With features similar to the Zu Ibis speaker cable, but with improved flexibility, durability and lower cost, Zu Libtec is sure to make you happy . And despite its humble size, Zu Libtec is a high conductance loudspeaker cable intended to be used for all loudspeaker / amplifier applications. It excels in applications as diverse as very low power vacuum tube amplifier setups, as well as super power hungry high current amplifier / speaker combinations. Zu Libtec has a very linear and uniform tone response, it will not hide problems in a stereo hi-fi system, yet will not introduce or reveal unwanted character. If you like the sound and timbre of your stereo, but you are looking for increased top to bottom resolution, better stereophonic recreation, and possibly increased dynamics and texture, Libtec speaker cable is your solution.
Points include Zu B3 electromagnetic field model, hybrid silver alloy and copper conductors, hyprid x-link PE and Teflon (white) insulation, wide unfiltered bandwidth, flexible leadouts and beautiful fit and finish. The performance of Zu Libtec is dead on, engineered to be of the highest resolution and yet revealing of the natural warmth and color of music. In addition to resolution and natural timbre, Libtec speaker cables are likely to lower system noise, revealing low level information previously masked. These primary attributes allow Libtec to improve nearly all aspects of audio playback performance.
Read more...Zu B3 is a cable archetype specific to the electromagnetic model of the cable. It is not about special materials, chemistry or treatment processes. Yeah, Zu are foo figting industrialist agitators through and through.
Zu B3 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. B3 design, manufacturing process and correlative electrodynamic relationships are the intellectual property of Zu Cable Incorporated.
• Properly implemented, Zu B3 increases bandwidth and results in square and very linear electrical measures.
• Relative to the desired characteristics and actual electrical measures, Zu B3 reduces overall cable diameter, especailly in power cables and loudspeaker cables.
• Manufacture of Zu B3 cable required the engineering and fabrication of new cabling machinery as the B3 format could not be made on existing cabling equipment.
Zu Libtec Loudspeaker Cable Specifications
DUT: Zu Libtec 10’ terminated with Zu 1/4” spade lugs
Directional: yes, logo reads in the direction of flow (source > load)
Conducting Area (+): ≈ 11 AWG (4.1 mm2)
Conducting Area (–): ≈ 11 AWG (4.1 mm2)
Cable Geometry: Zu B3
Conductor: silver alloy / copper conducting circuits
Dielectrics: Teflon and XPE
Rs: 0.04 Ohm
Cp: 500 pF
Ls: 2.5 uH
Bend Radius: 1-1/2" (38mm)
Cable Diameter: 31/64" (12.2mm)
Largest Point Diameter: 25/32" (19.7mm)
Shielding: B3 exhibits a natural lack of RF susceptibility
Matched Tolerance: 0.1%
Burn-in
Zu Audio does not recommend any special burn-in procedure and discourage the use of burn-in devices. Simply play the music you like. Note that rock, big-band and full-orchestra turned up to concert levels will get the job done much quicker, but even low levels will take care of things, just slower. For the average user who likes it on the loud side, 300 hours are required for burn-in. We do have a burn-in service, playing real music at very high levels, inquire for details.
Most listeners will notice the following audible changes as Zu Libtec runs-in. Initially they will sound a bit grainy, or scratchy. This will rapidly diminish during the first phase (a few days of play). As the Libtec smooths out, resolution of your music will also improve. The audible changes between 100 hours and 250 hours are typically not as dramatic.
For the hows and whys of cable burn-in please see our FAQ section.
Termination Options
standard spade: 1/4” (6.3 mm) inside diameter
[outside fork width = 7/16” (11 mm)]
oversized spade: 5/16” (8 mm) inside diameter
[outside fork width 5/8” (15.9 mm)]
banana plug: locking, standard 5/32” - 3/16” (4.0 - 4.7 mm)
Neutrik: 2,4, and 8 pole.
Please contact Zu Audio for custom terminal needs.
Direction of Cable & Signal Flow
Zu Libtec speaker cable is not permanently directional. It can be used in either direction; however, we pay close attention to direction of manufacture of all points, from wire to cable, and identify this by placing the labels with the text reading in the direction of recommended signal flow. “Libtec” as printed would read away from the source (power amplifier), and toward the load (loudspeaker). Example: amp > speaker. Connecting it like this ensures matching channel fidelity, increased burn-in speed, and allows the user to easily identify direction after cable or gear swapping.
Installation Notes
Switch your power amp off prior to disconnecting or connecting your loudspeaker cables.
First, wash your hands with soap prior to handling any cable with bare metal. You don’t want to push halides and other subtle tone robbers into the amp, cable, or loudspeaker connectors. And if you can, avoid touching the contact points of the exposed metal parts all together. If you do touch the exposed connectors, polish with a clean cotton rag or old tee-shirt, maybe using a small amount of rubbing alcohol on part of the cloth as a solvent. Keeping the contacts free of contaminants ensures a long-term and trouble free connection.
To clean plated connectors, shinny bright gold or silver color, just use rubbing alcohol on a cotton cloth and some cotton swabs to get into the tight parts. If the connector being cleaned is bare copper or silver we recommend cleaning them with our favorite polish, Cape Cod™.
Anytime you are making an electrical connection make it a habit to inspect the contacts and clean them if they are tarnished or dirty. Our bare copper spade lugs may need to be cleaned every year, depending on how clean they are when connected and your environment. Most any copper polish will work well for this, we have found Cape Cod™ to be excellent. Brasso™ is also very good. Acid based cleaners are tricky, if you don’t have experience cleaning copper with acid we wouldn’t recommend that you start with your audio gear. Most of the time your terminals are going to be in good condition and just need a little buffing, and for that you can use a bit of alcohol and a cotton cloth.
A common abuse in hi-fi is to use cable as a form of tone control. Doing so leads to frustration, further loss of real fidelity, and missing cash. When cable affects timbre it affects timing, phase, frequency response, and so on. Timbre problems are usually solved with good, properly setup loudspeakers, driven by an amp that mates well with them—as well as your room. If the cable has good properties relative to phase, gain, group delay, impedance, and bandwidth, it will likely convey with fidelity the transmitted emotion and color from the amp to the loudspeaker, what our loudspeaker does with it is anyone’s guess. Improvements that will be noticed from well engineered cables should include bass depth and resolution, system noise floor, drive, harmonic structure and timbre, attack, stereophonic realism, easy of listening—simply a lot closer to the recorded event. If you can hear the effect of your cable from recording to recording, you have a cable problem. Effects are for guitarist, DJs, and mastering engineers.
RoHS compliant
Limited Lifetime warranty
Made by Zu Audio in Ogden, Utah—USA
