FutureShop is an authorised dealer for AudioQuest. This article is based on a first-hand visit to AudioQuest's facility in Roosendaal, Netherlands, by members of the FutureShop team. Read Part 2 of the visit here.
Our Verdict
The progression from unbranded cable through the AudioQuest speaker cable range was one of the clearest demonstrations of how cable quality compounds: each step up the range brought a more open, more musical presentation, with the Robin Hood ZERO making the drop back to X2 feel like a genuine loss rather than simply a reduction in detail.
Quick Take
- The demonstration ran four cables in ascending order on B&W 702 Signature speakers with Primare amplification: X2 (stranded, entry), Type 5 (solid PSC+ with Star-Quad geometry and carbon noise dissipation), Type 9+DBS (heavier PSC+ conductors with a Dielectric-Bias System pack), and Robin Hood ZERO (DBS plus ZERO-Tech noise cancellation via separate twisted pairs with their own multi-layer dissipation).
- AudioQuest burns in cables at their Roosendaal facility before they reach retailers, meaning AudioQuest cables arrive part-burned rather than needing the full factory burn-in period from new.
- The Type 5 and above all use solid conductors. Solid does not simply mean better: solid cores tend to produce a cleaner, more polished sound, while stranded cables can be punchier. AudioQuest's preference for solid core reflects their goal in audio reproduction.
- The Robin Hood ZERO is named for its ZERO-Tech noise cancellation, which uses drain wires alongside two separate twisted conductor pairs, each with its own multi-layer noise dissipation, to minimise interference without sacrificing musicality.
- The visit was Day 1 of two. Day 2 covered HDMI cable comparisons, Noise Stopper Caps, and Fog Lifters, covered in Part 2 of this report.
Was it Michael Caine who said, "There are only two things I can't stand in this world: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch"?
Fortunately, we only align with one of his criteria. AudioQuest and FutureShop are practically married, so we agreed it was only right that we actually meet each other. We flew out early (too early) from Luton to spend a couple of days at the Roosendaal outfit and see how they do things Dutch style.
The trip was all about building bridges and – more excitingly – experiencing AudioQuest's weapons of noise reduction.
A warm and welcoming Richard (the boss) and Sander (the other one) collected our weary team from the train station and brought us in. After a coffee strong enough to wake Rip Van Winkle, we were about ready to tour AudioQuest's rather 'gezellig' (loosely translating to 'a wonderful vibe in the place' – pronounce the g's with that sound you made the first time you ever drank window cleaner) facility.
Day 1: Touring the AudioQuest Facility: Cable Manufacturing the Dutch Way
Day 1 took us through the sales office – a most gezellig environment, indeed. The team, whose distant, nameless voices we hear on the phone, now have very affable faces. Observing the sales team in their natural environment, we see a helpful and efficient operation that'll make us think twice the next time we're jumping up and down, demanding, 'Where's our order!?' This team makes getting hold of our stock a breeze, and an occasional disturbance in the force is inevitable.
After acquainting ourselves with our new Dutch family, Bob (he is the conduit between sales and production) escorted us to the warehouse to view a vast chamber of audio-enhancing equipment. On one shelf alone, we counted at least 500 Niagara 3000 power conditioners – a street value of over £1.7M (as we know, these are extremely popular units). Slap in the middle of the warehouse was another important piece of equipment – a dartboard – proving that all work and no play makes Jacobus a dull boy (Bob, bashfully, denies using it all that much).
What Makes AudioQuest Cables Special: Burn-In, Quality, and More
You know, burning-in cables makes them sound their best, right? (a service that FutureShop includes on premium cables, I might add.) Well, AudioQuest has an entire room dedicated to this alchemic practice. AudioQuest cables are factory burned-in before even reaching retailers, quickening the time you get to enjoy your cables.
There was still much to see, and tomorrow is another day, but today our next treat was the demonstration . . .
AudioQuest Speaker Cable Demo: Listening Test from X2 to Robin Hood
Listening to hi-fi on an empty stomach is never a good idea – you cannot have any belly noise smearing the sound. So, a generous lunch selection of the best handmade sandwiches we ever tasted prepared us for the main event.
Jon (our AudioQuest man in England) was present to guide us up through a range of AudioQuest speaker cables: X2, Type 5, Type 9+DBS, and Robin Hood ZERO. To showcase this range across different price points (X2 starts around £100, and Robin Hood exceeds twelve times that), Jon used a modest but outstanding combination comprising B&W 702 Signature speakers and a Primare pre/power amplifier: A35.2s and PRE 35. The first piece of test music was Beat Kitty's Song of the Sirens, music that won't let you doze off after skipping last night's sleep – it's heavy, demanding, and keeps your ears and eyes fully open (it's poignant knowing that in Greek myth, the Song of the Sirens was sung to lure sailors to their doom). We needed that.
For the full experience, we connected some unbranded 42-strand. As expected, we already yearned to switch to the AudioQuest X2 before the song reached its midpoint. Doing that immediately tightened the imaging and smoothed out the cacophony. Still, with a system of this calibre, we were eager to move further up.
Comparing AudioQuest Cables: X2 vs Type 5 vs Type 9+DBS vs Robin Hood
The Type 5 costs more than twice as much, but does it offer twice the performance? For your money, you get both solid PSC+ (perfect surface copper+) conductors to prevent strand interaction and distortion, coupled with LGC (Long-Grain Copper), carbon noise dissipation (which reduces RF noise), and 'Star-Quad' geometry (to inhibit EMI noise). That's a significant number of upgrades.
We had the same AudioQuest sound with much clearer transient detail. For example, the hi-hats were cast out wide in the B&W 702's soundstage; the horn resonated with Sirenian vibrance. This was a far more musical cable. One that seemed worthy of the system, but there were still two more rungs to climb.
As expected, the Type 9+DBS has a similar construction to Type 5, although ours had the DBS pack (Dielectric-Bias System) added. If you are uninitiated, these units apply a charge to cable dielectrics to reduce signal loss caused by the dielectric insulating material; it also drains noise into an RF trap. What sets Type 5 and 9 apart is Type 9's heavier conductors switching the LGC with more of that PSC+ (this increases mass and lowers resistance), premium plugs and multi-layer carbon-based dissipation. What is the endgame of all these technologies?
The sound got larger and better integrated. The menacing Song of the Sirens lured our ship closer to the rocks. That was when Robin Hood stepped in.
Robin Hood also wields DBS packs but adds AudioQuest's 'ZERO-Tech', a noise cancellation technique using drain wires. The conductors are now separated into two twisted pairs, and this time, each pair has its own multi-layer noise dissipation.
If the sound was smooth before, Robin Hood made it slick like oil and nicely rounded. The bass weight seemed heavier with more control and better low-end transients.
How Premium Audio Cables Impact Sound: What We Heard
After having our senses wonderfully abused by Beat Kitty's musical cruelty, we were ready to switch the music to something prettier – Lady Blackbird's Fix it – and hear the song in all its delicate depth. The Robin Hood was already connected, so we experienced Lady's graceful piece at its best before dropping back to plain old X2 (sometimes you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone).
Fix It – a minimalist, hi-fi staple jazz piece – has those vital ingredients we all listen for: glassy, profound piano, rich-textured acoustic bass and delicate vocal execution – a scopious mix to fill the room. We listened blissfully to the song and got acquainted with its qualities. Lekker! (That means tasty.) Then Jon pulled the rug out from under it.
Back down to the AudioQuest X2, which impressed us earlier, we missed what the Robin Hood ZERO had done so well. Bass seemed muffled, the piano duller, and vocals weaker. The music was thinner overall. The obvious lesson was that we were spoiled. We'd tasted Bollinger and finished with Prosecco.
Solid vs Stranded Conductors: What You Need to Know About Audio Cables
If anything, our understanding of what you get from climbing up a range of audio cables was established. Above all, you get clarity. Then comes definition, scale and a gentle smoothing over.
It is worth noting that the Type 5 and above are all solid conductor cables, while the X2 uses stranded conductors. Don't be confused – solid does not necessarily mean better – solid conductor cables tend to produce a cleaner, more polished sound, whereas stranded cables can be punchier and more assertive. AudioQuest generally prefers solid core to achieve its goals in audio reproduction. They did well to soften the characteristically forward sound of the B&W / Primare system without losing detail or musicality. As they say at AudioQuest: 'Do no harm!'
The session was a success, but looking at the setup at the opposite end of the listening room – a Magico speaker and Riviera amplifier combination – the best was yet to come . . .
Eet smakelijk: Wrapping Up with Dutch Hospitality
That means dig in! Those kind-hearted Dutch folk – not only did they treat our ears, they treated our taste buds, too. Dinner was at 18:00. We arrived, ungraciously, at 18:10, but that's okay – we were in the Netherlands – anything goes (we've heard). After a few drinks, some chit-chat, and weak attempts at learning the language, we took ourselves to bed in readiness for part 2.
Disclaimer: Being half a Dutchman, please understand that any cultural appropriation in this article is entirely intentional.
Continue to Part 2: HDMI cables, Noise Stopper Caps, and Fog Lifters.
Browse the full AudioQuest speaker cable range at FutureShop, available with our 60-day money-back guarantee on cables and free cable burn-in service. Get in touch with our team if you have questions about any AudioQuest product.
