Was bedeutet ZERO-Tech?

Eine Bauweise, bei der zwischen den Signalleitern kein nennenswertes elektrostatisches Feld aufgebaut wird. Das Kabel besitzt dadurch keine charakteristische Impedanz, die den Signalfluss begrenzt. Hochfrequente Störungen werden gleichmässig über das Frequenzband abgeleitet statt selektiv.

Hat das Black Beauty XLR ein DBS?

Nein. Das Black Beauty kommt in keiner Ausführung mit Dielectric-Bias-System, weder in Cinch noch in XLR. Das aktive 72-V-DBS setzt AudioQuest erst ab dem Pegasus ein, der nächsthöheren Stufe. Das Black Beauty holt seine Ruhe aus der ZERO-Tech-Geometrie, dem Carbon-Graphen-Netz und den versilberten Drain-Drähten – eine Batterie musst du hier nie prüfen oder tauschen.

Ist die XLR-Ausführung der Cinch-Version überlegen?

Nicht grundsätzlich. Sie ist im Vorteil, wenn beide Geräte symmetrisch arbeiten und die Verbindung länger oder störungsbelastet ist. Bei kurzen Wegen zwischen zwei Geräten im selben Rack liefert die Cinch-Version praktisch dasselbe Ergebnis.

Kann ich damit meinen Plattenspieler anschliessen?

Für die Strecke vom Tonarm zur Phonostufe empfehlen wir ein dafür gebautes Phonokabel, das auf die sehr kleinen Signalpegel und die Abschlussbedingungen des Tonabnehmers ausgelegt ist. Ab dem Ausgang der Phonovorstufe ist das Black Beauty dagegen genau richtig.

Warum das Black Beauty bei HD Zürisee kaufen?

Weil wir dir sagen, an welcher Stelle deiner Kette dieses Kabel am meisten bewirkt – und ob eine Stufe darunter reicht. Diese Einordnung bekommst du bei uns in Wädenswil ohne Termin, telefonisch unter 044 680 22 00 oder per WhatsApp.

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AudioQuest Black Beauty XLR Cable, Balanced

CHF 1'039.00

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Länge 0.6 m 1 m 1.5 m 2 m 3 m 4 m 5 m 6 m

Available from supplier stock – usually 1–3 days

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The AudioQuest Black Beauty XLR cable is a balanced line cable and the most affordable representative of the ZERO-Tech construction, which manages without characteristic impedance. It marks the boundary between the classic River cables and AudioQuest's reference series.

Why the Black Beauty XLR?

ZERO-Tech describes a geometry in which no significant electrostatic field forms between the two signal conductors. That removes the cable's characteristic impedance as a brake, transients come through less compressed, and the dissipation of high frequency runs evenly across the whole band. Add to that a Level 6 noise dissipation: a network of carbon and graphene, direction-oriented conductors, and drain wires with 0.5 percent silver plating. The connectors carry silver over red copper and sit in copper-plated sleeves that drain high frequency instead of collecting it.

What you get

A ready-made stereo pair from 0.6 to 6 metres, symmetrically terminated. A Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) is not built into the Black Beauty – the active dual 72V DBS in the XLR version only comes from the Pegasus up. Insulation is foamed polyethylene. The unbalanced sibling is found among the RCA cables, if your devices have no XLR sockets.

Who is the Black Beauty XLR for – and who isn't it for?

Honestly placed: this cable class assumes a chain in which the source, preamp, and power amp already perform at a high level – otherwise you're investing in reserves your setup doesn't even call on. And the balanced version is only right if your devices have genuine XLR inputs and outputs. The benefit grows with distance and with electrical noise in the room: separate mono power amps, a long run to the rack, power supplies, or network equipment nearby. If your devices sit close together and only have RCA anyway, save yourself the detour via adapters – that achieves precisely nothing. For the connection from the turntable to the phono stage, we recommend a dedicated phono cable instead of a line cable.

Our verdict

The Black Beauty brings ZERO-Tech into a price class where this construction wasn't available until recently. Anyone running a full-grown balanced chain finds the most sensible entry into AudioQuest's upper floor here; anyone who also wants the active DBS ends up with the Pegasus. Whether your system is ready for it, we're happy to discuss: HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Technical data

Type: analogue line interconnect cable, balanced (XLR), stereo pair
Construction: ZERO-Tech (without characteristic impedance)
Conductor: solid, PSC+ (Perfect-Surface Copper+), direction-oriented
Dielectric: foamed polyethylene
Noise dissipation: Level 6, carbon/graphene mesh network, drain wires with 0.5% silver plating
Dielectric-Bias System: no DBS (only from the Pegasus up)
Connector: XLR, silver over red copper, copper-plated RF-draining sleeves
Lengths: 0.6 / 1 / 1.5 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 m
Included: 1 stereo pair XLR cable, ready-made

Frequently asked questions

What does ZERO-Tech mean?
A construction in which no significant electrostatic field builds up between the signal conductors. As a result, the cable has no characteristic impedance limiting signal flow. High-frequency interference is dissipated evenly across the frequency band instead of selectively.

Does the Black Beauty XLR have a DBS?
No. The Black Beauty doesn't come with a Dielectric-Bias System in any version, neither RCA nor XLR. AudioQuest only introduces the active 72V DBS from the Pegasus, the next tier up. The Black Beauty gets its quiet from the ZERO-Tech geometry, the carbon-graphene network, and the silver-plated drain wires – you never have to check or replace a battery here.

Is the XLR version superior to the RCA version?
Not fundamentally. It has the advantage when both devices operate in a balanced fashion and the connection is longer or exposed to interference. Over short runs between two devices in the same rack, the RCA version delivers practically the same result.

Can I use this to connect my turntable?
For the run from the tonearm to the phono stage, we recommend a phono cable built for that purpose, designed for the very small signal levels and the termination requirements of the cartridge. From the output of the phono preamp onward, though, the Black Beauty is exactly right.

Why buy the Black Beauty from HD Zürisee?
Because we tell you where in your chain this cable achieves the most – and whether a tier below is enough. You get this assessment from us in Wädenswil without an appointment, by phone at 044 680 22 00, or via WhatsApp.

Goes well with

A line cable connects source and amplifier. Compare the other XLR cables, check out the unbalanced counterparts in the RCA cables, or browse the complete AudioQuest range.