AudioQuest Black Lab Subwoofer Cable

AudioQuest Black Lab Puts Solid Long-Grain Copper in a Subwoofer Cable

AudioQuest's Black Lab is an RCA subwoofer cable built around solid Long-Grain Copper conductors. It pairs them with foamed-polyethylene insulation, a symmetrical coax geometry and a metal-layer noise-dissipation shield, and it ends in cold-welded, gold-plated RCA plugs.

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

Solid Long-Grain Copper

AudioQuest says Long-Grain Copper allows a smoother and clearer sound than regular oxygen-free copper, with fewer oxides, fewer impurities and fewer grain boundaries. Solid conductors also prevent strand interaction, which AudioQuest calls a major source of distortion.

A Shield That Shields the Shield

Ordinary shields absorb noise and drain it to component ground, which can disturb the ground reference. AudioQuest's metal-layer Noise-Dissipation "shields the shield", absorbing and reflecting most of that noise before it reaches the layer attached to ground. The symmetrical coax geometry uses identical positive and negative conductors, so the shield is never used as an inferior audio conductor.

The insulation is foamed polyethylene. AudioQuest says its high air content causes much less of the out-of-focus effect common to other materials.

The Cold-Welded, Gold-Plated Plug

Black Lab's plugs are joined to the wire with a high-pressure technique instead of solder, which AudioQuest calls a common source of distortion. The ground shells are stamped instead of machined, so the metal can be chosen for low distortion instead of machinability. An integrated chassis ground connector helps eliminate ground loop hum.

Who Is This Subwoofer Cable Best For?

• You want a clean, quiet subwoofer connection — the metal-layer shield and symmetrical coax geometry are built to keep noise out of the signal
• Your subwoofer hums — the integrated chassis ground connector helps eliminate ground loop hum
• You want no solder in the path — AudioQuest cold welds the plug to the wire, so the joint is metal on metal
• You are connecting a receiver or amplifier to a subwoofer — Black Lab works with most receivers and amplifiers

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect one end to the subwoofer output of your receiver, preamp or processor, and the other to the line-level input on your subwoofer. Push each plug straight on until it seats, and pull it off by the barrel, never by the cable. Then play something with deep bass and set your subwoofer's level to taste.

Measure the Path, Then Add a Little Slack

Measure the route the cable will really take from your electronics to your subwoofer, around furniture and along the baseboard. 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."

A Long Run to the Subwoofer?

Subwoofers often sit far from the electronics. If yours does, we recommend a long interconnect rather than a long speaker cable. A really long interconnect affects system performance less than a really long speaker cable.

When Is It Time to Upgrade?

A subwoofer cable often stays in a system for years, so it is easy to overlook. Look again when something else changes: a new subwoofer, a new receiver or preamp, or a move to a bigger room.

Pairs Well With

A subwoofer cable joins your electronics to your subwoofer. These are the categories on either end of it.

• Subwoofers — the other end of the cable
• Preamplifiers — a source of subwoofer output in a stereo system
• Home Theater Receivers — the usual place the subwoofer output lives

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cold-welded plug?

A plug joined to the wire by high pressure instead of solder. AudioQuest names solder as a common source of distortion.

What does Long-Grain Copper mean?

AudioQuest's name for copper with fewer oxides, impurities and grain boundaries than regular oxygen-free copper.

What is the ground connector for?

The integrated chassis ground connector helps eliminate ground loop hum.

What warranty comes with it?

AudioQuest backs the cable with a limited lifetime warranty for the original owner, when you buy from an authorized US dealer like us.

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 subwoofer cables, subwoofer placement, or matching a cable to your system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.