The Chord Company has launched its most advanced analogue interconnect to date: Sarum Super ARAY. First unveiled at Sound and Vision 2015, in February Sarum Super ARAY technology distils 30 years of Chord know-how into a very special cable range. The Sarum Super ARAY interconnect builds on the musical coherence that made the award-winning Sarum Tuned ARAY cables (which Sarum Super ARAY replaces), so popular (I can vouch for that, Ed).
The new Sarum Super ARAY is retro-fittable: owners of the original Sarum Tuned ARAY interconnects can upgrade to full Super ARAY specification.
Proprietary technology
Chord won’t divulge the secrets of Sarum Super ARAY interconnect but in a recent demonstration it opened up the soundstage and focused the image thanks to clearly reduced levels of noise and distortion compared to its predecessor. The changes they can reveal include a new precision-machined PTFE plug surround in place of the acrylic plugs used on Sarum Tuned ARAY. There has been no change to the micro-polished silver-plated conductors, with a gas- foamed PTFE dielectric and high-density foil and braid combination shielding used to build the cable itself.
Existing owners of Sarum Tuned ARAY or Sarum cables, can return them to The Chord Company for an upgrade to the new Sarum Super ARAY specification for a modest fee. The cables are completely disassembled and then carefully re-built. Signal pins and earth shrouds are examined and replaced if necessary, and the new Super ARAY conductors are fitted. The cable is then re-built with the new precision-machined PTFE plug surrounds. Owners should contact their nearest Chord Company Sarum retailer for more information in the first instance, but further details are available on The Chord Company’s website here
Prices and configurations
The Sarum Super ARAY RCA, XLR and DIN interconnects are available in standard 1 metre lengths. Custom lengths can be made to order. Sarum Super ARAY interconnect 1m RCA £1,900; additional metres £850. Upgrading a Tuned ARAY RCA to Super ARAY specification £550