Atlas Mavros Ultra RCA S/PDIF Digital Interconnect Cable
The finest wide bandwidth S/PDIF cable, utilising ultra-pure solid OCC copper conductors, designed to be technically and sonically superior, without the typical noise-related ‘glare’ frequently found in inferior cables. Recommended for use whenever signal integrity is paramount, for example between CD transport or hi-res media player/streamer and DAC.
The Mavros 75 Ohm cable follows logically from the creating of an outstanding analogue interconnect, the Mavros dd Ultra RCA. New for 2020, we’ve made some significant upgrades to the original specification, not least a revised conductor arrangement – now using OCC rather than OFC – and the dd (‘dual drain’) system.
The Atlas design team has developed a cable with extremely precise transmission and termination standards, incorporating the same microporous PTFE (Teflon™) dielectric insulation as the other Mavros interconnects.
The revised centre conductor is comprised of strands of super pure solid OCC copper wire insulated by a thin layer of microporous PTFE. This new dielectric behaves almost like the theoretically perfect insulator –free air – with minimal effect upon the signal being transmitted.
The previous highest performance insulator, solid PTFE, has a dielectric constant of around 2.1 whilst the new PTFE (Teflon™) foam improves this figure to around 1.5, providing for a 30% greater signal velocity and better signal integrity, particularly in the area of high frequency timing and stability.
The co-axial double shielding layers are an aluminium Mylar™ foil followed by OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) braiding after which the whole cable is protected by a PVC jacket damped with cotton yarn. The unique dd system connects the screen effectively to the cable return/plug interface, meaning the cable can be terminated without distorting, twisting or mechanically stressing the precision-laid screen.
The benefits are in maintaining a consistent low impedance load to the plug, and a total 360° screening against noise and signal loss caused by RFI (Radio Frequency Interference).
With a termination impedance of almost exactly 75 Ohms at 1 MHz and a low conductor-to-conductor capacitance of around 50 pF per meter the Mavros digital interconnect perfectly matches consumer digital audio equipment to ensure error-free transmission of high speed digital signals. The result is evident in the timing and dynamic range of musical performances where the temporal ‘smearing’ of lesser cables simply disappears.
Shipping typically 2-3 days