SILVER REFERENCE originated from an endless pursuit of perfection. With the development of Synchestra Reference, we discovered an open, dynamic cable unlike anything we’d ever heard of before. When Eichmann released the new sterling silver bullet, we experienced the well-known “bullet effect” and determined we could extend the original 4/9 silver string. We’ve raised the purity beyond the certified 5/9 level and incorporated these exquisitely polished silver plugs. Eichmann Technologies in Australia is simply manufacturing the finest RCA plugs on the market. This beautifully designed termination “breaks the rules of conventional RCA plug design” and establishes Reference’s neutral performance. Initial auditions and ongoing evaluations of this revolutionary connector have shown that this unique termination is essential to the Reference line in our product portfolio.
The bullet plug adapts to any RCA receptacle, providing a secure, robust fit, easy disconnection, and leaving no marks on the receptacle upon removal. The connector housing is made of precision-cast aerospace-grade polymer, enclosing milled 4/9 sterling silver contacts. The pin material offers up to 320% higher conductivity than the standard brass pins in most RCA plugs.
As RCA plugs change, so does the insulation material. While our very successful Synchestra used a silicone sheath, extensive auditory testing concluded that the bare conductor of the Reference prototype, without the sheath, sounded better. This not only improved the cable’s response but also increased the likelihood of damaging the ultra-high-quality 22-gauge pure 5/9s (99.9997) silver conductor. The solution was to use a highly inert, fine-mesh fiberglass cloth “magic” jacket, a material with extremely low capacitance. Only air cushioning can insulate the sheath from the conductor, a solution that simply cannot match the sheath.
Passed from Synchestra to the Silver Reference is a pure Teflon mil-spec insulation material on the copper conductor. Applied immediately after the wire is formed, this coating prevents oxygen from penetrating into the silver and provides the cleanest possible path for the audio signal. Hearing tests ultimately showed that the unsheathed conductors combined with the silver BulletPlug® provided a more detailed and dynamic signal than any we’ve offered before.
However, without the synthetic sheath surrounding the conductors, the Silver Reference is more prone to mishandling. Do not bend the signal cable at 90 degrees or greater. Remove the signal cable from the RCA jack using the plug body, rather than pulling on the fiberglass sheath. Minimize plug twisting when inserting or removing the plug from the assembly.
The sonic advantages of the Silver Reference will bring you a lifetime of listening enjoyment.