Most speaker cables try to do everything. One cable, full frequency range, end to end. It works, but it comes with a fundamental compromise: the same design handling both the delicate upper frequencies and the high-current demands of bass is inherently a balancing act. AudioQuest took a different approach with the Lone Ranger and BigFoot BASS. These two cables were developed as a system, each optimized for the specific demands of the frequencies it handles.
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a full-range ZERO-Tech speaker cable built around solid Perfect-Surface Copper+ (PSC+) conductors. PSC+ is AudioQuest's proprietary conductor material, refined to eliminate the surface irregularities that cause grain-boundary distortion in standard copper cables. The result is a cleaner signal path at every frequency.
ZERO-Tech is the defining feature. It eliminates characteristic-impedance mismatches between the cable and whatever is connected at each end. In practical terms, this means power transfers without the compression and frequency-response anomalies that a typical cable introduces. The Lone Ranger also uses a 72V Dielectric-Bias System, which keeps the insulation in a polarized state to reduce dielectric noise. Silver-loaded drain wires and polypropylene dielectric complete the noise-control architecture.
In a bi-wire setup, the Lone Ranger handles the treble and midrange terminals. This is where detail, imaging, and upper-frequency coherence are determined. The cable's low-distortion construction keeps that signal clean.
The BigFoot BASS
The BigFoot BASS is a different cable built for a specific job: everything below 10 kHz. Low frequencies require high current, and the cable's 14 AWG cross-section accommodates that demand without restriction.
What separates the BigFoot BASS from a standard cable is RF/ND-Tech. This technology sits on top of ZERO-Tech and focuses specifically on radio-frequency noise across the broadest possible bandwidth. Low-frequency signals are particularly susceptible to RF contamination because bass drivers require sustained, high-current flow. RF/ND-Tech addresses this directly, reducing the distortion and signal masking that can make bass sound soft, bloated, or undefined.
One important note: the BigFoot BASS is designed strictly for 10 kHz and below. It should not be used full-range or on treble inputs. Its RF/ND-Tech is so aggressively tuned for low-frequency noise that using it at higher frequencies would be counterproductive.
Why the Combination Works
Running Lone Ranger on treble and midrange, BigFoot BASS on the bass terminals means each frequency range gets a cable built around its specific requirements. Upper frequencies benefit from ZERO-Tech's linear power transfer and the ultra-low-distortion PSC+ conductors. Bass frequencies get the current capacity and RF/ND-Tech noise control they need to sound articulate and controlled.
This is not simply bi-wiring for the sake of bi-wiring. Bi-wiring with two identical full-range cables provides a modest benefit. Running purpose-built cables on each set of terminals is a more deliberate approach to signal integrity.
It is also worth noting that AudioQuest specifically advises against double bi-wiring with two ZERO-Tech cables. The Lone Ranger and BigFoot BASS are the correct pairing. Two Lone Rangers on a single speaker would introduce amplifier distortion, not improve performance.
A Real-World Example: Gauder Akustik Capellos and Accuphase E-4000
To understand what this combination actually does in a system, consider the Gauder Akustik Capellos paired with an Accuphase E-4000.
The Capellos are built around Gauder Akustik's XPulse driver technology and feature WBT NextGen binding posts with bi-wiring capability. The crossover design is symmetrical, with precise time alignment built into the cabinet. These are speakers that reward a clean signal. They are revealing of upstream electronics and cabling, which makes them an honest test of what a cable actually contributes to a system.
The Accuphase E-4000 is a Class A/B integrated amplifier delivering 180 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 260 watts per channel into 4 ohms. Its output stage uses a fourfold parallel push-pull design, and the preamp section incorporates Accuphase's AAVA volume control with ANCC noise and distortion cancellation. The E-4000 is a high-damping-factor amplifier with a rated figure of 800, which gives it strong control over woofer cone movement.
In this pairing, the Lone Ranger connects the E-4000 to the Capellos' treble and midrange terminals. The BigFoot BASS handles the bass terminals. The E-4000's low output impedance works directly with ZERO-Tech's elimination of characteristic-impedance mismatch. There is no energy stored in the cable, no frequency-specific softening. The Capellos' XPulse drivers receive an accurate signal, and the Gauder crossover takes it from there.
On the bass side, the BigFoot BASS allows the E-4000's high damping factor to assert itself fully. When RF noise is reduced at the bass terminals, the amplifier's control over the woofer is not working against a contaminated signal. The result is tighter, more defined low-frequency reproduction, which is precisely what the Capellos are capable of delivering when given the right foundation.
The Takeaway
The Lone Ranger and BigFoot BASS are AudioQuest's argument that a bi-wired system deserves cables purpose-built for each frequency range, not a single design stretched across both. Paired with speakers like the Gauder Akustik Capellos and amplification like the Accuphase E-4000, the combination allows each component to operate at its full potential without the cable becoming the limiting factor.