Cardas Audio 101 Speaker Cable No Frills - 3.0 Meter - Pair - Spades to Spades

Cardas 101 With No Frills Termination

Cardas says 101 is smooth, non-fatiguing and musical, and that it sets the standard for high-value speaker cables. Cardas makes the cable here in the USA and named it after state highway 101, which runs through its home town of Bandon, Oregon.

Our own terminators finish this Cardas 101 cable here at Audio Advisor. They have more than 50 years of experience with high-end audio cables. We fit it with our No Frills connectors: gold-plated spades and long-barrel BFA bananas. This 3.0-meter length is about 10 feet long.

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

Why Cardas Sizes Every Strand by the Golden Ratio

101 is a twisted pair of 14 AWG conductors on an air-tube core, made from Cardas's own bare copper. Cardas scales the conductor gauge sizes to Golden Ratio proportions, and its Cross-field construction reverses every other layer of strands.

Made for Small Rooms and Tight Spaces

Natural cotton filler surrounds the two conductors, bound together with a wrap of PFA tape. A super-flexible TPR jacket finishes the cable, which measures 0.365 inches across. Cardas says 101 is ideal for small systems, bookshelf stereos and surround sound systems.

What We Put on the Ends, and Why

Our No Frills spades are gold-plated over copper and fit 1/4-inch or 5/16-inch binding posts. Our No Frills bananas are premium long-barrel, BFA-type plugs, also gold-plated over copper. A few lengths use pins, barrier spades or bare wire instead. Each listing's title names the connector fitted on each end.

Who Is This Speaker Cable Best For?

• You want a high-value Cardas cable — Cardas says 101 sets the standard for high-value speaker cables
• You run a small system or bookshelf speakers — Cardas calls 101 ideal for small systems, bookshelf stereos and surround sound
• You want the work done by experts — our terminators have more than 50 years of experience
• You want a flexible cable that is easy to route — the super-flexible TPR jacket bends easily behind furniture
• Your speakers have two pairs of binding posts — join the posts with a set of Cardas 11.5 AWG jumpers and connect 101 to one pair

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Turn the amplifier off. Connect the cable to your speakers first, then to your amplifier's speaker outputs, red to red and black to black. Do the same for the second speaker.

The Measuring Mistake That Leaves You Inches Short

Speaker cable is cut for one room. Measure the path the cable will really take, around furniture and along the baseboard. Then add a little slack. As Cardas puts it, "A cable that's just long enough usually turns out to be just not long enough." Keep the left and right runs the same length, as Cardas recommends, even when one speaker sits closer.

Which Connector Holds Up Best Over the Years?

Spades clamp under a binding post and hold tight. Bananas push straight in, so they connect fastest. Bare wire fits almost anything, but we suggest avoiding it. Bare copper oxidizes quickly, and Cardas notes that copper oxide is not a good conductor. If you use bare wire, re-strip the ends when the copper darkens.

Tighten the connections, power up, and play something you know well.

When Is It Time to Upgrade?

Speaker cable often stays put for years, so it tends to be the last thing upgraded. Look again when something else changes. Moving from bookshelf speakers to floorstanders is the big one. In our experience, about nine in ten people who make that move keep their old speaker cable. A stronger amplifier, a longer run, or darkened ends are the other signs.

Pairs Well With

A speaker cable joins your amplifier to your speakers. These are the categories on either end of it.

• Floorstanding Speakers — the best time to rethink your speaker cable
• Bookshelf Speakers — the speaker end in a smaller room
• Integrated Amplifiers — the amplifier end in most stereo systems
• Stereo Amplifiers — the amplifier end when you run separates

Frequently Asked Questions

Who terminates this cable?

Our in-house terminators at Audio Advisor do. They have more than 50 years of experience terminating high-end audio cables, and they fit the connectors named in the listing's title.

What is the difference between No Frills and PREMIUM No Frills?

The connectors. PREMIUM No Frills uses higher-quality, more expensive connectors: Pangea Audio Xtreme spades and gold BFA bananas.

What gauge is Cardas 101?

It is a twisted pair of 14 AWG conductors.

Which end goes to the amplifier?

Cardas suggests installing its cables as if they are directional, so the signal flows the same way the text reads on the jacket. Turn the amplifier off, and connect the speakers first.

See It in Action

Cardas shows how 101 speaker cable is prepared for termination, from stripping the jacket to readying the conductors.

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.

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
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Learn More

Want to learn more about speaker cables, speaker placement, or matching an amplifier to your speakers? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.