear Power are the next steps. Both use heavier wires for bigger amps.
- Step down: For source gear in a smaller system, Cardas Iridium Power is a fine choice at a lower price.
- Match the family: Pair with Cardas Parsec Interconnect and Parsec Speaker Cable for a full Parsec loom.
- Gear that benefits: Browse streamers, integrated amps, and CD players.
- Power conditioning: Parsec pairs well with any quality conditioner.
Features & Specifications
Wires Borrowed from Clear Cygnus — Parsec uses the same conductors as the higher-end Clear Cygnus power cable. You get higher-end wire at a lower price.
Tin-Plated 99.9999% Copper — Cardas Grade 1 Ultra Pure copper with a tin plating. The plating slows tarnish and helps long-term stability.
Litz Construction with Golden Ratio Strands — Many fine insulated strands per wire, sized to the Golden Ratio. A Cardas patented method.
Crossfield Geometry — The strand wind direction flips on each layer. This helps the cable reject radio and electrical noise.
Three-Leg Noise Filter — Filtering on all three wires — hot, neutral, and ground. Most cables in this price range filter only one or two.
Double Shielding — Two layers: tin-plated copper braid plus magnet wire. Helps block more RFI and EMI than a single shield.
PTFE Dielectric with PVC Air Tubes — PTFE is the same plastic as Teflon. Air tubes lift the wires apart for cleaner signal transfer.
Cardas 3455R Connectors — Hand-soldered wall plug and IEC C13. Solid copper contacts plated with rhodium over silver. The plug grips standard outlets firmly.
Hand-Terminated in Bandon, Oregon — Every cable is built and tested at the Cardas factory.
Super-Flexible TPR Jacket — Easy to bend and route behind a rack.
Lifetime Warranty — Cardas backs every cable for life.
Quick-Reference Specifications
| Conductor | Cardas Grade 1 Ultra Pure 99.9999% OFC, tin-plated, litz construction (shared with Clear Cygnus) |
| Geometry | Golden Ratio strand sizing, Crossfield layer geometry, twisted triad |
| Dielectric | PTFE jacket with PVC air tubes, FEP tape wrap |
| Shielding | Double shield: tin-plated copper braid plus magnet wire |
| Filtration | Three-leg filtration (hot, neutral, ground) |
| Connectors | NEMA 5-15P to IEC C13; Cardas 3455R, rhodium over silver over solid copper |
| Termination | Hand-soldered and crimped in Bandon, Oregon |
| Jacket | Super-flexible TPR rubber |
| Available Lengths | Multiple lengths — see selector above |
| Warranty | Cardas Audio lifetime warranty |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Parsec different from Iridium?
Parsec uses higher-end wires, more shielding, and a three-leg filter. Iridium has filtering on one leg and uses a thinner wire. Parsec is the next step up if you want more from your power cable.
Is Parsec a good fit for my power amp?
Yes, for most power amps under about 200 watts per channel. For very large or high-current amps, step up to Clear, Clear Beyond, or Clear Beyond XL. Their thicker wires handle big current draws better.
What does "three-leg filtration" mean?
It means the cable filters noise on all three wires — hot, neutral, and ground. Many cables filter only one or two. More filtering means a quieter feed to your gear.
What length do I need?
Use the shortest cable that will reach. Measure the real path. Add a foot of slack. Shorter is better.
Will it fit my outlet?
Yes. Parsec uses a 15-amp NEMA 5-15P wall plug and a 15-amp IEC C13 plug at the gear end. It fits any standard U.S. household outlet and most audio components. A 20-amp version is available by special order — call us at 800-942-0220.
Can I have Cardas re-end this cable?
Yes. Cardas offers re-termination. They can change the connector, the wall plug, or the length. Pricing varies. Call us at 800-942-0220 for a quote, or contact Cardas direct.
What's the warranty?
Cardas backs every cable they make for life. If anything ever goes wrong with the cable itself, they'll fix or replace it.
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