QED Reference Ethernet Cable
Usage Guide
Computers
Playstation
Projector
TVs
XBOX
Streamers
Routers
Connection Guide
Ethernet Plug
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Item code: QED Reference Ethernet Cable
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SPEAKER CABLES:
A quantity of 2 means you will receive a pair of speaker cables e.g. for your front left and front right speakers. By entering a quantity of 1, you will get a cable for a single speaker e.g. centre speaker and this option also enables you to vary the length (and termination) of your cable for each speaker.
OTHER CABLES:
A quantity of 1 means you will receive a single cable in the case of aerial, satellite, subwoofer, digital coaxial & optical cables and a pair of cables in the case of 2 rca to 2 rca analogue audio cables.
NON-CABLE PRODUCTS:
A quantity of 1 means you will receive 1 of the specified products.
Order before 4pm (Mon–Fri) for same-day dispatch
QED Reference Ethernet Cable
This high-performance cable has been specifically designed to deliver the best possible audio quality for high-resolution digital music. With the ability to support up to 32 bit/384 kHz or DSD512 quality, this cable is ideal for audiophiles who demand the highest level of sound quality from their audio equipment.
The cable complies with the Class I Category 8.1 standard, ensuring that it can handle even the most demanding applications. It supports 40G Ethernet, providing a fast and reliable connection for streaming high-quality audio content.
To ensure the best possible sound quality, the cable features ferrite insulation, low-loss dielectric, and gold-plated Telegärtner plugs. These components work together to deliver ultra-low jitter, resulting in a clean and clear sound that is true to the original recording.
The cable also features 99.999% OFC, 24 AWG conductors with customized twist rates to reduce inter-pair cross-talk. This further improves the audio signal quality, ensuring that every detail of the music is faithfully reproduced.
Finally, the cable features a stylish White Pearl finish that will complement any high-end audio system. With its superior performance and design, this cable is the perfect choice for those who demand the best possible sound quality from their high-resolution digital music.
What QED Say
QED introduces its new Reference Ethernet cable, providing the most accurate and stable connection between your high-resolution digital audio streamer and local network. Unlike most CAT5e's that only have an 150MHz bandwidth, the Reference Ethernet is a Class I Category 8.1 patch cable with a bandwidth of 2000 MHz, the ability to support 40G Ethernet and can accomodate 32bit/384 kHz hi-res PCM streams, having the headroom to cope with even the most data-intensive applications.
QED have been designing and engineering superior analogue and digital cables for more than 45 years and using this knowledge they have been able to produce the Reference Ethernet that avoids timing errors from cross-talk between cable pairs, ensures there is enough bandwidth for Hi Res data rates all while minimising insertion losses usually caused by poor contact quality and impedance matching.
Features
- Specifically designed for high-resolution audio up to 32 bit/384 kHz or DSD512 quality
- Complies with Class I Category 8.1 standard
- Supports 40G Ethernet
- Ferrite insulation, low-loss dielectric and gold-plated Telegärtner plugs combine to deliver ultra-low jitter
- 99.999% OFC, 24 AWG conductors with customised twist rates for lower inter-pair cross-talk
- Stylish White Pearl finish
Design
By twisting the 24AWG 99.999% OFC copper conductors together, the cables swap between which is nearest to the noise signal once per twist. In this way the noise signal becomes the same in each conductor - common mode rejection reaches nearly 100% and the noise is eliminated. The four twisted pairs have different twist rates which cut down on cross talk between pairs and contrivutes to ultra-low jitter performance. Low jitter or timing error performance of the cable is the main parameter which allows it to operate at speeds up to 40 Gb/s. Each pair has a Myler wrap around it to help maintain the 100 Ohm impedance, required by the CAT 8 standard. Unique to QED, a ferrite impregnated inner jacket shields the high bit-rate signals from external high frequency noise which can contribute to loss of signal bandwidth. To maintain low insertion loss, the Reference Ethernet has gold-plated Telegärtner plugs with 360 degree shielded die-cast bodies and high torque cable glands. Finally, the cable is finished in pearl white PVC to complement hi-end audio products.
Twisted Pairs
Ethernet uses differential signalling to counteract outside interference. The receiving equipment measures the difference signal between the two wires and rejects any component of the signal that is equal but not opposite (i.e. common mode). Any noise signals electrically or magnetically coupled to the data signal affect each conductor equally thus they arrive at the receiver in common mode and are rejected. However, if the noise signal is in close proximity to the signal cables it is inevitable that one of the conductors will lie closer to the noise source than the other so that the induced noise signal is not the same for each conductor. In this instance the common mode rejection is not perfect and some of the noise is transmitted to the receiving equipment. By twisting the conductors together the cables swap between which is nearest to the noise signal once per twist. In this way the noise signal becomes the same in each conductor – common mode rejection reaches nearly 100% and the noise is eliminated.
If more than one twisted pair is present in a single data bundle (such as in ethernet cabling) then the conductors of adjacent pairs become a source of noise and can lie alongside each other for some distance partially undoing the effect of common mode rejection afforded by the twisting of the conductors. Therefore, in Reference Ethernet cables we specify that the twist rate or pitch of the conductor pairs should be dissimilar to counteract this spoiling effect and reinforce the inherent common mode rejection characteristics of the differential signalling system.
Insertion Loss
Insertion loss refers to the loss of signal strength at the far end of a line compared to the signal that was introduced into the line. This loss is due to the electrical impedance of the copper cable, the loss of energy through the cable insulation and the impedance caused by the connectors. Insertion loss is usually expressed in decibels dB with a minus sign. Insertion loss increases with distance and frequency. For every 3 dB of loss, the original signal will be half the original power. Due to its accurate characteristic impedance, Reference Ethernet exceeds the requirement for CAT 8 insertion loss by up to 20 dB.
TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer)
Any impedance mismatch between the cable and the source or sink will cause the signal to be reflected back and forth – this is known as return loss. In the graph below, the reflected signal is shown by the peaks at the near end and far end of the correctly terminated cable. Ideally, no peaks would be seen, showing that all of the energy has been delivered to the load. In practice it is very difficult to get higher than 90% of the signal delivered to the load, which is why a very small reflection can still be seen in the graph.
Reference Ethernet TDR Fluke DSX 8000 CAT 8 Cable Analyzer
Even so, due to its precision-engineered Telegärtner plugs, Reference Ethernet exceeds the returns loss demanded by CAT 8 by 3.2 dB. Attenuation-to-Crosstalk ratio (ACR) indicates how much stronger the attenuated signal is than the crosstalk at the destination. Reference Ethernet exhibits an ACR figure up to 25 dB better then the requirement of the CAT 8 standard.
Reference Ethernet Return Loss Fluke DSX 8000 CAT 8 Cable Analyzer
Specification
- Outside Diameter: 9 mm
- Colour: White Pearl
- Plugs: Telegärtner Profinet CAT 8
- Construction: F/FTP
- Conductor size: 24 AWG
- Characteristic Impedance: 100 ohm
- Patch Cable Category: Class I CAT 8.1
- Maximum Bandwidth 2000 MHz
- Maximum bit-rate: 40 Gb/s
Transmission Characteristics CAT 8 Test Pass Margins*:
- Insertion Loss 20 dB
- Return Loss 3.2 dB
- NEXT 11.3 dB
- ACR-F 8.3 dB
*Indicates at least how much better than the CAT 8 standard the cable measured.
About QED Cables 
QED is an award-winning British company with over 40 years of experience in the audio-visual connectivity industry.
In 1973 Bob Abraham and Ian Vine founded QED Audio Products and changed the way people think about hi-fi cables. By the time QED 79 strand speaker cable was launched in 1978, it wasn’t looked upon as ‘just another speaker cable’ but was instead regarded as a serious hi-fi component, making a fundamental change in the way people thought about cables.
QED's reputation for innovation and technical excellence is known throughout the world. The latest computer-aided design techniques allow their research and development team to keep pace with technological advances and deliver products that achieve the highest levels of performance and reliability. This is why QED products are recommended by so many of the world’s leading hi-fi and home theatre equipment manufacturers.
QED offers a range of connectivity products from consumer and installation cables, wireless products and switching devices to satisfy every audio visual need.
QED is Europe's number one award-winning connectivity brand and has won more prestigious cable awards from ‘What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision’ magazine than any other brand (Awards 1981–2013).
About QED Cables
British cable maker covering speaker, analogue, HDMI and digital cables, plus speaker and network cable for installers.
QED is a British company that makes connection products for audio and video systems. The catalogue covers speaker, analogue, XLR, phono, subwoofer, USB, optical, coaxial, Ethernet and HDMI cables, and mains cables. For installers it offers the QX16 series speaker cable and a CAT network cable.
Read more about QED Show less
Installer products for longer runs
QED's main installer products are the QX16 series speaker cable and its CAT network cable. Both suit cable that has to be run through a house or a room rather than a short link between two components, which is the job the rest of the range covers.
A full set of digital and video connections
For digital and video connections, QED makes HDMI cables, USB cables in A-B and A-Micro B formats, and optical, coaxial and Ethernet cables. That covers most of the digital connections in a modern system, from a streamer to a TV.
Analogue connections from one maker
For the analogue side of a system, QED makes speaker cables, analogue interconnects, XLR and phono cables, subwoofer cables and mains cables. That gives you the connections between your source, amplifier and speakers, and the power feeding them, from a single British maker.
Why we stock QED
QED was one of the first brands we ever ordered, back in 2005 when we started. We have sold them every year since. Twenty-one years with one brand tells you something about how few of them come back, and QED still sit at the price point where most good systems begin.
Specification
- Outside Diameter: 9 mm
- Colour: White Pearl
- Plugs: Telegärtner Profinet CAT 8
- Construction: F/FTP
- Conductor size: 24 AWG
- Characteristic Impedance: 100 ohm
- Patch Cable Category: Class I CAT 8.1
- Maximum Bandwidth 2000 MHz
- Maximum bit-rate: 40 Gb/s
Transmission Characteristics CAT 8 Test Pass Margins*:
- Insertion Loss 20 dB
- Return Loss 3.2 dB
- NEXT 11.3 dB
- ACR-F 8.3 dB
*Indicates at least how much better than the CAT 8 standard the cable measured.
We use Royal Mail 1st Class services for our Standard Delivery.
Orders received before 4.30 pm Monday to Friday are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. This does not apply to custom-length cables and speaker cables as these require a longer timescale to terminate. This also excludes all cables selected for the burn-in service. Please note, we do not process orders on national holidays in the UK. Over 98% of our orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays. In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Future Shop. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD Local or DHL for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order subject to stock availability. For international orders, we use FedEx or DHL services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths may be subject to longer deliver time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at Future Shop
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
UK Postal & Delivery Charges - FIRST CLASS
Free UK delivery on all orders over £99*
| Weight | Price (FIRST CLASS UK POSTAGE) |
| 0g - 1000g | £3.95 |
| 1000g - 1400g | £4.95 |
| 1400g - 1800g | £5.95 |
| 1800g - 2000g | £6.95 |
| 2000g - 3000g | £8.95 |
* Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL.
Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are not subject to 20% VAT after December 31st 2020 and therefore the 20% VAT on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
The customer will be liable for the VAT at the local VAT rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee if applicable. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 5 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7-10 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the UK are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
If applicable, the customer will be liable for the taxes at the local tax rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7 to 10 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability
- Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets at our discretion
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
Frequently Asked Questions
QED Reference Ethernet Cable
This high-performance cable has been specifically designed to deliver the best possible audio quality for high-resolution digital music. With the ability to support up to 32 bit/384 kHz or DSD512 quality, this cable is ideal for audiophiles who demand the highest level of sound quality from their audio equipment.
The cable complies with the Class I Category 8.1 standard, ensuring that it can handle even the most demanding applications. It supports 40G Ethernet, providing a fast and reliable connection for streaming high-quality audio content.
To ensure the best possible sound quality, the cable features ferrite insulation, low-loss dielectric, and gold-plated Telegärtner plugs. These components work together to deliver ultra-low jitter, resulting in a clean and clear sound that is true to the original recording.
The cable also features 99.999% OFC, 24 AWG conductors with customized twist rates to reduce inter-pair cross-talk. This further improves the audio signal quality, ensuring that every detail of the music is faithfully reproduced.
Finally, the cable features a stylish White Pearl finish that will complement any high-end audio system. With its superior performance and design, this cable is the perfect choice for those who demand the best possible sound quality from their high-resolution digital music.
What QED Say
QED introduces its new Reference Ethernet cable, providing the most accurate and stable connection between your high-resolution digital audio streamer and local network. Unlike most CAT5e's that only have an 150MHz bandwidth, the Reference Ethernet is a Class I Category 8.1 patch cable with a bandwidth of 2000 MHz, the ability to support 40G Ethernet and can accomodate 32bit/384 kHz hi-res PCM streams, having the headroom to cope with even the most data-intensive applications.
QED have been designing and engineering superior analogue and digital cables for more than 45 years and using this knowledge they have been able to produce the Reference Ethernet that avoids timing errors from cross-talk between cable pairs, ensures there is enough bandwidth for Hi Res data rates all while minimising insertion losses usually caused by poor contact quality and impedance matching.
Features
- Specifically designed for high-resolution audio up to 32 bit/384 kHz or DSD512 quality
- Complies with Class I Category 8.1 standard
- Supports 40G Ethernet
- Ferrite insulation, low-loss dielectric and gold-plated Telegärtner plugs combine to deliver ultra-low jitter
- 99.999% OFC, 24 AWG conductors with customised twist rates for lower inter-pair cross-talk
- Stylish White Pearl finish
Design
By twisting the 24AWG 99.999% OFC copper conductors together, the cables swap between which is nearest to the noise signal once per twist. In this way the noise signal becomes the same in each conductor - common mode rejection reaches nearly 100% and the noise is eliminated. The four twisted pairs have different twist rates which cut down on cross talk between pairs and contrivutes to ultra-low jitter performance. Low jitter or timing error performance of the cable is the main parameter which allows it to operate at speeds up to 40 Gb/s. Each pair has a Myler wrap around it to help maintain the 100 Ohm impedance, required by the CAT 8 standard. Unique to QED, a ferrite impregnated inner jacket shields the high bit-rate signals from external high frequency noise which can contribute to loss of signal bandwidth. To maintain low insertion loss, the Reference Ethernet has gold-plated Telegärtner plugs with 360 degree shielded die-cast bodies and high torque cable glands. Finally, the cable is finished in pearl white PVC to complement hi-end audio products.
Twisted Pairs
Ethernet uses differential signalling to counteract outside interference. The receiving equipment measures the difference signal between the two wires and rejects any component of the signal that is equal but not opposite (i.e. common mode). Any noise signals electrically or magnetically coupled to the data signal affect each conductor equally thus they arrive at the receiver in common mode and are rejected. However, if the noise signal is in close proximity to the signal cables it is inevitable that one of the conductors will lie closer to the noise source than the other so that the induced noise signal is not the same for each conductor. In this instance the common mode rejection is not perfect and some of the noise is transmitted to the receiving equipment. By twisting the conductors together the cables swap between which is nearest to the noise signal once per twist. In this way the noise signal becomes the same in each conductor – common mode rejection reaches nearly 100% and the noise is eliminated.
If more than one twisted pair is present in a single data bundle (such as in ethernet cabling) then the conductors of adjacent pairs become a source of noise and can lie alongside each other for some distance partially undoing the effect of common mode rejection afforded by the twisting of the conductors. Therefore, in Reference Ethernet cables we specify that the twist rate or pitch of the conductor pairs should be dissimilar to counteract this spoiling effect and reinforce the inherent common mode rejection characteristics of the differential signalling system.
Insertion Loss
Insertion loss refers to the loss of signal strength at the far end of a line compared to the signal that was introduced into the line. This loss is due to the electrical impedance of the copper cable, the loss of energy through the cable insulation and the impedance caused by the connectors. Insertion loss is usually expressed in decibels dB with a minus sign. Insertion loss increases with distance and frequency. For every 3 dB of loss, the original signal will be half the original power. Due to its accurate characteristic impedance, Reference Ethernet exceeds the requirement for CAT 8 insertion loss by up to 20 dB.
TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer)
Any impedance mismatch between the cable and the source or sink will cause the signal to be reflected back and forth – this is known as return loss. In the graph below, the reflected signal is shown by the peaks at the near end and far end of the correctly terminated cable. Ideally, no peaks would be seen, showing that all of the energy has been delivered to the load. In practice it is very difficult to get higher than 90% of the signal delivered to the load, which is why a very small reflection can still be seen in the graph.
Reference Ethernet TDR Fluke DSX 8000 CAT 8 Cable Analyzer
Even so, due to its precision-engineered Telegärtner plugs, Reference Ethernet exceeds the returns loss demanded by CAT 8 by 3.2 dB. Attenuation-to-Crosstalk ratio (ACR) indicates how much stronger the attenuated signal is than the crosstalk at the destination. Reference Ethernet exhibits an ACR figure up to 25 dB better then the requirement of the CAT 8 standard.
Reference Ethernet Return Loss Fluke DSX 8000 CAT 8 Cable Analyzer
Specification
- Outside Diameter: 9 mm
- Colour: White Pearl
- Plugs: Telegärtner Profinet CAT 8
- Construction: F/FTP
- Conductor size: 24 AWG
- Characteristic Impedance: 100 ohm
- Patch Cable Category: Class I CAT 8.1
- Maximum Bandwidth 2000 MHz
- Maximum bit-rate: 40 Gb/s
Transmission Characteristics CAT 8 Test Pass Margins*:
- Insertion Loss 20 dB
- Return Loss 3.2 dB
- NEXT 11.3 dB
- ACR-F 8.3 dB
*Indicates at least how much better than the CAT 8 standard the cable measured.
About QED Cables
QED is an award-winning British company with over 40 years of experience in the audio-visual connectivity industry.
In 1973 Bob Abraham and Ian Vine founded QED Audio Products and changed the way people think about hi-fi cables. By the time QED 79 strand speaker cable was launched in 1978, it wasn’t looked upon as ‘just another speaker cable’ but was instead regarded as a serious hi-fi component, making a fundamental change in the way people thought about cables.
QED's reputation for innovation and technical excellence is known throughout the world. The latest computer-aided design techniques allow their research and development team to keep pace with technological advances and deliver products that achieve the highest levels of performance and reliability. This is why QED products are recommended by so many of the world’s leading hi-fi and home theatre equipment manufacturers.
QED offers a range of connectivity products from consumer and installation cables, wireless products and switching devices to satisfy every audio visual need.
QED is Europe's number one award-winning connectivity brand and has won more prestigious cable awards from ‘What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision’ magazine than any other brand (Awards 1981–2013).
About QED Cables
British cable maker covering speaker, analogue, HDMI and digital cables, plus speaker and network cable for installers.
QED is a British company that makes connection products for audio and video systems. The catalogue covers speaker, analogue, XLR, phono, subwoofer, USB, optical, coaxial, Ethernet and HDMI cables, and mains cables. For installers it offers the QX16 series speaker cable and a CAT network cable.
Read more about QED Show less
Installer products for longer runs
QED's main installer products are the QX16 series speaker cable and its CAT network cable. Both suit cable that has to be run through a house or a room rather than a short link between two components, which is the job the rest of the range covers.
A full set of digital and video connections
For digital and video connections, QED makes HDMI cables, USB cables in A-B and A-Micro B formats, and optical, coaxial and Ethernet cables. That covers most of the digital connections in a modern system, from a streamer to a TV.
Analogue connections from one maker
For the analogue side of a system, QED makes speaker cables, analogue interconnects, XLR and phono cables, subwoofer cables and mains cables. That gives you the connections between your source, amplifier and speakers, and the power feeding them, from a single British maker.
Why we stock QED
QED was one of the first brands we ever ordered, back in 2005 when we started. We have sold them every year since. Twenty-one years with one brand tells you something about how few of them come back, and QED still sit at the price point where most good systems begin.
Specification
- Outside Diameter: 9 mm
- Colour: White Pearl
- Plugs: Telegärtner Profinet CAT 8
- Construction: F/FTP
- Conductor size: 24 AWG
- Characteristic Impedance: 100 ohm
- Patch Cable Category: Class I CAT 8.1
- Maximum Bandwidth 2000 MHz
- Maximum bit-rate: 40 Gb/s
Transmission Characteristics CAT 8 Test Pass Margins*:
- Insertion Loss 20 dB
- Return Loss 3.2 dB
- NEXT 11.3 dB
- ACR-F 8.3 dB
*Indicates at least how much better than the CAT 8 standard the cable measured.
We use Royal Mail 1st Class services for our Standard Delivery.
Orders received before 4.30 pm Monday to Friday are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. This does not apply to custom-length cables and speaker cables as these require a longer timescale to terminate. This also excludes all cables selected for the burn-in service. Please note, we do not process orders on national holidays in the UK. Over 98% of our orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays. In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Future Shop. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD Local or DHL for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order subject to stock availability. For international orders, we use FedEx or DHL services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths may be subject to longer deliver time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at Future Shop
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
UK Postal & Delivery Charges - FIRST CLASS
Free UK delivery on all orders over £99*
| Weight | Price (FIRST CLASS UK POSTAGE) |
| 0g - 1000g | £3.95 |
| 1000g - 1400g | £4.95 |
| 1400g - 1800g | £5.95 |
| 1800g - 2000g | £6.95 |
| 2000g - 3000g | £8.95 |
* Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or DHL next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or DHL.
Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are not subject to 20% VAT after December 31st 2020 and therefore the 20% VAT on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
The customer will be liable for the VAT at the local VAT rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee if applicable. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 5 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7-10 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the UK are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you log-in, register or proceed to place an order.
If applicable, the customer will be liable for the taxes at the local tax rate, duty on the import and the brokerage service fee. This may need to be paid in advance to your local Customs & Excise office or the delivery company before your order can be delivered.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 7 to 10 working days
- Royal Mail Standard International Mail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability
- Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets at our discretion
We reserve the right to change your shipping method without notification if you select a method that we cannot use for your shipment (for instance, we cannot ship via postal services for items over 2 Kg to International destinations). If we need to change your shipping method, we will choose the least expensive shipping method for your order.
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QED Reference Ethernet Cable
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Highly recommended!
This cable is exceptionally well-made. I like the fact that longer lengths are only a bit more expensive. As it's Cat 8.1 spec., it is future-proofed for the foreseeable. The Telegartner plugs are very high quality, and I've actually used the same Cat 8.1 plugs on a longer DIY cable (Van Damme Tourcat Cat 7) that I made to route from my EE router via the outside of the house and back inside to another English Electric 8Switch in a home office.
I do sense an incremental improvement in the audio-visual performance of my AV set-up, though it's subtle. I would definitely recommend this cable.
Having felt for some time that the quality of streamed music via Qobuz into my Hegel H390 streamer/DAC/amp was lower than that from my CD or vinyl sources, I decided to experiment with the cable between my BT mesh disk (the actual router is too far away from the hi-fi) and the Hegel. As a low-cost punt, I tried out a length of Chord Company’s C-stream Ethernet cable to replace the Cat8 shielded cable I was using (and which I thought would be quite adequate for the job). This brought a welcome uplift in quality, which, pound-for-pound, was a really high value improvement. These improvements were a cleaner top-end (with reduced ‘glare’, more intelligible vocals), better separation of instruments and what I would call a more ‘authoritative’ delivery. Whatever you call them, this was a noticeable uplift in fidelity.
Having been surprised by the improvements from this inexpensive cable (the Chord C-stream, I mean) I wondered whether further improvements could be had from a circa-£200 cable (the £500-and-up cable wasn’t on the table this time around!). With some helpful suggestions from Mark D’Mello, I settled on the QED Reference Ethernet.
So how did this cable fare? Basically, more of the same: better localisation and spatial/depth information, bass notes handled more decisively, vocals more natural and ‘communicative’ with sibilants and ‘glare’ better under control. My last ‘test’ track (‘What Good Am I?) put Tom Jones right in my room with a very realistic bass drum right behind him.
If you’re using an ordinary network cable to feed your streamer (be it Cat5, 6, 7 or 8!) then I doubt you will find a more cost-effective upgrade than this excellent cable. The fact that it is of high-quality manufacture and is terminated with robust Telegärtner plugs is all part of the bonus. Highly recommended.
I liked it so much that I bought a second cable to connect my router to my English Electric 8-switch network switch. I do sense an improvement in the audio-visual performance of my AV set-up, though it's subtle.
I have Chord C-stream ethernet cables in the rest of the system, and I might now do an 'A/B' test on those versus the QED cable to see which is better.
I would definitely recommend this cable.
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Write Your Own Review
QED Reference Ethernet Cable
We are interested in your opinion of this product. let us and other customers know how you feel by filling in the comment field below. Your review will appear in this section within 3 working days.
Please do:
- - Write 50-300 words for the product
- - Comment on the products value and effectiveness
- - Tell us if you like the product, but most importantly explain why you like or dislike it
- - Mention related products and how this one rates by comparison
