Atlas Cables launched their new Asimi Ultra reference interconnect cable at Bristol Sound and 
Vision 2014. The new interconnect is hand-built at its factory in Kilmarnock, Scotland and is available now with a UK SRP of £2750.00 for a metre pair with other lengths available upon request.
“The aim of the new Atlas Asimi project was to take a completely fresh look at cable design and to develop new techniques to create a cable that would satisfy the most demanding audiophiles for years to come. The ‘money no object’ brief looked at all areas of the design, from the materials used to create the cable and connectors through to the manufacturing processes. Specifically, we looked at whether an improved neutral high fidelity sound could be achieved using standard metal connectors, whether the capacitance load could be improved for a solid silver OCC analogue interconnect cable and whether RF (Radio Frequency) rejection performance could be improved. Throughout the development process, we conducted iterative design and testing to achieve its aims, with the resultant cable being the Asimi Ultra” said Atlas.
The Asimi Ultra uses solid silver conductors, manufactured using the “highest-quality” technique for drawing pure silver. “Ohno Continuous Cast” or OCC, used in the manufacture of high quality Atlas copper cables is said to minimise the impurity boundaries in the material by ensuring that there is less than one grain or signal-deleting crystal boundary in up to 125m of conductor!
The Dielectric
To achieve the necessary amount of protection without increasing inefficiency, Atlas has developed a new technique, which uses a microporous PTFE (Teflon) tape, which is wound around the OCC solid silver conductors, then covered again and stabilised using a protective FPE (Flexible PolyEthylene) dielectric.
The ‘Ultra’ Connector Plug
Designed in-house at Atlas, this new plug employs a novel approach to the problems of mass reduction, residual conductivity (eddy currents) and dielectric discontinuities. The all new Atlas Ultra has a 57% reduction in mass over its predecessor, employs an internal non-conductive sleeve matched to the dielectric properties of the cable (Teflon) as well as maintaining the Atlas plug attributes of solder free construction, self-cleaning insertion and material consistency.
RFI
To combat RFI, traditionally a metallic barrier (or braid) is encased around the insulated conductors and terminated at one or both ends. For the new Asimi Ultra, Atlas has developed a new system that uses two symmetrical drain wires (each attached to 180 degree segments of the plug) inserted between a 100% copper Mylar foil and SPC screen. This unique system connects the screen effectively to the cable return plug interface and provides total 360° screening, whilst not distorting the integrity of the screen in any way.
Commenting on the launch of the Asimi Ultra, Kevin Kelly, Managing Director at Atlas, said, “We are constantly researching new methods and materials based on scientific fact to increase the performance of our products. At the high end, where the Asimi Ultra sits, we feel that we have made real innovations that in time may well feature in other Atlas products.” Kelly continues, “With the launch of the Asimi Ultra, we truly believe that we have developed a cable that is a real step-up in performance and is absolutely the finest audio interconnect money can buy.”
UK audio and video cable manufacturer and creator, The Chord Company has launched a ne
w version of its Signature speaker cable. Called Signature Reference, the new cable has been completely redesigned and builds on its predecessor’s performance say Chord Company.
“The all-new Signature Reference has been created using the lessons learned developing The Chord Company’s flagship speaker cable, Sarum. This development has enabled the Chord Company’s engineers to transform the original Signature cable, by implementing new shielding, a new conductor-spacing configuration and new materials in the shield”.
The new Signature Reference is hand-crafted in the same way as the original Signature, with each set made to order in The Chord Company’s purpose-built Wiltshire factory. The cable’s two conductors are held in place with a precision-machined aluminium clamp and are twisted along their length (twisted-pair configuration) to improve flexibility; Signature Reference is markedly more flexible than the original Signature.
The aluminium clamp has been designed to hold the cable securely whilst avoiding any compression — The Chord Company say their research and experimentation has shown that compression of the shield and insulation on either speaker or interconnect cable, can alter its performance characteristics.
“It is extremely neutral, musically transparent and capable of producing profound improvements in a wide variety of differently priced systems. It also introduces many of the outstanding and widely documented capabilities of the flagship Sarum speaker cable”. Say Chord Company.
Signature Reference has 10 AWG multi-stranded conductors, like Signature. However, where the Signature conductors were oxygen-free copper, the Signature Reference has silver-plated oxygen-free copper conductors, which bring it into line with Epic Reference and Sarum models.
The insulation has been changed, too: Signature Reference has PTFE insulation where the original Signature had polyethylene.
A higher density braided shield has been applied to the Signature Reference, and the spacing between the conductor and shield has been optimised to improve performance.
Both Signature and Signature Reference have PVC outer jackets. However, the new Signature Reference has a different density of PVC which is used on several of The Chord Company’s cables to “help minimise mechanical noise”.
As standard, Signature Reference is fitted with The Chord Company’s own custom-machined gold-plated banana plugs. These are produced in the UK to Chord’s specification and are plated with 24-carat gold. Chord can also fit gold-plated spade connectors and BFA Camcon connectors. Like Signature, Signature Reference is available in either red and black, or all- black.
Signature Reference (1.5 metre pair) £600
Danny Worth takes a look at the Starlight 7 USB Cable from Wireworld which at just shy of £100 for a 1m length is by 
no means at the top end of what these cables can cost.
“the cable has similar qualities of presentation as the UltraViolet but with a fair gain in detail and sparkle in the top end, a warm rounded midrange leading into a firm bass, solid and full.”
Read the full review of the Wireworld 7 USB Cable.
The Chord Company’s Epic loudspeaker cable, has been upgraded with the release of Epic Reference. The new 
upgraded version is said to bring “even greater accuracy across a wider bandwidth than the original and brings all the performance benefits of separately shielded conductor construction”.
Epic Reference is based on 2×12 AWG 19-strand silver-plated oxygen-free copper conductors (in twisted-pair configuration), with each conductor set enjoying its own shield. The Chord Company strongly believes that to obtain the most neutral tonal characteristic from silver-plated conductors it is vital to use PTFE insulation. A PVC spacer jacket is then applied to correctly space the conductor in relation to the dual-layer shielding, which comprises a high-density braid and overlapped foil. The external jacket is PVC.
“Epic Reference is particularly good at helping systems sound coherent and musical. It has been comprehensively tested during the development phase and has been carefully designed to help reveal the true potential of high-quality systems and loudspeakers.” say the company, adding “Epic Reference’s ability to carry audio signals with a high degree of accuracy makes it particularly ideal for wide-bandwidth floor standing loudspeakers: one of the major benefits of shielded speaker cable is the definition and control brought to bass, which is not only useful in a multitude of musical performances, but really helps produce properly coherent rhythm – illustrating just how close the relationship is between a drummer and the a bass-player in an conventional band set-up, for example”.
Specifications
Conductors: 2x 12 AWG 19-strand silver-plated oxygen-free copper
Conductor insulation: PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
Internal conductor surround: PVC spacer jacket
Shielding: dual-layer, high-density braid and overlapped foil
External jacket: PVC
Configuration: twisted-pair
Diameter: 2x 7.3mm
Colour: Translucent brown
Terminations: Chord 24-karat gold-plated banana plugs; direct gold plated-copper spade connectors, plus BFA Camcon connectors
Price
Single metres: £125
2 metre pair: £500
3 metre pair: £750
5 metre pair: £1,250
Hifi Pig will have a 3m pair of the Chord Epic Reference loudspeaker cable to give away in our next magazine published January 1st. Subscribe now to be reminded of the next issue’s launch date.
Following the introduction in October of two Tuned ARAY Ethernet cables, Indigo Tuned ARAY Ethernet and 
Ethernet Sarum Tuned ARAY Ethernet, The Chord Company has further extended the implementation of its proprietary cable-tuning technology into its digital portfolio with three new cables joining the Tuned ARAY family: Anthem Digital Tuned ARAY; Signature Digital Tuned ARAY and Chord Indigo Digital Tuned ARAY.
Anthem Digital Tuned ARAY (£220 1m)
Anthem Digital Tuned ARAY is a completely new digital interconnect intended as an affordable introduction to Tuned ARAY technology.
The Chord Company Anthem Digital Tuned ARAY is built from a design which uses solid-core silver-plated signal conductors with PTFE insulation and is shielded with a combination of foil and high-density braid; the shields are then protected with a PTFE outer jacket and is fitted with The Chord Company’s custom VEE 3 RCA plugs.
Signature Digital Tuned ARAY (£400 1m)
Signature Digital Tuned ARAY uses high-purity single-crystal solid-core signal and return conductors in Tuned ARAY configuration. The conductor insulation is gas-foamed polyethylene and each conductor is protected with a composite shielding system. A soft PVC shield-surround provides mechanical damping, while a hard PVC outer casing protects the cable and prevents changes to the cable’s impedance, caused by compression on the internal shielding and insulation.
The Chord Company’s ultra-low-mass silver-plated non-compression RCA plugs are fitted (military-grade silver-plated BNC plugs are also available) along with the company’s precision-machined acrylic plug shrouds. Like other cables using The Chord Company’s Tuned ARAY technology, the Signature Digital Tuned ARAY brings a sense of coherence and performance to the system it’s used in, or rather, the music played through it.
Chord Indigo Digital Tuned ARAY (£900 1m)
The Indigo Digital Tuned ARAY is a completely new cable design and one that has been inspired, and heavily influenced by, Chord’s flagship Sarum Tuned ARAY digital cable and like the Sarum, the Indigo Digital uses Tuned ARAY conductor technology.
There is a single core of polished, silver-plated copper, surrounded by PTFE insulation with a combination shield of high-density silver-plated copper braid and heavy-gauge silver-plated foil.
The Chord Company’s ultra-low-mass silver-plated non-compression RCA plugs are fitted (military grade silver-plated BNC plugs are also available) along with the company’s precision-machined acrylic plug shrouds.
British audio cable manufacturer Atlas Cables had announced the launch of its Hyper 3.5 speaker cable. Engineered 
using similar principles learnt during the development their Mavros and recently launched Ascent cables, Hyper 3.5 is said to give a significant upgrade to users who wish to retain the overall character of their system yet improve the clarity, openness and accuracy normally associated with a component change.
Hyper 3.5 employs 72 x 0.25mm high-purity OFC conductor stands encapsulated within a carefully selected high efficiency PTFE (Teflon) dielectric coating. The resultant conductor is embedded within an anti-vibration filler and finished in the same gloss black sleeve in keeping with the Hyper family design.
Available in the UK now, the Atlas Hyper 3.5 speaker cable is priced at £40.00 inc. VAT per meter un-terminated. 2m factory-terminated pair (using Atlas’ 4mm Z-plugs or spades) has a UK SRP inc. VAT of £280.00.
A new Dutch hifi brand arrived on the market, called Simply Audio whose core business of is producing high quality Audio Cables.
Simply Audio’s Cadenza series of cables is made of silver and includes loudspeaker cables, two RCA interconnects and a digital cable. Termination is with Audio Note RCA’s or bananas but if clients prefer WBT or Furutech it is also possible this can be accommodated.
As well as manufacturing cables, Simply Audio were keen to tell us about ther other services which include:
A kit building services where Simply Audio builds kits for clients who can’t build these kits by themselves and are especially enthusiastic about the value of the Audio Note kits available.
A vinyl service where the company will help you get the very best from your analogue front end. “There is nothing better then Vinyl”, Dimitri van Hoven, founder and owner of Simply Audio says “but some older turntables benefit greatly by replacing the standard interlink with RCA’s and a decent interconnects” he added. Cartridge alignment is something Simply Audio also offer and they also sell cartridges from a carefully selected group of manufacturers.
Last but not least Simply Audio offers modifications such as capacitor and resistor upgrades to some brands of valve equipment including Audio Innovations.
AudioQuest contacted us to tell us about their six new subwoofer cables with a canine theme. The line begins with 
three models optimized for single-ended applications: Black Lab, Irish Red, and Boxer. Husky, Wolf and Wild Dog share the same Triple-Balanced Geometry as AudioQuest’s Rivers and Cosmic Series analogue interconnects, providing a separate ground-reference conductor for balanced applications with XLR plugs, and a lower impedance on ground for single-ended applications using RCA plugs.
AudioQuest’s Subwoofer Series starts with Black Lab’s Solid Long-Grain Copper (LGC) Conductors, with each successive model adding increasing amounts of silver plate; Wild Dog is the alpha with its Solid 100% Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS) Conductors.
Prices range from £29 for a 2m length of the Black Lab to £1289 for the same length of Wild Dog with lots of different lengths being available.
Following The Chord Company’s recent new additions to the entry-level sector (Sarsen speaker cable, Crimson, 
Cobra and Chameleon interconnects) the company has launched an affordable new mains cable: C-power.
The new C-power mains cable follows the same design principles as every other Chord cable with considerable attention paid to shielding, conductors and termination. The terminations are high-pressure-crimped (no screws to work loose) and the over-moulding process, which is said to offer additional sonic benefits, holds the conductors firmly in place and reduces mechanically induced noise. The C-power is fitted with a high-quality military-grade over-moulded mains plug, plus an equally high-quality IEC plug.
The cable, which is based upon 3×14 AWG high-purity multi-strand copper conductors, has a parallel conductor layout and a high-frequency-effective over-wrapped heavy gauge foil floating shield. It is insulated with PVC and also benefits from a high-density vibration-damping outer jacket.
The C-power is available in 1.5 metre lengths and is fitted with UK or European mains plugs. It is priced at £50
QED is marking its 40th Anniversary with the introduction of two entirely new cables. Designated ‘Reference Audio 40’ 
and ‘Signature Audio 40’ the new cables are designed specifically for the transmission of stereo, line level analogue audio signals and are a radical move away from previous QED designs.
Jack Fox, QED’s Brand Manager, stated: “Everyone at QED is very excited about the new Reference Audio 40 and Signature Audio 40 cables. As the result of the extensive empiric scientific research undertaken for this project, both products boast features never before incorporated into QED cables. We’re confident they deliver a level of sonic performance previously only available from far more expensive designs.” He continued “In addition to the clear leap in performance resulting from the newly designed ‘AnalocTM’ phono plugs, these new features include ‘asymmetric’ cable geometry for the Silver Plated, 99.999% Pure, Oxygen Free Copper multi-stranded conductors as well as a ‘floating’ ferrite jacket. The former assists the three dimensional sonic imagery (soundstage) by minimising micro timing errors; whilst the latter is one of the three layers of electrical isolation which totally protect the cable from HF interference.”
This cordage, similar for both cables, is designed primarily for low capacitance, because this has been identified by QED as an important factor which contributes to a ‘high fidelity’ experience.
In addition to the new technology incorporated into the ‘Reference’ version; ‘Signature’ Audio 40 also benefits from its cores being cryogenically treated prior to assembly and the addition of Teflon insulator. These factors combine to reduce its capacitance and dissipation factor even further.
These new cables are the first to be enhanced by the new QED ‘Analoc™’close tolerance, locking, RCA phono plugs with insulated, zinc-plated brass barrels. ‘Reference’ has a gold-plated model, whilst ‘Signature’ has a
Rhodium-plated variant. High purity 99.999% oxygen free copper contacts are used throughout and the design features ‘low eddy current’ body and ground connections as well as a hollow central pin. All these features are designed to minimise any possible interference to the analogue signal.
The UK suggested retail prices per pair (including vat) are:
Reference Audio 40: £84.95 (0.6m) £99.95 (1m) and £124.95 (1.5m)
Signature Audio 40: £169.95 (0.6m) £199.95 (1m) and £269.95 (1.5m)
Neutral Cable, whose Fascino interconnect we recommended, started trading in 2003 and to celebrate its first ten years 
in business has introduced custom made aluminium RCA connectors to further enhance the performances of their audio cables.
Neutral Plugs originate from Bullet Plugs keeping just the central part with tellurium copper contacts and on this add (in place of plastic Bullet Plug shells) a CNC machined aluminium shell.
Neutral Plug RCA connectors are made in aluminium in order to have the dual function of a 100% shielding of the interconnect (this is not possible with usual plastic Bullet Plug shells) and better mechanical and vibration performance which Neutral say consequently improves the whole interconnect.
Following the recent launch of the Crimson, Cobra and Chameleon interconnects in the entry-level sector, The Chord 
Company has expanded its affordable product line with a new speaker cable, Sarsen, priced at £8p/m.
The new Sarsen speaker cable is The Chord Company’s most discreet cable design to date. A speaker cable that’s hard to see, but easy to hear, Sarsen is miniaturised wire that uses established Chord Company design principles to produce a small cable. It’s narrow diameter and flexible nature enables Sarsen to be used in a multitude of applications where space and concealment are priorities.
Sarsen’s mix of materials has a diameter of less than 4mm, its conductors are built from multi-stranded oxygen free copper and, like other Chord Company speaker cables, are arranged in a twisted pair configuration.
The Sarsen cable uses FEP insulation, which is a form of PTFE. The two conductors are then covered with a PVC outer jacket.
Audio4soul whose Xtreme 16 amplifier we reviewed has announced the launch of its OCC IT! Xtreme speaker cables. 
Employing single crystal, pure OCC copper made by the now famous Ohno casting method, the OCC cables are said to “dig deeper into the music truth of your collection.”
“As with all Audio4soul products the new cables are completely handmade and have strong thinking, measuring and listening behind them”.
Prices are 200€ ex. VAT (240€ incl. VAT) for a 2,5m (8 1/3ft) pair with other sizes available.
When we heard that Chord had introduced a new range of affordable interconnects we just had to get a set and see if 
they passed muster.
The new range consists of the Crimson Vee 3 (£55 per stereo metre), the Cobra Vee 3 (£95 per stereo metre) and the Chameleon Vee 3 (£135 per stereo metre) and all use Chord’s new Vee 3 RCA plugs.
Dan had a few weeks with the cables and you can read the full report of the new entry level interconnects here
“There are clear differences between the progression of the cables throughout this budget range. From a wonderfully musically Crimson to the wider bandwidth and quieter background in the Cobra which can retrieve more final details to the fantastically coherent, well balanced, detailed attributes that the Chameleon just grabs the listener with.”
The Chord Company has launched Reference versions of its three most popular mid-priced interconnects. Identified 
by the new ‘Reference’ suffix, the redesigned Cadenza Reference and all-new Chorus Reference and Anthem Reference, replace the existing models.
The three-strong range of Reference-level interconnects features the new VEE 3 plug, first seen in the new Crimson, Cobra and Chameleon cables launched in July, and the Chorus Reference and Anthem Reference are the first cables in the portfolio to use the company’s ARAY technology, developed for their flagship Sarum Tuned ARAY series.
Cadenza Reference
0.5m pair £195; 1m £220; per extra metre £60
Chorus Reference
0.5m pair £260; 1m £350; per extra metre £190
Anthem Reference
0.5m pair £330; 1m £450; per extra metre £240
Pete Grzybowski, President & Owner of Triode Wire Labs, a small boutique company specializing in audiophile power 
cords & speaker cables in the US contacted us about Triode Wire Labs’ new line of speaker cables and the launch of their updated website.
The speaker cables will be making their global debut July 26-28 at the Washington, DC Capital Audiofest in the Triode Wire Labs room.
The speaker cables feature deep cryogenic treatment, compression die forging attachment of connectors and completely passive “ground plane” noise reduction technology in all the models.
Standard connectors include “top of the line” Cardas pure copper milled spades as well as Cardas CAB banana plugs. All cables are hand crafted in the USA with a 30 day audition trial.
Prices start at $499 USD for a 6 ft. pair.
UK AV cable manufacturer The Chord Company has launched newly upgraded versions its entry-level interconnect 
cables. The redesign to the Crimson (from £49), Cobra (£84) and Chameleon (£120), brings big improvements in detail, dynamics, vitality and rhythm across the range the company claim.
Improvements include advanced shielding and a completely new plug, which takes design cues from the flagship Sarum range. The Chord Company’s new ABS VEE 3 (Vibration Eliminating Enclosure) RCA plug, fitted to each of the three models is said to bring “significant sonic advantages” to the trio.
The VEE 3 plug uses a “new textured-finish, easy-grip ABS casing, featuring direct gold or silver-plated signal contacts. The signal insulation block is PTFE and the unique plating process improves signal transfer across all frequencies. VEE 3’s signal-return surround contact provides precise high-pressure contact with RCA sockets and the cable clamp, which combined with each cable’s design, minimises the changes to cable impedance that can have a negative effect on sound quality.”
The Chord Company interconnects are available in a wide range of factory terminations, including XLR and Naim and Quad-specific DIN terminations. Custom configurations and custom lengths are also available to order.
Oliver at Epiphany Acoustics called us to tell us about a number of new products they have added to their ever 
growing catalogue of hifi components and accessories.
The Solaris II Collection contains three cables and interconnects: a mini jack to mini jack interconnect, a mini jack to stereo RCA interconnect and a mini jack to 6.35mm jack socket cable. It uses heavy duty ultra pure oxygen free silver plated copper wire and a low loss polyethylene dielectric. A dense copper shield is utilised for shielding purposes as well as cotton filler to reduce unwanted vibrations.
The Atratus 75 Ohm Coaxial Cable boasts crimped connectors and true 75 Ohm impedance to ensure maximum performance in a digital set up. The solid copper oxygen free copper conductor is insulated with an extremely low loss foam PE dielectric and shielded with both a conductive foil and dense copper braid.
The Atratus II Mains Cable is the first addition to the Atratus II Collection and builds on the success and performance of the Atratus Mains Cable by utilising Epiphany’s highest quality IEC. Like the Atratus Mains Cable, it benefits from very heavy duty oxygen free stranded copper conductors and 100% shielding to minimise EMI.
Prices of the new additions start from just £19.99.
Oriton is a UK company specialising in making products that minimise vibrations within hifi equipment. Here Hifi Pig 
checks out the company’s latest interconnects, the Diamond Red (£499) and the Symphony Orange (£799)
“…I made contact with Mike Stone, a former MOD (Ministry of Defence) engineer who told me all about his love of music and especially the female vocal, along with his previous days when he played bass guitar in a band.
During his time with the Military as an engineer discovered ways of controlling vibration and micro-vibrations within electronics on lots of different military vehicles. These techniques have since been adopted in the design of his products to aid the reproduction of music.
The technology and manufacturing techniques Mike uses in his cables is unique to Oriton and not made available to any other manufacturer.”
