Audio T Verdict
Chord Company Sarsen is for those occasions when you want a proper speaker cable but would rather not have it announcing its presence across the living-room floor.
At only 3.5mm in diameter, Sarsen is exceptionally slim and flexible. It can be routed discreetly around furniture and can often be tucked between carpet and skirting board, making it particularly useful in rooms where keeping the Hi-Fi looking neat is just as important as getting it sounding good.
Despite its diminutive size, the construction is far removed from generic bell wire. Sarsen uses 18AWG high-purity oxygen-free copper conductors, FEP insulation and a carefully arranged twisted-pair geometry beneath its white PVC outer jacket.
It works particularly well for discreet stereo systems, lifestyle installations and rear or surround speakers where a larger cable would be difficult to hide. Chord Company is equally clear that Sarsen was developed to be good enough for much more revealing two-channel systems too.
This Audio T product is supplied unterminated and priced by the metre, so you can order the precise amount required for your room and either connect it as bare wire where appropriate or arrange termination separately.
Chord Company Sarsen Speaker Cable - Unterminated Per Metre
Sarsen is Chord Company's ultra-compact speaker cable, designed for systems where conventional speaker cable is simply too large or visually intrusive.
This Audio T product is supplied:
Unterminated and priced per metre.
Sold Per Metre - No Connectors Included
This product is bare Chord Company Sarsen supplied from the reel.
Banana plugs, spades and other connectors are not included in the per-metre price.
If you would prefer your Sarsen professionally terminated, contact your local Audio T store to discuss the required lengths and connections.
How Ordering Per Metre Works
The quantity selected represents the total number of metres of Sarsen required.
For example:
- Quantity 1: 1 metre
- Quantity 5: 5 metre continuous run
- Quantity 10: 10 metre continuous run
- Quantity 20: 20 metre continuous run
Multiple metres will be supplied as a single continuous length wherever possible rather than being cut into individual one-metre sections.
Remember You Need Cable for Both Speakers
A conventional stereo system requires a separate cable run for the left and right loudspeaker.
If each speaker needs approximately 4 metres, you would normally order around 8 metres in total.
Allow a little extra for routing around furniture, the depth of your equipment rack and final adjustment of the loudspeaker positions.
Designed to Be Almost Invisible
Sarsen was developed after Chord Company was challenged to create a genuinely good speaker cable that was considerably smaller than its already compact Rumour design.
The result is a cable with an overall diameter of just:
3.5mm.
That makes Sarsen one of the most discreet speaker cables in the Chord Company range.
Easy to Hide Around a Room
Its tiny diameter and flexible construction make Sarsen particularly easy to route:
- Along skirting boards
- Behind furniture
- Under suitable furniture
- Between carpet and skirting board where appropriate
- To rear or surround loudspeakers
- Through discreet domestic cable routes
For many real living rooms, this practicality can be just as valuable as the technical specification.
18AWG Conductors
Sarsen uses:
18AWG positive and negative conductors.
Chord Company publishes a conductor cross-sectional area of:
0.82mm².
This relatively compact conductor size allows the cable to remain exceptionally slim and flexible.
High-Purity Oxygen-Free Copper
The Sarsen conductors are made from:
High-purity oxygen-free copper.
The multi-stranded construction provides the flexibility required for a cable designed specifically around discreet domestic installation.
FEP Insulation
Each Sarsen conductor uses:
FEP insulation.
FEP, or fluorinated ethylene propylene, is a high-performance fluoropolymer dielectric material selected by Chord Company for the Sarsen design.
Unlike many of the newer X-generation Chord Company speaker cables, Sarsen continues to use FEP rather than XLPE insulation.
Sarsen Is Not SarsenX
The current product remains Chord Company Sarsen.
It continues to use FEP insulation, so it should not be renamed SarsenX or described as using the XLPE insulation found in products such as RumourX and OdysseyX.
Twisted-Pair Configuration
The positive and negative conductors are arranged in a:
Twisted-pair configuration.
This gives the two conductors a controlled relationship with one another throughout the cable run while allowing the complete assembly to remain extremely compact.
No Additional Shielding
Chord Company's current technical specification lists:
No additional shielding.
Sarsen instead relies on its carefully arranged OFC conductors, FEP insulation and twisted-pair configuration inside the protective outer jacket.
White PVC Outer Jacket
The cable is finished with a:
White PVC outer jacket.
The light, discreet finish helps Sarsen blend into many domestic installations, particularly when routed along pale skirting boards or walls.
Only 3.5mm in Diameter
The current published overall diameter is:
3.5mm.
That is substantially slimmer than many conventional Hi-Fi speaker cables.
Sarsen
- 18AWG
- 0.82mm²
- High-purity OFC
- FEP insulation
- Twisted pair
- 3.5mm diameter
RumourX
- 16AWG
- 1.31mm²
- Silver-plated OFC
- XLPE insulation
- Twisted pair
- 6mm diameter
Ideal for Lifestyle Hi-Fi Systems
Lifestyle Hi-Fi systems were one of the original reasons Sarsen was developed.
Compact electronics and discreet loudspeakers can look rather less elegant when joined together by thick, visually dominant speaker cable.
Sarsen provides a neat alternative without simply resorting to generic lightweight wire.
Suitable for Serious Stereo Systems
Its small physical size does not mean Sarsen is restricted to inexpensive equipment.
Chord Company developed and evaluated the cable with revealing two-channel systems as well as more affordable lifestyle equipment.
Where the cable length and partnering equipment are appropriate, Sarsen can therefore be considered for considerably more ambitious stereo systems than its appearance might suggest.
Excellent for Rear and Surround Speakers
Sarsen is especially useful in multi-channel systems where rear or surround speakers can require long cable routes across a room.
The 3.5mm construction makes it much easier to route discreetly than many conventional speaker cables.
Useful for Height Speakers
Sarsen's flexibility can also make it useful for suitable home-cinema height-speaker installations where the cable needs to follow a discreet route around the room.
Check Requirements Before Concealed Installation
If speaker cable is to be permanently installed inside a wall, ceiling or other building structure, confirm that the cable and installation method meet the applicable building and fire requirements.
For dedicated fixed-installation applications, ask Audio T about suitable Chord Company installation cables such as Leyline2X.
Sarsen Versus Leyline2X
Both cables can be useful where discreet installation is important, but they are designed with somewhat different priorities.
Sarsen
- Extremely discreet domestic speaker cable
- 18AWG
- 0.82mm²
- High-purity OFC
- FEP insulation
- 3.5mm diameter
- Ideal where minimum visual impact matters
Leyline2X
- Dedicated installation speaker cable
- 16AWG
- 1.31mm²
- Tinned stranded OFC
- XLPE insulation
- LS0H outer jacket
- 6mm diameter
- Designed for custom AV installation
Sarsen Versus RumourX
RumourX is the logical step up where the installation can accommodate a larger cable.
RumourX increases the conductor size from Sarsen's 18AWG / 0.82mm² to 16AWG / 1.31mm² and moves to silver-plated OFC conductors with XLPE insulation.
Choose Sarsen When
- Maximum discretion matters
- 3.5mm cable is easier to conceal
- The route is particularly tight
- You want minimal visual impact
Consider RumourX When
- A 6mm cable is practical
- You want larger 16AWG conductors
- The system justifies moving further up the range
- Installation space is less restricted
Compare Chord Company RumourX Speaker Cable at Audio T.
Can Sarsen Be Used Bare?
Yes, where the amplifier and loudspeaker terminals are designed to accept bare speaker cable.
The conductors should be carefully stripped and securely clamped, with no loose strands able to bridge the positive and negative terminals.
Switch the Amplifier Off Before Connecting
Always switch the amplifier off before preparing, fitting or removing speaker cable.
Make sure exposed conductor strands cannot accidentally short the positive and negative amplifier terminals together.
Professional ChordOhmic Termination
Sarsen can also be professionally terminated with suitable Chord Company loudspeaker connectors.
Chord Company's current speaker-connector range includes:
- ChordOhmic 4mm banana plugs
- ChordOhmic spade connectors
If you would prefer professionally terminated Sarsen rather than bare-wire connections, contact your local Audio T store to discuss the required cable lengths and connector arrangement.
Custom Multi-Speaker Systems
Sarsen can also form part of Chord Company's custom-built Komplex speaker cables for specialist multi-speaker systems.
Komplex can be configured for applications including bi-wire, tri-wire and other multi-conductor systems where a bespoke cable assembly is required.
Correct Speaker Polarity
Maintain the same polarity throughout the installation:
- Amplifier positive to loudspeaker positive
- Amplifier negative to loudspeaker negative
Reversing one loudspeaker's polarity can significantly affect bass response, stereo imaging and overall coherence.
Measure the Real Cable Route
Sarsen's tiny size makes it tempting to route the cable around every available edge of the room, so measure the route it will actually take rather than simply measuring the straight-line distance to the loudspeaker.
Allow for:
- Furniture
- Skirting-board routes
- Equipment-rack depth
- Doorways and corners
- Final speaker positioning
- Enough slack to reconnect equipment comfortably
Give Yourself a Little Extra
Speaker cable is considerably easier to shorten than it is to stretch.
Allow a sensible margin rather than ordering a run that will only reach if everything stays in exactly the same position forever.
Sarsen at Audio T
Audio T has stocked Sarsen since its original introduction, when our Swindon team highlighted just how unusual it was to find such a tiny speaker cable designed with proper Hi-Fi performance in mind.
Read: Hitting the Right Chord - Chord Company Sarsen at Audio T Swindon
For a wider look at how speaker cables can influence system performance, our Cardiff team has also explored Chord Company cables across a range of systems.
Read: Do Hi-Fi Cables Make a Difference?
Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty
Chord Company currently covers its products with a:
Lifetime manufacturer warranty.
The warranty covers defective materials and workmanship during the product's reasonably expected lifespan, subject to Chord Company's terms, exclusions and proof-of-purchase requirements.
Key Features
- Chord Company Sarsen speaker cable
- Unterminated cable
- Sold per metre
- Continuous run wherever possible
- Ultra-discreet construction
- Only 3.5mm overall diameter
- Highly flexible
- 18AWG conductors
- 0.82mm² conductor area
- High-purity oxygen-free copper
- Multi-stranded conductors
- FEP conductor insulation
- Twisted-pair configuration
- No additional shielding
- White PVC outer jacket
- Ideal for discreet stereo systems
- Suitable for lifestyle Hi-Fi
- Suitable for revealing two-channel systems
- Useful for rear surround speakers
- Useful for discreet AV installations
- Can often be routed between carpet and skirting board
- Bare-wire compatible where appropriate
- Professional termination available
- ChordOhmic connector compatible
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chord Company Sarsen?
Sarsen is an ultra-compact speaker cable using 18AWG high-purity OFC conductors, FEP insulation and twisted-pair geometry.
Is Sarsen still a current Chord Company cable?
Yes. Sarsen remains part of Chord Company's current speaker-cable range.
Is this product sold per metre?
Yes. This Audio T product is unterminated Sarsen priced per single metre.
Does it include connectors?
No. It is supplied as bare, unterminated speaker cable.
If I order 8 metres, will it arrive as one length?
Yes. Multiple metres are supplied as one continuous run wherever possible.
How much do I need for stereo?
Add together the required left and right cable runs. Two 4m runs, for example, require approximately 8 metres in total.
What conductor material does Sarsen use?
High-purity oxygen-free copper.
Are the conductors silver plated?
No. Chord Company's current specification lists high-purity OFC rather than the silver-plated OFC used in cables such as RumourX.
What gauge is Sarsen?
18AWG.
What is the conductor cross-sectional area?
0.82mm².
What insulation does Sarsen use?
FEP insulation.
Does Sarsen use XLPE insulation?
No. Sarsen continues to use FEP. It is not an X-generation XLPE speaker cable.
Is Sarsen shielded?
No. Chord Company's current specification lists no additional shielding.
What is the overall diameter?
3.5mm.
Is Sarsen flexible?
Yes. Its exceptionally slim construction makes it particularly flexible and easy to route discreetly.
Can Sarsen fit between carpet and skirting board?
In many installations, yes. Chord Company specifically highlights this as one of the practical advantages of its small diameter.
Can Sarsen be used with a serious Hi-Fi system?
Yes. Chord Company developed Sarsen for both discreet lifestyle installations and revealing two-channel systems.
Is it suitable for rear surround speakers?
Yes. Its flexibility and small diameter can make it particularly useful where long, discreet routes are required.
What is the difference between Sarsen and RumourX?
Sarsen uses 18AWG / 0.82mm² high-purity OFC conductors with FEP insulation and measures just 3.5mm in diameter. RumourX increases the conductor size to 16AWG / 1.31mm², uses silver-plated OFC and XLPE insulation, and measures 6mm in diameter.
Can Sarsen be connected as bare wire?
Yes, where the amplifier and loudspeaker terminals accept bare wire and the conductors are correctly prepared.
Can Sarsen be professionally terminated?
Yes. Chord Company offers factory speaker-cable termination and compatible ChordOhmic connectors.
Does Sarsen have a warranty?
Yes. Chord Company currently covers its products with a lifetime manufacturer warranty, subject to its terms and exclusions.
Can Audio T help calculate how much cable I need?
Yes. Give your local Audio T store the amplifier position, speaker positions and intended cable route and we can help calculate a sensible total length.
Related Chord Company Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Sarsen supplied per metre
- Help calculating the correct total cable length
- Advice on discreet speaker-cable routing
- Stereo and home-cinema installation guidance
- Bare-wire connection advice
- Professional termination guidance
- Sarsen, Leyline2X and RumourX comparison advice
- Help matching cable to amplifier and loudspeakers
- In-store demonstrations where appropriate
- Home demonstrations where appropriate
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store if you would like help calculating how much Sarsen you need, arranging termination or deciding whether Sarsen, Leyline2X or RumourX best suits your installation.