QED Reference XLR 40 Digital Cable
XLR 40 is designed primarily for low jitter as this has been identified by QED as a major factor which leads to a high fidelity experience. Further steps have been taken to eliminate minute timing errors in the cable by the use of a special floating Zn/Mn ferrite jacket alongside use of QEDs unique ‘Tri-Conductortm‘ technology that reduces signal to ground capacitance to vanishingly low levels.
Shipping
Most orders ship within 1–3 business days. We deliver across Canada. Large items such as speakers and TVs may require freight shipping — our team will contact you to arrange delivery.
Returns
We accept returns within 30 days of delivery for unused items in original packaging. Contact us at support@HomeAutomationDesigns.com to initiate a return.
Installation Services
Professional installation available in the Ontario GTA & Hamilton area and Edmonton, Alberta. Our certified technicians ensure your system is set up correctly and working perfectly. Contact us to book a consultation.
XLR 40 is designed primarily for low jitter as this has been identified by QED as a major factor which leads to a high fidelity experience. Further steps have been taken to eliminate minute timing errors in the cable by the use of a special floating Zn/Mn ferrite jacket alongside use of QEDs unique ‘Tri-Conductortm‘ technology that reduces signal to ground capacitance to vanishingly low levels.
- 99.999% Silver Plated Oxygen Free Copper 24 AWG Tri-Conductors With Foamed PE Dielectric
- Unique Floating Zn/Mn Impregnated Ferrite Jacket
- 99.999% OFC Outer Shield Braid For 100% Electrostatic Screening
- High Performance Gold Plated Neutrik XLR Connectors With Low Contact Resistance And High Signal Integrity
- Ultra Low Jitter
- Conductor Section 0.25 mm2
- Characteristic Impedance 110 Ohm Nominal
- Dissipation Factor@10kHz 0.0001
- Nominal Outside Diameter 8 mm
Award Winning Heritage
Reference XLR 40 builds on the multi-award winning Audio 40 range of products, now available in XLR form. QED have joined forces with world renowned professional audio connector supplier Neutrik (UK) to bring you an innovative new XLR balanced interconnect cable with legendary build quality and reliability.
Professional Standard Neutrik Plugs
Neutrik XX-14 Nickel Series XLR gold plated connectors are provided as standard with Reference XLR 40 cables. These connectors are rugged and reliable and are the connector of choice for audio professionals around the world. They are particularly suited to QED’s Tri-ConductorTM geometry due to the additional ground spring contacts which make for better shell ground continuity for the unique electrostatic screen which is only connected at the source end of the cable.
Just Listen
Silver plated conductors, LDPE dielectrics and legendary build quality combine to create audible sonic improvements. We urge you to compare Reference XLR 40 not only to your favourite cable but also alternative brands and models at any price!
Floating Ferrite Jacket
Absorbs high frequency noise signal components outside the audio band. When measured using high frequency measurement equipment, Audio 40 products convey a comparably cleaner and tighter signal pattern when its special Zn/Mn ferrite jacket is present. This has a beneficial effect on audio signal micro-timing, reducing digital jitter and timing errors to an ultra low level.
Unique Tri-Conductor Technology
QEDs unique Tri-Conductor technology uses a third Silver plated 99.999% OFC conductor which is integrally twisted alongside the similarly constructed signal pair to carry the ground return currents. This reduces signal to ground capacitance to vanishingly low levels affording the cable improved common mode rejection of mains hum pickup over ordinary “hot cold and screen” cables. This geometry is particularly effective in pro hi-fi audio applications when connecting pre and power amps using balanced cables or high end streamers to DACs using digital XLR AES/EBU.
Q What is the QED Reference XLR 40 Digital cable and what is it used for?
It's a balanced digital XLR interconnect cable engineered for low jitter performance, designed to minimize timing errors for a cleaner digital audio signal.
Q What are the conductors made of?
99.999% silver-plated oxygen-free copper, 24 AWG tri-conductors, with a foamed polyethylene dielectric.
Q How does it shield against noise?
A 99.999% OFC outer shield braid providing 100% electrostatic screening, plus a floating zinc/manganese ferrite jacket that absorbs high-frequency noise.
Q What are its electrical specs?
A conductor cross-section of 0.25mm², a nominal characteristic impedance of 110 ohms, and a dissipation factor of 0.0001 at 10kHz.
Q What connectors does it use, and what lengths are available?
Gold-plated Neutrik XX-14 XLR connectors with low contact resistance, available in 0.6 meter, 1 meter, 3 meter, or 50 meter lengths.






