Iconoclast Interconnects and Speaker Cables Review – The Real Deal
The Cables
Contents
Unlike other vendors, Iconoclast doesn’t have an entry-level cable. The goal was to build the best cable within the limits of science, physics, and manufacturing.
The design and geometry of each cable remain consistent. The only difference is your choice of conductor, connectors, and length. All cables come with a test report showing measured values for capacitance, inductance, and resistance.
All terminations are soldered with WBT silver solder.
Speaker cable design goals primarily involves lower resistance. Using large gauge wires results in lower resistance but higher inductance and inconsistent current density.
A large number of individually insulated conductors will help but will increase capacitance.
With this braid configuration (conductors in the same orientation to the opposite polarity as one another) it’ll reduces inductance significantly with only a small increase in capacitance.
Specifications
Electricals
Capacitance: 45 pF/ft
Inductance: 0.08 uH/ft
Resistance: 1.2 ohms/1000 ft
Geometry
Each polarity leg has twenty-four, 24 AWG conductors.
Pairs of conductors are extruded into Teflon “bonded pairs”
The resulting 12 bonded pairs are braided (basket-weave)
The two legs are then laid back-to-back with a nylon braid and FEP outer sheath.
The best dielectric is air. These air tubes have an outer FEP jacket and double bare copper braid shielding.
Instead of a single conductor, the 1×4 design uses four smaller conductors in a star quad. This produces lower inductance due to field cancellation between the four conductors.
Specifications
Electricals
Capacitance
1×1: 12.5 pF/ft
1×4: 17.5 pF/ft
Inductance
1×1: 0.155 uH/ft
1×4: 0.115 uH/ft
Resistance (conductor)
1×1: 33 ohms/1000 ft
1×4: 28 ohms/1000 ft
Resistance (shield)
2.5 ohms/1000 ft
Geometry
1×1 (Series I)
Single solid copper center conductor
100-ohms nominal impedance (designed for analog audio)
1×4 (Series II)
Four smaller wires in star quad held by spline
70-ohms nominal impedance (designed for S/PDIF digital or analog audio)
Dielectric is mostly air. Spiral glass-and-teflon thread keeps conductor centered.
Gentlemen, thank you for the wonderful review on Iconoclast cables. We do indeed hope to turn the high end cable industry upside down by bringing Iconoclast to market. These cables are designed using real science by the leading cable designer in the country. He did this for what at first may seem selfish reasons. He did it for himself. Thankfully he shared making it possible for almost anyone to acquire cables that will truly let the rest of their audio system perform. Remember, cables can never add or increase amplitude. Cables usually just get in the way, shadow or just pain mask the signal. Iconoclast cables maximize each factory and more importantly, get out of the way! Interested customers or potential dealers may contact me directly at bhoward@iconoclastcable.com Thank you so very much again for the great review.
Great to have a standard in cables that will satisfy audiophiles and professionals. Will be great for the many young enthusiasts who want to upgrade, but are faced with 50 different brands and many confusing opinions.
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Gentlemen, thank you for the wonderful review on Iconoclast cables. We do indeed hope to turn the high end cable industry upside down by bringing Iconoclast to market. These cables are designed using real science by the leading cable designer in the country. He did this for what at first may seem selfish reasons. He did it for himself. Thankfully he shared making it possible for almost anyone to acquire cables that will truly let the rest of their audio system perform. Remember, cables can never add or increase amplitude. Cables usually just get in the way, shadow or just pain mask the signal. Iconoclast cables maximize each factory and more importantly, get out of the way! Interested customers or potential dealers may contact me directly at bhoward@iconoclastcable.com Thank you so very much again for the great review.
Great to have a standard in cables that will satisfy audiophiles and professionals. Will be great for the many young enthusiasts who want to upgrade, but are faced with 50 different brands and many confusing opinions.