Chord OdysseyX uses the same materials as RumourX.   Odyssey’s heavier gauge conductors bring so much more detail and dynamics to a system, along with a degree of control and definition that can transform the performance of both floor and stand mounted loudspeakers.  Odyssey was launched in 1998 and set a new standard of performance. It’s neutrality, its compatibility and consistency of performance from system to system made it very rapidly our most popular speaker cable.

Hi-Fi News magazine liked Chord Odyssey so much because of its performance and price that it won the best speaker cable award for five years in a row.

Over the years, changes have been cosmetic only. The current version has a white PVC outer jacket with a diameter of 8mm, still discrete in speaker cable terms and still good enough to let even the biggest of systems sing like they should.

Previous versions of Odyssey speaker cables used PTFE insulation (often referred to as Teflon™) and until the arrival of Taylon®, this was our “go to” material. Although expensive, PTFE offered the best performance.

Material technology is constantly developing and improving and alternatives to PTFE are now available. While the high cost of Taylon® prevents us from using this in all of our ranges, another insulator –  XLPE (Cross-linked Polyethylene) came to our attention. One particular version of this material proved to be clearly better than PTFE, so OdysseyX was born.

The conductors used in OdysseyX are also found in Chord Epic and EpicXL speaker cables.

If you’re considering OdysseyX you should also have a listen to the similarly priced Chord ShawlineX.

OdysseyX is the perfect partner for Chord Company ChordOhmic plugs, neatly complemented by the new ‘trousers’. In addition to factory terminations, the cable can also be professionally terminated by participating Chord Company dealers equipped with the new  CHORD OHMIC HEX GUN tool; the service not only delivers tailor-made lengths, but it also jumps the build queue at the factory. Existing cables can also be upgraded with the new plugs, trousers and terminations, too.

ChorAlloy™ Next-generation technology

The growing line-up of ChorAlloy-plated connectors/plugs is already being fitted to Chord Company cables.

The upgraded ChorAlloy™ plating is available on VEE3 and PTFE RCA/phono connectors, ChordOhmic speaker connectors (spade and 4mm banana), BNC connectors, most USB connectors and the connecting pins of DIN and XLR connectors.

C-series cables, Clearway USB cable, streaming cables and mini-jack connectors will remain the same.

ChorAlloy-fitted products can be identified by stickers or indicators on retail packs. Other distinguishing features are the anti-tarnish, steel-like appearance of the connectors and the enhanced performance!

Conductivity is typically measured using DC. Chord Company has always been interested in how its cables perform at higher frequencies: as you move up through the ranges, the bandwidth of the cables increase, along with many other important mechanical characteristics.

At higher frequencies, the clear performance advantage of silver becomes less clear. The presence of the Ag2S can give rise to intermodulation effects at high frequencies. These effects, especially as they are associated outside the normal audible sine wave bandwidth, haven’t ever been considered by any audio connector manufacturers to date (that Chord Company is aware of).

Chord Company looked at different plating techniques over a prolonged period, to try to reduce this effect. Following very considerable listening results, ChorAlloy was born. This multi-metal plating system provides significant musical improvement over previous silver plating techniques and marks a major step forward in connector performance.

The technology offers much lower intermodulation than silver plating, is tarnish-free, RoHS compliant and solderable. But, most importantly, it is musically superior to previous silver-plated connectors.

We are an authorised Chord Cables dealership, so you can be assured of new and genuine products, covered by a full manufacturers warranty.