Ply
Series Loudspeaker cables
Increasing cable size can usually reduce cable resistance, but at the expense
of increasing cable inductance. This is musically unacceptable for high quality
sound and music applications. Some solutions exist, but these may have other limitations,
which can make them impractical.
Conventional stranded cables made from copper, silver or
related conductors can suffer from complex oxidation, making the surface into
a semi-conductor. The diodes so formed between the strands are not seen by steady-state
signals, but look like the plates of a high value capacitor to transient signals.
This causes low-level energy storage and release after transients, that is invisible
to steady-state testing yet nonetheless is perfectly audible with many music recordings.
Supra Ply is a large-section, low resistance cable, which can overcome
these limitations, by using a proprietary, pure tin-plating. This has the double
benefit that tin and copper meld without forming a diodic barrier and that tin
strongly resists most common causes of metal corrosion, hermetically protecting
the copper, making Supra Ply ideal for outdoor use in either car (automobiles)
vans and/or truck as well as marine applications, where salt water may quickly
corrode a pure copper cable.
Even if oxidation should form on the outside of Supra Ply , it will be
sonically benign, as in audiograde "metal oxide" resistors, which are really tin
oxide. (Because Ply cables are tin-plated, they are effectively impervious
to corrosion when used outdoors). Sonically, tin-plating has no known negative
effects on sound quality, especially over time, leading to extended periods of
good quality sound, with no likelihood of deterioration, as is usual when plain
copper or silver-plated conductors oxidise.
Note: both Ply 3.4 and Ply 3.4S are Hi-Fi Choice "Recommended" speaker
cables.
 (shown left: Ply 2.0)
 (shown left: Ply 3.4)
Ply is now available in three forms: Ply 2.0
(shown above left), Ply 3.4 (shown above right) and a shielded version
called 3.4/S (shown below). Each will significantly improve on the sound
quality of most systems, compared to cheaper, inferior grade cables, with Ply
3.4 best suited to medium to high resolution systems.
(shown left: Ply 3.4/S)
For bi-wiring with Ply 3.4 or Ply 3.4/S ,
special heatshrink, termination trousers and nylon braid are available to help
keep the cables tidy.
| End on view of Ply cross-section. |
| Mechanical and Electrical
Specifications of Ply Series cables. |
| Item |
Conductors |
Insulation |
Area |
Shield coverage |
Ext. dia (mm) |
Colour |
Weight (g/m) |
Resistance (ohms/km) |
Inductance (uH/m) |
| Ply 2.0 |
2x120x0.15 OFC, Sn |
Chloride Ion-stabilised PVC |
2x2.0
14AWG |
- |
6.1x4.9 |
Ice Blue |
73 |
8.1 |
0.30 |
| Ply 3.4 |
2x192x0.15 OFC, Sn |
2x3.4
12AWG |
- |
7.0x7.0 |
104 |
5.1 |
0.20 |
| Ply 3.4/S |
2x192x0.15 OFC, Sn |
2x3.4
12AWG |
> 95% |
7.5x7.5 |
129 |
5.1 |
0.20 |
|
