AudioQuest FLX/SLiP 14/4 DB CL3/FT4 Certified Speaker Cable
Usage Guide
Amplifier
Speakers
Connection Guide
Spade
Banana
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Item code: AQ FLX/SLiP
Inc. VAT (20%) · Ex. VAT: £10.00 Ex. VAT · Inc. VAT (20%):
Lowest price in the last 30 days:
Request to Price Match
If you've seen a better offer for this product, we will endeavour to match it. The competing offer must be on brand-new boxed items, and in stock from another UK Online Authorised Retailer (excluding marketplaces). Price match quotations are valid for 7 days.
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
AudioQuest FLX/SLiP 14/4 Speaker Cable
This is AudioQuest's new and improved award-winning FLX/SLiP speaker cable designed for both indoor and outdoor use, utilising AudioQuest's advanced all weather outer PVC jacket, now with CL3/FT4 certification.
For those who are on a budget but require a high performance cable, the AudioQuest FLX/SLiP is the perfect choice. We highly recommend you opt for our free cable burn-in service before shipping as this will fully optimise the performance of the cable.
Sometimes, pulling cable can be a real pain! AudioQuest's new FLX/SLiP series of in-wall speaker cables has been designed to make your life at least a little easier. While there is no perfectly slippery cable, AudioQuest believe that the materials and shape used for FLX/SLiP are at the forefront, making these the most slippery cables possible.
SLiP 14/4 features Semi-Solid Concentric Packed conductors that reduce harshness and confusion. Long-Grain Copper (LGC) has less grain junctions and lower distortion which preserves clarity and naturlness. SLiP 14/4's low-Inductance Spiral Geometry minimizes the sound going out-of-focus as length increases. The EasySLiP Minimalist Outer Jacket is UL-Rated for in-wall use (CL3, FT4).
Semi-Solid Concentric Packed Conductors :
In a conventional multi-strand cable, distortion caused by electrical and magnetic strand interaction is compounded as each strand changes position within the bundle. In an AQ Semi-Solid Concentric Packed cable, strands within the bundle maintain their fixed relationships, significantly reducing distortion.
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"If you're looking for a cable that does finesse and subtlety just as well as dynamic heft and punch, this is it." Best Speaker Cable - What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision Awards 2012 / 2013 |
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|
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"Who among us hasn't cursed a cable for being too sturdy to turn a tight corner in a kit rack? Well AudioQuest’s flexible (FLX) and easy-to-pull-through-walls (SLiP) wire makes that kind of thing a doddle. But how easy is it to listen to? A quick spin of Tortoise’s solid debut set – called Tortoise, imaginatively enough – and the 14/4 conveys a balanced, well-organised sound that never lets its rhythmic grip waver and renders leading edges with precision and grace." (Read more) What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision - October 2013 |
Specification :
- Please note, you need to enter a quantity of 2 for a pair
- RED & WHITE together for RED terminals
- BLACK and GREEN together for BLACK terminals.
- Conductor: Semi-Solid Concentric Packing
- Gauge: 4x 14AWG (2x 11AWG)
- Metal: Long-Grain Copper (LGC)
- Jacket: Dark Grey with Red stripe or Pearl White with Light Grey stripe
- CL3 & FT4 certified for in-wall use
- Advanced all weather outer PVC jacket
- Lifetime Warranty
Elite Reference Series Plugs: Next-Level Audio Connectivity
The Elite Reference AirTite plugs offer significant advantages over traditional screw-based speaker cable plugs. Unlike screw designs, which may loosen over time and potentially impact the connection and sound quality, the Elite Reference plugs use a cold-weld method to create a secure and reliable bond between the cable and the plug. This helps maintain consistent performance and minimises signal loss, supporting clear and high-quality audio. With a ferrule-free design for direct signal transfer, beryllium copper cores, and 24K gold plating, they are engineered for enhanced conductivity and long-lasting durability. The addition of protective metal barrels further reinforces their professional-grade construction, making them an excellent choice for those who value dependable audio connections.
The Elite Reference plugs are engineered with additional advantages that make them stand out:
- AirTite Ferrule-Free Design - Unlike traditional plugs that use ferrules, the Elite Reference plugs opt for direct conductor-to-plug contact, removing any potential barriers to signal transfer. Featuring four different inlet sizes, these plugs are perfectly tailored to fit various cable gauges with a cold-weld, air-tight design, that eliminates soldering, reduces resistance, prevents oxidation, and enhances durability.
- Beryllium Copper Core with 24K Gold Plating - The banana plugs feature a beryllium copper core, known for its exceptional mechanical strength and conductivity. This material resists corrosion and retains its shape, maintaining a tight and reliable connection over time. The 24K gold plating ensures a smooth, high-quality signal path while adding durability for years of consistent performance.
- Dual Functionality - Designed as BFA and banana plug compatible the Elite Reference banana plugs provide greater versatility, making them suitable for a broader range of speaker terminals. This added functionality ensures compatibility with high-end Hi-Fi setups and equipment.
- Silver Core Spade Plugs with Metal Barrel Protection - The spade plugs in the Elite Reference Series incorporate a silver base plated with 24K gold, offering superior conductivity compared to many alternatives. Unlike other spade plugs, the Elite Reference spades also include a durable metal outer barrel, providing additional protection and a premium finish.
- The Elite Reference plugs are manufactured in Taiwan, a region renowned for its precision engineering and high-quality manufacturing standards. This ensures that every plug is built to exact specifications, offering exceptional consistency, reliability, and performance.
How to Order
From the dropdown menus' above, simply select the length of cable, the type of plugs required at the ‘Amplifier end’ and ‘Speaker end’ and click on the 'Add to Basket' button to add the item to your basket. Your cable will be dispatched as soon as it has been made by Future Shop's or the manufacturer’s engineers and has completed the specified burn-in process (if any), subject to Future Shop’s Terms & Conditions and stock availability.
About AudioQuest
AudioQuest has been the largest cable supplier to the high-end specialist market for many years. AudioQuest is sold in several hundred outlets in the US and in over sixty countries. Bill Lowe (Founder) is especially pleased that this success has been possible despite his insistence that the foundation of the company, and the foundation of AudioQuest marketing, must be the performance of the product. In the audio world, many professionals have learned that it is not always convenient to listen to the products they sell … they might learn something they don’t want to know! Bill has always understood the challenge of basing the existence of AudioQuest on the performance of the product. However, to Bill, this is the only reasonable way to do business and the only acceptable way to combine his passion for music (and all things high performance), with his need to make a living.
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.
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 :
- Please note, you need to enter a quantity of 2 for a pair
- Conductor: Semi-Solid Concentric Packing
- Gauge: 4x 14AWG (2x 11AWG)
- Metal: Long-Grain Copper (LGC)
- Jacket: Dark Grey with Red stripe or Pearl White with Light Grey stripe
- CL3 & FT4 certified for in-wall use
- Advanced all weather outer PVC jacket
- Lifetime Warranty
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
AudioQuest FLX/SLiP 14/4 Speaker Cable
This is AudioQuest's new and improved award-winning FLX/SLiP speaker cable designed for both indoor and outdoor use, utilising AudioQuest's advanced all weather outer PVC jacket, now with CL3/FT4 certification.
For those who are on a budget but require a high performance cable, the AudioQuest FLX/SLiP is the perfect choice. We highly recommend you opt for our free cable burn-in service before shipping as this will fully optimise the performance of the cable.
Sometimes, pulling cable can be a real pain! AudioQuest's new FLX/SLiP series of in-wall speaker cables has been designed to make your life at least a little easier. While there is no perfectly slippery cable, AudioQuest believe that the materials and shape used for FLX/SLiP are at the forefront, making these the most slippery cables possible.
SLiP 14/4 features Semi-Solid Concentric Packed conductors that reduce harshness and confusion. Long-Grain Copper (LGC) has less grain junctions and lower distortion which preserves clarity and naturlness. SLiP 14/4's low-Inductance Spiral Geometry minimizes the sound going out-of-focus as length increases. The EasySLiP Minimalist Outer Jacket is UL-Rated for in-wall use (CL3, FT4).
Semi-Solid Concentric Packed Conductors :
In a conventional multi-strand cable, distortion caused by electrical and magnetic strand interaction is compounded as each strand changes position within the bundle. In an AQ Semi-Solid Concentric Packed cable, strands within the bundle maintain their fixed relationships, significantly reducing distortion.
|
|
|
"If you're looking for a cable that does finesse and subtlety just as well as dynamic heft and punch, this is it." Best Speaker Cable - What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision Awards 2012 / 2013 |
|
|
|
"Who among us hasn't cursed a cable for being too sturdy to turn a tight corner in a kit rack? Well AudioQuest’s flexible (FLX) and easy-to-pull-through-walls (SLiP) wire makes that kind of thing a doddle. But how easy is it to listen to? A quick spin of Tortoise’s solid debut set – called Tortoise, imaginatively enough – and the 14/4 conveys a balanced, well-organised sound that never lets its rhythmic grip waver and renders leading edges with precision and grace." (Read more) What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision - October 2013 |
Specification :
- Please note, you need to enter a quantity of 2 for a pair
- RED & WHITE together for RED terminals
- BLACK and GREEN together for BLACK terminals.
- Conductor: Semi-Solid Concentric Packing
- Gauge: 4x 14AWG (2x 11AWG)
- Metal: Long-Grain Copper (LGC)
- Jacket: Dark Grey with Red stripe or Pearl White with Light Grey stripe
- CL3 & FT4 certified for in-wall use
- Advanced all weather outer PVC jacket
- Lifetime Warranty
Elite Reference Series Plugs: Next-Level Audio Connectivity
The Elite Reference AirTite plugs offer significant advantages over traditional screw-based speaker cable plugs. Unlike screw designs, which may loosen over time and potentially impact the connection and sound quality, the Elite Reference plugs use a cold-weld method to create a secure and reliable bond between the cable and the plug. This helps maintain consistent performance and minimises signal loss, supporting clear and high-quality audio. With a ferrule-free design for direct signal transfer, beryllium copper cores, and 24K gold plating, they are engineered for enhanced conductivity and long-lasting durability. The addition of protective metal barrels further reinforces their professional-grade construction, making them an excellent choice for those who value dependable audio connections.
The Elite Reference plugs are engineered with additional advantages that make them stand out:
- AirTite Ferrule-Free Design - Unlike traditional plugs that use ferrules, the Elite Reference plugs opt for direct conductor-to-plug contact, removing any potential barriers to signal transfer. Featuring four different inlet sizes, these plugs are perfectly tailored to fit various cable gauges with a cold-weld, air-tight design, that eliminates soldering, reduces resistance, prevents oxidation, and enhances durability.
- Beryllium Copper Core with 24K Gold Plating - The banana plugs feature a beryllium copper core, known for its exceptional mechanical strength and conductivity. This material resists corrosion and retains its shape, maintaining a tight and reliable connection over time. The 24K gold plating ensures a smooth, high-quality signal path while adding durability for years of consistent performance.
- Dual Functionality - Designed as BFA and banana plug compatible the Elite Reference banana plugs provide greater versatility, making them suitable for a broader range of speaker terminals. This added functionality ensures compatibility with high-end Hi-Fi setups and equipment.
- Silver Core Spade Plugs with Metal Barrel Protection - The spade plugs in the Elite Reference Series incorporate a silver base plated with 24K gold, offering superior conductivity compared to many alternatives. Unlike other spade plugs, the Elite Reference spades also include a durable metal outer barrel, providing additional protection and a premium finish.
- The Elite Reference plugs are manufactured in Taiwan, a region renowned for its precision engineering and high-quality manufacturing standards. This ensures that every plug is built to exact specifications, offering exceptional consistency, reliability, and performance.
How to Order
From the dropdown menus' above, simply select the length of cable, the type of plugs required at the ‘Amplifier end’ and ‘Speaker end’ and click on the 'Add to Basket' button to add the item to your basket. Your cable will be dispatched as soon as it has been made by Future Shop's or the manufacturer’s engineers and has completed the specified burn-in process (if any), subject to Future Shop’s Terms & Conditions and stock availability.
About AudioQuest
AudioQuest has been the largest cable supplier to the high-end specialist market for many years. AudioQuest is sold in several hundred outlets in the US and in over sixty countries. Bill Lowe (Founder) is especially pleased that this success has been possible despite his insistence that the foundation of the company, and the foundation of AudioQuest marketing, must be the performance of the product. In the audio world, many professionals have learned that it is not always convenient to listen to the products they sell … they might learn something they don’t want to know! Bill has always understood the challenge of basing the existence of AudioQuest on the performance of the product. However, to Bill, this is the only reasonable way to do business and the only acceptable way to combine his passion for music (and all things high performance), with his need to make a living.
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.
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 :
- Please note, you need to enter a quantity of 2 for a pair
- Conductor: Semi-Solid Concentric Packing
- Gauge: 4x 14AWG (2x 11AWG)
- Metal: Long-Grain Copper (LGC)
- Jacket: Dark Grey with Red stripe or Pearl White with Light Grey stripe
- CL3 & FT4 certified for in-wall use
- Advanced all weather outer PVC jacket
- Lifetime Warranty
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.
Write Your Own Review
AudioQuest FLX/SLiP 14/4 DB CL3/FT4 Certified Speaker Cable
We are interested in your opinion of this product. let us and other customers know how you feel by filling in the comment field below. Your review will appear in this section within 3 working days.
Please do:
- - Write 50-300 words for the product
- - Comment on the products value and effectiveness
- - Tell us if you like the product, but most importantly explain why you like or dislike it
- - Mention related products and how this one rates by comparison
These AudioQuest speaker cables receive nearly universal praise for exceptional value at their price point. Customers consistently report noticeable audio improvements including enhanced detail, clarity, tighter bass control, and richer soundstage compared to budget alternatives. Build quality is frequently commended, with customers highlighting the robust 14AWG gauge, durable construction, professional terminations (banana plugs and spades), and attractive grey sheathing with red stripe. Flexibility and ease of installation are noted as practical advantages. Futureshop's service receives repeated acclaim for prompt delivery, professional cable termination, complimentary burn-in options, and polite customer support. One customer mentioned high bass and boominess; another noted treble appeared slightly laid back initially, expecting improvement with further burn-in. A small minority observed minimal sonic differences from their previous cables, though they remained satisfied with build quality and service. No significant recurring negative themes emerged across reviews.
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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Write Your Own Review
AudioQuest FLX/SLiP 14/4 DB CL3/FT4 Certified Speaker Cable
We are interested in your opinion of this product. let us and other customers know how you feel by filling in the comment field below. Your review will appear in this section within 3 working days.
Please do:
- - Write 50-300 words for the product
- - Comment on the products value and effectiveness
- - Tell us if you like the product, but most importantly explain why you like or dislike it
- - Mention related products and how this one rates by comparison
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