About the special BASS cables of the "Folk Heroes" and "Mythical Creatures" series, Garth Powell says: "For those who can bi-wire, bi-amp, tri-amp, and so forth, our new GND Technology takes linear noise-dissipation steps beyond. By utilizing a portion of the technology developed for the Niagara AC power products (Ground-Noise Dissipation; US patent #9,373,439), we have developed a highly efficient noise-canceling circuit that works linearly across more than 12 octaves of induced radio frequencies. Further, any cable construction that utilizes a circuit card, micro-chip, or phasing filters in a box in an effort to reduce RF noise cannot be linear, or nearly as effective at doing so. To an extremely small (2GHz) induced noise signal with a sine wave of less than 4 microns (0.004mm), the remaining length of cable (after the small circuit or box), might as well be a kilometer. AudioQuest’s GND technology works across the entire length of the cable, assuring consistent results."

By the way, the white papers also explain why GND technology is supposed to improve the sonic performance of the amplifiers connected to the BASS cables. The developer also explains why two different cables should be used – if possible – for optimal signal transmission to the speakers: "AudioQuest’s patented GND (Ground-Noise Dissipation/phase-cancelling array) technology is extraordinarily effective, but its benefits come at a price. Though a BASS cable will demonstrate a very high bandwidth when measured with a single tone at a high signal level, it can lose some low-level content at extraordinarily low signal levels above 10kHz. It is therefore never suitable for full-range applications. It is, however, the cable of choice for multi-amplified speaker systems that direct signals to any driver other than the tweeter or super-tweeter. A speaker system that directs signal to a tweeter or super tweeter is best served with a ZERO cable. AudioQuest’s ZERO (no characteristic impedance) technology offers extended frequency bandwidth, extraordinarily linear noise-dissipation, and the lowest transient current compression possible in a speaker cable. However, it is important to note that with thisstrength, comes vulnerability. If two or more ZERO cables are paralleled (such as when biwiring), the two cable circuits could create a very high-frequency resonant peak (ringing), making that combination unsuitable. This cannot occur with a single ZERO cable in any connection scenario, nor can it occur when a ZERO cable is used in a BiWire COMBO with a BASS cable. In either of those configurations, the issue is completely nullified."

For my familiarization with the Mythical Creatures, I have chosen the ThunderBird, which is third in the speaker cable hierarchy and is probably named after an animal spirit in the myths of American Indians rather than the primeval giant geese of Australia or the Phorusrhacos, a primeval terror or giant bird from South and Central America. As with all high-quality Audioquest cables, the BASS and ZERO versions of the ThunderBird use the 72-volt dielectric bias system in carbon design. Four solid-core conductors provide a cable cross-section of 5.26 square millimeters. In the ZERO, the conductors are made of high-purity "Perfect-Surface Copper+" or "PSC+," Audioquest's best copper conductor made of high-purity metal with polished surfaces. Multilayer foils with a high carbon content are designed to convert RF radiation into heat. Both PSC+ and "Long Grain Copper" are used in the BASS, the latter probably in the conductors not connected at the amplifier end for Ground Noise Dissipation technology. The cables can be ordered with banana plugs, U, or multi-fork lugs. V-fork lugs are also available for the amplifier side. Audioquest recommends the U-fork lugs, especially for the insulated terminals required in Europe. Regardless of the type of connections, a three-meter ThunderBird ZERO is listed at 5,600 euros. For the bi-wiring variant with an additional BASS cable, it is then 9,700 euros. Ready-made sets are available in two, 2.5, three, and four-meter lengths. Deviating dimensions are of course also possible because the cables are assembled by hand and burned in in Roosendaal, the Netherlands.