|
|
|
Normally 150 GBP. Auction starts at 0.99 GBP. Winner obtains 1 pair (2 cables) of Van Den Hul D102 MK III cables.These are Van Den Hul cables hand crafted to high quality connectors. Terminated in a Semi-balanced configuration for domestic Hi-Fi use. Satisfaction guaranteed. |
The Awards
|
 
|
Audio file
"Having used a pair for more than six months in various systems which included mid-priced sources and amplifications to high-end components, I found the 102s to be neutral without emphasis on any specific spectrum of the audio bandwidth. It provided a fairly honest view of your source components...the 102 prefers to carefully balance both frequency extremes.
In terms of character, it...proved to be friendly with valve components. Used between pre and power amplifiers, it retained a sense of air and detail with much confidence while stereo imaging was very well handled. I recommend it whole-heartedly to audiophiles out there who long for a pretty impressive and neutral cable ...
 |
Original Review from Hi-Fi Choice:
Van den Hul D - 102 III HYBRID: A cable with everything: good bass, treble, imaging and naturalness.
Van den Hul has been instrumental in investigating conductors apart from the usual copper and silver. The whole subject of conductor material is still wide open to debate, but van den Hul felt that there was a common and undesirable signature to all metal-conductor cables, so set about constructing cables with carbon-fibre conductors instead.
The D - 102 III HYBRID is one of these; although it is, in fact, a hybrid, mixing carbon fibre with more conventional silverplated copper. Construction is pseudo-balanced, with Teflon insulation. Capacitance, dielectric loss and microphony are all low.This was, by a small but decisive margin, the best cable in the test - a result all the more creditable given this wire's relatively modest cost. Whether due to the carbon fibre or not, its sound was solid, clear and effortless at all times, with basically nothing to criticise. Bass was extended as far as any and fully resonant, but at the same time under control. Midrange was uncoloured and natural, helping voices sound live and unprocessed, while treble was sweet and detailed, conveying alike the delicate tinkle of small percussion instruments and the rasp of muted trumpet. In fact, this is pretty much as good as cable gets, and is therefore a Best Buy.
Summarized Review "Van Den Hul d-102 Mk III is a seemingly unbeatable analogue design that’s suitable for anything from a phono stage to a SACD player and all points in between. We found it hard to criticise this cable — detail is very good and tonality is neutral across the board. Treble extension is exemplary which might explain how it manages to create such impressive image depth and width. All things considered, this is a first-rate performer and a bargain to boot"
Van den Hul
|
|
|
D - 102 III HYBRID |
|
|
Cable Type: |
Triple screened twin core (Balanced) |
|
Conductor Material: |
HYBRID: High purity dense Silver coated high purity Matched Crystal OFC + Linear Structured Carbon ® saturated layer(s) |
|
Design Purpose / Application Area(s): |
Balanced and unbalanced audio interconnect |
|
Eff. Conductor Ø / Eq. AWG No. / Strands: |
Cores: 0.31 mm² / Cores: ~AWG 22 / Cores: 40; Screen: 180 |
|
External Diameter / -Dimensions: |
7.25 mm. |
|
Resistance (20 °C / 68 °F): |
Cores: 5.5 Ohm/100 m.; Screen: 0.62 Ohm/100 m. |
|
Capacitance: |
Core-core: 37 pF/m. |
|
Characteristic Impedance: |
~110 Ohm (in balanced configuration); Allows AES-EBU standard digital audio transmission |
|
Insulation / Dielectric Strength / Test Voltage: |
Cores: PE foam; Jacket:HULLIFLEX 4 / 300 Vrms min. |
|
|
|
|
Lengths: |
2 x 0,5 Meter |
|
Jacket Colour(s) Available: |
Yellow-orange |
|
|
Technical Information
These cables are terminated in a semi-balanced configuration for regular domestic Hi-Fi use.
Dual Core
A dual core (two sets of intertwined wires, each their own plastic housing) cable as opposed to the standard mono core Hi-Fi fare, thus affording an opportunity for a variance in wiring.
Van den Hul show the most effective variant, which is the way these cables are wired.
If both cores are not used then the benefits of a semi-balanced configuration (less noise, better shielding and higher voltage handling capacity) are lost.
Dual core cables support fully balanced XLR connections which require two cores.
You are buying Van Den Hul D102 MK III Hybrid halogen free cable with gold plated connectors. These connectors have nickel plated bodies (barrels) and gold plated contacts.
The
business end of a connector is small and standardized to
fit into it's female RCA equivalent in your equipment; the pin and sleeve
which you can see on the diagram is what the wires are attatched to. The rest of what you
see (the barrel) is a handle cum dust cover...
To attract you into spending more money
than you would possibly need to on a standardized part, manufacturers
will give you a big gold plated 'barrel'.
Van den Hul's over-priced, and over-sized RCA barrels are replaced by Neutrik's (a world leading German brand) Rean connectors.
Van den Hul use Neutrik's XLR connectors (a three pin connector used mainly for studio applications) on the XLR versions of all the dual core cables they produce.
Directional
These are directional cables, so one end (the Ground End) is marked with a sticker which has 'Ground End' and an arrow printed on it, indicating where the connector on that end goes and in which direction the signal should travel .
The Ground end always goes into your source (CD, gramophone, tape deck etc...) and the other goes into whatever is next in your chain of equipment (amp, pre amp, external DAC etc...).
'Burn in' Time
Being Brand new, it is recommended that these cables be 'Burned in' (the passing of a signal through a new cable for a recommended amount of time) for a continuous period for them to reach their maximum potential. I have never done this myself but some of my customers swear by it and a few have been surprised (to say the least) by the results.
The recommended burn in time according to my customers is 100 hours...although some said they were very happy after 50 hours.
Best way to do it...leave a CD to repeat itself all night and while you're at work and you'll be there before you know it.
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||