Cardas Audio Parsec Power Cable

Parsec Borrows Its Conductors From Clear Cygnus

A power cable carries the last few feet of AC from the wall into a component. It can't add power a component doesn't draw, but a poorly shielded one lets noise ride in on that current.

Cardas's Parsec borrows its conductor design from the Clear Cygnus line: a 14 AWG triad of Grade 1, 99.9999% pure oxygen-free tin-plated copper, double shielded and wrapped in PTFE.

Tin-Plated Copper in a Twisted Triad

Cardas specifies Grade 1, 99.9999% pure oxygen-free tin-plated copper for Parsec's conductors, insulated in PTFE. Tin plating protects the copper surface from oxidation over years of use, which Cardas carries forward into its higher power cable lines as well.

Double Shielding, Twisted Triad Geometry

The cable is double shielded with tin-plated copper and magnet wire, then built as a twisted triad mixed with PVC air tubes bound with FEP tape. The gauge runs 3x14 AWG for an outside diameter of 0.500 inches, or 12.7mm, a different build from Iridium's twisted pair: three conductors instead of two, though each one is thinner.

The Connectors, Explained

Parsec terminates in a Cardas power plug at the component end, soldered and crimped with silver/rhodium-plated solid copper contacts, which plugs into the inlet on your amplifier, DAC or other component, and a standard NEMA 5-15 three-prong plug for the US wall outlet at the wall end.

Who Is This Power Cable Best For?

• You already own an Iridium and want a third conductor — Parsec moves from a twisted pair to a twisted triad borrowed from the Clear Cygnus line
• You want tin-plated copper for its long-term oxidation resistance — Parsec's conductors carry that plating; Iridium's do not
• You are feeding an integrated amp or a component with moderate current draw — Cardas calls Parsec very flexible and suitable for both front-end components and amplifiers
• You value a double-shielded build at a mid-range Cardas price — tin-plated copper and magnet wire shielding are standard on Parsec
• Your budget is tight and Iridium already covers your component — Cardas Iridium is the lower-priced entry point to the same power line

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug the IEC end into the inlet on the back of your amplifier, DAC or other component, and the male end into a wall outlet or power conditioner outlet.

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

Pairs Well With

A power cable is one link in the chain from the wall to your gear. It usually joins these categories.

• Power Conditioners — filter the whole circuit; the cable feeds the last few feet after it
• Integrated Amplifiers — the high-current load most power cables are built to feed
• Stereo Amplifiers — another high-current destination for the heavier gauges in this range
• Digital-to-Analog Converters — a low-current source component that still benefits from clean, quiet AC

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does shielding matter on an AC cable?

Cardas builds its power cables to keep radio-frequency and electromagnetic noise from riding in on the AC line and reaching sensitive circuits. A ground wire without that shielding can act like an antenna, pulling in exactly the noise a power cable is supposed to keep out.

Do power cables wear out?

Every metal conductor oxidizes over time; it is unavoidable chemistry, not a defect. What varies is the rate. Denser, better-shielded conductors with quality plating oxidize far more slowly, so a well-made cable performs the same way for years instead of drifting.

Will this affect my system's ground safety?

No change to your safety ground. Every cable in this line keeps the full three-conductor path, hot, neutral and ground, exactly as building code requires. What differs from a stock cord is conductor quality and shielding, not the wiring topology.

Is there a step up?

Cardas Clear Reflection is the next rung. It steps up to three 11.5 AWG litz conductors and Cardas's premium E-5 connectors.

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