Audio T Verdict
ShawlineX is a relatively slim speaker cable, but there's quite a lot going on beneath that translucent outer jacket. Chord Company combines 16AWG silver-plated high-purity oxygen-free copper conductors with XLPE insulation, twisted-pair geometry and a substantial foil-and-braid shielding system.
It builds on the conductor arrangement used in RumourX, but adds a specially selected PVC internal jacket and a high-density dual-layer shield. That makes ShawlineX an interesting step up for customers looking for a screened speaker cable without moving to the larger and considerably more expensive products further up the Chord Company range.
This particular Audio T product is the bare cable supplied off the reel. It is priced per metre and supplied without plugs, allowing you to buy the continuous length required for your installation.
If you would rather have a finished stereo pair, ShawlineX is also available separately with factory-fitted ChordOhmic 4mm banana or spade connectors.
For most conventional stereo installations we recommend measuring the complete cable route carefully before ordering, allowing enough extra length for equipment positioning and relaxed bends behind both the amplifier and loudspeakers.
Chord Company ShawlineX Speaker Cable - Per Metre
ShawlineX is a shielded two-conductor loudspeaker cable designed for the connection between a compatible amplifier and passive loudspeakers.
This product is supplied:
Unterminated and priced per single metre.
Multiple metres ordered together are supplied as a single continuous run rather than individual one-metre pieces.
Supplied Without Connectors
This is bare ShawlineX cable from the reel.
It does not include banana plugs, spades or other speaker connectors.
If you require a finished pair, choose Audio T's separately listed terminated ShawlineX speaker cables or contact your local store to discuss the appropriate termination.
How Much Cable Do I Need?
Because ShawlineX is sold per metre, order the total continuous length required for your installation.
For example:
- Quantity 1: 1 metre
- Quantity 3: 3 metre continuous run
- Quantity 5: 5 metre continuous run
- Quantity 10: 10 metre continuous run
Remember You Need Two Speaker Runs for Stereo
A conventional two-channel system normally requires one cable from the amplifier to the left loudspeaker and another to the right loudspeaker.
If you require 3m to each speaker, for example, you will need 6m of cable in total before allowing for any additional routing or termination requirements.
Silver-Plated High-Purity OFC Conductors
Chord Company specifies ShawlineX with:
Silver-plated high-purity oxygen-free copper conductors.
Oxygen-free copper is commonly abbreviated to:
OFC.
This is the current manufacturer-published conductor specification for ShawlineX speaker cable.
16AWG Conductor Size
Each conductor is specified as:
16AWG.
Chord Company also publishes the metric conductor cross-sectional area as:
1.31mm².
AWG and mm²
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge and is one way of describing conductor size.
For ShawlineX, Chord Company publishes both the 16AWG figure and the corresponding 1.31mm² conductor area.
XLPE Insulation
The silver-plated conductors are insulated with:
XLPE.
XLPE stands for cross-linked polyethylene.
Current ShawlineX replaces the PTFE insulation used by earlier versions of Shawline speaker cable.
Why the X?
The X-generation of Shawline speaker cable introduced Chord Company's selected XLPE insulation material.
The current cable should therefore be identified specifically as:
ShawlineX.
Do Not Use the Old PTFE Specification
Older Shawline speaker cable used PTFE insulation.
The current ShawlineX specification is XLPE.
Twisted-Pair Configuration
The positive and negative conductors are arranged in a:
Twisted-pair configuration.
This is the same basic conductor layout used by Chord Company's RumourX speaker cable.
Based on RumourX
Chord Company describes ShawlineX as being based around its long-running Rumour speaker cable, now known as RumourX.
Both use:
- Silver-plated conductors
- XLPE insulation
- Twisted-pair geometry
ShawlineX then adds further mechanical and electrical shielding measures around that conductor assembly.
Specially Selected PVC Internal Jacket
A:
Specially selected PVC internal jacket
is applied around the twisted conductor pair.
Chord Company states that this internal jacket is used to help reduce mechanical noise.
High-Density Foil Shield
A high-density foil layer forms one part of the ShawlineX shielding system.
This sits outside the internal conductor and PVC-jacket assembly.
93% Coverage Metal Braid
Chord Company then adds a metal-braid shield with:
93% coverage.
The foil and braid work together to form the high-density dual-layer shielding system used by ShawlineX.
Dual-Layer Shielding
The complete shielding arrangement combines:
- High-density foil
- 93% coverage metal braid
Chord Company states that this is the same high-density dual-layer foil-and-braid shielding approach used in its Epic speaker-cable range.
Why Shield a Speaker Cable?
Chord Company has developed a number of shielded loudspeaker cables as part of its approach to reducing the influence of high-frequency electrical interference within a Hi-Fi system.
ShawlineX therefore differs from a conventional unscreened two-conductor speaker cable by surrounding its internal signal conductors with the dedicated foil-and-braid shielding system.
Translucent PVC Outer Jacket
The complete cable is protected by a:
Translucent PVC outer jacket.
This forms the visible external layer of ShawlineX.
9.1mm Overall Diameter
Chord Company publishes an overall cable diameter of:
9.1mm.
This makes ShawlineX relatively easy to accommodate in many domestic installations while still containing its internal PVC jacket and dual-layer shielding system.
Off the Reel or Factory Terminated?
Chord Company offers ShawlineX in two broad forms:
Off the Reel
- Unterminated cable
- Purchased by required length
- Ideal for custom cable runs
- Termination arranged separately
- This Audio T product
Factory Terminated
- Finished stereo pair
- Terminated at Chord Company's UK factory
- ChordOhmic 4mm banana plugs available
- ChordOhmic spade connectors available
- Available separately
ChordOhmic Terminations
Chord Company offers factory-terminated ShawlineX using:
- ChordOhmic 4mm banana plugs
- ChordOhmic spade connectors
These connector options apply to separately terminated ShawlineX cables rather than the bare per-metre cable on this page.
Do Not Assume Generic Termination
ShawlineX is a shielded speaker cable with foil and braid surrounding its internal conductors.
If you are unsure how the cable should be prepared or terminated for your installation, contact Audio T rather than treating it as a simple unscreened twin-core cable.
Standard Factory-Terminated Pair Lengths
Chord Company currently publishes factory-terminated ShawlineX pairs in:
- 1.5m pair
- 2m pair
- 3m pair
- 5m pair
Those lengths apply to Chord Company's finished pair products and do not limit the length of ShawlineX purchased off the reel.
Per Metre Gives You More Flexibility
Buying ShawlineX from the reel is particularly useful where:
- The left and right speakers need unusual cable lengths
- The cable must route around furniture
- The system is being installed into a room
- Existing connectors are to be reused where appropriate
- A specific custom termination is planned
- The required length does not match a standard factory pair
Choosing the Correct Length
Measure the actual path the cable will follow rather than the straight-line distance between amplifier and loudspeaker.
Allow additional length for:
- Equipment racks
- Furniture
- Speaker positioning
- Routing around room edges
- Relaxed bends behind equipment
- Future repositioning
- Connector termination
Do Not Pull Speaker Cable Tight
Leave sufficient slack so the cable is not under mechanical tension at the amplifier or loudspeaker terminals.
Installation Guidance
When installing ShawlineX, good general cable practice includes:
- Switching equipment off before making or removing speaker connections
- Routing speaker cable away from mains power cables where practical
- Avoiding excessive bending
- Avoiding undue pressure or crushing
- Checking compatibility before permanently installing cable inside walls or floors
Check Polarity Carefully
A conventional loudspeaker connection has positive and negative terminals at both the amplifier and loudspeaker.
Maintain the same polarity from amplifier to speaker on each channel.
Switch the Amplifier Off First
Always switch the amplifier off before connecting, disconnecting or altering loudspeaker cables.
Make sure there are no stray conductor strands capable of touching adjacent speaker terminals before powering the system again.
ShawlineX or RumourX?
Chord Company directly bases ShawlineX around the RumourX conductor layout.
RumourX
- Silver-plated conductors
- XLPE insulation
- Twisted-pair geometry
- Slim speaker-cable construction
ShawlineX
- Silver-plated high-purity OFC
- XLPE insulation
- Twisted-pair geometry
- PVC internal jacket
- High-density foil shielding
- 93% coverage metal braid
ShawlineX therefore takes the RumourX-style conductor arrangement and surrounds it with additional mechanical damping and shielding.
Bare ShawlineX or Terminated ShawlineX?
If you already know exactly how the cable will be installed and terminated, the per-metre version gives you maximum flexibility.
If you want a finished stereo pair that can be connected directly to compatible amplifier and loudspeaker terminals, the terminated version may be more convenient.
View Chord Company ShawlineX Terminated Speaker Cable at Audio T.
ShawlineX in Audio T Systems
ShawlineX has been used in a number of Audio T demonstration systems, including alongside Cyrus electronics and PMC loudspeakers.
Read: Listening Lab - The Cyrus 40 Series at Audio T Southampton.
Key Features
- Chord Company ShawlineX speaker cable
- Sold per metre
- Supplied as one continuous run
- Unterminated
- Available off the reel
- Silver-plated high-purity OFC conductors
- 16AWG conductor size
- 1.31mm² conductor cross-sectional area
- XLPE insulation
- Twisted-pair configuration
- Specially selected PVC internal jacket
- Internal jacket designed to reduce mechanical noise
- High-density foil shielding
- 93% coverage metal braid
- Dual-layer foil and braid shielding
- Translucent PVC outer jacket
- 9.1mm overall diameter
- Factory-terminated versions available separately
- ChordOhmic 4mm banana option available separately
- ChordOhmic spade option available separately
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this ShawlineX speaker cable sold per metre?
Yes. This Audio T product is the bare ShawlineX speaker cable sold by the metre.
Does it come with plugs?
No. This version is supplied without connectors.
If I order 5 metres, will I receive five separate pieces?
No. Multiple metres ordered together are supplied as one continuous run.
How much do I need for a stereo system?
You normally need one cable run for each loudspeaker. Measure the actual route to both speakers and add the lengths together before ordering.
If I need 3m to each speaker, how much should I order?
You will normally need at least 6m in total, plus any additional length required for routing, positioning and termination.
What are the ShawlineX conductors made from?
Chord Company specifies silver-plated high-purity oxygen-free copper.
What conductor size is ShawlineX?
16AWG.
What is the conductor area?
1.31mm².
What insulation does ShawlineX use?
XLPE, or cross-linked polyethylene.
Did older Shawline cable use PTFE?
Yes. Current ShawlineX uses XLPE rather than the PTFE insulation used by earlier Shawline speaker cable.
How are the conductors arranged?
In a twisted-pair configuration.
What is the PVC internal jacket for?
Chord Company states that the specially selected internal PVC jacket is used to help reduce mechanical noise.
Is ShawlineX shielded?
Yes. It uses a high-density foil shield together with a metal braid.
How much braid coverage is specified?
Chord Company specifies 93% metal-braid coverage.
What is the outer jacket?
Translucent PVC.
What is the overall cable diameter?
9.1mm.
Is ShawlineX based on RumourX?
Yes. Chord Company states that ShawlineX is based around the RumourX conductor layout and adds an internal PVC jacket plus high-density foil and braid shielding.
Can ShawlineX be bought factory terminated?
Yes. Chord Company offers factory-terminated ShawlineX separately.
What connectors can Chord Company fit?
Chord Company currently lists ChordOhmic 4mm banana plugs and ChordOhmic spade connectors.
What standard terminated-pair lengths does Chord Company publish?
1.5m, 2m, 3m and 5m pairs.
Do those standard pair lengths apply to this per-metre cable?
No. This version is supplied off the reel by the metre, allowing a custom continuous length to be ordered.
Can I terminate ShawlineX myself?
ShawlineX is sold off the reel, but it has a shielded construction rather than being a simple unscreened twin-core cable. If you are unsure how it should be prepared or terminated, Audio T recommends professional advice.
Can Audio T terminate it for me?
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss the required length and connector arrangement, or choose the separately listed terminated ShawlineX product where suitable.
Can I install ShawlineX inside a wall or floor?
Check suitability for the particular installation and applicable requirements before concealed installation. Chord Company also recommends testing compatibility before permanently installing cable in walls or floors.
Should speaker cable be routed next to mains cables?
Chord Company's general installation guidance recommends routing speaker and interconnect cables away from mains power cables where practical.
Can Audio T help me calculate the cable length?
Yes. Give us the approximate amplifier and loudspeaker positions and your local Audio T store can help work out a sensible cable allowance.
Related Chord Company Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Help calculating the correct cable length
- Advice on bare versus terminated speaker cable
- Banana and spade connector guidance
- Amplifier and loudspeaker terminal compatibility advice
- Professional termination advice
- RumourX versus ShawlineX comparisons
- Speaker cable demonstrations where available
- Home demonstrations where appropriate
- System-specific cable recommendations
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store if you need help calculating the required ShawlineX cable length or deciding whether bare or factory-terminated cable is most appropriate for your system.