{"product_id":"audioquest-black-beauty-xlr-kabel","title":"AudioQuest Black Beauty XLR Cable, Balanced","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Black Beauty XLR?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eZERO-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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 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 \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/audioquest-pegasus-xlr-kabel\"\u003ePegasus\u003c\/a\u003e up. Insulation is foamed polyethylene. The unbalanced sibling is found among the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/cinchkabel\"\u003eRCA cables\u003c\/a\u003e, if your devices have no XLR sockets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Black Beauty XLR for – and who isn't it for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHonestly 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41765342200\"\u003e076 534 22 00\u003c\/a\u003e (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: analogue line interconnect cable, balanced (XLR), stereo pair\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstruction: ZERO-Tech (without characteristic impedance)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConductor: solid, PSC+ (Perfect-Surface Copper+), direction-oriented\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDielectric: foamed polyethylene\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNoise dissipation: Level 6, carbon\/graphene mesh network, drain wires with 0.5% silver plating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDielectric-Bias System: no DBS (only from the Pegasus up)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnector: XLR, silver over red copper, copper-plated RF-draining sleeves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLengths: 0.6 \/ 1 \/ 1.5 \/ 2 \/ 3 \/ 4 \/ 5 \/ 6 m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncluded: 1 stereo pair XLR cable, ready-made\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does ZERO-Tech mean?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the Black Beauty XLR have a DBS?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the XLR version superior to the RCA version?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use this to connect my turntable?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy the Black Beauty from HD Zürisee?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA line cable connects source and amplifier. Compare the other \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/xlr-kabel\"\u003eXLR cables\u003c\/a\u003e, check out the unbalanced counterparts in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/cinchkabel\"\u003eRCA cables\u003c\/a\u003e, or browse the complete \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/audioquest\"\u003eAudioQuest range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AudioQuest","offers":[{"title":"0.6 m","offer_id":53305671254352,"sku":null,"price":1039.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 m","offer_id":53305671287120,"sku":null,"price":1199.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"1.5 m","offer_id":53305671319888,"sku":null,"price":1399.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"2 m","offer_id":53305671352656,"sku":null,"price":1599.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"3 m","offer_id":53305671385424,"sku":null,"price":1999.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 m","offer_id":53305671418192,"sku":null,"price":2399.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"5 m","offer_id":53305671450960,"sku":null,"price":2799.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 m","offer_id":53305671483728,"sku":null,"price":3199.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/audioquest-black-beauty-xlr-kabel-detailansicht.png?v=1787224052","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en\/products\/audioquest-black-beauty-xlr-kabel","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}