AudioQuest Carbon USB

Carbon USB features high-purity 5% Silver conductors and Carbon-Based Noise-Dissipation for the most efficient dissipation of radio-frequency noise.

Core Technologies

The "Carbon" name refers to the noise-dissipation system used to protect the signal from interference.

• 5% Silver-Plated Conductors: The cable uses solid Long-Grain Copper (LGC) plated with a thick layer of silver (5% of the total metal). Because high-frequency digital signals travel almost exclusively on the surface of the wire, this design provides performance close to solid silver at a much lower cost.
• Carbon-Based 3-Layer Noise-Dissipation (NDS): Standard cables typically drain "noise" (RF interference) to the ground, which can distort the audio. AudioQuest’s NDS uses layers of carbon-loaded synthetics to absorb and reflect this noise before it ever reaches the ground plane.
• Hard-Cell Foam (HCF) Insulation: The conductors are encased in nitrogen-injected foam. The air pockets in the foam do not absorb energy, which helps maintain the cable's impedance and prevents signal distortion.
• Directional Control: All metal strands have a non-symmetrical grain structure. AudioQuest "voices" their cables so that RF noise is drained in a specific direction (away from the DAC) to maintain clarity.