Cables, cables and cables...

Posted by: Joppe on 16 October 2017

Hi all,

I have followed cable threads conserning Super Lumina (SL) and Chords offers Signature TA (Signature, STA), Sarum T (and the older SA and TA) and Music with interest over the last year or so. I have Linn/LP12/urika with naim standard rca-din (lavender) and cds3/555dr with hiline (or std naim) into 252/300dr (std. cables) and Magico S1 speakers through Chord epic ref (or naca5). 

I have heard chord STA and SL interconnects in my system before service/dr and with previous dynaudio speakers. I also heard Music an Sarum SA in dealer demos, but not Sarum T. 

Auditions of din-din versions I hope are possible but most likely not rca-din or din-xlr. 

In my setup I believe the epic ref speaker cable offer more detail and presence to instruments compared to Naca5, which have a a nicer tonal balance with a richer tone to eg male voices. Comparing hiline to std Naim ic on cds3 also show a similar effect (hiline more detailed but overall slightly brighter). 

So, my question(s)? Could I have the best of both worlds without braking the bank? Do I need to consider full loom, or is just ICs enough in this pussel? Would even starting with the din-xlr make sense (it will for sure benefit both sources)? All experiences and advice are appreciated!

 

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Arthur Bye

I seem to have fallen behind on the product history of Chord IC’s. I’d appreciate it if someone more knowledgeable than I am could bring me up to date with Chord Sarum lineup 

As I can recall this the Sarum line started as:

Solstice initially, but quickly changed to Sarum. 

Sarum eventually became Super Sarum, the first upgrade 

Super Sarum then was upgraded to Sarum (TA) for Time Aligned. A significant upgrade 

Sarum TA is now Sarum T (for Teflon), but remains with a the Time Alignment feature. This is the current offering and is the penultimate Sarum IC  

Chord Music, new IC, came out a year or so ago and is now their premier offering  

Chord also offers TA upgrading to their Indigo lineup

Chord came out with a new Signature line, as a more modest priced cable that still offered Time Alignment.

if I am missing anything here, I would appreciate it if someone would chime in;  i’m Just trying to stay current with product line  

  

 

 

 

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Dave J
Arthur Bye posted:

I seem to have fallen behind on the product history of Chord IC’s. I’d appreciate it if someone more knowledgeable than I am could bring me up to date with Chord Sarum lineup 

As I can recall this the Sarum line started as:

Solstice initially, but quickly changed to Sarum. 

Sarum eventually became Super Sarum, the first upgrade 

Super Sarum then was upgraded to Sarum (TA) for Time Aligned. A significant upgrade 

Sarum TA is now Sarum T (for Teflon), but remains with a the Time Alignment feature. This is the current offering and is the penultimate Sarum IC  

Chord Music, new IC, came out a year or so ago and is now their premier offering  

Chord also offers TA upgrading to their Indigo lineup

Chord came out with a new Signature line, as a more modest priced cable that still offered Time Alignment.

if I am missing anything here, I would appreciate it if someone would chime in;  i’m Just trying to stay current with product line  

  

 

 

 

Hi Arthur, I think you're pretty much up to speed. the only things to note are that TA is Tuned Aray,  the T in Sarum stands for Taylon and, I believe, Indigo is no longer in the line up.  As well as creating a super-expensive premier Music range, they brought in Clearway at a rather more affordable level (sub £100-ish) but it does benefit from Aray tech.

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Huge

And just what, pray, is "Taylon"?

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Bryce Curdy
Arthur Bye posted:

I seem to have fallen behind on the product history of Chord IC’s. I’d appreciate it if someone more knowledgeable than I am could bring me up to date with Chord Sarum lineup 

As I can recall this the Sarum line started as:

Solstice initially, but quickly changed to Sarum. 

Sarum eventually became Super Sarum, the first upgrade 

Super Sarum then was upgraded to Sarum (TA) for Time Aligned. A significant upgrade 

Sarum TA is now Sarum T (for Teflon), but remains with a the Time Alignment feature. This is the current offering and is the penultimate Sarum IC  

Chord Music, new IC, came out a year or so ago and is now their premier offering  

Chord also offers TA upgrading to their Indigo lineup

Chord came out with a new Signature line, as a more modest priced cable that still offered Time Alignment.

if I am missing anything here, I would appreciate it if someone would chime in;  i’m Just trying to stay current with product line  

  

 

 

 

Sarum Super Aray replaced Sarum Tuned Aray rather than the other way round.

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Arthur Bye

Yes, thanks for sorting that part out Dave/ Bryce. I had forgotten about the Tuned Aray part of it. I thought the Sarum  "T" was for Teflon. I don't remember Taylon. What is that?

Kinda makes me wish for the days that we argued about grey burndies versus black ones. Or white naca5 over black. 

I still can't keep the two Chord companies straight either  why can't they just join up?  

Difficult to keep all this ridiculousness sorted. 

Arthur

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by ChrisSU
Huge posted:

And just what, pray, is "Taylon"?

If I told you, I'd have to shoot you! It's a military grade secret material available only to the US military and Chord. 

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Huge
ChrisSU posted:
Huge posted:

And just what, pray, is "Taylon"?

If I told you, I'd have to shoot you! It's a military grade secret material available only to the US military and Chord. 

CPHSO?

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Richard Dane
Bryce Curdy posted:

Can I very politely ask Richard firstly why a particular cable manufacturer does not wish their products discussed on this forum and secondly why the administrators have agreed to this rather North Koreaesque request.

if this was a football forum and the CEO of Arsenal demanded that the club was not discussed we would all laugh at him.

For the record I have absolutely no idea which manufacturer has asked this although I obviously know a few who have not.  And no offence to Arsenal!

Bryce, I think that the manufacturer in question was a bit unhappy with the forum policy that mean't they were not allowed to come on the forum to discuss or promote their products.  Naim would rather not get into arguments over this kind of thing but we do stick to our guns on forum policy as it's the best way to keep the forum as clean as possible.  As such, we felt it best to comply with their wish.

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Arthur Bye

Richard, my apologies for any transgressions. I thought got there was some leeway here as long as it didn't involve M*na. I will endeavor for no further offense. Perhaps there should be a "place" that all of go for some remedial education about such things.

Going to my Safe Space now.......

Arthur

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Bryce Curdy
Richard Dane posted:
Bryce Curdy posted:

Can I very politely ask Richard firstly why a particular cable manufacturer does not wish their products discussed on this forum and secondly why the administrators have agreed to this rather North Koreaesque request.

if this was a football forum and the CEO of Arsenal demanded that the club was not discussed we would all laugh at him.

For the record I have absolutely no idea which manufacturer has asked this although I obviously know a few who have not.  And no offence to Arsenal!

Bryce, I think that the manufacturer in question was a bit unhappy with the forum policy that mean't they were not allowed to come on the forum to discuss or promote their products.  Naim would rather not get into arguments over this kind of thing but we do stick to our guns on forum policy as it's the best way to keep the forum as clean as possible.  As such, we felt it best to comply with their wish.

Ah, thanks Richard.  That makes a bit more sense.  If they are not allowed the right of reply then best for everyone if they are not mentioned at all.

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Chris Dolan
Bryce Curdy posted:  

Sarum Super Aray replaced Sarum Tuned Aray rather than the other way round.

Also Sarum T has the full name Sarum T Super Aray

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Richard Dane
Bryce Curdy posted:
Richard Dane posted:
Bryce Curdy posted:

Can I very politely ask Richard firstly why a particular cable manufacturer does not wish their products discussed on this forum and secondly why the administrators have agreed to this rather North Koreaesque request.

if this was a football forum and the CEO of Arsenal demanded that the club was not discussed we would all laugh at him.

For the record I have absolutely no idea which manufacturer has asked this although I obviously know a few who have not.  And no offence to Arsenal!

Bryce, I think that the manufacturer in question was a bit unhappy with the forum policy that mean't they were not allowed to come on the forum to discuss or promote their products.  Naim would rather not get into arguments over this kind of thing but we do stick to our guns on forum policy as it's the best way to keep the forum as clean as possible.  As such, we felt it best to comply with their wish.

Ah, thanks Richard.  That makes a bit more sense.  If they are not allowed the right of reply then best for everyone if they are not mentioned at all.

Well, in actual fact it's not a case of no 'right of reply".  The rules are very clear - no reps.  Beyond Naim and a small amount of leeway granted to Naim dealers and distributors (strictly moderated), nobody is allowed to post about their own commercial interests on this forum. That way the forum is kept clean and won't be used as a platform for anyone to try to sell their wares to Naim forum members - and by heavens they try!!  There is always right of reply where something may not be correct - if anything is posted on here as fact and is considered by the manufacturer to be false or misleading then they have the right to contact Naim and ask for any erroneous information to be reviewed and corrected if adjudged fair and necessary - in these cases I usually post or comment on their behalf. 

Posted on: 10 January 2018 by Bryce Curdy

Thanks for correcting me Richard.  I totally agree with your position.

Posted on: 11 January 2018 by Joppe

Is there anyone who auditioned SL vs. Chord Sarum T (or other cables) in rca-din version preferably from LP12/Urika?