QED Ruby Anniversary review

Rich and detailed but lacking precision in rhythm and dynamics Tested at £6

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Tonally rich and capable of conveying plenty of detail, but it could be a touch smoother

Pros

  • +

    Detailed and rich

Cons

  • -

    Could be smoother and subtler in terms of rhythm

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

QED's Silver Anniversary XT had been lofting the 'first speaker cable upgrade' belt for ages, until Chord released its excellent Carnival SilverScreen. So, how will its replacement fare over the reigning champ?

Used in a reference system consisting of an Audiolab 8200CD player, Roksan Caspian M2 integrated amplifier, ATC SCM11 standmounters and Chord CrimsonPlus interconnects, all Award-winners, the QED Ruby Anniversary starts off promisingly with Primus's 1995 weird-fest Tales from the Punchbowl.

QED Ruby Anniversary: Performance
Kicking off with Del Davis Tree Farm, an unsurprisingly bass-and-drum-heavy staccato affair, the QED is fairly composed and reasonably fleet-footed. Notes start and stop quickly (though not with as much precision as the very best), and there's a lovely rich tonality to cymbals.

Sticking to a 1990s theme, Joan Osborne's guitar-led One of Us shows the Ruby Anniversary capable of a full-bodied sound, but still with that slight lack of precision when it comes to rhythm and dynamics.

Authority is the name of the game with this cable, though, and here it scores points over the Chord.

QED Ruby Anniversary: Verdict
On one hand, it does a really nice line in detail and richness – but on the other, it could be a touch smoother and subtler in terms of rhythm.

If your system doesn't have any components that veer towards the lean side, it could work very well for you. We think the QED edges it this time… but only just.

See all our speaker cable reviews

Follow whathifi on Twitter


Join whathifi on Facebook

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test