Cardas Audio Iridium Tonearm Cable - 2.0 Meter - RCA to RCA

Cardas Iridium Brings Warmth and Detail to Your Phono Signal

A tonearm cable carries the phono signal from a turntable to a phono preamplifier, one of the most noise-sensitive links in the whole vinyl chain, since the signal here is far weaker than a line-level source. A premium cable differs from the plain lead a turntable ships with in conductor quality and shielding.

Cardas built Iridium as an affordable, musical tonearm cable, hand-soldered in Bandon, Oregon, aimed at listeners who want the classic Cardas analog sound without paying flagship prices. It is available terminated RCA-to-RCA or with a Cardas S-DIN plug on the turntable end.

Grade 1 Copper in a Star-Quad Geometry

Cardas says Iridium uses Grade 1, 99.9999% pure OFHC copper with an SPN clear coat (Litz), gauge sizes scaled to Cardas's Golden Ratio proportions, arranged in a shielded Star-Quad four-conductor geometry and insulated in a FEP jacket.

Carbon-Impregnated Shielding, Flexible Jacket

The four conductors are bound together in PTFE tape, Cardas says, with a hybrid shield combining a spiral of tin-plated copper and a carbon-impregnated PTFE tape. Gauge is 4x24.5 AWG, with a cable diameter of 0.300 inches (7.62mm), finished in a soft, flexible extruded TPR jacket.

The Connectors, Explained

Iridium terminates at the turntable end in either a pair of RCA plugs or a Cardas S-DIN plug, and at the phono-stage end in a pair of Cardas RCA plugs, hand-soldered rather than machine-terminated.

Who Is This Cable Best For?

• You want Cardas's classic analog warmth at an entry price — Iridium is Cardas's most affordable phono cable, built to the same hand-soldered standard as its pricier lines
• Your turntable has a detachable DIN-style tonearm lead — the S-DIN-to-RCA version connects that lead straight to your phono stage
• Your turntable's tonearm wiring runs straight out to RCA plugs — the RCA-to-RCA version fits that connection directly
• You are feeding a phono stage with real resolution to protect over a short run — Iridium's Star-Quad geometry and carbon-impregnated shield are built for exactly that short, sensitive run
• Your budget calls for Cardas's flagship phono cable instead — Cardas Clear carries a considerably more elaborate construction at a much higher price

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect the turntable end (RCA or Cardas S-DIN, depending on your tonearm's wiring) to your turntable or tonearm's output, and the RCA end to your phono preamplifier's phono input.

Then power up the system as usual. Other and longer lengths available. Call for prices.

Pairs Well With

A tonearm cable is one link in the vinyl playback chain. It usually joins these categories.

• Turntables — the source of the signal or ground point this cable connects to
• Phono Preamplifiers — the usual destination at the other end of this cable
• Phono Cartridges — the cartridge is what actually generates the signal this cable carries
• Stereo Amplifiers — many integrated amps include a built-in phono stage of their own

Frequently Asked Questions

Does direction matter when I connect this cable?

Where a maker marks a direction on a tonearm cable's conductors, connect it running from the turntable end toward the phono stage as marked, so induced noise drains away from the circuits it would otherwise disturb.

Is this cable balanced or unbalanced?

Unbalanced. Standard RCA and single-ended DIN connections are unbalanced; this cable is not a balanced connection unless its listing says otherwise.

What is Iridium's dielectric made of?

Cardas says Iridium's conductors are insulated in a FEP jacket, with a carbon-impregnated PTFE tape as part of the shield.

Is there a step up?

Cardas Clear is the next step up, Cardas's flagship phono cable, built for reference-level systems.

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