Iconic Sound Announces “Light Lead” Optical Analog Instrument Cable

Iconic Sound Light LeadIconic Sound has announced they will be unveiling the Light Lead, the world’s first optical analog, jack-to-jack instrument cable at NAMM this month. The new technology uses analog fiber optics which provides zero capacitance and zero loading. This in turn offers completely uncompressed and full analog signal transmission no matter the cable length.

The Light Lead’s cables are high density, small diameter, and coated in PVC for durability. The cables run on a battery and have a power button that works as a kill switch. Other features include a 4-position simulated loading switch and moveable jacks.

The Iconic Sound Light Lead is not yet available to the public, but is expected to launch this year.

Iconic Sound Light Lead Demo:

Iconic Sound Light Lead Specs:

  • Analog Fiber Optic Technology
  • Zero Capacitance
  • PVC Coated
  • 4-position Simulated Loading Switch

For more info, check out the Iconic Sound website.

Get Bass Gear News in your inbox.

Stay up to date on the latest bass gear news (every Thursday).

Share your thoughts

  1. interesting idea, but would we need to buy a set of these to maintain the clarity between guitar to pedals and then to amp? and what would battery life be like?

  2. and with a useless blue led sucking-up battery…it should have a “low battery” led instead, for greater autonomy.

  3. I quit buying expensive cables a long time ago. It seems the more I spend, the quicker the gear wreckers running around the stage will find and destroy them.

  4. ‘insiprational’ indeed. Hey, if cable impedance did matter, a really short cable should significantly improve your sound. Go on, try one. Spoilers: No difference except for you standing right in front of your amp. Btw, to transmit sound via light it has to be digitalised first. It’ll be converted back to analog back at the other plug. Good job, you’ve put the wire back into a wireless system.

  5. Would have been nice to compare with a “normal” jack and this one.

  6. I’ll wait until they eliminate the cable altogether.

  7. Apparently, someone let the nitwits in marketing out of their play pen. It’s a neat idea, but it’s a gimmick that doesn’t really solve any real-world problems I’ve ever encountered as a working musician. It may technically be an “analog” cable with zero impedance, but it’s FAR from a straight passive wire. As an electronics engineer, I get it – it’s cool. As a musician, it falls way flat.

  8. Just don’t step on the cable or kink it.

  9. What an awful video too. “Yeah I worked with Suzanne shaw, Lisa Scott Lee, Ashton…” Musics greatest talents…

  10. Heikki L

    I’ve been playing bass 41 years now, started my professional career 1979. During these years I have always used instrument cables recommended from local shops (like Whirlwind, Fender, Ibanez, Planet Waves, Di Marzio). All of them have served me very well. No live or recording engineer have complained about my sound. After lots of gigs and some serious abuse they all start to crackle and possibly getting microphonic. Anyway, I think if You are making Your Living with bass playing investing about 40 dollars\year to buy a new cable to be sure Your signal is clean shouldn’t be an issue. Actually I am sure that AD\DA conversion required by this optical cable will have much more negative impact on sound than even cheapest molded analog instrument cable.