AudioQuest Thunder High-Current 3pin

AudioQuest Thunder High-Current

Alternating current (AC) is anything but a perfect power source. AC technology is well over a century old and was never developed to meet the high standards of today's high-definition audio-video components. AC noise is present at the power source and is then amplified by high frequency noise induced (picked up by the AC cable) and coupled to the component power supplies and circuit ground. This produces low level distortion and signal loss via the "masking effect". In addition, power amplifiers can require immense reserves of transient current to allow their power supplies to react to dynamic audio passages and then stabilize. Most power cords and power conditioner-regenerators are helpful up to a certain point, but simply not up to the task.

Power amplifiers pose a real challenge for any AC power source, as the requirements for transient current (although short duration) can be many times the average power consumption (RMS). Power amplifiers are also unique in that the current consumption is dynamic and not constant and changes with volume and audio signal content. Although many AC cables may have low DC resistance to meet some of this requirement, the characteristic impedance of the AC cable is equally responsible for ensuring uncompromised performance. Many premium AC cables constrict or compress the audio transient because their characteristic impedance limits the transient current.

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DISSIPATION OF GROUND NOISE

AC grounding cables provide protection against power wiring faults, but also serve as antennas. They are therefore exposed to induced radio frequency (RF) noise. This RF noise bypasses component power supplies and is typically injected directly into the most sensitive audio/video circuits of a system. AudioQuest's patented Ground Noise Dissipation significantly reduces this distortion and results in unprecedented noise dissipation over the widest possible bandwidth (range) of radio frequencies. Our unique circuit topology uses a common mode phase cancellation array in conjunction with proprietary dielectric materials that provide additional differential linear filtering. (US Patent No. 9,373,439)

HIGH PURITY CONDUCTORS - LONG GRAIN COPPER (LGC) AND COPPER WITH PERFECT SURFACE (PSC)

A carefully engineered combination of solid high-purity long grain copper (LGC) and high-purity PSC (Perfect-Surface Copper) conductor prevents strand interaction, a major source of ear-tiring temporary intermodulation distortion. LGC enables a smoother and clearer sound than standard Oxygen Free High Conductivity (OHC) copper. The amazingly smooth and pure copper with a perfect surface further eliminates hardness and significantly increases clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other premium copper.

DIELECTRIC BIAS SYSTEM WITH HIGH FREQUENCY TRAP

All insulation between two or more conductors is also a dielectric, the properties of which affect the integrity of the signal. When the dielectric is undistorted, the involvement of the dielectric (absorption and nonlinear energy release) causes different time delays (phase shift) for different frequencies and energy levels, which is a real problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. The use of an RF trap (developed for AudioQuest Niagara Series power supply products) ensures that no RF noise is induced into the signal conductors by the DBS field elements. (DBS, US Patent No. 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1)

UNCOMPRESSED HIGH (VARIABLE) CURRENT TRANSMISSION - THUNDER

With a current capacity of 20 amps RMS at 125 VAC 50/60 Hz (16 amps RMS at 220-240 VA 50/60 Hz), Thunder / High (Variable) Current can withstand current transient peaks many times its continuous (average) RMS rating. This makes Thunder / High (Variable) Current ideal for a wide range of AC conditioners, power regenerators, AC isolation transformers and AC battery backup devices, as well as any power amplifier, active subwoofer, active speaker and active receiver or integrated amplifier.

DIRECTIONALITY

All drawn metal strands or conductors have a non-symmetrical and therefore directional grain structure. AudioQuest controls the resulting change in RF impedance so that the noise is diverted away from the point where it causes distortion. The correct direction is determined by listening to each batch of metal conductors used in each AudioQuest audio cable. Where applicable, the arrows on the connectors are clearly marked to ensure excellent sound quality. On most AQ cable models, the arrows indicate not only the direction in which the metal direction is optimized in the noise dissipation, but also the non-balanced placement of shielding and GND to optimize the performance of the entire system.

Properties

• Solid long grain copper conductors (PSC) with perfect surface (PSC)
• Uncompressed high current transmission
• Ground Noise Dissipation Technology (US Patent No. 9,373,439)
• NULL (No) Characteristic impedance (50Hz - 1MHz)
• 72 VDC dielectric bias system (US Patent No. 7,126,055)
• Directionally controlled conductors