"Stellarator" speaker cable

"Stellarator" Speaker Cable: Design Philosophy

The “Stellarator” loudspeaker cable embodies the core Clinamenaudio approach: strictly engineering-driven, focused on controlling the conductor's parasitic properties and minimizing dielectric interactions. The final tuning of the cable is achieved by cross-referencing engineering design and technical measurements with critical listening tests on the Clinamen reference system.

The Origin of the Name

The name Stellarator draws inspiration from magnetic confinement nuclear fusion reactors: the helical geometry in which the individual enameled strands of the Litz conductor are woven visually and conceptually mirrors the complex electromagnetic field flux lines required to contain plasma.

Conductor Architecture & Dielectric

• High-Purity Litz Geometry (AWG 14 Equivalent): The conductive pole consists of seven helically wound elements, each individually insulated by an enamel coating. This geometry eliminates skin effect across the audio spectrum and drastically reduces proximity effect, ensuring consistent, uniform impedance as frequency varies.

• Treatment & Natural Dielectric: The primary conductor is hand-sleeved in a dielectric made of pure, untreated natural cotton. Cotton features an exceptionally low relative dielectric constant (εr = 1.3 - 1.5) close to that of air, significantly reducing dielectric absorption compared to conventional synthetic insulators (such as PVC or other synthetic jacketing).

Stranding Geometry & Mechanical Shielding

Twisted-Pair Cable Geometry: The two poles (send and return) are twisted together using a precisely calculated pitch to optimize EMI/RFI noise rejection, then encased in an additional high-durability protective outer sleeve for robust mechanical protection.

Laboratory Testing & Instrumental Measurements

Every manufactured cable undergoes rigorous testing to measure its parameters using a 4-wire LCR bridge (Kelvin connection) to eliminate test lead contact resistance.

For instance, measurements taken on a 5-meter per channel pair of Stellarator cables validate the engineering parameters:

• Direct Current Resistance (DCR): Measures an exceptionally low 42 mΩ across the 5-meter length. This aligns perfectly with the theoretical value of high-purity annealed copper of AWG 14 gauge, proving that stripping and soldering the individual Litz strands was executed without any loss of effective cross-sectional area or unbonded conductors (achieved via a thermostat-controlled Weller solder pot).

• Parasitic Capacitance: The conductor twisting geometry maintains parasitic capacitance at low, safe levels 1,1 nF across 5 meters, approximately 220 pF/m) measured @ 1 KHz. This ensures total stability for any amplifier output stage—whether tube-based with output transformers or solid-state lacking a Zobel network.

 

Terminations & Mechanical Finishing

• KLE Innovations (KLEI) Connectors: The cable is terminated with low-mass banana plugs from Australia (KLE Innovations). Minimizing the metal mass of the connector prevents eddy currents at the contact point and preserves signal integrity. The banana plugs are crafted from silver-plated copper rather than standard nickel-plated alloys.

• Anodized Anticorodal Cable Splitters: Prior to the split into positive and negative leads, the cable features solid billet-machined splitters made from Anticorodal aluminum alloy. These splitters are anodized and fitted with AISI 304 stainless steel accent plates laser-etched with the Clinamenaudio logo.

 

Technical Specifications Summary

• Type: Loudspeaker power cable, optimized for high-efficiency systems

• Conductor: 7-strand helical enameled Litz wire, AWG 14 equivalent gauge

• Dielectric: Natural cotton

• DC Resistance (DCR): 0.042 Ω / 5 meters

• Parasitic Capacitance (C): approx 220 pF/m @ 1 kHz

• Terminations: Low-mass KLE Innovations (KLEI) banana plugs

• Finish: Textile outer sleeving with custom anodized Anticorodal cable splitters

• Construction: Entirely handcrafted in Italy in the Clinamenaudio workshop

 

Pricing

• 5-meter pair: €1,500 + shipping

• 3-meter pair: €1,350 + shipping

 

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