Chord Company C-line review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2023 winner. This Chord interconnect is a no-brainer if you want to give your hi-fi system a lift...

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

In terms of overall enjoyment, little at this price comes close to what the C-line can do for your system

Pros

  • +

    Helps tie instruments together

  • +

    Aids dynamics and musicality

Cons

  • -

    Nothing at this price

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

You can tell Chord is relatively pleased with its Tuned ARAY technology. Until now, however, it’s been aimed at the high-end hi-fi listener only. But that was before the C-line stereo RCA interconnect.

Build

Even with all this technology, high-grade copper conductors and high density foil shielding, what difference can a metre of cable make to your system?

We played Lou Reed’s Transformer album to compare the C-line with a previous award-winner, the  Atlas Element Integra.

We liked the latter for the detail and size of the soundstage when plugged into our reference system, and that positivity hasn’t waned over the last 12 months.

Yet, as is its signature, Chord has created a product that doesn’t ignore those things but places its main emphasis on the character of your music.

For Transformer, it helps our system make more sense of Reed’s almost blasé delivery, making it sound laid back but not uninterested, and finding it to be true to the roots of the album’s spirit.

Rhythmic drive is strong and dynamics are expressive.

Verdict

This is Chord displaying once again an understanding of what makes hi-fi great, with an entry-level interconnect that never loses sight of what matters; the musicality of your system.

More to read

See all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2023 winners

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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