Outstanding information retrieval & neutrality

Cost is reasonable but may be a stretch for average systems

My set of vdH D102 IIIHB came with instructions. They were purchased from www.hificables.co.hk in April 2000.

The information from van den Hul states; "Sometimes the ground connection can be made with the signal source (like a pre-amplifier) to get the lowest hum-level (the shielded end of the cable connected to the pre-amplifer). But in rare occasions it is better to make the grounding at the receiving side (the power amplifier). You can run these two experiments to find the best solution for this problem."

I was completely satisfied with these cables upon first connecting and listening. I'm using them between a Rega Planet CD Player and Rega Mira Integrated Amplifier. The ground end (At the beginning of the type description) is connected to the Planet CD player.

The increase in resolution was impressive and for me it was worth the $105US I paid for a 0.8M pair. The solidity of the bass helps bring out one of the CD formats best attributes. While I still prefer the sound of analog and vinyl, this cable has contributed a great deal to relieving some of the edginess I hear in CD listening.

I highly recommend this cable for getting more from almost any mid to high end system.

Similar Products Used:

The Storm II

Openess, Clarity and controlled bass

More towards highs

We had to make things clear here. It's about the "ground end" thing - where does it go?

Due to a lack of instruction from the vdh package I have made research on the 'directionality' of this cable. But before that I made my choice of connecting the 'ground end' to the CD player - as it was what my ears convicned me!

I have discovered alter that Van Den Hul's philosophy on directionality is the label on the wires themselves. As you read the label (i.e. left to right), you should read 'away' from the source (CD), which means that the 'ground end' sticker connects to the CD player. An audiophile that I've befriended recently who once used vdh interconnects also told me the same thing. So I was right on the first time I experimented on the direcionality.

Now comes the performance... I am not an audiophile and I don't own so many interconnects but all I can say is it sounds superior compared to other interconnects I've tried: Essoteric A2, QED Qnect 2, VDH thunderline - in terms of calrity. The only noticeable thing about it is it leans a tad towards the highs. However, bass is tight and controlled, while the mids are natural-sounding. If you opted for more bass over openess and clarity, try the Thunderline.

Similar Products Used:

Essoteric A2, VDH Thunderline

Bloody everything

Colour

Its a velly good cable, this one. Nothing to do with it winning What Hifis award or anything! Its the fact that it totally outclassed so many cables costing £120 or more when it 'only' costs £70.
I'm using it between my Pioneer Precision cd player and Rotel pre amp. The Rotel is connected to a Arcam 8p power amp with Cable Talk Studio 2 i'connects. These, by the way, are also stunners and around the same standard as the vdhs.

Anyway, enough waffle. These have an incredibly realistic mid range and phenononononmenonly deep bass. The treble can be a tad bright, so home trial them before use.

Er thats it. Go buy them. Oh, and plump for the 0.8 metre and you save yourself a tenner over the 1 metre at £80.

Similar Products Used:

QED Silver Spiral, Sonic Link Violet, Audioquest Ruby (crap) and numerous other obscure cables to bland to mention

See below

No enough LF but that could be due to my amp's fault.

What the D102III has done in my set up can be summarize into the following (not in Audiophile's terms):

1) More depth or I would say "louder" and greater soundstage.

2) Vocal is now sweeter and sound "stronger". Guitar too, sounds bigger.

3) 24 bit CDs sound more 3 dimensional and less harsh.

4) Low base was much tighter.

5) More details.

Over all, my system now sounds more full bodied across the whole frequency range.

Note: The above descriptions are in comparison to the normal OFC cable.

On the whole, both the D102III and The Source sound ALMOST the same. However, the 102 is a LITTLE more detailed that's all.

My setup:
Audiolab 8000S
Marantz CD17II
Primare L20
Nordost Flat Gold MKII
VDH D102III

Similar Products Used:

VDH The Source
Japanese make OFC

Solid, realistic sound.

Connector

I really didn't believe an interconnect could make a difference. I was happy with the sound of my system, but after reading the reviews posted here, I decided to give it a try. All I can say is WOW!!! My CD player (Yamaha CDM 900) always sounded good playing through my Sony STR DE325 receiver and M&K LCR-55s satellites and M&K MX-70B powered sub, but now my CDs sound like the best LP -- the first cut, on the very first play. Everything sounds less digital. Ambience that I never heard before is now very evident. The soundstage really is better, I never would have believed it. On jazz recordings there is a realistic bite to the brass and reeds. Cymbals sound very realistic, with a natural decay. On classical, I hear much more detail, instrumental placements are more clear and the strings sound like they do in the concert hall.

Complaints; lack of instructions -- where does the "ground" end of the interconnect go? Does the ground end of these interconnects get connect to the CD player, or to the receiver? One reviewer here says to connect the ground to the receiver, so that's what I did. But this should not be a puzzle for the consumer to solve. AND I don't want to move the cables around because of my biggest complaint; the connectors. One of the connector rings was too tight to fit the input of my receiver. I had to make a small "adjustment" with a pliers. When I solved that problem and turned on my system, there was no sound from the right-side speakers. I re-inspected the connectors, they were all tight. When I jiggled them, the right-side sound came on -- so, I may have another connector problem, not on the same cable that had the too-tight connector. But I'm not taking any chances. Everything is working OK now, so I'm not going to play around any more, I'm just going to enjoy the music.

Paid $175 at Stereo Exchange NYC. I should not have to put up with the connector problem, and I was tempted to send the package back to Stereo Exchange and demand a refund. But the sound is so good, I'm keeping them. I just won't touch them! Four stars instead of five.

Similar Products Used:

Monster

Faithful, well made, don't colour the music

None

I have had two pairs for as long as I can remember (10 Years). I recently upgraded, biffing NAD gear out and buying an old Pioneer C-72 Pre and a Plinius 8200P amp. Wow, the Plinius has been the best buy EVER, being very involving, revealing weaknesses in the system. I tried a Musical Fidelity X-10D between my Phillips CD 850 MKII and the pre, however the introduction of a cheap interconnect seemed to colour the music. I have tried many solutions, using different connects, but have had to opt for the VDH D102 MKIII Specials linking the CD by the most direct route, ie relegated the X-10D to the DVD. My VDH interconnects have proved over time to be my most trusted friends, even above my Mordaunt Short MS3.5 speakers. I cannot rate them higher, fast, transparent, tight in a fluid kinda way. I have ordered some new ones from the UK!

Similar Products Used:

Nordost Wireworld

Bass resonance, treble decay, natural tonality

Very little. You'd only notice anything in a very expensive system.

Very good indeed. Buy with confidence, then try and find speaker cable that sounds as good. Not easy!

Similar Products Used:

Audioquest Topaz II, Straightwire Chorus

Delightful treble, strong bass, transparent and an incredible deep 3d soundstage

There could be an instruction on how to connect the cable for novice users. e.g ground end would go to your source unit i.e CD player

System used:

Primare A20 MKII amplifier
Primare D20 CD player
Monitor Audio Silver 4i
Ixos isolation superspikes
Atacama nexus 6 (sand filled) stands
QED Biwire silver anniversary cables


After upgrading recently my amp and cd player I decided to upgrade to interconnects. After reading around and listening, I opted for a pair of Van den Hul D102 III hybrid interconnects.

After burning them in for 2days straight, (The ground end is to be connected to your source unit e.g a CD player) I used the following albums to evaluate the interconnect:

Lee Ritenour - Rio
The Best of David Sanborn
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Neville Brothers - Brother's Keeper

Initial impressions were impressive, the detailing was more apparent compared to the qed qnect 2(which is a good product for its price) but further listening revealed my main delight - the sound staging, it felt very 3D like, not just interms of stereo imagery but the overall depth of the music was greater than before with an overall improvement in the timbre and tones of the instruments. This was highly perceptible in Rio. Additionally what caught my attention was the way the music "goes beyond the speakers"

Vocals were clearer, treble being more refined and bass a tad tighter. Again, the sound stage was quite captivating, closing my eyes I felt, the singers were there and in 3D. This was reflected in the Neville Brothers and Michael Jackson.

The delivery of the music was quick and emotional, and certainly easy to listen to.

I certainly rate these cables, a worthy investment to say the least.

Similar Products Used:

QED Qunex (Qnect) 2

precise sound

too bright highs - uncontrolled bass

I have following equipment:

NAD C270
NAD C541
Straight Wire Cables
Jm Lab Electra 905 speakers

I found that these cables have a too bright and too direct highs and uncontrolled bass. So I prefered the relaxed and natural sound of Cardas Crosslink which costs less than v.d.Hul 102 MK III.

Similar Products Used:

Cardas Crosslink

Realism,smooth treble, enhanced bass

None

I am new in the cable Graal quest regarding analogue audio interconnects. I needed a quality link between my Onkyo 828 and my Marantz 6000 OSE le.

I started to upgrade from standard pair of cinch to a set of QED 2. The definition-increased immediately, I was really impressed. But after few weeks of listening, I could described the sound as lacking detail and precision, even boomy on certain tracks (it is sometimes hard to keep my two 80Liters passive subs under control).

Reading on this site fantastic review about VdH products (especially the D102) I decided to give to the D102III a try.

Believe me, I wasn't disappointed at all about what I have heard.

It was a feeling of total harmony between my elements. Since these times I have rediscovered my old speakers (Triangle CX03) a complete revival of the good sides of "analogue" Times, soundstage was deep, sound was smooth, and vocals were superb: As a conclusion an extremely lively audition.

No doubt for me, if your are looking for a quality cable on a neutral system and you are able to find an authorised dealer, buy it!

Similar Products Used:

QED 1, QED 2,Supra EFF-ISL