AudioQuest Diamondback Brochure

DIAMONDBACK

ANALOG AUDIO INTERCONNECT

TRIPLE BALANCED DESIGN

3 x 22 AWG Solid Perfect-Surface Copper

Solid Perfect-Surface

Copper (PSC)

PE Air

Tubes

Triple

Balanced

Welded,
Direct Silver-Plated

Tinned

Drainwire

Many sophisticated design techniques, superior materials, and an exceptional termination system combine
to make Diamondback possible. The result will put more than a scare into most cost-no-object cables.

DESIGN BASICS: Diamondback is Triple-Balanced. This means there are three identical insulated

conductors, in addition to a separate conductor underneath the 100% coverage foil shield. When used with
XLR connectors and balanced electronics, the two positive signals (inverting and non-inverting) and the
negative, all get the same low-distortion conducting path. The shield is attached to chassis ground through
the case of the XLR, providing extremely effective shielding without contaminating the quality of the
negative conducting path. When Diamondback is fitted with RCA plugs, two conductors are used together
for the much higher potential across the negative connection, providing a substantial performance
advantage. The shield is only attached at one end, providing total shield coverage without compromising the
negative conducting path.

(PSC) Conductors
Polyethylene Air Tube Insulation
22 AWG Solid Tinned Copper Drainwire
Foil/Mylar/Foil Shield
Midnight Blue PVC Jacket
Black/Blue - Nylon Braid

CONDUCTORS: All of Diamondback’s conductors are solid. Electrical and magnetic interaction between

strands in a conventional cable is the greatest source of distortion, often causing a somewhat dirty harsh
sound. Solid conductors are fundamental toward achieving Diamondback’s very clean sound.

METAL: PSC (Perfect Surface Copper) has an astonishingly smooth and pure surface. Proprietary metal

processing technology protects the wire’s surface at every stage of drawing and fabrication. When high­purity low-oxide copper is kept as soft, pure and smooth as possible, it becomes a wonderfully low distortion
conductor. For fifteen years AudioQuest has pioneered the use of superior metals; yet even we were
surprised by this huge leap in performance. PSC clearly outperforms previous AQ metals that cost over ten
times as much.

INSULATION: Any solid material adjacent to a conductor is actually part of an imperfect circuit. Wire

insulation, circuit board materials all absorb energy (loss). Some of this energy is stored and then released
as distortion. Diamondback uses air filled FPE (Foam Polyethylene) insulation on both conductors because
air absorbs next to no energy, and Polyethylene is low-loss and has a benign distortion profile. Thanks to all
the air in FPE, it causes much less of the out-of-focus effect common to other materials.

TERMINATIONS: Diamondback’s plugs are Resistance Welded to the cable in a process which sends

8,000 amperes of current through the junction of conductor and plug for 33 millionths of a second. The heat
resulting from the resistance of the metals locally liquefies the conductor and the plug, creating a single
material alloy where the two meet. An ideal connection that puts any solder to shame.

Diamondback’s gold plated RCA plugs use a patented design that eliminates the distortion caused by the
extra contact inside most plugs. Because the ground shells are stamped instead of machined, the metal can
be chosen for low distortion instead of for its machinability.

A combination of these major ingredients, and many more subtle details add up to explain how
Diamondback can sound so clean, clear and dynamic.