The Mythical Creatures in question here are – not surprisingly for Audioquest – speaker cables. In addition to the ThunderBird, the new species also includes a FireBird and a Dragon. All three top models feature separate bass cables for bi-wiring purposes, and all of them have spread out in my listening room, vying for attention and burn-in time.

Already during his visit to our editorial office more than two years ago, Garth Powell had a prototype of the new speaker cable in his luggage, which we briefly auditioned. It sounded extremely promising, so I immediately arranged a test. Just like the Niagaras and the higher-end power cords, the speaker cables in the "Folk Heroes" and "Mythical Creatures" series use ZERO technology, which is supposed to guarantee "zero characteristic impedance." By the way, at the time of testing the AC power technology, Audioquest was still talking about "LOW-Z-Technology." In the bi-wiring combinations of the "Folk Heroes" and "Mythical Creatures" series, there are special BASS cables, which also use Ground Noise-Dissipation technology. Since nobody can explain the cables' technology better than their developer Garth Powell, I will reproduce some excerpts of his white paper below.

Regarding Audioquest's ZERO technology, Garth Powell notes: "Despite great advancements in today’s power amplifier and component technologies, they alone cannot fully address the challenge brought by today’s extraordinary levels of radio frequency noise. Low-level audio signals are masked and distorted by very small and insidious noise frequencies from cellular towers, Bluetooth, and satellites. These ever-present induced noises have rendered both traditional and audiophile speaker cable designs inadequate or lacking. To ensure consistent or linear noise-dissipation in a speaker cable and across the greatest range of frequencies, we must eliminate the portion of the cable that resists linear operation or consistent noise cancellation. That would be the cable’s characteristic impedance. AudioQuest’s ZERO Technology eliminates the characteristic impedance entirely, while our GND Technology for BASS (Bass/ Midrange) cables (for those who bi-wire or bi-amp), carries linear noise-canceling and dissipation even further. Far greater resolution, far less distortion. By eliminating the cable’s characteristic impedance and by significantly reducing transient current compression, we are able to ensure vastly improved dynamics, audio transient reproduction, and bass slam."

About the special BASS cables of the "Folk Heroes" and "Mythical Creatures" series, Garth Powell says: "For those who can bi-wire, bi-amp, tri-amp, and so forth, our new GND Technology takes linear noise-dissipation steps beyond. By utilizing a portion of the technology developed for the Niagara AC power products (Ground-Noise Dissipation; US patent #9,373,439), we have developed a highly efficient noise-canceling circuit that works linearly across more than 12 octaves of induced radio frequencies. Further, any cable construction that utilizes a circuit card, micro-chip, or phasing filters in a box in an effort to reduce RF noise cannot be linear, or nearly as effective at doing so. To an extremely small (2GHz) induced noise signal with a sine wave of less than 4 microns (0.004mm), the remaining length of cable (after the small circuit or box), might as well be a kilometer. AudioQuest’s GND technology works across the entire length of the cable, assuring consistent results."

By the way, the white papers also explain why GND technology is supposed to improve the sonic performance of the amplifiers connected to the BASS cables. The developer also explains why two different cables should be used – if possible – for optimal signal transmission to the speakers: "AudioQuest’s patented GND (Ground-Noise Dissipation/phase-cancelling array) technology is extraordinarily effective, but its benefits come at a price. Though a BASS cable will demonstrate a very high bandwidth when measured with a single tone at a high signal level, it can lose some low-level content at extraordinarily low signal levels above 10kHz. It is therefore never suitable for full-range applications. It is, however, the cable of choice for multi-amplified speaker systems that direct signals to any driver other than the tweeter or super-tweeter. A speaker system that directs signal to a tweeter or super tweeter is best served with a ZERO cable. AudioQuest’s ZERO (no characteristic impedance) technology offers extended frequency bandwidth, extraordinarily linear noise-dissipation, and the lowest transient current compression possible in a speaker cable. However, it is important to note that with thisstrength, comes vulnerability. If two or more ZERO cables are paralleled (such as when biwiring), the two cable circuits could create a very high-frequency resonant peak (ringing), making that combination unsuitable. This cannot occur with a single ZERO cable in any connection scenario, nor can it occur when a ZERO cable is used in a BiWire COMBO with a BASS cable. In either of those configurations, the issue is completely nullified."

For my familiarization with the Mythical Creatures, I have chosen the ThunderBird, which is third in the speaker cable hierarchy and is probably named after an animal spirit in the myths of American Indians rather than the primeval giant geese of Australia or the Phorusrhacos, a primeval terror or giant bird from South and Central America. As with all high-quality Audioquest cables, the BASS and ZERO versions of the ThunderBird use the 72-volt dielectric bias system in carbon design. Four solid-core conductors provide a cable cross-section of 5.26 square millimeters. In the ZERO, the conductors are made of high-purity "Perfect-Surface Copper+" or "PSC+," Audioquest's best copper conductor made of high-purity metal with polished surfaces. Multilayer foils with a high carbon content are designed to convert RF radiation into heat. Both PSC+ and "Long Grain Copper" are used in the BASS, the latter probably in the conductors not connected at the amplifier end for Ground Noise Dissipation technology. The cables can be ordered with banana plugs, U, or multi-fork lugs. V-fork lugs are also available for the amplifier side. Audioquest recommends the U-fork lugs, especially for the insulated terminals required in Europe. Regardless of the type of connections, a three-meter ThunderBird ZERO is listed at 5,600 euros. For the bi-wiring variant with an additional BASS cable, it is then 9,700 euros. Ready-made sets are available in two, 2.5, three, and four-meter lengths. Deviating dimensions are of course also possible because the cables are assembled by hand and burned in in Roosendaal, the Netherlands.

Although all cables starting with the Robin Hood from the Folk Hero series are burned in during 37 hours after completion, and the Dielectric Bias System electrostatically aligns the insulation in a way that would otherwise only be possible with an extended break-in time, I treat the bi-wiring version of the ThunderBird to two full days of music, albeit at night only at very low levels. It replaces the Göbel Lacorde Statement Speaker, a single-wiring cable that costs about twice as much as the ThunderBird. Since my Goebel Epoque Aeon Fine is equipped with bi-wiring connectors, I usually use Lacorde Statement jumpers. But that is not necessary with the ThunderBird ZERO and BASS. Immediately after reconnecting, I miss a lot: the entire left channel. I was probably a little over-cautious when bending the short pieces of cable with the U-spades, and so one has come loose from the terminal of the amplifier. But that little mishap is quickly fixed. During the second day and with rather lustfully selected albums like Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny's "Missouri Skyes" or Keith Jarrett's "Hymn Spheres," a first impression solidifies rather casually: The music comes across tremendously clean and relaxed. The sound seems to be freed from a light veil of gray and does not show the slightest traces of roughness. One thing is already sure: So far, the ThunderBirds present themselves tonally completely inconspicuous, relaxed, and open. Long-term listening becomes a real pleasure.

I have to fall back on more well-known tracks to assess the abilities of the ThunderBirds better. In terms of rhythmic tension, the fullness of detail, and the recording's clarity, the mythical creatures act on a very high level. And the bass drum on "God Bless the Child" in the interpretation of the Keith Jarrett Trio – to name just one track – is enjoyable thanks to lots of energy in the bass. The deep drum comes across even a bit more voluminous than with the Lacorde Statement, which spoils the listener with slightly larger imaging and projects a deeper stage. Even with sparsely miked large orchestral recordings the Göbel cable shines with its spatial vastness. However, you only miss this with the Audioquest after a direct comparison with the Lacorde Statement, which also is twice as expensive. Anyway, that is quickly forgotten when the bi-wiring combination enchants you with its tremendously precise, well-differentiated imaging and a hint of warmer timbres. I would love to give the ThunderBird a few more weeks to get used to my listening room, but the FireBird is already scratching impatiently with its claws.