View Full Version : Van damme Pro Grade XKE
Hypnotist
09-12-2018, 21:35
Bought a 1m Van damme Pro Grade XKE interconnect cable off ebay to try, been using a Ixos Blue for over 5 years and the change to the Van damme Pro Grade XKE being a new cable was very bright and harsh, been on burn in now for 16hrs so be interested what it sounds like ? I was shocked on the difference on initial listening to the point I swapped back the the Ixos to make sure the DAC or Amp didn't have a problem. The top end detail was certainly there, but a little to bright initially.
Interesting to have a listen later tonight
southall-1998_mk2
09-12-2018, 21:45
Good cable. I use Pro Grade XKE on my main system.
S.
Bigman80
09-12-2018, 23:09
Not to piss on the proverbial bonfire but probably one of the worst cables I've ever used.
Absolutely zero bass detail compared to good cables, mushy and smeared soundstage and easily beaten by other affordable cable.
Google:
Mogami Negflex RCA cable.
I have been using eBay sourced XKE/Neutrik cables cables for some time and to be perfectly honest find them very acceptable for the price.
Bass has been more than adequately present and any mush has been more attributable to poor source material than the cables per se.
However .... I recently ordered a few meters of Mogami Negflex 2549 (following an AoS recommendation) and today finished making the last cable to have a full set from digital source to power amp and headphone amp and have to say that initial impressions are that they are better - although only by a slight margin. This margin may widen with time - although I don't really subscribe to the 'burn-in' mythology so I'm not holding my breath on that one.
The only really hassle has been making up my own cables rather than buying 'off the peg' ... for some reason ready-made Mogami Neflex cables seem to command silly prices. Daft really as the cable itself is dirt cheap :scratch:
http://www.giraffeaudio.com/mogami-neglex-type-22awg-2549.html
I have been using eBay sourced XKE/Neutrik cables cables for some time and to be perfectly honest find them very acceptable for the price.
Bass has been more than adequately present and any mush has been more attributable to poor source material than the cables per se.
+1
For what it’s worth j7 at audio origami uses it for tonearm cables he makes.
He used it when he rewired my zeta.
southall-1998_mk2
10-12-2018, 16:22
If these are the same Van Damme Pro Grade XKE that you can get for much cheaper. If that is the case, then what a fecking rip-off!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-Origami-RCA-interconnects-Stereo-pair-1-metre-Hand-made-by-Johnnie/253138845346?hash=item3af0403ea2:g:cvEAAOSwhMFZsHX z:rk:1:pf:0
S.
jesus! i paid 3 quid a meter for mine,i still haven't tried it yet as an interconnect
southall-1998_mk2
10-12-2018, 16:56
jesus! i paid 3 quid a meter for mine,i still haven't tried it yet as an interconnect
The top I'll pay for them would be from Mark Grant cables. He uses the same RCA termination!!
S.
If these are the same Van Damme Pro Grade XKE that you can get for much cheaper. If that is the case, then what a fecking rip-off!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-Origami-RCA-interconnects-Stereo-pair-1-metre-Hand-made-by-Johnnie/253138845346?hash=item3af0403ea2:g:cvEAAOSwhMFZsHX z:rk:1:pf:0
S.
Damn right .... should be about £16 - £20 a pair tops (for 1 meter with Neutrik) .... and you get to choose your colour scheme :lol:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-Gold-Neutrik-Rean-RCA-Phono-to-RCA-Phono-Lead-OFC-Silver-Plated-Cable/261477655519?hash=item3ce14863df:m:mwdlbSR-PWkCVp4epip9j4w:rk:9:pf:0
Hypnotist
10-12-2018, 18:23
Damn right .... should be about £16 - £20 a pair tops (for 1 meter with Neutrik) .... and you get to choose your colour scheme :lol:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-Gold-Neutrik-Rean-RCA-Phono-to-RCA-Phono-Lead-OFC-Silver-Plated-Cable/261477655519?hash=item3ce14863df:m:mwdlbSR-PWkCVp4epip9j4w:rk:9:pf:0
Agree thats the cable alright and yes what a rip off, you have got to be careful what and who you buy off on ebay.
Todays results on the burn in period are : Trebles are no where near as harsh and lost that high frequency brightness on Female Country, the same FLAC tracks I played on Saturday, so pleased with the Van Damme Pro Grade XKE cable, so I've ordered 20m to do the odd mix and match of other RCA's
Thanks for your comments
Hypnotist
10-12-2018, 20:43
What solder are we using to solder up the RCA connections with ? everything now is lead free even the silver solder, I had some old silver solder but thats gone now.
What solder are we using to solder up the RCA connections with ? everything now is lead free even the silver solder, I had some old silver solder but thats gone now.
I still use Tin/Lead 60/40 .... got a 100g roll off eBay a few years back after trying 'lead free' (absolute shit IMO ...)
Hypnotist
10-12-2018, 23:35
Thanks Mike thats my thoughts
I still use Tin/Lead 60/40 .... got a 100g roll off eBay a few years back after trying 'lead free' (absolute shit IMO ...)
... and it's still available :)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100g-REEL-OF-SILVERLINE-BRANDED-SOLDERING-WIRE-Electrician-Plumbing-Hobby-DIY/202132257544?epid=1690009855&hash=item2f10057b08:g:TYgAAOSwPCVX5Sj3:rk:4:pf:0
Hypnotist
11-12-2018, 00:41
Just ordered one up, so roll on the cable and RCA Connectors, thanks
You can still buy 60/40 solder no problem - RS Components have it, for example. It is only SMD and flow soldering that requires companies to use lead free.
Damn right .... should be about £16 - £20 a pair tops (for 1 meter with Neutrik) .... and you get to choose your colour scheme :lol:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-Gold-Neutrik-Rean-RCA-Phono-to-RCA-Phono-Lead-OFC-Silver-Plated-Cable/261477655519?hash=item3ce14863df:m:mwdlbSR-PWkCVp4epip9j4w:rk:9:pf:0
Agreed - there are too many people making up interconnects and charging up to 10x the cost of the materials.
In the past I've made up dozens of unblanced interconnects using quality coaxial cable from various manufacturers (Belden, Huber & Shuner, Amphenol, Times Wire, BICC, Klotz, Van Damme, Mogami, Trompeter) and all have been excellent. I have heard only one cable which has sounded slightly different, but not necessarily better, and that was a £600 set of Chord ARAY cables. I made a 'Chinese copy' for about £15.
hifi_dave
12-12-2018, 17:04
What is the "Array" part of the Chord cables ?
What is the "Array" part of the Chord cables ?
The cable I heard (and copied) used a pair of coaxial cables wired 'shotgun' style (that is: the inner conductor of one is used for the signal, and the inner conductor of the second is used for the return. The shielding of each coaxial cable is insulated from the other but they are joined together at each end. A separate flying earth lead is connected to the junction at one end).
What intrigued me was the way vocals were projected out from the speakers - a phenomemnon I have not heard before with any other cable. Noticably different but not necessarily better. I don't use them as they are too bulky and inflexible - and I now have a system which largely uses balanced-line cables.
I am not a fan of this cable, it is glaring and bright .
Try some Canare star quad.
I got 15 meters of this Van Damme cable and thought of using it for very short runs 1 meter and under but even in short runs,I'm not a fan.
If you want to hear how a cable effects SQ a long run makes its presents very overt.
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