The entire Cardas range is based on the same proportion, the golden ratio (1.618), which even appears in the brand’s nautilus-shaped logo. In this cable, conductors of different gauges are arranged concentrically according to this proportion, and the air tubes in the outer layer are sized 1.618 times wider than those in the core. The aim is to reduce inductance and resonance effects that color the signal.
The name says it all: Clear refers to the brand’s current range, Reflection to a return to its older models. The cable combines the transparency and resolution typical of the Clear series with the warmer, more organic signature of past Cardas references, such as Golden Reference. The brand is aiming for a balance between detailed playback and roundness, without pushing too far in either direction.
Cardas is one of the rare manufacturers that casts its own copper, in its Bandon foundry. The cable uses grade 1 OFC copper, 99.9999% pure, coated with a transparent SPN enamel in a Litz construction where each strand receives its own insulating coating. At the center, a Kevlar core manages synchronized propagation (Matched Propagation): the signal propagation speed in the conductor and in the dielectric is adjusted, strand by strand, with precise control of the twist pitch, to limit distortion linked to dielectric charge offsets. The chosen gauge is 2 x 25.5 AWG.
The internal structure is a suspended air-core twisted pair, in a so-called cross-field geometry, where the conductive layers are crossed to reduce coupling. The conductors are held in place by antistatic LDPE air tubes, wrapped in a carbon-impregnated PTFE tape. The two composite shields, in tinned copper and magnet wire, are deliberately kept away from the signal conductors by wider PTFE air tubes, which reduces stray dielectric charges. The whole assembly is insulated under an extruded PFA jacket, then covered with a very flexible black TPR outer jacket. The outer diameter reaches 10.66 mm.
Cardas presents this cable as a gateway to the level of its high-end models, in real-world systems rather than on a test bench. The brand describes good extension in the upper spectrum and speed, with a slightly forgiving character that avoids harshness. The sound is intended to be neutral and dynamic, against a very quiet sonic background. The soundstage is wide and three-dimensional; timbres remain rich and natural, without aggressiveness.
The cable is terminated with Cardas in-house XLR connectors (reference CG XLR-CU), with a coppery hue matching the rest of the Clear Reflection range. Each example is hand-terminated in the Bandon workshop. The very flexible TPR jacket makes it easier to route behind furniture and connect to tight sockets. The cable covers most connections between a source and an amplifier, or between a preamplifier and a power amplifier.
Cardas offers the Clear Reflection in several lengths, including shorter formats (0.5 m, 0.75 m, 1 m), and makes it available in both XLR and RCA. Custom lengths are also available from the manufacturer.
Like most Cardas cables, it benefits from operating for several dozen hours before delivering a stable performance. The brand recommends a break-in period and offers a dedicated frequency disc to speed up the process.
A balanced connection carries the signal over two conductors in opposite phase, allowing the receiving stage to reject interference picked up along the way. The advantage becomes noticeable over long distances or in an electrically noisy environment. The connected devices must still have genuinely balanced inputs and outputs.
The copper-toned finish initially complements the black-and-copper aesthetic of the range, but the connector remains a contact point in its own right. A clean, properly crimped contact affects signal transmission just as much as the conductor itself; keeping the XLR pins clean remains a good habit.
This is a line-level interconnect cable, used between a source, a preamplifier, and an amplifier. For a phono signal, which is much weaker and more delicate, a specific tonearm cable remains more suitable.
The cable is thicker than a basic entry-level interconnect, but its very flexible TPR jacket limits stress. It bends easily behind most pieces of furniture, provided you allow for a reasonable bend radius near the connectors.
Renato
Extremely high-quality signal cable. Impeccable construction. Excellent sound reproduction that is very pleasant and never fatiguing
Comment from 8 October 2026 — Experience from 10 September 2026
