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RCA Pair
QED Reference Audio 40 Cable - Custom Length Pair
£74.99 £62.49
SKU
QED Reference 40 Custom
Lifetime
New
24 hours
The revolutionary Reference Audio 40 analogue audio interconnect celebrates 40 years at the forefront of British designed audio cables.
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QED Reference Audio 40 Cable - Custom Length
The revolutionary Reference Audio 40 analogue audio interconnect celebrates 40 years at the forefront of British designed audio cables.
The 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 Technology™ for high frequency detail and our Analoc Technology™ to maximise signal integrity and the result is what we feel to be the most innovative interconnect ever made by QED.
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| The two diagrams above show the difference measured in a high frequency data stream applied to an ordinary cable without the improvements (left) and with the improvements in the QED cable (right) | The ability to accurately transmit high frequency impulses means that within the audio band timing and dynamics should be improved. |
Complementary Conductor Technology™
This innovation utilises two 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.
Foamed Polyethylene Dielectric
Foamed Polyethylene has a low dielectric constant and has been used to cut down on the amount of audio signal energy lost due to cable capacitance.
ANALOC™ Locking RCA Plugs
The new QED Analoc™ plug is a low eddy current design featuring small high purity copper conductors in place of the usual large volume brass body found in ordinary high quality plugs. This cuts down or eliminates the tendency for the changing magnetic field in the conductor to induce eddy currents which can affect the micro-timing of the audio signal.
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ANALOC™ TechnologyQED ‘Analoc™ RCA plug which features high purity copper signal and ground connections in an insulated low eddy current brass body. The hollow central pin eliminates skin effect in the signal connection and the locking barrel design clamps the dual tombstone ground connection firmly to the RCA sockets |
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Complementary Conductor TechnologyComplementary conductor geometry utilises two 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. |
There are three cables in the Audio 40 range representing the long established Performance, Reference and Signature designations which have always corresponded to the “good, better, best” principle of QED product hierarchy. However the whole range has been developed using a strict top down approach which means that all three cables share an almost identical construction and geometry with the Signature cable representing the ideal ‘cost no object’ original state of the design with the Performance cable its cost engineered alternative. The Reference cable represents the perfect balance of performance against the law of diminishing returns omitting only the most expensive components.
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"QED Interconnect brings fantastic depth and dimension. Bass notes appear to plunge deeper and there's a meaty, mature tone to the music, but not at the expense of control or agility. Tunes are engaging and balanced with an impressive level of detail." (Read more) What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision June 2014 |
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“In terms of build the QEDs are excellent - the plugs are solid while the cable itself is chunky but flexible enough to fit into tight spaces behind components even when close to a wall.” (Read More) Equipment Review - Hi-Fi World - June 2017
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Specification :
- 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 QED ‘Analoc™’ RCA plugs
- Parallel Capacitance: 76 pF/m
- Inductance: 0.37 uH/m
- Loop resistance: 0.072 Ω/m
- Dissipation Factor: 0.0059
- QED Lifetime Guarantee
About QED Cables 
QED is an award winning British company with over 40 years of experience in the audio-visual connectivity industry.
In 1973 Bob Abraham and Ian Vine founded QED Audio Products and changed the way people think about hi-fi cables. By the time QED 79 strand speaker cable was launched in 1978, it wasn’t looked upon as ‘just another speaker cable’ but was instead regarded as a serious hi-fi component, making a fundamental change in the way people thought about cables.
QED's reputation for innovation and technical excellence is known throughout the world. The latest computer-aided design techniques allow their research and development team to keep pace with technological advances and deliver products that achieve the highest levels of performance and reliability. This is why QED products are recommended by so many of the world’s leading hi-fi and home theatre equipment manufacturers.
QED offer a range of connectivity products spanning from both consumer and installation cables, wireless products and switching devices to satisfy every audio visual need.
QED is Europe's number one award winning connectivity brand and has won more prestigious cable awards from ‘What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision’ magazine than any other brand (Awards 1981–2013).
Specification :
- 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 QED ‘Analoc™’ RCA plugs
- Parallel Capacitance: 76 pF/m
- Inductance: 0.37 uH/m
- Loop resistance: 0.072 Ω/m
- Dissipation Factor: 0.0059
- QED Lifetime Guarantee
UK Delivery
1. We use Royal Mail 1st Class Services as a Standard Postage Option
Orders received before 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. Over 98% of our orders are usually delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2-3 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays . In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Futureshop.co.uk. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD or Interlink Express for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order Monday to Friday subject to stock availability. For International orders, we use FedEx Services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths or custom-made cables may be subject to longer delivery time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free UK delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at FutureShop.co.uk
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by UK Mail).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or Interlink Express next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or Interlink Express.
2. Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
For the Next Day Special Delivery service, orders must be received by futureshop.co.uk by 4.30pm weekdays. Orders after the 4.30pm deadline cannot be guaranteed for same day dispatch.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
3. Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are subject to 20% VAT. We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 10 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 7 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the EU are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you login or register.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail - Items are usually delivered within 10-15 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets.
Enhance Your Experience: Free Cable Burn-In Service with Nordost VIDAR Machine
Please take note of the following details regarding our cable burn-in service:
- Cable Compatibility: We regret to inform you that we cannot burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. In order for cables to undergo the burn-in process, they should be terminated or have connectors.
- Timing: Cables will be burnt in for the selected period after processing your order. For custom-length cables, the burn-in process will occur after they have been terminated by the manufacturer or our engineers unless specified otherwise in the product description.
- Availability: Future Shop provides our cable burn-in service free of charge, but its availability is at our discretion. While we strive to fulfil all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to meet the demand due to limited connections on the Nordost Vidar cable conditioning machines.
The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine integrates three key functions into one operation:
- Charge Neutralisation: It eliminates charges that accumulate around the cables and their insulation, ensuring a more balanced electrical environment.
- Deep Conditioning: The machine provides a wide band and deep conditioning process that affects the conductor core, resulting in changes to the signal transmission through the metal. This deep conditioning enhances the cable's performance.
- Ultrasonic Surface Conditioning: The VIDAR machine utilizes ultrasonic waves to condition the surface of the conductors, optimizing their contact and overall conductivity.
The VIDAR employs a proprietary combination of composite and complex signals to condition the cables. These signals comprise ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, extending beyond the range of video frequencies. The signal moves back and forth along the cable, penetrating deep into the core with ultra-low frequencies and traversing the surface with ultra-high frequencies. This transmission method generates beat harmonics between the two complex waveforms, which permeate all layers of the cable. The circuitry of the VIDAR also drives electrons from the conductor into the insulation area, neutralizing electrical charges.
So, what does this all mean for you?
The ultimate outcome of conditioning cables with the Nordost VIDAR is improved sound staging, increased detail, and an overall more musical presentation in your audio system.
Now, you may wonder why cable burn-in is necessary. During cable manufacturing, gasses become trapped as insulation is applied over the conductors. Additionally, new cables often possess high electrical charges, resulting in a brittle and bright sound that lacks the desired detail and depth for music production.
When cables undergo burn-in, the trapped gasses are dissipated, and small impurities in the conductor metals begin to exhibit diode-like behaviour, favouring current flow in a specific direction.
Here are the physical effects of the burn-in process:
- Charge Neutralisation: The burn-in process neutralizes charges in the conductors and insulation, promoting a more balanced electrical environment.
- Wide Bandwidth Frequencies: The conditioning affects how signals pass through the metal, enabling a wider range of frequencies to penetrate all cable layers.
- Signal Transmission: The burn-in process establishes the directionality of the cable, optimizing signal transmission from one end to the other.
When cables are properly burnt in, you can expect the following audible changes in your audio system:
- Fuller and Natural Sound: Your system should be capable of producing a more immersive and realistic performance with a fuller and more natural sound.
- Increased Detail: You may notice enhanced details and nuances in the music, allowing you to perceive subtle elements that were previously hidden.
- Improved Soundstage: The dimensionality of your system's soundstage can be greatly improved, creating a more spacious and immersive listening experience.
At Future Shop, our goal is to maximise your satisfaction. That's why we offer a free burn-in service on all our cables before they arrive at your door, enabling you to sit back and enjoy the benefits of properly conditioned cables in your audio system.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR CABLE TREATMENT
Customer Reviews
5 /5.0 of 46 Reviews
Recommended and not disappointed
Lee
12 Jun 2024
Verified Buyer
This is a brilliant recommendation. They have brilliant sound and almost no interference. They have made a huge difference to my system at home, and the phono lock mechanism is particularly useful and impressive.
Thanks to the FutureShop team for their guidance.
Thanks to the FutureShop team for their guidance.
Good value upgrade to Hi-Fi sound
Jim Alexander
6 Apr 2024
Verified Buyer
I bought these QED interconnects to replace some AQ Tower interconnects. They have noticeably lowered the noise floor: my speakers are quieter when no music is coming through them, and that means when the music does come through, it has more body and detail.
I got these with a 72-hour run-in, and the difference they made to my system was immediate and obvious from the very first song.
I'm very happy with them.
I got these with a 72-hour run-in, and the difference they made to my system was immediate and obvious from the very first song.
I'm very happy with them.
Can't go wrong with QED & Futureshop
Adrian
3 Aug 2023
Verified Buyer
The QED Ref. Audio 40's are a great buy. No kidding, they're good enough for a 12k stereo system. Some may scoff at that statement, but I demoed them against a pair of very high-end company cables that cost more than twice as much, the same length, fully run in etc. To be honest, I struggled to tell any difference. Don't forget QED's lifetime warranty, either.
Future Shop were great. There was a slight delay in the delivery of one of my items, I was informed of this within the hour by telephone, and options were discussed to my satisfaction. That's about as good as it gets.
Future Shop were great. There was a slight delay in the delivery of one of my items, I was informed of this within the hour by telephone, and options were discussed to my satisfaction. That's about as good as it gets.
Superb price-performance ratio
Eugene
2 Jun 2021
Verified Buyer
This is my second purchase which is custom terminated by the FutureShop engineers.
The workmanship is exemplary as usual.
For me, this Reference Audio 40 is the best performing interconnect in the £100/m price bracket. It has displaced a couple of my other interconnects priced up to £180/m. I'm guessing it will take the Signature Audio 40 to beat it at its own game. No sonic anomalies in any area of the frequency spectrum to report. It delivers the music signals in a powerfully assured way.
The workmanship is exemplary as usual.
For me, this Reference Audio 40 is the best performing interconnect in the £100/m price bracket. It has displaced a couple of my other interconnects priced up to £180/m. I'm guessing it will take the Signature Audio 40 to beat it at its own game. No sonic anomalies in any area of the frequency spectrum to report. It delivers the music signals in a powerfully assured way.
Superb focus, big soundstage, impressive bass power
Eugene
29 Apr 2021
Verified Buyer
This replaced a Chord Clearway RCA as the link between my preamplifier and the stereo amplifier that is powering only the LF terminals on my Bowers and Wilkins 805 D3. The Clearway RCA and the Reference 40 are the same price so I was unsure if there would a lift in performance. However I had read enough superlatives regarding the Reference 40's prowess in the bass so decided to give it a try.
The differences between the two are very discernible! The Clearway RCA's sinuous sonics are best appreciated as a link between source and preamplifier. As the cable delivering the LF signals from my preamplifier to the power amplifier, the Reference 40 is astounding. Instruments snap into immense focus and this effect heightens the sense of space around them, The soundstage sounds more spacious as a result. There is no smear or blurring at all so when stringed instruments are bowing at great speed, their articulation is very clean and audible. Best of all is the bass. With the Reference 40 in the chain, the 805 D3s dig deeper and hit harder. Deep notes from orchestral cellos and double basses have this menacing growling quality that puts a grin on my face. Classical piano... sheer mastery, this is the best I have ever heard in my system.
That powerful bass is allied with speed and nimbleness too, so beat-driven pop and rock music sound fantastic too. I would have thought agility would be a trade-off for that power and depth, but the Reference 40 offers both.
I have no idea what would be the next upgrade for this wonderful QED, but whatever it is, it is not happening that soon.
The differences between the two are very discernible! The Clearway RCA's sinuous sonics are best appreciated as a link between source and preamplifier. As the cable delivering the LF signals from my preamplifier to the power amplifier, the Reference 40 is astounding. Instruments snap into immense focus and this effect heightens the sense of space around them, The soundstage sounds more spacious as a result. There is no smear or blurring at all so when stringed instruments are bowing at great speed, their articulation is very clean and audible. Best of all is the bass. With the Reference 40 in the chain, the 805 D3s dig deeper and hit harder. Deep notes from orchestral cellos and double basses have this menacing growling quality that puts a grin on my face. Classical piano... sheer mastery, this is the best I have ever heard in my system.
That powerful bass is allied with speed and nimbleness too, so beat-driven pop and rock music sound fantastic too. I would have thought agility would be a trade-off for that power and depth, but the Reference 40 offers both.
I have no idea what would be the next upgrade for this wonderful QED, but whatever it is, it is not happening that soon.
Great at 12m
Karan Gupta
8 Apr 2021
Verified Buyer
Needed 12m to run in wall from my preamp to the home theater. I was concerned how the cable would perform at this length but QED does a great job. The highs are detailed and smooth while the base is controlled and pronounced
Outstanding - you can tell the difference.
Nik
22 Feb 2021
Verified Buyer
All the reviews here are true based on my own experience. The QED RCA upgrade doesn’t both my CD and Turntable created an immediate difference in clarity in sound and definition. The overall service and advice from the Team was also second to none. I upgraded a host of cables as part of upgrading my system. As someone without the audiophile background the guys were excellent, patient and just great to deal with. The burn in service I believe is an added bonus when you are looking elsewhere. Great product, great advice and great service. Can’t recommend enough.
I noted a better clarity and soundstage.
Luigi Pasiani
18 Feb 2021
Verified Buyer
I use the rca QED cable to connect my CD player Marantz to my integrated amplifier Roksan. I noted an sensible increase in clarity and a deeper soundstage. I recommend these cables, it worth the purchase.
12 SEPTEMBER 2017
Edo Jokic
24 Oct 2017
Verified Buyer
This interconnect is really full of detail and with very opened soundstage. The sound is very clear with just a hint of the bright sound. It is not the best solution for my Rega combo but perfect for other combinations which require bright and detailed sound..... Very good cable if everything else in your system is up to it.
12 SEPTEMBER 2017
Eirik Aas
24 Oct 2017
Verified Buyer
Best sound I ever had, clean and extended.
And I thought cables didn't matter.....
Be-en using Blue Jeans speaker cable and Belden interconnects, not even in the same ballpark as this qed 40 interconnect and speaker cable.
And I thought cables didn't matter.....
Be-en using Blue Jeans speaker cable and Belden interconnects, not even in the same ballpark as this qed 40 interconnect and speaker cable.