NOVA POWER CABLE
Tech Lowdown
NOVA | THE AFFORDABLE HIGH-PERFORMANCE MAINS CABLE
iFi has made a number of 'clean power' products in its nine-year history to date, but one thing it hasn't made is a specialist IEC power cable for home audio components – until now!
The Nova is a specialised power cable with a high-end construction that belies its affordable price point. It delivers a serious upgrade over standard mains leads that imbues sound with greater clarity, space and definition.
THE CABLE
- Five conductors, each made from heavy-gauge, continuous-cast OFHC (Oxygen-Free High Thermal Conductivity) copper, arranged in a geometrically balanced configuration – highly unusual at such a price point.
- Two pairs of live and neutral conductors are arranged either side of the earth conductor, which is positioned at the centre of the cable.
- A further pair of air-dielectric delineators – polymer matrix tubes filled with air – are arranged either side of the earth conductor, keeping the two pairs of live and neutral conductors apart whilst improving the cable's overall dielectric performance and constructive solidity.
Cable Construction Details:
- Air-dielectric delineator
- Shotgun Ground line non-twisting design
- Polymer matrix
- Concurrent shielding for each individual power line
- Heavy OFHC continuous cast copper
- Polymer matrix
GROUND ZERO
The Nova incorporates five conductors arranged in a geometrically balanced configuration.
The two pairs of live and neutral conductors are arranged either side of the earth conductor, which is positioned at the centre of the cable. The ground conductor is arranged in a shotgun configuration and not twisted around like other mains cables.
As the live and neutral conductors are arranged in a truly balanced configuration, their magnetic fields cancel out each other perfectly. As a result, there is no residual magnetic field being applied to the centre ground conductor, and no unwanted induced voltage on the Ground conductor – iFi calls this design Ground Zero.
Diagrammatic Representation:
A circular diagram shows 'N' (Neutral), 'L' (Live), and 'G' (Ground) conductors arranged symmetrically. Below, a conceptual diagram illustrates magnetic fields cancelling out around the central ground conductor, indicating a 'GROUND ZERO ZONE FREE FROM MAGNETIC FIELDS'.
CABLE BREAKDOWN
The cable is finished with a tough yet flexible polymer outer sheath and iFi's bespoke audiophile-grade connectors, complete with 24ct gold plated oxygen-free copper conductors.
Material Breakdown:
- Heavy OFHC continuous cast copper: excellent conductivity
- Polymer matrix: for protection
- Concurrent shield for each power line: internal and external RFI noises are minimised
- Polymer matrix: unaffected by moisture, amorphous, dimensional accuracy, low dielectric constant
- Air-dielectric delineator: best separation between balanced pairs of L and N.
THE END GAME
The net result of this sophisticated mix of materials and construction is a power cable offering constant impedance and superior rejection of EMI/RFI, maintaining the purity of mains electricity feeding each component in an audio or AV system.
While the effect of this cable on sound quality is significant when used on its own, it combines brilliantly with iFi's PowerStation mains conditioning power strip. The PowerStation filters out common mode and differential mode noise from the mains supply, while the Nova maintains optimum purity right through to the connected component.
Key Features:
- Constant impedance design
- True balanced power cable
- Concurrent shielding for each individual power line
- Double circular helix power line design with air-dielectric delineator
SPECIFICATIONS
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Voltage | 90V-265V |
| Length | 1.8 m (70.8") |
| Weights | US: 580g (1.28 lbs) EU: 595g (1.30 lbs) UK: 600g (1.32 lbs) AU: 578g (1.27 lbs) |
