Cardas XLR crosslink cable 1m

A balanced XLR interconnect cable that incorporates the American manufacturer’s proprietary technologies at a more accessible price point. The Crosslink takes up the principle of the “silent” conductor patented by George Cardas, where the copper strands are sized according to golden ratio proportions to control internal resonances. It is the only model in the Cardas range available by the meter for DIY builders, which speaks to its versatility.

Golden ratio in your audio links

George Cardas holds two US patents (4,980,517 and 4,628,151) on his golden-section stranding technique. The principle: arrange copper strands whose diameters vary according to a 1:1.618 ratio, the famous golden ratio. The thinnest strands are found at the center of the conductor, with each subsequent layer increasing according to this proportion. This layout prevents the strands from entering into common resonance, since none of them shares a harmonic multiple with its neighbor.

The idea comes from an unexpected field. Before founding Cardas Audio in 1987 in Ontario, California, George worked as a line engineer for a telephone company while also racing cars at a semi-professional level. Together with his machinist Mike Colver, he discovered that applying the golden ratio to intake and exhaust systems yielded such compelling results that some designs were banned from races. He then transposed this concept to audio conductors.

Crosslink construction and materials

The cable uses grade 2 oxygen-free copper with 99.99% purity. Each strand receives a transparent SPN insulating coating that characterizes Cardas’ Litz construction: this layer eliminates capacitive interactions between strands and prevents copper oxidation. The Crosslink totals 68 discrete strands organized in a “Crossfield” geometry, where the layers alternate to minimize electromagnetic interference.

The twisted pair is held in place by a natural cotton filler, a material chosen for its stable dielectric properties. The assembly is wrapped in an FEP tape before being covered with a spiral shield in tinned copper. The flexible PVC outer jacket gives the cable a final diameter of 7.69 mm.

In XLR configuration, the measured capacitance reaches 22.8 pF per foot (about 74.8 pF/m), a moderate value that preserves high frequencies over reasonable lengths.

CE XLR connectors

The CE XLR plugs represent the third generation of Cardas’ budget connectors. The body is machined from high-copper-content brass, a non-magnetic alloy. The contact surfaces are silver-plated. These connectors accept cables from 3.3 to 9 mm in diameter, so the Crosslink with its 7.69 mm fits comfortably within this range.

The CE range now equips Cardas’ Crosslink, Iridium, Parsec, Sky and Cygnus cables. Less elaborate than the CG XLR (which add rhodium plating and RF shielding at the ends), they offer a higher build quality than generic connectors without driving up the bill.

A defined sonic character

Cardas describes the Crosslink as “warm and forgiving,” a warm and tolerant sonic signature. In practice, this means a dense midrange, rounded highs, and a sense of weight in the bass rather than razor-sharp definition. This tonal balance can compensate for the hardness of some entry-level digital players or systems with aggressive treble.

The downside: on a system that is already full-bodied or dark, the Crosslink may reinforce this tendency. According to Cardas, resolution remains detailed, but it would be an overstatement to expect the same level of transparency as the Clear or Parsec lines. The positioning is honest: this cable targets entry- to mid-range hi-fi and home theater systems.

Technical specifications

Connectivity

• Standard terminations: CE XLR
• Compatibility: entry- to mid-range stereo and home cinema applications

Conductors

• Grade 2 oxygen‑free copper (99.99% purity)
• Transparent SPN coating (Litz technology)
• Cross-sections sized according to golden ratio proportions
• Multilayer cross-field geometry
• Insulation in a polyurethane sheath

Geometry and construction

• Twisted pair with natural cotton filler
• Assembly held together by FEP tape
• Spiral shield in tinned copper
• Outer PVC jacket

Dimensions

• Gauge: 2 × 20.5 AWG
• Outer diameter: 7.69 mm

Sound performance

• Warm, forgiving signature
• Detailed, musical reproduction