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Van Den Hul First Ultimate

post #1 of 30
11/25/03 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 
Hi, I recently heard a pair of Van Den Hul First Ultimate IC's vs a pair of stock ICs that I was using. The difference was astounding. The First Ultimates were laid back, incredibly clear, and compeltely free of all grain.

However, at 500 CDN for a pair, they seem a little pricey. Do these ICs really stick out above the competition as the salespeople led me to believe, or can I get a pair of ICs that do very well for much less?

prior to this audition, I didnt think cables did anything. But i couldnt miss the difference these cables made.

anyone have experience with these cables? how do they compare to some of the less expensive cables that van den hul puts out? are there other carbon based halogen free cables out there?

i worry about buying cables, I know how much variation there is in price, and I know that cables more than other components, can be nothing more than snake oil.
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post #2 of 30
11/25/03 at 4:19pm
I have not heard this cable myself but seen that some regard it highly while others are less impressed. Could be preferences and system matching. It seems to be good on what you say, clear and without grain. Would like to hear one myself because this cable could have something special.
Best would be if you can borrow it and test it in your own system. Then you only have to answer if it is worth the money for you. Of course, there may be other cables that you would like better among the hundreds of cables on the market. It is up to you how much time you want to spend on it.
You say there was an astounding difference and then you express a fear of snake oil. Your have to decide what you beleive in and if you beleive what you hear! I admit it can be hard to beleive it the first time you hear a really great difference. Try once more to check if you hear it again!
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post #3 of 30
11/25/03 at 6:48pm
Thread Starter 
yes, I heard teh difference, that I do not deny. My only question is whether there are similar products for less.

I still have trouble believing how much cabling costs, relative to other more complex components of high end systems.
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post #4 of 30
11/25/03 at 7:15pm
The active force gold interconnects below will destroy those van duhal interconnects.

I mananged to get them new for half price on an audiogon auction and they come with a 45 day moneyback guarentee.

http://www.auralthrillsaudio.com/The%20Force.htm

Biggie.
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post #5 of 30
11/25/03 at 10:00pm
Thread Starter 
if there toronto meet happens, i expect to see and hear them.
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post #6 of 30
11/26/03 at 3:58am
Quote:
Originally posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ
The active force gold interconnects below will destroy those van duhal interconnects. .
YOu mean Van Dull Hul?
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post #7 of 30
11/26/03 at 10:22am
Looks like there's folk on the board here that think van den Hul belongs firmly in the snake oil category.... I don't think so... I may be biased, becuase I use the First ultimate from CDP->AMP, but i find it to be an extremely neutral and uncoloured IC with exceptional clarity... it is certainly a "reference" (a word that gets thrown around alot within audiophile circles) IC that I judge all others by...Of course some here will disagree, and claim that VdH make crap cable I'm sure....

It should be noted that Meridian employ VdH exclusively to make the digital cables which run from their processors to their active digital loudspeakers... For good reason I'm guessing...
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post #8 of 30
11/26/03 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 
Kuma, you've heard the first ultimate and weren't impressed? what kind of cable do you recommend then?

and kirium, have you compared the first ultimate to the ultimate or other offerings from Van Den Hul?
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post #9 of 30
11/27/03 at 7:33am
Quote:
Originally posted by tomek
Kuma, you've heard the first ultimate and weren't impressed? what kind of cable do you recommend then?
Warm, and natural sounding cables with a decent midband. Tad slow for me.

Perhapsn you want to explore Analysis Plus or Wireworld. They sort of sound alike but cost less.

For entry level cables, Cardas 5C are still good buy.
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post #10 of 30
11/27/03 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally posted by tomek
Kuma, you've heard the first ultimate and weren't impressed? what kind of cable do you recommend then?

and kirium, have you compared the first ultimate to the ultimate or other offerings from Van Den Hul?
Do you mean The First Ultimate compared to The First?? The First, as it is appropriately titled, was VDH's first carbon conductor IC. i think it was bought out a few years ago, and The First Ultimate has since replaced it. Honestly, I can ever recall having compared them back to back, and if i have, i was unaware of it..

From vague memory, the first ultimate is a fraction better than it's predecessor, i think in detail, speed and accuracy, and most likely, general musicality....

i think van den hul make other cables called the second and maybe the third which use linear structured carbon.... they may be cheaper than the first...

EDIT: just checked their website, and the second is a balanced version of the first and the third is a carbon loudspeaker cable...

and to answer the second part of your question, no, i haven't, but have a look on http://www.hificables.co.uk they make a version of the van den hul D102 III IC terminated with bullet plugs, which is supposed to be quite good.... i'm thinking about picking a set up...
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post #11 of 30
11/28/03 at 12:10am
Lol Kuma, nothing sounds dull with rs-1's. :P

My amp actually has vdh headphone wiring in it. I've also spent plenty of time with vdh interconnects hooked up to my system and it did not compare to the active force interconnects I use now.

Biggie.
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post #12 of 30
11/28/03 at 12:29am
Thread Starter 
biggie, did you have carbon the first ultimate IC's? I've heard that these are much better than their other cables.

the guys at audio upgrades used them on their system, and swore by them.
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post #13 of 30
11/28/03 at 1:30am
Quote:
Originally posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ
Lol Kuma, nothing sounds dull with rs-1's. :P
Ha. Biggy, you've got the point there.

I've tried VDH with speaker based systems, not with RS1.
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post #14 of 30
11/28/03 at 2:54am
Quote:
Originally posted by tomek
biggie, did you have carbon the first ultimate IC's? I've heard that these are much better than their other cables.

the guys at audio upgrades used them on their system, and swore by them.
Where do you think I heard the vanduhuls from. :P

Seeing as they modded my amp 5 seperate times, I had a lot of time with their interconnects.

Biggie.
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post #15 of 30
11/30/03 at 12:24pm
There's a First Ultimate on Audiogon for $175 US... dunno what that is in CDN... check it out here

you can also get them from UK sellers on eBay... like this one here

or do a search for "first ultimate" or "van den hul"
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