Atlas Element Integra review

Best analogue interconnect, Awards 2014. Ideal as a first upgrade, giving a glossy, subtle performance Tested at £45

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Best analogue interconnect, Awards 2014. These are ideal if you’re after a first upgrade

Pros

  • +

    Transparent midrange

  • +

    Supple bass

Cons

  • -

    Nothing

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It's an Award for the third year on the trot for Atlas, the Element Integra having won a Best Buy in 2012, 2013 and now again in 2014.

MORE: Awards 2014 - Best accessories

A well-made cable with sturdy plastic plugs, it helped our reference system to achieve a smooth and subtle performance.

The soundstage is pleasingly wide and there’s a good dynamic range. It’s a precise cable, very good at digging up fine detail. Tonally, the experience is impressively balanced. Bass is supple and midrange is transparent, yet the cable is also unfussy about the kit you use.

It’s £5 more expensive than Chord CrimsonPlus, but then again it improves on many of the things that the former champ did right.

There’s nothing to dislike here: the Element Integra is highly recommended as a first upgrade.

MORE: Awards 2014 - all the winners

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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