Inakustik Reference AC-2404 AIR Power Cable

THE BIG CHALLENGE

The big challenge for power cords are extreme current peaks. They are caused by the connected devices themselves through the conversion from AC to DC, since the capacitors of their power supplies can only be charged if the applied voltage is higher than that of the capacitors themselves - and that is only a brief moment in the voltage peak of the alternating mains voltage. What remains are current spikes up to needle-shaped pulses with a multiple of the rated current of the devices. Because the capacitors discharge until the next peak, this process is repeated 100 times per second at 50 Hz or 120 times per second at 60 Hz mains frequency. These extreme current peaks cause a whole series of unwanted effects. On the one hand, they cause substantial voltage and thus power losses in line and contact resistances. On the other hand, they cause strong magnetic fields which, due to their steeply rising edges, lead to significant skin effects even at the relatively low mains frequency. These reduce the effectively usable conductor cross-section. Furthermore, the magnetic field peaks disturb all other devices in their environment like small pinpricks. Particularly in demanding and dynamic passages in music, a great deal is demanded of the power supply and thus also of the mains cable. 

THE MULTICORE DESIGN

The Reference AC-2404 AIR power cable is specially designed for connecting high-end audio systems and is based on in-akustik's legendary Air Technology. It has many sophisticated construction details that counteract the effects just described. This includes the multi-core structure by which the resulting magnetic fields overlap and compensate each other. The division into several smaller, separate conductors also reduces the skin effect. In this way, the entire conductor cross-section remains usable. In addition, the cable is shielded by a dense meshwork of tinned copper wires. This protects the adjoining audio components from remaining interference fields. 

SAFETY FIRST

With all the love for audiophile sound, safety plays a special role in this cable category. For this reason, every Reference AC-2404 AIR cable is tested extremely carefully. In addition to the intensive function test, each cable also passes trough an insulation and high-voltage test. The result is recorded and each cable receives ist individual serial number. 

THE AIR HELIX DESIGN

The AIR Helix construction is absolutely unique. In order to come as close as possible to perfect air isolation, in-akustik has developed special clips. Inside the cable, a large number of these clips form the supporting framework, which keeps the signal conductors helically free in the air and guides them through the cable at a defined distance.

HANDMADE IN GERMANY

Like all loudspeaker and audio cables of the reference series, the Reference AC-2404 AIR is completely manufactured in Germany. The clips are assembled and the conductors are threaded by hand with great care in the in-house factory. The resulting AIR Helix is then also manually fitted with the PE network jacket before the high-quality plugs are fitted and the cable is checked for proper function.