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
Based on Atlas' Equator Integra RCA, a consistent award winner for over a decade (winning What HiFi’s Best Interconnect Award 4 times), the latest generation Equator XLR delivers a superb price/performance ratio. A superior balanced interconnect designed for today’s increasingly electrically noisy home environment.
Based on Atlas' Equator Integra RCA, a consistent award winner for over a decade (winning What HiFi’s Best Interconnect Award 4 times), the latest generation Equator XLR delivers a superb price/performance ratio. A superior balanced interconnect designed for today’s increasingly electrically noisy home environment.
Balanced OCC core and high-efficiency screening (to protect against noise inducing RFI) combine to offer a very revealing yet neutral sound. High levels of RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) in a poorly shielded cable can result in a ‘bright’ sound which superficially suggests additional detail. In fact, a cable with superior screening may sound slightly ‘darker’ on first hearing, although one quickly realises the detail is all present, just without the artificial leading-edge ‘spotlit’ effect, and quieter backgrounds allow a wider dynamic range to be conveyed by the cable.
The Atlas Equator XLR is constructed with four central multi-core conductors of high purity OCC (Ohno Continuous Casting) copper encapsulated within a low-loss foamed Polyethylene dielectric, with excellent immunity to interference and noise, making it ideally suited to longer cable runs.
The cable is terminated with Atlas' low-mass cold-weld (solder-free) XLR plugs, facilitating extremely consistent construction and improved audio performance. The result is a beautifully balanced interconnect which offers a large three-dimensional soundstage and fine levels of resolution.
The Atlas XLR combines a lightweight aluminium alloy body with precision-fit OFC/OCC connectors and solder-free construction.
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) | ||||
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 |
A pair of identically matched conductors (one for signal path, the other acts as the return conductor) enclosed within a non-conducting screen.
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.
Deliveries to EU member states are subject to 20% VAT. We offer the following shipping services:
Deliveries outside of the EU are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you login or register.
We offer the following shipping services:
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.