Chord Company has continued the roll-out of its new XLPE- technology speaker cables, with the introduction of the new EpicX, which replaces the original PTFE-based Epic and expands the offerings in the company’s midrange Epic line.

The introduction of XLPE insulation follows a period of development in material technology which presented alternatives to PTFE that offered improved phase stability. Chord Company’s XLPE technology has been progressively rolling out across a number of new speaker cables throughout 2018/9; EpicX made its world debut at The Hi-Fi Show Live.

Taylon And XLPE

Chord Company’s proactive transition to ever-better insulation materials follows the introduction of its proprietary flagship dielectric, Taylon®, which to date has been the preserve of the company’s range-topping ChordMusic and Sarum T ranges. While the high manufacturing cost of Taylon® has made it exclusive to the highest-performing ranges, XLPE delivers the benefits of improved phase stability to a much broader range of products.

Chord EpicX

The new EpicX is (still) a shielded design based on the company’s multi-award-winning OdysseyX speaker cable, with both cables sharing identical conductors: 12 AWG oxygen-free copper negative and positive conductors, which are silver plated and insulated with XLPE before an outer PVC jacket is applied. The key upgrade is EpicX’s three additional layers of XLPE, which create a very effective high-frequency combination shield.

The upgrade to XLPE takes the enduring ten-year-old Epic design forward in the same exciting direction as the company’s Taylon®-equipped speaker cables. The new EpicX joins the January-announced (higher-performance) EpicXL speaker cable, giving consumers a choice of two performance levels in the Epic stable.

ChordOhmic

EpicX is supplied with Chord Company’s recently announced 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 ChordOhmic 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.

Price & Availability

EpicX is available now priced at £60 per metre; factory termination (banana) add £120

EpicX is available off-the-reel, factory-terminated or professionally terminated at Chord Company retailers (equipped with the new ChordOhmic Hex Gun) with ChordOhmic 4mm banana plugs or ChordOhmic spade connectors for a supplement.

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