Product Overview
CLARUS MARK II BALANCED AUDIO CABLES
Astounding Clarity, Detail, and Tonal Balance
Professional-grade audio components transmit audio signals using differential mode signaling over balanced connections. Balanced cable technology requires three conductors—one for the main signal, one for the main signal inverted (180 degrees out of phase with the main signal), and one for the ground. By subtracting the inverted signal from the main signal, the component receiving the balanced signal will cancel induced noise, leaving a pristine signal. As a result, balanced audio cables deliver the highest quality and quietest analog audio signals.
Clarus balanced audio cables are designed with triple balanced geometry that provides dedicated conductors for the (+) signal, (-) signal, and ground connections, each made from the purest copper, extruded into three distinctly different optimized conductor types for bass, midrange, and high-frequencies. Each unique conductor is insulated to minimize inter-conductor interference. Finally, cables are meticulously hand terminated in Orlando Florida with highly conductive tellurium copper XLR connectors. The result is an audio signal that is open and transparent with astounding clarity, detail, and tonal balance.
Technology
The Purest Copper Available for the Purest Sound Possible
Clarus designs cables for discriminating audiophiles using the purest copper available. Pure Continuous Cast Copper (PCCC) uses a unique proprietary mold extrusion process that creates substantial lengths of single-crystal copper that is directional, free of impurities, flexible and corrosion-resistant, with low electrical resistance, and non-crystal boundaries that are structurally perfect.
Conductor Geometry Optimized for the Full Audio Spectrum
Clarus cable engineering goes beyond mere wire gauge, utilizing independent designer Jay Victor’s eight years of research and development of five patents to create balanced audio cables that feature three distinct conductor types optimized for bass, midrange, and high-frequencies.
Solid, heavy-gauge, round conductors with a broad cross-sectional area to enhance the predominant path for low frequencies. A spiraled ultra-thin ribbon conductor wraps around a non-conductive core to provide an ideal path for high frequencies. Mid-range signals are optimized by using a wide, flat conductor. The flat design lacks the skin depth necessary to support low bass, while the insulated large surface area of the mid-range conductor de-emphasizes high frequencies, producing an accurate and silky-smooth audio mid-range.
Multiple Levels of Insulation and Shielding Maintain Signal Purity
A lot is going on inside Clarus balanced audio cables. We are careful to insulate and protect the integrity of the audio signal for maximum sonic purity.
Balanced audio cables consist of three conductors: (+) signal, (-) signal, and ground. The three conductors are twisted together and surrounded with a protective layer of aluminum and Mylar® and a heavy copper-braided shield. This shield is connected only to the source end of the balanced audio cable and acts like an antenna/drain that provides a path for induced noise to ground away from the connected component’s input stage.
Each conductor contains a complicated geometry of individually insulated solid conductors that support a fully balanced range of audio frequencies. Insulating each type of conductor minimizes inter-conductor interference and maintains the unique three-conductor design’s clarity, openness, and transparency.
Mark II — The Final Connection for Balanced Audio
Clarus terminates Mark II balanced audio cables with superbly designed, high-performance XLR connectors made with two copper alloys; high-purity, high-conductivity tellurium copper provides low resistance with superior sound characteristics, while lightweight, springy, and high-conductivity beryllium copper ensures solid contact and low loss signal transfer.
The tellurium copper male pins of the XLR feature a hollow design that helps to reduce eddy currents that slow signal transfer. The beryllium copper female XLR pins are designed with pin one (the earth ground pin) forward in the connector. With the ground connection established before the signal lines are connected, the insertion (and removal) of the XLR connectors in live equipment is possible without hum or buzz induced that could damage the loudspeaker’s drivers.
Clarus MKII Balanced Audio Cables—The Most Exceptional High-End Audio Cables on the Market
Clarus designs, engineers, and crafts each balance audio cable to provide the ultimate listening experience for discerning audiophiles. Crafted with Clarus MKII XLR connectors, no other audiophile-grade cables feature the innovative engineering breakthroughs and enhanced high-end performance of Clarus balanced audio cables.
Clarus balanced audio cables are packaged and sold in pairs; mono cables are available upon request for half the pair price.