Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Van den Hul Inspiration Hybrid Cable by PureTone

Model:	Inspiration Hybrid
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$70-$80 per metre
Description:	Fusion Technology Speaker Cable
Manufacturer URL:	Van den Hul
Manufacturer URL:	Van den Hul

Review by PureTone ( A ) on January 23, 2003 at 17:48:18
IP Address: 216.254.161.120

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for the Inspiration Hybrid

First of all I would like to thank all the inmates as I find their reviews and comments useful and they have helped me quite a bit in putting together my current setup.
A little philosophy is in order:
I believe that you shouldn't buy IC's or speaker cable to address what are perceived deficiencies in the overall performance of stereo equipment. If a stereo setup doesn't sound good or right to the user chances are that the fault lies in one of the components. In these cases my humble opinion is that audiophiles should focus on spending their hard earned dollars via upgrades aimed at improving amps, preamps, sources and speakers. Cables and IC's should be seen more as "icing on the cake". You finally like your setup and how it sounds however you now wish to "optimize" it, get that last drop of performance from it.
The Review
I reached this point after about a year of upgrading, reading reviews and listening to audio equipment. I liked the sound of my setup but felt that speaker cables would squeeze out the extra little bit of performance.I decided on purchasing the Van Den Hul Inspiration Hybrid after reading favourable reviews and also that it was available at prices which didn't seem unreasonable compared to what some other manufacturers are charging these days. My old speaker cable was TMC Gold Reference and for the money it was very good. I felt though that despite it's excellent noise floor and neutrality it was a touch soft in the bass and also tended to exaggerate the mid-range. Also it tended to present high frequencies a little on the "hot" side of yang. Replacing it with the Van den Hul Inspiration Hybrid has brought about excellnt results and I couldn't be happier. My Audio Note AN-E's seem to love this wire. The immediate effect was one of harmony and balance. Instruments and vocalists seemed to settle down. It's as if the "scale" of things, musicians and instruments, had been organized producing a truer picture. Spatial cues were now more precise resulting in better definition of individual instruments and their relation to each other. The high frequencies were now totally grainless..smooth..clean. The midrange was now slightly recessed compared to the TMC's but the balance I feel is now "correct". The bass was better defined and more distinct. Soundstage depth improved and soundstage width was maintained(The TMC's were good in this respect). Also the overall tone, timbre and decay of instruments, although good with the TMC, achieved a new level of refinement.
Overall I would have to say that the Inspiration Hybrid has brought a new level of finesse, refinement and smoothness to the sound of my system. Everything seems better balanced and natural. I would highly recommend this cable to anyone looking to optimize an already good setup.

Product Weakness: None
Product Strengths: Clean, smooth and accurate presentation. Neutral. Excels in revealing a "naturalness" to the music. Available by the metre so you can save quite a bit if you terminate it yourself.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Canary Audio CA-706 (4X EL34, 40wpc)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Sonic Frontiers Line 1
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	EAD Ultradisc 2000
Speakers:	Audio Note AN-E/L
Cables/Interconnects:	Van Den Hul Inspiration Hybrid Speaker cables, TMC White and Yellow IC's
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Messiaen, Transfiguration/Myung-Whun Chung/DG 471 569-2\\\\\Arvo Part: Tabula Rasa/Gidion Kremer/ECM New Series 1275\\\Bjork: Debut/Elektra CD61468\\\\\\Nitin Sawhney: Prophesy/63881 27103-2\\\\\Zero 7: Simple Things/QMG 507-2
Room Size (LxWxH):	19 x 15 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	72 hours
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Wireworld Aurora III+ (Amp), Custom Power Model 11(preamp), Custom Power Top Gun (CD player)
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	None
Product Strengths:	Clean, smooth and accurate presentation. Neutral. Excels in revealing a "naturalness" to the music. Available by the metre so you can save quite a bit if you terminate it yourself.