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  Cable Products > xStream™ Audio RCA xStream™ Audio RCA More Info Starting at just $149.00!  The vast majority of source equipment, preamplifiers, surround sound processors and power amplifiers are connected to each other through RCA connectors.These types of connectors terminate what are known as single ended or unbalanced cables, which are constructed with a single phase conductor and a shield. So many of our sources for audio are available only in the single ended style that it is critical to make sure we have the very best connectivity possible. In fact, Our ear, eye/brain mechanisms rely on incredibly tiny cues that help us “buy into” the illusion of depth, space and three dimensional imaging. Once lost, anywhere in the chain, the information is not recoverable. In order for us to minimize these losses and maximize the three dimensional acoustic spatial information, contained to some degree in virtually every recording in our libraries, it is critical that we pay the utmost attention to the connection of our equipment. High End audio cables are designed by both ear and science The task of designing a High-End audio cable is a blend of both art and  science. Since the audio engineering community has never clearly defined the technical parameters that enhance our abilities to suspend belief in sonic reality, even if just for a moment, the skill is left to a combination of tinkering and scientific principals. It is relatively easy to design a properly shielded interconnect cable that measures with near perfection: it is quite another matter to design and build an audio interconnect that preserves all the subtle nuances and audio cues that tell our ear/brain it’s “ok” to relax and imagine we are in an audio space other than reality. As anyone who has listened to a properly connected and well tuned High-End audio system knows, the immense pleasure derived from a sound system’s ability to transport you to a live concert or a symphony hall – while remaining in the confines of your living room – is simply an uncanny and wonderful experience: shared by only a few. How we connect our equipment together is, in large part, responsible for much of the sonic magic that awaits the eager listener. The Audio xStream cables Designed to both enhance and preserve the spatial and  accurate tonal qualities of music, the Audio xStream series of interconnects reaches a new level in a very affordable manner.There are two models of the single ended Audio xStream, the very affordable Plus Series and the incredible Statement Series. The Plus Series Based on our ever-popular Digital xStream cable, the Plus is one of the most neutral and accurate single ended cables ever built. Hook this bad boy up to any source, any preamplifier’s input or output or any power amplifier’s input, and you can sit back an enjoy all the qualities of your system in an uncompromised manner. Neither warm, nor cool sounding, the hallmark of this cable’s sonic qualities is found in its neutrality. A perfect cable for secondary sources, or a perfect main cable for a system who’s sonic character is determined more from the voicing of the equipment than any added qua  lities hoped for in a cable, the Plus can be a trusted interconnect for life.Inside the Plus The construction of the Plus relies on the highest grade of materials, triple shielding, low absorption dielectric and exceptional workmanship. The highest grade of materials The center, or “hot” conductor of the Plus is comprised of 65 strands of 36 gauge OFC copper, each strand plated with 99% pure silver. This combination gives the cable a full bodied natural sound while maintaining excellent high frequency characteristics due to the silver clad conductors. To maintain an audio cable’s “body” means that the cable will not have a “thin” sound to it. One of the problems we have found with many audio interconnect cables is a lack of a full bodied sound resulting in a “thin” mid bass which is unnatural in music. One of the little known secrets in cable construction that ensures it will not sound “thin” is to keep t  he center conductor approximately ½ the size of the ground return conductor.The ground return of the Plus is made from 144 strands of 36 gauge OFC copper that has not been silver plated. After a great deal of listening and experimentation, we concluded that the Plus would be too bright in its presentation of music if we added too much silver to the mix. Careful blending of the number of copper strands vs. silver clad copper strands resulted in the exceptionally neutral character of this cable: yet had enough material to preserve an dynamic information contained in the music. Triple shielding The 144 strands of OFC copper is but the first of three outer shields in the Plus. This 90% copper braid is very effective at lower frequency energy rejection. The two other outer shields are made from very different materials and construction and termination techniques.  The first shield is a unique material known as conductive PVC. A small amount of controlled conductive material (carbon) is added in an exotic blend to a simple plastic insulating material known as PVC. This shield has the unique characteristic of distributing outside interference along the length of it and converting the energy into heat – thereby dissipating the unwanted energy. The second shield is a double sided aluminum foil that is particularly effective in reducing higher frequency interference like cell phones and television signals. The conductive PVC shield and the aluminum foil shield are tied together at the source end of the cable and un-terminated at the output of the cable. This classic shielding technique is quite effective in routing unwanted noise and energy to ground without passing it to the next piece of equipment. Low absorption dielectric Between the 65 strands of silver plated OFC copper and the 144 strands of OFC outer conductor/shield is the insulating dielectric material. To keep the hot and neutral electrical isolated, we turned to one of the best dielectric insulators in the cable business, PE foam. An exotic method of foaming Polyethylene into a  material that is suitable for this purpose, the dielectric constant of the cable’s construction is near perfect.The best connectors and exceptional workmanship Both the Plus and the Statement interconnect cables use our custom designed RCA connector. This is one of the finest connectors ever made for this purpose. Inside the connector the center pin and the outer shield are separated by a machined Teflon insulator. The materials used to make the connector itself are the same high quality ones found in only the finest machined connectors in the world. Each connector is hand polished and has a thick 24 carat gold plating over nickel surface. One look at this piece of audio jewelry and you won’t have any doubt of its value. One listen to this beauty and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. The Statement If you have ever questioned the fact that cables make a difference, then you owe it to yourself to audition the Statement. The Statement is big, robust, full of mid-bass energy and low-end  power, yet it is not colored. Sounds hard to imagine that a cable described as 'big and robust' could also remain nuetral. The Statement is such a cable. The first impression you will have is one of - missing info found!Most systems are “thin” Our experience has been that the vast majority of audio and home theater systems are a bit “thin” sounding. By thin we refer to an apparent lack of mid-bass energy that can easily be heard in the lower regions of a persons voice, in the amount of “body” in an acoustic instrument such as a piano or a guitar. This is a phenomena not recognized by most until you hear the missing info returned to the music; then you can't imagine how you ever lived without it! By designing a cable that is abundant with information in the areas where most systems are weak, the combination is simply magic. How is this possible? How can a mere cable and its construction so dramatically change the way your system performs and increase the level of information you hear? Copper, and lots and lots of finely stranded OFC copper does the trick nicely. When you pick up the Statement interconnect, you'll be amazed at its weight. So much copper is crammed into this small space that this cable actually weighs noticeably more than any other interconnect we have ever seen.  We have discovered that the correct blend of gauge and amount of OFC copper in the right configuration, amazingly, brings out this lost information. We first discovered this unique concept when we worked on designing the Lab Cable power cord. In fact, the Statement began life as a power cord - to be exact; a Mini Lab power cord. We have been playing around with such things for many years and have always marveled at the increase in low end information relative to virtually any other cable construction - once you start adding copper. Copper, and lots of it seems to bring out information we were not aware was on the recording until we heard it appear. Truly amazing. The real challenge was several fold: how to maximize the acoustical information at all frequencies and how to stuff that much copper into the size-restricted area of an RCA interconnect. Size restrictions Due to the layout of most preamplifiers and surround processors, the overall diameter of a single ended RCA connecting cable should not exceed one half an inch: otherwise the left and right cables won’t fit easily. That size restriction is a problem if you are trying to build two side-by-side conductors, with one conductor twice the size of the other, using the extreme amount of copper necessary to create a cable like the Statement.  The solution to the problem was suggested by our director of engineering, Bob Stadtherr. What Bob came up with is brilliantly simple: place the smaller conductor in the middle and the larger of the two conductors around the outer diameter of the cable.Thus, the Statement has 420 strands of OFC copper in the middle, and 840 strands of copper in a ring around the center conductor. It even weighs more Pick up a one or two meter length of a Statement and the weight of the cable will surprise you. So much copper is inside this beast, 1596 strands of OFC copper in fact, that few people will have ever held a cable with so much mass of copper. The Statement is truly a remarkable engineering feat that is extremely difficult to manufacture: yet the audible benefits of this cable are worth every ounce of sweat that goes into the build. Triple shielded and PE foam dielectric as well As in the Plus Series construction, the copper conductors in the Statement are isolated by a material known  as PE foam used to improve the high frequency performance, and three outer shields.The outermost shield is a 90% OFC copper braid woven just under the outer jacket material. This braid helps reduce the lower frequency noise from outside interference sources. The second level of shielding comes from a double wrap of aluminum foil just under the OFC braid. This foil is especially useful in eliminating higher frequency interference such as cell phones, wireless phones, along with digital and video inferences. Our highest end Statement cable The Statement's name says it all. It is our statement on the art of audio transmmission. It represents years of listening, experimenting and careful observations. The Statement is PS Audio’s ultimate statement on the art of single ended connectivity. If you want the very best interconnect made, or need a fuller more robust presentation of the music – in all its glory – then the Statement is the cable of choice for any level of system. Choose either the Plus or the Statement cable depending on your budget. The good news is that both of these cablesd are affordable and you no longer have to compromise because of cost. The Audio xStreams solve all of these problems. Would you like to take adavantage of our guaranteed return policy and audition these in the quiet of your home? Click here to take advantage of our risk free 30 day trial, or contact your local PS dealer to arrange for an audition. Hear what you've been missing!
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