Van den Hul The Name review

Energy and fun trump ultimate precision

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

If energy and fun trump ultimate precision for you, The Name could be The One

Pros

  • +

    Energetic, enthusiastic sound

  • +

    punchy and weighty in bass and midrange

Cons

  • -

    Could do with more focus when it comes to rhythms

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Van den Hul tends to operate at the pricier end of the market, so we were interested to see how this £60 interconnect performs against its similarly priced peers. First impressions are good, thanks to solid construction and well-made plugs (although on a superficial level we’re not sure about the colour).

Our reference system for this test comprises a Cyrus CD6 SE CD player, Roksan Caspian M2 integrated amp and ATC SCM11 speakers. So, with the interconnect hooked up between the CD player and amp, we set a copy of Radiohead’s In Rainbow’s spinning and tuned in our ears.

It definitely has an energy that other cables don’t, letting the likes of Metallica’s Holier Than Thou unleash its full fury on our system, while Cee Lo Green’s F**k You bounces along with musical (if rather profane) enthusiasm.

Punchy and weighty, with an expressive midrange, it doesn’t harden up towards the top of the frequency range, either – good news if you’re into your long listening sessions.

The downside to all this esprit, though, is a slight lack of focus when it comes to rhythm and timing. And that’s something the Chord Company CrimsonPlus nails, for fifteen quid less. So, four stars it is.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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