AUDIOQUEST LONE RANGER ZERO-TECH SPEAKER CABLE LAUNCHES
The AudioQuest Lone Ranger ZERO-Tech Speaker Cable, the latest addition to its Folk Hero Series.
The new model follows the Robin Hood cable and sits alongside the recently released Brave Heart, aiming to bridge the performance gap between AudioQuest’s Folk Hero and Mythical Creatures ranges.
AUDIOQUEST LONE RANGER ZERO-TECH SPEAKER CABLE
Positioned as a more compact alternative to Brave Heart, the Lone Ranger features an 11.6mm outer diameter per polarity, compared to Brave Heart’s 14.1mm. The design maintains the same dual-housing layout, separating positive and negative conductors for ease of installation and consistent performance.
The Lone Ranger incorporates around one-third more Perfect-Surface Copper+ conductor metal than previous models. According to AudioQuest, this contributes to lower impedance and a smoother frequency response across varying speaker loads. The company also notes an improved sense of dynamics and an overall stronger presentation compared with earlier designs.
AUDIOQUEST LONE RANGER ZERO-TECH SPEAKER CABLE ENHANCED DIELECTRIC AND NOISE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY
AudioQuest has equipped the Lone Ranger with a superior polypropylene dielectric (insulation), designed to expand bandwidth and improve noise dissipation. The dielectric’s optimised characteristics are said to reduce distortion caused by distributed capacitance.
To further manage noise, the cable uses a thicker carbon-loaded PVC layer, a graphene coating, and 4% silver shield drain wires. These additions are aimed at improving the dissipation of high-frequency noise and enhancing signal clarity.
The cable also features AudioQuest’s Permanent Molecular Optimisation (PMO) process, which involves controlled stressing of the dielectric materials. This treatment, the company explains, reduces distortion and helps the cable achieve consistent performance without the need for a running-in period.
ESTABLISHED AUDIOQUEST DESIGN ELEMENTS
Several design principles used throughout AudioQuest’s cable lineup are present in the Lone Ranger. Solid conductors are employed to eliminate strand interaction, while direction-controlled conductors are designed to drain RF noise away from sensitive amplifier circuitry.
The brand’s ZERO-Tech design, a core feature of the Folk Hero Series, is included to prevent impedance mismatches between the cable and connected components, helping ensure efficient power transfer and minimal signal loss.
DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS) IN AUDIOQUEST LONE RANGER
The Lone Ranger includes AudioQuest’s 72-volt Dielectric-Bias System (DBS), which maintains a constant DC voltage across the cable’s dielectric. This system is intended to reduce dielectric noise and linearise radio-frequency noise dissipation. By maintaining a consistent charge, the dielectric remains stabilised, contributing to what the company describes as more natural and coherent sound reproduction.
CONNECTORS AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
As with other high-end AudioQuest models, the Lone Ranger avoids using metal in the external cable dressings or plug barrels to prevent radio-frequency interference. Connections are made via cold-welded, gas-tight joints to red copper spades or banana plugs, ensuring secure and corrosion-resistant terminations.
AUDIOQUEST LONE RANGER ZERO-TECH SPEAKER CABLE AVAILABILITY AND PRICING
The AudioQuest Lone Ranger ZERO-Tech Speaker Cable is available now in North America, priced at USD $2,990 / 8ft pair or CAD $3,990 / 8ft pair. It will also be available in Europe soon, at €2,649 / 2.5m pair and £2,279 / 2.5m pair.
HiFi PiG Says: We are looking forward to meeting the new AudioQuest Folk Hero!
