Isotek EVO3 Ascension Power Cable
The first time we plugged this cable in - we were absolutely gob smacked about what we all heard... The Ascension is a great example of how a well-designed, shielded cable can take a system up a notch in musical performance.
ISOTEK EVO3 ASCENSION Power Cable
Some people question why it’s worth spending money on the final couple of meters of power cabling, when the electricity available from a wall socket has already travelled miles to get to that point.
Firstly - standard kettle power cables are generally not shielded - so they can be emitting EMI and RF into surrounding electronic equipment.
Also - the fact is, those final meters are critical. An ordinary ‘kettle lead’ like those supplied free with hi-fi components contains only rudimentary conductors and connectors – the bare minimum to ensure the item works. Cables like these act as aerials to EMI/RFI, which affects the performance of audio equipment, and are not built to maintain electrical integrity to the standard required for high-quality audio reproduction.
This is important because mains electricity is the raw material from which the audio signal that drives your speakers is fashioned. If the electricity powering your audio equipment is affected by noise, the sound waves that reach your ears will suffer from consequential distortion.
A high-quality audio power cable is tailor-made to suit the current requirements of audio equipment, from source components to power amps, with special high-current cables for big, current-hungry amps. They are also designed to protect the integrity of the electricity they carry, minimising distortion and preventing the ingress of EMI/RFI. A simple A/B listening test between a standard ‘kettle lead’ and a specialised audio power cable like those made by IsoTek shows the difference this simple upgrade can make.
Of course, if you really want to maximise your system’s performance, you should consider one of IsoTek’s award- winning power conditioners. But if you do, don’t forget the cables; running a high-quality mains conditioner without power cables of sufficient quality is tantamount to mopping the floor then walking on it with muddy shoes.
Not all cables are created equal
Cable design – be it interconnect, loudspeaker or power – must consider conductor purity, dielectric specification, geometry of the overall assembly and termination. Performance reduction comes in various forms – in signal- carrying cables, it manifests as a relatively benign loss of information or a tonal change to the character of the music. In power cables, restrictions occur due to poor conductivity, impure copper, low conductor size and inadequate dielectric choices, especially when combined with cheap termination using low-grade brass.
IsoTek power cables pay deep consideration to all areas of design and construction. For conductors, the highest-purity 99.9999% oxygen-free copper is the baseline standard, with more expensive designs using silver plating, Ohno Continuous Cast copper and even deep cryogenic treatment for optimum conductivity. The size, quantity and configuration of conductors advances as we progress through the range, as does the level of shielding and the materials used for termination.
EVO3 Ascension
This unique design consists of deep cryogenically treated silver plated Ohno continuous cast copper conductors, wrapped in a dielectric of air, with partial FEP contact, before a further extruded FEP sleeve seals the construction. Each of these individual conductor assemblies are wrapped in Mylar with a further OFC shield before being given a slight rotational twist with FEP tubes of air.
Ascension drops the noise floor to an inky black level, opens the soundstage with holographic images, air and space and unparalleled micro dynamics. Astonishing.
CONSTRUCTION: The conductors are in a parallel configuration with a slight rotational twist. This established technique remains the first line of defence against RFI and EMI rejection.
A) Conductors: 4.0sqmm silver-plated Ohno Continuous Cast copper conductors offer a vastly superior level of purity compared with traditional OFC. Each conductor is deep cryogenically treated down to -196° C. The geometry and metallurgy used in this cable offer superb performance with extremely impressive electrical conductivity.
B) Dielectric: To obtain a dielectric constance close to a vacuum, IsoTek has created a Virtual Air Dielectric offering just 1.0548 dielectric constance. This air barrier is achieved by minimal conductor contact and the use of an FEP (Teflon) bridge. FEP is an excellent dielectric in its own right, with low coefficient, and the first choice for safety in both temperature and electrical insulation.
C) Filler: Clear FEP (Teflon) air tubes surround each conductor maintaining low dielectric constance and cable construction stability.
D) Wrap: Each conductor assembly is wrapped in Mylar to offer individual conductor shielding as well as a further barrier against RFI.
E) Shield: An earthed OFC shield insures maximum RFI rejection, thus preventing common mode noise affecting the live and neutral conductors.
F) Jacket: PVC is used as an outer jacket to give a high degree of flexibility and mechanical strength.
TERMINATION: The Ascension cable is terminated using IsoTek’s bespoke ultra-high grade audiophile connectors of solid OFC with pure silver-plated conductors. These offer the highest level of conductivity and quality performance.