QED Performance XT25 Speaker Cable (Pair) (2 metres)

Product Information

QED’s innovative proprietary X-Tube™ technology means the XT40i exhibits less distortion at high frequencies than standard speaker cables, improving overall performance through a level of timing and imaging usually found on much more expensive cables. As frequency increases, electrons flow more and more towards the periphery of a conductor so that if the frequency is high enough only a very thin layer (or skin) on the outside of the conductor is used. This “skin depth” varies for different materials at a fixed frequency and in copper it means that if a conductor has larger than 0.66 mm2 cross-sectional area not all of that area is available for an analogue music signal to use. In SAXT the “skin effect” problem was effectively eliminated by the use of X-Tube™ Technology which works by placing all of the conducting material around a central hollow insulating rod. However, for a.c. signals, changing magnetic fields generated by the flow of current set up eddy currents in nearby conductors which force current to flow only in areas furthest away from conductors carrying current in the same direction and vice versa. I got a bit of a surprise. Regardless of which amp I used, the Monitor SE 3000Fs sounded not worse than the Lintons, but merely different, particularly at the frequency extremes; overall, their sound quality was just as good. The Paradigms’ bass output couldn’t flex the walls as could the Lintons’ -- as I mention in my July article, the SE 3000F’s low end goes off the cliff at about 50Hz -- and their highs were noticeably tipped up, which to some might sound a little bright. This meant that the Linton Heritages sounded a little more neutral throughout the audioband than the Paradigms, fuller in the low bass, and a bit more pleasant overall because of their more neutral highs. But the Paradigms sounded more detailed in the midrange, and a bit more transparent overall -- they projected the sound more openly, particularly voices, which sprang more freely into the room. This openness, combined with their slightly tipped-up highs, naturally made the 3000Fs sound slightly more spacious and more resolving of details. Finally, I don’t know which speaker would win an all-out loudness war, but a pair of 3000Fs could, like a pair of Lintons, play louder than anyone will likely need them to. (Still, if their sensitivity specifications are equally accurate, the Paradigm will need more power to do this than will the Wharfedale.)

Triple magnet screening and 24K gold plugs makes our Performance USB A-Mini B the best in its class.

Awards

At Peter Tyson we pride ourselves on prompt, efficient delivery. Please note that the daily cut off time for all next day delivery services is 3pm. Audiophiles aside, most people are not keen on spending a chunk of money on cables and they are justified. Unless you are a music aficionado, you will not notice the subtle change in audio quality as a result of the wires. However, the QED Reference XT40i is an exception, and the audio quality produced as a result of it is unmistakable. It is not generally appreciated that the electrical signals moving at or near the speed of light in a wire do so via the medium of electromagnetic (EM) waveforms which exist within the dielectric which surrounds the conductors as well as within the conductors themselves. The movement of electrons along the conductor merely facilitates generation of the EM waveform as their “drift velocity” is only a few centimetres per second. It is therefore important to ensure that the dielectric material used to insulate and protect the central conductors of the speaker cable is of a type which “permits” the establishment of EM waveforms without appreciable loss. Dielectric losses are directly proportional to the “permittivity” of the material used and as this a measure of each material relative to that in a vacuum it should be as close to unity as possible. Like its predecessors, XT25 uses a specially formulated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) dielectric which at 1.69 has the lowest relative permittivity practically available. QED research has shown that low capacitance cables are generally preferred in listening tests over high capacitance counterparts and this is usually because low-loss dielectrics have been utilised. The use of LDPE and careful control of conductor spacing results in a cable with a very low capacitance per meter and a dissipation factor (loss tangent) of 0.0001 at 10 kHz. What is the result of all these techniques? A prime cause of high-frequency attenuation, high inductance leads to a rise in impedance with frequency, reducing output in the upper frequency range. Low-Loss Dielectric

In loudspeaker cables high pitched sounds are forced to travel towards the outside of the conductor and so are able to use less and less of the available cross-sectional area as the pitch increases. This is called the “Skin Effect”. It means that for high frequencies the resistance of the cable appears to be much higher than it does for lower pitched sounds. Eddy currents in one conductor can affect the current flowing in an adjacent conductor so that currents flowing in the same direction move away from each other. This “Proximity Effect” also increases resistance as frequency increases. These phenomena have a detrimental effect on the fidelity of the sound you hear. The XT25 variation of QED X-Tube™ Technology solves these problems by creating a hollow tubular conductor geometry out of individual conductor bunches through which each frequency can pass with equal ease when compared to traditional solid or stranded conductors. Or if not, then the creeping of a bow across the strings of a cello, or the excess air as it breezes through the mouthpiece of a tenor sax. X-Tube technology first came to prominence in 2005 with the launch of the world renowned Silver Anniversary XT, the most highly awarded mid-range cable in the world, winning the What Hi-Fi Product of the Year three years in a row. These design principles also grace the multiple award winning XT40 speaker cable and XT25. AB31, AB32, AB33, AB34, AB35, AB36, AB37, AB38, AB41, AB42, AB43, AB44, AB45, AB46, AB47, AB48, AB49, AB50, AB51, AB52, AB53, AB54, AB55, AB56 On some very exotic Stereo systems there may be an argument that some Spk cables with fancy electronic filtering will 'change' the way you hear your Source - other than that as long as the cable you employ can cope with the current your amp is outputting its very hard to prove a cable will make a difference to the sound you hear.

QED XT25 Speaker Cable - Custom Length

The XT40i has improved on an already successful cable by designing a groundbreaking Air Gap dielectric construction, according to the company. We are told that this reduces the cable's dissipation factor and capacitance by half. The promised result is vastly improved musical timing, a wider soundstage and improved bass control over its predecessor. With the Chord cable plumbed-in, our reference hi-fi system delivers a crisp, clean and dynamic presentation, just as before. But the bass performance is tauter, the top end is more refined and there's an ounce more subtlety. We’re impressed at the musically cohesive nature of the sound and the way our systems render subtle dynamic shifts with such finesse. It's not essential to upgrade if you already own the previous RumourX cables, but if they're looking a bit worn, the 2022 version will give your system a decent performance lift. Any extended warranties offered by Peter Tyson are free. We do not include any form of insurance terms such as accidental damage or loan equipment cover. We loved the more expensive XT40 for precisely the same characteristics shown by the XT25 – and that’s the mark of a manufacturer that knows its identity. At 2 metres each, these terminated cables are ideal for desktop and smaller rooms and when your hi-fi is between the speakers. With the plugs already fitted, simply plug in and go.

This new bi-wire version of the XT25 speaker cable delivers “enhanced rhythmic accuracy and musicality” with the X-Quad geometry lowering inductance to reveal more detail. Additionally, QED's proprietary X-Tube technology “enables each frequency to pass with equal ease for a more balanced sound while improving timing and stereo imaging”. The graph below shows how the dc resistance of XT25 remains effectively unchanged across the entire audible frequency band when compared to a conventional cable of the same cross-sectional area. Combined with the sonic advantages of a low loss dielectric the improvements in current distribution place the new cable in a class well above cables with a less sophisticated geometry. X-Tube™ technology first came to prominence in 2005 with the launch of the world renowned Silver Anniversary XT, the most highly regarded mid-range cable in the world, winning the What Hi-Fi Product of the Year three years in a row. These design principles also grace the multiple award winning XT40 speaker cable and XT25. There are no best audio cables per se. It depends on how they are built and the wire quality. You should consider three main properties when choosing a cable. They are capacitance, inductance, and resistance. Wire performance also depends on the environment, like extremely high and cold temperatures.Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 29th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) It speaks about an improved sense of timing as well, and there is a definite eye for accuracy alongside attention to detail about the way our system performs with these cables plugged in. Nothing is allowed to slip, with notes and percussion hit with precision and intention. It isn’t as though previous efforts have been altogether imprecise, but there is an unerring confidence about the way our speakers play here. As a general rule of thumb, we'd recommend setting aside 10-15 per cent of the total cost of your system for all cables. In the case of a hi-fi set-up, you'll be looking at analogue interconnects, speaker cables and, potentially, a digital optical or coaxial cable depending on the sources you're using. So you'll want to dedicate a share of this to a pair of suitable speaker cables. It depends on the user. While some argue that expensive cables do not affect the overall music quality, others proclaim to have experienced a significant auditory enhancement when using them. But costly does tend to shine when it comes to longevity.

This kind of transparency is difficult for rivals to match.” ‘What Hi-Fi? magazine’. 5-star review. The Wharfedale Linton Heritage is a budget gem in a class of its own, at a price low enough that many can afford. Nice work, Wharfedale, in bringing to the masses a great-sounding speaker with a great retro look. It's incremental changes throughout, but all of these add up to a fine performance upgrade at this price. Designer Peter Comeau, acoustic director of all IAG brands, took advantage of the lower-than-usual baffle-step frequency of a wider-than-usual baffle to increase the Linton Heritage’s overall sensitivity. Wharfedale claims for the Linton Heritage a sensitivity of 90dB/2.83V/m, when modern, narrow-baffled speakers typically fall within a range of 86-88dB. Speaker sensitivity is important: Each increase in speaker output of 3dB requires a doubling of amplifier power; the higher a speaker’s sensitivity, the more easily it can be driven by low-powered amps.The cable also uses AudioQuest’s Noise Dissipation System, which is essentially specially designed layers of shielding that reduce the impact of RF (Radio Frequency) interference and EMI (Electromagnetic Interference). QED is an award winning British company with over 40 years of experience in the audio-visual connectivity industry. Then there’s the baffle. As far as I know, an inset baffle offers no benefit at all. It may look cool -- the Linton Heritage’s baffle is attractively framed by the cabinet’s edges -- but those edges create a nightmare of diffraction. Diffraction happens when a driver’s soundwaves, as they traverse the baffle, meet an obstruction such as a raised edge -- they bounce off these obstructions, to then interfere with the initial, undiffracted soundwaves now directly emerging from the driver. Depending on how the diffracted soundwaves interact with the direct wavelaunch, it can often cause a visible spike or dip in the frequency response. An alternative to optical, our premium digital coaxial cables use a specially designed cable cordage and unique plug design to achieve the precise signal characteristics required for high resolution and multi-channel audio. USB A-B