Representing yet another stride forward in analogue interconnect design from the original specialist cable company, the QED Reference Audio 40 Phono Pair builds on the success of the first generation Analoc low eddy current design by entirely removing all conductive material from the plug bodies for superior transparency, timing and audio signal integrity.
The Reference Audio 40 remains the ultimate upgrade from budget interconnects for a cleaner, more detailed and dynamic sonic performance.
Engineering pedigree
QED has been designing and engineering superior analogue and digital cables for over 45 years. Its new Reference Audio 40 cable is informed by the company’s exhaustive research into cable design since 1995.
All-new Analoc2 design
The Reference Audio 40 Analoc2 design still features low bulk, high purity copper connectors alongside low mass metal barrels. It now cleverly substitutes high rigidity thermoplastic material for both the inner support structure and the cable strain relief to eliminate the detrimental effects of eddy currents.
Although already smaller than in traditional bulk brass plugs, these unfavourable currents were still able to circulate weakly in the isolated metal body of the previous plug design. Now, with the new material in place, these remnant resonant distortions are unable to adversely affect the information contained in the audio signal as it travels through the new plug.
To complete the Reference Audio 40 RCA plug’s Analoc2 upgrade and to help combat the skin effect, the hollow, gold (or rhodium) plated, high-purity copper signal-pins are retained, while the effectiveness of the slip ring which locks in place the similarly plated, pure copper ground-terminal as the barrels are tightened, has also been improved.
Ferrite cord insulation
A Zn/Mn Ferrite jacket within the cordage absorbs very high-frequency noise components outside of the audible band that adversely affect the micro-timing of the audio signal. When measured at very high frequencies, Reference Audio 40 cables exhibit cleaner signal transmission than standard audio interconnects.
Further protection for the Silver-Plated 99.999% Oxygen-Free Copper (SPOFC) conductors comes in the form of a low-loss, low-density, dielectric foam Polyethylene (LDPE) inner jacket that minimises electrical energy loss in the cable insulation, which can have a detrimental effect on the fidelity of the sound compared with cheaper PVC alternatives.
Technical specification
- Analoc2 plug with inner high rigidity thermoplastic material
- Silver Plated 99.999% Oxygen Free Copper (SPOFC) conductors with LDPE dielectric
- Asymmetrical twisted pair geometry
- OFC shield giving 100% electromagnetic screening
- Zn/Mn ferrite Jacket
- Gold plated updated QED Analoc2 RCA plugs
- Parallel Capacitance: 76 pF/m
- Inductance: 0.37 μH/m
- Loop resistance: 0.072 Ω/m
- Dissipation Factor: 0.0059
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