Mark,

Great info.

Somehow, although I was totally unaware of what you have just proved beyond any doubt ( your explanation was so clear I thought to myself, how come I didn´t see that for myself? ), it doesn´t come as a shock to me.

This just goes to re-inforce three of my hard learned audio lessons:

1 - After spending considerable amounts of money all through the years I ran the "High-End" bandwagon, I have become very skeptical of fancy cables of whatever kind. In fact I´ve become a staunch oponent of the concept itself, as embodied by many of the big fancy names.

2 - Most audiophiles ( fools ) are very easily taken for a ride as far as accessories are concerned. We have a thread somewhere here at ST titled " Believing is hearing". Great wisdom in that title.

3 - I hate to admitt it, but I can´t help admiring intelligent people like Mr. Van den Hull who make a fortune out of idiots like myself. There are many of the former, and plenty more of the latter.

I´ve learned my lesson, that´s why I feel a lot more comfortable, as well as more inteligent, for hanging with people like the great ST members.

Anyway, now that this particular cable will start the rounds through some of the best ears in the world, it will be very interesting to see what those of review it make of it.

Jorge

Jorge I think the thing we can learn from this is that it might be very possible to DIY at a very reasonable cost things like Interconnect that the "factories" sell at a very high mark up.

Case in point this cable might be a stunning digital interconnect it might greatly improve a systems ability to deliver all the music available on a particular CD. even if it is a Spark plug wire pulled off some Mini Cooper in the factories parking lot!

I don't doubt that a good piece of wire can allow the signal to pass with the least amount of coloring nor that certain topographies of construction can filter out outside interference from the signal path.

I do have a problem with paying humongous amounts of money for what is simply a machine made cable with some pretty ends soldered on them.

NOW on to listening to Scotts DIY silver interconnects.

P.S. I'm thinking I might try to work up an interconnect from some spark plug wire just to see/hear what happens

well if you dont then i will.

Judging from what I´ve seen in your Shrine, your RCM and your latest TT bench, I can´t wait to see what you come up with.

Jorge

So have you tried it in your pickup?

Who get's them next?

i think its me, though i'll gladly defer to anyone who wants to give them a try next.

Aha! I tripped over this set of postings rather late!

Put me on the list! I am using the original and arguably among the best DAC's around: the PS Audio Ultralink (original cost $2000).

I have tried several digital cables on this unit and keep returning to AudioQuest VDM-5 both .5m & 2m lengths. Even PS audios' own digital cable can't match the AQ's sonics (in my system). while not truly digital- kimber hero works pretty good as well.
My current cable under review is StraigthWire Silver Link (a 75ohm AV cable). relative to the AQ, its bass is diminished, sound stage width and depth collapsed. Timbre matching close, but no cigar!

Back to the drawing boards.

So how do I get to try this Van den Hull by way of Portugal?

They're already here in the US. I believe Dingus is the next guinea pig, then Mark B. You should be next in line. We're trying to concentrate them in a given area at one time to help out on freight. (If possible)

i'll go after Gino.

Bump. Any reviews or opinions?

"""Put me in line after Scott.

I'm mulling over what DAC to get (I've none yet), so until I have one, it's useless for me.

I'd love t hear it, however.

Just later on>""" this is an early quote from Paul.....

Before you buy a DAC.. you should get a CD Player up to the Standards which a DAC will make the difference with!


I am still interested in giving the VDH a run... what do you need from me ?

that will work.

who's got it anyway?

I believe MarkW has both Jorge's and Scott's cables.

ah, thedelihaus said he received a bunch of cables from Mark W the other day ... these must be them.