Column 4

　In this column, we will look into the component parts comprising shields and jackets.
8：Shields

　The purpose of a shield is to prevent penetration of electromagnetic waves emitted from external sources from producing noise interference on the conductor, which is surrounded by an insulator. At the same time, a shield functions as a minus or ground conductor which diverts electromagnetic waves interference signals to ground. Ideally, a shield should have a cylindrical shaped structure, such as a copper pipe, which can greatly reduce noise. However, such a structure is not of practical use for cables in that they are basically required to offer a high level of flexibility. Thus, generally a tube-shaped mesh made of thin braided copper wires is used for the shield. With a mesh structure, however, noise can still penetrate through gaps between braided copper wires. In order to prevent this, a "densely braided shield" has been adopted for Providence cables.
　A densely braided shield puts more emphasis on low noise characteristics rather than flexibility. It was designed to offer practical usability through combining the elasticity of copper wires used for the shield with the characteristics of other component parts to present a good balance. In addition, a conductive vinyl layer is placed inside the shield as a supplementary shield to block out noise. At the same time, it also functions to increase the insulation properties of the conductor and the shield. Carbon is mixed in with the conductive vinyl used for the Providence S102 and P203 to increase their shielding effects.
9：Jackets

　The jacket, which covers the external surface of a cable, is a component part that must offer high durability so as to protect the conductor and shield. At Providence, we use PVC for the jacket, which is widely used as a jacket material. In the case of the jacket, the sound quality will also change depending on materials and structure used. This is caused by variation in the capacitance between the cable materials and the external environment. Surprisingly, even when the same material is used, the sound can change depending on the color of the respective cable. This is due to the properties of the ingredients of the material used for coloring. Even with Providence cables having the same blackish color, the color will still differ slightly depending on the model. This is because the make up of the jacket was determined by taking sound characteristics into account. In the case of the purple jacket used for the P203, the color was selected because a lighter color jacket would not produce good sound quality; thus, purple was deemed suitable by taking into account the balance between sound quality and the visibility of the cable in darker places.
10：The diameter of finished wire materials

　Regarding cable diameters, beginners are likely to have the idea that thicker cables can produce a deeper sound. In fact, high-end cables tend to have larger diameters; however, the thickness of a cable does not actually serve as a standard for good sound. If we place emphasis on cost reduction without taking into account elasticity, weight or ease of use and portability, cables will generally become thicker. The thickness of Providence cables is selected based on what is the most suitable diameter for each model by balancing such factors as purpose of use, ease of use and the ability to offer the cables for sale at a reasonable price. Users should select cable diameters without having any preconceived ideas.
11：Plugs

　Plugs serve as the contacts between guitars, bass, amplifiers and effectors, etc. The material that is generally used for plugs is brass. Silver color plugs are nickel plated, while gold plugs are gold plated. Gold plated plugs are not gold plated with the intent of being expensive-looking, but to provide superior specifications to achieve certain sound nuances and functionality. In the case of Providence cables, gold plating is not used for appearance purposes with high-end models, but to offer a sound quality balance. Both 24-carat gold plating and nickel plating are used, depending on the requirements
Providence adheres to the highest standards of excellence concerning the shape of plugs. We have adopted diameters or chip shapes for standard jacks that accord with "inch-based" measurements which serve as the global standard for plugs. In this manner, we have eliminated the uneven sizes that are often found among Japanese plugs. In fact, even in the case of jacks and plugs of the same brand, some plugs are designed slightly smaller than jacks in order to avoid problems caused by finishing errors in the final product. In terms of "contact," a contact resistance surface is not always ideal. Providence plugs are designed to a size that offers a perfect match with world standard jacks. Such specifications can be realized as Providence's advanced production technology enables 1/100mm processing, which exceeds that of overseas products and helps minimize finishing errors. Also, the contact points between the plug and jack have been increased by a "just-fit" design which is beneficial in terms of improving sound quality. This also gives Providence plugs a higher degree of reliability in preventing accidental removal of the plug from the jack.
Providence holds a utility model patent for the L-shape plug design. It is also significant to note that Providence has adopted an original unique structure, employing a 91-degree angle for L-shape plugs (refer to Column 2 "A Perspective on Providence Cables"). A plug's cover is directly related to usability when a user inserts or removes the plug. In the same manner as cable shields, the plug cover plays a role in shutting out external noise. The sound nuance also changes depending on the material used for the plug cover. At Providence brass is used for the plug cover taking into account sound factors.
　Some time back, we had an opportunity to participate in a test monitoring of Providence cables. In the next column, we will report the results of the test monitoring. We will also look into development and production control techniques used in Providence cables.