Cable Theory

In theory, the perfect audio cable would be electrically and sonically neutral. It would carry the signal from point A to point B with zero loss or distortion. It would also do this without influence from outside electrical fields or radiated noise. All cables regardless of cost or design impart their own distortions to the delicate signals inside them. The superior cables simply add less distortion, with less noise than inferior cables. The theoretically perfect cable would be conductors suspended in air or a vacuum with no insulation or materials around or between them. In the real world this is impossible. The conductors have to be insulated from touching [shorting out] and protected from oxidation. They must also be protected from many other outside influences such as radio frequency interference, electromagnetic interference, and microphonics [vibration]. All insulation materials absorb and release energy back into the cable, which can add significant coloration to the sound. This is why the materials between and surrounding each conductor are so important to the performance of the cable. Sain Line Systems builds every cable with the theoretical ideal in mind. We use the lowest loss insulation available and the least amount of distortion inducing plastic possible, along with proper cable geometry [the physical relationship between conductors] This is an extremely important design element and a key reason why our cables are so transparent and musical -they simply allow the signal to pass between your components with the least amount of sonic coloration.