Clarus Audio Crimson USB Cable – Clearance Special

CLARUS CRIMSON USB DIGITAL AUDIO CABLES

Audio Nirvana

A USB audio connection is the preferred method for sending high-resolution digital music from a computer to a digital to analog converter (DAC). When listening to digital audio, the right choice of a high-performance USB cable to interconnect the source component with the preamp/processor can make the difference between a “just ok” listening experience and “audio nirvana.”

There are two classes of USB audio. Each one handles high-resolution audio, but only Class 2 is bit-perfect, allowing MQA Studio Master quality file transfer. The Crimson USB Cable is terminated USB A to USB B connectors and is designed for high-speed USB 2.0 digital audio applications supporting bit-perfect USB Class 2 high-resolution audio signals.

TECHNOLOGY

The Purest Copper Available for the Purest Sound Possible

Clarus designs cables for discriminating audiophiles using the purist 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, corrosion-resistant, with low electrical resistance, and non-crystal boundaries that are structurally perfect.

Clarus didn’t stop there. We designed USB cables for discriminating audiophiles using the ultra-pure silver-plating of the purest copper available. The USB signal conductors are solid-core, PCCC with 6.1% ultra-pure silver plating. The solid-core conductors prohibit jitter and reduce potential timing errors, while the silver-plating significantly improves signal transfer by minimizing losses due to the skin effect. At gigahertz frequencies, digital USB signals travel primarily on the surface (skin) of the conductors, and since silver is a better conductor than copper, the signal transfers with less loss.

Conductor Geometry Optimized for the Full Audio Spectrum

Meticulous attention to detail allowed Clarus to engineer a high-quality, low-jitter USB cable intended specifically for audio. Clarus USB cables feature two isolated conductor pairs. One pair of conductors is solid-core ultra-pure silver-plated PCCC to support the digital signal, while the other supports USB power. The power conductor pair is a much larger gauge to ensure adequate current for USB audio devices.

In the world of USB digital, many things can introduce timing errors, and cables happen to be one of them. We designed the Crimson USB Audio Cable with precision twisting techniques that are similar to those used in high-end HDMI cables, where timing is also critical.

Multiple Levels of Insulation and Shielding Maintain Signal Purity

Keeping the noise floor as low as possible and maintaining the integrity of the digital signal transfer requires an impressive and functional shielding design. Clarus USB Cable geometry features a precision twisted design to protect against AC line noise getting into the signal path. Six separate shields protect against external noise contaminating the digital signal.

The Clarus USB Cable design includes double-sided aluminum foil and Mylar® shielding wrapped around the signal conductors. The double-sided foil serves two purposes: First, it prevents electromagnetic interference from TV, FM radio, cell phones, and Wi-Fi from contaminating the digital signal with unwanted noise, then it prevents the cable’s high-frequency digital signal from radiating out and inducing noise into nearby audio, video, or digital cables in your system.

For maximum signal isolation, the power conductors consist of a twisted pair wrapped with a high-performance foil to prevent noise from leaking into the digital signal conductors. A second aluminum foil and Mylar® wrap surrounds both the signal and the power conductor pairs. The final outer layer of protection is a silver-plated copper braided shield to protect the internal conductors from lower RF (i.e., radio frequencies such as AM radio). The result of this remarkable design is a USB cable that will deliver digital signals with complete digital integrity and a noise floor below human hearing capability.