AudioQuest is a company that was founded in 1980 by William E. Low that provides audio/video cables,
digital-to-analog converter
In electronics, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC, D/A, D2A, or D-to-A) is a system that converts a digital signal into an analog signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) performs the reverse function.
There are several DAC architec ...
s,
headphones
Headphones are a pair of small loudspeaker drivers worn on or around the head over a user's ears. They are electroacoustic transducers, which convert an electrical signal to a corresponding sound. Headphones let a single user listen to an au ...
, power-conditioning products, and various audio/video accessories. The company is based in
Irvine, California
Irvine () is a Planned community, master-planned city in South Orange County, California, United States, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the city was formally incorporated on ...
, has offices in the
Netherlands
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and distributes its products to approximately 65 countries throughout the world.
History
AudioQuest's founder, William E. Low, has described himself as "an absolute hedonist." In the December 2008 issue of ''
The Absolute Sound
''The Absolute Sound'' (TAS) is an American audiophile magazine which reviews high-end audio equipment, along with recordings and comments on various music-related subjects.
History
''The Absolute Sound'' was founded in 1973 by Harry Pearson, ...
'', Low explained to TAS's Neil Gader, "Everything I’ve learned about hi-fi or cables is purely the result of being interested in getting high on music."
In his early days of selling high-end audio equipment, William E. Low allegedly discovered that the sound of an audio system was easily influenced by the quality of the cables connecting its various components. Hi-fi journalist, Richard Hardesty explained:
"With experimentation Bill found that better interconnect and speaker cables could make bigger audible improvements than many costly upgrades to amplifiers and speakers. And he recognized the opportunities afforded by this new category of audio components. He founded AudioQuest to explore and develop new and innovative wire, connectors and accessories."
Although AudioQuest remains best known for its analog and digital cables, the company has entered other product categories, such as the DragonFly USB
digital-to-analog converter
In electronics, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC, D/A, D2A, or D-to-A) is a system that converts a digital signal into an analog signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) performs the reverse function.
There are several DAC architec ...
/
headphone amplifier
A headphone amplifier is a low-powered audio amplifier designed particularly to drive headphones worn on or in the ears, instead of loudspeakers in speaker enclosures. Most commonly, headphone amplifiers are found embedded in electronic devices ...
, recipient of numerous awards, including: ''
Stereophile
''Stereophile'' is a monthly American audiophile magazine which reviews high-end audio equipment, such as loudspeakers and amplifiers, and audio-related news.
History
Founded in 1962 by J. Gordon Holt. ''Stereophile'' is the highest-circulation ...
'' 's 2012 "Computer Audio Component of the Year" and 2012 "Budget Component of the Year;".
At the 2015
Consumer Electronics Show
CES (; formerly an initialism for Consumer Electronics Show) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada, United States, the event typi ...
, AudioQuest entered the headphone market with its NightHawk over-the-ear headphones designed by Skylar Gray. In October 2014, NightHawk was named 2015 CES Innovation Award Honoree (Headphones) and 2015 Best of Innovation Winner (Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies). The NightHawk was followed by the critically successful NightOwl headphone and a headphone stand called Perch.
Ethernet cable evaluation
AudioQuest sells Ethernet cables that they claim are directional, even though the concept of directional Ethernet cable goes against the Ethernet standard
IEEE 802.3. Though an independent
blinded ABX test An ABX test is a method of comparing two choices of sensory stimuli to identify detectable differences between them. A subject is presented with two known samples (sample , the first reference, and sample , the second reference) followed by one unkn ...
of Ethernet cables at
The Amazing Meeting
The Amazing Meeting (TAM), stylized as The Amaz!ng Meeting, was an annual conference that focused on science, scientific skepticism, skepticism, and critical thinking; it was held for twelve years. The conference started in 2003 and was sponsored ...
in 2015 found that the cables do not produce a measurable effect, the experiment did not directly test for audible differences. One independent physical test of the data transmission quality of AudioQuest's Ethernet cables showed they perform no better than other class-compliant cables due to near-end
crosstalk
In electronics, crosstalk is any phenomenon by which a signal transmitted on one circuit or channel of a transmission system creates an undesired effect in another circuit or channel. Crosstalk is usually caused by undesired capacitive, induc ...
, though the testers admitted they weren't equipped to test Category 7 cables and instead tested the cable to the lower Category 6a spec. The testers also stated that in one area the AQ cable bested all other cables at the limit of cat 6 testing at the standard speed of 500 MHz while they were again unable to test to the higher cat 7 standard of 600 MHz due to lower limit of 500 MHz on the cat 6a standard test.
RCA cable evaluation
A technical review of the AudioQuest Wind RCA "PSS Silver" cable, priced $2,300, measured no advantage over a generic
RCA cable, rather, the AudioQuest product had a 7 dB (118%) higher mains leakage of 60 Hz hum, plus a related elevated 3rd harmonic. This test did not directly measure audibility of any differences, however, prior research in
psychoacoustics
Psychoacoustics is the branch of psychophysics involving the scientific study of sound perception and audiology—how humans perceive various sounds. More specifically, it is the branch of science studying the psychological responses associated wit ...
has documented that human hearing is far less sensitive than even basic electronic measurement techniques.
Power Conditioner/Surge Protector Evaluation
A technical review of the AudioQuest Niagara 1000, priced at $1,000, accompanied by two AudioQuest RG-Z3 AC power cords (total cost of the package $1,480) found the device fails to deliver any improvement in either the power delivered from its outputs or the sound produced by an audio device using that power. The reviewer stated "If you want a non-destructive surge protector, the Niagara 1200 provides that. Other than , all the other claims made by the company and its promotional videos are without foundation based on my measurements and listening test."
See also
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High-end audio
High-end audio is a class of consumer home audio equipment marketed to audiophiles on the basis of high price or quality, and esoteric or novel sound reproduction technologies. The term can refer simply to the price, to the build quality of the ...
*
Stereophile
''Stereophile'' is a monthly American audiophile magazine which reviews high-end audio equipment, such as loudspeakers and amplifiers, and audio-related news.
History
Founded in 1962 by J. Gordon Holt. ''Stereophile'' is the highest-circulation ...
*
Speaker wire
Speaker wire is used to make the electrical connection between loudspeakers and audio amplifiers. Modern speaker wire consists of two or more electrical conductors individually insulated by plastic (such as PVC, PE or Teflon) or, less commonly ...
*
Nordost Corporation
References
{{Reflist
Electronics manufacturing