Audioquest Rocket 22 SBA (2 x 2m)

Driving the bass and treble of the same speaker with two separate amplification channels requires rethinking the connection: two pairs of cable are needed per speaker, with different terminations at each end. The Single-BiAmp version of the Rocket 22 is designed precisely for this setup. It uses the construction of the larger of AudioQuest’s two speaker cables in the Rocket series and terminates it in four contact points on each side.

Separating bass and treble at the source

In bi-amplification, each speaker is driven by two amplification channels: one handles the bass, the other the treble. The cable therefore splits into two pairs at each end. On the amplifier side, the four plugs are distributed across two separate speaker outputs; on the speaker side, they connect to the bass and treble terminals once the factory-installed metal jumpers have been removed.

This arrangement requires suitable equipment: a speaker with dual binding posts and amplification (one unit or two) capable of providing two pairs of outputs per channel. Without this equipment, there is no point in using this connection, and the Full-Range or Single-BiWire version of the Rocket 22 is better suited. The difference from bi-wiring lies in this specific point: bi-wiring starts from a single amplifier output split toward the speaker, whereas bi-amplification uses two separate channels. Hence the four contact points on the amplifier side instead of two.

Two copper types combined in the conductor

The conductors combine two proprietary AudioQuest copper types, Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC) and Long-Grain Copper (LGC). LGC reduces the number of joints between metal grains along the signal path, whereas ordinary copper has more of them; PSC improves the surface condition of the conductor, the area through which part of the audio signal travels. The aim is smoother, clearer treble than with standard OFHC copper, the high-conductivity oxygen-free copper found in many cables.

It is still important to keep in perspective what metallurgy changes over a few metres of speaker cable: series resistance is low, and the benefit lies mainly in material consistency rather than a dramatic audible difference. A matter of degree.

Strand and pair arrangement

Two construction principles govern the layout of the wires. The first, Semi-Solid Concentric geometry, locks the position of each strand within the bundle. In a conventional stranded cable, strands change position along the route and interact electrically and magnetically, adding distortion. By keeping the strands in fixed relationships, this arrangement reduces that interaction, one of the sources of dynamic distortion in a cable.

The second, Double Spiral-Pair Geometry, concerns the two conductors in each half of the cable: they are twisted around one another. Simply parallel conductors have fairly high inductance, which spreads energy over time and blurs the sound. Twisting lowers this inductance and extends response from bass to treble. This is the construction shared by the Rocket 11 and 22, with the 22 being the larger of the two, featuring 12 AWG conductor cross-section (approximately 3.3 mm²) and impedance roughly 20% lower than that of the Rocket 11.

SureGrip 300 plugs and made-to-order assembly

The cable is terminated with SureGrip 300 plugs, available as spades or bananas, with silver-on-copper contact and no intermediate nickel layer (nickel, being magnetic, is kept out of the signal path). Depending on the model, the plating is available in silver or gold. The choice between spade and banana is often a matter of preference, but insulated binding posts compliant with European standards are poorly suited to firmly clamping a spade: on these terminals, the banana is safer, sometimes the only practical option. When in doubt, it is best to check the shape of the binding post before ordering.

The insulation is PVC, chosen for its low energy absorption. All conductors are assembled in a controlled direction (Direction-Controlled), an orientation selected to limit sensitivity to high-frequency noise; an arrow printed on the jacket indicates the connection direction. The cable is assembled to order by AudioQuest, allowing custom lengths and terminations, at the cost of a manufacturing lead time.

Technical Specifications

Overview

• Model: Rocket 22 Simple-BiAmp
• Type: speaker cable with SureGrip 300 connectors
• Description: carefully refined blend of Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC) and Long-Grain Copper (LGC), packaged in a semi-solid concentric pattern with reverse spiral shapes to maintain optimal wire position and contact while minimizing signal distortion

Configuration

• Cable configuration: Single-BiAmp
• Cable length: pair
• Amplifier-to-speaker terminations: 4 to 4

Conductors

• Semi-solid concentric Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC) and Long-Grain Copper (LGC) conductors
  • In a conventional stranded cable, distortion caused by the electrical and magnetic interaction of strands is amplified as each strand changes position within the bundle
  • In an AQ semi-solid concentric cable, the strands inside the bundle maintain their fixed relationships, thereby significantly reducing distortion
  • The carefully balanced blend of Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC) and Long-Grain Copper (LGC) provides smoother, clearer sound than cables using ordinary OFHC (oxygen-free high-conductivity) copper
• Semi-solid concentric conductors: significant reduction in strand interaction, a major source of dynamic distortion in cables
• Long-Grain Copper and Perfect-Surface Copper: carefully balanced combination of high-purity Long-Grain Copper and superior-purity Perfect-Surface Copper conductors, minimizing distortion caused by grain boundaries
• Direction control: all conductors are controlled for RF noise directionality

Geometry

• Double-pair spiral geometry
  • A typical speaker cable with parallel conductors has fairly high inductance, dispersing energy over time and resulting in dull, blurred sound
  • In Rocket 11 / 22 models, the two conductors in each half of the cable are wound around each other
  • Benefits: lower inductance, greater clarity, and superior frequency extension from bass to treble

Insulation

• PVC insulation: minimizes energy absorption for clearer sound

Features and Performance

• Noise dissipation: based on Carbon technology