Cable Asylum: REVIEW: DIY by Chris VenHaus VH Audio's UniCrystalâ„¢ 18 AWG OCC Wire Cable by oofer

Model:	VH Audio's UniCrystalâ„¢ 18 AWG OCC Wire
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$2.49/ft
Description:	OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) Solid Hookup Wire w/ FEP Teflon Insulation
Manufacturer URL:	DIY by Chris VenHaus
Manufacturer URL:	DIY by Chris VenHaus

Review by oofer ( A ) on January 18, 2007 at 23:43:29
IP Address: 216.110.206.186

Add Your Review
for the VH Audio's UniCrystalâ„¢ 18 AWG OCC Wire

Okay, this was a real shot in the dark. I have preferred using smaller gauge wires for several years now in my amp to speaker connections. Okay, actually in all my connections. All my IC's are 23 gauge wire of one sort or another, all from VH Audio. I had a set of double golden helix Mapleshade speaker wires. I have owned VH Audio's CHeLA's which left me flat, literally my music sounded flat. I know this isn't everyone's experience. Ihave had DH Lab's cables, Cardas cables, Element Cables. I have been around the block on speaker cables short of owning a set of Nordost Valhalla's.

I noticed in the dreaded Stereophile's recommended components, in the speaker wire catagory, they always mention Rad Shack hookup wire as a possibility. I have also heard from various sources about using solid wire of different gauges, usually in the 17 to 20 AWG range both copper and silver. The theory, as I understand it, and this should be taken with a grain of salt, is that solid wire offers more coherence to the signal by virtue of the single conductor's surface area. Oh, hell, I am not explaining this correctly. Anyway, the idea boils down to single, solid conductor speaker wires might work for particular systems.

Include my system as one of them. While Mapleshade's wire got me 90% of the way there, it was a bit uneven to my ears through my system. I ended up in my search with a set of Guerilla Audio silver push/pull wires that really satisfied me. They were soft annealed silver, each pole having four 23 gauge wires each wrapped in a teflon dielectric then woven into a" litz-design" configuration. Whatever. I can say that Jason of Guerilla Audio was a pleasure to deal with, much like Chris at VH Audio is. And his product sounded good to me. Real good.

But when Chris at VH Audio started offering 18 gauge OCC solid copper with a telfon insulation hookup wire, I jumped. Every time I have used UPOCC wire it has had a positive effect on my system. I figured I would buy just enough Red and Green OCC wire to twist together for a stereo set of speaker wires.

I am very glad I did. These wires sound balanced, clean, coherent with wonderful bass extension and PRAT. I was never a fan of the whole Pace, Rhythm, and Timing definition before. Now I get it. Actually I though somehow I had hit a button that increased the speed of the SACD I was listening to. I noticed a clearer tempo, and cleaner, more balanced sound across the spectrum. I was a bit unnerved, to tell you the truth. All this expensive wire I had gone through, and these hookup wires were flat out better. At least for my system.

Now YMMV, to be sure. However, on the off-hand chance that my ears are correct, and within the criteria of my system--short speaker wire runs into fairly efficient speakers, I would recommend you at least give this little set up a try. At $2.49 per foot, given what you COULD spend, I think a trial would be a legitimate expense.

Yes, I know Pierre Sprey feels that speaker wire should be at least 8 feet per pole, and I know people who feel shorter is better. I am not going there. What I can say is that the two sets of four foot VH Audio UniCrystal(tm) I tightly twisted together have made my listening to music more enjoyable than it has ever been.

Product Weakness: May not work for everyone
Product Strengths: Wonderful Sound, relatively inexpensive, easy to make

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	PS Audio HCA-2 (modified by Reference Audio Mods--way worth it) + DIY Neotech NEP-3001(UPOCC) Power Cord( from VH Audio) with FIM 302 & 303 UPOCC connectors
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	PS Audio PCA-2+HCPS + VH Audio DIY Flavor 1 (made in the flavor 4 fashion) with FIM 302 and 303 UPOCC connectors.
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	see oofer's system in Inmate Systems
Speakers:	see oofer's system in Inmate Systems
Cables/Interconnects:	see oofer's system in Inmate Systems
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Jazz, Folk,
Room Size (LxWxH):	15 x 20 x 16
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Two Weeks
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	May not work for everyone
Product Strengths:	Wonderful Sound, relatively inexpensive, easy to make