Review: Van Den Hul Orchid Interconnect

Category: Cables

Just picked up a pair of VDH Orchid's - 0.8m length RCA connectors. I am using them between my Njoe Tjoeb 4000 and my Sugden A21a. I was recently using DNM reson cable and enjoyed it immensely - seemed like a real budget beater, a very full, well rounded and detailed cable.
I ended up buying an older DAC to convert airtunes to audio so needed a new set of IC's - after a little reading decided to go after the Orchid's and connected them to my NT4000 the DNM's now doing duty on the DAC.
I have to say that this cable gives astonishing detail, presence, huge soundstage and has done what no other cable could do in my system - give a most noticeable bight on rock tracks.
I have been searching for a new set of speakers that would give my Sugden the ability to play raw - the A21a is a very smooth player and I enjoy almost every genre of music through it but my odd penchant for metal often fell short - it just lacks that solid state grit for riffing.
I put on AC/DC's 'Powerage' and right away it sounded like new speakers - Wow! These IC's have solved the riddle.
Everything else sounds more studio like in the right sense - vocals are far more present and clearly placed.
My one little beef is that some of the bass is now so tight and transparent that I don't find it fills the room the same.
I own 2 pairs of VDH Integration Hybrid IC's - one pair that I had terminated with Eichmann bullet plugs. I use the bullet plug version in between my phono preamp and the Sugden - the difference with the Eichmann's was a substantial improvement and something I will probably do on the Orchid's - I can't imagine how good they will be then.
I did try them from my phono to amp and was not as happy - while they opened up the bandwidth I noticed a fair bit more high end crackle and not as much depth in the bass - the Integration Hybrid's are a perfect match for my Rega P25 and Musicmaker III cart. Maybe the bullet plugs will remedy this - I will have to get back on that.