VSystem

Van den Hul The Tide Hybrid — Balanced Interconnect with Low Capacitance

The van den Hul The Tide Hybrid is a highly flexible, rugged, double-shielded twin-core audio interconnect — the first balanced cable from van den Hul to include its renowned LSC technology at this price point. Exceptionally low conductor-to-conductor capacitance (just 44 pF/m) makes it particularly suited to high-impedance sources such as guitar pickups, while its flexibility and durability make it ideal for home, car, and instrument applications.

Key Highlights

• Exceptionally low capacitance (just 44 pF/m) for minimal loading of high-impedance sources
• Stranded 24 AWG conductors of densely silver-coated large crystal oxygen-free copper
• Double hybrid shielding — a dense braid combined with a Linear Structured Carbon treated layer
• Extra thick, highly flexible Hulliflex jacket for maximum ruggedness and easy handling

Technology & Benefits

Stranded Silver-Coated Conductors

The conductors are made of very pure, large crystal oxygen-free copper with a dense silver coating — a combination delivering pure and transparent sound. The dense silver coating further improves conductivity and provides maximum durability over time.

Very Low Capacitance for High-Impedance Sources

The very low parasitic conductor-to-conductor capacitance — just 44 pF/m — minimizes the load presented to high-impedance signal sources. This matters particularly with guitar pickups, where higher cable capacitance alters the sound character and rolls off the high frequencies.

Double Hybrid Shielding

The double hybrid design shield combines a dense braid with a special Linear Structured Carbon treated layer. This combination effectively shuts out external interference, keeping the signal clean and noise-free — at a price unusual for a cable with these characteristics.

Flexibility and Ruggedness

The extra thick, highly flexible orange-yellow Hulliflex jacket provides maximum mechanical ruggedness, easy handling, and optimal lifespan protection. This combination is particularly valuable in instrument applications, where the cable is coiled and uncoiled constantly.

Application Versatility

The Tide Hybrid serves both balanced and unbalanced connections in home and car hi-fi applications. Its high flexibility and quality also make it an excellent musical instrument cable, and wired in a balanced configuration it serves very well as a microphone cable.

Who Is It For?

The van den Hul The Tide Hybrid suits musicians looking for a quality low-capacitance instrument cable, and audiophiles wanting a balanced connection with LSC technology at an accessible price. Its durability and flexibility also make it well-suited to car audio installations.

Technical Information

• Cable type: Analogue interconnect — balanced
• Available versions: RCA (0.8m, 1m, 1.2m), XLR (1m, 1.2m)
• Jacket colour: Yellow-orange
• Product range: Entry-level
• Conductor material: Stranded, silver-plated large crystal OFC (24 AWG)
• Conductor diameter: 0.52 mm
• Shielding: Double hybrid — dense braid + LSC treated layer
• Cable diameter: 7.0 mm
• Conductor resistance: 0.085 Ω/m
• Screen resistance: 0.017 Ω/m
• Conductor-to-conductor capacitance: 44 pF/m
• Jacket: Hulliflex, extra thick, halogen-free

Expert Tip from vsystem.bg

If you use this cable with an electric guitar or another instrument with passive pickups, the low 44 pF/m capacitance is a key advantage — it preserves the instrument's natural character and doesn't roll off the high frequencies the way higher-capacitance cables do. For balanced connections in a studio or home system, the XLR version fully realizes the twin-core construction.

FAQ

Why does low capacitance matter for guitar?
Passive guitar pickups are high-impedance and particularly sensitive to cable capacitance. Higher capacitance acts as a filter, rolling off high frequencies and altering the sound character. At 44 pF/m, The Tide Hybrid preserves the instrument's natural voice.

What is the difference between the RCA and XLR versions?
Both use the same twin-core construction. The XLR version fully realizes the balanced connection for better interference immunity, while the RCA version serves standard unbalanced home components.

Is it suitable for car audio systems?
Yes, the rugged extra thick Hulliflex jacket and double shielding make it particularly well-suited to car installations, where the cable is exposed to mechanical stress and electrical interference.

Can it be used as a microphone cable?
Yes, in a balanced (XLR) configuration The Tide Hybrid works very well as a microphone cable thanks to its twin-core construction and high shielding factor.