In the twenty years that The Chord Company has been producing interconnects and speaker cables, it has built up close and friendly relationships with many manufacturers and distributors of hi-fi components and speakers. This means that during the development process of any new Chord product we have the chance to assess its performance with a wide variety of various manufacturers' components and speakers. This helps to ensure a remarkably consistent performance regardless of the system the cables are connected to.

The principle design objectives that guide the development of all Chord products are very straightforward. They should transfer as much of the signal as possible with minimal loss or interference. All our cables share the same fundamental design principles. The result of this is that any combination of Chord interconnects and speaker cables will perform extremely well together. However, throughout the range there are certain combinations of interconnects and speaker cables where the sum of the performance is greater than the parts, and when the two cables are combined in a system, they will produce outstanding results.

The following list of suggestions for interconnect and cable matching is based on our own experiences and customer feedback:

Crimson: Crimson is a high performance entry-level interconnect that will carry audio signals over a surprisingly wide bandwidth. If you are using Crimson with your main components we would recommend experimenting with either Chord Carnival Classic or better still, Chord Carnival Silver Screen. The materials used in the construction of these cables make them an ideal match. Both interconnect and speaker cables use oxygen free copper conductors and a low-density polyethylene insulation. The performance characteristics of these cables are very similar and the signal transmission characteristics of the Crimson will be matched particularly well by the Chord Carnival Classic.

Upgrade paths: The obvious cable upgrade for a system running Crimson and Carnival Classic would seem to be to experiment with interconnects. However in listening tests the most impressive upgrade we could make was to replace the existing speaker cable with a set of the shielded Carnival SilverScreen. This bought big improvements in every area of performance. Definition, tone and dynamics all took a big step forward and stereo image improved enormously, the space around voices and instruments was particularly impressive.

The Cobra 3, with its improved shielding, heavier gauge conductors and the improvements these bring to dynamic and detailed signal transmission is the obvious choice. Once the Cobra 3 is in place then it will be worth considering a speaker cable upgrade to Carnival SilverScreen. [top]

Cobra 3: Like Crimson, Cobra 3 uses oxygen free copper conductors in combination with low density polyethylene insulation, but changes to the conductor gauge and improvements to the shielding mean that the Cobra 3 will transmit an audio signal across a wider bandwidth, with less loss of dynamic information and lower levels of interference. Cobra 3's performance characteristics can be heard to their best advantage by using it in combination with Chord Carnival SilverScreen. Carnival SilverScreen borrows its conductor layout from Carnival Classic and uses a variation of the speaker cable shielding system first used on the Chord Signature speaker cable. The shielding system brings significant improvements to the cable's signal transmission abilities and used in combination with the Cobra 3, will not only improve detail levels but improve both the dynamic and the timing characteristics of the system they are fitted to.

Upgrade paths: Once again the obvious upgrade would be either interconnect or speaker [top]

Chameleon Silver Plus is the first interconnect in the Chord range to use silver-plated oxygen free copper conductors and because of this, the obvious choice of speaker cable is Chord Rumour, the first speaker cable in the range to use this combination. The performance characteristics of both these cables make them ideal for use with each other and this is a particularly well-balanced combination.

Upgrade paths: The combination of Chord Chameleon Silver Plus and Rumour speaker cable really does produce an extremely even and well-balanced performance. So much so that whilst it is of course possible to improve on levels of detail, signal bandwidth and dynamic coherence the performance balance of the cable is such that no one area shouts out for improvement. Upgrading to Chord Odyssey speaker cable does work well and keeps the inherent balance of abilities whilst improving the dynamic characteristics and bringing better levels of bass control and definition. We would recommend that in a system using Chameleon Silver Plus and Rumour speaker cable that the speaker cable is upgraded to Odyssey before considering interconnects. When this has been done it will be worth experimenting with the Chorus 2 interconnect. [top]

Chorus 2: One of the most popular combinations of interconnects and speaker cables in the Chord line-up has been the Chord Chorus in combination with Odyssey speaker cable. This was a hugely compatible combination used and enjoyed in a huge variety of systems. The improvements in performance brought about by the changes made during the design of the Chorus 2 build on this already hugely successful combination. The Chorus 2's improved shielding system and upgraded conductor improve both bandwidth and low level dynamic information transmission. The Odyssey, with its low loss conductors and Teflon insulation, is both a good material and performance match.

Upgrade paths: The Chorus 2 is the first interconnect in the Chord range to use the unique tri-layer shielding system originally developed for the Chord Signature RCA. The improvements to levels of detail and dynamic coherence the shielding system brings about are extremely impressive and matching the Chorus 2 with Chord Epic shielded speaker cable works extremely well. This combination builds on the performance characteristics that Chorus 2 and Odyssey bring to a system but significantly improves levels of detail, reduces the noise floor and increases micro-dynamic information, all of which adds up to a pretty big improvement in the musical coherence of the system that Chorus 2 and Epic are fitted to.

At this stage of cabling it is also worth considering the Chord Power Chord mains cable. The Power Chord borrows the lessons learnt from developing the high frequency shielding systems used on Chord's interconnects and speaker cables to produce a mains cable that is extremely effective in reducing levels of electrical interference. Start by fitting a Power Chord to the source component of your system. This brings dramatic improvements to levels of dynamic performance and significantly reduces noise levels. If you have a system with pre and power amplifiers the next component to experiment with is the pre-amp and then finally the power amplifier. [top]

Anthem 2: Like the Chorus 2, Anthem 2 uses a tri-layer combination shielding system and changes to the conductor and signal path geometry make it a superb choice to use in combination with Chord Epic speaker cable. The Epic is more than capable of carrying the extended bandwidth signal that the Anthem 2 is capable of delivering. That said, upgrading from a Chorus to an Anthem interconnect in a system running Odyssey speaker cable is also extremely worthwhile. Odyssey won the Hi-fi News Award for Speaker Cable five years in a row. This is testament to the performance level of Odyssey and an Anthem 2 and Odyssey cabled system will in no way disappoint.

Upgrade paths: Like the Chorus 2 and Odyssey combination, Anthem and Epic produce an exceptionally well-balanced sound with an extremely even match of abilities. The upgrade path from here can be approached in two ways. Firstly, if you have not already experiment with Chord Power Chord mains cables, this would be the time to do so. Start by experimenting with a Power Chord connected to the source component and work through the system from there. The other option involves Signature cables. Fitting either Signature speaker cable or Signature RCA interconnects to a system cabled with Epic and Anthem 2 will both bring real improvements to the dynamic performance, detail level and extend the frequency bandwidth but perhaps the most logical approach is to experiment initially with the Signature RCA interconnect. [top]

Signet: The Chord Signet RCA is derived from the company's original Signature product, the Chord Signature RCA. The Signet offers all of the performance of the Signature with the added bonus of being upgradeable to full Signature Plus specification and performance. Given that Signature speaker cable was originally developed in order to complement the Signature interconnect, the Signet combined with Signature speaker cable will work extremely well. However, the performance improvements the Signet brings to a system will be as readily apparent when used with either Odyssey or Epic speaker cables.

Upgrade paths:The Signet opens up some fascinating upgrade options. Firstly, there are speaker cables to consider. If you are running Signet with Odyssey, consider a change to either Epic or Signature. Both these cables will perform extremely well in combination with the Signet and will bring improvements to levels of detail, dynamics and substantial improvements to all frequencies, but particularly the bass. If you are already running one of these cables then take advantage of one of the unique features of the Signet. It is the first cable in Chord's range to be offered with an upgrade path. The Chord Signet can be returned to the Chord Company where it can be rebuilt to full Signature Plus specification. The improvements this brings are substantial. Dynamics, detail, clarity, space and depth of image all take a big step forward. [top]

Signature Plus RCA: The Chord Signature Plus RCA builds on the strengths of the original Chord Signature. The Signature Plus is a development of the company's original Chord Signature RCA interconnect. The separately shielded signal and return conductors remain the same. The performance improvements come from the addition of a secondary signal return path and the fitting of Chord's unique acrylic RCA plug surrounds, first used on the Chord Indigo. These components can be retro fitted to either the Chord Signet or any existing Chord Signature interconnect. Rather than be faced with selling or trading an original Signature in order to upgrade to the Signature Plus, the cable can simply be returned to the company where it will be fitted with new low-mass RCA plugs and contact pins, a secondary return conductor and of course the unique acrylic plug surround. If your system is already running Signature or Epic speaker cable, the improvement in performance brought about by fitting the Signature Plus interconnect will be very apparent.

The original Signature RCA was the first interconnect in the Chord range to use their tri-layer combination shielding system now used on so many of Chord's high performance cables. The Signature was developed prior to either the Signature speaker cable or the Epic speaker cable and in many ways this backs up the comments made about the performance capabilities of Odyssey speaker cable. The new Signature Plus builds on the performance characteristics of the original Signature by adding a secondary silver-plated, Teflon insulated signal return path conductor and the use of a specially designed precision machined acrylic plug casing, derived from the one first used on the Chord Indigo. To get the very best from the Signature Plus it is really important to think about using either Epic or Signature speaker cables. Both use a similar shielding system to the Signature Plus and when used in combination, will produce an extraordinary level of performance across an extremely wide frequency range.

Upgrade paths: This is beginning to sound like a broken record but if you have not yet done so, it really is important to try the Power Chord mains cable. We would regard the Power Chord as critical to obtaining the best performance from a system fitted with a Signature loom. After that there is only one way to go! The Chord Indigo or new Indigo Plus interconnect will significantly extend the bandwidth performance of a system and further improve on the high levels of dynamic and timbral information carried by the Chord Signature Plus RCA. In the right system the Indigo is a compelling upgrade. Try at your peril!

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IndigoPlus: The Chord Indigo Plus is the company's flagship interconnect cable. Building on the already astonishing performance of the original Chord Indigo, the Indigo Plus sets new standards for signal transmission across an extremely wide bandwidth. To hear what this cable can really do and the improvements it can bring, we would recommend using Chord Signature speaker cable.