QED PROFILE Audio RCA to RCA – 2 m

The QED Profile RCA to RCA cable in the 2 metre length is a stereo analogue interconnect fitted with two phono plugs at each end. Two metres is arguably the most useful length in a domestic system: enough to reach from a rack to a nearby amplifier or an active subwoofer, without the surplus that has to be hidden when a shorter cable would have done.

The cable is designed for line-level duty, which covers most of the connections in a typical system: CD player, streamer, DAC or tuner to an integrated amplifier, preamplifier to power amplifier, or a mono or stereo feed to a powered subwoofer. It is not intended for loudspeaker-level connections, which involve currents orders of magnitude higher, nor for phono cartridge outputs unless the turntable has a built-in phono stage.

Two construction details determine how well an interconnect of this kind performs. The screen must give continuous coverage and must be properly bonded at the connector, since a screen that is only connected at one end of the braid is a common cause of unexplained hum. And the plug must grip the socket firmly, because a phono connector that has loosened produces intermittent contact on the outer ring, which is heard as crackling or as one channel dropping out.

In use, the practical advice is simple: choose a length close to what the installation actually needs, route it clear of mains cabling, and check the connectors occasionally on equipment that gets moved.