Atlas Element Metik 3.5mm to 2 x RCA Is a High-Fidelity 1:2 Interconnect for Portable-to-Hi-Fi Audio Integration
Atlas Element Metik 3.5mm to 2 x RCA – Achromatic X is a premium 1:2 stereo interconnect designed to bridge portable audio devices with high-performance home audio systems. Purpose-built for listeners who demand audiophile-grade signal integrity from compact sources, this cable transforms the often-overlooked 3.5mm output into a robust, low-noise stereo connection suitable for integrated amplifiers, powered speakers, and DACs with standard RCA inputs.
Engineered with the same uncompromising attention to detail found in Atlas’s higher-end Hyper and Ailsa series, the Metik 3.5mm to dual RCA interconnect allows portable digital audio players, smartphones, tablets, or laptops to deliver their full sonic potential in a high-resolution playback environment.
1:2 Configuration Combines a Single 3.5mm Source With True Stereo RCA Separation
Atlas Element Metik in 1:2 configuration connects a single 3.5mm stereo jack to two RCA outputs—left and right—providing true channel separation and balanced signal routing. This configuration is ideal when integrating a portable or computer-based source into a traditional stereo system, allowing clear distinction between audio channels and minimising crosstalk.
Each RCA connector is independently terminated using Atlas’s cold-weld Achromatic X RCA technology, ensuring that the signal from the 3.5mm plug is split cleanly and delivered with exceptional phase accuracy to left and right channels. This separation is vital for maintaining stereo image precision, tonal balance, and soundstage depth in audiophile listening environments.
Metik 3.5mm Plug Delivers Solder-Free Signal Integrity for Mobile Devices
At the source end, the Metik 3.5mm plug incorporates precision-machined copper alloy contacts and a cold-weld, solder-free termination—a rare inclusion in cables designed for portable applications. This high-grade construction eliminates the micro-resistance and signal smearing commonly found in soldered or screw-terminated mini-jack cables.
The plug's internal geometry is designed to maintain the dielectric integrity of the cable, preserving consistent impedance throughout the length of the signal path. As a result, the Metik 3.5mm ensures that even compact devices such as DAPs or headphone amps can feed clean, full-bandwidth audio to more resolving equipment downstream.
Achromatic X RCA Connectors Feature Solid OFC Pins and Low-Mass Housing
Each of the two RCA connectors at the opposite end of the cable features Atlas’s latest-generation Achromatic X RCA plug—a refinement of their award-winning Integra and Achromatic designs. These connectors use solid OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) central pins for improved conductivity and signal alignment, coupled with a rifled pin profile that ensures precise contact pressure and orientation during the crimping process.
The outer body is crafted from low-dielectric ABS polymer, reducing capacitive loading and internal reflections. This lightweight, non-conductive construction avoids the performance loss often introduced by heavy, metal-bodied RCA plugs, which can act as antennae for RFI or introduce eddy currents. Dual asymmetrical return-path brackets provide gold-plated contact surfaces and actively resist RFI by maintaining clean, compression-free contact with the cable’s shielding.
Multi-Core OFC Conductors with Dual-Layer Shielding Ensure Noise-Free Signal Transmission
Internally, the Element Metik 3.5mm to 2 x RCA cable employs a multi-core construction featuring two identical OFC conductor pairs, optimised for stereo transmission. Each conductor pair is encased in a high-efficiency PEF (Polyethylene Foam) dielectric, known for its low capacitance and stable impedance characteristics. This design preserves timing accuracy and transient clarity across the audible frequency spectrum.
The signal cores are surrounded by a dual-layer OFC woven shield, which provides robust protection against electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. Whether used near Wi-Fi routers, power supplies, or other noisy electronics, the cable maintains sonic purity by rejecting unwanted noise—particularly important for lower-voltage signals from portable sources.
The measured capacitance of 37.35 pF/m, inductance of 0.856 µH/m, and resistance of just 0.0809 Ohms/m reinforce the cable’s ability to deliver transparent audio over extended runs without tonal degradation or impedance mismatch.
Space-Saving 7.0mm Profile and Pearl White Finish for Seamless System Integration
Despite its premium internal architecture, the Atlas Element Metik remains a space-efficient interconnect, with a modest 7.0mm outer diameter that makes it well-suited for compact desktop systems, hi-fi racks, or setups with tight cable routing. Its pearl white outer jacket offers a refined, neutral aesthetic that pairs visually with a wide range of audio components, from studio gear to high-end domestic systems.
This clean design and ergonomic build make the Element Metik ideal for both mobile and fixed installations—whether you’re upgrading a laptop-based system, connecting a headphone amp to a stereo receiver, or integrating a portable player into a reference hi-fi setup.
Element Series Design DNA Ensures Consistency, Performance, and Value
As part of Atlas’s Element series, the Metik 3.5mm to 2 x RCA cable shares its engineering philosophy with cables like the Equator and Hyper, benefiting from trickle-down technologies in materials science, plug design, and signal transmission. Atlas’s policy of continuous refinement—seen in the evolution from Integra to Achromatic to Achromatic X—ensures that each Element cable delivers exceptional value while maintaining reference-level performance standards.
This 1:2 configuration of the Atlas Element Metik is the ideal choice for listeners seeking true audiophile-grade connection from portable or compact source devices to full-size hi-fi systems, without sacrificing clarity, channel separation, or musicality.
