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21 May 2026
FutureShop is an authorised dealer for Chord Company, a British cable and power accessories manufacturer based in Wiltshire, founded in 1985. This guide draws on direct experience recommending Chord Company cables across a wide range of customer system builds.
Our Verdict
Chord Company's seven-tier range gives every system a clear, matched upgrade path. Start with power (the Clearway Mains), follow with speaker cables (ClearwayX for mid-range systems, Rumour X for bookshelf and reference setups), then interconnects, and match within a single range throughout for the best tonal consistency.
Quick Take
- Chord Company's ARAY conductor geometry is present across all ranges. Each tier refines it: ARAY (C-series), Tuned ARAY (Shawline), and Super ARAY (Epic and above), with progressively better signal coherence and mechanical damping at each level.
- Taylon, Chord's proprietary dielectric, replaces PTFE in the Sarum and ChordMusic ranges. It is phase-stable across a wider temperature range than conventional dielectrics, preserving timing and clarity in the most demanding systems.
- Power cables are the highest-impact first upgrade. The Clearway Mains on a DAC or source component typically reveals more than any other single cable change at the same price.
- Matching within a range (all Clearway, all Shawline) delivers better tonal consistency than mixing tiers, because the ARAY geometry and dielectric materials are matched for synergy at each level.
- The Chord Company range spans from the C-series (entry-level, first upgrade) through to ChordMusic (no-compromise flagship), with seven distinct tiers covering every system type and budget.
Upgrading your system with Chord Company cables is one of the most effective ways to unlock more from your hi-fi or AV setup. But with a broad range of analogue, digital, speaker and power cables available, knowing where to begin can be a challenge. This guide helps you prioritise upgrades based on the signal path and your system's needs, so you can experience the greatest benefit at each step.
Chord Company Cable Ranges: At a Glance
| Range | Ideal For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| C-series | Entry-level systems | OFC conductors, ARAY geometry, moulded connectors |
| Clearway | First upgrades | ARAY geometry, XLPE insulation, improved shielding |
| Shawline | Mid-tier performance | Tuned ARAY, FEP insulation, silver-plated copper conductors |
| Epic | High-end integrated or separates | Super ARAY, separate signal and return paths, increased shielding |
| Signature | High-end systems and separates | PTFE insulation, heavier-gauge conductors, advanced termination |
| Sarum | Reference-level systems | Taylon dielectric, high-precision shielding, advanced damping |
| ChordMusic | Flagship level and no-compromise systems | Taylon, Super ARAY, optimised conductor geometry and materials |
Understanding Chord Technologies
ARAY, Tuned ARAY, and Super ARAY are proprietary conductor geometries that help preserve timing and musical coherence. ARAY offers basic signal path control, while Tuned ARAY introduces individually tuned signal and return conductors. Super ARAY takes this further with enhanced shielding and mechanical damping, particularly beneficial for resolving low-level detail.
Taylon is Chord's proprietary dielectric material, replacing PTFE in their highest ranges. Taylon remains phase-stable across a wide temperature range, which helps preserve timing and clarity in Sarum and ChordMusic cables.
Shielding and Mechanical Damping increase across the range, with higher-tier cables incorporating multiple layers of shielding and noise-rejection techniques. These help maintain signal integrity in both analogue and digital applications.
Start with Power Cables
Before the music even reaches your source, your system needs clean, stable power. Replacing basic mains leads with something like the Clearway Mains Power Cable can help reduce interference and provide a more stable supply to sensitive components. Expect clearer dynamics and a lower noise floor. Pairing with a PowerHAUS P6 further enhances consistency across your system.
For a detailed explanation of why well-designed mains cables produce an audible improvement, our guide to whether hi-fi mains power cables really make a difference covers the mechanism and the practical conditions where the improvement is most audible.
Upgrade Your Speaker Cables
Speaker cables carry a high-current signal and are sensitive to resistance, capacitance and interference. The C-ScreenX is a superb budget option that punches above its weight for AV and stereo systems. For higher performance, ClearwayX Speaker Cable offers ARAY geometry, XLPE insulation and refined clarity. Rumour X, with silver-plated conductors and twisted pair layout, is an excellent option for compact or reference bookshelf systems.
Improve Interconnects (Analogue and Digital)
Interconnects form the link between your source and amplifier, so clarity and timing are key. At the entry point, the C-Line RCA is affordable and effective, featuring ARAY geometry and oxygen-free copper. The ClearwayX ARAY RCA improves upon this with better shielding, upgraded connectors and more expressive dynamics. For digital sources, consider adding Clearway Digital or HDMI cables like the Clearway 48G HDMI, which offers 8K support and low jitter.
Streaming and Ethernet Cables
Streaming devices and network players are especially vulnerable to timing errors and digital noise. Chord's streaming cables are built to tackle this head-on. The C-Stream Ethernet Cable uses high-quality shielding and optimised geometry to reduce interference and reveal more musical detail. For users with high-performance streamers or DACs, this is a low-cost yet high-impact upgrade.
Chord Company Upgrade Path by System Type
The article's question, "which cable should I upgrade first?", has a different answer depending on what kind of system you have. Here is a practical guide for the three most common Chord customer system types.
Vinyl and turntable systems: If your system is built around a turntable, the interconnect between the phono stage and amplifier is the most sensitive analogue connection in the chain and the one most exposed to noise. Start with the C-Line RCA or ClearwayX ARAY RCA on this connection before addressing speaker cables. Follow with a Clearway Mains on the phono stage or turntable power supply if it uses an external adapter. Speaker cables can wait until the source chain is properly addressed: improving the source first reveals whether the speaker cables are a real bottleneck.
Streaming and digital-source systems: For systems based around a streamer, DAC, or network player, the Ethernet cable and the USB cable (if the DAC uses USB input) are the connections where digital noise enters the analogue path most directly. The C-Stream Ethernet is a genuine and immediately audible improvement on a standard Cat5 or Cat6 cable. Pair this with a Clearway Mains on the DAC, then address the interconnect between the DAC and amplifier. Speaker cables typically come last in a streaming system, since the earlier steps are more productive per pound spent.
Integrated and separates systems: For a two-channel system built around an integrated amplifier or pre-power separates, speaker cables are the highest-impact first upgrade because they carry the highest signal level in the system. Start with the ClearwayX or Rumour X depending on your system level, then follow with a Clearway Mains on the source, and finally the interconnect between source and amplifier. This sequence gives the most cumulative gain in a traditional analogue system.
Don't Overlook System Matching
Every Chord range is voiced and engineered for synergy, making it easier to maintain balance as you upgrade. Using Clearway throughout, for example, avoids tonal inconsistencies or bottlenecks. Mixing cable technologies is fine, but matching within a tier often yields better results. Our team at FutureShop can help match cables to your specific system and budget, including custom terminations where needed.
If you are also exploring how another brand's cable approach compares to Chord Company's, our guide to building a system with AudioQuest covers the same upgrade sequence using AudioQuest's range and is useful for comparison or if you are considering mixing brands.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading cables doesn't need to be done all at once. Starting with the most critical connections, like power and speaker cables, sets the foundation. From there, interconnects and digital cables can bring out the full potential of your source components. Each Chord Company cable is designed to deliver real, musical improvements backed by careful listening, not just lab specs.
Browse the full Chord Company range at FutureShop, available with our 60-day money-back guarantee on cables. Not sure which range or cable type to start with for your specific system? Get in touch with our team and we will help you build the right Chord Company upgrade path for your setup and budget.
