Cables & Accessories

Made from the same materials as the Rumour X (HFC 447) but with heavier gauge conductors, the Odyssey X speaker cable is designed to bring more control, dynamics, definition and detail to a system. The original Odyssey was launched back in 1998 and designed to be very neutral sounding. It used PTFE as its dielectric material, but the Odyssey X instead opts for XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene). As with Chord’s Taylon dielectric, XLPE doesn’t suffer from the same phase issues as PTFE and can be produced at a lower cost.

The Odyssey X is unscreened with a white PVC outer jacket and diameter of 8mm. The conductors are made from 12 AWG silver-plated oxygen-free copper and though the Odyssey is 2mm thicker than the Rumour X, it is still very flexible. 

Sound quality
Kicking off with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.2 performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy and the London Symphony Orchestra, I am instantly struck by the enormous soundstage. Both the side-to-side and the front-to-back imaging are superb, and all the instruments are well focused and clearly positioned. The piano is full and rich and displays splendid levels of detail and realism.

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra with Clare Teal singing Too Darn Hot really swings into action and livens up the listening room. From the opening saxophones that lead into the main vocal, the track’s timing and pace sounds superb. Teal’s singing has great energy and the soundstage is nicely broad and deep as the Odyssey X conveys believable and elegant performances. NR

DETAILS
Product: Chord Company Odyssey X
Price: £30/m plus £120 for factory-fitted banana plugs
Type: Loudspeaker cable
Read the full review in July issue 451