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QED

Your Connection to Music: QED Remixes Its Popular Performance Cable Range, expanding the series with Fresh Digital Connectivity

From cherished vinyl and CD collections to TV audio and high-resolution streaming, we are listening to more music and watching more movies, across more sources, than ever before. That’s why British audio specialist QED has created its new Performance cable range: A one-stop analogue and digital AV cable ecosystem that takes the guesswork out of connectivity and makes it easy to get the best from every system, leaving you free to immerse yourself in the music and movies you love.

Refreshing one of its most popular cable series with the introduction of a new speaker cable, matching bi-wire links and a new line-up of USB audio cables, the new 13-strong Performance range also boasts a fresh new look, making it the upgrade your music and TV set-up deserves.

Heritage Matters

Designed to meet the demands of modern audio and AV setups, every cable in the new Performance range benefits from QED’s renowned engineering expertise and evidence-led approach to cable design. Each product is informed by insights from the company’s Genesis Report, the landmark scientific research programme that continues to shape QED’s understanding of how cable design influences performance.

With nearly five decades of innovation behind it, QED remains one of the most respected names in AV connectivity. Widely regarded as the original specialist cable brand, QED helped redefine expectations of audio performance with the launch of its groundbreaking 79 Strand speaker cable in 1979, a product recognised by many as the world’s first specialist speaker cable and one that demonstrated the measurable impact cables can have on sound quality.

A Glow-up Design

The new Performance range doesn’t just help your system and music sing – it’s looks and feels better too. A new softer, more flexible TPE* (Thermoplastic Elastomer) jacket makes installation effortless and helps cables sit naturally within any setup, while sleek silver-grey connectors give the entire range a smart, contemporary look. This new design language sets the direction for future Reference and Signature series updates, creating a clear and easily recognisable visual upgrade path across the QED cable portfolio.

Under the hood, 99.999% oxygen-free copper conductors and 24K gold-plated contacts (USB cable models use nickel-plated connectors) ensure every connection is built for uncompromising reliability and performance, so your system can sound its best every time.

Speaker and Phono duo

At the centre of the new Performance line-up are the Speaker and Audio (phono-to-phono) models. These speaker and interconnect cables have been developed and designed to work together, ensuring every link in the audio chain performs in harmony for a more dynamic, engaging and vibrant listening experience.

Designed for listeners who want to hear every detail, QED Performance Speaker Cable combines proven engineering with real-world musical benefits. A large 2.5mm² conductor area and 99.999% oxygen-free copper minimise resistance, while QED’s X-Tube™ Plus technology maintains signal accuracy across the audio spectrum for cleaner, more consistent sound. The result is lower distortion, greater clarity and a more natural musical presentation. Lastly, factory-fitted Airloc™ gold-plated plugs and spades provide a secure, low-noise connection that remains reliable for years to come.

Designed to get more from every recording, QED Performance Audio cables deliver greater detail, tighter timing and a more expansive soundstage. Solid Complementary Conductor Technology™ and 99.999% oxygen-free copper help preserve signal accuracy, while advanced shielding and Ferrite Insulation Technology™ keep interference at bay. A flexible TPE jacket reduces handling noise, and gold-plated phono connectors ensure a reliable, low-noise connection built to last.

Safety and Sustainability First

The new Performance packaging has been refreshed to align with the new visual identify, with plastic reduced in favour of recyclable, paper‑based materials wherever possible. All products adhere to the strict RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) requirements, while USB cables carry independent USB‑IF (USB Implementers Forum) compliance certification, offering further reassurance of the quality and trust that define QED. 

*Excludes the Speaker model which uses LDPE Low-Density Polyethylene material.

For each model specifications visit www.qed.co.uk (UK) and www.qedcable.com (US)

QED Performance range is available now from local QED retailers and www.qed.co.uk

QED Performance range will be available in the U.S. late November from local QED retailers andwww.qedcable.com

QED Performance 2M speaker cable (pair)                          

£119.00 / €159.00 / $209.00

QED Performance 3M speaker cable (pair)                           

£139.00 / €179.00/ $229.00

QED Performance 5M speaker cable (pair)                           

£179.00 / €239.00/ $309.00

QED Performance Bi-wire Links 0.2M (two sets)         

£99.00 / €129.00 / $169

QED Performance Audio 0.75M interconnect (pair)           

£49.00 / €69.00 / $89.00

QED Performance Audio 1.5M interconnect (pair)              

£59.00 / €79.00 / $99.00

QED Performance Audio 3M interconnect (pair)                  

£89.00 / €119.00 / $149.00

QED Performance Subwoofer 3M                               

£59.00 / €79.00 / $99.00

QED Performance Subwoofer 6M                               

£99.00 / €129.00 / $169.00

QED Performance Subwoofer 10M                             

£129.00 / €169.00 / $219.00

QED Performance (3.5mm) J2J 1.5M                           

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

QED Performance (3.5mm) J2J 3.0M                           

£49.00 / €65.00 / $79.00

QED Performance (3.5mm) J2P (phono) 1.5M             

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

QED Performance (3.5mm) J2P (phono) 3.0M             

£49.00 / €65.00 / $79.00

QED Performance Digital Audio 0.75M                       

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

QED Performance Digital Audio 1.5M                         

£49.00 / €65.00 / $79.00

QED Performance Digital Audio 3M                            

£59.00 / €79.00 / $99.00

QED Performance Optical 0.75M                                

£49.00 / €65.00 / $79.00

QED Performance Optical 1.5M                                  

£59.00 / €79.00 / $99.00

QED Performance Optical 3M                                     

£69.00 / €99.00 / $129.00

QED Performance Ethernet 0.75M                              

£29.00 / €39.00 / $49.00

QED Performance Ethernet 1.5M                                

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

QED Performance Ethernet 3M                                   

£49.00 / €65.00 / $79.00

QED Performance Ethernet 6M                                   

£59.00 / €79.00 / $99.00

QED Performance USB A(M)-B(M) 0.75M                    

£29.00 / €39.00 / $49.00                    

QED Performance USB A(M)-B(M) 1.5M                      

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

QED Performance USB A(M)-B(M) 3M                         

£49.00 / €65.00 / $79.00

QED Performance USB A(M)-C(M) 0.6M                      

£29.00 / €39.00 / $49.00

QED Performance USB A(M)-C(M) 1.2M                      

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

QED Performance USB C(M)-C(M) 0.6M                     

£29.00 / €39.00 / $49.00

QED Performance USB A(M)-C(M) 1.2M                      

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

QED Performance USB C(M)-B(M) 0.6M                      

£29.00 / €39.00 / $49.00

QED Performance USB C(M)-B(M) 1.2M                      

£39.00 / €55.00 / $69.00

To find out more about the QED Performance range and discover other QED products please visit www.qed.co.uk (UK) and www.qedcable.com (US)

IMAGE GALLERY (click on image then ‘Save As’) 

QED Performance Range

QED Performance Detail

QED Performance Speaker

QED Performance Audio

QED Performance Bi-wire Links

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QED Performance Subwoofer

QED Performance (3.5mm) J2J

            

QED Performance (3.5mm) J2P (phono)

QED Performance Digital Audio

QED Performance Optical

QED Performance Ethernet

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QED Performance USB A(M)-B(M)

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QED Performance USB A(M)-C(M)   

                  

QED Performance USB C(M)-C(M)

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QED Performance USB C(M)-B(M)   

             

QED Performance Banana Plug

QED Performance Spade Plug

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QED

Supreme sound: QED unveils Supremus Zr – its latest next-generation flagship loudspeaker cable

British audio specialist, QED, today introduces its next-generation flagship loudspeaker cable: Supremus Zr. Developed without compromise, Supremus Zr is the result of more than five decades of technological evolution and refinement.

Featuring leading-edge QED audio innovations, the new Zr model now boasts high-quality zirconia plugs and barrels. Used in watches and fountain pens and in automotive and aerospace industries, this advanced ceramic material is prized for its durability and high resistance to wear, temperature and eddy currents. Its lustrous surface also adds a luxury finish to the cable.

In conjunction with QED’s Aircore™ and Airloc™ technologies and a host of other cutting-edge designs, Supremus Zr represents the most effective way of preserving the integrity and fidelity of the analogue music signal from beginning to end that QED has ever achieved.

Key features at a glance

  • Zirconia Airloc™ design: NEW hard-wearing zirconia barrels and boots offerdurability and resistance to performance-affecting eddy currents, in one lustrous-looking material.
  • Cold weld system unifies the conductors and plug components for a lifetime of perfect functionality.
  • Rhodium-plated locking design ensures optimal contact between a speaker binding post and the cable plug for a maintenance-free connection.
  • Aircore technology delivers an even, consistent performance across the entire audible frequency range.
  • 6.2 mm2 ultra-low resistance conductors effectively allows your amplifier to exert complete control over your speakers.
  • Cryogenic treatment ensures aperfect cable microstructure for more natural tonality.

Zirconia Airloc™ design

NEW: Zirconia barrels and boots

The exceptionally high mechanical strength of zirconia, its remarkable resistance to scratches and general wear, and its glossily lustrous finish, all make it the ideal material for this cable’s barrels and boots. Not only are the Supremus Zr plugs gleaming and tactile, the electrically inert nature of zirconia also means eddy currents cannot become established and therefore plug-induced distortion remains vanishingly low.   

Airloc™ cold weld system

Our high-pressure termination process compresses the conductors and plug together, creating a cold-welded area where conductors and plug effectively become one. Because all the air has been removed from the joint, there can be no oxidisation or degradation in conductivity – and that’s true for the entire lifetime of the cable.

Rhodium-plated locking design

Aside from its purely decorative properties – which are considerable – rhodium makes the surface of the Supremus Zr connectors very smooth, increasing the contact area and reducing resistance. Designed specifically for Supremus Zr cable, this unique contact expansion system securely clamps the rhodium-plated beryllium copper pins into the speaker terminals, while at the same time increasing the contact area of the plugs, simply by twisting the plug barrel until it is tight. And because it’s so very hard-wearing and resistant to oxidisation, rhodium can cope with the extra load exerted by our locking design – which ensures a perfect, maintenance-free connection.

Aircore™ Cordage

Aircore technology

Loudspeaker cables with large cross-sectional areas are prone to skin effect, where high-frequency analogue music signals are forced to the outside of the conductor, and proximity effect that disrupts current distribution. QED’s innovative Aircore technology combines hollow tubular conductors – to minimise the skin effect – with polyester insulation and a special spiral construction to reduce the proximity effect.This highly effective combination evens out current density and significantly improves the cable’s uniformity throughout the audio band.

6.2 mm2 ultra-low resistance conductors

Boasting a large cross-sectional area, the ultra-low resistance, silver-plated, oxygen-free copper conductors effectively bring the amplifier electrically much closer to the loudspeakers, enabling it to exercise better control over them, so the fidelity of the original music signal can be more accurately maintained.

Cryogenic treatment

Cryogenic treatment improves the microstructure of the copper core by eliminating crystalline dislocations. Numerous brass musical instruments at all points of the frequency range have been found to produce a better, more natural tone after deep cryogenic treatment.

QED Supremus Zr is available now in pre-terminated options from QED retailers priced:

QED Supremus Zr 2.0 m           £1,399 / € 1,749 / $1,999

QED Supremus Zr 3.0 m           £1,799 / € 2,249 / $2,499

QED Supremus Zr 4.0 m           £2,199 / € 2,749 / $2,999

QED Supremus Zr 5.0 m           £2,599 / € 3,249 / $3,599

Learn more at www.qed.co.uk (UK) and www.qedcable.com (US)

Technical specification

Cross-sectional area: 6.20 mm2

Wire gauge: 10 AWG

Outside diameter: 17 mm

Loop resistance: 0.005 Ω/m

Parallel capacitance: 48 pF/m

Loop inductance: 0.49 μH/m

Dissipation factor: 0.009

Technology: QED Aircore™; cryogenically treated; QED Airloc™

Conductors: 32 solid core, silver-plated, 99.999% oxygen-free, polyester coated copper

Dielectric: Foamed polyethylene, LDPE, and air

Plugs: Rhodium-plated, locking Airloc plugs with zirconia barrels

To find out more about the QED Supremus Zr loudspeaker cable and discover other QED products please visit www.qed.co.uk (UK) and www.qedcable.com (US)

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QED

QED celebrates 50 years with special edition Golden Anniversary XT speaker cable featuring X-Tube™ Plus technology

British audio specialist QED celebrates its 50th anniversary in style, with the introduction of its Golden Anniversary XT speaker cable. Representing the culmination of five decades of dedicated and extensive research, engineering and audio expertise, Golden Anniversary XT speaker cable is the ideal upgrade for any hi-fi enthusiast who wants to experience the sonic benefits of a high-end speaker cable – but at a real-world price.

Key features at a glance

  • NEW X-Tube™ Plus technology combines X-Tube™ with Aircore™ to deliver an even, consistent performance across the entire audible frequency range.
  • Ultra-pure Ohno Continuous Cast Copper and 99.999% oxygen-free copper conductor blend helps improve the signal path and signal retention.
  • Low Loss Ultra-Uniform Dielectric insulation boosts efficiency and reduces signal loss.
  • Airloc™ Forte banana plugs use a cold weld system for permanent attachment to the cable for improved contact area and reduced resistance.

50 years of innovation

QED has been designing and engineering class-leading and award-winning analogue and digital cables for five decades – and the Golden Anniversary XT is the latest demonstration of the company’s expertise.

Quality Electronic Design (QED) was formed in 1973 by forward-thinking hi-fi enthusiasts, Bob Abraham and Ian Vine. The company is now considered the original cable brand, having released QED 79 Strand, widely recognised as the world’s first “specialist” loudspeaker cable. This product demonstrated how cables could have a tangible impact on audio performance.

QED’s Genesis Report on loudspeaker cable design followed. This research established scientifically proven principles, which are as valid today as they were 28 years ago and informs all QED cable designs, including the pioneering X-Tube™ technology that enables precise and consistent signal delivery across the entire frequency range.

X-Tube™ Plus technology

QED’s innovative and proven X-Tube™ technology places a cable’s conductive material around a central hollow insulating rod – and the result is the elimination of the ‘skin effect’ that would otherwise force high-frequency analogue music signals to the outside of the conductor. And by combining X-Tube™ technology with its equally effective Aircore™ technology, QED also reduces the ‘proximity effect’ that can disrupt current distribution in a speaker cable. The result is X-Tube™ Plus: a ground-breaking cable geometry that ensures Golden Anniversary XT is a speaker cable with even, consistent performance across the entire audible frequency range. 

Ultra-Pure Ohno Continuous Cast Copper conductors

Golden Anniversary XT uses a unique hybrid blend of 99.999% oxygen-free copper (‘OFC’) and Ultra-Pure Ohno Continuous Cast Copper (‘UP-OCC’) to give the improved signal path and outstanding signal retention of ultra-pure copper conductors – but at a fraction of the price. Thanks to class-leading research and engineering, QED Golden Anniversary XT is the most affordable and attainable speaker cable to exploit the advantages of the continuous-casting process, with this hybrid theoretically improving the path for transients and high frequency detail not available using just OFC alone.

Low-Loss Ultra-Uniform Dielectric insulation

If a speaker cable is to perform to its maximum potential, it’s important that the dielectric material which insulates and protects the central conductors of the cable does so efficiently. Golden Anniversary XT uses a specially developed and formulated low-density polyethylene (‘LDPE’), which works in unison with the cable’s X-Tube Plus configuration to deliver a speaker cable that has high-efficiency and a dissipation factor that is barely measurable. 

Airloc™ Forté banana plugs

Airloc™ is a specially developed cold-weld system for permanently attaching QED Forté banana plugs to the company’s entire range of speaker cables, Golden Anniversary XT included. The most vulnerable area of the speaker cable chain is the physical interface between the cable and the speaker or amplifier to which it’s connected – without effective termination, oxidation can occur, degrading the cable’s performance. By using a cold weld crimp-type termination, Forté banana plugs offer maximum resistance to oxidation – for the lifetime of the cable – by effectively turning the cable and the plug into a single, unified object.

QED Golden Anniversary XT is available now from QED retailers priced: £27 / €35 / $40 per metre.

And in pre-terminated options (available November 2023):

QED Golden Anniversary XT 2M: £219.95 / $329.00 / €289.00

QED Golden Anniversary XT 2.5M: £249.95 / $379.00 / €319.00

QED Golden Anniversary XT 3M: £279.95 / $429.00 / €349.00

QED Golden Anniversary XT 5M: £399.95 / $599.00 / €499.00

Learn more at www.qed.co.uk (UK) www.qedcable.com (US)

Download QED Golden Anniversary XT White Paper

Download QED 2023 Brochure

Technical specification

Cross-sectional area: 2.5 mm2

Wire gauge: 14 AWG

Jacket outside diameter: 11.5 mm

Loop inductance: 0.58 μH/m

Loop resistance: 14.8 mΩ/m

Capacitance: 42.0 pF/m

Dissipation factor @ 10 kHz: 0.009

Conductors: 9 x 19/0.13 mm OFC + 1 x 19/0.13 UP OPCC

Insulation: LDPE jacket with 100% coverage of golden/mylar tape wrap

Plugs and spades: QED Airloc™ Forte banana plugs

To find out more about the QED Golden Anniversary XT loudspeaker cable and discover other QED products please visit www.qed.co.uk (UK) and www.qedcable.com (US)

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QED

QED unveils Reference Audio 40 interconnect with second generation Analoc™ plug technology

British audio specialists QED introduces the latest version of its award-winning Reference Audio 40 interconnect, featuring second generation Analoc™ plug technology. Representing yet another stride forward in analogue interconnect design from the original specialist cable company, this model builds on the success of the first generation Analoc™ low eddy current design by entirely removing all conductive material from the plug bodies for superior transparency, timing and audio signal integrity. The Reference Audio 40 remains the ultimate upgrade from budget interconnects for a cleaner, more detailed and dynamic sonic performance.

QED has been designing and engineering superior analogue and digital cables for more than 45 years, and its new Reference Audio 40 cable is informed by the results of the company’s exhaustive research into cable design since 1995.

All-new Analoc2™ design

The Analoc2™ design still features low bulk, high purity copper connectors alongside low mass metal barrels, but now cleverly substitutes high rigidity thermoplastic material for both the inner support structure and the cable strain relief to eliminate the detrimental effects of eddy currents. Although already smaller than in traditional bulk brass plugs, these unfavourable currents were still able to circulate weakly in the isolated metal body of the previous plug design. Now with the new material in place, these remnant resonant distortions are completely prevented from adversely affecting the information contained in the audio signal as it travels through the new plug.

To complete the RCA plug’s Analoc2™ upgrade and to help combat the skin effect, the hollow, gold (or rhodium) plated, high-purity copper signal-pins are retained, while the effectiveness of the slip ring which locks in place the similarly plated, pure copper ground-terminal as the barrels are tightened, has also been improved.

Complementary Conductor Technology

This technology improves timing and detail, retaining the rhythm of the original piece. Unlike conventional analogue interconnects, Reference Audio 40 utilises two Silver-plated 99.999% Oxygen Free Copper conductors of different diameters to carry the same audio signal. This has the effect of providing an alternative path for high frequency audio components which might otherwise become time smeared in a single audio pathway.

Ferrite cord insulation

A Zn/Mn Ferrite jacket is used within the cordage to absorb very high frequency noise components outside of the audible band that have an adverse effect on the micro-timing of the audio signal. When measured at very high frequencies, Reference Audio 40 cables exhibit cleaner signal transmission than standard audio interconnects. Further protection for the Silver Plated 99.999% Oxygen Free Copper (SPOFC) conductors comes in the form of a low loss, low density, dielectric foam Polyethylene (LDPE) inner jacket that minimises electrical energy loss in the cable insulation which can have a detrimental effect on the fidelity of the sound compared with cheaper PVC alternatives.

The QED Reference Audio 40 interconnect is available now in the UK/Europe and in the US from December, priced:

  • £99.95/€125/$139.95 (0.6m length)
  • £119.95/€149/$169.95 (1m length)
  • £149.95/€189/$209.95 (3m length)

To buy the QED Reference Audio 40 and discover other QED products please visit www.qed.co.uk (UK) and www.qedcable.com (US)

Technical specification

  • Analoc2™ plug with inner high rigidity thermoplastic material
  • Silver Plated 99.999% Oxygen Free Copper (SPOFC) conductors with LDPE dielectric
  • Asymmetrical twisted pair geometry
  • OFC shield giving 100% electromagnetic screening
  • Zn/Mn ferrite Jacket
  • Gold plated updated QED Analoc2™ RCA plugs
  • Parallel Capacitance: 76 pF/m
  • Inductance: 0.37 μH/m
  • Loop resistance: 0.072 Ω/m
  • Dissipation Factor: 0.0059

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