AudioQuest William Tell ZERO Speaker Cable
William Tell ZERO speaker cables are the flagship of AudioQuest's Folk Hero range and may be used in one of two ways: either as ideal Full-Range cables, or, in combination with a dedicated BASS cable, in a Bi-Wire cable assembly of unparalleled performance.
Solid Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) Conductors: Solid conductors prevent electrical and magnetic strand-interaction. PSC+ Solid-Copper minimizes distortion caused by grain boundaries and maximizes linear RF Noise-Dissipation.
Carbon-Based Linearized Noise-Dissipation System (NDS): AQ's comprehensive Linearized Noise-Dissipation System combines multiple shields and a carbon-based linearized resistive network that turns most of this noise into heat. By "linearized," they mean that the system is equally effective across extremely wide bandwidth, rather than at selected frequencies only, as is more common. The remaining bad energy is effectively drained away from the sensitive amplifier circuits via directionally controlled signal and shield conductors.
ZERO-Tech: The only complete way to eliminate characteristic-impedance mismatches between a cable and the attached source and load is for the cable not to have any fixed characteristic-impedance value. ZERO-Tech accomplishes this by eliminating interaction between the insulation (dielectric) and the cable's conductors - enabling uncompressed current transfer. All-important transient current is unrestricted, and RF Noise-Dissipation is linearized (consistent octave to octave).
72v Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) with Level-X RF Noise-Trap: Insulation is also a dielectric that acts like a shunt-filter. Properly biasing the dielectric linearizes the filter, significantly improving the cable's wide-bandwidth ability to dissipate induced noise. The DBS pack's Level-X Noise-Trap "pulls" RF Noise out of the cable, further reducing attached audio circuit misbehaviour.
Directionality: All drawn metal strands or conductors have a non-symmetrical, and therefore directional, grain structure. AudioQuest controls the resulting RF impedance variation so that noise is drained away from where it will cause distortion. The correct direction is determined by listening to every batch of metal conductors used in every AudioQuest audio cable. When applicable, arrows are clearly marked on the connectors to ensure superior sound quality. For most models of AQ cable, the arrows not only indicate the direction that optimizes metal-directionality as part of Noise-Dissipation, but also indicates non-symmetrical attachment of shield and GND in order to optimize full-system performance.
Folk Hero Cold-Welded Terminations: Folk Hero cables are Cold-Welded to AudioQuest's extremely pure Red Copper Spades or Bananas. The bare copper is submerged (hung) in a vat of pure silver instead of being tumbled in a lower-grade solution. AudioQuest speaker breakouts and plug casings are not metal in order not to induce RF Noise into the conductors.
William Tell Bi-Wiring: When possible, running separate cables to the treble and bass "halves" of a speaker significantly reduces distortion. Bi-Wiring keeps the large magnetic fields associated with bass energy out of the treble cable, allowing the delicate upper frequencies to travel a less magnetically disturbed path, like taking the waves out of the water when you swim.
AudioQuest's RF/ND-Tech (patented RF-Cancelling Ground-Noise Dissipation) attracts RF energy away from the amplifier's output. When properly implemented, Bi-Wiring has always been a cost-effective way to get better performance for the same or less money. With RF/ND-Tech, the advantage of Bi-Wiring is much more dramatic. Because RF/ND-Tech is so effective, BASS model cables are only for 10KHz and below; do not use a BASS cable full-range or on treble.
William Tell BASS cable is ideal with William Tell ZERO or SILVER. A Bi-Wire COMBO with BASS and ZERO cables joined together at the amplifier is usually most convenient. When Tri-Wiring, use BASS cables on the Midrange and Bass inputs.
Caution: Do not Bi-Wire with two ZERO cables. ZERO cables in-parallel can create a very high-frequency resonant peak (ringing), and resulting poor sound. Only use a ZERO plus a BASS cable (whether or not joined as a COMBO). Second best is a single ZERO with AQ Bi-Wire jumpers.
Our Take
The AudioQuest William Tell ZERO speaker cables are the highpoint of the brand's Folk Hero range, offering top-tier performance whether used as full-range cables or as part of a bi-wire setup. At the heart of these cables are the Solid Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) conductors, which minimise electrical distortion by preventing magnetic strand-interaction and reducing grain boundary issues. The inclusion of ZERO-Tech eliminates characteristic-impedance mismatches between the cable and connected equipment, ensuring uncompressed and seamless current transfer. This results in unrestricted transient current, providing cleaner, more natural sound reproduction, while also offering enhanced RF Noise Dissipation that remains consistent across frequencies.
Further elevating the William Tell ZERO's performance is AudioQuest's proprietary Carbon-Based Linearized Noise-Dissipation System (NDS), which employs multiple shields and a resistive network to convert unwanted noise into heat. This ensures more effective protection across the entire bandwidth, as opposed to just certain frequencies. The 72v Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) with Level-X RF Noise-Trap further improves the cable's noise-handling capabilities, linearizing the dielectric filter to reduce circuit interference. For those seeking optimal performance through bi-wiring, pairing the ZERO with a William Tell BASS cable significantly reduces distortion, separating the magnetic fields between bass and treble frequencies for more precise sound clarity.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Full Range ZERO-Tech Speaker Cable
- Can be used full-range or with AudioQuest William Tell BASS speaker cable in a bi-wire configuration
- Sold as a Pair - 2 Individual Cables
- Also available as a single cable for Centre Channel use etc – please enquire
- Terminations: Factory Fitted Cold-Welded AudioQuest 1000-Series Hanging Silver Plated Extreme Purity Red Copper Spades or Banana Plugs
- Conductors: Solid Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+)
- Noise Dissipation: Multi-Layer Carbon-Based Noise Dissipation
- Geometry: ZERO-Tech (No Characteristic Impedance)
- 72v Dielectric-Bias System (DBS) with Level-X RF Noise-Trap
- Gauge: 13 AWG
- Jacket: Dark Red on Black Braid
- Standard Lengths: 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m – other lengths available to special order – please enquire
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years
- Learn more about AudioQuest
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.