Audioquest Rocket 88 DBS, high-end speaker cable
At the top of the Rocket series from Audioquest, the Rocket 88 DBS brings together the brand’s in-house noise-reduction technologies in a speaker cable that is already terminated and ready to connect. Solid high-purity copper conductors, Double Star-Quad geometry, and active 72-volt dielectric biasing: three levers aimed at the same result, a silent background and detailed sound reproduction. Here is what lies beneath its braided jacket.
Solid PSC+ copper against distortion
All Rocket 88 conductors are solid, with no strands. This choice eliminates one of the main causes of distortion in a cable: the electrical and magnetic interaction between multiple strands, which can lead to a confused or hardened sound. The metal used is Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+), the purest copper in the Audioquest catalog, whose very smooth surface limits distortion related to the metal’s grain boundaries.
Skin effect, which pushes the signal toward the outer edge of the conductor at high frequencies, is kept outside the audio band thanks to conductor cross-sections calibrated below the audibility threshold. The air-filled foamed polyethylene insulation reduces the energy absorption that colors the signal. Each internal conductor is also direction-controlled to reduce the pickup of radio-frequency noise, which explains the connection direction marked on the jacket.
Double Star-Quad geometry in practice
Eight solid conductors distributed across two crossed star-quads: it is this arrangement, more than capacitance and inductance values alone, that shapes the cable’s sonic behavior. The crossing reduces the signal’s temporal smearing while preserving dynamics and the clarity of the soundstage layers.
This structure opens up a second possibility. When the two halves of the cable are separated at the speaker end, each star-quad retains its magnetic independence and the Rocket 88 becomes a true bi-wire set in a single cable. For those with speakers featuring dual binding posts, this is a practical advantage, without having to double the number of cables.
The 72-volt DBS system in everyday use
The Dielectric-Bias System maintains a constant 72-volt charge on the cable’s insulation. Just as the Earth’s magnetic field aligns compass needles, this electrostatic field orients the molecules of the insulation in the same direction. The audible consequence: a quieter background, from which details and dynamic contrasts emerge that are often masked by non-polarized insulation.
The DBS is powered by a battery pack connected to the cable. A test button and LED make it possible to check the charge status from time to time, with the battery lasting several years. Since the charge is active from assembly onward, the Rocket 88 requires no break-in period before delivering its full performance.
Carbon-based noise dissipation
Around the conductors, alternating layers of metal and carbon-loaded synthetics form shielding that “shields the shield,” in Audioquest’s words. The idea is to dissipate induced radio-frequency noise before it reaches the layer connected to ground, across a wide frequency band. This dissipation works together with DBS and PSC+ copper to lower the overall noise floor.
Banana plugs or spades, how to terminate
The cable is available with banana plugs or spade lugs, gold-plated or silver-plated depending on the version. The contact between the plug and the conductor is made using the Cold-Weld process, a cold-pressure weld under controlled pressure that mechanically bonds conductor and connector without heat, preserving the integrity of the copper.
The choice between banana and spade mainly depends on the amplifier’s binding posts. Insulated binding posts compliant with European standards, common on recent amplifiers, do not handle high-torque tightening on a spade lug well: banana plugs are then preferable, and sometimes mandatory. On the speaker side, the spade regains the advantage when the binding post does not accept a fully inserted banana plug.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell whether the DBS system battery is still good?
The DBS pack includes a test button and indicator LED. Pressing the button lights the LED if the charge remains sufficient. The battery lasts several years, and an occasional check is enough. If the charge weakens, the cable still transmits the signal normally, but without the benefit of dielectric biasing.
Does the cable need to be broken in before reaching its performance level?
No. Since the DBS charge is applied from assembly at the factory, the Rocket 88 operates at full capacity as soon as it is connected, without the break-in phase required by some non-polarized cables.
Is there a connection direction to follow?
Yes. The conductors are direction-controlled to limit the pickup of radio-frequency noise, and the jacket carries a directional marker. The cable must be connected following this marker, from the amplifier to the speaker.
Should I choose the gold-plated or silver-plated version of the plugs?
Both finishes, gold and silver, use the same Cold-Weld termination process. The choice mainly comes down to preference and compatibility with your binding posts. The connector shape, banana or spade, matters more than the plating metal for contact quality.
