Varial is our flagship, top of the line interconnect product. Regardless of cost or hype or whatever, if you are in the market for the best interconnect you can get for your system, give Varial a go.
Quick features include silver alloy conductors in a multiple conductor exclusively Zu B3 geometry, high conductance on all legs, 100% high magnitude RF shielding, and solderless connectors that are also epoxy potted.
B3 is a cable archetype specific to the E&M of the cable. Its not about special materials, chemistry or treatment processes. The technology was invented by Zu in 2001 and allows signal and power to be transmitted with increased immunity from RF while lowering reactance compared to cables of similar conductance.
B3 archetype does not resemble any known geometry. To further clarify, B3 is not a straight or twisted pair, quad, Gore™ quad, Litz, braid, interleave, full or sectional coax, ribbon, sectional ribbon, radial, concentric or any other known cable format.
Read more...• Relative to the desired characteristics and actual electrical measures, B3 reduces overall cable diameter.
• Manufacture of B3 cable required the engineering and fabrication of new cabling machinery as the B3 format could not be made on existing cabling equipment.
B3 design, manufacturing process and correlative electrodynamic relationships are the intellectual property of Zu Cable Incorporated.
The Varial was introduced in 2001, second generation in 2002 and the third generation (mk3) was introduced in March 2004. Refinements have been made to the cable geometry (better field relations within our B3 model), conductor area and metallurgy, as well as shielding and dielectric materials.
Zu Varial Interconnect Specifications
DUT: Zu Varial single-ended line-level audio interconnect cable
3-1/3' (1.0m) with Zu phono (RCA-type) locking connectors
Directional: "V" block indicates signal propagation
Cable Geometry: Zu B3
Bandwidth: > DC - 1 GHz
Rs: center pin 0.02 Ohm
Rs: ground 0.01 Ohm
Cp: 290 pF
Ls: center pin 0.8 uH
Ls: ground 0.9 uH
Bend Radius: 1-1/2" (38mm)
Cable Diameter: 9/32" (7.1mm)
Tolerance: > 0.1%
Zu Varial Cable Direction
Varial is directional, and the machined “V” block is the direction indicator and points in the direction of signal propagation (transmitter > receiver). To elaborate, the cables entering the wide or top of the “V” are the source or transmitter side; the cable leaving the small or bottom of the “V” are the load or receiver side.
Varial Burn-in
We do not recommend any special burn-in procedure and discourage the use of burn-in devices. Simply play the music you like. Rock, big-band and full-orchestra will get the job done a bit quicker. On average 400 hours are required for burn-in.
For the possible hows and whys about burn-in please see our FAQ section.
Phono (RCA-type) Connector Detail
Varial interconnects features locking type RCA plugs. Standard RCA plugs simply push on and slide off. Locking type plugs require you to loosen the outer barrel, slide the connector on, and then cinch it up. All things being equal about the two types of connectors, we do not feel either type has a sonic advantage over the other. And as we have never heard of a standard type vibrating loose, we do not feel either type represent a superior connection once installed.
The advantage of a locking type RCA plug: easy, low insertion force connection—the user loosens the barrel, allowing the coaxial shell to open up a bit, then easily slides the plug onto the socket. Once connected the users tightens the barrel. The disadvantages: first time users may not know how to use them, or find them complicated or tedious. Barrels are not captured and may become lost when moving the unconnected cables. Higher cost.
Advantage of standard RCA plugs: they’re simple, and completely functional. Disadvantages arise when the outside ground part of the connection is too tight. Really tight fitting RCA plugs are are not fun to connect, forcing you to brace the front side of the equipment you are connecting. Disconnecting of excessively tight fitting plugs can tear low quality female connectors out of the chassis.
Locking RCA-type Connector Usage
Hold the rear of the locking connector with your left hand. With your right hand loosen the barrel (clockwise, as pictured) until it hides the outer ground portion of the plug (usually a couple of turns—720 degrees).
Once loose, plug it in. It should slide on very easily. If it’s anything but smooth and easy, you need to loosen the barrel a bit more.
Now plugged in, simply rotate the barrel counter clockwise to lock it down.
Zu Varial Maintenance
No maintenance is required for the cable or the connector. All conductors are completely sealed, including the connectors which are fully epoxy potted.
If your connector contacts ever become dull or tarnished you will need to clean them. This is likely to never be a problem with Varial RCA connectors as they are gold platted. Pure copper or silver contacts that are not plated may require cleaning. If your connector contacts are nice and bright, don’t worry about it; and the only time you need to check them would be if you disconnect the cables. In fact, anytime you are making an electrical connection make it a habit to inspect the contacts and clean them if they are tarnished or dirty.
Looking for a good metal and contact cleaner, especially for bare copper and silver? Try Cape Cod metal polish.
Zu does not recommend any contact enhancing products for the Varial, or any Zu interconnecting patch cable.
RoHS compliant
Limited 5-year warranty
Made by Zu Audio in Ogden, Utah—USA
