Audio Video News

Clarus Unveils New High-End Audio Cables

SV Staff  |  Mar 27, 2020

Responding to “repeated requests” from its customers, Clarus, the sister brand of Tributaries specializing in high-end audio cables, is updating its popular Crimson line with new Mark II balanced XLR and singled-ended RCA audio cables and speaker cables.

The new cables — six in all — feature a multi-gauge design comprising three insulated pure copper (PCOCC) conductors and connectors made with low-resistance tellurium (TE) copper and military-grade beryllium (BE) copper, which possesses a “springiness” that makes it “ideal” for use in the grounding sleeves of the new RCA cables, speaker-cable banana plugs, and the pins in female XLR cables.

The company has transitioned from a solid design to hollow core TE copper for the RCA and XLR male pins to “reduce eddy currents that can slow signal transfer.” The new XLR cables are also designed with the ground pin forward in the connector, which is said to establish ground before signal lines are connected so cables can be inserted and removed without hum or buzz.

Clarus is also introducing a patented “spring-tension” spade lug as one of its new speaker-cable options. The design makes it easier to tighten spade lugs to ensure a robust connection that won’t vibrate loose over time, according to the company. The lug’s one-piece construction is also said to improve signal flow by reducing transmission resistance.

Designed by Jay Victor, a musician and holder of 50 patents, all Clarus cables are evaluated using test instruments with extensive listening tests and comparisons with reference designs serving as the final arbiter.

The new Clarus Mark II cable lineup is as follows:
• 1 meter single-ended RCA ($1,140/pair)
• 1 meter balanced XLR ($1,925/pair)
• 6-foot speaker cable with spade lugs ($4,000/pair)
• 6-foot speaker cable with banana plugs ($4,000/pair)
• 6-foot bi-wire cable with spade lugs ($5,000/pair)
• 6-foot bi-wire cable with banana plugs ($5,000/pair)

The banana plug and spade lug cables are available now with the other cables to follow late this year.

For more information, visit claruscable.com.

COMMENTS
Old Ben's picture
Submitted by Old Ben on March 27, 2020 - 8:27am

I'm sorry, but (once again) where is the proof that "super duper" cables like this make any noticeable difference in sound quality? Has anyone ever set up an oscilloscope on the output end of cables like these to see if a signal is noticeably different compared to, say, a Monoprice cable? Based on a quick glance on the Clarus website, there is no data provided there. The linked reviews appear to provide nothing more than subjective reviews by listeners who describe the perceived benefits in the vaguest terms.

I get that this site is dedicated to high end audio and video. However, the only thing that is CLEARLY high end about these cables (and the many others like it) is the price. Unless these manufacturers are going to back up their claims with objective, measurable data, I have absolutely no interest in them.

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