Niagara 3000 Delivers Power, Protection, Performance
Power management is a hot topic in audio. Niagara 3000 loves the attention.
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Amplifier-End Connector: Multi-Spade, Banana, U-Spade, or V-Spade
Often, the choice between terminating your speaker cables with spade lugs or banana plugs will come down to personal preference. However, the EU-compliant isolated binding posts used on some power amplifiers often makes it difficult if not impossible to tighten spade lugs with high torque or pressure. In these applications, the AudioQuest banana connector is the superior choice, and may be the only choice.
AudioQuest has conducted a fairly extensive survey of contemporary amplifier manufacturers to determine whether spades or bananas will be most appropriate for a given brand and model of amplifier. Please contact us, provide the brand and model of the amplifier, and we’ll respond with the optimal connector type.
Given the girth and weight of our Mythical Creature Series speaker cables, a spade may be better capable of fully supporting the cable. This is particularly a concern with binding posts that do not allow a banana connector to fully seat into the post. The EU-compliant posts will neither accept our V-Spade nor allow our Multi-Spade to be fully seated. For these applications (or when you’re not certain), we highly recommend the U-Spade, as it can accommodate any binding post. The V-Spade is a specialty spade connector that works well with large wingnut binding posts (such as the Mundorf ), as it allows extra clearance.
Speaker-End Connector: Spade or Banana
Here we typically recommend the U-Spade or banana connector. However, even though there is less weight and pressure on this side of the cable (particularly for BiWire sets), it is nevertheless important to note the binding post’s design. If a banana connector cannot seat all the way into the binding post, we recommend one of our spade connectors.
Key Features & Technology Explained
Specifications
Specifications
Description
Description
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High-Purity True-Concentric PSC+ and LGC Conductors
With only Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) on the outside, Monsoon’s conductors are essentially all PSC+ even though the conductor core is Long-Grain Copper (LGC). Both superior metal and conductor geometry greatly reduce ear-fatiguing Transient Intermodulation (TIM) Distortion.
ZERO-Tech
While many AC power cables feature low DC resistance in order to accommodate the demand for high current, a cable’s characteristic impedance is also crucial for optimal performance. Unlike most AC cables that constrict or compress an audio-provoked transient, AudioQuest AC cables combine low DC resistance and ZERO (no) characteristic impedance in order to deliver uncompressed high-current transients on demand.
RF/ND-TECH
AC Ground wires may provide protection from an electrical short circuit, but they also act as an antenna. Thus, they are subject to induced radio-frequency (RF) noise. This RF noise bypasses component power supplies and is typically coupled directly into a system’s most sensitive audio/video circuits. AudioQuest’s RF/ND-Tech greatly reduces this distortion, yielding unprecedented levels of noise dissipation across the widest bandwidth (range) of radio frequencies possible. Our unique circuit topology uses a common-mode phase-cancelling array, in concert with proprietary dielectric materials which provide additional differential linear filtering. US Patent # 8,988,168.
DIRECTIONALITY
All drawn metal strands or conductors have a non-symmetrical, and therefore directional, grain structure. AudioQuest controls the resulting RF impedance variation so that noise is drained away from where it will cause distortion. The correct direction is determined by listening to every batch of metal conductors used in every AudioQuest audio cable. When applicable, arrows are clearly marked on the connectors to ensure superior sound quality. For most models of AQ cable, the arrows not only indicate the direction that optimizes metal-directionality as part of Noise-Dissipation, but also indicates non-symmetrical attachment of shield and GND in order to optimize full-system performance.
Wind XTRM Plugs
Cold-welded hanging-silver over red and beryllium coppers
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Metal |
Semi-Solid True-Concentric Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) & Long-Grain Copper (LGC)
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Technology |
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Terminations |
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Cable Length |
1 m = 3 ft 3 in
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Jacket |
Dark Blue on Black Braid
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Sold As |
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 Monsoon XTRM$750.00 View details |  NRG-Z3$249.95 View details |  Blizzard XTRM$1,045.00 View details |  Thunder High (Variable) Current$1,045.00 View details | |
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Metal |
Semi-Solid True-Concentric Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) & Long-Grain Copper (LGC)
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Semi-Solid Concentric Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+)
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Semi-Solid True-Concentric Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+)
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Solid Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) & Long-Grain Copper (LGC)
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Technology |
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RF Drain Metal |
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Gauge |
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Terminations |
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Maximum RMS Current |
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News & Reviews
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PowerQuest Delivers
Alberto Pittaluga dives deep into the benefits of power conditioning, explores the relatively modest PowerQuest 3, and decides it’s staying in his system.
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On a Power Quest
Phil Wright goes on a power quest and arrives at Niagara.
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Zen Widow Delivers Sonic Thrills
Originally published in the April issue of The Absolute Sound, Derk Richardson's excellent review of Zen Widow's latest release, IV: (from one dark age to another), is now available online.
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Icons of Audio: Bill Low
AudioQuest’s founder and chief designer, William E. Low, is the featured guest in the premier episode of Stereophile’s YouTube series, “Icons of Audio.”
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Niagara 1200 Saves the Day
Artur Evers of Like HiFi puts Niagara 1200 through its paces and, indeed, he likes.
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Why HDMI Cables Are Important
In this video, Walts TV hosts a discussion with Angelo, a Field Educator responsible for product training at AudioQuest. We delve into viewer comments from previous AudioQuest videos, exploring the intricacies of...
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20 AudioQuest Products Named TAS Editors' Choice
We are delighted to announce that 20 AQ products — across a wide range of categories, all representing outstanding performance and value — have received TAS’s 2024 Editors’ Choice Award.
