van den Hul Flat HDMI (3m) review

This is one of the most accomplished and musical HDMI cables we’ve heard Tested at £105.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

One of the most accomplished and musical HDMI cables we’ve ever heard. A superb upgrade

Pros

  • +

    Crystal clear picture

  • +

    excellent detail levels

  • +

    smooth with motion

  • +

    refined, natural sound

Cons

  • -

    Nothing at all

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.

As you'd expect from a cable named the Flat, this HDMI offering from Van den Hul is slimline. Its flexible form means that you can manipulate it into all kinds of positions.

This versatility is ideal for the cramped areas you tend to find around the back of an AV rack, where space is at a premium and cables jostle for position.

The Flat meets HDMI v1.3 standards, so is fully compatible with all HD Audio formats, as well as Deep Colour and xvYCC. It's enshrouded in a Hulliflex jacket and is fitted with gold-plated contacts.

Clear, free-flowing images
And it's soon apparent that this cable is special. Images boast amazing clarity and there's hardly any trace of noise. The cable has a firm grip on motion and allows for a fantastic smooth and free-flowing image during the opening chase of Casino Royale.

The Flat also produces a punchy picture that's lively, vivid and a real feast for your eyes.

Sonically, the Flat is anything but. It's pleasingly dynamic, entertaining and one of the most musical HDMI cables that weve come across.

Explosions are taut and well-defined, gunfire and dialogue sounds natural and in general, the cable digs up plenty of detail from movie soundtracks. Overall, then, the Flat is a superb cable and a real contender for one of this year's Awards.

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