![]() There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to our verdicts on audio cables, with What Hi-Fi? proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades. We compare each cable to rivals at the same price in order for us to reach a verdict and star rating.Īll our review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer, to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as impartial and thorough as possible, too. ![]() We also connect them to a more price-compatible system to hear how they work in a more typical scenario. These arrows show you the direction of the signal from the source to your amplifier.ĭuring testing, we start listening through our reference system as its transparency allows us to hear exactly how the characteristics of the cable are affecting the sound. When connecting them, we also pay attention to the cable directionality which is usually marked on the cable sheath of plugs via the use of arrows. In our experience, their impact on a system can change over time so we make sure they have a couple of days with an audio signal running through them. The first thing we do to a pair of analogue interconnects is run them in by connecting them to our reference system. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency across all the products we test. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of expert reviewers do all our in-house testing. The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years experience of reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics. Read our reviews to help you understand the character of the cable and see if it matches the character of your system. One last piece of advice would be to not pick purely on the star rating. ![]() On the flip side, If you own a high-end set-up, we'd suggest looking at price-comparable interconnects but you could also audition some cheaper interconnects too. As you can see from our list below, there are some brilliant budget options available. ![]() However, at the same time, there's nothing stopping you from trying more premium pairs to see how your system reacts. If you currently own an excellent entry-level set-up you don't need to spend big on interconnects. So you'll want to dedicate a share of this to a pair of suitable analogue interconnects. In the case of a hi-fi set-up, you'll be looking at analogue interconnects, speaker cables and, potentially, a digital optical or coaxial cable depending on the sources you're using. Otherwise, when it comes to picking the right audio interconnects, a lot of your decision-making will revolve around price and, of course, your system, whether you're putting one together or already have one set up.Īs a general rule of thumb, we'd recommend setting aside 10-15 per cent of the total cost of your system for cables. You could also speak to a dealer to see if they've tried different cables during demos and have found any that work particularly well with your amplifier. After all, engineers will have spent hours experimenting during the development process and you might be told some valuable nuggets of information which might make your job of finding something suitable more simple. Read the full Chord Company Clearway Analogue RCA (2022) review How to choose the right audio cables for youĪ good starting point is to consider getting in touch with the manufacturer of your stereo amplifier and asking if they recommend a particular brand or model of interconnect. The price tag might weigh heavy on many listeners’ wallets – and the cheaper C-line remains a class leader we can still get behind – but for those who can justify the outlay, the Clearway Analogue RCA (2022) is brilliantly capable of letting you hear where your money has gone. They allow for our system to deliver an open, crisp and rhythmic sound and dynamics are communicated with confidence. They deliver a step-up in quality from the cheaper C-ine mentioned above, but they do cost more and their talents will be heard more obviously in systems that are at mid-level price and above.ĭuring testing, we found it really quite unsatisfying to listen to the same songs with anything else of a similar price. The original Clearway analogue interconnects have been around for a little while and they were revised in 2022 to introduce a new plating to the plugs.
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