Atlas Cables announces improvements to its reference cable – the Ascent Ultra
Atlas Cables, the world renowned audio cable manufacturer, is excited to announce that its new updated Ascent Ultra interconnect cable and Ascent XLR are available from today. Hand-built at its factory in Kilmarnock, Scotland, the Atlas Ascent Ultra interconnect cable is available now with a UK SRP of £575 for a meter pair. Other lengths are available upon request.
What has improved?
Atlas wanted to apply new knowledge when updating the already successful Ascent Symmetrical interconnect. As well as building on the acknowledged success of the existing Integra plug, which uses a clever design that significantly reduces the plug mass and eliminates potential negative eddy currents that reside in all metallic plugs and connectors, Atlas also wanted to make the cable more efficient and ‘faster’ in its performance.
Velocity of Propagation
The speed characteristic of analogue cables is determined primarily by the dielectric performance of the insulator applied around the conductor. Depending on the design and purity of the conductor, which in the Ascent Ultra is made of a single solid core surrounded by 64 interwoven strands of superior Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) grain-free copper, getting the design of the dielectric right is critical in achieving the desired product fidelity. For the Ascent Ultra, Atlas uses a highly efficient Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), which is extruded around the bare OCC copper conductors in a thermally stable manner. This process allows the required geometry of the conductor within the dielectric to be maintained and offers greater manufacturing consistency and wider bandwidth.
Ultra Plug
This new plug employs a novel approach to the problems associated with mass reduction, residual conductivity (eddy currents) and dielectric discontinuities, all of which can affect the mechanical and electrical properties of a finished cable assembly. The all-new Ascent Ultra plug has a 57% reduction in mass over its predecessor and employs an internal non-conductive sleeve closely matched to the dielectric properties of the cable. As with all Atlas plugs, the Ultra plug maintains the renowned solder free construction, self-cleaning insertion and material consistency that helps deliver the best fidelity.
The integration of new cable and plug technology delivers Atlas’ finest copper-conductor cable to date. Rather than having an audible characteristic, the best cables should add nothing to the signal. In the case of the Atlas Ascent Ultra, thanks to the technology and new thinking, virtually none of the signal is lost either.
Commenting on the launch of the Ascent Ultra, Kevin Kelly, Managing Director at Atlas, said, “We are in a state of constant research and development here at Atlas. The new Ascent Ultra cable employs many of the advancements made in the Asimi and Mavros Ultra launched over the last year. Our advancements in dielectrics and RFI management along with our unique Ultra connector ensure that the new Ascent Ultra is a significant leap forward in sound quality over its predecessor.”
The Atlas Ascent Ultra is available in the following lengths:
Ascent Ultra RCA connector termination:
5 meter £505.00
75 meter £540.00
0 meter £575.00
5 meter £645.00
2 meter £715.00
