Audioquest Copperhead - Review/Demo

dorokusai

Please refer to this thread before posting:

CABLE DEMO PROGRAM - GUIDELINES

DEMO # 8:

Audioquest Copperhead - 1.5M

The Cable-

DESIGN BASICS: Copperhead has identical conductors for the positive and ground connections. Underneath the 100% coverage foil shield is a bare conductor, exactly the same as the insulated center conductor. The conductor under the shield does double duty as a low distortion audio connection, and as the drain wire connecting the shield to ground.

CONDUCTORS: Both of Copperhead's conductors are solid. Electrical and magnetic interaction between strands in a conventional cable is the greatest source of distortion, often causing a somewhat dirty harsh sound. Solid conductors are fundamental toward achieving Copperhead's very clean sound.

METAL: PSC (Perfect-Surface Copper) has an astonishingly smooth and pure surface. 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. For fifteen years AudioQuest has pioneered the use of superior metals; yet even we were surprised by this huge leap in performance. PSC clearly outperforms previous AQ metals that cost over ten times as much.

INSULATION: Any solid material adjacent to a conductor is actually part of an imperfect circuit. Wire insulation, circuit board materials all absorb energy (loss). Some of this energy is stored and then released as distortion. The general cable industry ranks insulating materials by loss, with little regard for distortion. AudioQuest ranks materials by damage to an audio signal. The PVC used in Copperhead has too much loss to be used in a quality video cable, but it has a very benign distortion profile through the audio range, keeping Copperhead's sound pleasant and natural.

TERMINATIONS: Precision gold plated plugs are carefully attached with the very best solder. Through choice of flux and metallurgy, AQ solder has been optimized to make a low distortion connection. All solder, including "silver solder," is a lousy conductor. The difference you hear between solders is a result of connection quality. AQ Solder does not have a high silver content because the more silver there is in solder, the more difficult it is to make a good connection.

A combination of these major ingredients, and many more subtle details add up to explain how even an affordable cable like Copperhead can sound so exceptional.

www.audioquest.com

dorokusai

Thanks go out to BlueMDPicker for offering these into the program, and EarlyB for selling them at a fantastic price to him

The picture reflects the newer style molded connector, but is the same cable composition as the one in the Polk Cable Swap Program.

These are one level below the AQ Diamondback, which is also in the PCSP.

Sign up now for your chance to try out another pair of aftermarket IC's.

steveinaz

I've used Audioquest Copperheads for about 2 years, they replaced AQ Sidewinders. I now have AQ Diamondbacks, so I'll do a 3-way shoot-out.

I upgraded from the Sidewinder to the Copperhead just to see if there would be a difference between the LGC (Long Grain Copper) of the Sidewinder and the PSC (Perfect Surface Copper) of the Copperhead. Other than this, and the color of the cable everything else is the same. I struggled to hear any difference between these two cables---I couldn't. Every aspect seemed the same, bass/mids/highs. I thought I could detect the slightest bit of refinement in the treble, but it could have been the "placebo" effect as I knew the Copperhead was suppose to be better, so I dismissed this. Construction, topology, wire awg, and connectors are the same. If you buy the Copperheads over the Sidewinder, do so because you like green better than red.

The Diamondbacks, though subtle, had slight improvements in midrange, which sounded more neutral and better balanced with the treble; and treble which was a little less hard and appeared more tonally balanced. I could hear no difference in bass definition between the 3 cables.

I would switch between the Sidewinder/Copperhead and Diamondback only as a way to fine tune your system, as their general tonal character is pretty much the same. If your system is too laid back, go for the Sidewinder/Copperhead; if your system is too bright, go with the Diamondback.

Copperhead pros: Controlled, accurate bass; grainless treble; great replacement for stock IC's.

Copperhead cons: Same attributes available in the Sidewinder at less cost; a touch forward in the midrange/treble.

shack

I agee. I didn't have the Copperheads in the mix but I compared the G-Strings and the Sidewinders to the Diamondbacks and came up with almost the same conclusion as you about a year ago. Here is an excerpt from my AQ comparison....

As you move up the product line of a company (AudioQuest in this case), do you get significant improvements, are they subtle changes or any improvement at all?

There are improvements…which I would categorize as subtle vs significant. Each step up the line gets you a little better detail and separation and maybe a little better bass. It is noticeable but not the “blow you away with the difference” variety. A direct comparison between the G-Snake and the Diamondback still only yielded marginal improvements. The difference between the Sidewinders and Diamondback was harder to quantify but definitely there. The bottom line is that the improvement is there…it is just a matter of how much you perceive the improvement to be worth in terms of $.

It's amazing that we would have the same "placebo" effect outcomes....we must have had exactly the same pre conceived ideas as to what we would hear!

steveinaz

That is cool. I intentionally made sure not to read anyone elses review on the DB's until I reviewed them. When I read yours, I felt a little more credible in my review. Ours were very close impressions. Cool.

I'll tell you, I was really pissed when I bought the Copperheads. They're close to twice the price of the Sidewinder. It made me gun-shy about getting the Diamondback, but I'm pretty satisfied with the DB---BUT, knowing what I know now, I'd never pay retail for them. Luckily mine were used...

Now, if I wanted some XLR cables put together, the Diamondback would be my ONLY choice. To me, this is where the Diamondback would shine and be well worth the extra ducks.

dorokusai

Blue - Did these ever get sent to anyone? or should I drop it from the program?

dorokusai

DROPPED