AudioQuest Chicago RCA to RCA Interconnect Cable (1.5m Single)

The AudioQuest Chicago sits within AudioQuest’s entry-level RCA interconnect range, positioned above the Tower and below the Evergreen. Supplied as a single cable for mono applications such as subwoofer connections, the Chicago uses solid Long-Grain Copper (LGC) conductors — a step up from standard OFHC copper that reduces strand-interaction distortion by eliminating the multiple contact points between individual strands found in conventional cables. LGC features fewer grain boundaries, reduced impurities, and lower oxide content than standard copper, resulting in a smoother signal path.

Construction & Geometry

Chicago employs a Double-Balanced geometry specifically optimised for single-ended (RCA) applications. Unlike many single-ended cable designs that share a single path for both ground and shield, Double-Balanced separates the two — maintaining lower impedance on the ground path for a richer, more dynamic presentation while keeping noise off the signal reference plane.

The dielectric is AudioQuest’s Hard-Cell Foam (HCF) insulation, a nitrogen-injected foam that creates stable air pockets around the conductor. Nitrogen is used because it does not absorb energy in the way that solid plastic dielectrics do, helping to preserve dynamic contrasts and reduce dielectric absorption.

Noise Management

AudioQuest’s Metal-Layer Noise-Dissipation system addresses radio-frequency interference without the drawbacks of conventional shielding. Rather than allowing absorbed RF energy to drain directly to ground — which modulates the reference ground plane and introduces its own distortion — the Metal-Layer approach shields the shield itself, reflecting most RF energy before it reaches the grounded conductor layer.

All conductors are direction-controlled: arrows on the connectors indicate the orientation that optimises metal-directionality as part of the noise-dissipation design, and also ensures non-symmetrical attachment of shield and ground for best full-system performance.

Termination

The RCA plugs use cold-welded, gold-plated connections rather than solder. AudioQuest identifies solder as a common source of distortion in cable terminations; cold-welding uses high pressure to fuse the conductor directly to the plug, bypassing this entirely. The ground shells are stamped rather than machined, allowing the metal to be selected for its low-distortion properties rather than its machinability.

What the Press Says

• "Punchy, smooth, refined character" — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★☆ (April 2022)