A multiple What Hi-Fi? award winner, Chord Rumour is the prime all-round speaker cable for any high-spec sound or vision system. It combines high-performance technology with discreet proportions, making it a trusted choice among audio manufacturers, custom installers, and users alike.
First launched in 1996, Chord Rumour was developed with a focus on silver-plated conductors and PTFE insulation, alongside a twisted pair configuration that helped lower system noise. Despite its compact 16 AWG size, it quickly gained a reputation for delivering powerful sound with impressive detail, dynamics, and coherence. Initially met with scepticism due to its small size, it surprised many with its performance, offering sound that far exceeded expectations.
The cable’s longevity is testament to its enduring popularity, with only cosmetic updates over the years. Chord ShawlineX, our shielded speaker cable, shares the same proven conductors as Rumour, maintaining the standard of quality and performance that users have come to expect.
Previous versions of our Rumour speaker cables utilised PTFE insulation (commonly known as Teflon™), which was our preferred material until the development of Taylon®. Despite its high cost, PTFE consistently delivered excellent performance.
With advancements in material technology, alternatives to PTFE have emerged. While Taylon® remains exclusive to our higher-end ranges due to its expense, we discovered a highly effective insulation material called XLPE (Cross-linked Polyethylene). After extensive listening tests, one specific version of XLPE proved superior to PTFE in our Rumour speaker cable, leading to the creation of RumourX.