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XLR Pair
Van Den Hul The Second XLR to XLR Audio Cable Pair
As low as €300.00
SKU
Van Den Hul The Second XLR
12 Months
New
24 hours
Request Price MatchThe SECOND ® renders an outstanding resolution and neutrality when used as an electrical instrument cable.
Van Den Hul The Second XLR to XLR Audio Cable
After the enormous success of our coaxial interlink The FIRST ®, it was the correct time to also produce a balanced version with Linear Structured Carbon ® (LSC) conductors, and what would be more logical than to name it: The SECOND ®. So The SECOND ® was born in the beginning of 1993. The two centre conductors are made of identical groups of LSC, each containing 12,000 individually insulated fibres. Besides the undisturbed and very good signal transmission per fibre, the individual insulation also much contributes to the high sound quality: no wild electron crossings between individual conductors subject to all kinds of boundary problems. The electrons move in one direction without side movements.
The insulation of both centre conductors is made of polyethylene foam in the colours white and brown. The special treated artificial filler fibres protect The SECOND ® against penetration of humidity; this keeps the capacitance stable and low. The shield is made of 4 layers: two different groups of helically wound dense silver coated OFC strands and 2 LSC saturated layers. This is the best possible shielding available; completely closed against any external signal penetration and with many advantages in the total construction itself. The jacket is made of a nice light brown coloured HULLIFLEX ® 3, the best external insulation material we can think about.
The SECOND ® is available in ready made lengths with our C - 7.3 RCA type connectors for single-ended applications and with Neutrik XLR connectors for balanced applications. There is practically no limitation to the applicable length of The SECOND ®. We have produced XLR connected The SECOND ® with a length of 25 meters as microphone cable for professional recording applications. Equally, The SECOND ® renders an outstanding resolution and neutrality when used as an electrical instrument cable. Also as a balanced (AES-EBU) digital cable The SECOND ® works perfect.
Specifications:
- Van Den Hul The Second XLR to XLR Audio Cable
- Length: 0.8m
- Cable Type: Quadruple screened twin core (Balanced)
- Conductor Material: Linear Structured Carbon ®
- Design Purpose/ Application Area(s): Highest quality balanced interconnect / Audio interconnect; Tone arm to preamp (*); Professional recording; Electrical instrument cable; Long distance (balanced) low level signal transport ; AES-EBU digital interconnect (**)
- Eff. Conductor Ø/Eq. AWG No./Strands: - / - / LSC Cores: 12,000; Screen: 204
- External Diameter / Dimensions: 7.3 mm
- Resistance 20 °C / 68 °F: Cores: ~36 Ohm/m
- Capacitance: Core-core: 68 pF/m
- Insulation / Dielectric Strength / Test Voltage: Cores: PE foam; Jacket: HULLIFLEX ® 3 / 300 Vrms min
- Connector Types Suitable: Neutrik XLR; Neutrik 1/4" (6.3 mm.) Jack/Phone plug; Our RCA type C - 7.3; Custom mountable on ordered lengths
- Standard Sales Units / Lengths: Stereo pair packed with XLR (balanced) or RCA (unbalanced) connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m. Single packed for AES-EBU digital audio interface purposes with XLR (balanced) connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m. For digital audio longer lengths of The SECOND ® are not advised
- Jacket Colours Available: Light-brown
- Remarks: Connectors need to be factory mounted
- (*): For MM and high output MC cartridges. (**): For short distances only and exhibits a good impedance mismatch reflection damping
Specifications:
- Van Den Hul The Second XLR to XLR Audio Cable
- Length: 0.8m
- Cable Type: Quadruple screened twin core (Balanced)
- Conductor Material: Linear Structured Carbon ®
- Design Purpose/ Application Area(s): Highest quality balanced interconnect / Audio interconnect; Tone arm to preamp (*); Professional recording; Electrical instrument cable; Long distance (balanced) low level signal transport ; AES-EBU digital interconnect (**)
- Eff. Conductor Ø/Eq. AWG No./Strands: - / - / LSC Cores: 12,000; Screen: 204
- External Diameter / Dimensions: 7.3 mm
- Resistance 20 °C / 68 °F: Cores: ~36 Ohm/m
- Capacitance: Core-core: 68 pF/m
- Insulation / Dielectric Strength / Test Voltage: Cores: PE foam; Jacket: HULLIFLEX ® 3 / 300 Vrms min
- Connector Types Suitable: Neutrik XLR; Neutrik 1/4" (6.3 mm.) Jack/Phone plug; Our RCA type C - 7.3; Custom mountable on ordered lengths
- Standard Sales Units / Lengths: Stereo pair packed with XLR (balanced) or RCA (unbalanced) connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m. Single packed for AES-EBU digital audio interface purposes with XLR (balanced) connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m. For digital audio longer lengths of The SECOND ® are not advised
- Jacket Colours Available: Light-brown
- Remarks: Connectors need to be factory mounted
- (*): For MM and high output MC cartridges. (**): For short distances only and exhibits a good impedance mismatch reflection damping
UK Delivery
1. We use Royal Mail 1st Class Services as a Standard Postage Option
Orders received before 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. Over 98% of our orders are usually delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2-3 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays . In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Futureshop.co.uk. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD or Interlink Express for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order Monday to Friday subject to stock availability. For International orders, we use FedEx Services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths or custom-made cables may be subject to longer delivery time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free UK delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at FutureShop.co.uk
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by UK Mail).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or Interlink Express next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or Interlink Express.
2. Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
For the Next Day Special Delivery service, orders must be received by futureshop.co.uk by 4.30pm weekdays. Orders after the 4.30pm deadline cannot be guaranteed for same day dispatch.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
3. Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are subject to 20% VAT. We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 10 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 7 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the EU are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you login or register.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail - Items are usually delivered within 10-15 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets.
Enhance Your Experience: Free Cable Burn-In Service with Nordost VIDAR Machine
Please take note of the following details regarding our cable burn-in service:
- Cable Compatibility: We regret to inform you that we cannot burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. In order for cables to undergo the burn-in process, they should be terminated or have connectors.
- Timing: Cables will be burnt in for the selected period after processing your order. For custom-length cables, the burn-in process will occur after they have been terminated by the manufacturer or our engineers unless specified otherwise in the product description.
- Availability: Future Shop provides our cable burn-in service free of charge, but its availability is at our discretion. While we strive to fulfil all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to meet the demand due to limited connections on the Nordost Vidar cable conditioning machines.
The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine integrates three key functions into one operation:
- Charge Neutralisation: It eliminates charges that accumulate around the cables and their insulation, ensuring a more balanced electrical environment.
- Deep Conditioning: The machine provides a wide band and deep conditioning process that affects the conductor core, resulting in changes to the signal transmission through the metal. This deep conditioning enhances the cable's performance.
- Ultrasonic Surface Conditioning: The VIDAR machine utilizes ultrasonic waves to condition the surface of the conductors, optimizing their contact and overall conductivity.
The VIDAR employs a proprietary combination of composite and complex signals to condition the cables. These signals comprise ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, extending beyond the range of video frequencies. The signal moves back and forth along the cable, penetrating deep into the core with ultra-low frequencies and traversing the surface with ultra-high frequencies. This transmission method generates beat harmonics between the two complex waveforms, which permeate all layers of the cable. The circuitry of the VIDAR also drives electrons from the conductor into the insulation area, neutralizing electrical charges.
So, what does this all mean for you?
The ultimate outcome of conditioning cables with the Nordost VIDAR is improved sound staging, increased detail, and an overall more musical presentation in your audio system.
Now, you may wonder why cable burn-in is necessary. During cable manufacturing, gasses become trapped as insulation is applied over the conductors. Additionally, new cables often possess high electrical charges, resulting in a brittle and bright sound that lacks the desired detail and depth for music production.
When cables undergo burn-in, the trapped gasses are dissipated, and small impurities in the conductor metals begin to exhibit diode-like behaviour, favouring current flow in a specific direction.
Here are the physical effects of the burn-in process:
- Charge Neutralisation: The burn-in process neutralizes charges in the conductors and insulation, promoting a more balanced electrical environment.
- Wide Bandwidth Frequencies: The conditioning affects how signals pass through the metal, enabling a wider range of frequencies to penetrate all cable layers.
- Signal Transmission: The burn-in process establishes the directionality of the cable, optimizing signal transmission from one end to the other.
When cables are properly burnt in, you can expect the following audible changes in your audio system:
- Fuller and Natural Sound: Your system should be capable of producing a more immersive and realistic performance with a fuller and more natural sound.
- Increased Detail: You may notice enhanced details and nuances in the music, allowing you to perceive subtle elements that were previously hidden.
- Improved Soundstage: The dimensionality of your system's soundstage can be greatly improved, creating a more spacious and immersive listening experience.
At Future Shop, our goal is to maximise your satisfaction. That's why we offer a free burn-in service on all our cables before they arrive at your door, enabling you to sit back and enjoy the benefits of properly conditioned cables in your audio system.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR CABLE TREATMENT
Customer Reviews
5 /5.0 of 2 Reviews
Good Value detailed cable.
Mark
12 Nov 2020
Verified Buyer
This is a 'detailed' cable that has an overall positive effect in my system, especially in the high frequencies. If your system is bright sounding already, perhaps this is not the right choice; if you are playing primarily digital sources where sibilance can be subdued (as in my case), you could do worse than this cable. The digital sources now sound more like vinyl (I know totally subjective) - nevertheless be careful if you have both sources because striking a balance needs experimentation.
My guess is a system needs to be in balance with comparable interconnects throughout so I have opted for Van den Hull cables elsewhere. I used to believe cables did not make that much difference, but I admit to being wrong. However no need to spend silly money and these are a good choice.
My guess is a system needs to be in balance with comparable interconnects throughout so I have opted for Van den Hull cables elsewhere. I used to believe cables did not make that much difference, but I admit to being wrong. However no need to spend silly money and these are a good choice.
For me this is a superb interconnect which I would...
Roger Ellis
12 Sep 2017
Verified Buyer
For me this is a superb interconnect which I would recommend highly. It is smooth and detailed as the First which preceded it. For the quality of its construction and performance the price is reasonable.
Ro-ger
Ro-ger