Atlas Hyper Metik 3.5mm to Achromatic RCA S/PDIF Digital Audio Cable

Atlas Hyper Metik 3.5mm to Achromatic RCA S/PDIF Digital Audio Cable

 

3.5mm outputs are ever more popular with the huge increase of ‘dual purpose’ personal audio devices and portable DACs. Many of these devices are also used in sophisticated home audio systems, but until recently, there have been few genuine audiophile interconnects with 3.5mm connectors suitable for high performance audio.

The Hyper Metik features four central multi-core conductors made up of two identical pairs of OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) wires within a single-shielded outer cover (rather than separate cables for left & right channels).

The Metik range of solder-free cold-weld jack plugs brings the class-leading continuous signal path performance of Atlas' Achromatic and Ultra RCA connectors to portable device interconnects. Featuring precision copper alloy contacts with a PTFE (Teflon™) dielectric, the Metik plugs provide a high quality, secure termination for connecting mobile devices where sound quality is paramount.

Conventional jack plugs typically suffer degraded signal integrity,principally by using low-grade components, soldered connections and/or screw fixings which distort the cable dielectric (insulation), which produces measurable changes in the cable’s impedance. RCA connectors are Atlas' low-mass Achromatic phono plugs.

 

Features :

• Atlas Metik Jack Plug
• Achromatic RCA Plugs
• OCC Conductors
• PEF Dielectric
• 4 Core + Screen

Metik Jack Plug

The Metik is a robust, air tight metal to metal solder-free contact jack plug. Available in 2.5, 3.5 & 6mm versions.

In a cold-weld 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 damage to the cable dielectric. The result is a smooth, uninterrupted signal path which behaves as one continuous entity, with minimal degradation of the signal compared to soldered connections.

Atlas also developed their own low mass/high bandwidth connectors to take this approach to its logical conclusion.

Achromatic Plugs

Atlas’s expert electro-mechanical knowledge has led to the innovation of the next generation of RCA plugs. Known as the ‘Atlas Achromatic RCA plug’, Atlas has focused on improving both performance and appearance to create a higher performance starting point for their RCA cables as well as eliminating variability in performance. This has been achieved by refocusing on materials and the assembly processes.

Atlas has made 4 key changes with the Achromatic RCA plug. Firstly, the barrel of the Achromatic plug features a high stability ABS material. This is strong, stable and of superlative surface quality.

There is also an improvement to the Achromatic plug’s contact geometry, aiding the contact properties of the plug and the self-cleaning wiping action to ensure contacts are in optimal condition and to maximise signal transmission.

The third change Atlas made was around the rifling of the RCA pin. This improvement self-aligns the conductors during the cold weld processing, ensuring a superior stable connection.

Finally, there is a reduction in the overall mass of the RCA plug by 8% which has shown to improve signal transmission.

The above changes mean a solder-free, low mass, self-cleaning, recyclable RCA plug with a non-conductive body.

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.

Copper Purity Comparison (0.3mm Diameter)
		TPC	OFC	OCC
Purity		>99.9%	>99.99%	>99.999%
Specific Gravity		8.75	8.926	8.938
Gas Impurities (ppm)
	O2	200~500	<10	<5
	H2	<0.5	<0.5	<0.3
Average Crystal Size (Metre)		0.007	0.02	125.00
Crystals Per Metre		150	50	0.008

 

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.

Dielectric Material Comparison (0.3mm Diameter)
Property	Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)	Foamed Polyethylene (PEF)	Polypropylene (P.P)	Teflon (FEP or PTFE)	PTFE
Dielectric Constant (@ 50 -106Hz)	4-8	2.3	2.25	2.1	1.3
Dielectric Strength (kV mm-1)	23-30	30-50	30-50	20-25	N/A
Loss Tangent (% @ 50 - 106Hz)	8-15	0.02-0.05	0.02-0.06 (@ 106Hz)	0.02-0.07	N/A
Volume Resistivity (Ohms.cm @ 20°C)	1012-15	>1017	6.5x1014	>1016	N/A
Tensile Strength (Kg mm-2)	1.0-2.5	1.0-2.0	3.0-4.0	1.9-2.2	1.0
Melting Point (°C)	-130	112-120	155-160	275	275
Max. Continuous Operating Temp. (°C)	60	75	90	200	260
Min. Operating Temp. (°C)	-15 to -40	<-60	-5 to -45	<-60	-250

4 Core + Screen Construction

A pair of identically matched conductors (one for signal path, the other acts as the return conductor) enclosed within a non-conducting screen.

Specification :

• Construction : Twin twisted pair multicore, dual drain
• Material : 6N OCC Copper
• Dielectric : PEF
• Screen : OFC, 95% - 252 strands
• Capacitance : 71.54 pF/m
• Inductance : 0.542 µH/m
• Resistance : 0.0239 Ohms/m
• VOP: 0.682
• Outside Diameter : 10.0mm

 

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.