Features
| Brand | Chord Company |
|---|
Product Description
The X series interconnects from Chord feature the latest updates to these award-winning cables. The Chord Clearway X RCA Interconnect now has ChorAlloy platted plugs and upgraded XLPE insulation. ChorAlloy is a new plating process that is designed to provide better conductivity. It will not tarnish over time.
Moreover, it avoids changes in impedance at different frequencies where the cable terminates. This is needed for low-level signals such as that from an MC cartridge. The latest XLPE insulation material is more hard-wearing than PVC it is also more heat resistant.
ARAY conductor geometry
The Chord Clearway X RCA Interconnect features ARAY conductor geometry. The conductors are made of OFC heavy gauge copper. The other major upgrade is the XLPE insulation. XLPE is a type of polythene crosslinked with other polymers. This material is replacing PVC in high-end cables.
It has excellent dielectric strength and a high insulation resistance. However, raw polyethylene has a limited temperature range. Hence it is crosslinked with a different polymer. Hence XLPE. This increases the temperature range while maintaining the other insulation properties.
Why a high-grade cable?
RCA cables have two conductors a single sold copper core and an outer signal return and shield. The shield needs good coverage as it acts to prevent noise from getting to the signal wire. It also usually has a lower impedance than the centre conductor. Another factor with RCA cables is capacitance, especially with MM cartridges.
High cable capacitance combined with the cartridge impedance can act like a low pass filter affecting HF response. This can be caused by long cable runs or poorly designed cables. Lastly, various plug-plating methods have been tried.
The plating is usually gold or silver. Silver tends to tarnish resulting in a poor connection. As a result, Chord developed ChorAlloy. This new material solves most of the old problems of tarnishing and impedance mismatches.
