British audio specialists QED has been designing and engineering superior AV cables for nearly five decades and is considered the original cable brand, with its QED 79 strand cable, released in 1976, widely recognised as the world’s first “specialist” speaker cable – a product that demonstrated how cables could have a tangible impact on audio performance. Since then, the company has used extensive scientific research and computer-aided design techniques to ensure its products remain at the very cutting edge of technology. That rich heritage and constant drive for innovation underpins QED’s latest products. All cables deliver an enhanced sonic performance without compromising on their competitive price points.
The Art of
Acoustic Excellence
For over 50 years, QED has engineered cables that faithfully bridge your equipment to your ears — combining rigorous physics, proprietary technology, and premium materials into every connection.
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Supremus Zr
Golden Anniversary XT
Active Optical HDMI
Genesis Silver Spiral
Reference Ethernet
Where Science
Meets Sound
Founded in 1973 in the United Kingdom, QED — Quality Every Detail — has dedicated more than five decades to a single pursuit: designing cables that transmit your music and video exactly as intended.
QED engineers apply physics, materials science, and meticulous measurement to every product decision. From impedance management and skin-effect reduction to jitter suppression and electromagnetic shielding, nothing is assumed — everything is proven. The result is a range of cables that have earned consistent recognition from the world's leading hi-fi publications.
Offered across three performance tiers — Performance, Reference, and Signature — QED ensures there is a scientifically superior cable for every system, every budget, and every listener.
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The QED Difference
Every QED cable is the result of decades of scientific research, proprietary engineering, and an uncompromising commitment to sonic and visual fidelity.
Scientific Precision
Physics and materials science drive every design decision at QED. From impedance matching to skin-effect management, every parameter is measured, modelled, and verified in-house.
Award-Winning Performance
Consistently praised by the world's leading hi-fi press, QED products are described as delivering "near total transparency — the mark of an award-winner." Their cables compete with products costing many times the price.
Lifetime Guarantee
QED backs its craftsmanship with a lifetime guarantee on select products, giving you the confidence that your investment will faithfully serve your system for decades to come.
Premium Materials
From 99.999% oxygen-free copper and silver-plated conductors to cryogenically treated wire and borosilicate glass fibers, QED selects materials that preserve signal integrity across the full audio spectrum.
Complete System Coverage
Speaker cables, RCA & XLR interconnects, HDMI, optical, USB, and Ethernet — QED covers every connection in a modern hi-fi or home cinema system from a single, trusted source.
Future-Proof Engineering
8K/60Hz HDMI 2.1, 40G Ethernet CAT 8.1, USB high-resolution audio to DSD512, and 48Gbps optical HDMI — QED cables are built for the technology of today and tomorrow.
Three Lines. One Standard.
From the value-conscious audiophile to the most discerning enthusiast, QED's three tiers are each precision-engineered to maximize performance at every price point.
Performance
The Performance range delivers exceptional fidelity without compromise on value. Award-winning technologies like X-Tube™ speaker cables, Complementary Conductor interconnects, and Ferrite Insulation™ digital cables make this line the ideal starting point for any serious audio setup.
XT25 Speaker Cable
Audio 40i Cable
Optical HDMI 48Gbps
Reference
The Reference line represents QED's pursuit of near-perfect signal transparency. Advanced technologies — Glasscore™ optical fibers, Analoc2™ low eddy-current connectors, X-Tube™ Plus speaker geometry, and Class I CAT 8.1 Ethernet — extract every last detail from your recordings.
Golden Anniversary XT
Optical Quartz
Audio 40 Cable
Signature
The Signature collection is QED's magnum opus — cables that function as true audio components. Cryogenically treated silver-plated conductors, zirconia ceramic plugs, rhodium plating, and Aircore™ hollow-tube geometry deliver a listening experience that must be heard to be believed.
Supremus Zr
Genesis Silver Spiral
Audio 40 Cable
QED Technologies
Each technology QED develops solves a specific measurable problem in signal transmission — resulting in cables that perform demonstrably better, not just marginally.
X-Tube™ Plus Technology
Used in QED speaker cables, this hollow tubular conductor design addresses the skin effect by removing conductive material from the centre — where high-frequency current density would otherwise decrease. The result is an even, consistent frequency response across the full audible range, combining X-Tube™ geometry with Aircore™ dielectric.
Analoc2™ Plug Design
QED's revolutionary low eddy-current RCA connector eliminates all conductive material from the plug body, replacing it with a thermoplastic support. This removes a significant source of signal distortion found in conventional connectors, delivering measurably superior transparency, timing accuracy, and overall audio integrity.
Ferrite Insulation™ Technology
A floating Zn/Mn ferrite jacket surrounds the cable conductors, absorbing high-frequency electromagnetic interference outside the audio band. This technology reduces jitter by approximately 50% versus comparable cables without a ferrite jacket — directly improving clarity, dynamics, and timing in both analogue and digital applications.
Airloc™ Forté Cold-Weld Termination
QED's cold-weld banana plug technology creates a permanent metallurgical bond between conductor and plug — no solder, no oxide layer, no resistance creep. By increasing contact area and eliminating the most common point of long-term connection degradation, Airloc™ plugs maintain optimal conductivity for the lifetime of the cable.
Glasscore™ Optical Technology
QED Reference optical cables use 210 individual borosilicate glass fibers, providing over 150MHz bandwidth and just 1/10th the attenuation of conventional acrylic fibers. The result is ultra-low jitter digital transmission with loss below 0.03 dB/m — supporting 24-bit/192kHz audio and making Glasscore™ the reference standard for TOSLINK connections.
Complementary Conductor Technology™
Applied to QED analogue interconnects and subwoofer cables, this system uses two conductors of different diameters carrying the same audio signal. High-frequency components travel through an alternative pathway, preserving the rhythm, pace, timing, and tonal accuracy of the musical performance with exceptional fidelity.
Featured Products
A handpicked selection from across all three QED lines — from everyday connections to flagship performance cables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about QED cables, their technologies, and how to find the perfect connection for your system.
What is QED and where are they based?
What is the difference between the Performance, Reference, and Signature lines?
Performance — Entry to mid-range cables engineered for real-world value. Award-winning technologies like X-Tube™ and Ferrite Insulation™ are built into accessible price points, making this the ideal starting range for a serious hi-fi setup.
Reference — Mid to high-range cables featuring advanced technologies including Glasscore™ borosilicate optical fibers, Analoc2™ low eddy-current connectors, X-Tube™ Plus speaker geometry, and Class I CAT 8.1 Ethernet. A significant step up in resolution and signal transparency.
Signature — QED's flagship range. Cryogenically treated silver-plated conductors, zirconia ceramic connectors, rhodium plating, and Aircore™ hollow-tube geometry place Signature cables in a class of their own as true audio components.