van den Hul Ultimate review

High-end home cinema deserves a good cable. This HDMI cable could just be it

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

It has a clear, realistic and detailed picture - it's just the price that hurts

Pros

  • +

    Great detailing, clear, realistic pictures

Cons

  • -

    It hurts the wallet

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.

There's a lot of pressure on Van den Hul's latest HDMI cable. It's called the Ultimate, so anything less than five stars and it'll be a case of the not-so-Ultimate.

Thankfully, this HDMI v1.3 cable lives up to its name.

The Ultimate really does impress with its clear, detailed, realistic picture. Even more apparent is the sonic ability of this cable. It sounds controlled and composed.

The level of refinement and finesse that it encourages is there for all to hear. It's capable of delivering the explosive adventures of Rambo with gusto and is equally adept at creating a tense atmosphere during Batman Begins

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