Cardas XLR Clear Reflection 2m
Overview
Reflection is a classic Cardas cable made with the latest conductors. The name Reflection pays homage to Golden Ref, and indeed to the history of Cardas Audio itself. Its black appearance with copper trim distinguishes it from the rest of the Clear range, as do its performance characteristics.
Golden Reference reigned in the high-end cable industry from 1998 until the introduction of Clear in 2010. It combined the warmth and euphoric midrange of its predecessor, Golden Cross, with higher frequency extension, transparency and holographic imaging.
With George Cardas’ development of the matched propagation conductor, which was granted U.S. Patent 7,674,973, the Clear line of cables was launched. These cables offer unprecedented transparency, precision and depth of imaging.
Technical Specifications
Construction
- Conductors made of pure oxygen-free copper (99.9999%)
- Transparent layer with natural protection (SPN)
- Cross-layer geometry
- Twisted pair design with suspended air core
- Length: 1 m
Frequently Asked Questions
What lengths are available for this cable?
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.
Does the cable require a break-in period?
Like most Cardas cables, it benefits from being used for several dozen hours before delivering stable performance. The brand recommends a break-in period and offers a dedicated frequency disc to speed up the process.
What is the advantage of a balanced XLR connection compared with an RCA connection?
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 truly balanced inputs and outputs.
Does the copper connector affect the quality of the contact?
The copper-colored finish initially complements the range’s black-and-copper aesthetic, but the connector remains a full-fledged contact point. A clean, properly crimped contact affects signal transmission just as much as the conductor itself; keeping XLR pins clean remains a good habit.
Is this connection suitable for very low-level signals?
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 dedicated tonearm cable remains more suitable.
Does the 10.66 mm diameter make installation more difficult?
The cable is thicker than a basic entry-level interconnect, but its very flexible TPR jacket keeps strain to a minimum. It bends easily behind most furniture, provided you allow for a reasonable bend radius near the connectors.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
