Clear Phono

Cardas · Clear

The reference Cardas phono cable: dual-mono Matched Propagation twisted pairs, suspended in air and shielded, for reference analog systems in neutral rooms.

Price is for one complete phono cable (both channels).

Clear Phono uses four 25.5 AWG Matched Propagation conductors — Litz bundles of 41 to 39 AWG strands around Kevlar cores — as two twisted pairs, one per channel, held open by anti-static air tubes; a second layer of larger air tubes suspends the composite shield of 42 AWG tinned copper and magnet wire.

Cardas describes it as completely neutral and dynamic, with superb high-frequency extension and speed and control over the whole frequency range, extracting every detail while remaining musical and never fatiguing. Standard terminations are a Cardas S-DIN to SRCA or RCA to RCA; R-DIN and SME 90° DIN are available to order.

Key technologies

• Matched Propagation Technology. US Patent 7,674,973: the propagation rate of the conductor is matched to that of the dielectric through the conductor's internal geometry, so the signal is not smeared in time.
• Ultra Pure Cardas Copper. Grade 1, 99.9999% pure oxygen-free copper, drawn and annealed slowly through silver dies, then given a single poly-nylon coat to prevent oxidation and crosstalk between strands.
• Golden Ratio scaled Litz conductors. Multi-stranded conductors in which each layer of strands steps up in size by 1:1.618 from the centre outward, a Cardas patent that controls strand resonance.
• Air-tube suspension. Anti-static LDPE air tubes and carbon-impregnated PTFE tape hold the conductors in air; a second layer of tubes 1.618 times larger suspends the composite shield away from the signal path.
• Made in Bandon, Oregon. Every Cardas cable is built and hand terminated at the Cardas factory on the southern Oregon coast, and carries a transferable lifetime warranty.

Choosing length and terminations

• Check your tonearm: most have a 5-pin DIN socket under the arm base (straight DIN), some exit sideways and need a 90° DIN, and others have RCA sockets on the plinth.
• Cardas builds a 90° R-DIN or SME-style 90° DIN to order at no extra charge in most cases; tell us the arm model and we will specify it.
• 1 m to 1.25 m suits a phono stage on the same shelf; measure the real path to a stage on another rack and round up to the next quarter metre.
• Longer than 2.75 m? Cardas prices custom lengths by formula — call us for a quote.