Chord Company ShawlineX ARAY Analogue Interconnect - RCA, XLR, DIN, Mini-Jack and Subwoofer
Audio T Verdict
ShawlineX ARAY sits between ClearwayX ARAY and EpicX ARAY in Chord Company's analogue interconnect range, introducing silver-plated conductors, XLPE insulation and increasingly sophisticated shielding while remaining available in a wide variety of useful connection formats.
The important point is that ShawlineX ARAY is a family of analogue cables rather than one identical cable with different plugs attached. Chord Company adapts the construction according to whether the cable is being used for RCA, balanced XLR, DIN, mini-jack or subwoofer duties.
The conventional RCA version combines Chord Company's ARAY conductor geometry with XLPE-insulated silver-plated conductors and wide-bandwidth composite shielding. XLR uses three identical conductors for its balanced connection, while the DIN range includes specialist wiring configurations for compatible Naim and other DIN-equipped components.
There are also dedicated mini-jack and subwoofer versions, each built specifically for its intended connection rather than simply repurposing a standard stereo RCA cable.
With this many variants available, the connector configuration matters just as much as the cable length. If you are ordering a DIN, mixed-termination or specialist Naim cable, give Audio T the full make and model of both components so we can confirm the correct version before you order.
Chord Company ShawlineX ARAY Analogue Interconnect
ShawlineX ARAY is Chord Company's hand-built analogue interconnect range using silver-plated conductors, XLPE insulation, wide-bandwidth shielding and the company's proprietary ARAY conductor geometry.
The wider range includes:
- RCA to RCA stereo analogue
- Balanced XLR
- DIN and mixed DIN configurations
- Mini-jack and RCA/mini-jack configurations
- Dedicated analogue subwoofer cables
- Dedicated tonearm cables
ARAY Conductor Geometry
Chord Company specifies the ShawlineX analogue range with its:
ARAY conductor geometry.
ARAY technology is used throughout a wide range of Chord Company analogue cables, with the internal implementation adapted according to the electrical requirements of the connection.
Silver-Plated Conductors
ShawlineX ARAY uses:
Silver-plated conductors.
For the DIN range, Chord Company specifically identifies these as heavy-gauge, multi-strand oxygen-free copper conductors with silver plating.
Do Not Substitute ClearwayX Conductor Data
ClearwayX ARAY uses unsilvered oxygen-free copper conductors.
ShawlineX moves to silver-plated conductors, which is one of the important construction differences between the two ranges.
XLPE Insulation
Current ShawlineX analogue cables use:
XLPE insulation.
XLPE stands for cross-linked polyethylene.
The X-generation Shawline analogue range replaced the previous insulation material with XLPE as part of Chord Company's continuing cable-development programme.
Use Current XLPE Information
Older Shawline analogue literature may refer to previous insulation materials.
The current ShawlineX ARAY analogue range uses XLPE.
Wide-Bandwidth Composite Shielding
Chord Company describes the current RCA, XLR, mini-jack and subwoofer versions as using:
A composite shield designed to work over a wide bandwidth.
The DIN range uses complex high-frequency shielding appropriate to its different internal wiring arrangements.
ShawlineX ARAY RCA
The conventional RCA version provides a stereo unbalanced analogue connection using two RCA plugs at each end.
Chord Company specifies:
- ARAY conductor geometry
- Silver-plated conductors
- XLPE insulation
- Wide-bandwidth composite shielding
- Chord VEE 3 RCA plugs
- ChorAlloy™ plated contacts
Chord VEE 3 RCA Connectors
The RCA version is fitted with:
Chord VEE 3 RCA plugs with ChorAlloy™ plated contact areas.
Standard RCA Lengths
Chord Company's current standard ShawlineX ARAY RCA lengths are:
Custom lengths and terminations are available to order.
Longer Audio T RCA Options
Where Audio T lists a ShawlineX ARAY RCA length beyond 1m, it should be regarded as a custom-length manufacturer configuration rather than another standard length.
Turntable-Ready RCA
Chord Company describes ShawlineX ARAY RCA as:
Turntable-ready as standard.
The manufacturer also offers versions with flying earth leads where the turntable and phono stage require one.
Check the Earth Requirement
A standard RCA connection and a turntable connection with a separate flying earth are not necessarily the same configuration.
If you are ordering for a turntable, confirm whether your deck requires a separate earth connection.
ShawlineX ARAY XLR
The XLR version is the balanced analogue ShawlineX configuration.
Chord Company uses:
Three identical conductors for each XLR connection.
The manufacturer describes this arrangement as similar in principle to the conductor configuration used in its higher-level Signature and Sarum XLR cables.
ChorAlloy XLR Pins
Current ShawlineX ARAY XLR connectors use:
ChorAlloy™ plated connector pins.
Standard XLR Lengths
Chord Company currently specifies:
as the standard XLR lengths, with custom lengths and terminations available.
Longer XLR Pairs Are Custom Builds
Where Audio T offers ShawlineX ARAY XLR pairs beyond 1m, those should be described as custom-length Chord Company configurations.
RCA or XLR?
Chord Company does not state that one connection format must automatically outperform the other.
If your equipment provides both compatible RCA and XLR connections, the manufacturer recommends listening to both before deciding.
RCA
- Unbalanced analogue connection
- Two cables/channels within the stereo pair
- Chord VEE 3 connectors
- ChorAlloy™ plated contacts
- 0.5m and 1m standard lengths
XLR
- Balanced analogue connection
- Three identical conductors per connection
- ChorAlloy™ plated connector pins
- 0.5m and 1m standard lengths
- Custom lengths available
ShawlineX ARAY DIN
DIN is one of the most versatile areas of the ShawlineX range.
Chord Company specifies the DIN cable with:
- ARAY conductor geometry
- Heavy-gauge silver-plated multi-strand OFC conductors
- XLPE insulation
- Complex high-frequency shielding
- ChorAlloy® plated connectors or contact areas/pins
Available DIN Configurations
The current manufacturer range includes:
- 4-pin DIN to DIN
- 5-pin DIN to DIN
- 8-pin DIN to DIN
- RCA to DIN
- DIN to RCA
- DIN to XLR
- XLR to DIN
- 240-degree SNAIC configurations
Standard DIN Length
Chord Company specifies:
1 metre
as the standard ShawlineX ARAY DIN length.
Custom lengths are available to order.
DIN Is Not One Universal Wiring Arrangement
Different DIN connectors can use different pin counts, active pins and signal directions.
Please provide Audio T with the full make and model of both components before ordering a DIN or mixed DIN cable.
Naim Audio Applications
Chord Company offers numerous ShawlineX DIN arrangements for compatible Naim Audio equipment.
These include SNAIC-style cables and specialist DIN-to-XLR configurations.
Check the Exact Naim Generation
Naim has used different analogue connection formats across different product generations.
Do not select a cable simply because the product name includes "NAP 250" or another familiar model designation. Confirm the exact amplifier generation and partnering equipment first.
ShawlineX ARAY Mini-Jack
Chord Company also manufactures a dedicated mini-jack version of ShawlineX ARAY.
Current connection formats include:
- 2 RCA to mini-jack
- Mini-jack to 2 RCA
- Mini-jack to mini-jack
The cables use ARAY conductor geometry, XLPE-insulated silver-plated conductors and wide-bandwidth composite shielding.
Mini-Jack Connectors
Chord Company fits the mini-jack versions with:
ChorAlloy™ plated connectors.
Standard Mini-Jack Length
The current manufacturer-standard length is:
1 metre.
Custom lengths are available to order.
ShawlineX ARAY Subwoofer Cable
The subwoofer version is a dedicated analogue cable intended for compatible active-subwoofer connections.
Chord Company specifies:
- ARAY conductor technology
- Silver-plated conductors
- XLPE insulation
- Wide-bandwidth composite shielding
- Chord VEE 3 RCA plugs
- ChorAlloy™ plated RCA contacts
Standard Subwoofer Lengths
Chord Company's standard ShawlineX ARAY subwoofer lengths are:
Custom lengths and terminations are available.
Other Lengths Are Custom Configurations
If an Audio T ShawlineX ARAY subwoofer option is shorter or longer than the manufacturer's standard 3m and 5m cables, it should be regarded as a custom-length configuration.
ShawlineX ARAY Versus ClearwayX ARAY
ClearwayX ARAY
- ARAY conductor geometry
- Heavy-gauge OFC conductors
- XLPE insulation
- Dual-layer shielding
- RCA, XLR, DIN and subwoofer versions
ShawlineX ARAY
- ARAY conductor geometry
- Silver-plated conductors
- XLPE insulation
- More complex shielding
- RCA, XLR, DIN, mini-jack and subwoofer versions
Compare Chord Company ClearwayX ARAY Analogue Interconnects.
ShawlineX ARAY Versus EpicX ARAY
EpicX ARAY moves further up the Chord Company range with heavier conductor construction and more advanced application-specific shielding.
ShawlineX ARAY provides the intermediate step between ClearwayX ARAY and EpicX ARAY.
Compare Chord Company EpicX ARAY Analogue Interconnects.
Don't Confuse This With ShawlineX Speaker Cable
ShawlineX speaker cable is a separate Chord Company product designed specifically for the amplifier-to-loudspeaker connection.
It shares silver-plated conductors and XLPE insulation with the Shawline family but uses its own twisted-pair speaker-cable construction, PVC internal jacket and high-density foil/braid shield.
View ShawlineX Speaker Cable at Audio T.
Key Features
- Chord Company ShawlineX ARAY
- Hand built in the UK
- Analogue interconnect family
- Chord Company ARAY conductor geometry
- Silver-plated conductors
- XLPE insulation
- Wide-bandwidth composite shielding
- RCA stereo configurations
- Chord VEE 3 RCA plugs
- ChorAlloy™ plated RCA contacts
- Balanced XLR configurations
- Three identical conductors used for XLR
- ChorAlloy™ plated XLR connector pins
- 4-pin DIN configurations
- 5-pin DIN configurations
- 8-pin DIN configurations
- RCA-DIN configurations
- DIN-RCA configurations
- DIN-XLR configurations
- XLR-DIN configurations
- 240-degree SNAIC configurations
- Mini-jack configurations
- Dedicated subwoofer versions
- Turntable-ready RCA options
- Flying-earth versions available
- Custom lengths available
- Custom terminations available
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chord Company ShawlineX ARAY?
ShawlineX ARAY is a range of hand-built analogue interconnects using Chord Company's ARAY conductor geometry, silver-plated conductors, XLPE insulation and application-specific shielding.
What connection types are available?
The wider manufacturer range includes RCA, XLR, DIN, mini-jack, subwoofer and dedicated tonearm configurations.
What insulation does ShawlineX ARAY use?
XLPE, or cross-linked polyethylene.
Are the conductors silver plated?
Yes. Chord Company specifies silver-plated conductors throughout the current ShawlineX analogue range.
Does ShawlineX use ARAY technology?
Yes. ARAY conductor geometry is a core feature of the current ShawlineX analogue range.
What are the standard RCA lengths?
0.5m and 1m, with custom lengths available.
Is a 1.5m RCA cable genuine?
Yes. Chord Company offers custom lengths. It should simply be described as a custom-length ShawlineX ARAY rather than another standard length.
What RCA connectors are used?
Chord Company specifies Chord VEE 3 RCA plugs with ChorAlloy™ plated contact areas.
Can ShawlineX RCA be used with a turntable?
Yes. Chord Company describes ShawlineX ARAY RCA as turntable-ready as standard and also offers versions with flying earth leads.
What are the standard XLR lengths?
0.5m and 1m, with custom lengths available.
How is the XLR cable constructed?
Chord Company specifies three identical conductors for each XLR connection.
Does XLR automatically sound better than RCA?
No. Chord Company recommends comparing the two where equipment provides both compatible connection formats.
Does ShawlineX come with DIN connectors?
Yes. The manufacturer offers numerous 4-pin, 5-pin and 8-pin DIN configurations.
Can I order RCA to DIN?
Yes.
Can I order DIN to RCA?
Yes. Do not assume that RCA-DIN and DIN-RCA are electrically interchangeable because wiring and direction can depend on the equipment.
Does Chord Company make DIN to XLR?
Yes.
Does it make XLR to DIN?
Yes.
Are SNAIC configurations available?
Yes. Chord Company lists 240-degree SNAIC configurations within the ShawlineX DIN family.
What is the standard DIN length?
1m, with custom lengths available.
Can I use ShawlineX with Naim equipment?
Yes, where the correct DIN or mixed-termination configuration is chosen for the exact Naim components involved.
Does ShawlineX come with a mini-jack?
Yes. Chord Company offers mini-jack to mini-jack, 2 RCA to mini-jack and mini-jack to 2 RCA configurations.
What is the standard mini-jack length?
1m, with custom lengths available.
Does ShawlineX have a dedicated subwoofer cable?
Yes. The subwoofer version is hand built specifically for compatible analogue subwoofer connections.
What are the standard subwoofer lengths?
3m and 5m, with custom lengths and terminations available.
Is the subwoofer version just a long stereo RCA cable?
No. Chord Company lists it as a dedicated ShawlineX ARAY analogue subwoofer product.
Does ShawlineX use the same technical specification as ShawlineX speaker cable?
No. The speaker cable is a separate product with its own twisted-pair construction, PVC internal jacket and speaker-cable shielding arrangement.
What conductor gauge does ShawlineX ARAY analogue use?
Chord Company does not publish one universal AWG figure for the entire ShawlineX ARAY analogue interconnect family.
What is the capacitance?
Chord Company does not currently publish a universal capacitance figure for the ShawlineX ARAY analogue family.
Can Audio T help identify the correct version?
Yes. For DIN, Naim, turntable or mixed-termination applications, provide the full make and model of both components so we can identify the correct cable.
Related Chord Company Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- RCA, XLR and DIN compatibility advice
- Help identifying specialist Naim connections
- DIN pin-configuration checking
- Turntable and phono-stage connection advice
- Flying-earth compatibility guidance
- Standard and custom-length advice
- Subwoofer cable guidance
- ClearwayX versus ShawlineX versus EpicX comparisons
- In-store demonstrations where available
- Home demonstrations where appropriate
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store if you need help identifying the correct ShawlineX ARAY configuration for your equipment.