What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Best analogue interconnect, Awards 2014. These are ideal if you’re after a first upgrade
Pros
- +
Transparent midrange
- +
Supple bass
Cons
- -
Nothing
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
It's an Award for the third year on the trot for Atlas, the Element Integra having won a Best Buy in 2012, 2013 and now again in 2014.
MORE: Awards 2014 - Best accessories
A well-made cable with sturdy plastic plugs, it helped our reference system to achieve a smooth and subtle performance.
The soundstage is pleasingly wide and there’s a good dynamic range. It’s a precise cable, very good at digging up fine detail. Tonally, the experience is impressively balanced. Bass is supple and midrange is transparent, yet the cable is also unfussy about the kit you use.
It’s £5 more expensive than Chord CrimsonPlus, but then again it improves on many of the things that the former champ did right.
There’s nothing to dislike here: the Element Integra is highly recommended as a first upgrade.
