Solid Perfect-Surface Copper (PSC) ConductorsPerfect-Surface Copper clearly outperforms previous AQ metals that cost over ten times as much. Proprietary metal-processing technology protects the wire's surface at every stage of drawing and fabrication. When high-purity low-oxide copper is kept as soft pure and smooth as possible it becomes a wonderfully low-distortion conductor. In a conventional cable electrical and magnetic interaction between strands is one of the greatest sources of distortion often causing a somewhat harsh dirty sound. Solid conductors are fundamental toward achieving Red River’s very clean natural sound.Cold-Welded Gold-Plated TerminationsThis plug design allows for a connection devoid of solder which is a common source of distortion. Instead of solder the process employs a high-pressure technique. Because the ground shells are stamped instead of machined the metal used can be chosen for low distortion instead of machinability.Metal-Layer Noise-Dissipation SystemIt's easy to accomplish 100% shield coverage. Preventing captured Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) from modulating the equipment's ground reference requires AQ's Noise-Dissipation System (NDS). Traditional shield systems typically absorb and then drain noise/RF energy to component ground modulating and distorting the critical "reference" ground plane which in turn causes a distortion of the signal. NDS "shields the shield" absorbing and reflecting most of this noise/RF energy before it reaches the layer attached to ground.Triple-Balanced Geometry (Separate Ground-Reference Conductor)AQ's Triple-Balanced Geometry uses a separate ground-reference conductor so the cable's shield is never used as an inferior conductor. Whether prepared with RCA or XLR plugs the cable's three conductors ensure that the positive and negative signals have equally superior low-distortion conducting paths.