Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC Review: Flagship Digital Cable and Its Role in a Car
Updated: Oct 6
The Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC, sold as the Ultimate Coaxial IC / Digital, is the flagship of Tchernov Cable's 2026 Indian line-up: a 75 Ω digital coaxial cable for S/PDIF audio and word-clock signals, with a 0.35 mm² silver-clad conductor, Infinite SATI insulation, X-Shield screening and an 8.7 mm nylon-sleeved jacket. India gets one length, 5 m, at an MRP of ₹6,99,990, which makes it the most expensive item in Tchernov's Indian catalogue by a wide margin. It suits a narrow group: owners of no-compromise systems with a genuine digital source and a processor that has a coaxial digital input. Details are on our Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC product page.
In brief
A 75 Ω digital cable rated for 24-bit/192 kHz audio, which Tchernov says complies with the AES3 unbalanced specification, with RCA or BNC plugs.
One length in India: 5 m at ₹6,99,990, enough for a dash-to-boot run in most cars.
Over a correctly built 75 Ω link the audio data arrive intact, so the premium buys construction, shielding and finish rather than different numbers.
We found no reviews of this exact cable as of October 2026; the only test we found covers a different, thicker Ultimate digital cable.
Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC specifications
Specification | Ultimate Coaxial IC / Digital |
|---|---|
Type | Digital coaxial interconnect for S/PDIF and Word Clock / Master Clock |
Wave impedance | 75 Ω |
Supported resolution | Up to 24-bit/192 kHz |
Conductor | 0.35 mm², 7 x 0.26 mm multi-stranded silver-clad BRC+ |
Insulation | Infinite SATI® with additional PTFE tape layers |
Shield | Latest-generation X-Shield® |
Jacket | TPU (Elastollan®) with increased elasticity, under a nylon sleeve |
Outer diameter | 8.7 mm (catalogue prints 9 mm) |
Velocity of propagation | 265,000 km/s (88% of the speed of light) |
Signal attenuation | Max 0.105 dB/m at 1 GHz |
Linear capacitance | 58 pF |
Termination | RCA/RCA or BNC/BNC with Ultimate S or NG plugs |
Length and India MRP | 5 m, ₹6,99,990 |
Specifications come from Tchernov Cable's official Ultimate Coaxial IC page and the 2026 Indian catalogue. Tchernov and our store listing give an 8.7 mm outer diameter, which we use; the catalogue prints 9 mm. Tchernov also makes a different, thicker digital cable called the Ultimate IC S/PDIF, so check the full name when comparing listings.
What a digital coaxial cable actually carries
S/PDIF sends audio as a stream of numbers, both channels on one cable, together with the timing information the receiver needs to rebuild the clock. At 24-bit/192 kHz the stream runs at roughly 12.3 megabits per second, so its energy sits around ten megahertz and above. That's why the 75 Ω impedance matters: on a mismatched line, a digital signal reflects at the ends, smearing the edges the receiver uses to read data and recover timing.
Other published figures matter less. Tchernov quotes attenuation at 1 GHz, far above anything S/PDIF uses, and even there 5 m loses only about half a decibel. The 88% velocity of propagation means the signal crosses 5 m in roughly 19 nanoseconds, which has no audible meaning. The silver cladding targets very high frequencies, where current crowds towards a conductor's surface; at S/PDIF frequencies over 5 m, its effect is small.
When a car system can use it
A coaxial digital link needs a source with a coaxial S/PDIF output and a processor with a matching input. Factory touchscreens in Indian cars rarely offer a digital output, so most installs feed the processor through analogue speaker-level inputs, and there's no digital cable to upgrade. The case arises with an aftermarket hi-res source, such as a digital player or a head unit with a coaxial output.
On the processor side, Zapco's HDSP-Z16 V AD-16A lists an S/PDIF input at up to 24-bit/192 kHz alongside optical, matching this cable's rating, though its built-in HD player reads files up to 24-bit/192 kHz from a USB stick and may remove the need for an external digital source altogether. JL's TwK88 is a case for checking first: the Indian catalogue mentions a coaxial digital input, but JL's official page lists only an optical one.
What the flagship price buys, and what it can't
If a digital link is working properly, the processor receives the same numbers whichever competent 75 Ω cable carries them, and a well-designed receiver rebuilds clean timing from the stream. That's why a very expensive digital cable is hard to justify on engineering grounds alone: correct impedance, decent shielding and secure connectors are the requirements, and they're available for a small fraction of this price.
What the Ultimate does offer is construction from Tchernov's top series, a choice of RCA or BNC termination (BNC being the usual connector for professional 75 Ω digital and word-clock links), and a TPU jacket with a nylon sleeve. Tchernov's 100-hour burn-in recommendation applies here as well; we pass it on without endorsing it. In a car where every component is at this level and the cable is a small share of the total, it's a defensible purchase. Everywhere else, the money belongs in speakers, installation and tuning.
What owners and reviewers say about the Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC
When we checked in October 2026, we found no owner reports or press tests of the Ultimate Coaxial IC / Digital itself. That leaves us with no independent verdict on this cable.
The nearest is a September 2018 SoundEX review of the Ultimate IC S/PDIF, which is a different cable: a thicker design with a 1.00 mm² BRC+ conductor, X-Shield SE screening and a 12 mm diameter, priced then at around 90,000 roubles. In a home system with a Parasound transport and DAC, the reviewer heard high resolution with strong attack and rhythm, a rich and emotionally involving sound, and a wide dynamic range with fine detail once the cable had burned in. The reservations were that dynamics sounded slightly held back before burn-in, and that the cable needs a high-quality system to show what it can do.
Treat that as background on Tchernov's Ultimate digital family, not as a verdict on this model, and note that no car was involved. Beyond it, the verifiable material is Tchernov's own description, including the AES3 compliance and 24-bit/192 kHz rating. If you've installed one, we'd value your report.
How it sits against Tchernov's other cables
Within Tchernov's Indian range, the Ultimate is the only digital interconnect and sits above everything else. The Standard Coaxial IC shares the 75 Ω rating and costs ₹21,990 for 5 m, but Tchernov sells it as an analogue interconnect. The Reference MkIII IC, the top analogue interconnect at ₹1,69,990 for 1 m, borrows its bonding cotton tape layer from the Ultimate series and shares the X-Shield, Elastollan jacket and nylon sleeve. For balanced analogue links, the Special Balanced IC covers the middle ground.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
It's for owners of flagship builds with a true digital source and a processor that accepts coaxial S/PDIF, where 5 m suits the route and the cable's price is proportionate to the rest of the system.
Skip it if your source is a factory head unit, your processor takes only optical input, or your processor's built-in player already handles playback. And if the budget is finite, a well-made 75 Ω cable costing a small fraction of this will carry the same data.
Installation notes for Indian cars
Five metres of 8.7 mm cable needs a planned route. From a dash-mounted source to a processor in the boot, run it along the sill on the side away from the power cable, protecting it where it passes seat rails and trim clips. If the processor sits closer, under a seat for instance, coil the surplus in large, loose loops rather than tight turns, and secure the coil so it can't rattle.
Order RCA or BNC plugs to match your sockets, since adapters add exactly the kind of joint a premium cable is meant to avoid. Support the plugs so rough roads don't work them loose, and keep the cable away from amplifier heatsinks in a hot boot. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad can confirm compatibility with your source and processor before you commit to a cable at this price.
Price and where to buy
The 2026 Indian catalogue lists the Ultimate Coaxial IC / Digital at ₹6,99,990 for the 5 m length, the only size offered in India. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, and every Ultimate Coaxial IC we sell is a genuine Tchernov Cable product, made in Russia. See the 5 m Ultimate Coaxial IC listing for today's price, and tell us whether you need RCA or BNC plugs.
The bottom line
The Ultimate Coaxial IC is lavishly specified and very expensive, and in a car its role is narrow: a 5 m digital link from a genuine hi-res source to a processor with a coaxial input. It can't make the data better than a sound 75 Ω cable does, and we found no independent review of it. Buy it as the finishing piece of a flagship build, with your eyes open, or not at all.
Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC FAQ
Is the Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC the same as the Ultimate IC S/PDIF?
No. The Ultimate IC S/PDIF is a different, thicker Tchernov digital cable with a 1.00 mm² conductor and a 12 mm diameter. The Ultimate Coaxial IC / Digital uses a 0.35 mm² silver-clad conductor and measures 8.7 mm.
Is the outer diameter 8.7 mm or 9 mm?
Tchernov's official page and our store listing give 8.7 mm, while the 2026 Indian catalogue prints 9 mm. We use the manufacturer's figure, and the difference won't affect an installation.
Does my car need a digital coaxial cable?
Only if your source has a coaxial S/PDIF output and your processor has a matching input. Factory touchscreens rarely offer one, and some processors accept only optical digital input, so check both ends before buying.
Buy the Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC Digital Cable in India
You can buy the Tchernov Ultimate Coaxial IC Digital Cable online from VA3 Car Studio with pan-India shipping. See more Tchernov cables, compare other car audio wiring and cables, or book car audio wiring and installation in Ghaziabad.
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