Where do you produce your cable and the components?
All Tchernov Cable products (except HDMI and USB cables) are manufactured in highly reputable Russian factories specialized for aviation, space and military-industrial complex. The Cable Series Standard, Original, Special and Classic are produced in the "Chuvashcable" factory in Cheboksary. The Cables Series Ultimate, Reference and Classic XS SC are produced in a design engineering bureau in Mytishi (Moscow region). The termination process is happening in Moscow in Tchernov facilities and by Tchernov employees. All connectors and solder are made in Taiwan by specialized company and according to specific Tchernov definition and requests.
What is the difference between the BRC and copper, used by other manufacturers?
Most of cable consumers think, that only pure copper without impurities can be used for the best performance in audio and video transmission. However, impurities, as we know, are always present, even in the pure copper. Our numerous tests proved that copper with right balance of impurities "perform" far better than most refined. Experimentally we found an optimal balance between copper and admixtures – BRC (Balanced Refinement Copper) – that lets the conductor, correspond to the sound transmission most correct.
You use for the manufacture of cable jacket polyvinylchloride, but other manufacturers have also used it. What is the difference?
The requirements for polyvinylchloride, used in the cable industry, are very specific. Each recipe is unique for itself. We at Tchernov use Polyvinylchloride SPVC, which is particularly soft and has a wide operating temperature range (-45 ° C to +70 ° C). It has amazing dielectric properties and can be used as a jacket for the cable and as insulation for conductor. It withstands extreme high voltage and has unique damping properties.
What is «Elastollan»?
Elastollan is special thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (we use the one from BASF), which we use as jacket material. This is a unique material with great electrical, mechanical and high-damping qualities.
Why you don`t use a Teflon monolithic or foamed insulation?
Insulation with PTFE makes a conductor exposed to high temperatures. So we use the cold insulation in a multi-layer winding porous PTFE films, providing insulation without putting heat the conductor.
For what need the cable cotton filler and other cotton components?
It is necessary for damping of mechanical vibration, caused through electrodynamics effects in the Earth's magnetic field and the magnetic fields from different devices, and reduces microphone effect. This, in turn, greatly improves the cable work with small signals, and increases the resolution of the audio system.
What is double layer jacket?
The inner layer of the cable jacket is made of unpainted plastic. The second layer - painted plastic. Despite the fact that we are using organic dyes and the impact of such dyes is minimal, impact and interferences are still possible. Therefore, the use of double layer with the following advantages:
The maximum reduction possible effects of painting concentrate on the cable composition.
Better damping, in contrast to the monolithic shell, which helps to protect cables from the effects of acoustic noise and vibration loads.
Why you do not make flat cables, and only round?
All our conductors and cables are round. We see it as the most stable and natural from the point of view of the laws of physics, as well as providing a more uniform application of insulation materials.
What is the function, besides decorative, outer braid of cables?
Basically two advantages:
The jacket protection from possible mechanical damage during cable installation.
Improving the damping properties of the jacket.
What materials are used in the contact parts of your connectors?
In entry and standard level cables we use a gilded brass. In premium level cables we use only high quality copper plated with pure gold thickness of 7 and 10 microns.
What is the main function of a drain wire speaker cables, and what happens if the drainage is not connected to the "minus" terminal in the audio system?
The drain wire provides electrical contact to the shield along the entire length of the cable. If drainage is not connected to the "minus" terminal in the audio system, you can have the distortion in high frequencies, the sound is too bright, intrusive, and low-frequency range will be "blurred". When connecting the drain wire, the RF range will be more transparent, natural, and bass is more controlled. In general, the sound becomes more natural.
Where to ground the shield in the case of a balanced construction of your cables with RCA connectors?
Shields of all our balanced interconnect cables Series: Special, Classic and Reference, with RCA connector, grounded at the signal source.
Why do you recommend your cables lengths scheme?
The lengths of our cables are selected in accordance with the "golden ratio". The starting point in the calculation of the following lengths was the anatomical proportion of 62:38, which in addition gives 1.0, and at division of 62:38 - number 1, 6315787 (rounded to 1.65). Taking as a starting point 1.0 (based range - 1 meter), and following the principle of the golden ratio (length of the next segment should be equal to the sum of the previous two), we get the following range: 0.62 m - 1 m - 1.65 m - 2, 65 m - 4.35 m - 7.1 m *. Length 4.35m and 7.1m are slightly higher than the value of the golden ratio, associated with the wave’s proliferation in the cable and chosen experimentally. 3.1 m and 5 m - intermediate length, made at the request of consumers.
Why the relative high price of the entry level cable?
The price of our products is determined by quality of materials. Our lower line products use the same materials as in the premium series. The only difference is in the complexity of design and materials quantity. They also use only materials, tested and approved Institute of Cable Industry in Russia.
What mean the arrows in the marking of your cables?
As a result of the technical features of production, became the cable wire direction properties. In the manufacture process of the cables, this direction is monitored at all stages and finally gets marked by drawing arrows on the cable jacket. Additional check is in the prototypes hearing tests.
Why you do not use silver plated conductors?
Based on our concept, copper is the best material for the audio signal transmission. As know, we use a Balanced Refinement Copper with a certain content of impurities. One of the impurities is already silver, that quantity is enough for that balance. Additional silver in our opinion distorts high-frequency range.
What type of connectors do you recommend for speaker cables?
We produce two types of connectors: "banana" and "spade". But our experience shows that banana is more comfortable, and the sound is not inferior as "spade" connectors. Therefore, for the speaker cables, we recommend "banana" connectors.
How flexible your cables with equipment from different manufacturers?
Basically our products complement to any audio system, regardless of the country or the brand or manufacturer. One of the main principles we strictly adhere - the cables must not add any color to the sound. Therefore we can say about the relative flexibility of our cables.
The usage of your cable is better with tube or transistor audio equipment?
Our cables reveal maximum potential, both tube and transistor technology. It is only a matter of personal taste, which technique you prefer.
Can I use in the same audio system your cables from different series?
Since all of our cables are made of related copper, we see no contraindications. It depends on the resolution of the audio system. Only the use of expensive cable in cheap audio system, will not give the expected result, and vice versa.
What is the melting point of the solder TCHERNOV CABLE, its diameter and the presence of flux?
The melting point of the solder - 180 º C. Diameter solders - 0.8 mm. Solder contains flux.
What is the recommended operating temperature for soldering station, when working with solder TCHERNOV CABLE?
The recommended operating temperature is about 400 degrees. In practice, depending on the type of soldering and soldering method, the temperature can range from 290 º C to 430 º C.
How many meters of solder is in the coil. What is the weight of the coil with solder?
It is 120 meters on a spool. Weight - 500 grams.
PVC Jacket with antistatic additive. The purpose of this supplement?
Antistatic additive performs three important functions:
Reduces microphone effect, because of the smaller static voltage of the jacket during its deformation.
Reduces the cable sensitivity to the external interferences, because PVC does not accumulate static electricity.
Reduces the "warm-up" of the cable (the time of stabilization of its parameters).
Do I understand that in the "SPVC" is "S" indicates the presence of this additive?
The letter «S» means SOFT (soft) that initially of the mechanical properties of the cable.
What is XS, and what is the fundamental difference between the longitudinal shield of aluminum or copper foil?
XS («X-Shield®») - developed by "Tchernov Audio" is a multilayer shielding of the audio cables, based on the use of two coils of copper foil as the inner and outer layers of the shields, and the braided copper wire BRC as an intermediate layer. In addition to protecting of the conductors from interference, «X-Shield®» reduces resistance of the shield and reduces the effect of stray current interference induced directly into the cable shield. The application of this shielding method for cables improves audio sound across the entire frequency range and significantly reduces the interference level and its influence to the parameters of the components.
What is the country of origin of your cables?
All TCHERNOV CABLE products are our own design and innovation and, are entirely manufactured at the leading Russian cable factories. The only exceptions are the Standard DC Power cables (made in Belarus) and the HDMI and USB cables (made in China). Many of our construction designs and concepts are patented and are the intellectual property of TCHERNOV AUDIO. All cables have a corresponding “made in” marking on the box or cable itself.
You use two types of individual CAFPE® insulation: 2-layer and 3-layer. What is the main difference?
2-layer insulation was developed to increase both the dielectric and the mechanical insulation parameters in the cables with symmetrical construction with two twisted and insulated conductors. The improvement has been achieved thanks to the inner air-foamed PE overlay directly on the conductor (lots of air) and strengthening of the outer solid PE layer (protecting the cable from deformation when bent). We use 3-layer insulation in coaxial cables with only one conductor where its concentricity is critical.
Why do you use Semi-Air Tape Insulation SATI® only in the Reference and Ultimate products?
SATI® is a very complex, delicate and time consuming insulation to apply. It has expensive porous PTFE tapes as its base, which is why it is used in two of our most expensive cable lines. However, we also use the SATI® process in the Classic XS SC speaker cable, but using solid PE tapes instead.
Why do you need binding in your cables?
Binding along with the use of individual insulation plays a decisive role in dielectric qualities of the cable and its sound character. It minimizes energy losses in dielectric, decreases the electrodynamic noise of conductors in the Earth’s magnetic field and decreases the linear capacity. As a result, the resolution in the whole frequency range increases and the dynamics improve.
What advantages does the Cable-Core technology have?
This technology is based on a principle of a conductor free floating in a viscous longitudinal fiber surround with high mechanical decrement. The cotton fiber is used as damping material as it has the most effective impact on mechanical attenuation. Also the cotton fiber as a damping material has more longitudinal strength and good filling capacity. The high air percentage in the interfibre space ensures a low level of the middle dielectric permittivity and low-loss of the electromagnetic energy. The significant interfibre friction and low density of the cotton filling provides good vibration damping and guarantees the widest dynamic range.
What is the essential difference between the Reference AC Power and the other power cables in Tchernov Cable’s lineup?
In contrast to other our AC Power cables, in the Reference AC Power we have realized the principle of DSC (Distributed Symmetric Conduсtor). The energy transmission is carried out by two lines consisting of three similar conductors, configured around a central grounding conductor in a hexagonal structure (1+6) with maximum packing factor. This principle increases the cross-section by 80% in comparison to our other power cables and combined with the SATI®, SASDB® and X-SHIELD® SE technologies it provides the highest possible performance and the most efficient operation.
You use the multi-element shielding system X-SHIELD® SE in some models of cables. What is the difference from X-SHIELD® system?
The use of the heavy copper foil provides superior EMI protection over an extended frequency range especially at low frequencies, where the industrial noise is most intensive. Due to a higher metal mass and better vibration absorption a lower electrodynamic noise is achieved thus extending the attainable dynamic range. The >85% silver tinsel braid, applied as an additional outer layer further increases the HF-UHF noise suppression while improving the overall flexibility and mechanical properties.
Are you going to use the neutral polyvinyl chloride (NPVC) in any cables other than the Standard DC Power?
We are also using this material as a main jacket in our Classic XS SC and as an inner jacket in the Reference SC and the Ultimate SC.
Why don’t you produce smartphone cables?
This category is not an area of direct interest to us.
Is it possible to use your power cables for power cabling in building constructions?
Yes, it is possible. You can use it everywhere when you need a more flexible power cable.
The signal from power board in the house to the socket transmits by simple aluminum wires. Is there any use in Hi-End cables in your system?
The reason for these cables existing is that even to change the small piece of power cable in the distance between the power board and the socket and also between the socket and the component corrects the power line and provides a better basis for your audio or multimedia system.
Is it possible to take your cables for a listening session?
Yes, of course. You have to coordinate it with our sales department.
Why should I use an expensive USB cable if it transmits digital signal?
It should be understood that the digital signal is also influenced by interferences and can be corrupted over the limitation of bandwidth or dispersion growth. The influence of this on the function of audio or video systems which accept this signal will not be trivial as is also the case in analogue signal transmission, and will be more variable due to changes of settings, decoding modes, more or less private requests of data packages, errors and so on. At the same time the result of these variations is almost completely unpredictable because it depends entirely on external factors and can be estimated only for a particular system under specific conditions. The higher quality, jamproof (anti-interference) and pulse cable is used for data transmission, this closely matches the system of reception and data transmission to ideal working conditions, making it less necessary to perform the calculations of error corrections and double-inquiries resulting it much reduced interference from the powerful data processing, which performs these functions.
You claim that your conductors are made from the copper which is produced in the Ural region. Do you process copper stones by yourself?
Yes, it’s true that we use copper wire, which is produced from raw materials from the Ural Mountains. We do not extract or process copper stones, because our job is to develop and produce the cable itself.
Where do you produce your connectors? Which materials and plating do you use?
All our plugs are produced in Taiwan as per our own specifications and designs. Contact parts are mostly made from high quality gold or rhodium plated copper. The bodies of the connectors are made from brass and copper alloys with different types of plating (special lacquers, gold or rhodium). These are high quality high-end plugs.
The cables of the Classic, Reference, and Ultimate lines use RCA type connectors with collet clips. How to use connectors of this type correctly?
Dear users!
When using cables with RCA type connectors with a collet, you need to know the following:
1. Before connecting the plug to the RCA (female) socket of the electronic component, unscrew the outer shell a few turns to loosen the outer contact blades.
2. Insert the connector into the RCA socket, it should connect gently and without any significant effort.
3. Fix the connector on the external contact of the RCA socket by turning the shell in the opposite direction until it stops, but without excessive effort, so that, if necessary, the shell can be easily unscrewed and the plug disconnected without damaging the contact coating of the female socket, as well as the thread of the shell or connector housing.
Important! The user needs to know that when packing cable sets, the external shells of connectors of this type are usually twisted several turns clockwise to avoid their unwinding during transportation and accidental loss. This leads to a tightening of the outer contact of the connector by the upper part of the shell along the circumference of the blades, and, accordingly, a decrease in its diameter. Therefore, immediately before using the connector, the external contact must be loosened by making several counterclockwise turns.
What would happen if I assemble a cable by myself from a Tchernov Cable cut?
You will have a fake assembly cable using a Tchernov Cable.
Absolutely all components used for assembly of our cables (solder, decorative socks, heat-shrinking tubes, various connectors etc.), without exception, are not chosen by chance, but as a result of careful selection of their chemical composition and content or absence of certain elements. All materials and components, as well as the quality of the final assembly result in what is then named Tchernov Cable.
Factory-made cable is a completely finished, thought out from the beginning to the end product, that meets all our requirements for quality and sound in each price category.
