The Referenz LS-1102 has 6 conductors, each with 37 concentrically stranded wires. The cores are in triple symmetry and have been specifically arranged in the CC-187 design to keep the inductance low and the resistance linear. The larger cable cross-section ensures excellent and controlled bass reproduction and high efficiency. Polyethylene (PE) already boasts excellent electrical properties for audio, video and digital cables. The foaming process generates an air content in this dielectric, which further diminishes any annoying battery-like cable capacitance. The reproduction gains even greater brilliance and spatiality. A layer of solid PE protects the foamed PE from mechanical influences. Inductance is a critical behavioral feature of a cable, causing resistance to the signal flow, rising with the frequency. Multicore architectures, such as that of the LS-1102, reduce this effect and bring more precision and punch to the sound. With conventionally stranded wires, the individual strands run chaotically through the conductor. This leads to undefined contact points, which can result in degraded signal transmission. In contrast to this, each wire in the Concentric Copper structures has a precisely defined position within the conductor. This enables homogeneous signal transmission and ensures crystal-clear audio reproduction.
The Referenz LS-1002 has 4 conductors, each with 37 concentrically stranded wires. The cores are arranged in a double symmetrical fashion and specifically configured in the CC-297 design to keep the inductance low and the resistance linear. The larger cable cross-section ensures excellent and controlled bass reproduction and a high level of efficiency. Polyethylene (PE) already boasts excellent electrical properties for audio, video and digital cables. The foaming process creates an air content in this dielectric, which further diminishes any annoying battery-like cable capacitance. The reproduction gains even greater brilliance and spatiality. A layer of solid PE protects the foamed PE from mechanical influences. Inductance is a critical behavioral feature of a cable, causing resistance to the signal flow, rising with the frequency. Multicore architectures, such as that of the LS-1002, reduce this effect and bring more precision and punch to the sound. With conventionally stranded wires, the individual strands run chaotically through the conductor. This leads to undefined contact points, which can result in degraded signal transmission. In contrast to this, each wire in the Concentric Copper structures has a precisely defined position within the conductor. This enables homogeneous signal transmission and ensures crystal-clear audio reproduction.
The Referenz LS-602 has 4 cores, each with 37 concentrically stranded wires. The cores are in double symmetry and have been specifically arranged in the CC-187 design to keep the inductance low and the resistance linear. The larger cable cross-section ensures excellent and controlled bass reproduction and a high level of efficiency. Polyethylene (PE) already boasts excellent electrical properties for audio, video and digital cables. The foaming process creates an air content in this dielectric, which further diminishes any annoying battery-like cable capacitance. The reproduction gains even greater brilliance and spatiality. A layer of solid PE protects the foamed PE from mechanical influences. Inductance is a critical behavioral feature of a cable, causing resistance to the signal flow, rising with the frequency. Multicore architectures, such as that of the LS-602, reduce this effect and bring more precision and punch to the sound. With conventionally stranded wires, the individual strands run chaotically through the conductor. This leads to undefined contact points, which can result in degraded signal transmission. In contrast to this, each wire in the Concentric Copper structures has a precisely defined position within the conductor. This enables homogeneous signal transmission and ensures crystal-clear audio reproduction.
The Referenz LS-502 has 2 cores, each with 37 concentrically stranded wires. The cores are arranged in a symmetrical fashion and specifically configured in the CC-297 design to keep the inductance low and the resistance linear. The larger cable cross-section ensures excellent and controlled bass reproduction and a high level of efficiency. Polyethylene (PE) already boasts excellent electrical properties for audio, video and digital cables. The foaming process creates an air content in this dielectric, which further diminishes any annoying battery-like cable capacitance. The reproduction gains even greater brilliance and spatiality. A layer of solid PE protects the foamed PE from mechanical influences. Inductance is a critical behavioral feature of a cable, causing resistance to the signal flow, rising with the frequency. With conventionally stranded wires, the individual wires run chaotically through the conductor. This leads to undefined contact points, which can result in degraded signal transmission. In contrast to this, each wire in the Concentric Copper structures has a precisely defined position within the conductor. This enables homogeneous signal transmission and ensures crystal-clear audio reproduction.
Buying the right speaker cable
Choosing the right speaker cable can significantly impact the sound quality of your HiFi system. In addition to the conductor cross-section, the cable's inductance, or the construction of the cable, and other factors also play a role.
Conductor cross-section
The conductor cross-section should be large enough so that the current flowing through the cable can be transported with as little loss as possible. The higher the power of the amplifier and the longer the cable run, the larger the conductor cross-section should be.
Rule of thumb:
Standard: between 2.5 mm² to 4mm² for normal HiFi systems with cable lengths up to 5 meters.
Better Sound: 4 mm² or more for longer cables, powerful amplifiers, or an even better audiophile sound experience.
High-End: In audiophile music reproduction, special requirements are placed on signal transmission. Besides the cross-section, especially the cable architecture or the construction of the cable plays a crucial role.
What matters:
Higher Power: High-end speakers often need to be supplied with significantly more power than ordinary HiFi speakers.
Longer Cable Routes: In event technology, studios, or home cinema, cable routes of 10 meters or more are not uncommon.
Loss-Free Signal Transmission: To minimize sound losses and distortions, among other things, a thicker cross-section is necessary.
High-Quality Music Reproduction: Cross-sections up to 10 mm² for high power, long cable routes, and loss-free signal transmission.
Expanded Sound Spectrum: Thicker cables can transmit a wider frequency spectrum, revealing more details and nuances in the sound.
Dynamics and Precision: Improved dynamics and precision in the bass range as well as a clearer and finer resolution in the high-frequency range.
Future-Proof: A higher cross-section provides reserves for future upgrades of your HiFi system.
Cable inductance
The cable's inductance acts like a frequency-dependent resistance, which can dampen the high-frequency range. Therefore, a cable with low inductance is advantageous. This is achieved by a special construction of the cable, for example, through a multicore structure. The clever arrangement of conductors in the multi-layered multicore structures creates overlapping areas of magnetic fields that significantly reduce inductance. The entire frequency spectrum, including high tone frequencies and dynamic pulse sequences, are transmitted unhindered and without time delay. Music sounds more detailed. The sound is more dynamic. All details are worked out precisely and harmonically.
The construction of our audiophile AIR speaker cables is based on the multicore principle and thus reduces inductance.
Cable capacitance
Particularly problematic for as loss-free signal transmission as possible is the capacitance, since every cable has an electrical capacitance. This behaves similarly to a battery that must be continuously charged and discharged by the components in the cable. These processes burden the audio signal, cause phase shifts, and influence the sound quality of the system. The capacitance is influenced by various factors, such as the material with which the conductors are insulated (usually PVC, known as dielectric) and the distance between the conductors. Depending on which insulating material is used and how far the conductors are from each other, the capacitance of the cable varies.
The AIR-Helix construction of our high-end speaker cables allows for the use of air as a dielectric (besides vacuum, the best possible dielectric) to keep the conductors at a consistent distance from each other throughout the entire length of the cable.
Experiment: Here you can learn how insulation and conductor distance affect capacitance.
In summary
- The construction of the cable: The multicore construction reduces inductance.
- The insulation of the cable: Air as insulation (dielectric) minimizes the capacitance
- The quality of the connectors: The connectors should be coated with very hard materials (e.g., Rhodium) to prevent corrosion.
- The material of the conductor: Copper is the most commonly used conductor material and achieves excellent sound properties depending on the degree of purity. Pure silver conductor is the best but also by far the most expensive conductor material. Not to be confused with silver-plated conductors, which tend to emphasize the high-frequency range!
Differences between single-wire, single bi-wire, bi-wire, and bi-amping
Not all speaker cables are the same—their design and intended use differ significantly. The terms single-wire, single bi-wire, bi-wire, and bi-amping describe different types of connections between the amplifier and the speaker and influence how the individual frequency ranges are controlled.
Are losses on speaker cables measurable?
To get to the bottom of this question, we take you to our lab in an exciting webinar. In this webinar, we analyze the results of a measurement setup and consider what relationship might exist between sound and cable. In addition to the actual measurements, we also show you a very astonishing experiment.
Webinar contents
What to expect in this webinar
- Measurements on speaker cables in the lab
- What is the damping factor and why is it important
- How is the damping factor measured
- Evaluation of the results
- Another impressive "sound experiment"
Here you can register for this and other HiFi webinars at the in-akustik academy
Buying high-quality speaker cables
Many HiFi enthusiasts wonder whether it's worth investing in high-quality speaker cables. The answer is not simple, as it depends on various factors. In addition to optimizing room acoustics, the correct placement of speakers, and the finely tuned selection of electronics, the appropriate cabling of your HiFi chain also holds significant potential.
Basically:
The higher the quality of the cable, the lower the losses. This means that more of the amplifier's signal reaches the speaker, making the music sound more detailed and powerful.
First-rate cables can also improve the spatiality of the sound image. The individual instruments and voices are more locatable, and the overall sound impression appears more natural.
Speaker cables from in-akustik in four quality levels
- Reference: Our most innovative cables made from the highest quality materials, based on the AIR Helix Point-to-Point technology for the unique audiophile listening pleasure - Made in Germany
- Excellence: HiFi speaker cables with perfected insulation and flexibility as the basis for a solid and powerful sound - Made in Germany
- Premium: Speaker cables for classic stereo or home cinema systems. Extremely easy to lay.
- Star: Universal speaker cables for a wide range of applications such as Home-Hifi, Car-Hifi, DJ, or home cinema areas
High-end speaker cables from in-akustik
High-Quality Materials: Ultra-pure, oxygen-free copper for our top-class speaker cables - with silver cables, an even better sound experience is achieved.
Assembly: High-quality connectors and clean processing.
Made in Germany: All cables of the "Reference" quality level do not leave our manufacturing plant without a final quality control.
Are speaker cables available in fixed lengths or by the meter?
At in-akustik, you can purchase speaker cables both by the meter for custom assembly and in pre-assembled versions with high-quality connectors, depending on the quality level and area of application.
In the entry-level and mid-range segments – i.e., our Star and Premium series – the cables are usually available by the meter. Depending on the model, these classic twin cables feature technical specialities such as MSR technology, S/Z stranding, or special conductor geometries. You can find suitable accessories for custom assembly, such as banana plugs or cable lugs, in the accessories section. This allows you to tailor your cable precisely to your room, system, and individual requirements.
In the higher quality levels Excellence and Reference we generally only offer speaker cables that are pre-assembled. Here, the complex processing – for example, in our AIR Helix cables – requires the highest precision and special tools. For example, the connectors are permanently pressed onto the conductor with up to 1.5 tons of pressure without any loss of quality. Each of these connections is manufactured and tested by experienced cable workers at our factory in Germany.
Whether sold by the meter or as ready-made high-end cables, both variants represent the high quality made in Germany for which in-akustik has been known for decades.
High-Quality Accessories for Speaker Cables
In addition to the speaker cables themselves, there are several useful accessories that can facilitate installation and use and can improve sound quality.
Here are some examples:
Banana plugs
Banana plugs allow for a quick and easy connection between the speaker cable and speaker.
They are available in various designs, e.g., as straight or angled plugs.
For high-end systems, we recommend rhodium-coated plugs to prevent corrosion and contact resistance.
Spade connectors
Spade connectors are also available in various designs. Our high-end versions are rhodium-coated and feature a slotted contact fork. The contact spring created by the slot deforms concavely when tightened, thus preventing the spade connectors from slipping out.
Cable bases
The cable bases consistently keep the cable at a distance from the ground. This reduces unwanted capacitances and relieves the electronics.
Current highlights:
Like the flagship model, the LS-204 is also based on Micro Air technology. The difference lies in the multicore architecture. Compared to the XL version, the LS-204 has four instead of six Concentric Copper conductors. This cable boasts an agile character and was primarily developed for slim floorstanding speakers with smaller bass drivers. The Referenz LS-204 Micro AIR is available as a single-wire version with BFA bananas or spade lugs, or as an Easy Plug version. Click here and discover the exciting details
Because the speaker cable carries the largest current in the entire device chain, a suitable conductor cross-section is required to transport it with as little loss as possible. This current generates correspondingly strong magnetic fields and, since it is alternating current, there is a frequency-dependent resistance in the inductance of the cable. Low inductance is therefore particularly important for speaker cables - and this is precisely what has been achieved with the LS-1205 Air: The cable's inductance value has been reduced by a particularly ingenious arrangement of the conductors, the 4-fold "multicore" structure, enabling it to behave in a completely sound-neutral way over a wide frequency range. In addition, the magnetic fields generated around the individual conductors overlap and neutralize each other. This means that all frequencies are transported unhindered and without any time delay, enabling a fabulously open and detailed musical presentation. At the end of the air helix, the LS-1205 Air’s four conductors are separated into so-called aluminum splitters for the receiving connector. In the area between the splitters and plug, in-akustik uses highly flexible molded parts made of a special elastomer. These parts are fixed inside the splitter using a specifically designed plastic plug. This means that the cable remains reliably flexible in the connection area as well. The molded parts run right to the front of the connectors and enclose their inner workings - which underscores the sleek yet attractive design of the LS-1205 Air. Click here and discover the exciting details
The S25 Speaker 225 is the compact solution in the S25 series and ideal for small setups. It impresses with solid performance and surprisingly good spatial imaging. The bass remains controlled and precise without bloating, the mids sound focused, voices natural and tangible. The highs are detailed without harshness. Its slim, discreet design combined with high flexibility makes it especially easy to install – whether visibly on open shelves, behind furniture, or in tight cable channels. This allows the Speaker 225 to seamlessly integrate into almost any setup – both acoustically and visually. Click here to discover exciting details
Inductance is a critical behavioral feature of a cable, causing resistance to the signal flow, rising with the frequency. Multicore architectures, such as that of the LS-40, reduce this effect and bring more precision and punch to the sound. The conductors of the LS-40 are made of high-purity copper. Under normal conditions, copper is the next-best electrical conductor after silver. Compared to cheap CCA (Copper Coated Aluminum) in particular, copper has a significantly better conductivity and is also mechanically more resilient. The stranded wire design is a tried and tested conductor design in the hi-fi sector. Each conductor consists of 50 x 0.25 mm strands that are "twisted" together. The advantage of this design lies in the economical method of production and the mechanical flexibility, which increases with smaller diameters of the individual wires. The conductor cross-section of 2x5.0 mm² is the foundation for a dynamic and powerful sound. The polyethylene (PE) insulation of the LS-40 has very good electrical properties. Compared to PVC, it halves the annoying battery-like capacitance of cables. The reproduction gains in brilliance and spatial quality. The PE network jacket protects against mechanical damage and serves as additional insulation.
The LS-Atmos AIR speaker cable uses Atmos AIR technology to create optimal conditions for precise signal transmission. The design aims to utilize air - an ideal dielectric—as extensively as possible between the signal conductors. At the center of the electric field between the conductors, a defined air chamber is integrated into the cable structure. This reduces capacitance and dielectric losses and helps preserve the integrity of the audio signal. Another key feature is the Concentric Copper conductor design. Each individual copper strand is positioned in a precisely defined location within the conductor. Unlike conventional stranded constructions, where the relative position of the strands continuously changes, this geometry remains stable. The result is consistent electrical properties and controlled signal transmission. The combination of air insulation and a precisely defined conductor geometry supports transparent, detailed sound reproduction with excellent dynamics and natural tonal balance. The LS-Atmos AIR speaker cable is designed for demanding hi-fi enthusiasts who value high-quality materials, thoughtful engineering, and accurate signal transmission.
The LS‑MSR speaker cable is part of in‑akustik’s excellence series and uses the classic MSR technology, based on proven designs from the 1990s. The cable features a twin‑line construction with generous conductor cross-sections, providing a solid foundation for powerful and controlled signal transmission. The conductors are made of high‑purity copper, which offers excellent conductivity and mechanical resilience compared to copper-clad aluminum (CCA) alternatives. This ensures consistent electrical performance and long-term reliability. The fine-stranded conductors 651 x 0,07 mm - speaker cable 2,5 mm² 1050 x 0,07 mm - speaker cable 4,0 mm² 1575 x 0,07 mm - speaker cable 6,0 mm² give the cable high flexibility, making installation and routing easier. Clear plus/minus identification via color coding allows for straightforward connection. The LS‑MSR is sold as metered cable and can be fitted with connectors according to system requirements. The LS‑MSR speaker cable is suitable for hi-fi setups where solid electrical fundamentals, flexibility, and reliable signal transmission are a priority.
