AudioQuest KE8 Brochure

KE-8

SPEAKER CABLES: CIRCULAR ARRAY SERIES

CIRC ULAR ARRAY DESIG N

Overall: 2 x 12 AWG (3.30 mm2)

Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS)

4 Size SST

Hyperlitz

DBS Field

Circular Array

Elements (+72V)

PSS CONDUCTORS: Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of cable distortion. Extremely high-purity

Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries which exist within any metal conductor, eliminating
harshness and greatly increasing clarity compared to all other conducting materials.

DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, PATENT PENDING): In addition to insulating and isolating, insulation is also a “dielectric.” It

has permittivity and permeability; it stores and releases energy. Unfortunately, dielectrics are non-linear with frequency and with
wave amplitude, causing nasty non-linear phase shifts proportional to frequency and/or signal amplitude.

2 x 20 AWG Solid P erfect-Surf ace Silver (PSS) Conductors
2 x 19 AWG Solid P SS Conductors
2 x 18 AWG Solid P SS Conductors
2 x 16 AWG Solid P SS Conductors
Dark-Gray PVC Jacket (UL CL3 rated)
Nylon Braid - Black/Gray/Silver/Blue
DBS Fiel d Elements (72V)

Fortunately, by electrostatically aligning/polarizing the molecules within a cable's dielectric, the non-linear corruption can be
dramatically reduced. The reason your equipment and your cables sound better when you leave your equipment turned on, is
because you are partially aligning and polarizing the dielectric material present throughout every component. However, even
playing music loud all the time will never fully “form” the dielectric.

In contrast, KE-8’s DBS puts a continuous 72 volt potential (DC bias) between the very center of KE-8, and an outer shield-like
layer. All the dielectric in-between is fully aligned all the time. There is no interaction with the signal conductors. Nothing is put in
the signal path. A test button and LED allow for occasional verification of battery performance.

CIRCULAR-ARRAY GEOMETRY: The relationship between conductors defines some of a cable’s basic electrical values

(capacitance and inductance). Independent of these values, the relationship between conductors can be varied in ways that
greatly effect performance. The circular-spiral construction of KE-8 allows for significantly better dynamic contrast and clarity than
if the same conductors were run in parallel or as multiple twisted pairs.

SPREAD SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY (SST): Any single size or shape of conductor has a characteristic distortion profile. Even
though radially symmetrical conductors (solid round or tubular) have the fewest discontinuities, each size still has a sonic
signature. KE-8 uses a precise combination of four different size conductors in order to significantly reduce the audibility of these
character flaws.

TERMINATIONS: Superior AudioQuest connectors allow KE-8 to be securely attached to any type of equipment. AQ ends are
dull looking because there is no harsh sounding shiny nickel layer underneath the silver (or gold). AQ PK-spade lugs are soft
because pure stamped copper is much better than machined brass. For pieces requiring a banana plug or BFA connector the AQ
PK-BFA/Banana provides unprecedented performance over conventional brass versions.

BIWIRING: When possible, running separate conductors or separate cables to the treble and bass “halves” of a speaker will
considerably reduce distortion. The large magnetic fields associated with bass energy modulate a cable’s electrical properties,
thereby modulating/distorting the treble … similar to the way waves in the ocean make it much harder to swim.

KE-8 may be used as a Single-BiWire cable by preparing KE-8 with four connections on the speaker end. For maximum
performance though, use two pair of KE-8 or a Double-BiWire set.