DH Labs interconnect cables

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Fretless
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DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by Fretless »

This is probably going to get me thrown into the fiery pit of NVA purgatory to burn eternally for acts of heresy against the faith - but here goes anyway ...

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with NVA interconnects and that stems right back to the first pre-power combo I bought in 1986. Hooking the 2 boxes together were grey shoelaces called 'Sound Cords' which I was advised to leave in place simply because it was better that way.

Being an incorrigibly curious audio-nut, of course I didn't and pretty well every interconnect I came across was tried out between P50 and A40. The really annoying thing was that NOTHING sounded as good as those flimsy SC wires - until I got hold of a 2nd-hand set of Accuphase Blue interconnects, known for their low-capacitance. These worked well in filling out the sound from the amps with a richer and smoother performance.

That was in the Dark Age, when NVA had gone into hifi limbo and was just a fading memory. Then things started up again. New NVA amps and cables arrived: P50sa, A40 monoblocks and I eventually acquired 2 sets of SSP mk2 - after suffering the trials and tribulations of using the original, stiff Sound Pipes for a while. Absolute b****rs to set up - as anyone who has had them will testify.

NVA interconnects have always sounded great for the price and bring the best out of the amps. There is a holistic synergy to Richard Dunn's brainchildren that you mess with at your peril.

So, SSP. I got hold of 2 separate lengths of SSP digital and started to use those as the link from pre to power amps. The chance to get hold of a stereo pair from a forum member came and those were added between DAC and Preamp. Certainly an improvement over the SSP mk1. But ...

Cats and hifi don't mix. The beasts have the habit of crawling behind the rig and shifting the wiring, in my case one of the ex-digital SSP leads had a faulty connection which would cause all sorts of trouble if it was disturbed and I had regular concerns that the amps might suffer a major problem.

I wanted a cat-proof interconnect that might even improve sonically on SSP although the obvious choice of NVA's TIS range were way out of my budget.

Enter stage left, DH Labs, a small cable-specialist outfit from the USA. My recent quest for the ultimate (affordable) USB link had led me to their Silver Sonic Mirage cable and I started reading up on their design philosophy and other products.

In their range is an interconnect called the Air Matrix. This is because the dielectric layer around the silver-coated conducting core is a special foam that is 60% air. This gives the cable an impedance that approaches that of a total vacuum and ultra-low capacitance. The last got my attention and I started wondering how this interconnect would work with NVA amps.

DH Labs also have their own super-secure and guaranteed cat-resistant RCA plugs so I took the plunge and ordered 2 sets of 50cm leads.

Image

These arrived yesterday and I have fitted them into place from DAC to P50sa and then to the A40's. Tentatively I fired up the system again and had a listen. Things sound superb. The Air Matrix display a wonderful clarity of sound that has sharper focus and more bass than I was getting before. And they still have to be run-in.

Now I know that my SSP's were a mixed bag of old stock and that the newest cables are improved, and I have never heard TIS interconnects so cannot comment on those. However the DH Labs Air Matrix is one of those rare interconnects that does work synergistically with NVA equipment and has given my system a performance boost that I did not expect.

Also, the cats can't upset things anymore. :animals-cat:
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CN211276 (Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:08 am) • Latteman (Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:21 am)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by antonio66 »

Those DH Lab interconnects are not cheap, but not out of the way expensive. After reading about these cables I think I will mention to him about the digital cable since he uses two between dac and clock. Thanks for the write up.
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Fretless (Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:35 am)

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by CN211276 »

Fretless wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2020 12:40 am This is probably going to get me thrown into the fiery pit of NVA purgatory to burn eternally for acts of heresy against the faith - but here goes anyway ...

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with NVA interconnects and that stems right back to the first pre-power combo I bought in 1986. Hooking the 2 boxes together were grey shoelaces called 'Sound Cords' which I was advised to leave in place simply because it was better that way.

Being an incorrigibly curious audio-nut, of course I didn't and pretty well every interconnect I came across was tried out between P50 and A40. The really annoying thing was that NOTHING sounded as good as those flimsy SC wires - until I got hold of a 2nd-hand set of Accuphase Blue interconnects, known for their low-capacitance. These worked well in filling out the sound from the amps with a richer and smoother performance.

That was in the Dark Age, when NVA had gone into hifi limbo and was just a fading memory. Then things started up again. New NVA amps and cables arrived: P50sa, A40 monoblocks and I eventually acquired 2 sets of SSP mk2 - after suffering the trials and tribulations of using the original, stiff Sound Pipes for a while. Absolute b****rs to set up - as anyone who has had them will testify.

NVA interconnects have always sounded great for the price and bring the best out of the amps. There is a holistic synergy to Richard Dunn's brainchildren that you mess with at your peril.

So, SSP. I got hold of 2 separate lengths of SSP digital and started to use those as the link from pre to power amps. The chance to get hold of a stereo pair from a forum member came and those were added between DAC and Preamp. Certainly an improvement over the SSP mk1. But ...

Cats and hifi don't mix. The beasts have the habit of crawling behind the rig and shifting the wiring, in my case one of the ex-digital SSP leads had a faulty connection which would cause all sorts of trouble if it was disturbed and I had regular concerns that the amps might suffer a major problem.

I wanted a cat-proof interconnect that might even improve sonically on SSP although the obvious choice of NVA's TIS range were way out of my budget.

Enter stage left, DH Labs, a small cable-specialist outfit from the USA. My recent quest for the ultimate (affordable) USB link had led me to their Silver Sonic Mirage cable and I started reading up on their design philosophy and other products.

In their range is an interconnect called the Air Matrix. This is because the dielectric layer around the silver-coated conducting core is a special foam that is 60% air. This gives the cable an impedance that approaches that of a total vacuum and ultra-low capacitance. The last got my attention and I started wondering how this interconnect would work with NVA amps.

DH Labs also have their own super-secure and guaranteed cat-resistant RCA plugs so I took the plunge and ordered 2 sets of 50cm leads.

Image

These arrived yesterday and I have fitted them into place from DAC to P50sa and then to the A40's. Tentatively I fired up the system again and had a listen. Things sound superb. The Air Matrix display a wonderful clarity of sound that has sharper focus and more bass than I was getting before. And they still have to be run-in.

Now I know that my SSP's were a mixed bag of old stock and that the newest cables are improved, and I have never heard TIS interconnects so cannot comment on those. However the DH Labs Air Matrix is one of those rare interconnects that does work synergistically with NVA equipment and has given my system a performance boost that I did not expect.

Also, the cats can't upset things anymore. :animals-cat:
Very interesting and I am not surprised the DH Labs cables sound so good going on the performance of their digital cables. I will be sticking with TIS which I found are a big improvement over SSP when connecting both DAC to pre amp and pre amp to mono blocks. I think there is a lot to be gained by synergy with TSCS (LS7) completing the connection to the speakers. At digital end it is DH Labs USB and BNC all the way from streamer to DAC.

I doubt if the DH Labs digital cables can be bettered at any price and have been recommending them on the Chord users Facebook page, much to the anoyance of the maker of the Wave Storm BNC cables which cost ten times as much! He came bach saying Rob Watts uses his cables. When I asked if Rob Watts paid for them I was met with silence. :lol: The thread was removed and he came back as a sock puppet. :lol: In a compariso his rip off BNC cables came off second best to the Blue Jeans which were replaced by DH Labs in my system.
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Fretless (Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:39 am)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by Fretless »

"Ah yes", I hear you asking, "what have you done with those SSP cables then?"

Well, the ex-digital pair are still in the main system, but now hooked up to the MF headphone amp - replacing an NVA SSC link.
That SSC is now in my lounge setup going from Metrum DAC to ancient NVA P50 pre-amp (the one with the 'Big Knob') and the other SSP set are running from there into the venerable NVA A40 stereo power-amp.

This installation has NEVER sounded so good! Most noticeable is the effect SSP has on the power-amp, as if it has really been freed of sonic shackles and allowed to shine. What did it replace? The Accuphase cable, that's what - a lovely smooth performer, but very restrained and lacking sparkle - but an excellent combination with bright-sounding components.

And that original pair of SC Sound Cord shoelaces - have they been consigned to the great hifi dump in the sky?
Hell no - they are sitting inbetween the Topping DAC and active speakers in my Corona-workplace rig and are doing awesome work there.

The moral of this story is:
Good interconnects never die! :dance:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by Daniel Quinn »

I must confess I'm an interconnect cynic, I just can't be arsed figuring if the minutiae of differences are different.

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by Fretless »

Reading the 'NVA history' article I see that RD's cable philosophy was very similar to that of DH Labs. The Air Matrix dielectric might have been something he would have been interested in, the importance of impedance and capacitance in relation to their impact on sound quality.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by George Hincapie »

CN211276 wrote: In a compariso his rip off BNC cables came off second best to the Blue Jeans which were replaced by DH Labs in my system.
What differences in presentation were noted between Blue Jeans and DH Labs? I tried DH Labs when I had a full NVA cable loom, but sent them back. They sounded bright to me.

Currently using full Blue Jeans loom, except for the TSCS I have. Curious about DH Labs again.
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3

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HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

Power
Farad • Tomanek

Sources
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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by CN211276 »

George Hincapie wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:04 pm
CN211276 wrote: In a compariso his rip off BNC cables came off second best to the Blue Jeans which were replaced by DH Labs in my system.
What differences in presentation were noted between Blue Jeans and DH Labs? I tried DH Labs when I had a full NVA cable loom, but sent them back. They sounded bright to me.

Currently using full Blue Jeans loom, except for the TSCS I have. Curious about DH Labs again.
All my analogue cables are NVA and all the digital cables are DH Labs. The cables I am referring to are the dual BNC ones connecting the Mscaler to the Qutest. The Blue Jeans cables were very good but DH Labs one brought about a subtle extra degree of transparency which I thought justified the additional cost. It was a similar situation with the USB cable connecting the streamer to the Mscaler. I found the DH Labs cable to be slightly better than the highly regarded Audioquest Carbon. I recall them being similar in price.
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George Hincapie (Sun Sep 25, 2022 10:10 pm)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by George Hincapie »

I'm with you. Thanks for taking the time.

What level did you go to for DH Labs? Air Matrix, Cryo or Revelation?
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3

Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

Power
Farad • Tomanek

Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz

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Re: DH Labs interconnect cables

Unread post by CN211276 »

George Hincapie wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 10:14 pm I'm with you. Thanks for taking the time.

What level did you go to for DH Labs? Air Matrix, Cryo or Revelation?
Silver Sonic, Mirage.
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George Hincapie (Mon Sep 26, 2022 12:03 am)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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