The Reference Audio 40 cable range is an entirely new design concept from QED labs. The cordage is designed primarily for low capacitance as this has been identified by QED as a significant factor which leads to a high fidelity experience, making for a tight sound and retaining the rhythm of the original piece. Add our Complementary Conductor TechnologyTM for high frequency detail and our Analoc TechnologyTM to maximise signal integrity and the result is what we feel to be the most innovative interconnect ever made by QED. Please see our 'cables matter' section below for more in-depth information on this ground breaking design.

Key Features:

Engineering pedigree

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.

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