Chord Company’s new interconnect promises "the best performance in 25 years" - but it'll cost you

Chord Company SignatureX Tuned ARAY
(Image credit: Chord Company)

British audio specialist Chord Company has announced an upgrade to its long-running, high-performance and very high-end Signature cable range. The new SignatureX Tuned ARAY boasts upgraded materials, specifications and construction for what Chord Company boasts will be “the best Signature analogue interconnect in the range’s 25-year history”.  

The SignatureX Tuned ARAY features cross-linked Polythene (XLPE) insulation, a technology first introduced in the SignatureXL speaker and power cables. This updated upgraded insulation has been added in conjunction with the shielding architecture and Chord’s proprietary Tuned ARAY conductor geometry technology taken from the previous generation. 

The new analogue interconnect cable is bolstered by ultra-low-mass RCA connectors, while XLR and DIN connectors are also available (good news for Naim users, especially for the new Naim Classic range). There’s also a turntable-ready version available to order, as well as tonearm cables in slim or reference versions. 

The pins themselves are ChorAlloy plated, a new multi-metal material that we’ve seen (and heard) used in the Award-winning Rumour X (2022) and Clearway Analogue RCA (2022) cables. ChorAlloy is designed to improve conductivity and tarnish less over time. Chord further says it aims to avoid changes in impedance where the cable is terminated.

Chord Company SignatureX Tuned ARAY

(Image credit: Chord Company)

The cable’s conductors, meanwhile, are multi-stranded silver-plated OFC types with XLPE insulation, whereas high-frequency shielding is provided courtesy of a high-density silver-plated braid and foil mix. 

The new XLPE insulation is clearly something that the Chord Company is looking to use going forward, recently announcing that all future Signature range interconnects will be upgraded to incorporate XLPE insulation.

Price? Available now, the new SignatureX Tuned ARAY interconnect costs a rather expensive £1,000 / $1,300 / AU$1,900 per metre, so it’s very much suitable for those customers who want a premium cable for some similarly premium hi-fi equipment. 

MORE:

Best speaker cables: budget and premium audio cables

How to build the perfect hi-fi system

Read the Chord Company Clearway Analogue RCA (2022) review

Harry McKerrell
Staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. He studied law and history at university before working as a freelance journalist covering TV and gaming for numerous platforms both online and in print. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or forcing himself to go long-distance running.

  • Friesiansam
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    The pins themselves are ChorAlloy plated, a new multi-metal material that we’ve seen (and heard) used in the Award-winning Rumour X (2022) and Clearway Analogue RCA (2022) cables. ChorAlloy is designed to improve conductivity and tarnish less over time. Chord further says it aims to avoid changes in impedance where the cable is terminated.

    What's wrong with gold plating? It won't tarnish at all...

    Why didn't I get into the high-end HiFi cable business? The profit margins must be huge...
    Reply
  • F8lee
    So how much better will these cables make Brittney Spears sound? Because I have to sttop listening to classical music, given how the woke folk are braying that classical is racist and whatnot...
    Reply
  • TrevC
    As all interconnects sound the same as the freebies in the box these are for the rich mugs.
    Reply