Knut P Skogrand of Skogrand Cables applies a unique approach to the world of cable making. It should actually be said that cable craft such as this is more like making Japanese Katana swords with the old skills but new technology applied creating something beyond what we currently label as a “quality” by current high-end standards.
As with the sword crafted by a true master these cables have their silk fabric outer coats and insignia belonging to an almost ritualistically-derived creation. This is art and technology and infused throughout with passion and an obsession for the best.
But do they sound sharp as a sword? No, they cut through your senses in a painless and invisible way as through the air. They are the air itself as they simply act like they do not exist, having almost no audible signature. The only trace of their existence comes from your eyes, as you can still see them even though your brain screams that there must be nothing there. Their physical beauty is hard to resist, but this is just a final twist to this artisan act. What is truly important remains invisible. What is audible comes to the fore, as it should be.>
And what is audible is simply breathtaking. With their Haiku feeling it is a surprise that these products actually come from the snowy Norwegian mountains, not from the Cherry-blossoming Japanese gardens.
The result of an audition is like being hit by Thor’s Hammer. Knut Skogrand, the brainchild behind this art is a gentleman with huge presence and being a musician himself he knows what he is looking for in sound whilst he utilises his alchemist skills to transform metals, fabrics, wood and air into something beyond gold. Whoever has tried these cables has come back with a sense of wonder. Certainly we must say that we have to agree.
Cable models:
Skogrand Cables offer five ranges of cables from bottom to the top respectively:
Rachmaninov, Brahms, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and two sub ranges : Wagner & Grieg
First four comprise speaker cables and signal cables only, both XLR and RCA.
Wagner is the name reserved exclusively for power cables only. Those cables are recommended by Knut Skogrand to complete those ranges listed above and are available only with US or Schuko plugs.
Grieg cables are exclusively DIGITAL cables. This range includes RCA, BNC, AES/EBU and the latest addition to the range, the Grieg USB cable.
All of the above are available at G-Point Audio as exclusive Skogrand Cables distributor. However we are going for the best, hence we are keeping the TOP two ranges exclusively at our premises for customer demo: Tchaikowsky and Beethoven. Naturally we have all Digital and Power Cables available as well.
Rachmaninov
Within the Rachmaninov range following cables are available:
- SC Rachmaninov speaker cables
- SCI Rachmaninov interconnects
- SCJ Rachmaninov Jumpers
Entry level Rachmaninov cable is quite different from the rest of the SC family design wise. Instead of utilizing solid core copper wires it is delivering the signal through multi stranded wires made from an ultra pure silver and copper alloy. As dielectric Teflon had been chosen to keep the multi stranded wires bundled together.
The SC Rachmaninov speakers cables offer 2 x 12 AWG signal wires while the SCI Rachmaninov interconnects deliver the signal through 2 x 24 AWG wires.
Brahms
Within the Brahms range following cables are available:
- SC Brahms speaker cables
- SCI Brahms interconnects
- SCJ Brahms Jumpers
Brahms is another entry level cable model in SC range.It utilizes some of the ground principles found in its more advanced siblings. You get an air dielectric construct and solid core copper wires delivering that performance quality that Skogrand cables are famous for bu without the framework the top models are using.For that reason it is slightly more flexible than our other models.
Ravel
Available within the Ravel model range:
- SC Ravel speaker cables
- SCI Ravel interconnects
- SCJ Ravel Jumpers
The SC Ravel offers solid core copper leads suspended in air within a framework of low dielectric fabrics and PTFE tubing.
Through this cable build we have achieved an effective dielectric constant of 1.0018 with a signal transfer speed: 299253,8 km/h or 99.82% of the speed of light making this one of the fastest speaker cables in the world.
SC Ravel speaker cables:
It’s only rivals being our Tchaikovsky and Beethoven cables.
SCI Ravel interconnects:
SCI Ravel interconnects are matching the SC Ravel speaker cables when it comes to looks, signal transfer capabilities, materials and overall performance.
About UP OCC technology
Ultra Pure Ohno Continuous Cast copper wire is considered to be some of the finest wire in the world.Extremely natural sounding without any hints of edginess or graininess. The manufacturing process of wire starts with molten copper being formed into long rods or bars. These bars are then drawn through a small orifice that is sized to produce the required gauge of wire. Conventional high purity copper wire has 1500 grains per foot of wire. The grain count is significant because these juncture points compromise the transmission of audio signal down the wire. Oxygen Free High Conductivity (OFHC) wires has an improved formation, with a count of 400 grains per foot. In 1986, Professor Ohno from the Chiba Institute of Technology developed a continuous casting process for wire (OCC), which resulted in revolutionary improvement in the structural formation. The Ohno method uses heated molds, which controls the length of time that the molten copper cools down in. The rapid cooling time of the conventional casting process is responsible for the fractured grain structure; which results in an inferior end product. Wire drawn from OCC ingots will contain a single copper grain, which can be over seven hundred feet in length. A single grain wire has all the desirable properties for signal transmission, and is remarkably durable. Because of its characteristics of single crystal, unidirectional, free of impurity, flexible fatigue-resistance, corrosive-resistance, low electric resistance, none-crystal boundaries, rapid transmissibility, perfect in structure, and easy to process, all make it an ideal material for making rapid transmission lines.
Tchaikovsky
Within the Tchaikovsky range following cables are available:
- SC Tchaikovsky speaker cables
- SCI Tchaikovaky interconnects
- SCJ Tchaikovsky Jumpers
SC Tchaikovsky speaker cables
The SC Tchaikovsky offers solid core copper leads suspended in air within a framework of ultra low dielectric fabrics and PTFE tubing. With this cable build an effective dielectric constant of 1.0018 with a signal transfer speed of 299253,8 km/h or 99.82 % of the speed of light had been achieved making this one of the fastest speaker cables in the world – only rivalled by our Ravel and Beethoven cables. With gold z-plug or spade connectors (Speak-on or un-terminated bare wires optional), pure silk brocade cable sleeves, 4 x 12 AWG UP-OCC 7N solid core copper leads and one week build time the SC Tchaikovsky stands out as a marvel of sight and sound.
SCI Tchaikovsky interconnects
SCI Tchaikovsky interconnects are matching the SC Tchaikovsky speaker cables perfectly when it comes to looks, signal transfer capabilities, materials and overall performance.
Beethoven
Available within the Beethoven model range:
- SC Beethoven speaker cables
- SCI Beethoven interconnects
- SCJ Beethoven Jumper cables
- SCAC Beethoven AC power cables
- SCD Beethoven digital cables including USB 2.0 A-B, 75 Ohm BNC, 75 Ohm RCA and AES/EBU 110 Ohm XLR.
The science behind the Skogrand Beethoven cable model gives it a firm and unchallenged position as the fastest and most accurate electrical conduit known to man preserving the signal most effectively, completely and undisturbed.
SC Beethoven cables are a manifestation of Knut’s ultimate efforts to build a range of cables that stands firmly above any competing products. When you buy a Beethoven cable you may rest assured that it will bring out the full performance of your connected components like no other cable in the market. Adding nothing – leaving you only with the pure truth about your other components. In this respect SC cables are a valuable tool to any music and audio lover who strives to build their reference set up. With Skogrand Cables you can only go in the right direction – an invaluable asset on your quest for your personal audio Nirvana.
If you are looking for cables to add colour or flavour to your system’s signature sound then it is not the best place to look. If you on the other hand desire a reference cable to last you a lifetime of component upgrades, that will enable you to focus on the true ability of your set up, then Skogrand cables are the only real alternative in today’s market.
The price reflects the amount of work both going into developing these cables and manufacturing them. It also mirrors the fact that this kind of performance is one of a kind.
As with all Skogrand Cables it looks as it performs – with absolute panache and beauty.
- 2 x 4mm + 6mm + 24 AWG UPOCC 5N solid core copper
- Three layers of shielding
- One layer of shielding lifted from the two layers of the spiraling inner framework and held separate by air.
- In contrast to the SCAC Wagner AC power cable that has two spiraling tubes visible on the outside, the SCAC Beethoven has its spiraling inner framework concealed within a shielded circular outer cable build.
- Low-K material inner framework enhancements.
- Thermally and machanically enhanced Ultra Pure Ohno Continuous Cast copper wires with improved surface quality and electrical conductivity.
- Wires scanned to eliminate any grain borders ensuring that every wire length of each cable consists of only one copper crystal.
- All inner framework materials scanned and freed from impurities.
- All wires matched for exact similarity of size and performance.
- More accommodating inner framework.
- All of these individually small specs coming together to form a Grand performer that will serve the signal completely – undisturbed and unaltered.
Skogrand Wagner AC power cable
Skogrand Wagner is a high performance AC power cable designed to deliver a pure energy flow to your components protecting and preserving the energy transfer in a most complete way. Skogrand Wagner is a multistrand design with ample shielding and 15A 125V/16A 250V UP-OCC Connectors.
The Wagner comes in the cable model finish of any of our cable models. Performance and pricing stays the same of course.
We offer US and Euro Schuko connectors along with the IEC plugs.
Skogrand Grieg DIGITAL cable
CD Grieg digital cables range include:
- USB 2.0 A-B
- 75 Ohm Air dielectric 1.00 dielectric constant BNC coax
- 75 Ohm Air dielectric 1.00 dielectric constant RCA coax
- 110 Ohm AES/EBU XLR