CLIO 428Phono - All versions PRICE LIST (PDF document)

Updated Dec 2018

Cable geometry: 4-core round LITZ

Conductor Geometry: Solid

Conductor size: 28AWG

Dielectric: Air-Teflon

Shields: Two overlapping silver plated OFC copper braids.

Outer Insulation/Jacket: PTFE Teflon, flexible silicone & PVC jacket and Viablue braided sleeve

The 428Phono Plus is the most recent upgrade of the Clio phono cables. It combines the mechanical characteristics and flexibility of the previous 428Phono Flex but also adds an extra layer of shielding offering outstanding protection from EMI & RFI.

The 428Phono Plus is a low capacitance tonearm cable (30pF/m) for high-end analogue reproduction. It is a flexible and lightweight pure solid silver, Litz cable, suitable for all the types of turntables. Despite its outstanding performance and the high quality materials it employs, it represents an  excellent value for money option. The 428Phono Plus is built around the popular and effective approach of solid silver cores being placed in oversized Teflon tubes and braided in a LITZ geometry. However, we have significantly expanded on this approach in order to deliver a professionally made, truly hi-end cable.

The cable consists of 4 evenly matched, solid cores of pure OCC Single Crystal Silver individually sleeved in oversized Teflon tubes (achieving an air/Teflon dielectric). Then, they are braided  into a round true LITZ geometry and encased in medium density PTFE before the whole bundle is double screened against stray signal interference.

The high density, coverage (98%) and skin depth of our silver plated OFC copper shields ensures an extremely effective protection against EMI and RFI. These shields have a very low impedance to the ground. The PLUS version has two overlapping layers of braided shielding. The shielding of the cable does not interfere at all with the signal path and works as a Faraday cage preventing any interference from reaching the conductors and draining  any noise that it picks up to the ground. The use of additional layers of Teflon on top of the tubes creates another level of bedding insulation with low dielectric involvement and excellent mechanical and electrical characteristics while adding the necessary spacing between the  conductors and the shield. At the same time the tight Teflon insulation is essential in order to prevent the tubes from moving and for absorbing vibrations.

The outer protection of the cable aims at creating a good electrical insulation with suitable mechanical properties (i.e.  strength, flexibility, vibration absorbency etc) but also at isolating the conducting parts of the cable by any environmental impact. To achieve such a thing our cables use three protecting layers above the shielding:  Teflon insulation, flexible PVC compound jacket and a flexible braided outer sleeve. Between the shield and the cable jacket there is a layer of dense Teflon insulation. The cable jacket is made by flexible PVC compound (the cable tails use a PVC/neoprene compound) and it offers enhanced protection to the cable. Finally the cable is finished with a high-quality Viablue flexible sleeve (a combination of Monofilament PET and expanding fabric fillers). The outer sleeve offers substantial protection against abrasion. It is extremely flexible with a soft texture. Overall a very robust but light and flexible construction that beyond the outstanding conductors it employs the most suitable dielectrics.

The cable is available with a separate ground lead at the RCA end or with a dual ground for both the pre-amp and turntable chassis. The ground lead is terminated to gold plated spade connectors (ring terminal or banana  plug is also available upon request).

The tonearm connectors we use on our cables by default are supplied by 1877PHONO, a Canadian company of precision crafted high performance components and accessories specifically made for analogue applications. These high-end 5-pin connectors, all feature non-magnetic bodies and Teflon insulation. Their precision machined internal contacts are made of 24K gold plated OFC copper to ensure a perfect connection between tonearm and arm cable. These connectors will fit all tonearms that require a 5-pin female mini-DIN cable like Linn, Roksan, Jelco, Audio Technica, Graham, SME, Acoustic Research, Audioquest, Micro Seiki, Denon, Acos Lustre, and many others. We have been using the 1877Phono connectors for several years and would  highly recommend them. Both build quality and performance meet very high standards that exceed those of some well regarded connectors by Cardas, Clearaudio etc. Other tonearm connector options are also available at different prices and we are happy to advice on the best options based on your individual situation.

At the tonearm end we can also offer suitable connector options for tonearms by Grace (male tonearm connectors) as well as Zeta and MDC800 (mini Hex).

At the pre-amp / amp end the cable can be terminated with a wide range of RCA, XLR, BNC, DIN and TRS connectors.

This cable uses some of the highest quality materials available and its  construction and finish requires a significant amount of time and much attention.  As you can expect the cost of producing such a cable is quite high.  However, we do all we can to keep our prices as close to the actual costs of production as possible and make it affordable for most of our customers. So there are no added costs for marketing, administration, 3rd party distribution, fancy packaging etc. We simply offer what we describe; A fast, detailed and flexible cable, highly immune to EMI and  RFI, that can deliver outstanding sonic performance under all circumstances. This is one of the very few handmade cables offered with a proper shielding as opposed to inferior methods of protection like drain wires and foil screens. In addition to this the high purity of silver used in its construction and professional built and finish will not be found in any cable in a similar price range.

Until today this low priced phono cable has impressed anyone who has tried it and expected an entry level performance. It has been compared with some of the top cables of the market and surprised with its ability to deliver some of the most demanding recordings in such a natural and  detailed manner. And it is hardly believable that it can achieve this at such an attractive selling price.

Note on connectors:

We have chosen to make our cables available with a variety of connectors/plugs. The reason we have done so is because we want the customer to have the option to choose what is best for his/her needs and his/her budget. We do not suggest that one should go for the most expensive combo of connectors he/she can afford. Prices are determined by the various factors in the market and they are not necessarily representative of performance and quality. The options we have selected are what we believe is the best available in their price range and matched to our cable designs.

Keep in mind that often some of the top connectors come at such high prices that are hardly justified by the potential advantage in performance. Connectors are evaluated based on their design, build quality, materials, price and performance. We are more than happy to offer our honest opinion on specific brands/types and we will consider using other connectors of your choice whenever this is suitable and possible.

Our Clio cables address effectively a common characteristic of solid silver  cables where emphasis is given to the higher frequencies at the expense of bass and mid-range. Clio will not sound as bright and edgy but will achieve a better balance across the frequency spectrum with a well  defined upper bass and mid-range. Often, detail is perceived by the listener as the clarity in the higher end of the spectrum. Such a single ended focus is somehow striking but not particularly revealing. It can be tiring over time and it leaves some aspects of music that are  more important than its clinical presentation hidden. These are issues  that our Clio cables avoid while delivering a very real interpretation of the recording. The low capacitance of these cables enables tighter mids and bass. The treble is open without grain and edge.

These solid silver Clio have a great performance-price ratio. Despite  their very low price they deliver the same hi-end performance one can  expect from some of the best cables in the market. Their low price is not an indication of their performance but it represents an honest account of costs and labour required for their production. For these cables we use solid, single crystal OCC silver conductors throughout. The conductors of the cable are measured to create the desirable effective gauge as well as a good capacitance/inductance balance. Intimacy among the opposing conductors is kept to the minimum by keeping the Litz  braid to four cores. The embodiments of these solid silver conductors with appropriate gauges and dielectrics deliver excellent sonic results, difficult to be achieved with most of the other types of wires.