What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Best optical digital cable, Awards 2012. Fantastic value for money.
Pros
- +
Accurate and competent
Cons
- -
Nothing at this price
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Optical cables are key in various audio set-ups, from Sky+HD 5.1 sound to digital music, and in our experience you can buy better quality than a free bundled wire.
The Performance Graphite is a well-made cable, with a flexible but tough body, and beautiful, high-quality plugs. The sound it conveys is versatile and balanced, equally adept at expressing bass and treble.
This sturdy little cable worked well with our reference CD and DAC set-up, allowing them to reveal verve and punch when needed, together with transparency and a pleasing sense of detail.
With both movies and music, we heard improvements in system sound when using the QED, including greater detail and dynamics
Play Rodrigo y Gabriela’s Hora Zero and delicate nylon strings are pronounced and authoritative, while drums pack a visceral punch. It is also startlingly clear, conveying a real sense of texture and painting a detailed aural picture.
And the price is great for the quality. That's why it's won awards two years in a row.
