SOUND QUALITY

Swapping in the C-Line for my usual Van Den Hul interconnect (which costs more than twice the price of the Chord) and it’s obvious this is no run-of-the-mill budget interconnect. Its sound is extremely clear and open with a dynamic range which belies its price. On Led Zeppelin’s ‘Dazed And Confused’ bass had great extension and wallop while Jimmy Page’s guitar work was relayed with the necessary bite and presence. Indeed, the C-Lines seemed to separate instruments much more effectively – giving the music more room to breath. This was especially evident on complex jazz. Ornette Coleman’s ‘Free Jazz’ can descend into an unpleasant cacophony through some budget cables with the sound too blurred to be enjoyed. But the Chords cut through the squall to allow you to hear exactly what the various musicians were doing. If anything, there is a slight degree of warmth to the overall sound – but that can be no bad thing when used with budget equipment. Certainly the complex synth work of Kraftwerk’s ‘MinimumMaximum’ came across with due resonance and – while treble is slightly curtailed compared to more expensive interconnects – it means there’s never an unpleasant screechiness to the music. Instead, play something with real rhythmic swing and the C-Lines allow the music to flow naturally without imposing too much of their own character on the presentation.

CONCLUSION

As budget interconnects go, the Chord C-Line is up there with the best – and could easily go head-to-head with some rivals costing twice as much. Build quality is excellent but, more importantly, it has a lovely, open sound with good frequency extension, firm bass and smooth mid and treble. Anyone looking for a good interconnect without breaking the bank should put this at the top of their list.