CCZT Paper
Decade Paper
Consonant Alloy Paper
The Science of Cable Design, Part I
The Science of Cable Design, Part II
The Science of Cable Design, Part III
The Science of Cable Design, Part IV

DECADE-Rectangular Solid-Core Speaker Cables & Interconnects
The new RSC DECADE^TM series of speaker cables and interconnects marks our ten-year anniversary in audio cable design and manufacturing.
Background: Since the success and introduction of the Phase II Speaker Cable, TARA Labs has utilized separately insulated solid-core conductors for the construction of TARA Labs cables. In 1991, TARA Labs released the highly acclaimed Rectangular Solid-Core series of cables which became regarded by the audio industry as the dominant technology in high-end cables.
The new Gen 2 RSC Conductor: The DECADE uses the newer, smaller, more frequency linear rectangular conductors (0.18 square mm) which are made from Consonant Alloy. The new "Generation 2" RSC conductor measures 0.0025" x 0.0011" and is the world's only Consonant Alloy extruded rectangular conductor.*
Consonant Alloy: Consonant Alloy is the most highly conductive copper alloy available.
[Cross sections]
New Gen 2 RSC conductor with Consonant Alloy^TM First Generation RSC conductor (1 square mm)
Consonant Alloy's advantage is the proprietary trace elements which actually increase the conductivity within the crystal junctions in the conductor. In traditional copper conductors, these junctions between the crystals result in internal oxidation. These oxidized crystal junctions are electrical discontinuities which act as diodes, inhibiting the flow of electrical current. Furthermore, because they are frequency dependent they contribute to losses of linearity with frequency. In Consonant Alloy, these problems are eliminated due to the increased conductivity between the crystal junctions.
Rectangular vs. Round: The Gen 2 RSC conductors, which are approximately 24 AWG (0.18 square mm) each, have lower inductive reactance as compared to a 24 AWG round conductor equivalent. Because of their rectangular shape they have inductive reactance more like a round 30 AWG conductor. Consequently, they have more current carrying capability together with higher linearity with frequency.
Rectangular vs Ribbon: Ribbon conductors are milled and/or applied like a film to a layer of dielectric material such as mylar. Rectangular Solid-Core conductors are extruded conductors which maintain their long crystal structure, conductivity and linearity with frequency.
* These conductors are also used in RSC Master Generation 2 audio cables.
Proven Testing: The Constant Current Impedance Test developed at TARA Labs is a proven and repeatable testing methodology for determining the linearity with frequency of audio cable conductors. CCZT (Constant Current Impedance Testing) provides frequency versus impedance comparison of audio cable conductors in the audio band.
[Graph: RSC vs. round]
The graph above shows the rising impedance with frequency of two different conductors. In the above test, we measured two conductors of the same wire gauge size but having different shape, one being round and one being rectangular. Because the rectangular conductor has less flux density at its center, it has lower inductive reactance and thereby lower impedance at AC frequencies in the audio band as shown.
Measurements of new Gen 2 RSC Conductor: The new RSC conductor made of Consonant Alloy (0.18 square mm) used in the RSC Decade, Master Gen 2 and Reference Gen 2 products is even more linear with frequency than the first generation RSC conductor (1 square mm).
[Graph: RSC Gen 2]
Speaker Cable - Configuration: In the DECADE Speaker Cable, 24 of these separately insulated conductors (equivalent to an 11 AWG/4 square mm conductor) are helixed around a Teflon tube. The separate positive and negative runs each have 24 Gen 2 RSC conductors as shown below.
[Speaker cable cross-section]
Random Conductor alignment: Due to the fact that the individual rectangular conductors do not align with each other, plate to plate or edge to edge, they are uniquely decoupled from each other. This contributes to the very low inductance of the cable design (A). See box below.

[Electromagnetic field
coupling]
Conductors of like polarity aligned plate to plate (B) or edge to edge (C) have higher inductive reactance due to their electromagnetic coupling causing roll-off of higher frequencies. Example (B) has more coupling of electromagnetic lines of force (flux) than example (C).
Speaker Cable - Construction: In the DECADE Speaker Cable, 24 conductors are helixed around a Teflon air tube. Each conductor is separately insulated in Aerospace Polyethylene, a chemically stabilized polymer which has high dielectric strength and low dielectric absorption. The combination of air, Teflon and Aerospace Polyethylene provides the most neutral and transparent dielectric materials available.
Interconnect Cable - Configuration: In the DECADE Interconnect Cable, two separately insulated conductors (positive and negative) are spaced on opposite sides and are helixed around a Teflon tube.
[Interconnect cross-section]
Interconnect Cable - Construction: In the DECADE Interconnect, two conductors are helixed around a Teflon air tube. Each conductor is separately insulated in Aerospace Polyethylene, a chemically stabilized polymer which has high dielectric strength and low dielectric absorption. The conductors are spaced around the central Teflon air tube, using smaller Teflon tubes as shown. Teflon binding tapes are used to hold the construction together before a pure copper shield is braided around the cable. The combination of air, Teflon and Aerospace Polyethylene provides the most neutral and transparent dielectric materials available.

LCR Measurements:

Interconnect Speaker Cable
Inductance/ft. 0.001 mH 0.0002 mH
Capacitance/ft. 17.0 pF 8.0 pF
Resistance/ft. 0.05 ohm 0.0036 ohm
NOTE: Above measurements are from tests conducted 3/19/96 and supersede all previously published LCR specs.