The Tributaries Cable Story: A Commitment to Quality and Performance

Tributaries, a family-owned American company, is a leading provider of high-performance and high-quality digital and analog audio interconnects, speaker cables, AC power products, and HDMI cables.

Founded in 1991, Tributaries was born out of a desire to design cables based on sound scientific principles—a concept that was considered radical at the time. In an industry where many audio and video interconnect companies relied on marketing hype rather than facts, Joe Perfito saw the need for a company that would prioritize scientific integrity and rigorous quality control. Today, Tributaries remains committed to these principles, designing and testing all products to the highest standards, ensuring that every cable delivers the performance and reliability that audiophiles and cinephiles demand.

Tributaries Cables: Designed for the Love of Music

At Gordon J Gow Technologies, Inc., the spirit of the true audiophile drives every design decision behind Tributaries cables. Created by music lovers for music lovers, the Tributaries collection offers a stunning array of digital and analog audio interconnects, speaker cabling systems, and power cabling systems. Each cable is crafted using the finest metallurgy and materials, meticulously hand-assembled in the USA. Tributaries integrates individually insulated interconnect and speaker cable strands with innovative multi-gauge designs to create proprietary cable geometries. These designs significantly reduce distortion, ensure consistent tonal balance, lower the noise floor, and enhance detail, allowing your music to truly bloom.

Tributaries Cables: Designed for the Love of Movies

In the world of cinephiles, nothing is more important than pristine picture and sound quality. That’s why Gordon J Gow Technologies, Inc. developed the Tributaries UHD HDMI cables, the most advanced line of Ultra High Definition HDMI cables on the market. Designed by film lovers for film lovers, these cables exceed HDMI specifications by at least 20%, providing the necessary headroom to overcome potential system inadequacies. Tributaries UHD HDMI cables are engineered with meticulous attention to both electronic and mechanical detail, ensuring an unparalleled viewing experience.

Tributaries Cable Design Principles

Expertly Designed Audio, Speaker, and Power Cables

Tributaries offers a complete line of audio, speaker, and power cables, meticulously developed by renowned cable designer Jay Victor. Drawing on design principles from Clarus Audiophile cables, the engineering and cosmetic design of Tributaries cables took three years to perfect. These cables feature advanced, patented technologies and are crafted with precision to deliver superior performance.

High-Quality Copper for Superior Sound

The quality of copper is crucial in audio cable performance. Tributaries cables use specially developed copper for audio applications:

• 3N OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper): With 400 crystals per foot, this copper reduces signal loss and distortion.

• 4N HC-OFC (High-Conductivity Oxygen-Free Copper): Offers higher purity for better conductivity.

• 5N LC-OFC (Linear-Crystal Copper): Found in Series 8 cables, this ultra-pure copper features only 70 crystals per foot, drastically improving signal clarity and reducing distortion.

Innovative Cable Design by Jay Victor

Jay Victor, the engineer behind Tributaries cables, holds approximately 50 patents for cable geometry. His designs focus on the relentless pursuit of perfect sound reproduction, driven by his passion for music and expertise in engineering.

Advanced Cable Geometry for Noise Reduction

Tributaries cables feature a twinaxial design with precision-twisted conductors and a polyethylene insulator. This design reduces noise and improves sound quality:

• Twinaxial Design: Two balanced conductors twisted and shielded to prevent noise interference.

• Polyethylene Insulation: Chosen for its balanced, warm sound and flexibility.

• 360° Shielding: Provides full protection against EMI and RFI noise, ensuring that the signal remains pure.

Series 6 and 8 cables include additional copper braided shields, enhancing noise reduction and delivering a clearer audio experience. The triple-balanced design used in balanced systems further lowers noise and allows more of the recorded music to be heard.

Tributaries High-Performance Speaker Cables

Tributaries high-performance speaker cables, designed by Jay Victor, are engineered for superior sound quality. Utilizing the same high-grade copper and insulated multi-gauge conductors as in Tributaries audio cables, these speaker cables deliver a balanced frequency response for a more natural and accurate sound.

Advanced Cable Geometry for Enhanced Sound

Speaker cables are crucial for carrying high-current signals, which are particularly susceptible to interference from magnetic fields. Tributaries speaker cables feature a Star-Quad design, which effectively cancels out magnetic fields, reducing inductive reactance and ensuring a cleaner, more precise signal transmission. This advanced geometry significantly improves the overall sound quality of your audio system.

Understanding Cable Resistance

Resistance is a crucial factor in selecting the right speaker cable. Generally, a larger cable or conductor diameter results in lower resistance, which is essential for maintaining audio quality. For example, 500 feet of 16-gauge wire has approximately 4 ohms of resistance. In speaker systems, where input impedances range from 2 to 8 ohms, cable resistance can significantly affect performance. If a 4-ohm speaker is connected to an amplifier using a cable with 4-ohm resistance, half of the amplifier's power could be lost before reaching the speaker. Tributaries offers a full range of speaker wires, from 11AWG to 16AWG, to suit various installation needs.

maximum wire lengths for two conductor copper wire

Star-Quad Geometry in Tributaries Speaker Cables

Tributaries Series 4, 6, and 8 speaker cables all feature a Star-Quad design, a configuration that significantly enhances audio performance. In this design, four conductors are wound together in a "positive, negative, positive, negative" pattern, ensuring that each conductor is evenly spaced from the center. This precise arrangement cancels out opposing electromagnetic fields generated by each conductor pair, preventing EMI noise from interfering with nearby low-level audio, video, or digital cables. The Star-Quad design also reduces the cable’s inductance, further improving electrical performance and minimizing distortion.

Tributaries UHD HDMI Cables: The Ultimate Choice for Cinephiles

Gordon J Gow Technologies, Inc. presents Tributaries UHD HDMI cables, designed by cinephiles for cinephiles. These cables represent the pinnacle of Ultra High Definition HDMI technology, meticulously engineered to exceed HDMI specifications by at least 20%. This extra headroom ensures reliable performance, even in systems with potential inadequacies, making them the ideal choice for film lovers seeking the best in visual and audio quality.

Advanced UHD HDMI Cable Design

Tributaries UHD HDMI cables are custom-designed to deliver optimal 18Gbps performance. Each conductor is carefully analyzed for data rate capability, with a focus on balancing gauge and flexibility. Models like VEGA, TITAN, X-TEND, PRO, and SLIM have undergone rigorous testing by DPL Labs, earning the prestigious 18Gbps Seal of Approval. These cables are certified by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) for 18Gbps bandwidth, ensuring full compatibility with 4K resolution and HDR content.

DPL Labs Seal of Approval for 4K Cable Certification

Tributaries is proud to offer UHD HDMI cables that have received the DPL Labs 4K Cable Certification, with two certification levels: 10.2Gbps and the highly sought-after 18Gbps level. Tributaries is among the first in the industry to achieve this recognition, demonstrating their commitment to delivering superior quality. For more information about DPL Labs and their testing standards, visit www.dpllabs.com.

Focus on DDC: Ensuring Reliable HDMI Performance

In HDMI connections, the Display Data Channel (DDC) is crucial for transmitting EDID information and facilitating the HDCP handshake between a source and sink. This handshake is essential at start-up and continues throughout operation; any error can cause the system to stop. EDID data is sent via signal pulses, which can degrade due to capacitance as they travel through a cable. The longer the cable, the greater the degradation. High capacitance in a cable slows down the voltage Rise Time for each pulse, leading to data errors and potential signal failure. Tributaries UHD HDMI cables are specifically designed with low capacitance on the DDC line, ensuring error-free performance and reliable operation.

Rigorous Testing of HDMI Cables

At Tributaries, we take HDMI cable testing seriously. We are the only cable company in the industry that tests every HDMI cable after it arrives from the factory using the Murideo Fresco Six-G HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 generator. This advanced portable UHD generator produces an HDMI 2.0, 18Gbps signal of 2160p/60Hz with 8-bit color and 4:4:4 color sampling. Additionally, the Fresco Six-G tests the critical pin #19: Hot Plug Detect. We ensure that every cable meets HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 compliance, providing our customers with products that are totally tested, tried, and trusted.

Tributaries HDMI Review

Tributaries UHD48 & UHDM HDMI cable review by HIFi Review

Tributaries UHD48 & UHDM HDMI Cable by HIFi Review

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Tributaries UHD PRO HDMI Cable by Feversound

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Tributaries UHDT Titan HDMI Cable by HIFi Review

Experience the Difference with Tributaries Power Cables

At Tributaries, we believe that hearing is believing. We guarantee that our power cables will deliver audible and visual improvements to your system. Optimized for 60Hz, these cables feature insulated solid conductors of sufficient size to favor low-frequency AC signals, enhancing current flow and signal dynamics. To maximize noise reduction, alternating lays in cable twisting cancel out magnetic fields, effectively eliminating distortion. Triple shielding from RF and EMI noise lowers the noise floor, allowing you to hear and see more of your recorded content.

Protect and Enhance Your System with Tributaries Power Products

Tributaries power products are designed to protect and optimize the performance of your valuable electronic equipment. Modern home electronics often include sensitive microprocessors that are vulnerable to power surges, spikes, and brownouts. Additionally, noise from Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) can significantly degrade picture and sound quality. By integrating Tributaries power products into your system, you ensure that your equipment is safeguarded and performs at its highest potential.

Surge Suppression with Patented X3 MOV Technology

Tributaries power products are engineered with the patented X3 MOV technology, offering superior surge suppression. This advanced design dissipates heat faster and suppresses more energy than conventional models. The high-temperature ceramic casing is specifically designed to isolate and contain excessive heat buildup during abnormal surge conditions. In the event of a catastrophic surge, Tributaries power products feature dual temperature fuses that open the circuit, disconnecting your electronics from the AC line. This self-sacrificing mechanism ensures that your valuable equipment remains safe, providing the ultimate protection.

Under/Over Voltage Protection

Electrical components are vulnerable to both over voltage and under voltage (brownout) conditions, which can cause damage and overheating. The microprocessor-controlled PWRI-PRO from Tributaries is designed to protect against these fluctuations. If incoming voltage exceeds 135 volts, the unit automatically shuts down and resets when the voltage drops to 130 volts. Similarly, if voltage drops below 90 volts, the unit will shut down, resetting once voltage returns to 95 volts. This protection ensures the longevity and safety of your electronics.

Line Filtering & Isolation Circuits

Tributaries power products are equipped with active filters to prevent electronic noise from contaminating your A/V system’s audio and video signals. Modern homes are filled with appliances that generate electronic noise, which can degrade your system's performance. By effectively reducing this noise, Tributaries power products enhance your electronics' performance, resulting in increased dynamic range, reduced harshness, and the emergence of low-level details previously masked by interference.

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