Chord Company, celebrating 40 years of UK manufacturing (1985–2025), has introduced the PhonoARAY, a high-performance earthing system designed to enhance turntable performance by reducing interference and improving signal integrity.
The Chord PhonoARAY is an advanced standalone filtering solution that allows turntable users to earth/ground their devices to the phono stage or the phono input on an amplifier, ensuring greater protection for sensitive audio signals. By minimising external interference, the PhonoARAY delivers cleaner and more detailed sound reproduction.
At the core of the PhonoARAY is a hand-wound, ultra-high-current series filter that joins both terminals, complemented by a complex proprietary ARAY system connected in parallel. This double ‘virtual earth system’ provides enhanced shielding for both the turntable and phono stage, optimising performance.
Connections are made via two high-quality 4 mm speaker-style terminals, compatible with 4 mm banana and spade connectors. The system links the earth terminal of the turntable (or tonearm) to the earth terminal of the phono stage (or amplifier phono input) using a dedicated, high-quality 50 cm screened earth cable (4 mm connector to spade connector). The PhonoARAY is suitable for a variety of turntable configurations, including those with or without built-in phono stages. For systems with external phono stages, a second PhonoARAY can be added to further connect the phono stage earth to the amplifier earth.
The PhonoARAY features a thick-walled enclosure machined from solid aluminium billet, providing excellent electrical and acoustic isolation. A resin-filled interior helps reduce microphony, while lightweight, decoupled isolation feet further minimise vibrations.
With four decades of expertise in minimising external interference in audio systems, Chord Company remains at the forefront of signal protection technology. From pioneering shielding solutions in the late 1990s and early 2000s to its innovative GroundARAY, PowerARAY, and PowerHAUS mains distribution systems, the company continues to push the boundaries of performance-enhancing audio accessories.
Key Features
- Reduces electromagnetic interference affecting turntable performance
- Series and parallel operation for maximum signal integrity
- Hand-wound, ultra-high-current series filter and proprietary ARAY system
- Double ‘virtual earth system’ for turntable and phono stage
- Supplied with a high-quality 50 cm screened earth cable
- Precision-machined aluminium billet enclosure with resin filling
- Decoupled isolation feet for vibration control
Price and Availability
The Chord PhonoARAY is available now at an RRP of £1,000.