Audioquest Evergreen RCA 0.6m

AudioQuest’s Evergreen RCA cable uses balanced double asymmetrical geometry and Long-Grain Copper (LGC) solid conductors. It’s part of the Bridges & Falls series, named after the Evergreen Bridge connecting Seattle to Bellevue. The cable features cold-welded connectors and a metal-layer noise-dissipation system. Its outer jacket is made with black and green braiding for quick visual identification.

Technical architecture and materials: where physics meets acoustics

The Evergreen cable uses Long-Grain Copper (LGC) solid conductors. Unlike multi-strand conductors, where each strand can generate electrical interactions, the solid conductor avoids this phenomenon. LGC copper has an elongated crystalline structure that reduces the number of grain boundaries, areas where conduction can be locally disrupted. By comparison, standard OFHC (Oxygen-Free High-Conductivity) copper has shorter grains, which multiplies these interfaces.

The insulation is made from foamed polyethylene, a material containing a significant proportion of air microbubbles distributed throughout the polymer mass. Since air has a low dielectric constant, this structure limits losses and energy retention compared to solid polyethylene. This helps reduce phase effects introduced by the absorption and delayed release of electromagnetic energy in the insulator.

The cable adopts balanced double asymmetrical geometry. Unlike conventional asymmetrical cables where the ground and shield share the same conductor, the Evergreen distinguishes between the return conductor and the screen. This separation reduces the shield’s influence on the signal path and helps limit electromagnetic interference pickup.

Cold welding: ancient technology serving high-fidelity

Unlike traditional soldering, which uses heat and an alloy such as tin-lead or silver as filler material, the “cold welding” method employed by AudioQuest relies on applying strong electrical and mechanical pressure. This operation creates a direct bond between the copper conductor and the gold-plated RCA plug, without interposing a solder alloy.

In conventional soldering, the junction brings two different metals into contact, introducing a transition zone with electrical properties distinct from those of copper. Cold welding, on the other hand, relies on plastic deformation of the metal that promotes continuous metallurgical contact between the conductor and the plug. The RCA connector ground shells are obtained by stamping, allowing the use of metals chosen for their electrical or mechanical characteristics rather than their machinability.

Noise dissipation: shield against modern electromagnetic pollution

The Evergreen cable incorporates a metal-layer noise-dissipation system designed to reduce the influence of radio frequency (RF) interference. With the growing presence of wireless devices, switching power supplies, and variable speed drives, signal conductors can be exposed to a dense domestic electromagnetic spectrum. The metal layer acts by absorbing and reflecting interference before it reaches the conductors.

The shielding is designed asymmetrically and connected to ground only on the source side. This configuration creates a unidirectional drainage path for interference, limiting ground loops between components. The cables are marked with an arrow indicating the recommended signal direction, corresponding to this shield orientation.

Practical applications and positioning in a high-fidelity system

The Evergreen cable is designed for systems where signal fidelity is paramount. It’s often used to connect turntables to a phono preamp, where background noise reduction can be particularly useful for low-level signals. It can also be used between a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and an amplifier, helping to limit loss of detail and precision in spatial staging.

The Evergreen’s RCA plugs are grouped in a single jacket, with maximum spacing of approximately 7.6 cm. This configuration may require adjustment on some equipment with more widely spaced inputs. It results from grouping both channels in a single jacket, a compromise aimed at optimizing electrical performance while limiting manufacturing costs.

The cable is offered in several standard lengths, from 0.6 m to 20 m. Shorter lengths have lower total capacitance and series resistance. Lengths up to 3 m maintain performance suitable for most home systems. Beyond 5 m, the cable’s characteristic impedance becomes a factor to consider, particularly with high output impedance sources.

Technical Specifications

Materials and Construction

• Conductors: solid long-grain copper (LGC)
• Dielectric: high-air foamed polyethylene
• Shielding: metal-layer noise-dissipation system
• Jacket: black-and-green braid
• Geometry: asymmetrical double-balanced

Connectors

• Connector type: male RCA to male RCA
• Connector finish: gold-plated
• Assembly technique: cold-welded
• Impedance: optimized for analog transmission

Electrical Characteristics

• Signal type: analog audio
• Interference reduction: RF interference absorption and reflection
• Distortion minimization: elimination of strand interaction
• Signal preservation: reduction of timing errors

Applications

• High-fidelity audio equipment
• Home theater systems
• A/V receivers
• Turntables and CD players
• Digital-to-analog converters (DACs)
• Soundbars and TVs

Technical Advantages

• Optimized signal transmission thanks to long-grain copper conductors
• High-performance insulation for a clear, precise signal
• Durable, reliable connections without solder-related distortion
• Effective shielding against electromagnetic interference
• Robust design suited for intensive daily use