Audioquest JAWS C19 3m

Successor to the Monsoon — long the best-selling power cable in AudioQuest’s Wind Series — the JAWS carries the same philosophy one step further. The switch to fully PSC+ copper conductors and the addition of a graphene-based shield redefine the California brand’s approach to ground noise treatment. In its C19 version, this one-metre cable targets high-current devices: amplifiers, power distributors, and active subwoofers.

From Monsoon to JAWS: what changes

The Monsoon used a mixed concentric structure: PSC+ copper in the outer layer, with a Long-Grain Copper (LGC) core. The JAWS drops the LGC and moves to 100% PSC+ copper throughout the entire conductor. This copper, processed using a proprietary AudioQuest method to achieve the smoothest possible surface, reduces grain discontinuities responsible for micro-distortion. The use of solid conductors (rather than stranded) limits interactions between strands, a known source of transient intermodulation distortion.

Cross-sections have been carefully calibrated: 2 × 3.31 mm² for the live and neutral, 1 × 2.08 mm² for the ground. The cable is rated at 20 A RMS at 120 V (50/60 Hz), giving it a comfortable headroom to handle the transient current demands of power amplifiers, which are often several times higher than their average consumption.

Four shielding layers and graphene against ground noise

The ground wire of a power cable protects against electrical faults, but it also acts as an antenna. High-frequency interference picked up by this conductor bypasses the devices’ power supply and couples directly into the most sensitive audio circuits.

The JAWS addresses this issue with AudioQuest’s GND (Ground Noise Dissipation) technology, here enhanced compared to the Monsoon. The shielding consists of four distinct layers, one of which incorporates graphene. Thanks to its conductivity and absorption properties, graphene dissipates high-frequency interference before it reaches the layer connected to the device’s ground. The expected result: a lower noise floor and improved resolution of fine details in dense or complex passages.

ZERO-Tech and RF/ND-Tech: two complementary technologies

Most power cables focus on DC resistance to ensure current delivery. AudioQuest considers the cable’s characteristic impedance equally critical. ZERO-Tech cancels this characteristic impedance so that current transients are neither compressed nor slowed. For an amplifier that must draw brief but very high current peaks during dynamic passages, this approach has a direct benefit.

RF/ND-Tech (Radio-Frequency Noise Dissipation) completes the system. It uses a common-mode phase cancellation network, combined with proprietary dielectric materials, to filter radio-frequency noise induced across a wide bandwidth. The RF drain wires, with controlled orientation, channel residual interference to ground via the third pin of the plug, well away from the audio circuits.

Directional conductors: a deliberate choice by AudioQuest

Any drawn metal conductor has an asymmetric, and therefore directional, crystal structure. AudioQuest tests each batch of copper by listening to determine the optimal direction, then marks the direction on the connectors using arrows. This orientation aims to drain RF noise in a preferred direction, from the audio circuit toward ground. It is a principle AudioQuest applies across its entire range, and the JAWS is no exception.

Physical design and connectors

The JAWS has an outer diameter of 18 mm, making it a robust and relatively stiff cable. Its internal geometry has been optimised to limit electrostatic fields between conductors, a parameter that affects the linearity of RF noise dissipation.

This version is terminated with a Schuko (EU) plug on the wall end and an IEC C19 connector on the device end. The C19, with its wider contacts than the standard C13, is required by certain amplifiers, power distributors, and power conditioners that call for a 20 A connector. Before purchasing, check the type of IEC inlet on the back of the device: the C20 socket (which accepts the C19) and the C14 socket (which accepts the C13) are not the same physical format.

Where to place this cable in a system

A power cable at this level produces its most noticeable effects on the most sensitive or most current-hungry components. Three typical use cases: powering a power amplifier, connecting a power conditioner (such as an AudioQuest Niagara) to the wall, or equipping a high-end integrated amplifier. On a low-consumption digital source, the benefit will be less pronounced, and the C13 version of the JAWS will generally be more appropriate.

One metre of length suits most installations where the device is located close to the wall outlet or power distributor. For greater distances, other lengths are available.

Technical Specifications

Design and Conductors

• Solid PSC+ (Perfect-Surface Copper+) copper conductors
• Solid conductor structure limiting interactions between strands
  • Reduction of dynamic distortion
• Ultra-high-purity copper for improved RF noise dissipation
• Optimized cross-sections
  • Live and neutral: 2 x 3.31 mm²
  • Ground: 1 x 2.08 mm²

Proprietary Technologies

• ZERO-Tech (zero characteristic impedance)
  • Elimination of impedance mismatch effects for uncompressed current transfer
• RF / ND-Tech (Radio-Frequency Noise Dissipation)
  • Radio-frequency interference dissipation system across a wide bandwidth
• Ground Noise Dissipation (GND)
  • Multi-layer shielding system (4 layers including graphene) to effectively reduce ground noise
• Directional conductors and RF drain wires
  • Controlled conductor orientation to channel interference away from sensitive circuits

Connectors and Power

• High-quality mains connectors: EU Schuko to C19
• Supported current: 20 A RMS at 120 V (50 / 60 Hz)

Construction and Dimensions

• Outer diameter: 18 mm
• Optimized geometry to minimize internal electrostatic fields
• High-performance insulation for mains signal stability

Audio Benefits

• Significant reduction in background noise
• Improved dynamics and micro-detail retrieval
• Better power signal stability
• Cleaner and more precise soundstage