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"Our entry-level ES-TIM range runs simple stranded and tinned copper with cold-forged gold-plated connectors. The OP-TIM range uses better connectors and specific dielectrics of silicon and cotton. The digital and analog cables are processed with our flux concentrator for more uniform energy across a broader bandwidth. The speaker cable begins to exploit our AFCEM technology to minimize the return currents from the speaker. The IN-TIM range we provided for your review is more refined and the connectors now are cold-forged silver. Tech implementations include our concentrator and ARC (anti current return between electronics) technology for the analog and digital interconnects. The speaker cables again rely on AFCEM. The dielectric remains silicon and cotton but the wrapping braid contains a high amount of air. The IN-TIM's copper conductors extend almost into the GHz range.
Absolue Créations on Nagra Jazz
"UL-TIM is informed by our work into mechanical vibration and crosstalk management. Hence its diameter is about 2cm thick. The flux concentrator and AFCEM technologies appear in double strength implementation.


"The TIM Reference and Signature ranges are for the European and Hong Kong high-end markets where they and our new USB and RJ4 cables are very highly rated. Since 2009 about 15 dealers represent us domestically and we're distributed abroad in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Vietnam and Hong Kong.


"Our cables are designed as full pairs of predefined lengths. The insulation is applied in our workshop were we perform all testing and 24-hour pre-conditioning. All our cables are guaranteed for 5 years."


With our French/English language barrier in place, I suggested to our gents that certain terms still required further elucidation to make sense particularly when our hifi cable fiefdom is generally abuzz with mystery terms, mystery circuits and mysterious abbreviations. Just visit Synergistic Research for a refresher course on those. Christophe understood perfectly whilst reminding me also of the need to protect their IP. "AFCEM stands for EMF suppression where the movement of a speaker membrane sends a reverse current to the amplifier which acts as a brake on the timing and amplitude of the signal. Our invention controls this physical phenomenon to isolate the original forward current. ARC or anti return current is exactly the same principle but developed by taking into account the currents and impedances between line-level components. It is because of these technologies that our cables shouldn't be crossed. It also explains why one must respect the connection and allow it a little time to settle in.
Absolue Créations' six ranges expressed as speaker cables. The look remains perfectly consistent to avoid cosmetic issues when one mixes across these lines.
"Our concentrator operates as polarization without an internal battery. It catalyzes and channels the electrical energy and has the advantage of free surface radiation without shielding. The double-flux concentrator appears in two places at once and is a mixed technology of the same principle. Whilst we really can't divulge more, all our principles of assembly and construction were developed by us over many years of careful studies." Even so I did think there were some final comments to be made on two points: their use of copper vs. silver; and what the three letters TIM signified which appear across their entire catalogue.
Goldmund/Job 225 with Absolue Créations

In many a cable line, copper is the starting point, silver, silver cladding or silver/gold alloy the end. This is true also for Absolue. "We use several types of stranded copper alloy starting with tinned copper in our low end. The IN-TIM range gets silver plating to control oxidation of the copper which is a poor conductor. Our strands are ~0.18mm, then braided to reach a 0.7mm Ø. Our conductors are exclusive to Absolue and sourced in small production runs from a domestic sub contractor. We process our cables individually for their insulation and length, pair and precisely braid them, sheath them in cotton, terminate, dress, test them and run them in. And TIM doesn't really mean anything."