Atlas Hyper Duo 2 XLR to 2 XLR Audio Cable
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Item code: Hyper Duo XLR
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SPEAKER CABLES:
A quantity of 2 means you will receive a pair of speaker cables e.g. for your front left and front right speakers. By entering a quantity of 1, you will get a cable for a single speaker e.g. centre speaker and this option also enables you to vary the length (and termination) of your cable for each speaker.
OTHER CABLES:
A quantity of 1 means you will receive a single cable in the case of aerial, satellite, subwoofer, digital coaxial & optical cables and a pair of cables in the case of 2 rca to 2 rca analogue audio cables.
NON-CABLE PRODUCTS:
A quantity of 1 means you will receive 1 of the specified products.
Order before 4pm (Mon–Fri) for same-day dispatch
Atlas Hyper Duo 2 XLR to 2 XLR Audio Cable
The Atlas Hyper Duo XLR is a balanced interconnect built for systems where noise rejection and signal transparency are a priority. Its Duo screening topology gives each conductor pair its own independently precision-woven OFC screen, with both screens then twisted together and drained directly to ground via a common connection. This goes a step further than a conventional shared screen arrangement, maintaining consistent low impedance across the full 360 degrees of shielding and significantly reducing the RFI contamination that raises noise levels and costs low-level detail. The approach also avoids the screen distortion that occurs when standard screened cables are prepared for termination, a physical deformation that measurably alters impedance and degrades performance. OCC copper conductors keep crystal boundaries to a minimum along the signal path, while PEF (Foamed Polyethylene) insulation offers low signal loss and wide bandwidth, making the cable well suited to longer runs without performance compromise.
The cable is terminated with dark chrome XLR plugs using Atlas's cold-weld precision crimp process, which forms an airtight metal-to-metal contact between conductor and plug pin without introducing the material inconsistencies of solder or the mechanical stress of screw terminations. Researched, developed, and assembled in Atlas's Scottish facility, the Hyper Duo XLR delivers a balanced, transparent sound with a low noise floor and an open, natural presentation suited to capable systems making full use of balanced connectivity.
Here is what Atlas say about the Hyper Duo XLR
The Hyper XLR Duo is a wide-bandwidth interconnect designed for a high level of transparency allied to an exceptionally low noise-floor, ideally suited to achieving excellent results from highly-capable systems using XLR connectors.
Featuring stranded conductors of high purity OCC (Ohno Continuous Casting) copper within a low-loss foamed PEF (Foamed Polyethylene) dielectric, Hyper has excellent immunity to interference and noise, making it ideally suited to longer cable runs. ’
The Hyper XLR Duo utilises Atlas’ new 'Duo' independent dual-drain screen topology, a further refinement of our proven 'dd' dual-drain system. Duo employs completely separate, independently screened conductors for 'hot (+) and 'cold‘ (-) connections, increasing rejection of unwanted signal-degrading ‘noise’ and significantly improving the cable's measured and audible performance
The cable is terminated with our cold-weld solder-free ‘dark Chrome’ XLR plugs. This design and construction combines wide bandwidth with excellent resistance to the RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) which can raise noise levels, resulting in a loss of low level detail in poorly-shielded cables.
The latest generation Hyper XLR Duo interconnect combines a distinctive appearance with a sophisticated, evenly-balanced sound which draws the listener into the musical performance.
Features:
- Duo Dual Drain Independent Screen
- Cold weld Precision Crimped Termination
- OCC Conductors
- PEF Dielectric
Duo Dual Drain Independent Screen
Our unique Duo and ‘dd’ construction connect the screen without distorting, twisting or mechanically stressing the precision-laid screen, all of which can cause measurable performance anomalies.
We have invested in machinery to quickly and efficiently perform a number of the key stages in our manufacturing process. But working with our dual-drain system is one of those instances where there’s no substitute for the ‘hands-on’ experience of a skilled operator.
Normally screened cables suffer from screen distortion when they are prepared for production. (If you’ve ever wired a plug or connector which uses a screened cable, you've done this yourself, cutting back and probably twisting the screening braid for termination). This distortion of the screen has a measurable impact, effectively changing the impedance and therefore the performance of the cable.
Our ‘dd’ configuration is based on a simplified version of the techniques originally developed for our then top-of-the-range Mavros and Asimi interconnects. Twin symmetrical drain wires (each attached to 180° segments of the plug) are inserted between a 100% copper/Mylar™ foil and screen.
The unique dd system connects the screen effectively to the cable return/plug interface, meaning the cable can be terminated without distorting, twisting or mechanically stressing the precision-laid screen. The benefits are in maintaining a consistent low impedance load to the plug, and a total 360° screening against noise and signal loss caused by RFI (Radio Frequency Interference).
Our Duo symmetrical topology essentially takes our dual-drain approach one step further, with the paired hot and cold conductors surrounded by their own independent precision-woven OFC screen. Each of the screen pairs is then precisely twisted and configured with a common Grun connection, draining both screens directly to ground.
Cold weld Precision Crimped Termination
Our objective is a smooth, uninterrupted signal path which behaves as one continuous entity, with the minimum of ‘breaks & barriers’ in the signal path.
The Process
We have invested in machinery to quickly and efficiently perform a number of the key stages in our manufacturing process, including precision-crimping of connectors on all types of cable.
We also have a number of identically calibrated hand-tools — there are times when there’s no substitute for the experience of a skilled operator.
Cold-Weld Precision-Calibrated Crimp
We firmly believe there should be the minimum of ‘breaks & barriers’ in the signal path. To this end for example, the pins on our connector plugs will typically be of the same material as the cable conductor, ie. a cable using a OCC Copper conductor will have OCC Copper signal pins.
We consider a precision-calibrated cold-weld connection (where physically possible) to be superior to soldered joints or screw connections. Solder typically introduces an unwanted material barrier and a degree of inconsistency. Screw terminations typically distort/damage the conductor and/or dielectric, adversely affecting the measured characteristics of the cable.
In a cold-weld (solder-free) connection, the metal of the connector plug and the wire are squeezed together under a calibrated pressure to form a robust, consistent, air-tight metal to metal contact with no deformation of the cable dielectric. The result is a smooth, uninterrupted signal path which behaves as closely as possible to one continuous entity.
OCC Copper
The Ohno continuous casting method re-heats the extrusion as the molten copper is forced out of the mould and very slowly and gradually draws the grain or crystal down the conductor''s length, creating a ‘single crystal structure.’ Actually, because no copper is 100% pure, there will always be a few boundaries produced by impurities. The frequency of boundaries created are quite insignificant. A typical crystal in a copper conductor drawn to 0.3 mm diam. using the OCC process is 125.00 metres long! The benefits are obvious, with almost no crystal boundaries, the audio signal is no longer impeded down the copper wire and more information and detail is delivered faithfully to the receiving equipment. 
PEF Dielectric
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is cheap to produce and, as such, is the most commonly used insulation in AV cables. However, PVC is the worst quality insulation a Hi-Fi or AV signal can encounter as its high loss causes a significant reduction in signal velocity. PVC is better suited to power cables and should be avoided in Hi-Fi and AV signal cables. Other dielectrics in common use are Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polytetrafluoride Epoxy (better known as PTFE (Teflon™) or Teflon,) and the new and unique Atlas (PTFE). PEF (Foamed Polyethylene). The foaming process uses a blowing agent, of which there are two types. Atlas use the gas-foamed method which creates a more inert, consistent and higher quality product. The table below shows the properties of a selection of dielectrics. Though not used as a dielectric in Atlas' cables, PVC is included for comparison purposes.
Specification :
- Construction: Duo Stranded
- Conductor: OCC Copper
- Dielectric: PEF
- Screen: Foil/OFC braid
- Capacitance: 48.86 pF/m
- Inductance: 0.756 µH/m
- Resistance: 0.0859 Ohms/m
- Outside Diameter: 4.8 mm (per conductor)
- Colour/Finish: Black Fabric
About Atlas Cables 
Atlas Cables are a major producer of interconnects and cables in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. All products are researched, developed and most are assembled in the Atlas purpose built factory in Scotland.
Many of these products are unique and use advanced techniques of production or manufacture in order to bring to the user the very finest quality products. With each new model we continue to push the boundaries of reliability and performance. It's little wonder then, that Atlas Cables have had so many mile-stone advances in the past and that Atlas Cables have secured so many awards in comparative tests against other products.
About Atlas Cables
Scottish cable maker that designs and builds its own conductors, connectors and cables rather than assembling bought-in parts.
Atlas researches, designs and produces its cables in Scotland, with a handful of exceptions. Many cable brands assemble off-the-shelf components, but Atlas specifies the conductors, insulation and terminations itself and tests the result in its own listening room. It offers a five-year guarantee on its cables.
Read more about Atlas Show less
The plugs are Atlas designs too
Atlas designs its own RCA plugs. The Achromatic and Ultra RCAs are built for low mass and high bandwidth, and the newer Metik connectors were developed for personal audio. Designing the connectors in house means Atlas is not limited to what an outside supplier already sells.
Three performance levels, with named ranges in each
The catalogue is arranged in three performance levels. Upgrade covers Element and Equator, Aspire covers Hyper and Ailsa, and High End covers Mavros, Arran, Eos and Zeno. You can choose the level that suits the rest of your system, then move up later without changing brand.
Custom options and a repair service
Atlas lists luxe and speaker termination options, so you can specify a cable to suit the equipment at each end. It also repairs, customises and upgrades its cables through a dedicated service, which means you can bring an older cable up to date instead of replacing it.
Why we stock Atlas
Atlas run pure copper conductors through most of the range rather than silver or silver plating. That gives a warmer, more forgiving balance than the silver-plated cables we sell. If your system is already leaning bright, Atlas is usually where we point you first. Hand-built in Scotland, and we have sold them since 2008.
New cables (even high-quality ones) benefit from a period of signal conditioning before reaching their optimum performance. The dielectric (insulation) around the conductors needs time to stabilise under the electromagnetic field created by signal flow. Rather than leaving this to you, we run cables on our Nordost Vidar burn-in machine before dispatch, up to the equivalent of 200 hours of use, in a fraction of the time. Your cable arrives performance-ready from the first listen.
Specification :
- Construction: Duo Stranded
- Conductor: OCC Copper
- Dielectric: PEF
- Screen: Foil/OFC braid
- Capacitance: 48.86 pF/m
- Inductance: 0.756 µH/m
- Resistance: 0.0859 Ohms/m
- Outside Diameter: 4.8 mm (per conductor)
- Colour/Finish: Black Fabric
We use Royal Mail 1st Class services for our Standard Delivery.
Orders received before 4.30 pm Monday to Friday are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. This does not apply to custom-length cables and speaker cables as these require a longer timescale to terminate. This also excludes all cables selected for the burn-in service. Please note, we do not process orders on national holidays in the UK. Over 98% of our orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays. In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Future Shop. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD Local or DHL for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order subject to stock availability. For international orders, we use FedEx or DHL services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths may be subject to longer deliver time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at Future Shop
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
UK Postal & Delivery Charges - FIRST CLASS
Free UK delivery on all orders over £99*
| Weight | Price (FIRST CLASS UK POSTAGE) |
| 0g - 1000g | £3.95 |
| 1000g - 1400g | £4.95 |
| 1400g - 1800g | £5.95 |
| 1800g - 2000g | £6.95 |
| 2000g - 3000g | £8.95 |
* Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL.
Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are not subject to 20% VAT after December 31st 2020 and therefore the 20% VAT on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
The customer will be liable for the VAT at the local VAT rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee if applicable. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 5 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7-10 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the UK are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
If applicable, the customer will be liable for the taxes at the local tax rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7 to 10 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability
- Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets at our discretion
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enhance Your Experience: Free Cable Burn-In Service with Nordost VIDAR Machine
Please take note of the following details regarding our cable burn-in service:
- Cable Compatibility: We regret to inform you that we cannot burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. In order for cables to undergo the burn-in process, they should be terminated or have connectors.
- Timing: Cables will be burnt in for the selected period after processing your order. For custom-length cables, the burn-in process will occur after they have been terminated by the manufacturer or our engineers unless specified otherwise in the product description.
- Availability: Future Shop provides our cable burn-in service free of charge, but its availability is at our discretion. While we strive to fulfil all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to meet the demand due to limited connections on the Nordost Vidar cable conditioning machines.
The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine integrates three key functions into one operation:
- Charge Neutralisation: It eliminates charges that accumulate around the cables and their insulation, ensuring a more balanced electrical environment.
- Deep Conditioning: The machine provides a wide band and deep conditioning process that affects the conductor core, resulting in changes to the signal transmission through the metal. This deep conditioning enhances the cable's performance.
- Ultrasonic Surface Conditioning: The VIDAR machine utilizes ultrasonic waves to condition the surface of the conductors, optimizing their contact and overall conductivity.
The VIDAR employs a proprietary combination of composite and complex signals to condition the cables. These signals comprise ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, extending beyond the range of video frequencies. The signal moves back and forth along the cable, penetrating deep into the core with ultra-low frequencies and traversing the surface with ultra-high frequencies. This transmission method generates beat harmonics between the two complex waveforms, which permeate all layers of the cable. The circuitry of the VIDAR also drives electrons from the conductor into the insulation area, neutralizing electrical charges.
So, what does this all mean for you?
The ultimate outcome of conditioning cables with the Nordost VIDAR is improved sound staging, increased detail, and an overall more musical presentation in your audio system.
Now, you may wonder why cable burn-in is necessary. During cable manufacturing, gasses become trapped as insulation is applied over the conductors. Additionally, new cables often possess high electrical charges, resulting in a brittle and bright sound that lacks the desired detail and depth for music production.
When cables undergo burn-in, the trapped gasses are dissipated, and small impurities in the conductor metals begin to exhibit diode-like behaviour, favouring current flow in a specific direction.
Here are the physical effects of the burn-in process:
- Charge Neutralisation: The burn-in process neutralizes charges in the conductors and insulation, promoting a more balanced electrical environment.
- Wide Bandwidth Frequencies: The conditioning affects how signals pass through the metal, enabling a wider range of frequencies to penetrate all cable layers.
- Signal Transmission: The burn-in process establishes the directionality of the cable, optimizing signal transmission from one end to the other.
When cables are properly burnt in, you can expect the following audible changes in your audio system:
- Fuller and Natural Sound: Your system should be capable of producing a more immersive and realistic performance with a fuller and more natural sound.
- Increased Detail: You may notice enhanced details and nuances in the music, allowing you to perceive subtle elements that were previously hidden.
- Improved Soundstage: The dimensionality of your system's soundstage can be greatly improved, creating a more spacious and immersive listening experience.
At Future Shop, our goal is to maximise your satisfaction. That's why we offer a free burn-in service on all our cables before they arrive at your door, enabling you to sit back and enjoy the benefits of properly conditioned cables in your audio system.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR CABLE TREATMENT
Atlas Hyper Duo 2 XLR to 2 XLR Audio Cable
The Atlas Hyper Duo XLR is a balanced interconnect built for systems where noise rejection and signal transparency are a priority. Its Duo screening topology gives each conductor pair its own independently precision-woven OFC screen, with both screens then twisted together and drained directly to ground via a common connection. This goes a step further than a conventional shared screen arrangement, maintaining consistent low impedance across the full 360 degrees of shielding and significantly reducing the RFI contamination that raises noise levels and costs low-level detail. The approach also avoids the screen distortion that occurs when standard screened cables are prepared for termination, a physical deformation that measurably alters impedance and degrades performance. OCC copper conductors keep crystal boundaries to a minimum along the signal path, while PEF (Foamed Polyethylene) insulation offers low signal loss and wide bandwidth, making the cable well suited to longer runs without performance compromise.
The cable is terminated with dark chrome XLR plugs using Atlas's cold-weld precision crimp process, which forms an airtight metal-to-metal contact between conductor and plug pin without introducing the material inconsistencies of solder or the mechanical stress of screw terminations. Researched, developed, and assembled in Atlas's Scottish facility, the Hyper Duo XLR delivers a balanced, transparent sound with a low noise floor and an open, natural presentation suited to capable systems making full use of balanced connectivity.
Here is what Atlas say about the Hyper Duo XLR
The Hyper XLR Duo is a wide-bandwidth interconnect designed for a high level of transparency allied to an exceptionally low noise-floor, ideally suited to achieving excellent results from highly-capable systems using XLR connectors.
Featuring stranded conductors of high purity OCC (Ohno Continuous Casting) copper within a low-loss foamed PEF (Foamed Polyethylene) dielectric, Hyper has excellent immunity to interference and noise, making it ideally suited to longer cable runs. ’
The Hyper XLR Duo utilises Atlas’ new 'Duo' independent dual-drain screen topology, a further refinement of our proven 'dd' dual-drain system. Duo employs completely separate, independently screened conductors for 'hot (+) and 'cold‘ (-) connections, increasing rejection of unwanted signal-degrading ‘noise’ and significantly improving the cable's measured and audible performance
The cable is terminated with our cold-weld solder-free ‘dark Chrome’ XLR plugs. This design and construction combines wide bandwidth with excellent resistance to the RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) which can raise noise levels, resulting in a loss of low level detail in poorly-shielded cables.
The latest generation Hyper XLR Duo interconnect combines a distinctive appearance with a sophisticated, evenly-balanced sound which draws the listener into the musical performance.
Features:
- Duo Dual Drain Independent Screen
- Cold weld Precision Crimped Termination
- OCC Conductors
- PEF Dielectric
Duo Dual Drain Independent Screen
Our unique Duo and ‘dd’ construction connect the screen without distorting, twisting or mechanically stressing the precision-laid screen, all of which can cause measurable performance anomalies.
We have invested in machinery to quickly and efficiently perform a number of the key stages in our manufacturing process. But working with our dual-drain system is one of those instances where there’s no substitute for the ‘hands-on’ experience of a skilled operator.
Normally screened cables suffer from screen distortion when they are prepared for production. (If you’ve ever wired a plug or connector which uses a screened cable, you've done this yourself, cutting back and probably twisting the screening braid for termination). This distortion of the screen has a measurable impact, effectively changing the impedance and therefore the performance of the cable.
Our ‘dd’ configuration is based on a simplified version of the techniques originally developed for our then top-of-the-range Mavros and Asimi interconnects. Twin symmetrical drain wires (each attached to 180° segments of the plug) are inserted between a 100% copper/Mylar™ foil and screen.
The unique dd system connects the screen effectively to the cable return/plug interface, meaning the cable can be terminated without distorting, twisting or mechanically stressing the precision-laid screen. The benefits are in maintaining a consistent low impedance load to the plug, and a total 360° screening against noise and signal loss caused by RFI (Radio Frequency Interference).
Our Duo symmetrical topology essentially takes our dual-drain approach one step further, with the paired hot and cold conductors surrounded by their own independent precision-woven OFC screen. Each of the screen pairs is then precisely twisted and configured with a common Grun connection, draining both screens directly to ground.
Cold weld Precision Crimped Termination
Our objective is a smooth, uninterrupted signal path which behaves as one continuous entity, with the minimum of ‘breaks & barriers’ in the signal path.
The Process
We have invested in machinery to quickly and efficiently perform a number of the key stages in our manufacturing process, including precision-crimping of connectors on all types of cable.
We also have a number of identically calibrated hand-tools — there are times when there’s no substitute for the experience of a skilled operator.
Cold-Weld Precision-Calibrated Crimp
We firmly believe there should be the minimum of ‘breaks & barriers’ in the signal path. To this end for example, the pins on our connector plugs will typically be of the same material as the cable conductor, ie. a cable using a OCC Copper conductor will have OCC Copper signal pins.
We consider a precision-calibrated cold-weld connection (where physically possible) to be superior to soldered joints or screw connections. Solder typically introduces an unwanted material barrier and a degree of inconsistency. Screw terminations typically distort/damage the conductor and/or dielectric, adversely affecting the measured characteristics of the cable.
In a cold-weld (solder-free) connection, the metal of the connector plug and the wire are squeezed together under a calibrated pressure to form a robust, consistent, air-tight metal to metal contact with no deformation of the cable dielectric. The result is a smooth, uninterrupted signal path which behaves as closely as possible to one continuous entity.
OCC Copper
The Ohno continuous casting method re-heats the extrusion as the molten copper is forced out of the mould and very slowly and gradually draws the grain or crystal down the conductor''s length, creating a ‘single crystal structure.’ Actually, because no copper is 100% pure, there will always be a few boundaries produced by impurities. The frequency of boundaries created are quite insignificant. A typical crystal in a copper conductor drawn to 0.3 mm diam. using the OCC process is 125.00 metres long! The benefits are obvious, with almost no crystal boundaries, the audio signal is no longer impeded down the copper wire and more information and detail is delivered faithfully to the receiving equipment.
PEF Dielectric
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is cheap to produce and, as such, is the most commonly used insulation in AV cables. However, PVC is the worst quality insulation a Hi-Fi or AV signal can encounter as its high loss causes a significant reduction in signal velocity. PVC is better suited to power cables and should be avoided in Hi-Fi and AV signal cables. Other dielectrics in common use are Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polytetrafluoride Epoxy (better known as PTFE (Teflon™) or Teflon,) and the new and unique Atlas (PTFE). PEF (Foamed Polyethylene). The foaming process uses a blowing agent, of which there are two types. Atlas use the gas-foamed method which creates a more inert, consistent and higher quality product. The table below shows the properties of a selection of dielectrics. Though not used as a dielectric in Atlas' cables, PVC is included for comparison purposes.
Specification :
- Construction: Duo Stranded
- Conductor: OCC Copper
- Dielectric: PEF
- Screen: Foil/OFC braid
- Capacitance: 48.86 pF/m
- Inductance: 0.756 µH/m
- Resistance: 0.0859 Ohms/m
- Outside Diameter: 4.8 mm (per conductor)
- Colour/Finish: Black Fabric
About Atlas Cables
Atlas Cables are a major producer of interconnects and cables in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. All products are researched, developed and most are assembled in the Atlas purpose built factory in Scotland.
Many of these products are unique and use advanced techniques of production or manufacture in order to bring to the user the very finest quality products. With each new model we continue to push the boundaries of reliability and performance. It's little wonder then, that Atlas Cables have had so many mile-stone advances in the past and that Atlas Cables have secured so many awards in comparative tests against other products.
About Atlas Cables
Scottish cable maker that designs and builds its own conductors, connectors and cables rather than assembling bought-in parts.
Atlas researches, designs and produces its cables in Scotland, with a handful of exceptions. Many cable brands assemble off-the-shelf components, but Atlas specifies the conductors, insulation and terminations itself and tests the result in its own listening room. It offers a five-year guarantee on its cables.
Read more about Atlas Show less
The plugs are Atlas designs too
Atlas designs its own RCA plugs. The Achromatic and Ultra RCAs are built for low mass and high bandwidth, and the newer Metik connectors were developed for personal audio. Designing the connectors in house means Atlas is not limited to what an outside supplier already sells.
Three performance levels, with named ranges in each
The catalogue is arranged in three performance levels. Upgrade covers Element and Equator, Aspire covers Hyper and Ailsa, and High End covers Mavros, Arran, Eos and Zeno. You can choose the level that suits the rest of your system, then move up later without changing brand.
Custom options and a repair service
Atlas lists luxe and speaker termination options, so you can specify a cable to suit the equipment at each end. It also repairs, customises and upgrades its cables through a dedicated service, which means you can bring an older cable up to date instead of replacing it.
Why we stock Atlas
Atlas run pure copper conductors through most of the range rather than silver or silver plating. That gives a warmer, more forgiving balance than the silver-plated cables we sell. If your system is already leaning bright, Atlas is usually where we point you first. Hand-built in Scotland, and we have sold them since 2008.
New cables (even high-quality ones) benefit from a period of signal conditioning before reaching their optimum performance. The dielectric (insulation) around the conductors needs time to stabilise under the electromagnetic field created by signal flow. Rather than leaving this to you, we run cables on our Nordost Vidar burn-in machine before dispatch, up to the equivalent of 200 hours of use, in a fraction of the time. Your cable arrives performance-ready from the first listen.
Specification :
- Construction: Duo Stranded
- Conductor: OCC Copper
- Dielectric: PEF
- Screen: Foil/OFC braid
- Capacitance: 48.86 pF/m
- Inductance: 0.756 µH/m
- Resistance: 0.0859 Ohms/m
- Outside Diameter: 4.8 mm (per conductor)
- Colour/Finish: Black Fabric
We use Royal Mail 1st Class services for our Standard Delivery.
Orders received before 4.30 pm Monday to Friday are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. This does not apply to custom-length cables and speaker cables as these require a longer timescale to terminate. This also excludes all cables selected for the burn-in service. Please note, we do not process orders on national holidays in the UK. Over 98% of our orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays. In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Future Shop. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD Local or DHL for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order subject to stock availability. For international orders, we use FedEx or DHL services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths may be subject to longer deliver time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at Future Shop
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
UK Postal & Delivery Charges - FIRST CLASS
Free UK delivery on all orders over £99*
| Weight | Price (FIRST CLASS UK POSTAGE) |
| 0g - 1000g | £3.95 |
| 1000g - 1400g | £4.95 |
| 1400g - 1800g | £5.95 |
| 1800g - 2000g | £6.95 |
| 2000g - 3000g | £8.95 |
* Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL.
Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are not subject to 20% VAT after December 31st 2020 and therefore the 20% VAT on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
The customer will be liable for the VAT at the local VAT rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee if applicable. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 5 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7-10 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the UK are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
If applicable, the customer will be liable for the taxes at the local tax rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7 to 10 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability
- Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets at our discretion
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
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Atlas Hyper Duo 2 XLR to 2 XLR Audio Cable
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Frequently Asked Questions
Enhance Your Experience: Free Cable Burn-In Service with Nordost VIDAR Machine
Please take note of the following details regarding our cable burn-in service:
- Cable Compatibility: We regret to inform you that we cannot burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. In order for cables to undergo the burn-in process, they should be terminated or have connectors.
- Timing: Cables will be burnt in for the selected period after processing your order. For custom-length cables, the burn-in process will occur after they have been terminated by the manufacturer or our engineers unless specified otherwise in the product description.
- Availability: Future Shop provides our cable burn-in service free of charge, but its availability is at our discretion. While we strive to fulfil all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to meet the demand due to limited connections on the Nordost Vidar cable conditioning machines.
The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine integrates three key functions into one operation:
- Charge Neutralisation: It eliminates charges that accumulate around the cables and their insulation, ensuring a more balanced electrical environment.
- Deep Conditioning: The machine provides a wide band and deep conditioning process that affects the conductor core, resulting in changes to the signal transmission through the metal. This deep conditioning enhances the cable's performance.
- Ultrasonic Surface Conditioning: The VIDAR machine utilizes ultrasonic waves to condition the surface of the conductors, optimizing their contact and overall conductivity.
The VIDAR employs a proprietary combination of composite and complex signals to condition the cables. These signals comprise ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, extending beyond the range of video frequencies. The signal moves back and forth along the cable, penetrating deep into the core with ultra-low frequencies and traversing the surface with ultra-high frequencies. This transmission method generates beat harmonics between the two complex waveforms, which permeate all layers of the cable. The circuitry of the VIDAR also drives electrons from the conductor into the insulation area, neutralizing electrical charges.
So, what does this all mean for you?
The ultimate outcome of conditioning cables with the Nordost VIDAR is improved sound staging, increased detail, and an overall more musical presentation in your audio system.
Now, you may wonder why cable burn-in is necessary. During cable manufacturing, gasses become trapped as insulation is applied over the conductors. Additionally, new cables often possess high electrical charges, resulting in a brittle and bright sound that lacks the desired detail and depth for music production.
When cables undergo burn-in, the trapped gasses are dissipated, and small impurities in the conductor metals begin to exhibit diode-like behaviour, favouring current flow in a specific direction.
Here are the physical effects of the burn-in process:
- Charge Neutralisation: The burn-in process neutralizes charges in the conductors and insulation, promoting a more balanced electrical environment.
- Wide Bandwidth Frequencies: The conditioning affects how signals pass through the metal, enabling a wider range of frequencies to penetrate all cable layers.
- Signal Transmission: The burn-in process establishes the directionality of the cable, optimizing signal transmission from one end to the other.
When cables are properly burnt in, you can expect the following audible changes in your audio system:
- Fuller and Natural Sound: Your system should be capable of producing a more immersive and realistic performance with a fuller and more natural sound.
- Increased Detail: You may notice enhanced details and nuances in the music, allowing you to perceive subtle elements that were previously hidden.
- Improved Soundstage: The dimensionality of your system's soundstage can be greatly improved, creating a more spacious and immersive listening experience.
At Future Shop, our goal is to maximise your satisfaction. That's why we offer a free burn-in service on all our cables before they arrive at your door, enabling you to sit back and enjoy the benefits of properly conditioned cables in your audio system.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR CABLE TREATMENT
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Atlas Hyper Duo 2 XLR to 2 XLR Audio Cable
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