QED’s New Reference Ethernet Cable Released

QED has introduced its Reference Ethernet cable, designed to provide the most accurate, most stable connection possible between networked devices. Created for connecting a high-resolution digital audio streamer to a local network, the Reference Ethernet has more than enough bandwidth to deal with the data rates required by 32 bit/384 kHz and DSD512 audio files. Painstakingly engineered, Reference Ethernet is a Class I Category 8.1 cable and can support 40G Ethernet – and so has the headroom to cope with even the most data-intensive applications.

Key features

● Specifically designed for high-resolution audio up to 32 bit/384kHz or DSD512

● Supports 40G Ethernet

● Ferrite insulation, low-loss dielectric and gold-plated plugs combine to deliver ultra-low jitter

● Complies with Class I Category 8.1 standard

Specified to perform

QED has been designing and engineering high-quality analogue and digital cables for almost 50 years – and the Reference Ethernet is the latest demonstration of the company's expertise.

In order to keep signal noise and cross-talk to an absolute minimum, Reference Ethernet uses 99.999 % oxygen-free copper twisted-pairs – with a dissimilar twist rate for each pair – to maximise noise-rejection characteristics.

For minimal ‘insertion loss’ – which is the reduction of signal strength at the end of the cable compared to that at the start – Reference Ethernet uses an aluminium mylar wrap, within a foil wrap, within a ferrite-impregnated jacket. As a result, the cable comfortably exceeds the CAT 8 insertion loss standard. This over-specified arrangement also means Reference Ethernet easily outperforms the CAT 8 standard for ‘attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio’ which is an indicator of the margin by which it avoids introducing any errors into the data stream.

Reference Ethernet also performs beyond the CAT 8 requirements where ‘return loss’ is concerned. Any impedance mismatch between the cable and the equipment it's connected to can cause the signal to be reflected back and forth. Thanks to its precision-engineered, gold-plated Telegärtner plugs with 360-degree shielded die-cast zinc bodies, reflections are minimised and all of the signal is delivered to the load.

This specification and state-of-the-art engineering results in a cable with a maximum data rate of 40Gb/s. The maker argues this is well in excess of what is required to handle even the most demanding data streams, and means Reference Ethernet is easily able to cope with the highest of today's high-resolution digital audio files and is future-proofed to handle whatever comes next.

The cable is finished in a stylish pearl white PVC jacket to compliment any AV set-up.

Technical specification

Cable OD (mm): 9mm

Plugs: Telegärtner Profinet CAT 8

Construction: F/FTP

Conductor size: 24 AWG

Characteristic Impedance: 100ohm

Patch Cable Category: Class I CAT 8.1

Maximum bit-rate: 40Gb/s

QED