Van Damme UP LC-OFC cables

aliEnRIK

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Having tried all sorts of cables out, I am a believer in them. But im also well aware of all the marketing BS that goes with it. Im pretty sure many people on here are well aware of the well designed cables Van Damme make

Anyways ~
I thought id like to share my experiences to even those that are also advocates of Van Damme cables. The reason being that having tested studio blue interconnects and speaker cables (What nearly everyone who uses Van Damme has), ive recently tried some van damme UP LC-OFC (Ultra Pure Linear Crystal Oxygen Free Copper, which basically means the copper is VERY pure) speaker cables and interconnects

The reason I initially bought the studio blue is because I falsely believed that it was those that were used in the recording studios (Im sure some are anyways), but its actually the UP LC-OFC that are the top of the range 'hi fi' cables. Also, ive had to put my own plugs on the ends of the ICs and speaker cables (ive used 'That Cables' bananas and Phonos, of which WHF love their HDMI - im sure you know the one), so I initially bought some 'ready made' studio blue ones as no one seemed to do the same with the LC-OFC ones (Ive found a very good retailer on ebay now though). The ICs ive silver soldered (easy enough, took me about an hour and a half to make them up)

My point ~ I would urge EVERYONE to try these cables out. For the money
theyre fantastic, and cost a minimum of 10 times less the
hifi 'known' brands (Though its probably more like 50 times less). Ive only recently fitted the ICs to my system (Had the speaker cables on a couple of weeks now). As soon as I put the cd in the tray (A compilation of film tracks I got free of front of a mag, Harry Potter score 1st track), my jaw dropped. Ive used VERY expensive cables in my system to compare them too. I dont regret ever buying them, but the van dammes top them no danger. This is the 1st time in a LONG time ive genuinely sat back and thought that music doesnt get any better than this.


Even those with van damme studio blue will tell an 'instant' difference with these cables.I admit theyre pretty hard to find (even online), but if you can (I managed to buy the speaker cable even cheaper than the studio blue normally costs!), you have absolutely got to give these cables a go

All im hoping for now is they release some XLR balanced cables with the same purity copper and ill be a very happy bunny

I hope somone here reads this and decides to give it a go, so i'd know at least one person is listening to a similar quality that im listening to right now.......

(PS ~ cable sceptics - ive heard it all before so please dont bother)
 
OK, you my interest with these cables, may I ask where you can get the stuff from ???
 
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will give clearlyAV a ring tomorrow and get some of this for a trail (my Gale cabling is getting really old now), just for the front end, think the 2 x 2.5 will be OK ???? , I hate thick cables :thumbsdow

this should go nice with the bananas I have just order from here :smashin:
 
will give clearlyAV a ring tomorrow and get some of this for a trail (my Gale cabling is getting really old now), just for the front end, think the 2 x 2.5 will be OK ???? , I hate thick cables :thumbsdow

this should go nice with the bananas I have just order from here :smashin:

2.5mm is fine
 
VDC trading (Audio Cables | AV Cable | VDC - Cable Specialists) produce the Van Damme cable brand.

IIRC there's a minimum order value of £60+vat+post to order direct from VDC and I tend to use tmfsolutions.co.uk for custom cables as they order regularly from VDC. They offer a good saving off the VDC published price. VDC will produce finished cables to your spec using the range of products shown in the catalogue.

AVI
 
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VDC trading (Audio Cables | AV Cable | VDC - Cable Specialists) produce the Van Damme cable brand.

IIRC there's a minimum order value of £60+vat+post to order direct from VDC and I tend to use tmfsolutions.co.uk for custom cables as they order regularly from VDC. They offer a good saving off the VDC published price. VDC will produce finished cables to your spec using the range of products shown in the catalogue.

AVI

I only need 8 metres (for the front end) so VDC is a no no for me. Actually the AV price of a couple of quid per metre is about as good as it gets.
 
I only need 8 metres (for the front end) so VDC is a no no for me. Actually the AV price of a couple of quid per metre is about as good as it gets.

The OP mentioned Van Damme was difficult to find. Hence the link to VDC and tmfsolutions. :)

AVI
 
All im hoping for now is they release some XLR balanced cables with the same purity copper and ill be a very happy bunny

VDC can make cables to your spec based on the cable stock and connectors they offer. If you use a VDC dealer rather than direct the price is usually much lower than catalogue prices. :)

I've used VDC for many years via TMFsolutions and found the service very good.

AVI
 
VDC can make cables to your spec based on the cable stock and connectors they offer. If you use a VDC dealer rather than direct the price is usually much lower than catalogue prices. :)

I've used VDC for many years via TMFsolutions and found the service very good.

AVI


Unless im missing something, they dont do the UP LC-OFC grade
 
Have you asked ? :)

AVI

Its not that im after some. Perhaps theyd make whatever I asked for (If I so wished)

Plus, those particular ones are cheaper on ebay
 
I think youve misunderstood. Van Damme dont make the UP LC-OFC XLR 'cables' to begin with

Fair enough if you've asked VDC direct and that's the case.

Interestingly when I spoke to their technical guys they claimed it was possible and that much of their range now uses UPLC-OFC although the spec sheet may not mention it specifically. How true of false that is I can't say. :)

AVI
 
Interestingly when I spoke to their technical guys they claimed it was possible and that much of their range now uses UPLC-OFC although the spec sheet may not mention it specifically. How true of false that is I can't say. :)

AVI

It appears there's some truth in the above based on what's printed on the Van Damme cable jacket versus what's described on the spec sheet.

Take a close look at the cable image (top left) and on some is printed "LC OFC" yet there is no mention of "linear crystal" in the spec

http://www.vdctrading.com/docs/22.pdf

Same again here and elsewhere VDC describe this specific cable as "UPLC-OFC"

http://www.vdctrading.com/docs/4.pdf

Maybe most of the ultra pure OFC is the same material.

AVI
 
£20 for a 1.2m pair? Jesus that's dear. When I was powerselling these cables on here they would have been ~£6 each.

Not nice to see high profits creep into supposedly pro product ranges. :(

If it's a Van Damme product, then whoever you buy it from it will have come through VDC in this country as they are the main distributor. VDC therefore can make anything up if you ask them and they deem it worth their while(!). Their retail prices can be high at times though so a reseller may well be able to better standard products which won't require special orders.
 
It appears there's some truth in the above based on what's printed on the Van Damme cable jacket versus what's described on the spec sheet.

Take a close look at the cable image (top left) and on some is printed "LC OFC" yet there is no mention of "linear crystal" in the spec

http://www.vdctrading.com/docs/22.pdf

Same again here and elsewhere VDC describe this specific cable as "UPLC-OFC"

http://www.vdctrading.com/docs/4.pdf

Maybe most of the ultra pure OFC is the same material.

AVI

Whenever ive been a little confused as to whats being sold ive checked the code number (ie ~ 268.545.060)
Ive already tried the studio blue (Of which is that code ive just posted) and it certainly sounds sonically different to the LC grade

I always go off Van Dammes 'own' site. Not a vendors
 
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£20 for a 1.2m pair? Jesus that's dear. When I was powerselling these cables on here they would have been ~£6 each.

Not nice to see high profits creep into supposedly pro product ranges. :(

If it's a Van Damme product, then whoever you buy it from it will have come through VDC in this country as they are the main distributor. VDC therefore can make anything up if you ask them and they deem it worth their while(!). Their retail prices can be high at times though so a reseller may well be able to better standard products which won't require special orders.

The speaker cables ive bought have been cheaper than VDC
 
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I always go off Van Dammes 'own' site. Not a vendors

Van Damme's 'own' site (Van Damme) also shows images of Blue and Green series cable that has "LC-OFC" printed on the jacket but not in the spec description. :)

IIRC VDC Trading is the "exclusive" supplier of Van Damme cable and also develops products under that brand name.

AVI
 
Van Damme's 'own' site (Van Damme) also shows images of Blue and Green series cable that has "LC-OFC" printed on the jacket but not in the spec description. :)

IIRC VDC Trading is the "exclusive" supplier of Van Damme cable and also develops products under that brand name.

AVI

I admit it does

Ive just now looked at my studio blue speaker cable
Code 268-545-060
Clearly has UPOFC printed on it and is on van dammes own site

It seems 4mm and under have UP OFC on and the 6mm has LC OFC (got to be the same stuff though - a missprint?)
 
As with all cable vendors doing big quantities VDC has that neat little ‘small print’ disclaimer about ‘product specifications may vary...' – they don’t tend to announce when they have changed the Spec of cable stock so you need to be on your toes if your wanting ‘same spec’ for a particular install.

Joe
 
perhaps there are 3 grades
UP OFC
LC OFC
UP LC OFC
 
perhaps there are 3 grades
UP OFC
LC OFC
UP LC OFC

I doubt it unless it's simply due to different stock and some is from an older run etc.

My understanding is that the LC process which has been around for about 30 years is designed to achieve a longer grain length which reduces impurities between the crystal boundaries. I would guess there's not really much point if the copper has higher levels other impurities.

Maybe we will see OCC copper products introduced or other marketing terms used to target specific groups of the audio market. :)

AVI
 
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