AudioQuest Athena Speaker Cable
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Item code: ATHENA
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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.
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AudioQuest Athena Speaker Cable
The AudioQuest Athena Speaker Cable is a full-range speaker cable from the Folk Hero range, designed for high-performance systems and listeners who value refinement and purity above outright scale. Athena sits above Lone Ranger in the range, keeping that cable's flexibility and relatively slim build while borrowing the core technologies of AudioQuest's flagship speaker cables. The result is a cable that is easy to route behind furniture and around equipment, yet delivers the deep, silent backgrounds and coherent presentation that let fine detail and natural decay come through cleanly.
At the heart of Athena is ZERO-Tech geometry, which removes the electrostatic field between the positive and negative conductors so that the cable has no characteristic impedance. Without that impedance, there is no mismatch with the amplifier or loudspeaker, and transient current passes through uncompressed, which is heard as sharper dynamics and a more effortless sense of attack. The conductors are 14AWG solid No-Grain Copper (NGC): solid construction avoids the interaction between strands that smears dynamics, while the near grain-free metal reduces distortion at grain boundaries. Every conductor is direction-controlled so that induced noise is drained away from the signal rather than towards it.
Noise control is a major part of the Athena design. A Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network, Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) shield drains and a 72v Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) with RF Noise-Trap work together to dissipate radio-frequency interference from Wi-Fi, mobile networks and other sources before it can cloud the sound. Biasing the insulation in this way lowers dielectric noise and makes the cable's behaviour more linear across a wide bandwidth, which helps keep the soundstage stable and the background dark. AudioQuest also applies its Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO) process during manufacture to reduce burn-in time.
Athena is finished in a blue nylon braid and terminated with cold-welded plugs, with silver applied directly over pure red copper and no solder at the joint. Breakouts and plug casings are synthetic rather than metal to avoid inducing RF noise into the conductors. Athena works as a full-range single-wire cable, or as the treble half of a bi-wire run alongside AudioQuest's dedicated BigFoot Bass-Only cable. Each pair is available in lengths from 1.5m to 4m, with a choice of banana or multi-spade terminations.
What AudioQuest say about the Athena Speaker Cable
Combining the physical flexibility and relatively small size of its more affordable sibling, Lone Ranger, with the jet-black backgrounds, top-to-bottom coherence, and seductive effortlessness of AudioQuest's finest designs, Athena stands proud among the Folk Hero range - an outstanding choice for high-performance systems, environments, and listeners that value refinement and purity over ultimate scale and sheer brute force.
Athena's design features include: Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network; ZERO-Tech for uncompressed transient current and linear noise-dissipation; 72v Dielectric-Bias System; direction-controlled No-Grain Copper (NG-C) conductors; and Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) NDS shield drains to effectively minimize damaging RF-Noise.
Athena speaker cables may be used in one of two ways: either as ideal Full-Range cables, or, in combination with their dedicated Bass-Only cable, BigFoot, in a high-performance BiWire cable assembly.
BiWiring
When a speaker has separate Bass and Treble inputs, running separate cables to the Treble and Bass inputs significantly reduces distortion. BiWiring prevents the strong bass signal from modulating the delicate treble signal, like taking the waves out of the water when you swim.
When using Athena for Treble, AudioQuest BigFoot Bass-Only is the ideal choice for running to the speakers' Bass inputs, reducing current modulation, and, even more importantly, taking RF interference off the amplifier's output. A BiWire Combo with Bass-Only and ZERO cables joined together at the amplifier is usually most convenient, though joining them is optional. When TriWiring, use Bass-Only cables on the Midrange and Bass inputs.
Do not Double-BiWire with two ZERO-Tech cables. Your amp will distort.
Almost all speakers come with Bass/Treble Jumpers that are worse than driving with a compact-spare tire. If you single-wire your speakers, please use better Jumpers. AudioQuest offers a range of excellent options starting with the affordable Bare Naked Jumpers.
- ZERO-Tech (No Characteristic Impedance): The only way to prevent characteristic-impedance mismatch-effects between a cable and its attached source and load circuits is for the cable not to have a characteristic-impedance. ZERO-Tech accomplishes this by eliminating any electrostatic field between the cable's high and low signal conductors - enabling uncompressed current transfer. All-important transient current is unrestricted and RF Noise-Dissipation is more effective and linear.
- Solid No-Grain Copper (NG-C) Conductors: Solid conductors prevent strand-interaction, a major source of dynamic distortion. No-Grain Copper dramatically minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries and maximizes RF Noise-Dissipation.
- Linear Noise-Dissipation: The Earth is permeated with RF-Noise from satellites, cellular, WiFi, etc. Athena's Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network, ZERO-Tech, direction-controlled No-Grain Copper (NG-C) conductors, 72v DBS, and Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) NDS shield drains effectively minimize damaging RF-Noise.
- 72v Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) with RF Noise-Trap: Insulation is also a dielectric that acts like a shunt-filter. Biasing the dielectric both minimizes dielectric-noise and linearizes the filter, significantly improving wide-bandwidth dissipation of induced noise.
- Perfect-Surface Silver Shield Drains: Dramatically aid the efficient dissipation of RF-Noise.
- Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO): By optimally and efficiently applying a high-frequency AC signal many times greater than any audio system could possibly provide over any length of time, transient intermodulation distortion and the cable burn-in process are significantly reduced.
- Cold-Welded Red-Copper Spades or Bananas: Cold-Welding avoids the introduction of heat and distortion-causing materials like solder. The bare parts are submerged (hung) in silver instead of tumbled in a lower-grade solution. Speaker breakouts and plug casings are synthetic, not metal, to avoid inducing RF Noise into the conductors.
- Athena speaker cables may be used in one of two ways: either as ideal Full-Range cables, or, in combination with a dedicated Bass-Only cable, BigFoot, in a high-performance BiWire cable assembly.
- Directionality: All drawn metal strands or conductors have a non-symmetrical, and therefore directional, grain structure. AudioQuest controls the resulting RF impedance variation so that noise is drained away from where it will cause distortion. A fundamental aspect of AudioQuest's multifaceted Noise-Dissipation technology, Direction-Controlled Conductors ensure induced noise is dissipated and drained properly.
Specifications
General
- Brand: AudioQuest
- Model: Athena
- Range: Folk Hero
- Type: Full-range speaker cable
- Colour: Blue nylon braid
- Sold as: Pair
- Lengths: 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 3.5m, 4m
Materials and Design
- Conductor metal: Solid No-Grain Copper (NGC)
- Gauge: 14AWG
- Conductor cross-section: 2 x 2.16mm²
- Geometry: ZERO-Tech (No Characteristic Impedance)
- RF drain metal: Solid Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS)
- Directionality: Direction-controlled conductors
- Jacket: Blue Nylon Braid
- Breakouts and plug casings: Synthetic (non-metal)
Features and Performance
- Technology: ZERO-Tech
- Noise-Dissipation: Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network
- Dielectric-Bias System: 72v DBS with RF Noise-Trap
- Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO)
- Use: Full-range, or treble cable in a bi-wire pairing with AudioQuest BigFoot Bass-Only
Connectivity
- Terminations: Banana to Banana, or Multi-Spade to Multi-Spade
- Plugs: Cold-Welded Hanging-Silver Directly Over Pure Red Copper
About AudioQuest
Californian cable maker covering analogue, digital, speaker and power cables, with patented conductor and dielectric designs.
AudioQuest is based in Irvine, California, and makes cables for nearly every connection in a system: analogue interconnects, USB, HDMI and Ethernet, speaker cables and AC power cables. Its designs come back to four ideas: solid conductors, directionality, noise dissipation and the quality of the metal.
Read more about AudioQuest Show less
Conductor and metal choices come first
Solid conductors and metal quality are two of the ideas AudioQuest returns to across its range. HyperLitz, a conductor construction patented in 1988, is another. Directionality, the principle that a cable is built to carry signal in one direction, is the fourth.
Noise is treated as a separate design problem
AudioQuest lists its noise-dissipation technologies as ZERO-Tech, RF/ND-Tech and the Dielectric-Bias System, which was patented in 2004. They are applied alongside the conductor work rather than in place of it, and which ones a cable carries depends on the model and its price.
One brand across the whole system
AudioQuest also makes AC power cables, Niagara and PowerQuest power conditioners and DragonFly DACs alongside its analogue, digital and speaker cables. If you are building or upgrading a system, that means every cable in the chain, and the power feeding it, can come from one design approach.
Why we stock AudioQuest
We took AudioQuest on for HDMI. When the 1.4 spec arrived in 2009 they were the first supplier who could actually get the cables to us, at a point when almost nobody could. The power cables turned out to be just as good, and they are now a bigger part of what we sell than the HDMI ever was.
Specifications
General
- Brand: AudioQuest
- Model: Athena
- Range: Folk Hero
- Type: Full-range speaker cable
- Colour: Blue nylon braid
- Sold as: Pair
- Lengths: 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 3.5m, 4m
Materials and Design
- Conductor metal: Solid No-Grain Copper (NGC)
- Gauge: 14AWG
- Conductor cross-section: 2 x 2.16mm²
- Geometry: ZERO-Tech (No Characteristic Impedance)
- RF drain metal: Solid Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS)
- Directionality: Direction-controlled conductors
- Jacket: Blue Nylon Braid
- Breakouts and plug casings: Synthetic (non-metal)
Features and Performance
- Technology: ZERO-Tech
- Noise-Dissipation: Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network
- Dielectric-Bias System: 72v DBS with RF Noise-Trap
- Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO)
- Use: Full-range, or treble cable in a bi-wire pairing with AudioQuest BigFoot Bass-Only
Connectivity
- Terminations: Banana to Banana, or Multi-Spade to Multi-Spade
- Plugs: Cold-Welded Hanging-Silver Directly Over Pure Red Copper
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
Free Premium Cable Burn-In Service: Experience the Power of Nordost VIDAR 2 Machine
We are thrilled to unveil our upgraded cable burn-in service, now featuring the cutting-edge VIDAR 2 burn-in machine. At Future Shop, we strive to provide the best possible experience for our customers, and this enhanced service is designed to unlock the true potential of your high-end cables. Read on to discover the exceptional benefits and advancements offered by the VIDAR 2 machine.
Please note: We are unable to burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. Cable burn-in occurs after your order has been processed for the selected time period. For custom-length cables, burn-in takes place after termination by the manufacturer or our skilled engineers.
The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine seamlessly combines three vital functions into a single operation:
- Neutralising charges around cables and insulation: The VIDAR 2 effectively dissipates any built-up charges, creating an optimal environment for signal transmission.
- Deep conditioning into the conductor core: With its wide band and profound conditioning capabilities, the machine induces significant changes in signal passage through the metal, resulting in enhanced performance.
- Ultrasonic surface conditioning of conductors: The VIDAR 2 employs ultrasonic technology to refine the conductor surface, further refining the signal quality.
In addition to all the advantages of its predecessor, the VIDAR 2 introduces remarkable improvements, including:
- Complex burn-in signal with wider bandwidth and richer content
- Enhanced directionality for cables
- FOUR burn-in zones - including a new digital zone for USB, Ethernet, and Coaxial (BNC) cables.
Using a proprietary blend of composite and complex signals, the VIDAR 2 ensures comprehensive cable conditioning. The signal consists of ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, surpassing video frequency ranges. The signal effectively penetrates the core at ultra-low frequencies by oscillating throughout the cable while swiftly traversing the surface at ultra-high frequencies. This transmission methodology counters harmonics and heterodynes between the two complex waveforms, improving signal performance throughout all cable layers.
Furthermore, the circuitry design boasts a unique feature that drives electrons above the conductor into the dielectric or insulation area. This process neutralizes any electrical charges that may impact the signal integrity. With the Nordost VIDAR, we go beyond merely sending ping-pong signals along the cable; we also ensure a balanced signal flow from the centre core to the outer shield in interconnect cables.
What does all this mean for you?
Conditioning your cables with the Nordost VIDAR yields remarkable benefits, including enhanced sound staging, heightened detail reproduction, and a more captivating and musical presentation.
We offer our cable burn-in service as a complimentary offering at the discretion of Future Shop. While we strive to accommodate all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to fulfill all demands due to the limited connections available on the Nordost VIDAR cable conditioning machines.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR 2 BURN-IN TREATMENT
AudioQuest Athena Speaker Cable
The AudioQuest Athena Speaker Cable is a full-range speaker cable from the Folk Hero range, designed for high-performance systems and listeners who value refinement and purity above outright scale. Athena sits above Lone Ranger in the range, keeping that cable's flexibility and relatively slim build while borrowing the core technologies of AudioQuest's flagship speaker cables. The result is a cable that is easy to route behind furniture and around equipment, yet delivers the deep, silent backgrounds and coherent presentation that let fine detail and natural decay come through cleanly.
At the heart of Athena is ZERO-Tech geometry, which removes the electrostatic field between the positive and negative conductors so that the cable has no characteristic impedance. Without that impedance, there is no mismatch with the amplifier or loudspeaker, and transient current passes through uncompressed, which is heard as sharper dynamics and a more effortless sense of attack. The conductors are 14AWG solid No-Grain Copper (NGC): solid construction avoids the interaction between strands that smears dynamics, while the near grain-free metal reduces distortion at grain boundaries. Every conductor is direction-controlled so that induced noise is drained away from the signal rather than towards it.
Noise control is a major part of the Athena design. A Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network, Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) shield drains and a 72v Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) with RF Noise-Trap work together to dissipate radio-frequency interference from Wi-Fi, mobile networks and other sources before it can cloud the sound. Biasing the insulation in this way lowers dielectric noise and makes the cable's behaviour more linear across a wide bandwidth, which helps keep the soundstage stable and the background dark. AudioQuest also applies its Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO) process during manufacture to reduce burn-in time.
Athena is finished in a blue nylon braid and terminated with cold-welded plugs, with silver applied directly over pure red copper and no solder at the joint. Breakouts and plug casings are synthetic rather than metal to avoid inducing RF noise into the conductors. Athena works as a full-range single-wire cable, or as the treble half of a bi-wire run alongside AudioQuest's dedicated BigFoot Bass-Only cable. Each pair is available in lengths from 1.5m to 4m, with a choice of banana or multi-spade terminations.
What AudioQuest say about the Athena Speaker Cable
Combining the physical flexibility and relatively small size of its more affordable sibling, Lone Ranger, with the jet-black backgrounds, top-to-bottom coherence, and seductive effortlessness of AudioQuest's finest designs, Athena stands proud among the Folk Hero range - an outstanding choice for high-performance systems, environments, and listeners that value refinement and purity over ultimate scale and sheer brute force.
Athena's design features include: Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network; ZERO-Tech for uncompressed transient current and linear noise-dissipation; 72v Dielectric-Bias System; direction-controlled No-Grain Copper (NG-C) conductors; and Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) NDS shield drains to effectively minimize damaging RF-Noise.
Athena speaker cables may be used in one of two ways: either as ideal Full-Range cables, or, in combination with their dedicated Bass-Only cable, BigFoot, in a high-performance BiWire cable assembly.
BiWiring
When a speaker has separate Bass and Treble inputs, running separate cables to the Treble and Bass inputs significantly reduces distortion. BiWiring prevents the strong bass signal from modulating the delicate treble signal, like taking the waves out of the water when you swim.
When using Athena for Treble, AudioQuest BigFoot Bass-Only is the ideal choice for running to the speakers' Bass inputs, reducing current modulation, and, even more importantly, taking RF interference off the amplifier's output. A BiWire Combo with Bass-Only and ZERO cables joined together at the amplifier is usually most convenient, though joining them is optional. When TriWiring, use Bass-Only cables on the Midrange and Bass inputs.
Do not Double-BiWire with two ZERO-Tech cables. Your amp will distort.
Almost all speakers come with Bass/Treble Jumpers that are worse than driving with a compact-spare tire. If you single-wire your speakers, please use better Jumpers. AudioQuest offers a range of excellent options starting with the affordable Bare Naked Jumpers.
- ZERO-Tech (No Characteristic Impedance): The only way to prevent characteristic-impedance mismatch-effects between a cable and its attached source and load circuits is for the cable not to have a characteristic-impedance. ZERO-Tech accomplishes this by eliminating any electrostatic field between the cable's high and low signal conductors - enabling uncompressed current transfer. All-important transient current is unrestricted and RF Noise-Dissipation is more effective and linear.
- Solid No-Grain Copper (NG-C) Conductors: Solid conductors prevent strand-interaction, a major source of dynamic distortion. No-Grain Copper dramatically minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries and maximizes RF Noise-Dissipation.
- Linear Noise-Dissipation: The Earth is permeated with RF-Noise from satellites, cellular, WiFi, etc. Athena's Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network, ZERO-Tech, direction-controlled No-Grain Copper (NG-C) conductors, 72v DBS, and Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) NDS shield drains effectively minimize damaging RF-Noise.
- 72v Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) with RF Noise-Trap: Insulation is also a dielectric that acts like a shunt-filter. Biasing the dielectric both minimizes dielectric-noise and linearizes the filter, significantly improving wide-bandwidth dissipation of induced noise.
- Perfect-Surface Silver Shield Drains: Dramatically aid the efficient dissipation of RF-Noise.
- Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO): By optimally and efficiently applying a high-frequency AC signal many times greater than any audio system could possibly provide over any length of time, transient intermodulation distortion and the cable burn-in process are significantly reduced.
- Cold-Welded Red-Copper Spades or Bananas: Cold-Welding avoids the introduction of heat and distortion-causing materials like solder. The bare parts are submerged (hung) in silver instead of tumbled in a lower-grade solution. Speaker breakouts and plug casings are synthetic, not metal, to avoid inducing RF Noise into the conductors.
- Athena speaker cables may be used in one of two ways: either as ideal Full-Range cables, or, in combination with a dedicated Bass-Only cable, BigFoot, in a high-performance BiWire cable assembly.
- Directionality: All drawn metal strands or conductors have a non-symmetrical, and therefore directional, grain structure. AudioQuest controls the resulting RF impedance variation so that noise is drained away from where it will cause distortion. A fundamental aspect of AudioQuest's multifaceted Noise-Dissipation technology, Direction-Controlled Conductors ensure induced noise is dissipated and drained properly.
Specifications
General
- Brand: AudioQuest
- Model: Athena
- Range: Folk Hero
- Type: Full-range speaker cable
- Colour: Blue nylon braid
- Sold as: Pair
- Lengths: 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 3.5m, 4m
Materials and Design
- Conductor metal: Solid No-Grain Copper (NGC)
- Gauge: 14AWG
- Conductor cross-section: 2 x 2.16mm²
- Geometry: ZERO-Tech (No Characteristic Impedance)
- RF drain metal: Solid Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS)
- Directionality: Direction-controlled conductors
- Jacket: Blue Nylon Braid
- Breakouts and plug casings: Synthetic (non-metal)
Features and Performance
- Technology: ZERO-Tech
- Noise-Dissipation: Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network
- Dielectric-Bias System: 72v DBS with RF Noise-Trap
- Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO)
- Use: Full-range, or treble cable in a bi-wire pairing with AudioQuest BigFoot Bass-Only
Connectivity
- Terminations: Banana to Banana, or Multi-Spade to Multi-Spade
- Plugs: Cold-Welded Hanging-Silver Directly Over Pure Red Copper
About AudioQuest
Californian cable maker covering analogue, digital, speaker and power cables, with patented conductor and dielectric designs.
AudioQuest is based in Irvine, California, and makes cables for nearly every connection in a system: analogue interconnects, USB, HDMI and Ethernet, speaker cables and AC power cables. Its designs come back to four ideas: solid conductors, directionality, noise dissipation and the quality of the metal.
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Conductor and metal choices come first
Solid conductors and metal quality are two of the ideas AudioQuest returns to across its range. HyperLitz, a conductor construction patented in 1988, is another. Directionality, the principle that a cable is built to carry signal in one direction, is the fourth.
Noise is treated as a separate design problem
AudioQuest lists its noise-dissipation technologies as ZERO-Tech, RF/ND-Tech and the Dielectric-Bias System, which was patented in 2004. They are applied alongside the conductor work rather than in place of it, and which ones a cable carries depends on the model and its price.
One brand across the whole system
AudioQuest also makes AC power cables, Niagara and PowerQuest power conditioners and DragonFly DACs alongside its analogue, digital and speaker cables. If you are building or upgrading a system, that means every cable in the chain, and the power feeding it, can come from one design approach.
Why we stock AudioQuest
We took AudioQuest on for HDMI. When the 1.4 spec arrived in 2009 they were the first supplier who could actually get the cables to us, at a point when almost nobody could. The power cables turned out to be just as good, and they are now a bigger part of what we sell than the HDMI ever was.
Specifications
General
- Brand: AudioQuest
- Model: Athena
- Range: Folk Hero
- Type: Full-range speaker cable
- Colour: Blue nylon braid
- Sold as: Pair
- Lengths: 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 3.5m, 4m
Materials and Design
- Conductor metal: Solid No-Grain Copper (NGC)
- Gauge: 14AWG
- Conductor cross-section: 2 x 2.16mm²
- Geometry: ZERO-Tech (No Characteristic Impedance)
- RF drain metal: Solid Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS)
- Directionality: Direction-controlled conductors
- Jacket: Blue Nylon Braid
- Breakouts and plug casings: Synthetic (non-metal)
Features and Performance
- Technology: ZERO-Tech
- Noise-Dissipation: Graphene+Carbon Mesh-Network
- Dielectric-Bias System: 72v DBS with RF Noise-Trap
- Permanent Molecular Optimization (PMO)
- Use: Full-range, or treble cable in a bi-wire pairing with AudioQuest BigFoot Bass-Only
Connectivity
- Terminations: Banana to Banana, or Multi-Spade to Multi-Spade
- Plugs: Cold-Welded Hanging-Silver Directly Over Pure Red Copper
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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AudioQuest Athena Speaker 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
Free Premium Cable Burn-In Service: Experience the Power of Nordost VIDAR 2 Machine
We are thrilled to unveil our upgraded cable burn-in service, now featuring the cutting-edge VIDAR 2 burn-in machine. At Future Shop, we strive to provide the best possible experience for our customers, and this enhanced service is designed to unlock the true potential of your high-end cables. Read on to discover the exceptional benefits and advancements offered by the VIDAR 2 machine.
Please note: We are unable to burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. Cable burn-in occurs after your order has been processed for the selected time period. For custom-length cables, burn-in takes place after termination by the manufacturer or our skilled engineers.
The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine seamlessly combines three vital functions into a single operation:
- Neutralising charges around cables and insulation: The VIDAR 2 effectively dissipates any built-up charges, creating an optimal environment for signal transmission.
- Deep conditioning into the conductor core: With its wide band and profound conditioning capabilities, the machine induces significant changes in signal passage through the metal, resulting in enhanced performance.
- Ultrasonic surface conditioning of conductors: The VIDAR 2 employs ultrasonic technology to refine the conductor surface, further refining the signal quality.
In addition to all the advantages of its predecessor, the VIDAR 2 introduces remarkable improvements, including:
- Complex burn-in signal with wider bandwidth and richer content
- Enhanced directionality for cables
- FOUR burn-in zones - including a new digital zone for USB, Ethernet, and Coaxial (BNC) cables.
Using a proprietary blend of composite and complex signals, the VIDAR 2 ensures comprehensive cable conditioning. The signal consists of ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, surpassing video frequency ranges. The signal effectively penetrates the core at ultra-low frequencies by oscillating throughout the cable while swiftly traversing the surface at ultra-high frequencies. This transmission methodology counters harmonics and heterodynes between the two complex waveforms, improving signal performance throughout all cable layers.
Furthermore, the circuitry design boasts a unique feature that drives electrons above the conductor into the dielectric or insulation area. This process neutralizes any electrical charges that may impact the signal integrity. With the Nordost VIDAR, we go beyond merely sending ping-pong signals along the cable; we also ensure a balanced signal flow from the centre core to the outer shield in interconnect cables.
What does all this mean for you?
Conditioning your cables with the Nordost VIDAR yields remarkable benefits, including enhanced sound staging, heightened detail reproduction, and a more captivating and musical presentation.
We offer our cable burn-in service as a complimentary offering at the discretion of Future Shop. While we strive to accommodate all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to fulfill all demands due to the limited connections available on the Nordost VIDAR cable conditioning machines.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR 2 BURN-IN TREATMENT
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AudioQuest Athena Speaker Cable
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