
Transparent Audio
Reference XL
Reference XL (now sold simply as "XL" in Transparent's current Generation 6 lineup) sits above the entry-level REFERENCE tier and below OPUS/MAGNUM OPUS in Transparent Audio's cable hierarchy, distinguished by network components individually matched to the specific cable length and to the connected amplifier's output impedance ([Transparent Audio](https://www.transparentcable.com/products/xl-speaker-cable), [Transparent Audio](https://www.transparentcable.com/collections/ultimate)). Each cable includes an inline network enclosure (historically machined acrylic, now Carbon Fiber Composite in Generation 6) filled with damping compound and calibrated resistor/coil networks designed to smooth the electrical interface between amplifier and speaker ([Transparent Audio](https://www.transparentcable.com/pages/transparent-generation-6), [Ohm Audio](https://ohm-audio.nl/en/shop/sold/transparent-reference-xl-luidsprekerkabel-single-ended-10ft-sold-to-belgium)).
MSRP
$21,300
Used market · Good
$4,500
MSRP to used market
From $21,300 at launch to $4,500 today.
Specifications
- Price
- Reference XL V (valve/tube-matched) speaker cable: $9,800/8-ft pair; Reference XL balanced interconnect: $8,000/1m pair; Reference XL SS (solid-state matched) interconnect: $4,300/1m pair
- Warranty
- Lifetime warranty for the original owner, including free recalibration if system/amplifier/speaker changes require network adjustment
- Termination
- Custom-machined, highly polished, gold-plated tellurium-copper spade lugs
- Upgrade path
- Upgradeable to OPUS or MAGNUM OPUS Speaker Cable
- Manufacturer hq
- Transparent Audio, 47 Industrial Park Road, Saco, ME 04072, USA
- Conductor material
- Heavy, precision-wound OFHC (oxygen-free high-conductivity copper) stranding; historic listings describe "the finest copper formula"
- Construction assembly
- Handcrafted in the USA; requires many hours of handwork per set
- Digital link variant pricing
- Reference XL Digital Link 75-ohm: $3,195/1m; 110-ohm: $3,595/1m
- Network enclosure construction
- Carbon Fiber Composite (CFC) carapace filled with IFER damping compound, seated on a 3/16"-thick carbon-fiber layer embedded in an IFER-filled PMMA plinth, with a thermoplastic sound-damping layer between plinth and carapace
- Price current xl speaker cable
- From $21,300
- Network enclosure construction gen 6
- Carbon Fiber Composite (CFC) carapace filled with IFER damping compound, seated on a 3/16"-thick carbon-fiber layer embedded in an IFER-filled PMMA plinth, with a thermoplastic sound-damping layer between plinth and carapace
- Network impedance matching technology
- Network components individually selected and matched to the electrical characteristics of the cable's specific length, and calibrated to the connected amplifier's output impedance; historic units use approx. 0.1% tolerance resistors and coils
- Price legacy reference xl as reviewed
- Reference XL V (valve/tube-matched) speaker cable: $9,800/8-ft pair; Reference XL balanced interconnect: $8,000/1m pair; Reference XL SS (solid-state matched) interconnect: $4,300/1m pair
Active listings (0)
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REFERENCE Speaker Cable
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$1,100$1,100
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Transparent Audio · cables
XL Balanced Interconnect
$14,000$14,000
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