Van den Hul The Bay C5 review

For harsh, bright-sounding systems, the Bay C5 could be an antidote

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

For harsh, bright-sounding systems, the Bay C5 could be an antidote

Pros

  • +

    Warm, rich sound

  • +

    Good, stylish build

  • +

    Good for bright sounding systems

Cons

  • -

    Imperfect timing

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For harsh, bright-sounding systems, the Bay C5 could be an antidote.

The smooth-matte jacket surrounding the interconnect is matched by the cable’s polished, glossy take on music.

Performance

Van den Hul The Bay C5

Van den Hul The Bay C5

Play Tom Odell’s I Know and his vibrant piano-playing sounds rich and full of warmth, as does his vocal.

Thankfully, all that silky richness from the Van den Hul doesn’t suffocate or stifle a system’s ability to sound dynamic and exciting.

There’s still enough tension and drama to be drawn from Like A Dog Chasing Cars from the Dark Knight soundtrack. As a listener, you’re still moved and engaged by what the cable imparts.

Verdict

Our only criticism is that the Bay C5 doesn’t have a great grip on track timing.

Even music with a simple beat – such as John Newman’s Running – can sound confused. The different elements don’t knit together, with the track seeming to trip over itself.

MORE: See all our speaker cable reviews

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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.


Read more about how we test