Chord’s first venture into USB cables was a consequence of having musicians (incl some in bands) working at the Chord Company. After copying a CD master recording to a laptop,
they were shocked at the poor performance of the burned copies when compared to the original master CD.
At the time Chord were using one of the first DACs with a USB input, so they played the master from the laptop. Still not good but better than the burned CD version. After using better spec ripping programs and playback management,
Chord thankfully got big improvements to the burned CD.
Whilst Chord were happy that they could produce a pretty decent CD copy from the original master, the laptop copy of the master (sent to the DAC via its USB input) sounded clearly worse than the CD copy being fed to the same DAC – so they investigated the construction of the USB cable between laptop and DAC.
After listening to a selection of available (and varying quality) USB cables, Chord realised this was an area worth exploring. The result was the Chord USB SilverPlus, launched in Sept 2011, with silver-plated conductors and high frequency effective shielding. Chord Signature USB followed in April 2013 and has remained virtually unchanged up till now (Aug 2018)
There are increasing numbers of high quality DACs (with exceptional USB inputs) and several high quality music streamers/servers with USB outputs. This has led Chord to revisit and improve the original Signature USB design
The original Signature USB featured four separately shielded conductors. Chord have now refined the effective gauge of the silver-plated copper conductors and upgaded the insulation to a high-speed PE/LDPE/PE composite dielectric. The earth shielding connection is further protected from high frequency noise with its own foil tape layer. The ARAY technology has been upgraded from Tuned ARAY to Super ARAY using a Signature USB specific ARAY design. Chord have incorporated refinements with both USB A and B plugs. All connections are soldered and the USB plugs are silver-plated to Chord’s specification in the UK. Chord believe these changes have all contributed to a healthy improvement in performance. It is certainly a little harder (therefore longer) to build, so while the price has crept up from the original Signature USB, Chord feel it more than justifies the effort when you audition it against the original design.
There are many high-performance storage and streaming devices available and the new Signature Super ARAY USB is an obvious choice to try with these. Also worth trying between your PC/tablet and DAC, particularly if it’s full of decent rips of your own CD collection, high quality downloads or is being used for streaming hi-def music like Tidal etc.
Chord Signature Super ARAY USB Type A to Type B Cable is available as 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 3m lengths for all other lengths please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Established in 1984, the Chord Company has been a leading designer and manufacturer of award-winning audio and video cables in Amesbury, England. With a deep understanding of the importance of cables in audio systems, the company has dedicated itself to creating exceptional products that enhance the music and movie experience. Driven by a team of passionate individuals who are music enthusiasts, creators, movie lovers, and gamers, The Chord Company has grown steadily in both size and reputation. Headquartered near the historic Stonehenge in Wiltshire, their high-performance and value-for-money cables have gained international recognition, catering to systems and budgets of all levels. The Chord Company has evolved into a respected brand committed to delivering top-quality cables and enhancing audio experiences.
| Length | 1M, 1.5M, 2M, 3M |
|---|---|
| Technical Specification | Super ARAY conductors, a revolutionary way of building audio interconnects that brings new levels of coherence, detail and involvement. |
| Warranty | 10 Year Warranty |
I’m David McCaffrey, and I have spent over 20 years in the Audio-visual industry. The whole trip into high-fidelity audio was based on a simple, original passion for music and an unrelenting pursuit to find the ultimate sound experience. That initial passion has, over the years, developed into a profound competence resting on quality – a competence I am proud to share with you.
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