A stable, low-noise power supply is essential for high-quality music reproduction. Even modern hi-fi components with sophisticated power supplies and built-in filter stages are not entirely immune to high-frequency interference. One cause of this is capacitive coupling effects within the devices, which partially bypass the electrical isolation of the power supplies for high-frequency interference. In conjunction with the dynamic power consumption of connected components, balancing currents arise on the interconnect cables. These interfere with the sensitive audio signal and impair the purity and precision of music reproduction. Furthermore, power cables themselves emit electromagnetic interference fields that can affect nearby signal and component lines. Since these interferences have significantly higher levels compared to the very small audio signals, they have a particularly strong influence on signal processing. The Referenz AC-404 Micro AIR addresses these challenges with a cable architecture consistently designed for signal purity. The sophisticated 6-fold multicore architecture ensures exceptionally low-impedance coupling of the connected components across a wide frequency range. This effectively reduces compensation currents and creates the conditions for clean and stable signal transmission. At the same time, the design enables a powerful power supply with a high dynamic reserve — even during dynamic musical passages and high load peaks. The Micro AIR technology with an air dielectric minimizes capacitive losses and supports fast, controlled energy transfer. The result is more precise impulse reproduction and an authentic, dynamic sound presentation. The design is complemented by dual shielding consisting of a braided and foil shield. This reduces the spread of high-frequency interference fields to nearby components and interconnect cables, thereby contributing to a quiet, clean signal environment. The AC-404 Micro AIR enables music reproduction with greater clarity, detail, and dynamics—for a sound that comes as close as possible to the original recording. Click here and discover the exciting details
Soundscapes are created by the dynamics in the music. To exploit the full potential of your high-end audio components, you need a reliable power pipeline that provides your components with the power peaks with as little delay and loss as possible. This is where the AC-1205 AIR mains connection cable comes into play. Our innovative AIR technology has already caused a sensation in the high-end scene and now also forms the architectural basis for the AC-1205 AIR mains cable. Using specially developed clips, the individual conductors are held at fixed distances and insulated from each other by an "air dielectric". This reduces both capacitive and inductive interference and ensures a smooth flow of energy. The multicore design of the AC-1205 AIR neutralizes the magnetic interference and magnetic fields generated by current peaks and minimizes the line inductance. In addition, the large number of individual wires reduces the skin effect that occurs at high frequencies. Splitting the current across many cores not only increases the usable conductor cross-section, but also increases the overall cross-section of the cable. The result is a reliable power supply, even in the most demanding passages, which allows your sound system to develop its full potential. To minimize electromagnetic interference fields, the AIR cables are shielded with a dense braid of tinned copper. This not only protects your audio components, but also neighboring cables from unwanted interference caused by the high current peaks in the power cable. The in-akustik High End AC-1205 AIR mains cable is an outstanding energy pipeline for perfect audiophile sounds. It eliminates unwanted effects and makes a not insignificant contribution to the most authentic music reproduction possible. Click here and discover the exciting details
The CAT-2405 AIR is a high-end LAN cable designed for connecting audio components in streaming setups. It is based on our specially developed Air Helix construction, which enables low-loss and interference-resistant signal transmission. For this construction, we have designed a special clip that forms a stable supporting framework inside the cable. Several of these clips hold the signal pairs in a helical shape and at a defined distance freely in the air. The entire arrangement runs within a high-density shield. Two connecting bridges keep the clips evenly spaced and at the same time provide the necessary flexibility in the cable structure. Digital signal transmission: In mathematics, digital information is represented as binary values, but technically it is transmitted via analog voltage curves. To distinguish between states such as "0" and "1", voltage thresholds and time windows are defined. The transition between these states does not occur abruptly, but continuously—the signal passes through intermediate values, for example, between 0 and 5 volts. Capacitive loads, dielectric losses, noise, and external electromagnetic influences can distort these transitions. This results in timing shifts in the signal, known as jitter. Jitter makes it harder to assign data precisely in time and impairs the reconstruction of digital audio signals. Advantages of the Air Helix construction: The overall shielding made of dense braid, as well as additional foil shields for each pair of wires, effectively protect against external interference. The Air Helix construction uses air as a dielectric and ensures a constant distance between the wire pairs. This arrangement reduces crosstalk and capacitive losses, contributing to unadulterated signal transmission. Streaming components and integrated digital-to-analog converters (DACs) benefit from the improved signal quality and can process data more precisely. CAT connector with rotation mechanism: Conventional RJ45 connectors can only be plugged in at a fixed orientation. Depending on the position of the socket, this can result in unfavorable cable routing and mechanical stress on the connector, cable, and socket. To counteract this, we use rotatable RJ45 connectors with a 180° mechanism. Each connector can be rotated by about ±45°, resulting in a total adjustability of about ±90° between both connectors. This allows the cable to be routed without tension and in a space-saving manner. Sound Advantages at a Glance: Air Helix construction: Signal pairs arranged helically in air—minimal capacitive losses Air as dielectric: Reduces crosstalk and improves signal purity High-density shielding (tinned): Overall and pair shielding against electromagnetic interference RJ45 connector with 180° rotation mechanism: Flexible, tension-free cable routing Optimized for high-end streaming: Supports precise clocking in digital audio transmission Conductor material: High-purity OFC copper for stable, low-loss transmission Technical specification: CAT 8.1—up to 2000 MHz bandwidth Made in Germany: Development, manufacturing, and quality assurance on site Click here to discover exciting details
The Air Helix construction of the Referenz USB-2405 AIR is truly unique. To achieve an almost perfect air isolation, we developed a special clip system. Inside the cable, a large number of these clips form a supporting structure that keeps the signal conductors suspended freely in air in a helical arrangement and guides them through the high-density shielding at a precisely defined distance. The flexibility of this construction is achieved through two support rails that not only hold the clips together but also maintain the exact spacing between them. Strictly speaking, the term “digital” only exists in mathematics in the form of the binary number system. In the technical world, there are no purely digital signals. To detect zeros and ones, defined voltage thresholds and timing windows are used. The transition from a zero to a one, or vice versa, always requires a certain amount of time during which the signal level passes through all intermediate values, for example from 0 volts to 5 volts. Capacitive loads, dielectric losses, noise, and electromagnetic interference caused by cables can further influence this transition. This results in timing deviations known as the jitter effect, making precise reconstruction of the audio signal more difficult or even nearly impossible. To get closer to the pinnacle of audiophile perfection, we also carefully examined the conductor material. Copper with the right purity is already an excellent conductor, but a superconductor with no ohmic resistance would be the ideal solution. However, superconducting properties require extremely low temperatures of at least -70°C. Under realistic conditions, silver is currently the most conductive material available. With a conductivity of 61.35 S/m (siemens per meter), it outperforms copper by around six percent. Many manufacturers use silver-plated conductors, which over time can result in a sound character often described as "bright," "metallic," or even "harsh." We use pure silver conductors instead, which provide a much more neutral sonic character. Due to the higher electron mobility, our pure silver cable delivers a more detailed and powerful sound performance across the entire frequency range. Silver, of course, is also around one hundred times more expensive than copper. USB connectors are known to only fit in one direction. This can be inconvenient, as the position of USB ports varies between devices. To adjust the cable routing, the cable often needs to be twisted significantly, placing stress on the cable, connectors, and sockets while also affecting the overall appearance of the installation. Our newly developed USB connectors with a 180° rotation mechanism provide the solution. Each connector can be rotated by ±45°, meaning that a total rotation of ±90° from one connector to the other is possible. This is the final refinement for a perfectly installed cable connection. The dense shielding of the Referenz USB-2405 AIR protects the sensitive signal from electromagnetic interference. Beneath the shielding is the innovative Air Helix construction, where air and the precisely defined spacing between the conductors act as the dielectric, preventing dielectric losses and significantly reducing capacitive loading. Together, these design elements make it easier for the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to process the signal and help optimize the reconstruction of the audio signal.
The air helix design of the Referenz USB-2405 AIR is entirely unique. We’ve developed a special clip to achieve practically perfect air insulation. Inside the cable, in the right numbers these clips form a supporting structure that keeps the helically-arranged signal conductors apart in the air, and guides them through the high-density shielding at a specific distance from each other. The flexibility of this structure is ensured with two struts, which both hold the clips together and fix them at an exact distance from each other. In the proper sense of the word, “digital” only exists in mathematics in the form of the binary number system. There are no purely digital signals in the technical world. Electrical voltage limits and time windows are defined to detect zeros and ones. The jump from a zero to a one or vice versa always requires a certain time, during which the signal level passes through all intermediate values, from 0 volts to 5 volts, for example. Capacitive loads, dielectric losses, noise and electromagnetic interferences caused by cables additionally manipulate this change. This results in temporal shifts, or the, “jitter effect”, which makes precise reconstruction of the audio signal difficult or almost impossible. New 180° USB connector: As we know, USB connectors can only be inserted in one direction. This can be difficult, as the position of the USB sockets in devices varies. To adjust the course of the cable, it often has to be twisted quite a lot, which puts strain on cables, connectors and sockets and also looks unsightly. Our recently developed USB connectors with 180° rotation mechanism offer a solution: Each one can be rotated by +/- 45 degrees, enabling a total rotation of +/- 90 degrees from connector to connector, thus providing the finishing touch for perfect cabling. The dense shielding of the Referenz USB-2405 AIR cable protects the sensitive signal from electromagnetic interferences. Under the shielding is the innovative air helix structure, where air and the spacing between the conductors act as insulators, preventing dielectric losses and significantly reducing capacitive loads. On the whole this makes the digital-to-analog converter’s (DAC) work easier and perfects the audio signal’s reconstruction.
