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Transparent's Complete Line of Audio Cables
Re-Designed with MM Technology 
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TRANSPARENT For May 2003 Release: Transparent Introduces MM Technology MM Technology is a total redesign of over 300 audio cables in Transparent's line-up. Each represents new cable technology, new network topology, new network components, and new damping and suspension techniques. "We don't introduce extensive product changes very often because we believe that product line stability is key to maintaining our customers' investment value in Transparent. The performance and ease of handling issues afforded by incorporating MM Technology in our audio line-up were so compelling, however, that we knew it was time for the change. The expense and production implications of a full-line upgrade seemed insurmountable to us at first when we began transforming these products to the new technology, but the engineering department really rose to the challenge. They came up with new computer modeling, more precise components, superior component matching techniques, and they retrained key production personnel to meet the new specifications. Our new audio products not only set totally new performance standards, but they look absolutely fabulous, and they are a lot easier to install. This is a real breakthrough for Transparent, our dealers, and their customers . . . on many levels."Cable Technology. MM Technology cable consists of many heavy strands of oxygen-free copper. The strands are much heavier than XL series cables and are more capable of delivering huge amounts of power more accurately for today's demanding music and theater systems. The proprietary geometry of MM Technology cable makes it expensive to manufacture and terminate. Drawing on many years of cable design experience, Transparent specifically chose the strand sizes and configurations in each of the nine levels of factory-terminated audio cables and four levels of inwall installation cables for low noise and low resonance properties. The cable designs for each performance level therefore provide powerful and quiet foundations on which to build Transparent's new MM Technology networks. All MM Technology cables are UL-rated for inwall installation. Network Topology. MM Technology goes beyond a mere refinement of Transparent's computer model for network design that originated more than a decade ago. It represents a total recasting of the model in terms that redefine precision with respect to the proper balance of electrical properties required to achieve the most musical performance possible from an audio cable. Consequently, producing MM Technology cables requires considerably more precision and exacting measurement in the manufacturing process than Transparent's previous award-winning XL technology. MM Technology, for example, requires a more consistently executed circuit layout than previous Transparent designs series. New Components. The components within the MM Technology networks help calibrate the cable's electrical properties to achieve noise-free and distortion-free transfer characteristics. Many network components had to be custom-designed by Transparent to work ideally with the specific stranding and geometry of the associated MM Technology cable. Advances in component technology have not only provided tighter tolerance parts, but many components have become smaller making it easier to achieve a smaller, cleaner circuit layout, a definite advantage in today's multichannel systems where space is at a premium. Damping and Suspension. The damping and suspension techniques in MM Technology cables are specifically designed to prevent resonance from obscuring the musical nuances as the signal travels through the cable and network. The shape of the new MM modules is a part of the resonance control. In addition, a mass of epoxy damping material encapsulates all MM Technology networks to reduce resonance further. The oblong, rounded shape of all MM Technology cables rapidly dissipates vibration compared to the large rectangular boxes of Transparent's previous generations. Transparent's flagship OPUS MM cables were the first to introduce the new streamline shape in an incredibly stiff, lightweight, and costly carbon fiber shell. Using the OPUS MM shape as a model, Transparent focused on using more cost effective nonmetallic materials in the rest of the MM line-up that could be molded or machined to achieve this new shape. Changing all module materials to nonmetallic enclosures resulted in another important performance improvement. The metallic boxes used with older designs become magnetized and restrict the natural dissipation of magnetic fields around the cable and network. This constriction reduces the free flow of the signal and creates noise that tends to obscure low-level information. The new MM modules provide no magnetic restriction, thereby allowing the new MM network technology and cable designs to reveal a whole new level of dynamic freedom and low-level resolution. Upgrades. Customers who own XL versions of Transparent cables, starting with the "Plus" level of performance, can receive the full benefits of owning cables with MM Technology by taking advantage of Transparent's generous upgrade program through their local dealer or distributor. For example, customers can upgrade an XL version of a "Plus" level cable to the new MM version of a "Super" level cable for not much more than the difference in price between the two cables. Transparent MM Technology is Designed and Manufactured by Transparent Audio, Inc. |
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