Need help with QED Revelation speaker cable (pictures included)

[admin_exported]

Hi guys!

I just purchased some unterminated QED Revelation speaker cable for my system which comprises of the following:

Sony hi-fi amp (can't remember model but its a budget one)

Monitor Audio BX-2s

I'm having a real tough time trying to get these speaker cables even producing sound. I trimmed the outer plastic casing with a stanley knife but upon connecting them up to my system no sound is present. I went back to my standard copper Cambridge Audio speaker cables and the setup works fine??

I'm a bit confused by the cable itself. Here are some pictures as its hard to explain as I am failrly ignorant

Now for my other Cambridge Audio copper speaker cables plugged in to the system:

Any help in this matter would be GREATLY appreciated as I just spent a fortune on these QED cables and currently they are useless haha!!

Thanks in advance guys!

Tom

 

[aliEnRIK]

Cables are very hard to see - completely out of focus

Looks like the central part (probably for bass) is encased within another sheeth? if so that obviously needs cutting back.

What about the smaller strands? Do they have individual sheeths?

 

[John Duncan]

The central part is just plastic, but you should trim it back so you just have the individual strands. originally I didn't think the little strands had sheaths (ew) when I took the ends of mine, but somebody told me afterwards that they do, and that you should strip them back. try that and let us know...

 

[Anonymous]

Ah ha I had wondered whether or not each individual strand was encased as it looks very plasticy and I couldn't see how on earth the cable was actually carrying signal.

I'll give it a go when I get back from work - wish me luck!

Tom

 

[aliEnRIK]

I would imagine its not fun stripping all them!

 

[Anonymous]

I can't hack this - I'm simply cutting through all of the different strands trying to strip each one - should I send it back to where I got it from and pay them to terminate it for me?

What kind of connectors would I need on each end? Are banana plugs ok?

Thanks guys!

Tom

 

[John Duncan]

Well the proper termination is QED airlocs, but any bananas will do if you can be bothered to strip it. Airlocs aren't cheap though...

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Not sure it's a good idea, or whether it will work without having a closer look at the cable, but how about 'melting' the plastic casings from each strand with a soldering iron?

As I say, just a thought that may speed up the process, assuming you have a soldering iron.......

This is why I didn't buy this cable, but bought some second hand Chord Odyssey 2 instead.......

 

[SonofSun]

I have owned this cable, which was simply a nightmare to strip back. Once you have done it though, you will be rewarded with a thin and weedy sound.

This cable is dreadful imo, unless you have a problem with too much bass, avoid like the plague.

Esoteric nonsense, cheap copper cable is much better.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Agreed - it's almost as hard to strip back as their Genesis cable. It's all very well designing fancy cables, but at least make them easy to strip back!

 

[Steve Reichert PR Manager ArmourHome]

I'm sorry to learn you've experienced difficulty stripping your QED Revelation speaker cable. The positive and negative cores each have 190 'five nines' (99.999%) silver plated oxygen free copper strands. These are engineered into 10 bunches, each of 19 strands. So when you prepare the cable, you need to cut off the outer cover, then strip each of the 10 bunches. This sounds like a bit of work, but is a complete doddle if you have the appropriate tool, a wire stripper. I confess, I wouldn't want to do it with just a sharp knife. Any dealer should be happy to undertake this task for you.

Is it worth the effort? Of course it is! QED Revelation is a wonderfully neutral and revealing cable, which is why it has received such universal acclaim from reviewers.

Very best regards,

Steve Reichert - PR Manager, Armour Home (QED)

 

[bcostacurta]

Hello,

a stripper tool will certainly help.

Which stripper tool requirements (eg. minimal section) are needed to strip the internals cables of the QED Signature Revelation ?

Thanks.

Bruno

 

[craig84]

Omg... So QED and Q acoustics are sisters!? As I see your sig says armour which is q acoustics

 

[d_a_n1979]

I sorted mine easy enough...

got the outer sheath off and then used the gas hob to melt the plastic around the other wiring but didn't burn it. The heat at the end of the blue flame (about 2-3cm is enough to melt it all without any damage)

done nee and dusted in about 10mins and it's superb cable; plenty of bass weight and removed the brightness that the Silver Anniversary cable can open up sometimes...

it's a good cable to bear with it