Monster Cable StudioLink 500 Interconnect Cable with 1/4 Inch to 1/4 In Plugs (Black)

The StudioLink 500 interconnect cables come in high-visibility colors for speedy and easy-to-spot applications. The cables also incorporate 2 multiple-gauge Bandwidth Balanced wire networks for clarity and punch with extended frequency response. Other attributes include precision wound Time Correct construction for accurate musical reproduction, open soundstage, precise imaging, tight bass, smooth highs, and a long-lasting jacket for easy use.

Features
High performance audio interconnect.

2 Time Correct Bandwidth Balanced multiple-gauge wire networks for smooth, natural sound.

Open soundstage, precise imaging, tight bass, and smooth highs. For excellent performance in professional and home studios, sound reinforcement, and permanent installations.

Available in Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Ivory for easy routing and equipment identification.

Available with precision RCAs, heavy-duty XLRs, or 1/4 in. plugs

Time Correct Windings
While effective in lower cost cables, Amplitude Balanced construction does not complete the whole picture. Time domain distortions can be improved, but cannot be accurately controlled to give us the sonic attributes that are related to phase as described earlier. In interconnect cables Monster corrects these time domain distortions by creating a longer path and higher impedances for the higher frequencies. They cannot speed up the lows, so they must delay the highs. By winding the high frequency conductors to create inductance at those frequencies,… read more Monster delays them in time to pass through the cable at the same time with the slower lower frequencies. This develops the ability to capture lost phase-related information such as dimensionality, soundstage, imaging, and depth.

This technology places great demands on the manufacturing processes to precisely wind the wire and control the number of turns for the different conductors, which is especially difficult because the smaller high frequency wires need to be more precisely and tightly wound than the low frequencies, and to delicately handle varying gauges of conductors that are wound together without breakage or waste.

The complexity of the windings increases the cost proportionately since machine time is very expensive. The complexity of Monster's constructions in their higher priced cables is apparent to the eye, but it's the audible results of Time Correct construction that are well worth the cost and effort.

Bandwidth Balanced
This technology combines Time Correct windings with the use of selected multiple-gauged constructions to pass the music in correct amplitude and phase. Monster's balanced design interconnect cables use equal conductors for the positive and negative conductors with a passive "ground" shield. The positive signal must be identical to the negative signal, electrically and magnetically, otherwise there will be an imbalance, causing a resultant signal that is a distortion of the original waveform. That is why coaxial cables, commonly used in low cost interconnects (and some high priced ones also), cannot be correctly time compensated and will always be inaccurate.

The results of distortions in wire are audible because in the analog world, we directly hear the electrical signals transferred to vibrations in the air. These vibrations reach our ear drums, which send the signals to our brain, where we interpret them as music. Any distortions in this chain are correctly and accurately detected in our ability to hear variations in frequency and time, which relates to our perceptions of music, harmonic overtones, directionality, dimensionality, and space. Monster's Bandwidth Balanced constructions overcome most of these distortions (no wire is perfect) in a way that no other cable can. It's obvious that regardless of the purity of the material used (Monster has evaluated all the various LCOFC, OCC, six 9's copper, etc.), one must still overcome amplitude and time domain distortions to achieve accurate sound reproduction.

One can hear the frequency extensions, phase characteristics, and dimensionality of Monster's 3-network Interlink Reference and M1000 Mk III vs. the less expensive 2-network Interlink 400, or the network-less Interlink 300, or some other manufacturer's coaxial or balanced cable that has no amplitude or phase compensation at all. Be aware that the use of multiple gauged conductors themselves is no guarantee of sonic accuracy, and that correct winding constructions and accurate manufacturing are significant factors. read less