Chord CrimsonPlus Vee - fake or not?

[mattjax05]

Purchased from eBay circa 18 months ago. The plastic ends are frayed - they were used. Cables are cabled tied together though this is acceptable for 2nd hand. Just the plastic ends really which is where the doubts have arisen.

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8507341171/

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8508447338/

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8507336801/

 

[kmlav]

VEE cables do have plastic ends. Not sure if these are an early version but they are certinaly not VEE and I now them.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Chord+Crimson+Plus+Vee&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=mdYrUfmjEcim0QXGpoC4Cw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1109&bih=695#imgrc=lcwDFukRvmvAoM%3A%3BRILCAg1vK7ihVM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdecoaudio.com%252Fwpimages%252Fwp411b6a4d_05.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdecoaudio.com%252Fdeco_audio_interconnects.html%3B800%3B435

 

[mattjax05]

See second sentence of review here:

http://www.whathifi.com/review/chord-company-crimsonplus

What version do you think I've got? They were bought April 2012 from a seller with over 400 ratings all 100%. Could go back to seller I suppose.

 

[kmlav]

The VEE ones do have plastic plugs. They replaced the older metal plugs. The first ones released we just a copy in plastic of the old metal ones but I understand there have been some improvements to the process for the latest ones.

The photo you have taken does not look like the VEE plastic plugs.

The main reason for the update from the old metal plug to the plastic plug was to reduce the amount of interference picked up by the cable, source - Chord cable presentation at the bristol show made by the sales director.

 

[mattjax05]

Did you amend your first post I'm sure you said VEE do not have plastic plugs? Anyway do you think mine are not real or what version?

 

[mattjax05]

Some further pics

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8509759596/

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8508650979/

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8509757346/

 

[camcroft]

If you Google Chord Crimson Plus there are plenty pictures to look at then you can compare yours with them

 

[mattjax05]

If you Google Chord Crimson Plus there are plenty pictures to look at then you can compare yours with them

I've already done that and I couldn't see any like mine which is why I thought I'd ask the question here.

 

[camcroft]

Mine have the plastic plugs and they are the Vee type

 

[Deliriumbassist]

They don't look like any Crimson ends I've ever seen. It'll be worth emailing Chord though, they'll be able to tell you for sure. Nigel's a really nice guy and should get back to you pretty sharpish about it.

 

[mattjax05]

I've emailed Chord.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Please be sure to let everyone know the outcome.

I'm sure Chord will be keen to take action if someone is selling knock-offs on Fleabay, and this forum is probably one of the best to get word out on the street about any problem.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

PS I have a Chord Prodac with the Vee Plugs, I think the Vee-Two (note to Chord - BAD name - what's the next one going to be called - Silkworm, Scud, Exocet?? ), the plugs on which look really cheap and nasty. It's behind the entertainment centre so I can't whip it out and take a photo to post up (oh-err missus) but I think it's kosher....

Maybe WHF could start a section here of "Rogues Galleries" with pictures of knock-offs? Might be useful.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Looks like Chord heat shrink on the outsides and not the VEE plugs which should be a clear'ish plastic!

Have you looked at the plugged ends themselves (ie. under the heat wrap); what do they look like?

 

[mattjax05]

I haven't tampered with them...yet.

I received a response from Nigel at Chord who believes these are not a genuine Chord product. I gave him details of the eBay trader who I might add is actively trading and selling Chord products but have yet to hear back from Nigel.

 

[mattjax05]

Looks like Chord heat shrink on the outsides and not the VEE plugs which should be a clear'ish plastic!

Have you looked at the plugged ends themselves (ie. under the heat wrap); what do they look like?

ive stripped one of the shrinks and the plug has REAN printed on it- any ideas?

 

[mattjax05]

Looks like Chord heat shrink on the outsides and not the VEE plugs which should be a clear'ish plastic!

Have you looked at the plugged ends themselves (ie. under the heat wrap); what do they look like?

ive stripped one of the shrinks and the plug has REAN printed on it- any ideas?

As I haven't heard back from Chord after telling Nigel the plugs are labled REAN I've done a bit of digging on the Internet and came across this post on this forum:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/accessories/rean-plugs-on-chord-chameleon-silver-plus-i-this-ok

I have also found this item for sale on eBay which mentions REAN plugs in the description:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chord-Chameleon-silver-plus-interconnects-0-5mtr-long-2rca-x-2rca-pair-/170997878981?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item27d04490c5&_uhb=1

What's going on do Chord use REAN plugs??? Is mine really fake?

 

[BluePotato]

Did Chord come back to you on this? I've bought chameleon silver plus off ebay and they have REAN plugs - no heat shrinking to hide it - wish i'd seen this thread earlier - bit concerned now.

 

[BluePotato]

Further development. My interconnect definitely sounds better than my old Chord Crimson but nonetheless I contacted the seller. Turns out the cable is legit but a longer length has been cut down and REAN connectors added. So not fake but suppose not 100% official either. The seller has offered me a refund which I'll take up as this is the kind of thing that will niggle me. .

 

[Overdose]

Purchased from eBay circa 18 months ago. The plastic ends are frayed - they were used. Cables are cabled tied together though this is acceptable for 2nd hand. Just the plastic ends really which is where the doubts have arisen.

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8507341171/

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8508447338/

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/39882063@N02/8507336801/

Like many accessories, cables are very cheap to make and also easy to copy, headphones are another target market for fraudsters. The good fakes will look identical to the real deal, so the only way to be sure, is to buy from an authorised outlet. They are attractive looking and expensive hifi bling, perfect for fraudsters to make a killing and I'm not suprised people don't notice. Do cables make a difference? Not that much it would seem, or there wouldn't be so many knock offs successfully floating around.

Of course, being premium cables the sound quality would be a giveaway, no?

Were you happy with the 'upgrade' when you first bought them. Did you plug them in and think, yes that sounds much better?

If so, does it really matter whether they are fake or not, as they were probably cheaper than the real deal if they are fake.

I have been in a similar situation with earphones. The originals came with my Nokia, so there wasn't much of a baseline for comparison given the cheapness of quality of the Nokia freebies, but the fakes were marginally better. The giveaway was the quality of build which showed after a while and when I finally got the real version, it was clear that there was a difference between the two.

Buying second hand on ebay gives you little protection in this area, as you are unlikely to have even the original packaging to compare, but even this is faked to a level hard to sus. So again, buy new and from authorised sellers only.