Van Damme Blue - Bargain of the Century

[admin_exported]

Been doing some experimentation recently, long story that i won't go in to. Anyway, after reading some posts on the Cyrus Forum and previous ones on here, decided to buy some of the following:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380173053340&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

At only £1.99 pm i thought it was worth it. Anyway i have been listening to it since yesterday, replcing the Chord Rumor and so far i'm VERY, VERY impressed. Sorry to put it in capitals like that but i can't believe how good this cable is. It's quite thick but fairly flexible. I think a lot of it is to do with synergy with my cyrus gear, so it may not suit all tastes but i am finding it wonderful. It is not as forward as the Rumor (which is silver coated) but i think it sounds better. Bass is fuller and treble is less harsh, but no less detailed i am finding. Overall i think it's just more musical. Bearing in mind that the Rumor was £11 pm when i got it, i think this represents fantastic value for money. I would highly recommend this cable for anybody, especially anybody who may be suffering with a system that's a little on the bright side. I would be interested to hear if anybody else has found this cable to be so good.

http://www.clearly-av.co.uk/V525060.html

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Hi Frank - what guage is the cable you have bought? I see that they do it from 1.5mm all the way up to 6mm...

 

[proffski]

Yup! I have been making up my own and friends cables with various Van Damme offerings for years and no complaints. I buy it 100m drums from Canford Audio , not doubt RS, Farnell and Rapid will also sell some of it. It really is VERY good indeed as you say. Now you have let the secret out of the bag!!!

 

[Anonymous]

fatboyslimfast:Hi Frank - what guage is the cable you have bought? I see that they do it from 1.5mm all the way up to 6mm...

Hi

I got the 2x 2.5mm

Cheers

 

[proffski]

It is worth considering their screened cables for the low level stuff as well, add some Neutrik plugs and the results are rewarding with a great saving if you can solder properly! Another cable well worth consideing is Belden, neither manufacturers use 'Snake Oil' or Anti-Physics compounds but just make quality products.

 

[Blackdawn]

I too have upgraded from Chord Rumour 2 to 6mm Van Damme Blue speaker cable. I was able to get far more punch and better sound from my system considering the difference in price between the Chord and Van Damme, the VD Blue is excellent.

 

[Anonymous]

Blackdawn:I too have upgraded from Chord Rumour 2 to 6mm Van Damme Blue speaker cable. I was able to get far more punch and better sound from my system considering the difference in price between the Chord and Van Damme, the VD Blue is excellent.

Yeah, although i am now using the 2x 2.5mm the difference is still vast. I have been constantly listening to all my music and continue to be very impressed. It's much more musical and it looks awesome too. So much so, that the Rumor is now going to be up for sale. I have ordered one of the Interconnects with Neutrik/Rean plugs to try also. At only £15 i think it's well worth the risk, especially if they sound anything like the speaker cable.

 

[Blackdawn]

Yeah, I've terminated the studio blue with Van Damme own plugs which accept 6mm cable. They are gold plated and do the job well. I used De-oxit also.

 

[respe]

I have been using the blue studio grade stuff for a while now, (4mm), along with the IC's. It is superb value, and very well balanced. In fact it should be the compulsory starting point for a cable harness in any system. If what ever your are considering replacing your current cables for beats this overall then it may have something going for it

 

[aliEnRIK]

Ive just replaced my reference grade RCA interconnects for between my pre and power amps with Van Damme balanced XLRs. For the money theyre awesome

 

[Anonymous]

aliEnRIK:Ive just replaced my reference grade RCA interconnects for between my pre and power amps with Van Damme balanced XLRs. For the money theyre awesome

I have now swapped my Chord Chameleon Silver Plus between my Dacmagic, and VDH D102 Mk3 with 2 Van Damme/Rean Interconnects which cost £13 and £16 respectively for 1 and 1.5m. I would have been happy if they were just not worse than my Chord and VDH but the fact that they are actually better, pleases me even more. Sold the Chord for much more than both the new Van Damme's just cost me too!

 

[ESP2009]

OK, you've got my interest. Must try them out before too long.

 

[idc]

I use Van Damme for my ICs as well and can't see a reason to use any other cable. I like the pro-audio design of the cabling as it is very flexible and tough.

 

[ESP2009]

idc:I use Van Damme for my ICs as well and can't see a reason to use any other cable. I like the pro-audio design of the cabling as it is very flexible and tough.

Is it ferret proof then?

 

[idc]

I suspect it would be very chewy as the sheathing is quite rubbery and soft.

 

[aliEnRIK]

FrankTheTank:
aliEnRIK:Ive just replaced my reference grade RCA interconnects for between my pre and power amps with Van Damme balanced XLRs. For the money theyre awesome

I have now swapped my Chord Chameleon Silver Plus between my Dacmagic, and VDH D102 Mk3 with 2 Van Damme/Rean Interconnects which cost £13 and £16 respectively for 1 and 1.5m. I would have been happy if they were just not worse than my Chord and VDH but the fact that they are actually better, pleases me even more. Sold the Chord for much more than both the new Van Damme's just cost me too!

Can you describe the ways you believe theyre 'better'?

 

[Anonymous]

aliEnRIK:FrankTheTank:
aliEnRIK:Ive just replaced my reference grade RCA interconnects for between my pre and power amps with Van Damme balanced XLRs. For the money theyre awesome

I have now swapped my Chord Chameleon Silver Plus between my Dacmagic, and VDH D102 Mk3 with 2 Van Damme/Rean Interconnects which cost £13 and £16 respectively for 1 and 1.5m. I would have been happy if they were just not worse than my Chord and VDH but the fact that they are actually better, pleases me even more. Sold the Chord for much more than both the new Van Damme's just cost me too!

Can you describe the ways you believe theyre 'better'?

Yeah sure, tighter more defined bass, less harsh and more precise treble. For example symballs aren't mushy at all, they are extremely precise. Overall the sound is much more musical and for me that is "better". They are less forward sounding if that makes sense. Like i have said before, this may not suit all systems and taste, but for me they are great.

 

[idc]

I am going to be a complete hypocrite now as there is no difference between ICs, but I agree with Frank. They are like the SHBs, but less bright and fuller, more meatier. I am sure that is because I have a larger sweet spot with the volume control than before, rather than any actual difference in the cables.

 

[aliEnRIK]

idc:I am going to be a complete hypocrite now as there is no difference between ICs, but I agree with Frank. They are like the SHBs, but less bright and fuller, more meatier. I am sure that is because I have a larger sweet spot with the volume control than before, rather than any actual difference in the cables.

Can you try putting that into english IDC, it lost me

 

[idc]

With SHB the volume needs to be at 9 o'clock to get the sound going and it becomes too loud at 11.45. With the Van Damme, I can listen from 8 to 12.30.

 

[aliEnRIK]

idc:With SHB the volume needs to be at 9 o'clock to get the sound going and it becomes too loud at 11.45. With the Van Damme, I can listen from 8 to 12.30.

But surely if thats true then there MUST be a difference in cables?

 

[Anonymous]

aliEnRIK:idc:With SHB the volume needs to be at 9 o'clock to get the sound going and it becomes too loud at 11.45. With the Van Damme, I can listen from 8 to 12.30. But surely if thats true then there MUST be a difference in cables?depends on the gauge of the cable and its resistance, lower cable resistance and your speaker will play louder

Also if the old cable has oxidised , even while physically changing the cable you may be making a cleaner connection

 

[idc]

aliEnRIK:idc:With SHB the volume needs to be at 9 o'clock to get the sound going and it becomes too loud at 11.45. With the Van Damme, I can listen from 8 to 12.30. But surely if thats true then there MUST be a difference in cables?

Not a difference in sound quality, but a difference in volume where you can listen to the sweet spot of dynamics and clarity without distortion. My theory is that cables can sound different in different kit because their resistance etc means slightly different volume if you leave the volume control untouched. But if you match the volume, so all systems play at a specific db, then all cables do sound the same, as shown with blind tests.

 

[Alantiggger]

mmm,

at the risk of sounding plain ''fick'' do you recon this cable will make my speakers sound any better than silver anniversary does ? (most interested)

 

[stephennic]

idc:

aliEnRIK:idc:With SHB the volume needs to be at 9 o'clock to get the sound going and it becomes too loud at 11.45. With the Van Damme, I can listen from 8 to 12.30. But surely if thats true then there MUST be a difference in cables?

Not a difference in sound quality, but a difference in volume where you can listen to the sweet spot of dynamics and clarity without distortion. My theory is that cables can sound different in different kit because their resistance etc means slightly different volume if you leave the volume control untouched. But if you match the volume, so all systems play at a specific db, then all cables do sound the same, as shown with blind tests.

Hi,

Also cables have different capitance, inductance, resistance, reactance levels. For example with the kimber catalogue they give you these specs for each cable they make, these can affect sound quality. If a cable is sounding fuller and meatier that sounds like a sound difference to me than a leaner perhaps brighter cable.

Cheers

Steve.