Real Cable XLR 128 (XLR Analog Audio Cables)

Real Cable is a French manufacturer of hi-fi cables, a family business founded in 1998. The XLR 128 is its balanced analogue interconnect, sold in pairs in lengths of 1, 1.5 or 2 metres. It connects a source (CD player, DAC, network player) to a preamplifier, amplifier or active speakers fitted with XLR sockets.

Its conductors are made of 99.99% deoxygenated OFC copper. Removing oxygen from the copper limits impurities that degrade the signal at high frequencies and preserves detail across the entire frequency range. The balanced connection carries the signal on two conductors in opposite phase: the receiver subtracts noise common to both, keeping the line clean even over several metres. The XLR 128 adds a large conductor cross-section and double shielding against interference.

On the connector side, the plug bodies are made from a single piece of metal, with gold-plated contacts and hand-soldered silver joints. The ClicLock system locks the plug with a quarter turn, preventing poor contacts and securing the connection even in the dark.

In Real Cable’s XLR range, the 128 is the copper-level model, below models with OCC silver conductors. It remains dedicated to analogue: an AES/EBU digital connection requires a 110-ohm impedance cable.