Real Cable Chenonceau XLR 1m cable

The Chenonceau XLR is a balanced interconnect cable from the Master range by Real Cable. Hand-assembled in France at the Guillerval workshops, it uses oxygen-free crystalline silver conductors, triple shielding and professional connectors with a rotary locking system. This limited-edition model is designed to transmit balanced analogue signals between sources and amplifiers.

OCC silver conductors for crystal-clear transmission

The choice of OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) oxygen-free crystalline silver for the conductors forms the technical foundation of the Chenonceau XLR. This technology, developed by Professor Ohno of the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan, produces a continuous single-crystal structure along the entire length of the conductor. Unlike traditional copper, which consists of multiple crystals with interstitial boundaries, the OCC process produces a metal with a purity of up to 99.9999%, virtually free of structural discontinuities.

The cable uses a configuration with two separate conductors: one solid-core conductor for the hot signal and one solid-core conductor for the cold signal, in accordance with the balanced XLR standard. This solid-core architecture, as opposed to stranded conductors, preserves signal integrity by eliminating unwanted interactions between strands. The conductors are twisted at a calculated angle to reduce inductance per unit length, a critical parameter that directly influences frequency response and signal propagation speed.

The use of silver, the metal with the highest electrical conductivity in the periodic table (approximately 105% IACS compared with 100% for copper), provides measurable benefits in high-frequency transmission. Its natural resistance to oxidation also ensures stable performance over time, unlike copper, whose characteristics can gradually deteriorate.

Anti-vibration hollow-tube insulation: Hollow Tube technology

The conductor insulation uses Real Cable’s proprietary “Hollow Tube” technology, consisting of hollow tubes that surround each conductor. This approach differs radically from traditional solid insulation and offers several decisive technical advantages.

The hollow tubes create air spaces around the conductors, considerably reducing the cable’s capacitive effect. As air has a dielectric constant close to 1 (compared with 2.1 for solid PTFE), this configuration minimises electrostatic energy storage between the conductors and the shielding. This reduction in capacitance per unit length improves transient response and preserves the dynamics of complex musical signals.

Beyond their electrical properties, the hollow tubes act as mechanical dampers. Vibrations induced by the acoustic environment or cable handling are dissipated within the hollow structure rather than transmitted to the conductors. This mechanical decoupling reduces microphonics, where mechanical vibrations generate unwanted electrical signals.

The system combines this Hollow Tube structure with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) insulation, a material renowned for its superior dielectric properties. PTFE is insensitive to static charges, eliminating the memory effect, a phenomenon in which the insulation retains a residual charge after the signal has passed. Its mechanical rigidity also maintains constant spacing between the conductors, ensuring stable characteristic impedance along the entire length of the cable.

Triple-layer shielding against interference

Protection against electromagnetic interference relies on sophisticated three-layer shielding. This multilayer architecture creates a particularly effective barrier against external interference while preserving the integrity of the transmitted signal.

The first line of defence consists of an anti-vibration nylon braid that surrounds all the insulated conductors. Beyond its mechanical damping role, this braid provides initial dispersion of incident electromagnetic fields. It is followed by a high-density OFC copper ground braid, which forms the main shield. This tight braid provides optimal coverage while retaining the flexibility needed for cable handling.

The third layer uses aluminium foil, which completes the system by blocking unwanted high frequencies. Thanks to its high conductivity and low magnetic permeability, aluminium forms a particularly effective shield against radio-frequency interference. This combination of materials and techniques provides more than 95 dB of rejection of unwanted signals across the entire audible spectrum and beyond.

The cable’s round design, with a substantial diameter of 12 mm, also contributes to the effectiveness of the shielding. This cylindrical geometry ensures uniform distribution of electromagnetic fields and prevents concentrations of mechanical stress that could impair shielding performance over time.

One-piece XLR connectors with a rotary locking system

The XLR connectors are a decisive element in the transmission chain. Real Cable has developed one-piece metal plugs machined from solid stock, ensuring optimal mechanical rigidity and conductivity. This monolithic construction eliminates screwed or clipped assemblies, potential sources of contact resistance and gradual loosening.

The patented rotary locking system keeps the connection perfectly secure. Unlike traditional spring-loaded systems that can loosen over time, this mechanism ensures constant contact pressure between the pins and their sockets. The rotation required for locking also cleans the contact surfaces through friction, removing any surface oxidation.

The contacts feature 24-carat gold plating with a calibrated thickness to ensure durability and optimal conductivity. Gold, the quintessential noble metal, prevents corrosion and maintains minimal contact resistance even after hundreds of connection/disconnection cycles. The plating is applied using a controlled electrolytic process that ensures perfect adhesion and uniform thickness across the entire contact surface.

Hand-soldering the conductors to the connectors represents a preserved craft skill. Each joint is made individually by qualified technicians using lead-free audiophile solder alloys. This manual approach allows visual inspection of each solder joint and ensures that the silver conductors, which are particularly sensitive to deformation, remain free of mechanical stress.

Technical specifications

Conductors

• Silver and OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) copper conductors
• Two separate conductors
  • 1 solid-core for positive
  • 1 solid-core for negative
• Twisted conductors to reduce linear inductance

Construction and shielding

• Conductor insulation via anti-vibration hollow tubes
• Triple shielding
• Very large cross-section cable
• Round design

Connectors

• Male and female XLR connectors
• One-piece metal plugs with rotary locking system
• Gold-plated contacts
• Hand-soldered

Physical specifications

• Diameter: 12 mm
• Length: 1 m (pair)

General information

• Assembled in France
• Limited edition
• 100% handmade
• Sound characteristics: powerful bass, precise mids, detailed highs, wide soundstage