AudioQuest Black Beauty Interconnect Cable (RCA)

The AudioQuest Black Beauty interconnect cable (RCA) is the entry point into AudioQuest's ZERO-Tech construction: solid PSC+ conductors without characteristic impedance, foamed polyethylene, and a Level 6 noise dissipation of carbon and graphene. A cable that gets out of its own way.

Why the Black Beauty?

ZERO-Tech means: the electrostatic field between the outgoing and return conductor is dissolved to the point where the cable no longer forms any characteristic impedance at all. That removes the mismatch between cable, source, and amplifier as a source of disturbance: transients arrive uncompressed, and the noise dissipation acts evenly across all octaves. Add to that a resistive carbon-graphene network, silver-plated RF drain wires, and copper-plated connector sleeves.

What you get

A ready-made stereo pair from 0.6 to 6 metres, special lengths on request. If you cable symmetrically, you'll also find the Black Beauty as an XLR version. The Black Beauty has no Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) in any version – AudioQuest only introduces the active 72V DBS from the Pegasus up.

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

Honestly: in the entry segment you'll barely hear the difference from the River series, and your money is better spent on the source or speakers. On resolving systems with line sources, though, the Black Beauty is the most affordable way into the ZERO-Tech world. For the connection from the tonearm to the phono stage, reach for a phono cable designed for that instead.

Our verdict

The Black Beauty makes the jump beyond the River series without costing as much as a small car. Whether that step pays off in your system, we're happy to assess with you: HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Technical data

• Type: analogue interconnect cable, stereo pair, unbalanced (RCA), ZERO-Tech entry level
• Conductor: solid, PSC+ (Perfect-Surface Copper+), direction-oriented
• Geometry: ZERO-Tech, without characteristic impedance
• Dielectric: foamed polyethylene (Foamed-PE)
• Noise dissipation: Level 6, carbon-graphene network, RF drain wires with 0.5% silver content
• DBS: no DBS (neither RCA nor XLR, only from the Pegasus up)
• Connector: RCA, copper-plated sleeves, Hanging Silver contacts over pure copper
• Lengths: 0.6 / 1 / 1.5 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 m (price per pair)
• Included: 1 stereo pair RCA cable, ready-made

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does ZERO-Tech mean?
ZERO-Tech describes a geometry in which the cable no longer forms any characteristic impedance. That removes the mismatch between cable, source, and amplifier as a source of disturbance. The noise dissipation works evenly across the whole frequency range, and transients arrive uncompressed. Many describe the result as more open and faster.

Does the Black Beauty have a DBS?
No, neither in the RCA nor the XLR version. 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 RF drain wires – and you never have to replace a battery.

What is the Black Beauty insulated with?
Foamed polyethylene. The high air content in the foam significantly lowers energy storage in the dielectric compared to solid plastic. AudioQuest only uses genuine FEP air tubes in the Mythical Creatures cables. For this price class, Foamed-PE is a very sensible and good-sounding compromise.

Is the Black Beauty suitable for a turntable?
For the run from the tonearm to the phono stage, we recommend a dedicated phono cable, because there the capacitance and shielding are specifically matched to the cartridge. If the phono stage is already a separate unit, you connect it to the amplifier with the Black Beauty completely normally, as a line source.

Why buy the Black Beauty from HD Zürisee?
Because we see cables as part of the system, not as an accessory item. Our well-practised team in Wädenswil has known these series for years, will sometimes talk you out of a purchase, and makes up the right length for you. Get in touch via WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or email shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

A clean interconnect cable belongs between source and amplifier. Take a look at the RCA cables, compare with the analogue cables, or explore the whole AudioQuest world.