Upgraded from QED Qunex 2 to these when my NAD C545BEE arrived.
Significant improvement in high frequency responce, (less sibilance), tighter, more controlled bass and a "fuller" all round sound.
In a blind test, 3 of 4 people prefered the Chord cables straight away. The other one took a little longer to decide that the bass was slightly better on the Chord cables.
Then adding the Russ Andrews Classic PowerKord-8 boosted performance even more.
Absolutely delighted about this cable, which replaces a XLO Pro150 between my Rega Apollo and Brio3. Lovely presentation, especially the silver RCA terminations, I also believe that the shielding works as advertised.
While the freebie interconnect was lacking some dynamics, imaging and bass depth and was too harsh in the treble for my liking, the Chord improved my system in every way: powerful yet refined bass as mentioned in WhatHifi, massive amount of details, a well controlled treble and all this straight out of the box. Improvement is now more subtle, over the moon, specially about the price at Futureshop for 0.5 m. Never thought cables would make such a difference.
I have also chosen Chord for the speaker cables, Carnival SilverScreen to be precise: another cracking product! I enjoyed my system thoroughly before but now feel I can get the very best out of it. Cables matter!
Expensive, but worth it. I've tried several cables over the last month. Cambridge Audio Azur Reference, Chord Crimson Plus, Chord Cobra 3 and the Chemeleon Silver Plus. The Crimson Plus are quite poor, the Cobra 3 sound muddy at the botton end, but the CA Azur Reference and the Chord Chemeleon Silver Plus are both very good. The Cemeleon Silver Plus have loads of detail and punch at the bottom end, almost too much in fact, as the CA's are almost as good in terms of detail but lack bottom end. I use both cables with a phono spliter so I can switch betwen the two, depending on what I'm listening to and my mood. If my speakers were better placed I'd have to say that the Chord's would be best, but it's horses for courses, what I think is best won't suit everyone. If your system is base heavy avoid them, if it's base light then they will suit you down to the ground.
Fantastic upgrade to my system - had some Cambridge Audio Interconnects which were sold as to me as "amazing" and "as good as the Chord Chameleon".
Those Cambridge Audios were not - they have been returned.
The Chord's are superb, they allow plenty of bass through, and loads of detail - a beautiful listen. They are tight and responsive on Lady Gaga, and really allow the drive on Slipknot tracks. Jazz has a great soundstage and Classical SACD material is sublime.
My one meter pair are very good cables indeed, with a pure and clean sound.
The frequencys from high to low are all there with the right balance. Bass has got weight, but doesn't muddle the soundstage, so 5 stars from me as well!
After a few more intens listening sessions, and comparing them with a 50 cm Clearer Audio Ltd - Silver-line Optimus 75 Digital Coax cable, I find the bass a bit 'woolly', which muddles the soundstage a bit.
That is even more obvious when listening over a good headphone.
This test is based on Cambridge Audio 650A Amplifier and 650C CD player, B&W 685 speakers and QED silver anniversary speaker cables. The interconnect was upgraded from Cambridge Audio Pacific to Chord Chameleon Silver Plus. Choice of music ranging from classical (Ryuichi Sakamoto's Last Emperor Soundtrack), jazz (Oscar Peterson's Piano Mood), R&B (Usher's Confessions)and trance (Prodigy's Fat of the Land) .
There is immediate difference with wider sound stage, much more balanced overall frequency and tighter controlled mid and low frequency compared to the Pacific interconnect. This further improved after one week. Plenty of background details even at low volume. In Summary, a brilliant interconnect for the price.
Sounds as natural as copper cable with better high frequency and wider soundstage. Power in low frequency but a bit 'woolly' when compare to more expensive cables.
Comments
Well worth the money.
Upgraded from QED Qunex 2 to these when my NAD C545BEE arrived.
Significant improvement in high frequency responce, (less sibilance), tighter, more controlled bass and a "fuller" all round sound.
In a blind test, 3 of 4 people prefered the Chord cables straight away. The other one took a little longer to decide that the bass was slightly better on the Chord cables.
Then adding the Russ Andrews Classic PowerKord-8 boosted performance even more.
In short, money well spent in my opinion.
Absolutely delighted about this cable, which replaces a XLO Pro150 between my Rega Apollo and Brio3. Lovely presentation, especially the silver RCA terminations, I also believe that the shielding works as advertised.
While the freebie interconnect was lacking some dynamics, imaging and bass depth and was too harsh in the treble for my liking, the Chord improved my system in every way: powerful yet refined bass as mentioned in WhatHifi, massive amount of details, a well controlled treble and all this straight out of the box. Improvement is now more subtle, over the moon, specially about the price at Futureshop for 0.5 m. Never thought cables would make such a difference.
I have also chosen Chord for the speaker cables, Carnival SilverScreen to be precise: another cracking product! I enjoyed my system thoroughly before but now feel I can get the very best out of it. Cables matter!
Expensive, but worth it. I've tried several cables over the last month. Cambridge Audio Azur Reference, Chord Crimson Plus, Chord Cobra 3 and the Chemeleon Silver Plus. The Crimson Plus are quite poor, the Cobra 3 sound muddy at the botton end, but the CA Azur Reference and the Chord Chemeleon Silver Plus are both very good. The Cemeleon Silver Plus have loads of detail and punch at the bottom end, almost too much in fact, as the CA's are almost as good in terms of detail but lack bottom end. I use both cables with a phono spliter so I can switch betwen the two, depending on what I'm listening to and my mood. If my speakers were better placed I'd have to say that the Chord's would be best, but it's horses for courses, what I think is best won't suit everyone. If your system is base heavy avoid them, if it's base light then they will suit you down to the ground.
Fantastic upgrade to my system - had some Cambridge Audio Interconnects which were sold as to me as "amazing" and "as good as the Chord Chameleon".
Those Cambridge Audios were not - they have been returned.
The Chord's are superb, they allow plenty of bass through, and loads of detail - a beautiful listen. They are tight and responsive on Lady Gaga, and really allow the drive on Slipknot tracks. Jazz has a great soundstage and Classical SACD material is sublime.
Audition these and you'll be happy too!
My one meter pair are very good cables indeed, with a pure and clean sound.
The frequencys from high to low are all there with the right balance. Bass has got weight, but doesn't muddle the soundstage, so 5 stars from me as well!
Sorry, a retreat.
After a few more intens listening sessions, and comparing them with a 50 cm Clearer Audio Ltd - Silver-line Optimus 75 Digital Coax cable, I find the bass a bit 'woolly', which muddles the soundstage a bit.
That is even more obvious when listening over a good headphone.
This test is based on Cambridge Audio 650A Amplifier and 650C CD player, B&W 685 speakers and QED silver anniversary speaker cables. The interconnect was upgraded from Cambridge Audio Pacific to Chord Chameleon Silver Plus. Choice of music ranging from classical (Ryuichi Sakamoto's Last Emperor Soundtrack), jazz (Oscar Peterson's Piano Mood), R&B (Usher's Confessions)and trance (Prodigy's Fat of the Land) .
There is immediate difference with wider sound stage, much more balanced overall frequency and tighter controlled mid and low frequency compared to the Pacific interconnect. This further improved after one week. Plenty of background details even at low volume. In Summary, a brilliant interconnect for the price.
Sounds as natural as copper cable with better high frequency and wider soundstage. Power in low frequency but a bit 'woolly' when compare to more expensive cables.