QED XT5 Power Cable 3m

The QED XT5 sits at the top of QED’s power cable range, applying the company’s acclaimed X-Tube conductor geometry — first developed for its award-winning loudspeaker cables — to the specific demands of mains power delivery. Where conventional power cables use simple parallel conductors, the XT5 arranges its 99.999% oxygen-free copper cores in a braided tubular formation with a controlled twist rate, eliminating conductor parallelism and the associated proximity effect that concentrates current flow unevenly across the cable’s cross-section.

X-Tube Technology

The X-Tube geometry keeps the total cross-sectional area to a compact 1.5mm² while distributing current uniformly across the entire conductor bundle. Each conductor strand is individually isolated using K130PVC, which stabilises current capacitance and exceeds international safety standards. The result is a cable that is both supremely flexible and usefully slim — easy to route behind equipment racks — while delivering the electrical performance of a much larger-gauge cable.

Ferrite Shielding

Domestic mains supplies carry significant radio frequency noise, much of it injected by computer equipment and switch-mode power supplies sharing the same ring main. The XT5 combats this with a ferrite-impregnated inner jacket incorporating a 10% zinc/manganese ferrite compound. This wraps the X-Tube conductor cores in a protective layer that absorbs high-frequency noise before it reaches the connected equipment, allowing sensitive audio electronics to operate closer to their design potential.

Connectors

The UK version of the XT5 is terminated with an MK Tough Plug 655 at the mains end — a heavy-duty moulded plug with gold-plated pins — and an MK IEC C13 794 connector at the equipment end. Both are designed for a secure, low-resistance connection that complements the cable’s internal engineering.

Design & Construction

QED designed and engineered the XT5 in the United Kingdom. The cable’s 11mm outer diameter and flexible construction make it practical for everyday installation, while the quality of materials and geometry place it firmly in audiophile territory. The XT5 is available in 1m, 2m, and 3m lengths, and is complemented by the more affordable XT3 power cable below it in QED’s range.

What the Press Says

• Hi-Fi Choice Recommended
• Hi-Fi World — 5 Globes: “Outstanding – amongst the best”