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AudioQuest

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Profiles

Audioquest tour part iii in the cable assembly room


AudioQuest, founded in 1980 by William E. Low, is a manufacturer of audio/video cables, digital-to-analog converters, headphones, power-conditioning products, and various audio/video accessories—all claimed to match high levels of performance and sold at high prices.

Contents

AudioQuest is based in Irvine, California, has offices in the Netherlands and Hong Kong, and distributes its products to approximately 65 countries throughout the world.

Audioquest cable review featuring the type 4 rocket 33 rocket 44


History

AudioQuest's founder, William E. Low, has described himself as "an absolute hedonist." In the December 2008 issue of The Absolute Sound, Low explained to TAS’s Neil Gader, "Everything I’ve learned about hi-fi or cables is purely the result of being interested in getting high on music."

In his early days of selling high-end audio equipment, William E. Low discovered that the sound of an audio system was easily influenced by the quality of the cables connecting its various components. Hi-fi journalist, Richard Hardesty explained:

"With experimentation Bill found that better interconnect and speaker cables could make bigger audible improvements than many costly upgrades to amplifiers and speakers. And he recognized the opportunities afforded by this new category of audio components. He founded AudioQuest to explore and develop new and innovative wire, connectors and accessories."

While AudioQuest remains best known for its analog and digital cables, in recent years the company has entered new product categories, most notably in its launch of the DragonFly USB digital-to-analog converter/headphone amplifier, recipient of numerous awards, including: Stereophile’s 2012 "Computer Audio Component of the Year" and 2012 "Budget Component of the Year;" Tone Audio’s 2012 "Digital Product of the Year;" Computer Audiophile’s 2012 "Computer Audiophile Product of the Year;" AudioStream’s "Greatest Bits;" and What Hi-Fi?’s 2014 "Product of the Year."

At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, AudioQuest officially entered the headphone market with its NightHawk over-the-ear headphones, designed by Skylar Gray. In October 2014, NightHawk was named 2015 CES Innovation Award Honoree (Headphones) and 2015 Best of Innovation Winner (Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies).

Ethernet cable evaluation

AudioQuest sells ethernet cables that they claim are "directional". One independent blinded ABX test of the ethernet cables at The Amazing Meeting in 2015 found that the cables do not produce a measurable effect. Independent physical testing of the data transmission quality of AudioQuest's ethernet cables show they perform no better than class compliant cables costing less than 1/10 the price. Audiophile bloggers that receive free sample products to review have said that their unblinded, subjective listening experiences justify the high price of the product.

References

AudioQuest Wikipedia