Cardas Audio Parsec Interconnect Cable - XLR to XLR

The Parsec Puts Cardas's Air Tubes Within Reach

Cardas Audio's Parsec is the cable Cardas calls its runaway favorite for best value. It takes two ideas from the company's Clear line, a Kevlar core in each conductor and polyethylene air tubes around them, and puts them in an everyday interconnect. Cardas describes it as neutral with a hint of warmth on top.

A Kevlar Core Inside Every Conductor

The conductors are Cardas Grade 1 copper, 99.9999% pure, built as Litz wire with each strand sealed in clear SPN enamel. Each is wound around a Kevlar core. Strand sizes step up in Golden Ratio proportions from that core outward. Two conductors run at 23.5 AWG.

Two Conductors, Twisted, and Suspended in Air

The two conductors form a shielded twisted pair. Each sits inside a poly-e air tube, so the conductor rests mostly in air rather than plastic, and the pair is bound in carbon-impregnated FEP tape. Air holds very little charge. That is the reason Cardas goes to the trouble.

A second layer of compressed poly-e air tubes holds the tin-plated copper braided shield and the extruded alcryn rubber jacket away from the conductors. That gap is deliberate. The shield rejects radio and electrical noise from a distance instead of pressing on the signal path. The cable measures 9.14 mm across.

The CE XLR at the End

Parsec ends in the Cardas CE XLR, the company's own XLR plug and its standard balanced termination here. The body is machined high-copper, non-magnetic brass and the contacts are silver plated. Cardas solders it to the cable by hand in Bandon, Oregon.

Who Is This Interconnect Best For?

• You want a first step into Cardas's Clear-line construction — Kevlar-core conductors and air-tube insulation arrive here, so the parts that define the dearer Cardas cables are in your rack
• Your sources sit near switching power supplies — the braided shield rides on air tubes, off the conductors, so noise is rejected without loading the signal
• You swap gear often — the CE XLR latches into the jack and its silver contacts resist wear, so every reconnection seats clean
• You want a cable that dresses easily — the alcryn rubber jacket stays flexible at 9.14 mm, so it bends around a shelf edge without a fight
• Your components have only RCA jacks — the Parsec XLR is balanced at both ends and will not fit an RCA jack. Choose the Cardas Parsec RCA instead, or call us and we will match the connector

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run the Parsec from a balanced XLR output on your DAC, streamer, CD player or phono stage to a balanced XLR input on your preamp or amplifier. Keep left to left and right to right. Line up the pins and push until the latch clicks. Press the latch tab to release the plug.

Then leave it alone. Cardas says its cables settle with use, so plug in and listen. Other and longer lengths available. Call for prices.

Pairs Well With

An interconnect is one link in the chain. It usually joins these categories.

• Integrated Amplifiers — the usual input end
• Digital-to-Analog Converters — DAC output to amplifier
• Phono Preamplifiers — phono stage to line input
• Power Cables — clean power at both ends

Frequently Asked Questions

What are air tubes?

Hollow polyethylene tubes around each conductor, so the copper rests mostly in air. A second set of compressed tubes holds the shield and jacket away from the conductors.

What is the CE XLR connector?

Cardas's own XLR plug, its standard balanced termination on the Crosslink through Clear Cygnus. High-copper, non-magnetic brass body, silver-plated contacts, hand soldered in Bandon, Oregon.

How long does break-in take?

Cardas says at most 200 hours, and usually half that. Its advice is simple: "Plug them in, leave them plugged in, and enjoy your life."

What warranty does Cardas give?

A lifetime warranty. Every Litz strand is sealed in enamel, so the copper does not oxidize. Cardas says that is why its cables last.

Is there a step up from the Parsec?

Cardas Clear Sky XLR is the next rung and the entry to the Clear line. It adds Cardas's Matched Propagation conductors and keeps the CE XLR plug.

See It in Action

Audio Advisor's tour of the Cardas factory in Bandon, where the Parsec is built and terminated.

Audio Advisor walks through Cardas cable construction, from Litz strands to hand-soldered plugs.

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
• 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it's right for you.
• Real Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.
• Free Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.
• Flexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.

Learn More

Want to learn more about interconnects, dielectrics, or RCA versus XLR? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.