AudioQuest Carbon Coaxial Digital Cable - RCA to RCA

Carbon Is Where AudioQuest's Coaxial Range Turns Serious

AudioQuest's Carbon is the third rung of its coaxial digital cables. Its solid Long-Grain Copper conductor carries a 5% silver plating, four times the silver of Cinnamon. A Carbon-Based 5-Layer shield wraps it, and the plugs are cold-welded with Hanging-Silver over pure Purple Copper.

Solid 5% Silver Over Long-Grain Copper

AudioQuest says a digital signal travels almost exclusively on the surface of the conductor, so the thicker the silver layer, the more of the path is silver. Carbon's 5% plating is the thickest below Coffee. AudioQuest says placing the superior metal on the outside produces the greatest benefit.

The conductor is solid, not stranded. AudioQuest says solid conductors prevent strand interaction, which it calls a major source of dynamic distortion in cables. Hard-Cell Foam insulation, injected with nitrogen, holds that conductor at a fixed spacing so the impedance stays stable along the whole run.

A Five-Layer Shield With Carbon in It

Around the conductor sits Carbon-Based 5-Layer Noise-Dissipation. AudioQuest says a traditional shield absorbs radio noise and drains it to component ground, distorting the critical reference plane. Its alternating layers of metal and carbon-loaded synthetics shield the shield, absorbing and reflecting most of that noise first.

The RCA Plugs, Explained

Carbon ends in a cold-welded RCA plug at each end, plated with Hanging-Silver directly over pure Purple Copper. RCA is the single-pin plug on the coaxial digital output of most CD players, streamers and DACs. AudioQuest joins plug to wire under high pressure with no solder, which it calls a common source of distortion.

Who Is This Digital Cable Best For?

• You want the thickest silver below Coffee — Carbon's 5% plating is four times Cinnamon's, so more of the signal path is silver
• Your CD player or streamer has a coaxial output — the RCA plugs fit the orange coax socket on most sources and DACs, so no adapter is needed
• Your rack is crowded with power supplies and WiFi — the five-layer carbon shield soaks up radio noise before it reaches the ground reference, so the DAC sees a cleaner signal
• You want silver at the contact too — the plugs carry Hanging-Silver over pure copper with no nickel beneath, so the signal meets better metal at the end
• Your gear has BNC or AES/EBU sockets — an RCA plug will not fit them. Call us and we will match the plug

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug one end into the coaxial digital output of your CD player, transport or streamer and the other into the coaxial digital input of your DAC or receiver. Then choose that input on the DAC and let it lock to the signal.

Then listen. Other and longer lengths available. Call for prices.

Pairs Well With

A digital cable is one link in a digital chain. It usually joins these categories.

• Digital-to-Analog Converters — the receiving end of the link
• CD Players and Transports — the classic coaxial source
• Music Streamers — a streamer with a digital output
• Power Cables — clean power at both ends

Frequently Asked Questions

Why plate copper with silver?

AudioQuest says a digital signal is so high in frequency that it travels almost exclusively on the surface of the conductor. Putting the better metal on the outside is, in its words, a superbly cost-effective way to maximize a digital cable.

What is Carbon-Based 5-Layer Noise-Dissipation?

AudioQuest's heavier shield. Layers of metal and carbon-loaded synthetics alternate five deep and, in AudioQuest's words, shield the shield, catching most radio noise before it reaches the layer tied to ground.

What is Hanging-Silver over copper?

AudioQuest's name for the plating on this plug. Silver is deposited directly over a pure copper base without the usual nickel layer beneath, so the contact carries the signal through better metal.

What is S/PDIF?

The Sony/Philips Digital Interface, the standard behind the coaxial and optical digital sockets on consumer audio gear. Over coax it runs on a 75-ohm line with RCA or BNC plugs and carries stereo PCM and encoded surround.

What warranty does AudioQuest give?

A limited lifetime warranty to the original owner, for cables bought from an authorized US dealer. AudioQuest will repair or replace a defective cable that has not been abused. Keep your proof of purchase.

Is there a step up?

AudioQuest Coffee Coaxial Digital is the next rung. It doubles the silver to 10% and adds AudioQuest's 72-volt Dielectric-Bias System.

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