It’s no secret that the quest for perfect sound often focuses on the main components: the amplifier, the source, and the loudspeakers. Yet, according to Scott Shih from AudioQuest, a global leader in high-performance audio, the true sonic breakthrough often lies in the overlooked final link: the cables.
Speaking about their newest offerings, the Long Ranger and Braveheart speaker cables from the Folk Hero series, Scott highlighted a fundamental design philosophy that separates their product from the pack: extreme isolation.
According to Scott, the challenge in cable design comes from the metal conductors themselves. When electricity flows, it generates electromagnetic interference (EMI).
“The biggest difference is we separate the plus and minus… once the cable is doing its job, the EMI from the positive will interfere with the negative. That’s why noise distortion and time domain defense happened,” he noted.
In response, AudioQuest refined its “Zero Technology” to totally isolate the positive and negative conductors. “Now we are totally separate. So there’s like no more interference at all,” Scott affirmed, ensuring a cleaner signal path from your amplifier to your speakers.
While technical prowess is key, usability is also critical. A common complaint with high-end cables is their stiff, unwieldy nature, making them difficult to install in tight spaces. Scott made sure to emphasize the improved flexibility of the new line.
“Besides, this generation is very flexible, so you can use it in a very narrow space,” he explained, contrasting them with other high-end cables that “are pretty stiff.” For new buyers curious about where to start, Scott pointed out that the Long Ranger cable is positioned as an exceptional entry-level option, priced at about $150,000 (local currency unspecified), while the premium Braveheart model uses a thicker 11-gauge conductor for even greater performance.
The scope of the company, which has been manufacturing out of Irvine, California, for over 40 years, extends far beyond just speaker cables. Robert Wong from AudioQuest likened the brand to a powerhouse retailer, stating, “We are just like the DMO [Department of Motor Vehicles, a colloquial term for ubiquity] in the cable industry. We got everything.”
This vast catalog allows them to cater to almost any audio need, from computer and gaming users to high-end two-channel enthusiasts. Robert stressed that the quality difference is systematic: the higher the series a customer chooses, the better the sound, thanks to enhanced engineering like Noise Dissipation, which uses layers of metal, carbon, and graphene to shield the cable from outside radio frequencies.
Whether seeking a foundational cable to maximize a gaming console or the finest link for a multi-thousand-dollar McIntosh system, AudioQuest aims to be the only connection anyone will ever need.
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