{"product_id":"audioquest-mackenzie-xlr-kabel","title":"AudioQuest Mackenzie XLR Cable, Balanced","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe AudioQuest Mackenzie XLR cable is a balanced line cable from the River series that extends the Red River's solid PSC+ conductors with a three-layer carbon-based noise dissipation and higher-quality connector contacts. It sits in the middle of the River family – where you no longer need to explain the progress, just listen to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Mackenzie XLR?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe conductors are solid Perfect-Surface Copper+; the layout, like the Red River, is triple-balanced with its own ground-reference conductor. The difference sits on the outside: instead of pure metal layers, a three-layer carbon system works here, alternating layers of metal and carbon-filled plastics. High-frequency interference is thereby absorbed instead of passed on to ground – the background becomes quieter. Add to that cold-welded contacts with hanging silver over pure Purple Copper, meaning no solder joint in the signal path.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA ready-made stereo pair, selectable between 0.5 and 6 metres, with balanced XLR connectors on both ends and direction-oriented conductors. Special lengths on request. The dielectric is nitrogen-foamed Hard-Cell Foam polyethylene. If your chain is cabled unbalanced, the Mackenzie is also available as an RCA variant – found among the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/cinchkabel\"\u003eRCA cables\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Mackenzie XLR for – and who isn't it for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHonestly: an XLR socket alone isn't yet a reason to switch. Balanced operation pays off when the source and amplifier are genuinely balanced internally and more than one or two metres lie between them – or when power supplies, light fixtures, and network equipment nearby cause disturbance. Some devices have XLR sockets but only convert internally; there, the RCA route is the shorter and often the better one. Sonically, the Mackenzie is oversized on an entry-level system – the Red River is enough there. On a resolving chain, though, it's dosed exactly right.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Mackenzie is the tier where the River series grows up: same conductors, significantly more effort against interference. Whether the step up from the Red River pays off in your chain, we'll tell you without beating around the bush – even when the answer is no. We're reachable in Wädenswil at 044 680 22 00, via 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\u003eSeries: River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConductor: solid, PSC+ (Perfect-Surface Copper+), direction-oriented\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeometry: Triple-Balanced with separate ground-reference conductor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDielectric: Hard-Cell Foam polyethylene (nitrogen-foamed)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNoise dissipation: three-layer carbon system (Carbon-Based 3-Layer NDS)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnector: XLR, cold-welded, silver over pure Purple Copper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLengths: 0.5 \/ 0.75 \/ 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\u003eDoes a balanced connection bring anything to my system?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnly if both devices operate in a balanced fashion and the distance between them is longer or electrically noisy. Then XLR effectively suppresses induced interference. With two devices stacked in the rack, the gain is small – nothing speaks against RCA there.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's the difference from the Yukon?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe dielectric. The Mackenzie insulates with nitrogen-foamed Hard-Cell Foam polyethylene, the Yukon with polyethylene air tubes, where the conductor is mostly surrounded by air. Conductor, geometry, and connector quality remain the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat exactly does the carbon noise dissipation do?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt consists of alternating layers of metal and carbon-filled plastic. High-frequency interference is converted into heat within it instead of being pushed onto the ground conductor. That keeps the ground plane cleaner, which shows up as a quieter background.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I mix XLR and RCA cables in one system?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, that's completely normal. Each connection is considered on its own: where both devices offer XLR, you use XLR, otherwise RCA. You should just avoid adapters between the two worlds, because that loses the balanced advantage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy order the Mackenzie from HD Zürisee?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause from daily practice we know which cable tier suits which device class, and we'll hand you the right length right away. We answer questions about your cabling in person in Wädenswil, 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. Take a look at the other \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/xlr-kabel\"\u003eXLR cables\u003c\/a\u003e, compare with the unbalanced counterparts in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/cinchkabel\"\u003eRCA cables\u003c\/a\u003e, or discover the rest of the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/audioquest\"\u003eAudioQuest range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AudioQuest","offers":[{"title":"0.5 m","offer_id":53305646645584,"sku":null,"price":409.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"0.75 m","offer_id":53305646678352,"sku":null,"price":429.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 m","offer_id":53305646711120,"sku":null,"price":449.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"1.5 m","offer_id":53305646743888,"sku":null,"price":489.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"2 m","offer_id":53305646776656,"sku":null,"price":529.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"3 m","offer_id":53305646809424,"sku":null,"price":609.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 m","offer_id":53305646842192,"sku":null,"price":689.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"5 m","offer_id":53305646874960,"sku":null,"price":769.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 m","offer_id":53305646907728,"sku":null,"price":849.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/audioquest-mackenzie-xlr-kabel-produktansicht.png?v=1785438350","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en\/products\/audioquest-mackenzie-xlr-kabel","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}