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AudioQuest Carbon Digital Coaxial Audio Cable
As low as £209.00 £174.17
SKU
AQ Carbon Digi Audio
Lifetime
New
24 hours
AudioQuest's Carbon Digital Coax cables are designed to minimize distortion across an extremely wide bandwidth. For many applications, the speed of digital communication is important.
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AudioQuest Carbon Digital Audio Cable
AudioQuest Digital Coax cables are designed to minimize distortion across an extremely wide bandwidth. For many applications, the speed of digital communication is important. Most visibly, “speed” is about transferring large files as quickly as possible, or carrying enough data for HD video. For Digital Coax audio “speed” is critical not because of how-much how-fast, but because time relationships within a digital stream are critical to the reconstruction of the analog waveform that brings information, music and joy to our ears. Time-based damage (jitter) to this information within the data package makes the sound small and flat instead of 3D, harsh and foggy instead of smooth and clear.
Features :
- Solid 5% Silver Conductors
- Hard-Cell Foam Insulation
- 100% Shield Coverage (Foil + Silver-Plated Braid)
- Carbon-Based 5-Layer Noise-Dissipation System (NDS)
- Gold-Plated Terminations
Solid 5% Silver Conductors :
Solid conductors eliminate strand-interaction distortion and reduce jitter. Solid silver-plated conductors are excellent for very high-frequency applications. These signals, being such a high frequency, travel almost exclusively on the surface of the conductor. As the surface is made of high-purity silver, the performance is very close to that of a solid silver cable, but priced much closer to solid copper cable. This is an incredibly cost effective way of manufacturing very high-quality digital coax cables.
Hard-Cell Foam Insulation :
Hard-Cell Foam insulation is used exclusively in most of AudioQuest’s video and digital audio cables. Similar to Foamed-PE, it is nitrogen injected to create air pockets. ‘Hard’ foam is used because the stiffness of the material allows the conductors in the cable to maintain the same relationship with each other along the full length of the cable, thus ensuring that the characteristic impedance of the cable is consistent.
100% Shield Coverage (Foil + Silver-Plated Braid) :
Shielding always plays an important role in any cable design, but the shield on coax interconnect plays an especially important role because it functions not only as a shield but a return path as well. Because of this, AudioQuest pays special attention to the shield’s metal quality and the fabrication techniques as both will affect the sound and the picture.
Carbon-Based 5-Layer Noise-Dissipation System (NDS) :
100% shield coverage is easy. Preventing captured RF Interference from modulating the equipment’s ground reference requires AQ’s Noise-Dissipation System. Metal and Carbon-Loaded synthetics prevent most RFI from reaching the equipment’s ground plane.
Specification :
- Metal: Solid 5% Silver
- Gauge: 21 AWG
- Geometry: 75 Ohm
- Dielectric: Hard-Cell Foam
- Noise Dissipation System: Carbon-Based 5-Layer Noise-Dissipation System
- Jacket Colour: Black/Dark Grey Braid
- Termination: Cold-Welded, Hanging-Silver directly over pure Purple Copper
- Shield: Foil + Silver-Plated Braid
About AudioQuest
AudioQuest has been the largest cable supplier to the high-end specialist market for many years. AudioQuest is sold in several hundred outlets in the US and in over sixty countries. Bill Lowe (Founder) is especially pleased that this success has been possible despite his insistence that the foundation of the company, and the foundation of AudioQuest marketing, must be the performance of the product. In the audio world, many professionals have learned that it is not always convenient to listen to the products they sell … they might learn something they don’t want to know! Bill has always understood the challenge of basing the existence of AudioQuest on the performance of the product. However, to Bill, this is the only reasonable way to do business and the only acceptable way to combine his passion for music (and all things high performance), with his need to make a living.
Specification :
- Metal: Solid 5% Silver
- Gauge: 21 AWG
- Geometry: 75 Ohm
- Dielectric: Hard-Cell Foam
- Noise Dissipation System: Carbon-Based 5-Layer Noise-Dissipation System
- Jacket Colour: Black/Dark Grey Braid
- Termination: Cold-Welded, Hanging-Silver directly over pure Purple Copper
- Shield: Foil + Silver-Plated Braid
UK Delivery
1. We use Royal Mail 1st Class Services as a Standard Postage Option
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:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at FutureShop.co.uk
- 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 next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by UK Mail).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
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.
2. Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
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.
3. Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
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.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are subject to 20% VAT. We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 10 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 7 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
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:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail - Items are usually delivered within 10-15 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
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.
Enhance Your Experience: Free Cable Burn-In Service with Nordost VIDAR Machine
Please take note of the following details regarding our cable burn-in service:
- Cable Compatibility: We regret to inform you that we cannot burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. In order for cables to undergo the burn-in process, they should be terminated or have connectors.
- Timing: Cables will be burnt in for the selected period after processing your order. For custom-length cables, the burn-in process will occur after they have been terminated by the manufacturer or our engineers unless specified otherwise in the product description.
- Availability: Future Shop provides our cable burn-in service free of charge, but its availability is at our discretion. While we strive to fulfil all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to meet the demand due to limited connections on the Nordost Vidar cable conditioning machines.
The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine integrates three key functions into one operation:
- Charge Neutralisation: It eliminates charges that accumulate around the cables and their insulation, ensuring a more balanced electrical environment.
- Deep Conditioning: The machine provides a wide band and deep conditioning process that affects the conductor core, resulting in changes to the signal transmission through the metal. This deep conditioning enhances the cable's performance.
- Ultrasonic Surface Conditioning: The VIDAR machine utilizes ultrasonic waves to condition the surface of the conductors, optimizing their contact and overall conductivity.
The VIDAR employs a proprietary combination of composite and complex signals to condition the cables. These signals comprise ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, extending beyond the range of video frequencies. The signal moves back and forth along the cable, penetrating deep into the core with ultra-low frequencies and traversing the surface with ultra-high frequencies. This transmission method generates beat harmonics between the two complex waveforms, which permeate all layers of the cable. The circuitry of the VIDAR also drives electrons from the conductor into the insulation area, neutralizing electrical charges.
So, what does this all mean for you?
The ultimate outcome of conditioning cables with the Nordost VIDAR is improved sound staging, increased detail, and an overall more musical presentation in your audio system.
Now, you may wonder why cable burn-in is necessary. During cable manufacturing, gasses become trapped as insulation is applied over the conductors. Additionally, new cables often possess high electrical charges, resulting in a brittle and bright sound that lacks the desired detail and depth for music production.
When cables undergo burn-in, the trapped gasses are dissipated, and small impurities in the conductor metals begin to exhibit diode-like behaviour, favouring current flow in a specific direction.
Here are the physical effects of the burn-in process:
- Charge Neutralisation: The burn-in process neutralizes charges in the conductors and insulation, promoting a more balanced electrical environment.
- Wide Bandwidth Frequencies: The conditioning affects how signals pass through the metal, enabling a wider range of frequencies to penetrate all cable layers.
- Signal Transmission: The burn-in process establishes the directionality of the cable, optimizing signal transmission from one end to the other.
When cables are properly burnt in, you can expect the following audible changes in your audio system:
- Fuller and Natural Sound: Your system should be capable of producing a more immersive and realistic performance with a fuller and more natural sound.
- Increased Detail: You may notice enhanced details and nuances in the music, allowing you to perceive subtle elements that were previously hidden.
- Improved Soundstage: The dimensionality of your system's soundstage can be greatly improved, creating a more spacious and immersive listening experience.
At Future Shop, our goal is to maximise your satisfaction. That's why we offer a free burn-in service on all our cables before they arrive at your door, enabling you to sit back and enjoy the benefits of properly conditioned cables in your audio system.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR CABLE TREATMENT
Customer Reviews
5 /5.0 of 12 Reviews
Everything in its right place.
Nick P
17 Sep 2024
I’ve been putting off writing this as I really can’t think of anything to say other than I think it’s a great cable.
I can’t point out strengths or weaknesses, as everything is pretty much in the Goldilocks zone for a cable at this price point.
I must concur with another reviewer here on the “snug fit.” I have this in RCA to BNC. The BNC is a tighter fit than Audioquest’s own RCA to BNC adapter, and the RCA took quite a bit of force to push home the first time.
I actually thought it was defective until I mustered the courage to push harder. There’s absolutely no chance of accidental disconnection, which is reassuring.
So, if I’m forced to describe it, it has excellent clarity and definition, good balance across the tonal spectrum, and well-focused pinpointing of all elements within the soundstage.
It looks and feels of high quality, too.
I can’t point out strengths or weaknesses, as everything is pretty much in the Goldilocks zone for a cable at this price point.
I must concur with another reviewer here on the “snug fit.” I have this in RCA to BNC. The BNC is a tighter fit than Audioquest’s own RCA to BNC adapter, and the RCA took quite a bit of force to push home the first time.
I actually thought it was defective until I mustered the courage to push harder. There’s absolutely no chance of accidental disconnection, which is reassuring.
So, if I’m forced to describe it, it has excellent clarity and definition, good balance across the tonal spectrum, and well-focused pinpointing of all elements within the soundstage.
It looks and feels of high quality, too.
Great cable
Michael
13 Jun 2024
Verified Buyer
If you are looking for an improvement in clarity & presence in even a mid-fi system and are open to hearing the difference a digital cable can make, I would certainly recommend the AudioQuest Carbon.
After upgrading to this for my CD transport, I immediately bought another one for my SACD / audio extractor set-up.
Futureshop provided great service, as always!
After upgrading to this for my CD transport, I immediately bought another one for my SACD / audio extractor set-up.
Futureshop provided great service, as always!
Superb Cable
Alan Smith
22 Feb 2023
Verified Buyer
I got this to replace a QED Reference Coax. Even with no burn, it sounded far superior in every way. The sound is well-balanced and detailed across the treble, mids & base. The vocals also had more emotion. It is over twice the price but worth every penny.
Not for my ears (or system)
Peter pienkowski
28 Jan 2022
Verified Buyer
Do digital cables make a difference in sound quality. They sure do, even though these 70-year-old ears. The cable was used between my old Meridian 506 CD player and Chord 2qute DAC. It replaced an entry-level Atlas Element cable.
The Carbon, by comparison, was much more revealing, with a 3D soundstage and great musical separation that made sense of almost unlistenable and previously busy tracks. However, the higher registers tended to be too pronounced (no glare or shrill, however). Somehow the emotional impact was missing. Too analytical? It's going back. However, the Carbon showed up what was missing in the Element, so with Mark's help, I am on the hunt for another cable.
The Carbon, by comparison, was much more revealing, with a 3D soundstage and great musical separation that made sense of almost unlistenable and previously busy tracks. However, the higher registers tended to be too pronounced (no glare or shrill, however). Somehow the emotional impact was missing. Too analytical? It's going back. However, the Carbon showed up what was missing in the Element, so with Mark's help, I am on the hunt for another cable.
Vivid in best meaning
Janusz Hajdul
28 Mar 2021
Verified Buyer
I bought this cable online without any audition. Connected Moon MIND with Mytek Manhattan II DAC and my first impression was that I made a mistake. After 24 hours burn-in and natural accommodation of my ears to the sound my view has absolutely changed. Sound is alive, very open, detailed, with a nice punch, very pleasant. Long listening session delivers more fun and details from recordings than I would expect at this price point. I use AQ Diamond AES/EBU for CD transport. It is a top notch sounding cable. However, Carbon is so close to Diamond quality that I'm afraid if AQ might want to remove it from the offering.
I'd like to mention my very best opinion about shopping experience in Futureshop. Excellent range of products, payment process, delivery time and all communication are on a top level. Congratulations and thank you!
I'd like to mention my very best opinion about shopping experience in Futureshop. Excellent range of products, payment process, delivery time and all communication are on a top level. Congratulations and thank you!
Just what the doctor ordered
Gil
20 Mar 2021
Verified Buyer
I used to think "a digital cable is a digital cable". I have learned there can be big differences. I had a cheap cable between my CD transport and my DAC and thought I would upgrade to something better.
I chose Chord Clearway digital. What a difference. Everything just sounded better, until I changed my interconnects between my DAC and amplifier. I started to use an oldie but goodie, Kimber PBJ. With some CD's it worked well, but with a CD with a lot of complicated treble it just sounded harsh.
I now added the AudioQuest Carbon digital wire and all of a sudden everything was back where it should be and more. (Don't let anyone say that the Clearway are bad. Far from the truth.) I realised that the Kimber cables were now differentiating between all the treble. On one track a large cymbal was hit with a drum stick.
The old setup it was just a crash, now I could hear the drum stick hit the cymbal and the sound radiate out.
The Audioquest also helped with the bass. I could hear each pluck of the bass guitar's strings. Bass seemed to go deeper and was 'black'. It took a while but I believe I have found just what I was looking for.
Thanks again Futureshop for excellent service and fair prices.
I chose Chord Clearway digital. What a difference. Everything just sounded better, until I changed my interconnects between my DAC and amplifier. I started to use an oldie but goodie, Kimber PBJ. With some CD's it worked well, but with a CD with a lot of complicated treble it just sounded harsh.
I now added the AudioQuest Carbon digital wire and all of a sudden everything was back where it should be and more. (Don't let anyone say that the Clearway are bad. Far from the truth.) I realised that the Kimber cables were now differentiating between all the treble. On one track a large cymbal was hit with a drum stick.
The old setup it was just a crash, now I could hear the drum stick hit the cymbal and the sound radiate out.
The Audioquest also helped with the bass. I could hear each pluck of the bass guitar's strings. Bass seemed to go deeper and was 'black'. It took a while but I believe I have found just what I was looking for.
Thanks again Futureshop for excellent service and fair prices.
Full of life
Jim Alexander
8 Mar 2021
Verified Buyer
This cable is linking a Cyrus CDT XR with a Hugo TT2.
I compared the Audiolab Carbon against a Chord Shawline. The Carbon went first. Compared to the standard optical cable that came with the TT2, it immediately brought the music to life. Space, detail, sparkly highs and solid lows, all of that stuff--but most importantly it makes the music feel like music, and not just a bunch of really detailed insights into what instrument goes where.
I compared the Shawline second. When contrasted against the Carbon, the Shawline sounded pretty flat and uninteresting: plenty of detail, zero soul. So I put the Carbon back into the system...there was the music again! I swapped the two over a few more times for a week, but the Shawline never lasted more than an album before it went back in the box and the Carbon was on duty again.
So, for my system, the Carbon gets a big thumbs-up and seems to be pretty excellent value for money. Futureshop service has been top-notch throughout, too.
I compared the Audiolab Carbon against a Chord Shawline. The Carbon went first. Compared to the standard optical cable that came with the TT2, it immediately brought the music to life. Space, detail, sparkly highs and solid lows, all of that stuff--but most importantly it makes the music feel like music, and not just a bunch of really detailed insights into what instrument goes where.
I compared the Shawline second. When contrasted against the Carbon, the Shawline sounded pretty flat and uninteresting: plenty of detail, zero soul. So I put the Carbon back into the system...there was the music again! I swapped the two over a few more times for a week, but the Shawline never lasted more than an album before it went back in the box and the Carbon was on duty again.
So, for my system, the Carbon gets a big thumbs-up and seems to be pretty excellent value for money. Futureshop service has been top-notch throughout, too.
Very well made cable, sounds good
Alan
23 Oct 2020
Verified Buyer
A very well made cable that sounds good in my system linking my Gamut CD3 CD player to my Aurelic Vega DAC (RCA COAX SPDIF). The connectors are a positive , snug fit and the cable is directional with clear arrows.
The sound was good from the off and I then allowed 48 hrs burn in before listening again. It seemed that the sound had improved and listening again after 72 hrs confirmed that further. I went for the 1m length which suited my rack. Very pleased with the purchase and the service from Futureshop was excellent.
The sound was good from the off and I then allowed 48 hrs burn in before listening again. It seemed that the sound had improved and listening again after 72 hrs confirmed that further. I went for the 1m length which suited my rack. Very pleased with the purchase and the service from Futureshop was excellent.
Excellent Sound and Value
christopher breunig
11 Jan 2020
Verified Buyer
Excellent Sound and Value. I tried with great success the Audioquest carbon USB cable [see reviews] as it had a type C termination suiting my MacBook Pro. The results with this prompted immediate follow-up with this nicely pliable finely finished cable – which comes in a short length if preferred (0.75m). It has replaced a far more costly cable in my system and I marginally prefer the sound quality.