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*note* new 2024 version now has the new aesthetic fusion wire added, same overall specification in terms of silver occ litz amount. Stay tuned for updated pictures or request them via direct email to NorneAudioCables at Gmail dot com. Please compose a direct email from your inbox instead of using the contact form (until new website launches this year).
Vykari 17.3awg Classic (w/18.9awg silver occ litz per polarity)
Back for 2024, now called Vykari "Classic".
Our past top selling large gauge silver occ litz premium headphone cable with added 2023 stranding refinement.
Image above shows our Silver triangle splitter with raised CNC silver inlay (black fill logo)
Vykari Overview:
After our 13+ years dedicated to designing the ultimate headphone cable, we now bring back our best selling Vykari, a large 17.3 gauge per polarity occ litz end-game headphone cable. Within the 17.3awg we have a large 18.9awg as silver occ litz per polarity, with the remaining as 22awg copper occ litz. In contrast to some other cables out there that may only use smaller gauges of silver. The Vykari was created based on our desire for the perfect headphone cable that combines ultimate possible transparency with smooth, engaging, dynamic and toe-tapping balanced sound. Combining all of our learned techniques over the many years with the very large gauge, you get an experience that other smaller gauge cables just cannot deliver. We use a very specific strand size and strand count with each OCC metal type along with our 2023 refined stranding. We are extremely proud of this cable and are excited to once again offer it to everyone. Whether it is for the Focal Utopia, Hifiman Susvara, Meze Elite, Sennheiser HD800S/HD820, Focal Utopia, Stellia, Final Audio Design (FAD) d8000 pro / LE, Audeze LCD-5, ZMF Atrium / Caldera, DCA Expanse and beyond, you will never have to worry about upgrading your cable again. With our 30-day money back guarantee, anyone can try it in their own system and hear what end of the road in cables sounds like.
Composition:
17.3awg ohno continuous cast litz per polarity
This 17.3awg is comprised of:
18.9awg of our highest purity silver occ litz per polarity + 22.0awg of our highest purity cu occ litz per polarity
Top flexibility for the large gauge with our custom ultra clear jacket (tribo-electric series matched to our razor thin litz coating), further enhanced with our Tri-conductor geometry and larger internal cotton cores.
Why Silver?
Quite simply because we believe it is the end of the road in headphone cables, period. It is the best from both a science based view (maximum conductivity of any metal) and from a perspective of sonic refinement achieved in our view and testing. In our 13+ years of designing headphone cables we have found nothing better than pure silver occ litz large gauge to deliver the top levels of detail, micro-detail and refinement. If you are after an end-game cable for your top tier system, look no further.
Why Litz (Litzendraht)?
With "Litz" based design you also have the cable that helps to mitigate any of the negative effects that can happen to wire. All of our cables use a razor thin enamel coat on each individual fine strand. This allows each strand to act independently until being soldered at the termination point. With this razor thin enamel coat on each strand you also eliminate the issues that can arrise from non-litz cables, such as oxidation. With Litz based design you no longer have to worry about that factor, and you have the best possible base design type for your wire.
Why OCC?
Used throughout the high end audio industry in most flagship cable products, OCC provides the superior quality copper or silver possible today.
OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) is the name given to the casting process developed to help eliminate grain boundaries in copper or silver with a unique patented process. The OCC casting method uses specialized heated moulds in order to draw a single crystal up to 125 meters in length. With only a single crystal in very long lengths, there is an unimpeded free path for the best possible signal transfer. Along with this superior single long crystal structure, OCC provides copper and silver with the least possible oxides and other impurities. In contrast to OCC, there are other lower grade coppers such as OFC, ETP with a multitude of grain boundaries and other impurities.
OCC+Litz (combined) in headphone cables
We were the first to do the OCC plus Litz (enamel coated) combination specifically for headphone cables in 2011. As such we do have the longest experience designinng headphone cables with this OCC+Litz combination.
Summary:
Combining the best metal (Silver) with the best purity (OCC) and the best design type (Litz, enameled strand), you have the ultimate base to tweak your design further and squeeze out the absolute maximum refinement from your upgraded headphone cables. If you are after the best we have to offer look no further than our largest gauge silver occ litz containing designs.
Looking for even more silver occ litz per polarity? Email us about the Vykari v2 which can be configured as high as 15.8awg silver occ litz (per polarity).
Vykari Feedback:
"
I clearly hear the extra body and fullness you talk about - it's kind of a huge sound, where instruments have a wonderful, visceral weight to them. Considerably more detail and micro detail, and I also feel the imaging and sound stage are better. Percussion, cymbals sound very real, also quite a dramatic effect on bass guitars and lower frequencies. Overall it's like the proverbial veil has been lifted - one that I didn't know was even there. There is that feeling that you're in the same space as the performers. Before getting this cable, I would have said that all these aspects were already excellent by the way, but a dramatic improvement.
I've had the Hifiman HE1000se headphones for some time (now used with an RME dac and Icon Audio tube amp) so it's surprising to discover that I've limited their potential with inferior cables. Also there can be a slightly exuberant treble with these headphones, but your cable sweetens that while enhancing air, detail and naturalness - quite a trick. Forgive me, but I was probably expecting a smaller effect on the sound quality, and just something that would look and feel the part, and would have been perfectly happy with that. Actually it's as big an improvement as getting a new dac or amp - not surprising news to you I'm sure, but it is to me.
"
--Graham C., Grimsby, U.K.
"
It’s hard to believe a cable can make this much difference, but this one does! The soundstage is incredible and everything has it place with lots of space in between… it’s wide and deep. And, the music is ALIVE!!
I thank you much for bringing this one to me!
"
--Hugh W., Athens, GA.
"Thank you for the beautiful Norne Vykari. I really like this cable. It's an excellent match with my Hugo 2 and HEKSE. Love the presence factor and the extra weight it adds to the sound. "
--Dean R., Amsterdam, NL.
"With Vykari though, Susvara sounds incredible. The sub-bass rumble is there, mid-bass has sufficient punch but not too much, and the midrange is just beautiful. Not to mention the very smooth but extended treble. I think Vykari is easily the best cable out there. Somehow it strikes the perfect balance between resolution, warmth and punchiness. I previously used Vykari with Diana V2, and it has a very similar effect."
Norman D., Jakarta, ID
Splitter options:
Sleeve list:
Exclusive New sleeves for 2023 and all Vyakri models (Vykari Classi or Vykari v2)
1). Black with metallic gold tracer + metallic purple tracer
2). Black with metallic silver tracer + metallic purple tracer
3). Dark Brown with metallic dark copper tracer + metallic dark silver tracer
4). Black with purple + dark grey tracers (non-metallic)
Quick Termination Notes:
If there is a particular amplifier or headphone end termination you do not see, odds are we can do it. Please just email us via contact form to confirm.
30-day moneuy back guarantee
Trust your own ears while also being confident to do so with our 30-day money back guarantee. We believe that all headphone cable makers should have a policy like this, you need to hear it with your ears in your system.
Is this cable right for you?
Shoot us an email to discuss what might be the right choice for you: NorneAudioCables At Gmail Dot Com
Email us with the list of your current headphone, amp, dac, sound and music preferences. We will get back to you in order to find the exact right cable for your needs. Any information you can provide us will help us guide you to the right choice.
Please note: Page description under construction, check back soon for more details. See bottom for specs.
Why OCC?
Used throughout the high end audio industry in most flagship cable products, occ provides the superior quality copper and silver possible today.OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) is the name given to the casting process developed to help defeat annealing issues and virtually eliminate all grain boundaries in copper or silver with a unique patented process. The OCC casting method uses specialized heated moulds in order to draw a single crystal up to 125 meters in length. With only a single crystal in very long lengths, there is an unimpeded free path for the best possible signal transfer. Along with this superior single long crystal structure, OCC provides copper and silver with the least possible oxides and other impurities.
Why Litz?
With each strand utilizing a razor thin enamel coating, Litz based wire provides a cable that will last a lifetime (will not oxidize). Further with each strand acting independently until joining at the termination point, the design negates any bad effects typically associated with normal stranded wire (skin effect, proximity effect, etc.). As another side benefit durability and flexibility are both increased.
Combining OCC (purest metal) with Litz design you really have an end result that is the ultimate cable possible today.
Why Pure OCC Copper, OCC Silver and True Fusion OCC Silver + OCC Copper
We go by the numbers using science as the guideline. All metals have a conductivity rating as describe by the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS). All metals are compared against Copper at the 100% IACS rating mark. OCC Copper is rated at 103% IACS and Silver 106% IACS. Gold is rated at 73% IACS or 27% lower conductivity as compared to standard OFC/ETP copper (given the exact same amount of each metal). Therefore it would take a significant amount more Gold to achievethe higher conductivity rating of copper.
We will never release anything less than OCC copper and will never release any alloys. So what is an alloy? An alloy is defined as a mixture of two or more different metals, making the original metal less pure with worsened electrical performance than the original pure metal. An alloy of 1% gold with 99% silver would yield around 89% IACS rating or 11% less conductivity than standard OFC/ETP copper. While cables made of metals/alloys that are inferior to copper may alter the sound in a specific way, that is not our goal. Norne Audio will always seek to utilize the absolute best materials (going by the numbers) in our pursuit of the absolute best cables possible today. We believe that the cables with the best specifications yield the best possible sound of ones system.
Please watch the above animation if you prefer a quick visual overview.
IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard)
The IACS rating is the metric used to describe a metals conductivity as compared to the standard of copper.
First take a look below at pure metals conductivity ratings.
(1) OCC Pure Silver - 107%
(2) OCC Copper - 103%
(3) Copper (common grade) - 100%
(4) Gold - 73%
Silver is the best there is, in pure form, period.
example:
If you take a 1"x 1"x 1" cube of pure silver and compare its conductivity to an identical 1"x 1"x 1" cube of gold, the gold is considered 32-35% less conductive than the pure silver.
Alloys
An alloy, by definition, is less pure than the original pure metals it is comprised of. Alloys are in existence largely for strength / hardness properties and are not meant for high end audio cables. When you alloy a metal, say gold with silver, you quickly decrease its purity and IACS rating. Even at just 1% gold alloyed with silver the IACS rating drops down well below plumbing grade copper. Alloys in the audio world came about purely as competition increased and there was desperation for new ways to try and market a cable to the uneducated masses.
Norne Audio will always utilize the purest form of a metal and will always use pure silver occ litz, pure copper occ litz, spc occ litz or mixes thereof. Our goal is the design that possesses the absolute top specifications of the highest possible quality.
