What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Best speaker cable, Awards 2014. An exceptional performer and a natural upgrade from a beginner’s cable
Pros
- +
Hugely detailed
- +
Wonderfully balanced
- +
Expressive midrange
Cons
- -
Nothing
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.
This new QED cable might be a touch pricier than the average cable we test, but if you can stretch to its £10/m price, then we recommend buying it.
MORE: Awards 2014 - Best accessories
Performance
The XT40 builds on the British company’s XT range, and consists of sturdy plugs at either end of a strong, yet pliable jacket. Looks don’t necessarily reflect its price, but not to worry – performance more than makes up for that.
Our reference system sounds lavishly detailed with the XT40 cable wired in: its delivery is transparent and beautifully balanced. With The Smiths' Well I Wonder, it picks out the subtle difference between the acoustic guitars.
Cymbals have zing, but never teeter on brightness, and there’s depth and tightness to the underlying bass guitar too. The QED unearths plenty of variation in these notes compared with last year’s Award-winning AudioQuest FLX-SLiP 14/4.
Its full-bodied presentation with our system makes the AudioQuest sound a little lean in comparison, too.
Morrissey’s soothing baritone vocals make their mark, striking a nice balance between expression and solidity.
Verdict
The QED XT40 is a special cable – detailed, balanced and authoritative, and we think it’s worth every penny. Go treat your system.
