Signature XL 3m pair

Signature XL is the latest version of one of Chord’s longest-running products. The original Signature was Chord’s first high-frequency-shielded speaker cable, introduced in 2004, and represented a significant development in speaker cable design.

It was also the largest, stiffest and brightest cable Chord had produced. The conductors were oxygen-free copper, the insulation was gas-foamed polyethylene, the shielding used a 3-layer braid and foil combination effective at high frequencies, and the outer jacket was flexible polyethylene. It was sufficiently flexible for installation in a system. Its rapid adoption through word of mouth resulted in a waiting list for a period.

The design remained unchanged for about 10 years, until improved construction techniques and materials allowed the use of more efficient shielding, silver-plated conductors and PTFE insulation. These changes produced a more neutral tonal characteristic and improved the cable’s ability to carry detail, dynamics and timbre. This became Signature Reference. Like most of Chord’s cables, Signature Reference used PTFE insulation, often referred to as Teflon™, which was Chord’s standard material until the arrival of Taylon®. Although expensive, it offered strong performance.

Material technology continues to develop, and alternatives to PTFE are now available. The cost of Taylon® prevented its use in the Signature range, but Chord identified a suitable family of insulation materials known as XLPE, or cross-linked polyethylene. One version showed particular potential and, following listening tests, was found to perform better than the PTFE used in Signature Reference.

Each set of Signature XL speaker cable is built to order and terminated at Chord’s UK factory with Chord Ohmic 4mm banana plugs or Chord Ohmic spade connectors. It is available in red and black or all-black colour combinations.

These changes are intended to improve musical reproduction at this price point.

Sold in terminated sets from £900.00 for a 1.5m pair. £300.00 per additional mono metre. Custom options are available on request.