Audio Envy

CONNECTORS

Connectors are important, but perspective is needed. Let us compare a typical cable to a river with twenty large rocks in the path that are creating rapids as distortion. Removing only two of those rocks will yield little improvement. However, once the other 18 rocks have been removed, sound clarity can be realized, as with Audio Envy cables.  We have found that many connectors consist of mismatched conducting metals that impose a smeared shift to the sound.  We have tested several connectors brands. Our custom designed AE connectors perform at the highest level of signal preservation. AE is not out performed by other offerings such as WBT or Furutech.  Companies like Neutrik and Amphenol offer a durable solution, with some compromises to conductivity, these are often within the price points that mainstream musicians have been directed toward.

COPPER PURITY

Purer copper allows the signal to flow with fewer disturbances. This is important because it allows time for the wave form to regroup and align itself from electronic disturbances. In typical copper, the signal has to continually penetrate crystal boundaries and hop around impurities. The frequencies become harmonically over-exaggerated and harsh sounding. Many coppers claim to be pure or have a seemingly high percentage rating. However, our testing has found a significant difference between suppliers.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL CABLE?

A typical cable consists of a single or twisted  pair of stranded wire, wrapped in a poly or pvc insulation and jacket, then covered in wire strands or foil layer for shielding.

What do typical cables sound like?

• Saturation of peak resonance in the mid high frequencies.
• Sloppy bass, blurry mid-range. = low articulation.
• Ultra high frequency sounds cut off, little extension into air. = capacitance rolls off highs.
• Can’t feel the mid range punch. = Poor time arrival of frequency; doesn’t simultaneously create wave.
• Sound appears small and trapped within speaker.
• Vocals have a raspy, SHHHHH sound. = Distortion.
• Instruments all sound smashed together.
• The drummer’s high hat sounds like a trash can lid. = Distortion.
• My ears feel worn out listening to it. = Listening fatigue from distortion.

WHAT IS A REALLY NICE CABLE?

It is amazing how many people profess to believe in nicer cables, and end up with typical cables.  What is really good copper? How does the insulation effect it? How much a cable costs or cosmetically looks is not a factor in how well they perform. Our products look good while providing a functional benefit. Our braided jacket is lighter in weight than a solid jacket. When pulled, a braided jacket will slide easily alongside other cables and surfaces. A good cable should protect the conductors from deformation and corrosion, while striving for low memory and flexibility. The best connectors will have equally high conductivity between the base metal and surface metal.  Measurements are crucial to understanding the capacitance, resistance, reflection, noise, phase and loss. This topic is lengthy to explain. Two out of three good measurements does not equal a pretty good cable, or a 90% percent accurate transfer. A seemingly small mistake can reduce a cable to mediocre results. This is why lots of experimentation and confirmation is required to achieve audio results at our level..

We compare the cable’s performance through measurements and how the instrument actually sounds. We have tested more than 30 different competitors’ brands—some costing  three to twenty times as much as ours.

There’s a lot that goes into making a REALLY GOOD CABLE!

A trap that consumers fall into is comparing cables by a list of parts. Cables can look identical, be composed of the same  type of materials and sound substantially different! Audio Envy cables offer several innovations that we have not found elsewhere.  We are a custom shop that caters to the vast range of connectors needed to fit the studio, live performance, home, and car applications.

What do Audio Envy cables Sound like?

“It’s so warm yet clear.” = Welcome to fidelity!

“I feel like I just got HDTV for my ears”

“I don’t want to put this guitar down; I am craving it!”  = Hearing your skills for the first time!

Eyes watering up with tears. = Mom listening to a beautiful vocal piano ensemble.

Couple starts to dance. = Emotional connection to the music.

“Every instrument has its own space with air surrounding it.” = Audio Envy Cable.

“I could listen to music for the sake of music.”  = What a snob.

“The voice is so intimate and realistic!” = No Audio-able distortion.

“That actually sounds like a bass guitar and a real acoustic guitar.” = Correct timing and bandwidth.

“Extends very deep into the room…almost holographic.” = Sound has many layers.

COULD IT GET ANY BETTER?

Innovation will always pound the path to greater heights.  Once applied the cost of what can be done with it, is governed by budget.  Our goal was to deliver an affordable cable so good that anyone could benefit from it. Anyone who gives it a chance, will understands it’s value.  It is not likely we will ever compete in the ultra cheap market.  The simple math is that Audio Envy cables requires a higher level of labor and materials to perform.

DIY

We love to DIY because we believe if we work our pants off, there will be a pot of gold and a valuable lesson to be learned. For many, that lesson is the high cost of time and money it takes to make a lesser product. I don’t want to discourage the DIY’ers in fact we have plans to sell individual building components.  Keep in mind the hardships here have already been had.  Will it be worth your time and material costs?  You’ll have to find out for your self. 🙂