JPS LABS AC Cables

          Joe Skubinski, illustrious designer at JPS Labs, does things his own way. When he set out to design a line of AC cables, he took a novel approach; application specific products. In studying the problem, Joe quickly realized that one single design could not ideally address the different requirements of different types of components. Rather, a cable should be optimized for its intended use. Four genres were identified, each needing their own design: Digital, video, analog and high current. Thus were born the Digital AC, Analog AC and Power AC. 

JPS LABS Digital AC Cable

       Digital gear required a two pronged approach. First, to reduce incoming line noise, second to capture outgoing garbage. Digital components are a notoriously noisy clan, producing all manner of ugly emissions (both RFI and EMI).
       AC related hash created by digital circuitry is kicked back onto the AC line, polluting the entire signal chain while EMI radiated along the cable length infects surrounding wiring and other components.  The JPS Digital AC Cable has been specifically designed to both eliminate incoming RFI and prevent digitally generated noise from ever leaving the component.                                           
        Contemporary AC cable designs have focused solely on the reduction of noise coming from the AC supply. Most have done nothing to stop the component from polluting the AC source, and little to prevent the cable itself from radiating noise. The JPS Labs Digital AC Cable attempts to control both problems by providing a filter at each end of the cable. The component-end filter stops noise from leaving the unit, while a second filter at the wall-end reduces incoming AC line noise. More technology addresses EMI and RFI on the cable itself.
       The filters in the JPS Labs Digital AC Cable are far more significant than those found in other cables. Typical is a simple, two-component (i.e. one resistor and one capacitor) filter that is only marginally effective. The JPS design employs six components in their network to establish a virtual brick-wall block against noise and RFI.
       Even more interesting details regarding this unique product concern the conductors. All three internal conductors are coated with a ferrite material that absorbs noise traveling along the cable. A thin overall foil shield prevents noise from being radiated by the cable and helps to keep any external noise out.
      What you will hear as the result of using a JPS Labs Digital AC Cable in your system is increased air and smoother top-end. There is a wonderful freedom and openness in the upper-end, a result of reduced "grundge." The sound is, well, "less contaminated," with much better definition and clarity. You’ll find that this cable uncovers subtle detail in a musically cogent rather than analytical fashion.
$349

Read the Digital AC review by TNT

JPS LABS Analog AC Cable

           The Analog AC was designed to work well with preamplifiers, phono stages and turntables, and shares some of the characteristics found in the digital cable. To optimize this design, Joe uses much less filtration than found in the digital cable. Price $349.00.

JPS LABS Power AC Cable

            Amplifiers, like both digital and analog equipment, impose unique demands on the AC cord. Here, a large gauge cable, capable of passing massive current without restriction. was called for. Thus the Power AC utilizes 8 gauge conductors in an Optimized Field Matrix. This design takes advantage of the cords own magnetic field to increase its effectiveness in carrying the high current demanded by large amplifiers. Price $499.00.

JPS LABS Video AC Cable

              Based upon the Digital AC, the Video AC has been optimized for video applications. And boy does it work! I use six of them in our home theater demo room here. They can provide some spectacular results in video picture quality. $349

JPS Labs Kaptovator

              You should read the two recent reviews on the new JPS Kaptovator AC Cord in Bound for Sound and Soundstage! Both are very complimentary, Bound for Sound calling it the "...new King of the Hill."
                Joe Skubinski of JPS is one of our favorite fellows. A wonderful guy to do business with and a super talented designer of what have become some of our most popular cables.  JPS cable products have the unique ability to sound great in most every system they encounter. I define them as having very low system dependency. Their new Kaptovator AC power cord seems to possess the same ability.
       Some background on the cable is in order. Joe’s philosophy here was to create a stranded cable that had the properties of solid core. To do this required many specialized processes involving over ten separate manufacturers. An expensive and time consuming course of action requiring approximately ten weeks from start to finish.
                 Designed as his statement power cord, Kaptovator is a unique blend of some very unusual materials. The cable actually takes its name from one of these materials, Kapton. An exotic (and very) expensive dielectric, Kapton is typically used in critical aerospace and military applications. Kapton’s unique properties include an extremely high-temperature tolerance, superior dielectric strength and particularly low dielectric constant.  After much listening, JPS felt this material was sonically superior to even Teflon. Did I say expensive? Kapton is roughly twice the price of Teflon, and 4-5 times the price of good PVC.
                Most designers feel that less dielectric and jacketing equates to better sound. That can be a problem with AC cables, as the voltage they handle is high, and to be safe, they need a great bulk of dielectric and jacketing materials. Kapton has allowed Joe to design a cable with a very high voltage rating, using the minimum amount of dielectric. Though the Kaptovator is a beefy 8 gauge cable, capable of handling even the largest power amplifiers without restriction, it is has a rather small outside diameter.
                The external jacketing on the Kaptovator was selected in part for its vibration damping properties. The crystal clear material reduces mechanical vibration traveling along the cords’ length, while special surface coatings dissipate any static build-up.
                The Kaptovator is a super AC cord, one that should clearly be considered in the context of any high end system. Kaptovator $1500.00.  Call us today to audition one in your set-up! 

JPS Labs GPA

                 On the entry-level end of the lineup is the GPA, a low cost, very high quality, universal AC cord.
                  The GPA was designed using the same Optimized Field Matrix design found in their (far more expensive) Power AC cable. GPA AC Cable $149.00.

                   Also available is the GPA Outlet Center. This piece combines a GPA cord with four outlet pancake box, similar to that found on the Power AC Outlet Center. A great way to replace those cheesy hardware store outlet strips. Jazz Times Magazine published a very positive article on the GPA Outlet Center. $249.00

Read all of the JPS Labs Power Cable Reviews here