Technology

Following years of extensive listening tests to top quality cables used in the aerospace industries, The cable used to compose this exceptional interconnect, has been expertly selected in order to achieve the highest possible standards employed by the Lunar interconnect.

The Lunar interconnect pair contains four 21 AWG main copper alloy conductors for each channel

(8X21 AWG for both channels). The main conductor's insulation is made of Teflon™ (PTFE) and

fully screened in two layers:

- Two primary silver plated copper braids which protect the internal signal hot and return wires

  from RFI.

- A secondary 14 AWG Copper shield which is overlapped over the two internal screened cables

 (three braided screens per channel in total). A special arrangement was done in order to lower the

  stray capacitance of the complex shielded cable.

This unique shielding structure ensures that the internal wires, carrying the delicate music signal

receive total protection from external influences- RFI & EMI.

In sonic terms, the benefits are clearly defined against the same arrangement of cable without the

secondary heavy braiding. The multi layer configuration decreases the noise floor and enables the

perception of even the most delicate nuances of live music.

Pseudo balanced configuration: The screens on the Lunar cable serve as a genuine shield which directs the picked-up noise to a single point, thus avoiding the noise build up over the return path

conductor- a usual occurrence in unbalanced Interconnects.

The Lunar employs two balanced cable construction per each channel, allowing the use of two

Main conductors for hot, and another two main conductors for return, while screen serves as a protective shield.

Triple RFI & EMI protection:

- Two main conductors used in each internal cable (four cables in total), twisted to further     enhance RF rejection of the cable.

- An internal screen withholding RF noises from penetrating the twisted pairs cables.

        - A secondary screen withholding RF noises from penetrating the whole cable complex. A                99.5% coverage which ensures full protection from RFI & EMI.

The main pair of twisted conductors in each of the internal cables constructing the Lunar, is made of a special,  aerospace grade copper alloy  carefully selected after extensive listening tests for its superb sonic qualities and durability. Unlike regular copper wires which tend to deteriorate to some degree after bending, the special alloy maintains its metal structure.

 

This unique copper alloy has a supreme resistance to oxidation, which ensures the cable's longevity and long term performance quality. In addition, the copper alloy wire comprises a silver content which allows for better bonding to the special high purity tin solder (with 6.4% silver and copper content) used to make this superb interconnect.

The interconnect insulation is made of Teflon™ (PTFE), PTFE is the best insulation material used in the cables industry which has the lowest dielectric absorption.

 

Using Teflon™ (PTFE) as insulation is a prime consideration in Hi-End interconnects. Teflon maintains an extremely low capacitance and high resistance between the internal leads respectively, which keeps the interaction between channels to a minimum. 

The low dielectric absorption of Teflon allows locating the main conductors in the Lunar cable in a very tight configuration - which renders the Lunar a very high bandwidth cable while maintaining a low capacitance. Yet another benefit is that Teflon also bonds very tightly to the metal conductors and prevents the oxidation of the metal over the years. It is only the high cost of Teflon (PTFE) cables which leads manufactures to choose inferior plastics, such as PVC, for insulation.

Teflon is also highly durable and can withstand extreme temperatures variations and mechanical pressure conditions without any risk of deterioration.

The PTFE chosen for the Lunar is the extruded rather than the foamed type, since the former is much more robust and maintains the cable structure through cable bending and other mechanical pressures. All this benefits mean that (Baring severe abuse) the Lunar will not suffer any wear or depletion in sound quality or over many years of usage.   

The cable connection point to the RCA plugs is filled with a special anti-resonant polymer, selected carefully after listening tests to many damping polymers. The anti-resonant polymer acts as a barrier to reduce the airborne conduction noise from the cable to the connected equipment. The polymer also helps with dampening the plug's resonances and ringing reduction. Most of the WBT 110 connector is non-metal (plastic polymers) which also helps lowering the ringing of the plug.

The RCA connectors used are top quality WBT Nextgen™ 110 Copper plugs, with 0.5μm Gold plating over pure Copper contacts and specials dielectric polymers which enable very low self capacitance of 2.4pF and  1G Hz bandwidth. These RCA plug  have been found to be highly superior in sound to than many other RCA plugs tested, while the sonic benefits of using the plugs in conjunction with the Lunar cable are more pronounced than with other cables.   

The Lunar is directional interconnect:  The source side is marked with the logo "AR Sound Lunar"

Sound Quality

The Lunar offers a highly open and transparent sound signature with a very deep bass, while highs become extremely natural and crystal clear. It allows for a clean, very fast and solid bass region, free from distortion or time smears.

The multi layer shielding produces an extraordinary dynamic range:  Exceptionally low noise enables the perception of even the most delicate nuances apparent in live music. In Forte passages the music blooms and opens with a huge dynamic range exhibited by the Interconnect.  The musical detailing flows effortlessly, in a natural manner, without any emphasis on any part of the frequency audio spectrum.  The Lunar exhibits a spectacular sound stage and depth which enables the ear to pinpoint the voices and instruments in the orchestra. Superb sounding Mid frequencies - crisp detailed "sweet" vocals enable the listener to hear the correct phrasing and intonation. High frequencies are rendered crystal clear, natural and glare free, while natural brass instruments sounds become devoid of the harsh metallic sound common in many other interconnects.

Technical specifications:

Main conductors:

75/100 Centimetres of four 21-22 AWG twisted Pairs

Per each channel. (A total of 1.68 mm square cut for each channel).

Primary conductors: copper alloy stranded wires (with silver content).

Primary conductors' Insulation: 1/16" PTFE.

Shielding system:

First Internal shield: silver plated OFC copper- separate two shields per channel.

Secondary shield: single 14 AWG tinned copper, one per channel.

Resistance: 25 milliohms/meter (8 milliohms/feet).

Capacitance: 67 pF/ft

External Jacket: Fibreglass Polyurethane impregnated.

Outside Diameter: ~7 mm

External colour: White.

Main Features:

• A Select aerospace grade cable with silvered copper alloy and extruded PTFE dielectric insulation.
• Triple multi layered braided shielding with 99.5% coverage ensure full protection from RFI & EMI.
• A pair of Lunar cables- one per each channel (DIN versions are single Lunar cable).
• Pseudo balanced configuration- A floating double screen for extremely low noise floor and superb dynamics.
• Anti vibration mechanism- An Anti-Resonant polymer treatment for the air gap between the cable and the plug  for controlling vibrations conduction and damping plug resonance’s.
• WBT-110 Cu “Nextgen” RCA connectors with gold plating over pure copper.

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