Reviews for QED XT40i Speaker Cable - Custom Length

Replaced my 20+ yr old TEAC speakers with a pair of Quad S2's. The cables were 20 yr old too so decided to replace them as well.

Didn't want to go nuts on the cables and the QED Xt40i seemed about right although adding 8 banana plugs doubled the price but of course that's my choice.
Much neater than my old cables and certainly look the part with the banana plugs going fully into the speaker binding posts but only about 2/3 into my amps posts (Audiolab 6000a) but not a problem.

Soundwise they deliver everything I expect from my system so I'm happy with the purchase and good quick service from Futureshop

I bought these to replace some smaller-gauge cables. There was a real lack of bass with the other cables, but these cables sound great, highs, mids and bass all have excellent clarity and spatial resolution.

I've owned some very expensive MIT cables in the past and these are pretty darn close - probably just as good - and excellent value.

I test many cables, but this one is a very good one. Really the best choice quality/price. He needs a try.

I’ve always been a bit sceptical about how much difference good speaker cables make. I shouldn’t have been, as these cables make an incredible difference to the quality from my old Wharfedale E30s. Probably make an even bigger difference in more modern speakers. I can’t recommend enough.

I brought a pair of focal aria 948s, to replace a 20 year old pair of martin logan ascents (broken panels).
So disappointed until I replaced my existing cables with the QED 40i.

The speakers were cold and very shrill in the top end, this cable made the top end sing and removed the over brightness but also made the mid range blend in perfectly bringing out a warmth I did not think the speakers had, but with far superior definition, as for the base well its on a different level now.

Speakers are driven by 2 Audiolab 8300xp amps bridged but these cables are the icing on the cake, I do not think at this price there is anything i have heard that comes close to these cables,

My 5th order at future shop and always processed perfectly, fast delivery and very well packaged.

The QED xt40i, a cable in this version (2.50m mounted banana plugs) would have cost me 200 Euros in France, 131 all inclusive, shipping and customs fees (no VAT), no packaging that goes to the trash directly.

Listening, surprising !! I did not expect so much quality at this price level, everything is expressed easily, and transparency.

Details, a clean bass, nice balance ... in fact it has everything going for it while remaining neutral, compared to my old cable of course can be tired (20 years), a yba diamond yes ... does not justify the gap at all price. My Kora 90 csc, drive Cambridge, DAC audio gd 19 are doing wonderfully .. thank you QED.

I recently upgraded my HiFi system with KEF R3s. I also felt the need to replace my very old Audioquest Type 4 speaker cables with something that can add a little bit more clarity and sparkle. I was speaking to Adam at Futureshop for a second opinion on the speaker cable I was thinking of buying for a little over £300. He said no in so many words and a good reason why I shouldn’t buy these £300 cables. He then suggested I should first try the QED reference xt40i. I was a bit reluctant to buy the xt40i being a lot cheaper but I decided to order them anyway. 

I’m so glad I listened to Adam. 

Not only did I get the clarity and sparkle I wanted with the xt40i, but I am also amazed how even and balanced my speakers sound with clean fast bass, smooth midrange and attention to detail without sounding harsh. And all this for a little over £100.

Thanks to Adam Senior and Futureshop for sound advice and great service. You have made a stubborn audiophile very happy.

The cables deliver a neutral yet warm sound with a a high-level of detail, a broad sound stage with breadth and depth and excellent musicality.

[The story]
I bought this cable, i believe, the first month that got out in the market. I was searching for a good pair of speaker cables and in my research towards a QED pair (maybe XT25 or 40), It was suggested to me to wait for a few days for the latest version that was about to be available, XT40i. Now, back then, you couldn't find any information for this product. Only some references for the forthcoming release or copies of the official press release. It was promising some major/minor improvements over the previous model, that it was maybe replacing or correcting. I waited a bit and ordered a pair of 3m, terminated with the dedicated Airlock banana plugs. Additionally, it was burned in for me by the FutureShop, for 72h.

[My thoughts]
I bought this cable to connect my NAD c270 to a pair of Rogers LS7s. Previously, i was using a cheap but thick HAMA copper cable. The cable arrived reasonably fast and safe. The cable has a special design and being quite thick it makes it a bit stubborn/difficult to bend, safely. What this means is, that you'd have to give it some room (from the wall) to bend and turn safely going to the amp's outputs or the back of the speakers.

When i plugged them for the first time, i ensured to play some music with the old ones, just to have a quick reminder of them. First listening and i was already so happy to have made this choice -or to have bought a reasonably expensive quality cable.

The sound was a very nice surprise: felt that it was more open, the soundscape had already changed in my room. The speakers were responding better in all the range of frequencies. Before leaving in on my system, i did some A-B testing, just to check what i'm hearing is true and not a self-illusion. For the coming days, i loaded it with lots of diverse music, from all kinds of sources that i could utilise. Just fine!!
After 2 years of frequent usage, i have to say that i'm quite satisfied and it made me forget about the whole improvement fetish/"illness". Well, maybe to this front.
I know it's not the best cable there is out there -certainly QED doesn't claim anything like that- but it's a very nice addition to an average to advanced system. Having a system that costs €1500+, to pay 110+ pounds for a cable seemed/-s a logical thing to do and suits me fine. It shows my system's capabilities, with integrity and enough clarity to make focus, mainly, on the music and not to question my weakest part.
Good choice, for a dedicated audiophile, on a constricted budget.

Big thanks to the Future Shop team, emailed them for some cable recommendations to hook some B&W 684 floor-standing speakers to a NAD C356BEE amp, they sent some detailed advice and recommended these QED cables.

Easy to order, delivered next day, system has a new lease of life, very happy!