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RCA Single
QED Reference Digital Audio 40 Cable
£99.95 As low as £79.95 £66.62
SKU
QED Reference Digi 40
Lifetime
New
24 hours
Reference digital audio 40, the new standard for digital coaxial S/PDIF signals.
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QED Reference Digital Audio 40 Cable
Reference digital audio 40, the new standard for digital coaxial S/PDIF signals.
Reference Digital Audio 40 utilises a carefully engineered geometry to achieve the precise characteristic impedance required for the maximum transfer of S/PDIF signals. Silver plated conductors deliver a low resistance path for high frequencies and QED "Digiloc" plugs more closely match the cable's characteristic impedance, reducing return loss by up to 1dB when compared to conventional RCA plugs. This ensures optimal signal transfer and improved micro-timing of the audio signal.
Just Listen
Silver plated signal carriers, effective high quality shielding and impedance matched cordage and plugs all combine to create audible sonic improvements when compared to the competition
Extruded Foamed Polyethylene (PE) Dielectric
Through the use of factory controlled geometry and low permittivity foamed polyethylene dielectrics, Reference Digital Audio 40 maintains the correct characteristic impedance to match the transmission line between digital source and sink precisely. This makes for a very low jitter signal transfer which, listening tests have shown, leads to clearly audible sonic improvements.
75 OHM Impedance Matched DIGILOC™ RCA Plugs
Domestic S/PDIF interfaces use the traditional RCA phono connector which is not impedance matched to the 75 Ohm transmission line. This causes measurable insertion loss and an increase in jitter due to signal reflections at the connector boundaries. The all new Digiloc RCA plugs are more closely impedance matched than ever before and measurements have shown, reduce insertion loss by up to 1.2 dB compared to ordinary RCA plugs.
Triple Layer Electromagnetic Shielding
A dual layer closely woven 99.999% OFC shield braid and aluminium mylar wrap with 100% coverage comprise a triple layer electromagnetic shield coaxially spaced around the central signal carrier within a foamed polyethylene dielectric. This ensures that interference signals induced by nearby high current noise sources do not contribute to higher signal jitter than would otherwise be the case. By the same token the shielding prevents unwanted voltage induced interference escaping the cable which might affect nearby analogue signal carriers.
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Ultra Low JitterJitter is the undesired deviation from true periodicity of an assumed periodic signal in electronics and telecommunications, often in relation to a reference clock source. A cable displaying ultra low jitter has been measured attypically 30ps. |
Specification :
- Silver Plated 99.999% Oxygen Free Copper central conductor
- Extruded foamed Polyethylene (PE) dielectric - for sonic purity and low return loss
- Double 99.999% OFC braid plus Al/Mylar wrap for 100% electromagnetic screening coverage
- Twin leaf 24k Gold plated QED ‘Digiloc™’ RCA plugs featuring high purity copper contacts, hollow centre pin and low eddy current design
- 75 ohm coaxial design with closely matched locking plug for reduced return loss
- 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 central conductor
- Extruded foamed Polyethylene (PE) dielectric - for sonic purity and low return loss
- Double 99.999% OFC braid plus Al/Mylar wrap for 100% electromagnetic screening coverage
- Twin leaf 24k Gold plated QED ‘Digiloc™’ RCA plugs featuring high purity copper contacts, hollow centre pin and low eddy current design
- 75 ohm coaxial design with closely matched locking plug for reduced return loss
- 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 29 Reviews
Another great performance by QED and Futureshop
Michael
1 Jun 2024
Verified Buyer
I'm not surprised that it is a huge improvement over the cheap cable it replaced. But it is also an improvement on the optical cable I sometimes use. !
Futureshop didn't hang around either.
I don't feel a need to go elsewhere. Between themselves, QED and Futureshop have it nailed.
Futureshop didn't hang around either.
I don't feel a need to go elsewhere. Between themselves, QED and Futureshop have it nailed.
Excellent
Jorge Alegrio
20 May 2024
Verified Buyer
Excellent cable, well-balanced, deep bass, balanced mids and pleasant treble.
A piece of advice: if you're going to buy a cable, buy QED, preferably if you can; it's one of the top brands.
Another thing is that there is no point in having super equipment if the quality of the recording is bad. Good recordings will always be better on any equipment.
A piece of advice: if you're going to buy a cable, buy QED, preferably if you can; it's one of the top brands.
Another thing is that there is no point in having super equipment if the quality of the recording is bad. Good recordings will always be better on any equipment.
QED quality.
Mike
3 Feb 2024
Verified Buyer
Having recently invested in a streamer, I was keen to get the maximum sound quality from it. The Reference 40 replaced a basic, cheaper digital interconnect, and the difference in sound quality was not subtle. Improvements in all areas of the sound.
The free 96-hour Burn-in was a great bonus; I will take advantage of this when ordering further cables.
QED quality product at a reasonable price. Highly recommended. Great advice from the future shop team on getting the most from streaming.
The free 96-hour Burn-in was a great bonus; I will take advantage of this when ordering further cables.
QED quality product at a reasonable price. Highly recommended. Great advice from the future shop team on getting the most from streaming.
Very good cable
Giotto
1 Sep 2022
Verified Buyer
I ordered this cable a few weeks ago with a free burn-in of 72 hours. The cables were delivered very quickly, and the certificate of burn-in was also in the box.
The sound? Very open, transparent and musical. Very balanced. I like it. I use it between my Bluesound Node 2i and a Naim DAC. I have compared it with another coaxial cable, the Van Den Hul The Digi-Coupler, which is almost the same price as the QED.
The QED is more transparent and faster, and the soundstage is wider, but there is a but; I like the other cable more on my system because it is "warmer in the midrange" and less transparent. The QED is not analytical at all, but in my room's resolving system, the result is too much of a good thing.
Somehow the VDH has some magic in the midrange, which helps to deliver more emotions with voices, at least in my system. I hope that helps further people that want to try the QED.
I would buy it again. Maybe one day in another room, that might be just right!
The sound? Very open, transparent and musical. Very balanced. I like it. I use it between my Bluesound Node 2i and a Naim DAC. I have compared it with another coaxial cable, the Van Den Hul The Digi-Coupler, which is almost the same price as the QED.
The QED is more transparent and faster, and the soundstage is wider, but there is a but; I like the other cable more on my system because it is "warmer in the midrange" and less transparent. The QED is not analytical at all, but in my room's resolving system, the result is too much of a good thing.
Somehow the VDH has some magic in the midrange, which helps to deliver more emotions with voices, at least in my system. I hope that helps further people that want to try the QED.
I would buy it again. Maybe one day in another room, that might be just right!
Worthwhile budget upgrade.
Chris Pinnington
14 Feb 2022
Verified Buyer
I bought this product - QED Reference Digital Audio 40 to upgrade the existing digital interconnect between the Bluray
player and the DAC. This was also a QED product - the Performance Digital Audio interconnect.
Good as it is, the Reference Digital Audio 40 improves on the cheaper products strengths in particular I noticed greater detail in areas such as plucked strings and hit drums as the sound died away. I would definitely recommend this product.
player and the DAC. This was also a QED product - the Performance Digital Audio interconnect.
Good as it is, the Reference Digital Audio 40 improves on the cheaper products strengths in particular I noticed greater detail in areas such as plucked strings and hit drums as the sound died away. I would definitely recommend this product.
Brilliant cable!
M Sexton
5 Aug 2021
Verified Buyer
I have been replacing all my cables with QED and this one was the last link in the chain. CD to DAC. It has transformed the sound. I have always used Lowther drive units, and they are incredibly sensitive to and change in the signal they receive. The sound now is much more detailed, with plenty of space between the different elements , brilliant imaging and a big soundstage. The bass is solid and punchy, and the top end is bright but not harsh.
There’s so much going on that l’ve not heard before!
Brilliant cable, and great at the price.
I’m very happy with it.
There’s so much going on that l’ve not heard before!
Brilliant cable, and great at the price.
I’m very happy with it.
Significantly more pleasant sound - Deutlich angenehmerer Klang
Jochen Bach
16 Jul 2021
Verified Buyer
I connected the above digital cable from the CD player (digital out) to the RME / DAC. I have to say the company QED is unbeatable in price / performance. Many thanks to future shop for their support. Gladly again!
Hab das o.g. Digitalkabel vom CD Player (Digitalout) mit dem RME/DAC verbunden. Ich muss sagen die Fa. QED ist in Preis/Leistung nicht zu toppen. Auch vielen Dank an future shop für die Unterstützung. Gerne wieder!
Hab das o.g. Digitalkabel vom CD Player (Digitalout) mit dem RME/DAC verbunden. Ich muss sagen die Fa. QED ist in Preis/Leistung nicht zu toppen. Auch vielen Dank an future shop für die Unterstützung. Gerne wieder!
Solid Cable
Lyndon
12 Jul 2021
Verified Buyer
Difficult to review with regards to sound quality as my whole system is new, with all components burning/breaking in together. I have the Reference Audio 40 Digital feeding my DAC from the Bluesound Node. I'm also using the QED Reference Audio 40 RCA interconnects from DAC to Amp.
The cable itself is solid, feels well built and the locking RCA plugs provide a nice tight fit once locked in place.
Would highly recommend for a mid-budget system, and as a safe bet/nice starting point and stepping stone to higher-tier cables.
Service and shipping from FutureShop was impeccable as always
The cable itself is solid, feels well built and the locking RCA plugs provide a nice tight fit once locked in place.
Would highly recommend for a mid-budget system, and as a safe bet/nice starting point and stepping stone to higher-tier cables.
Service and shipping from FutureShop was impeccable as always
Very smooth and organic
Eugene
2 Jun 2021
Verified Buyer
Purchased this QED as a swappable complement to the Wireworld Starlight 8 I got from FutureShop last year.
Both cables sound different from each other which defy the view held by certain audiophiles that all digital cables sound the same. With the QED Reference Audio 40 serving up the digits, the resultant sound is underpinned by a firm and strong bass. It maintains constant pressure even in the deepest region (<35Hz) for the entire duration of the notes. Yet it is not afflicted by any boominess. All bass notes are well shaped and there is also an easy fluidity as well. In a way, it gives a charming impression of an analog turntable! That is not to say the treble is in any way shut in, it is incisive when the music requires and the midrange is open and spacious. Smooth is the first adjective that crops up with this QED.
It has perfect synergy with my Cyrus DAC XP Signature preamplifier whose very detailed dual-mono DAC topology requires a cable which can coalesce its widescreen sound together.
The custom termination by the FutureShop engineers is expertly done. Thanks Dexter.
Both cables sound different from each other which defy the view held by certain audiophiles that all digital cables sound the same. With the QED Reference Audio 40 serving up the digits, the resultant sound is underpinned by a firm and strong bass. It maintains constant pressure even in the deepest region (<35Hz) for the entire duration of the notes. Yet it is not afflicted by any boominess. All bass notes are well shaped and there is also an easy fluidity as well. In a way, it gives a charming impression of an analog turntable! That is not to say the treble is in any way shut in, it is incisive when the music requires and the midrange is open and spacious. Smooth is the first adjective that crops up with this QED.
It has perfect synergy with my Cyrus DAC XP Signature preamplifier whose very detailed dual-mono DAC topology requires a cable which can coalesce its widescreen sound together.
The custom termination by the FutureShop engineers is expertly done. Thanks Dexter.
So far so good!
Paul Dann
23 Jan 2021
Verified Buyer
I’m new to all this higher-end audio equipment and I don’t have anything to compare this cable to, other than a QED J2P cable. The latter, when connected to my computer has lots of noticeable interference and the Digital coaxial cable has absolutely none so I’m guessing it is a decent cable.
The guys at Future Shop are very helpful abs I received the item very quickly. Thank you.
The guys at Future Shop are very helpful abs I received the item very quickly. Thank you.
Solid and full of details, not covering appetite for low end
Tomasz Lorenz
4 Jan 2021
Verified Buyer
As in the tile. Great scene, details. Yet, concerning my very positive experiences with analog versions of QED R 40 - digital one was slightly missing the low end the analog brothers and some digital competition are able to deliver.
EXCELLENCE
Manu
6 Jun 2020
Verified Buyer
Best cable owned to date up to £150.
This QED expresses itself freely with a very pleasant softness without harming neither the transparency nor the dynamics.
The construction is solid (the section of the cable is important) and the aesthetics very successful - a real very good cable.
This QED expresses itself freely with a very pleasant softness without harming neither the transparency nor the dynamics.
The construction is solid (the section of the cable is important) and the aesthetics very successful - a real very good cable.
Best digital coaxial cable under £100
Ian Barber
3 Apr 2020
Verified Buyer
Lovely cable. Has improved the sound output of my new Audiolab 6000CDT by quite a margin, over the Cambridge Audio M 300 that I was using, between it and the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic Plus DAC.
Happy bunny.
Happy bunny.
Excellent cable.
Roger Howard
13 Jan 2020
Verified Buyer
I have a Cambridge CXNv2 streamer with a partnering CXA81 amplifier connected with Clearway digital cable. But to connect my Rega CD player (through the streamer and thus to the CXA81, as there is only one coax input on the amp) I needed another digital cable. I deliberately chose a different cable make of equal-calibre backed by the free burn-in and money-back guarantee. I also have QED reference 40 analogue cables too, so decided on QED digital.
The QED digital cable is a true revelation, bringing music to another level. My Clearway is excellent in many ways, especially soundstage and clarity, but somewhat bright and dramatic too. I believe the QED offers a more rounded and musical performance, by softening those high issues whilst maintaining clarity and communication. Mid and lower frequencies are punchy and forthright but expressive, smooth and refined at the same time. Overall the performance never falters. And I can hear instruments and expressions in music that I have not heard before. Listening fatigue is a thing of the past as the music flows out as one expressive whole. Yes, it is quite expensive but the value for money is formidable. To my ears, this is a wonderful cable.
The QED digital cable is a true revelation, bringing music to another level. My Clearway is excellent in many ways, especially soundstage and clarity, but somewhat bright and dramatic too. I believe the QED offers a more rounded and musical performance, by softening those high issues whilst maintaining clarity and communication. Mid and lower frequencies are punchy and forthright but expressive, smooth and refined at the same time. Overall the performance never falters. And I can hear instruments and expressions in music that I have not heard before. Listening fatigue is a thing of the past as the music flows out as one expressive whole. Yes, it is quite expensive but the value for money is formidable. To my ears, this is a wonderful cable.
Perfect Coax-cable. Solid connection with CD-player and DAC. Fine sound, no interference with other low and high voltage cables.
Frank.
29 Sep 2019
Verified Buyer
Perfect Coax-cable. Solid connection with CD-player and DAC. Fine sound, no interference with other low and high voltage cables.