The Article
Performance Audio 40i Interconnects From QED
22nd October 2019
Adding improvements and refinements to the original Performance Audio 40 cables, Paul Rigby wonders if the 40i cable’s ‘performance’ has also risen
An upgrade to the original Performance Audio 40 interconnects, the new 40i model has undergone, “…a complete overhaul on its predecessor…” said the company.
This includes an apparent first for QED, the introduction of Solid Core Complementary Conductors. A reaction to the company’s own Genssis Report which, if you need a bit of reading matter with your next coffee break, you can read here: QED’s Genesis Report.
The idea behind Solid Complementary Conductor is to reduce capacitance by a quarter compared to the original model.
Another addition is the introduction of one Oxygen Free Copper Conductor and one Silver-Plated Oxygen Free Copper Conductor to carry the same audio signal.
According to the company, the idea behind this switch is to allow, “…an alternative route for high and low frequencies, reducing the ‘smearing’ and disruption of the audio signal which would otherwise occur in a single, one material conductor configuration.”
Ferrite insulation technology has been retained from the Performance Audio 40. You’ll find QED’s Anamate RCA plugs on the ends.
SOUND QUALITY
I played both Nat ‘King’ Cole’s Autumn Leaves from Best Of…Vol.2 and Early Morning from Barclay James Harvest’s Early Morning Onwards.
When you look at low cost interconnects, one of the facets of even capably-designed cables is that the soundstage can be incredibly, how can I describe this, flat. Flat would be the correct term, I guess. Imagine a blank canvas. Low cost interconnects can sound like you’re just poured music onto a blank canvas.
Hence, music tends to have a distinct 2D approach. I could hear this while playing the Cole track. Music sat at the very front of the soundstage and shifted left and right, like a troupe of Tiller girls on stage. This gave music a cardboard, Hollywood film set feel. All front and no substance.
The 40i cables, fortunately, offered more. A sense of depth around the soundstage, especially in and around the stereo image. What this effect did was two-fold. Firstly, it provided a real sense of depth, which added more complex information to all frequencies. It also added subtlety to the music, gave instruments facets, edges and gave a sophistication to the presentation.
More than that, if cables are giving you a 2D image then that image floats all over the place, with no fixed abode, as it where. Like looking at a water colour with fuzzy, bleeding edges. Add depth and your ears are better able to fix voices, instruments and their after effects, like reverb.
Tonal realism is another advantage. Brass sounds more like a fully-formed trumpet or trombone while bass projects power to the ear. Vocals emote and deliver a sense of passion. A 2D canvas is, well, devoid of all of that.
More than all of this, listening to Barclay James Harvest, I was happy to hear the low noise, airy midrange encourage a delicate response from cymbals. There was a successful fragility here and a welcome sweetness. Guitars were both clear yet strong, bass had a forceful punch while analogue synths and organ wavered with a tonally fascinating delicacy. As if the organ sequences were constructed from tissue paper. The fact that I even imagined such imagery tells you something about the relative complexity of the musical information that I was hearing.
CONCLUSION
A great pair of cables in this price bracket, the QED Performance Audio 40i interconnects add a sense of complexity and maturity that you’d expect to hear in more expensive designs. Well made and flexible, you never feel that the 40i cables are holding music back. These cables are rooting for you hi-fi, every step of the way. No brainer purchases, the QED Performance Audio 40i interconnects are little gems.
QED PERFORMANCE AUDIO 40i INTERCONNECTS
Prices:
0.6M – £39.95
1M – £49.95
2M – £69.95
3M – £79.95
Tel: 01279 501111
Website: www.qed.co.uk
TO BUY CLICK BELOW:
USA – https://amzn.to/326t7Zz
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3837bCj
GOOD: 3D soundstage, treble delicacy, massy bass, airy mids
BAD: nothing
RATING: 9
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REFERENCE
Pro-Ject RPM3 Carbon turntable
Spendor S3/5R speakers
Chord C-Line cables
QED Performance Audio 40 cables
Blue Horizon Professional Rack System
Harmonic Resolution Systems Noise Reduction Components
All vinyl was cleaned using an Audio Desk’s Ultrasonic Pro Vinyl Cleaner
Hello. I tested the 2 (Performance 40i and the “old” Reference 40) a few weeks ago on my Naim system to interconnect the phono preamp (Rega Aura Reference MC) and the Naim preamp (Nac N-272).
They sounds globally similar but the Reference 40 go further in trebble extension & lisibility, bass are a little tighter and I found voice more analitics without the sibilance that can sometimes occurs with the Performance 40i (listening to vinyl medias, sibilance is a very sensitive point).
I found that RCA connectors better on the Reference 40 too (lockables).
Nevertheless, considering price, the new Performance 40i got a better price to performance ratio but, for my ears, the Reference 40 is the best performer.
Hope this helps.
I changed my cordia cfu 0.3 cc (30cm) to the qed performance 40i between my Nad c316bee and nad D1050 (dac), i noticed a big difference a much more clearer and open sound, the midrange sounds bigger and somwhat fuller, bass is now less full bodied, i also notice somewhat brightness i din’t have before that could be a little to much only because of a different cable, any suggestion to tame it a little beside using tone controls ?
Hi Michael – thanks for the feedback. The cables might just be highlighting an issue elsewhere. Good cables get out of the way and place the attention back on the hifi chain. I would look at the hi-fi itself for a solution.
There was some older songs that had the problems, than i looked at the comment above
They sounds globally similar but the Reference 40 go further in trebble extension & lisibility, bass are a little tighter and I found voice more analitics without the sibilance that can sometimes occurs with the Performance 40i (listening to vinyl medias, sibilance is a very sensitive point).
I found that RCA connectors better on the Reference 40 too (lockables).
Well, I bought the Qed Performance 40, not the 40i. I could get it for half the price, I will get it for the next week, I’m waiting for the delivery. Anyone knows the Performance 40?Is such a good cable, like Qed says?I wonder if the performance is close to the Qed Reference 40?
Well, I got the Performance 40 last Saturday, great cable, I’m satisfied, no need to look further, this cable is just fine for my system. Much better than the Performance audio 2.
Just changed my cheap cordial from thomann to qed performance audio 40i instaed of cordial from dac to my cheap input switcher and to my sabaj A20 a (fantastic infineon 1270 amp) my dac now goes directly in to my amp (thought i sold the cable i had), it made a huge difference wider sound,tighter more bass, better high more defined, although stil a little sparkle on some songs, it’s a nice upgrade
Well, I bought the 40i, nice caule, ir is like the old Performance √°udio 2 that I really like, but better overall.