Absolue Créations TIM-Infiny

The TIM-Infiny is the amplifier-to-speaker cable developed by Absolue Créations. It sits at the top of the manufacturer's catalogue, as an extension of the earlier work carried out on the IN-TIM range. It is offered as a pair, with each cable corresponding to one channel, and in a series of graduated lengths allowing the wiring to be adjusted to the actual placement of the speakers in the room.

The design is based on three materials specified by the manufacturer: silver for the conductors, PTFE for the insulation and rhodium at the contacts. Silver is the most conductive metal used in audio cabling; PTFE is a dielectric recognised for its low constant and its stability over time; rhodium, deposited on the terminations, forms a hard surface that oxidises very little, which limits contact degradation over the years and through successive connections.

This type of cabling is intended for already accomplished installations, whose components have been carefully chosen and matched. On a system with modest resolution, the contribution of such a cable remains difficult to perceive; on a system where every element has been selected, the speaker cable, on the other hand, becomes a component in its own right, on a par with a source or a power amplifier. It is therefore a product for the knowledgeable audiophile, intended to finalise an installation rather than correct it.

The catalogue offers several length pairings, from 2 x 1 m to 2 x 2.8 m, with the possibility of going further in additional 30 cm increments. The choice of length deserves consideration: it is better to measure the actual path of the cable, including detours around furniture, than to rely on the straight-line distance between the amplifier and the speakers.

When buying used, a few checks are specific to this type of cable. Inspect the terminations: a rhodium plating that is worn, pitted or tarnished indicates ageing or poor storage, and the condition of the crimping or soldering at the plug determines the reliability of the contact. Check the sheath along its entire length, particularly at the connector exits, an area where mechanical stresses concentrate: a split sheath or ovalisation indicates a cable that has been tightly bent or pulled. A finely insulated silver conductor does not tolerate overly tight bend radii. Finally, check that the pair is complete and consistent, with identical lengths and legible polarity marking on both leads.

Points to remember:

• Silver conductors, the most conductive material used in audio cabling
• PTFE insulation, a dielectric that is stable over time
• Rhodium on the contacts, to limit oxidation of the terminations
• Sold as a pair, in lengths from 2 x 1 m to 2 x 2.8 m, extendable in 30 cm increments