Need help? Call us on 0800 772 3688 or 0208 905 1555
Prefer email? Contact us via sales@futureshop.co.uk
Need help? Call us on 0800 772 3688 or 0208 905 1555
Prefer email? Contact us via sales@futureshop.co.uk
Atlas' original design brief for the Element Integra was to create a better than average, high quality, entry level interconnect. It seems they succeeded. The Element Integra has won numerous awards internationally and become one of their most successful products.
Atlas' original design brief for the Element Integra was to create a better than average, high quality, entry level interconnect. It seems they succeeded. The Element Integra has won numerous awards internationally and become one of their most successful products.
Benefitting from Atlas' ongoing research and development, the Element is fitted with their Integra non-magnetic RCA plug. The low mass Integra connector features a solder-free, cold-weld connection, all optimised to create a coherent, continuous signal path. The signal conductor is a fully shielded high quality OCC copper, designed and constructed to provide maximum resistance to RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) which can raise noise levels in a poorly shielded cable. The result is a cable which offers a large three dimensional soundstage and fine levels of detail without the artificial brightness which affects many budget cables. The Element Integra offers a neutral, relaxing sound and has proven to be an excellent foundation for further system improvements.
The Atlas Element asymmetrical interconnect shares many similar features to it's stable-mates in the Atlas line. It employs a braided copper and aluminium foil giving a 100% screen to provide rejection of radio frequency interference (RFI), it employs high quality Ohnous Continuous Casting Copper (OCC Copper) for it's conductors together with a low loss porous polyethylene dielectric (PEF).
The Integra is a low-mass, non-compression, constant impedance, self-cleaning, solder-free construction RCA plug. In Atlas' cables, the conductor to plug interfaces are solder free, and the gold-plated conjugate brackets act as the return signal path, helping to reject RFI. Both conjugate brackets (these grip the cable without the adverse effects of compressing it, which can alter impedance) have two asymmetrical leaves which spring open on insertion and wipe clean the signal path. To maintain a clean signal path, simply remove and re-insert them periodically. The Integra RCA connectors utilise low-mass non-magnetic connectors to minimise the negative effect of excessive metal in the plug itself.
The Ohno continuous casting method re-heats the extrusion as the molten copper is forced out of the mould and very slowly and gradually draws the grain or crystal down the conductor''s length, creating a ‘single crystal structure.’ Actually, because no copper is 100% pure, there will always be a few boundaries produced by impurities. The frequency of boundaries created are quite insignificant. A typical crystal in a copper conductor drawn to 0.3 mm diam. using the OCC process is 125.00 metres long! The benefits are obvious, with almost no crystal boundaries, the audio signal is no longer impeded down the copper wire and more information and detail is delivered faithfully to the receiving equipment.
Copper Purity Comparison (0.3mm Diameter) |
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TPC | OFC | OCC | ||
Purity | >99.9% | >99.99% | >99.999% | |
Specific Gravity | 8.75 | 8.926 | 8.938 | |
Gas Impurities (ppm) | ||||
O2 | 200~500 | <10 | <5 | |
H2 | <0.5 | <0.5 | <0.3 | |
Average Crystal Size (Metre) | 0.007 | 0.02 | 125.00 | |
Crystals Per Metre | 150 | 50 | 0.008 |
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is cheap to produce and, as such, is the most commonly used insulation in AV cables. However, PVC is the worst quality insulation a Hi-Fi or AV signal can encounter as its high loss causes a significant reduction in signal velocity. PVC is better suited to power cables and should be avoided in Hi-Fi and AV signal cables. Other dielectrics in common use are Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polytetrafluoride Epoxy (better known as PTFE (Teflon™) or Teflon,) and the new and unique Atlas (PTFE). PEF (Foamed Polyethylene). The foaming process uses a blowing agent, of which there are two types. Atlas use the gas-foamed method which creates a more inert, consistent and higher quality product. The table below shows the properties of a selection of dielectrics. Though not used as a dielectric in Atlas' cables, PVC is included for comparison purposes.
Dielectric Material Comparison (0.3mm Diameter) | |||||
Property | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | Foamed Polyethylene (PEF) | Polypropylene (P.P) | Teflon (FEP or PTFE) | PTFE |
Dielectric Constant (@ 50 -106Hz) | 4-8 | 2.3 | 2.25 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
Dielectric Strength (kV mm-1) | 23-30 | 30-50 | 30-50 | 20-25 | N/A |
Loss Tangent (% @ 50 - 106Hz) | 8-15 | 0.02-0.05 | 0.02-0.06 (@ 106Hz) | 0.02-0.07 | N/A |
Volume Resistivity (Ohms.cm @ 20°C) | 1012-15 | >1017 | 6.5x1014 | >1016 | N/A |
Tensile Strength (Kg mm-2) | 1.0-2.5 | 1.0-2.0 | 3.0-4.0 | 1.9-2.2 | 1.0 |
Melting Point (°C) | -130 | 112-120 | 155-160 | 275 | 275 |
Max. Continuous Operating Temp. (°C) | 60 | 75 | 90 | 200 | 260 |
Min. Operating Temp. (°C) | -15 to -40 | <-60 | -5 to -45 | <-60 | -250 |
Central conductor (signal path) surrounded by dielectric material encased within a circular conducting screen which acts as the signal return path.
"The Element Integra represents excellent value for money and so comes highly recommended." Hi-Fi Choice Magazine July 2016 Edition |
"Subtle and smooth, there’s nothing to gripe about here – and as a first upgrade, the Element Integras come highly recommended." (Read More) Best Analogue Interconnect Cable - What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision Awards 2012/13/14 |
"Adding 3D depth to the pleasingly arranged and constructed soundstage, the performance added a layered arrangement that was surprising for this price point." Hi-Fi World Magazine July 2013 Edition |
The improved Element Integra is an entry level audio interconnect for discerning music lovers. Like all Atlas interconnects, it provides a huge sound-stage together with a smooth delivery. It avoids the over bright and irritating sound so often a feature of similarly priced interconnects. Rather in common with all Atlas interconnects, irrespective of price, it offers the listener a sophisticated and relaxing sound with no artificial highs or lows and most importantly, it offers the user fantastic value for money. Just look at the construction, the OCC copper, the quality asymmetrical construction, and the conjugate bracket Integra plug; there's nothing else quite like the Element Integra.
Atlas Cables are a major producer of interconnects and cables in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. All products are researched, developed and most are assembled in the Atlas purpose built factory in Scotland.
Many of these products are unique and use advanced techniques of production or manufacture in order to bring to the user the very finest quality products. With each new model we continue to push the boundaries of reliability and performance. It's little wonder then, that Atlas Cables have had so many mile-stone advances in the past and that Atlas Cables have secured so many awards in comparative tests against other products.
Orders received before 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. Over 98% of our orders are usually delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2-3 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays . In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Futureshop.co.uk. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD or Interlink Express for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order Monday to Friday subject to stock availability. For International orders, we use FedEx Services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths or custom-made cables may be subject to longer delivery time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free UK delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or Interlink Express next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or Interlink Express.
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
For the Next Day Special Delivery service, orders must be received by futureshop.co.uk by 4.30pm weekdays. Orders after the 4.30pm deadline cannot be guaranteed for same day dispatch.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
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Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets.