QED Performance
There was a time when connecting a hi-fi system was a fairly straightforward business. You needed a pair of speaker cables, an interconnect between your source and amplifier, and perhaps a few additional wires if you happened to own a particularly elaborate setup. These days, things are rather different. A typical system might include a streamer connected through Ethernet, a DAC receiving music over USB, an optical connection to the television, a coaxial digital transport, an active subwoofer, and perhaps even a good old 3.5 mm headphone jack, which has somehow survived repeated predictions of its imminent extinction. With so many different connections to consider, buying the right cables can become almost as complicated as choosing the equipment itself. British cable specialist QED is hoping to make things a little easier with a comprehensive overhaul of its popular Performance series. The refreshed lineup now consists of 13 models covering practically every common analog and digital connection found in modern audio and home theater systems. The biggest additions are an entirely new speaker cable, matching bi-wire links, and four USB cable configurations, bringing the range up to date with the increasingly diverse ways people listen to music.