The QED Reference Silver Anniversary XT sits within QED's Classic range of speaker cables, positioned above the entry-level Connect and Performance Original cables and below the Golden Anniversary XT. A multi-award winning design, the Silver Anniversary XT builds on the legacy of the original Silver Anniversary cable by incorporating QED's proprietary X-Tube™ technology, delivering a measurable improvement in high-frequency signal transfer.
X-Tube™ Technology
At higher frequencies, conventional speaker cables suffer from the skin effect — current flow concentrates at the periphery of the conductor, reducing the effective cross-sectional area. QED's X-Tube™ construction addresses this by arranging the conductors in a geometry that maintains near-linear signal transfer across the full audio bandwidth. At 15kHz, a standard cable's effective conducting area can drop to less than 75% of its low-frequency level; the X-Tube™ design with its polycore dielectric exhibits substantially lower self-inductance, preserving high-frequency detail with reduced distortion.
Conductor Construction
The Silver Anniversary XT uses silver-plated 99.999% oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductors in a unique SPOFC triple-braid configuration. Five groups of 16 strands at 0.1mm diameter deliver a total cross-sectional area of 1.50mm² per conductor, with a minimum stranded diameter of 2.25mm. The silver plating enhances surface conductivity, which is particularly beneficial given the skin effect at higher frequencies where current travels predominantly at the conductor's surface.
Dielectric & Termination
A high-performance low-density polyethylene dielectric surrounds the conductors, chosen for its low dielectric absorption characteristics. When supplied factory pre-terminated, the Silver Anniversary XT is fitted with QED's Airloc heat-shrink 4mm banana plugs, providing a secure, low-resistance connection. The cable is also compatible with QED's ABS, Metal, and Midi or Maxi Airloc connectors for custom termination.
What the Press Says
- What Hi-Fi? Awards winner — budget cable category, three consecutive years
- "Excellent performance for a budget cable" — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★★
| Cable Type | Pre-terminated speaker cable |
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| Conductor Material | Silver-plated 99.999% OFC |
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| Conductor Construction | SPOFC triple braid, 5 × 16 × 0.1mm |
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| Cross-Sectional Area | 1.50mm² |
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| Stranded Diameter | 2.25mm (minimum) |
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| Gauge | 16 AWG |
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| Technology | X-Tube™ |
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| Loop Resistance | 0.021 Ω/m |
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| Capacitance | 50 pF/m |
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| Inductance | 0.47 µH/m |
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| Dissipation Factor | 0.0006 |
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| Jacket Outer Diameter | 3.90mm |
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| Termination | Airloc heat-shrink 4mm banana plugs |
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| Length | 5m |
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| Sold As | Pair |
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| Also Available As | 2m, 3m |
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