The Straight Wire Interconnect Level System Explained

The Straight Wire Interconnect Level System Explained

As though the world of Hifi Hardware wasn't confusing enough, enter: Cables. Cabling is an easy element to overlook. Less inviting than the touch-screen of a Hifi Rose 150B and way less glamorous than a set of EgglestonWorks Vigintis, cables have an undeniably critical role: the veins of an audio system. They are responsible for getting the signal from one place to another. Think of cabling as a delivery service. Sometimes you get a smashed-up, half-crushed box, and other times you get a perfect, unblemished box that looks like it arrived via Matter Transporter. Nowadays, plenty of us is aware of how critical high-quality cables are. Purchasing a $25K receiver and using an old crusty pair of manufacturer-provided RCA cables to feed it is like chugging a bottle of fine wine through a straw. Sure, you are drinking but are you enjoying your drink or just consuming it? These days, numerous companies are producing high-quality cables. The Engineers at Straight Wire have designed some of the finest cables on the market. Their cables are made in the USA by their team of gifted craftsmen, utilizing unique manufacturing processes and advanced materials. Straight Wire offers 4 Levels of quality to choose from making it easy(ier) to stay within your budget. Each Level was designed to work with a specific type of AV system. I hope you enjoy The Straight Wire Interconnect Level System Explained, so let's look at each tier to learn what makes each one special.

Level 1: Essential Upgrade over Manufacturer Supplied Cable:
It turns out that the ultra-thin and brittle RCA cable that came with your Kenwood Tape Deck from 1992 is not that good! Well, it's good enough for you to hear some sound, technically. That is, with less clarity, dynamics, power, and articulation than the Artist and Producer intended, but what do they know! Straight Wire's Essential Upgrade Cable offers righteous performance at an easy-to-swallow price point. Details you have never heard before will begin to emerge. Bass, kick, and snare hit harder, and the dynamics open up. Level 1 Cables help average consumer-grade components reach their potential.Musicable II: Allows consumer-grade stereo equipment (Sony, Kenwood, JVC, you get the idea) to reach their potential. These cables feature polypropylene insulation in a balanced Star Quad design which brings out the depth and subtleties from your favorite recordings. Dual shields reject noise, even across long runs.

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Matte Navy Blue Jacket
• 6mm Diameter
• Star Quad Design
• Advanced Polypropylene Insulation
• Oxygen-Free Copper Conductor
• Gold Beveled Flange Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Chorus AG: Advanced Symmetrical Coax design with Sintered Foam PTFE insulation and silver-plated OFC conductors. Utilizing an advanced symmetrical coaxial design to deliver an uncompromising signal, including pinpoint details and tight, accurate bass. Subtleties and nuance that you were missing become audible. 

• RCA Terminations
• Gray Jacket
• 7mm Diameter
• Symmetrical Coax Design
• Skived PTFE Insulation
• Oxygen-Free Copper, Silver Plated Conductor
• Gold Beveled Flange Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Level 2: Significant Audible Advancement beyond Standard Cables:

Optimize the performance of better audio and home theater components. You probably won't notice much improvement over Level 1 if your components leave a lot to be desired. However, if you have higher-quality components, these cables will open them right up, and you will begin to experience their potential.Symphony 3: Constructed with a special Foam TPR insulation and Oxygen-Free High Thermal Conductivity copper conductor groups. Symphony 3 is arranged in a balanced Star Quad design and produces a silky-sounding mid-range and extended bass. The texture of a recording emerges, revealing details lesser cables lose along the way. A perfect choice for better-quality Hifi Gear.

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Charcoal Gray Jacket
• 7mm Diameter
• Star Quad Design
• Foam Hybrid TPR Insulation
• OFHC / CCT Conductor
• Gold PTFE Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Encore II: Their most advanced Star-Quad design, utilizes Oxygen-Free High Thermal Conductivity conductors with the highest grade of Foam Polypropylene insulation. These provide uncolored sound regardless of length, and are highly compatible with most components, making them a go-to choice. Top-rated digital receivers and separate component systems will experience an immediate improvement with Encore II. 

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Clear Jacket over Red Braid
• 8mm Diameter
• Star Quad Design
• Foam Polypropylene Insulation
• OFHC Conductor
• Gold PTFE Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Level 3: Audiophile Grade High Articulation Cables:

Made for premium digital AV receiver and pre/amp components, external D to A converters, analog (phono) units, and speakers. These are Audiophile Grade cables that provide a massive, instantaneous, and obvious upgrade in performance over manufacturer-provided cables and even their Level 2 Cables.Rhapsody III: Made from low resistance, Silver coated Oxygen-Free High Thermal Conductivity copper with Foam Polypropylene insulation. This cable drops you into the Studio with your favorite musicians, offering the sonic fingerprint of the room a track was recorded in. When experienced Hifi Heavy Weights need to impress (ie; trade shows) Rhapsody III handles the pressure with ease.

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Clear Jacket over Blue Braid
• 10mm Diameter
• Star Quad Design
• Foam Polypropylene Insulation
• OFHC/Silver Conductor
• Premium Gold Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Expressivo II: Made with Compressed Conductor Technology and with four air suspended conductors at 21 AWG of silver-plated compressed Oxygen-Free High Thermal Conductivity copper. Its modified Star Quad Helix design conveys musical nuance in a lifelike and articulate manner. Full but never congested. Punchy but never assaulting. Open but never harsh, Expressive II cables are musical elegance. Designed for separated component A/V Systems.

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Fiber Mesh Jacket over Black Braid
• 10mm Diameter
• Air Space Helix Design
• Foam PE/PP Insulation
• Compressed OFHC Conductor
• Premium Gold Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Serenade III: Made from Certified CDA 101 copper conductors and patterned in a low resistance, advanced Helix Compressed Conductor Technology design. The focus and clarity are sublime thanks to the utmost in mid-range coherence, pristine high end, and vigorous bass. The air, space, and detail from your high-quality Audio and Video components have never been clearer.

• Clear Jacket over White
• 10mm Diameter
• Advanced Helix Design
• Super Foam PE/  +PTFE Insulation
• Compressed OFHC Conductor
• Premium Gold Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Level 4: Reference Grade Cables:

Here is where it ends. Constructed with Super-Micro-porous Foam PTFE insulation and premium locking gold/PTFE connectors. Unique Compressed Conductor Technology delivers unrivaled speed, articulation, and low-end impact that is unobtainable from lesser cables. Found in many of the Reference Systems owned by the world's most respected Audiophiles. Expressivo AG:  based on the successful Expressivo II interconnect. It is made with a premium silver-plated conductor, Compressed Conductor Technology with "air suspended" conductors at 21 AWG of OFHC Silver plated Copper. Multiple low dielectric insulations of polypropylene and polyethylene optimize mechanical and electrical performance. Designed to work with High Level and Reference Grade Components, these cables are not for every system. Expressivo AG allows for authentic replication of EXACTLY what is on a recording. A natural-sounding soundstage is complemented with an equally natural-sounding sense of Air and Brilliance. Its silky mid-range is complimented with impactful bass, you've never felt your music with this kind of clarity and power before!

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Black Fiber w/PET Mesh Jacket
• 13mm Diameter
• Air Space Helix Design
• Foam PE/PP Insulation
• Compressed AG OFHC
• Premium Gold Plugs

Virtuoso R2: Made with premium Silver/Copper conductors in an advanced Dual Symmetrical Helix design. Virtuoso 2 has undergone extensive refinement resulting in a captivating balance of articulation and lifelike musical presentation with distinguished coherency and dynamics. Remember the 1st time you experienced the speed of a T1 Internet connection, saw the ground-breaking quality of 4K, or experienced the immersion of a movie at an Imax theater? Things were different afterward. Things are different after hearing Virtuoso 2 for the 1st time. The bar has been raised. You have been warned! The perfect choice for your Reference System.

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Clear Jacket over Black/Gray Braid
• 10mm Diameter
• Dual Symmetrical Helix Coax Design
• Super Micro-Foam PTFE Insulation
• Compressed Certified Silver/Copper Conductor
• Premium Gold Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Crescendo III: Has the lowest resistance of any interconnect. With the least possible dynamic constraints, you're FINALLY and officially hearing everything. Well, that is if the rest of your equipment can handle what these cables are capable of. It's as though you are sitting at the console during mixdown. Each instrument is represented with unfathomable detail and owns its slice of the mix with absolute perfection. Made for premium systems, golden ears, and deep wallets.

• RCA or XLR Terminations
• Clear Jacket over Black/Gray Braid
• 19mm Diameter
• Advanced Helix Design
• Super Foam PP & PTFE Insulation
• Compressed Certified Copper CDA101 Conductor
• Premium Gold Plugs
• Check them out, click HERE

Well, that about covers all the details you'll need to help you make an informed decision about which Straight Wire Interconnect level will serve your system the best. If you still need some help or advice about which Straight Wire cable to go with, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me a message. I am always happy to help you find what you need and to work out an enticing package price, should you need to wire up an entire system. I hope you've enjoyed The Straight Wire Interconnect Level System Explained blog post!