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Van Den Hul The FIRST® Metal Screen Audio Cable

As low as £270.00 £225.00
SKU
Van Den Hul The First Metal Screen
12 Months
New
24 hours
what's this?

We can burn-in your cable for up to 96 hours FREE of charge using our Nordost VIDAR cable burner. This is a £3000 machine that will optimise the performance of your cables from day one. This means the cables will be in optimum performance mode when you receive them, so you'll be able to make a performance assessment quickly rather than waiting 70 hours+ of usage. The result of conditioning cables with the Nordost VIDAR is, improved sound staging, increased detail, and an overall more musical presentation. Please Note: we are unable to burn-in cables with stripped bare ends, BFA-only plugs, or no plugs selected. (This does not apply to BFA/Banana plugs). Cables are burnt-in for the selected period AFTER your order has been processed. This service is offered at Future Shop's discretion and we cannot guarantee all burn-in requests are fully completed during busy periods.

what's this?

Select the desired length for your cable from the drop-down menu.

what's this?
SPEAKER CABLES:

A quantity of 2 means you will receive a pair of speaker cables e.g. for your front left and front right speakers. By entering a quantity of 1, you will get a cable for a single speaker e.g. centre speaker and this option also enables you to vary the length (and termination) of your cable for each speaker.

OTHER CABLES:

A quantity of 1 means you will receive a single cable in the case of aerial, satellite, subwoofer, digital coaxial & optical cables and a pair of cables in the case of 2 rca to 2 rca analogue audio cables.

NON-CABLE PRODUCTS:

A quantity of 1 means you will receive 1 of the specified products.

Available

Need help? Call us on 0800 772 3688 or 0208 905 1555

Prefer email? Contact us via sales@futureshop.co.uk

The FIRST ® Metal Screen is an extension to our “The FIRST ®” series of coaxial Linear Structured Carbon ® (LSC) interconnects designed for highest quality audio and SPDIF digital signal transport.

Van Den Hul The FIRST® Metal Screen Audio Cable

 

The FIRST ® Metal Screen is an extension to our “The FIRST ®” series of coaxial Linear Structured Carbon ® (LSC) interconnects designed for highest quality audio and SPDIF digital signal transport. The FIRST ® Metal Screen is a special version of our The FIRST ® with the same basic construction, however, as its name already indicates, a dense braided high quality metal (*) screen covering its Linear Structured Carbon ® shield has been added. As such The FIRST ® Metal Screen can be looked upon as the coaxial (unbalanced) version of our The SECOND ® balanced Linear Structured Carbon ® interconnect which is also metal screened. *: High purity dense Silver coated high purity Matched Crystal OFC. The major difference between the members of our “The FIRST ®” series is their shield series resistance; Our The FIRST ®, The FIRST ® Ultimate and The FIRST ® Metal Screen progressively exhibit a lower shield resistance. (Respectively: ~14, ~4.8 and 0.0049 Ohm/m.).

Although both first mentioned 100% metal free versions perform hum and noise free in more than 95% of all line level interconnect applications, The FIRST ® Metal Screen with its lowest shield resistance has been specially designed for those situations where excessive ground currents flowing through the cable shield are present (e.g. with some tube equipment), in complex grounding situations and/or where extra shielding against strong external electrical interference is required (e.g. in highly electrical noise polluted areas).

 

Features:

  • Van Den HulThe FIRST® Metal Screen Audio Cable
  • Length: 0.8m
  • As an interconnect between (or to or from) tube equipment
  • For transport of weak signals such as from phono cartridges, microphones or musical instruments
  • As a long length interconnect

Regarding its excellent sonic characteristics The FIRST ® Metal Screen is very close our The FIRST®.

 

Specifications:

  • Cable Type: Coaxial
  • Conductor Material: Linear Structured Carbon ®
  • Design Purpose/ Application Area(s): Highest quality audio interlink; Tone arm to preamp (*); Microphone or Electrical instrument cable; SPDIF digital audio interconnect (75 Ohm)
  • Eff. Conductor Ø/Eq. AWG No./Strands: - / - / Core: 12,000; Screen: 38,000 (LSC) + 192 (MCOFC)
  • External Diameter / Dimensions: 7.5 mm
  • Resistance 20 °C / 68 °F: Core: ~36 Ohm/m.; Screen: 0.49 Ohm/100 m
  • Capacitance: 61 pF/m
  • Insulation / Dielectric Strength / Test Voltage: Core: PE foam; Jacket: HULLIFLEX ® 4 / 300 Vrms min
  • Connector Types Suitable: Our RCA type C - 8.0; Neutrik 1/4" (6.3 mm.) Jack/Phone plug; Custom mountable on ordered lengths
  • Standard Sales Units / Lengths: Stereo pair packed with RCA (unbalanced) connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m. Single packed for SPDIF transport-dac purposes with RCA connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m
  • Jacket Colours Available: Saffron yellow
  • Remarks: Connectors need to be factory mounted. (*): For MM and high output MC cartridges
  • Other types available in our “The FIRST ®” series: The FIRST ® Ultimate

Specifications:

  • Cable Type: Coaxial
  • Conductor Material: Linear Structured Carbon ®
  • Design Purpose/ Application Area(s): Highest quality audio interlink; Tone arm to preamp (*); Microphone or Electrical instrument cable; SPDIF digital audio interconnect (75 Ohm)
  • Eff. Conductor Ø/Eq. AWG No./Strands: - / - / Core: 12,000; Screen: 38,000 (LSC) + 192 (MCOFC)
  • External Diameter / Dimensions: 7.5 mm
  • Resistance 20 °C / 68 °F: Core: ~36 Ohm/m.; Screen: 0.49 Ohm/100 m
  • Capacitance: 61 pF/m
  • Insulation / Dielectric Strength / Test Voltage: Core: PE foam; Jacket: HULLIFLEX ® 4 / 300 Vrms min
  • Connector Types Suitable: Our RCA type C - 8.0; Neutrik 1/4" (6.3 mm.) Jack/Phone plug; Custom mountable on ordered lengths
  • Standard Sales Units / Lengths: Stereo pair packed with RCA (unbalanced) connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m. Single packed for SPDIF transport-dac purposes with RCA connectors in 0.8 & 1.0m
  • Jacket Colours Available: Saffron yellow
  • Remarks: Connectors need to be factory mounted. (*): For MM and high output MC cartridges
  • Other types available in our “The FIRST ®” series: The FIRST ® Ultimate

UK Delivery

 

1. We use Royal Mail 1st Class Services as a Standard Postage Option

Orders received before 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. Over 98% of our orders are usually delivered the next working day including Saturdays.

Standard delivery is usually within 2-3 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays . In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.

All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Futureshop.co.uk. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD or Interlink Express for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order Monday to Friday subject to stock availability. For International orders, we use FedEx Services where customers have selected this option.

Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths or custom-made cables may be subject to longer delivery time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

We offer 'Free UK delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:

  • Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at FutureShop.co.uk
  • Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by UK Mail).
  • Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
  • You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
  • We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
  • FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.

Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or Interlink Express next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.

Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or Interlink Express.

 

Royal Mail 1st Class Shipping DPD Next Day Delivery

 

2. Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day

We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.

For the Next Day Special Delivery service, orders must be received by futureshop.co.uk by 4.30pm weekdays. Orders after the 4.30pm deadline cannot be guaranteed for same day dispatch.

Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.

For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.

 

Royal Mail Special Next Working Day Delivery

 

3. Channel Islands & Northern Ireland

We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.

 

European Countries

Deliveries to EU member states are subject to 20% VAT. We offer the following shipping services:

  • Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 10 working days.
  • Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 7 working days.
  • DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
  • Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
  • Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours

 

Royal Mail International DeliveryRoyal Mail International Tracked DeliveryFedEX Express Economy International DeliveryFedEX Express Priority International DeliveryDHL Worldwide Express International DeliveryDHL Econmy Select International Delivery

 

Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe

Deliveries outside of the EU are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you login or register.
We offer the following shipping services:

  • Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days.
  • Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail - Items are usually delivered within 10-15 working days.
  • DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
  • Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.

Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets.

 

Royal Mail International DeliveryRoyal Mail International Tracked DeliveryFedEX Express Economy International DeliveryFedEX Express Priority International DeliveryDHL Worldwide Express International DeliveryDHL Econmy Select International Delivery

 

Enhance Your Experience: Free Cable Burn-In Service with Nordost VIDAR Machine

 

Please take note of the following details regarding our cable burn-in service:

  • Cable Compatibility: We regret to inform you that we cannot burn-in cables with stripped bare ends or BFA plugs. In order for cables to undergo the burn-in process, they should be terminated or have connectors.
  • Timing: Cables will be burnt in for the selected period after processing your order. For custom-length cables, the burn-in process will occur after they have been terminated by the manufacturer or our engineers unless specified otherwise in the product description.
  • Availability: Future Shop provides our cable burn-in service free of charge, but its availability is at our discretion. While we strive to fulfil all burn-in requests for the specified time periods, please understand that during exceptionally busy periods, we may be unable to meet the demand due to limited connections on the Nordost Vidar cable conditioning machines.

The Nordost VIDAR cable burn-in machine integrates three key functions into one operation:

  1. Charge Neutralisation: It eliminates charges that accumulate around the cables and their insulation, ensuring a more balanced electrical environment.
  2. Deep Conditioning: The machine provides a wide band and deep conditioning process that affects the conductor core, resulting in changes to the signal transmission through the metal. This deep conditioning enhances the cable's performance.
  3. Ultrasonic Surface Conditioning: The VIDAR machine utilizes ultrasonic waves to condition the surface of the conductors, optimizing their contact and overall conductivity.

The VIDAR employs a proprietary combination of composite and complex signals to condition the cables. These signals comprise ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies, extending beyond the range of video frequencies. The signal moves back and forth along the cable, penetrating deep into the core with ultra-low frequencies and traversing the surface with ultra-high frequencies. This transmission method generates beat harmonics between the two complex waveforms, which permeate all layers of the cable. The circuitry of the VIDAR also drives electrons from the conductor into the insulation area, neutralizing electrical charges.

 

 

Nordost Vidar Burn-in Machine

 

 

So, what does this all mean for you?

The ultimate outcome of conditioning cables with the Nordost VIDAR is improved sound staging, increased detail, and an overall more musical presentation in your audio system.

Now, you may wonder why cable burn-in is necessary. During cable manufacturing, gasses become trapped as insulation is applied over the conductors. Additionally, new cables often possess high electrical charges, resulting in a brittle and bright sound that lacks the desired detail and depth for music production.

When cables undergo burn-in, the trapped gasses are dissipated, and small impurities in the conductor metals begin to exhibit diode-like behaviour, favouring current flow in a specific direction.

Here are the physical effects of the burn-in process:

  • Charge Neutralisation: The burn-in process neutralizes charges in the conductors and insulation, promoting a more balanced electrical environment.
  • Wide Bandwidth Frequencies: The conditioning affects how signals pass through the metal, enabling a wider range of frequencies to penetrate all cable layers.
  • Signal Transmission: The burn-in process establishes the directionality of the cable, optimizing signal transmission from one end to the other.

When cables are properly burnt in, you can expect the following audible changes in your audio system:

  • Fuller and Natural Sound: Your system should be capable of producing a more immersive and realistic performance with a fuller and more natural sound.
  • Increased Detail: You may notice enhanced details and nuances in the music, allowing you to perceive subtle elements that were previously hidden.
  • Improved Soundstage: The dimensionality of your system's soundstage can be greatly improved, creating a more spacious and immersive listening experience.

At Future Shop, our goal is to maximise your satisfaction. That's why we offer a free burn-in service on all our cables before they arrive at your door, enabling you to sit back and enjoy the benefits of properly conditioned cables in your audio system.

 

 


Download Icon  READ MORE ABOUT THE NORDOST VIDAR CABLE TREATMENT

 

Customer Reviews
100%
5 /5.0 of 3 Reviews
5 stars 3 (100%)
4 stars 0 (0%)
3 stars 0 (0%)
2 stars 0 (0%)
1 star 0 (0%)
5
Fabulous product - transformative
13 Jul 2024
Verified Buyer
A mind-blowing improvement in sound clarity, warmth, power, detail and colour. I used my long-serving Cambridge Audio Azur 851C CD player and Cary SLI-80 amp, and I now relisten to my large CD collection with curiosity and wonder. I never would have guessed that these recordings contained such detail, separation of sound, and a very large and lively dynamic range. For the competition to be fair between the two, I’ll now have to buy a second set for my Edge NQ streamer.
Was this review helpful? 0
5
Magnificent!
9 Jan 2022
Verified Buyer
This has replaced a cable costing well over double—fluid, detailed, grainless delivery. Music has been restored. I am delighted with this cable.
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5
Great cable
31 Aug 2018
Verified Buyer
Great cable. This is a great cable, and may be one of your last cable. I use it for my turntable - phono stage - amp. Sound is very natural, no edginess in the treble but very detailed and open. Bass is very controlled. Mids are luscious. You can never go wrong with this cable. Highly recommended.
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