XLR (BALANCED) TERMINATIONS

Most of the interconnect cables in the Chord range can be supplied fitted with XLR plugs . Whilst both Crimson and Cobra 3 cables will perform extremely well when configured for and terminated with XLR plugs, most of equipment fitted with balanced outputs is of a quality that would benefit from a cable capable of transmitting a wide bandwidth signal. The Chameleon Silver Plus fits the bill particularly well. The wiring configuration and construction of the Chameleon Silver Plus makes it particularly suited to termination with XLR connectors; we would recommend this cable as the entry level point for any system using balanced connectors. The Chorus 2, Anthem 2 and the Indigo can also be supplied fitted with XLR connectors and offer outstanding levels of performance.

RCA/PHONO TO XLR

It is perfectly possible to connect a component fitted with RCA/phono output sockets to a balanced (XLR) input and likewise a balanced output to an RCA/phono input. There are however a couple of points worth making. Firstly, the XLR socket will function like a single ended socket so it will not be a balanced signal. The connection is made by connecting the tip of the RCA/phono plug to the in-phase pin of the XLR and the return path to the shield surrounding the tip of the RCA/phono plug is connected to the earth pin of the XLR. The out of phase pin on the XLR is shorted to the earth pin.

The other important point is that many components with balanced outputs typically have up to 6db more gain on the balanced outputs than they do on the RCA/phono outputs. This means for example connecting a CD player with balanced outputs to an amplifier with RCA/phono inputs may well mean that you have very little control over the volume. In some cases this may over-drive the input stage of the amplifier, so before doing this it would be worth checking the output level of the balanced sockets with the manufacturer.

CHAMELEON SILVER PLUS XLR

The Chameleon Silver Plus was designed to be able to carry both balanced and unbalanced signals. The four separately insulated sets of silver-plated multi-stranded conductors allow the cable to be connected to a wide variety of terminations. When fitted with XLR connectors, the conductors can be configured to ensure maximum levels of noise/interference rejection.

CHORUS 2 XLR

The Chorus 2 is the first interconnect in the Chord range to employ a combined shielding system, along with an isolated return path. The unique construction makes Chorus 2 cable a good choice for use with XLR connections. The high frequency effective combined shield ensures maximum signal protection and gives the Chorus 2 an extremely low noise floor. Detail levels are high and the extremely low noise floor (go to Glossary) makes for good micro-dynamic performance.

ANTHEM 2 XLR

The wide signal bandwidth that the Anthem 2 cable is capable of carrying makes it ideal for use with balanced output components. Whilst the RCA/phono terminated Anthem 2 employs a single run of cable, the XLR terminated version uses two runs of cable for each connection. This ensures extremely accurate levels of signal transfer for both the in-phase and out of phase signal paths. Add the extremely high levels of signal protection that the combined shielding system brings and the end result is a cable with outstanding performance levels. The noise floor (go to Glossary) is exceptionally low and the cable is capable of transferring micro-dynamic (go to Glossary) information extremely accurately.

INDIGO PLUS XLR

The Indigo plus XLR takes the floating combination shield design principles used so effectively on the Indigo Plus RCA and applies them to the Indigo Plus XLR with equally impressive results. The noise floor is vanishingly low and the subtlest dynamic information is accurately transferred over an extremely wide bandwidth. In the right system, the improvements this cable will bring to tonality, detail, dynamics and separation of individual instruments and voices whilst maintaining an incredibly coherent and musically involving sound, will astonish. The Indigo Plus RCA, quite justifiably has a reputation for bringing outstanding performance improvements to the system is it fitted to. The Chord Indigo Plus XLR more than maintains this reputation.

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