Denon Link Cable AK-DL1 - Just a mere $500

June 14, 2008 by David Kay
Filed under: Home Audio > Wire & Cable > Interconnects



Who do you suppose would have the hubris necessary to charge $500 for a 1.5 meter length of Denon Link cable (essentially glorified CAT5 network wire)? Perhaps Monster Cable, MIT, or Virtual Dynamics? Sadly, the answer is Denon themselves, who've apparently decided to cash in on the uber priced cable business.

The Denon AK-DL1 Link cable is made from "high purity" copper wire, and uses high quality connectors and insulation, tin-bearing alloy shielding and woven jacket. Production costs are most likely less than $10. Denon Link is an alternative to FireWire for SACD and DVD-A signal transfer, but it is essentially rendered obsolete by HDMI. Ironically, Denon's own HDMI cable costs 1/5 as much as their Link cable, and can also transmit HD video and lossless HD audio.

Source: Denon
Comments (9)
lukas 3 months and 3 weeks ago

Can't say I blame them, there is big money in expensive cables these days. At least they tell you which way the signal should go "for optimum signal transfer." :P
Dave Kay 3 months and 3 weeks ago

Indeed, directionality is ever so important. The only trouble is Denon doesn't have the marketing dpt. for this kind of stuff, so there's absolutely no explanation as to why this should cost anywhere near $500. Copper wire, especially at the tiny gauges in this thing, and a bit of shielding costs a couple of bucks. They need to say it has Stage 4 speed of light filtering Mk3, THEN it would be worth $500.
lukas 3 months and 3 weeks ago

I think these are meant for the installers. That way they don't have to worry so much about marketing them, the installers will do it for them. Denon currently has two receivers that cost more than $5,000 and someone having a custom home install done with them is usually going to be spending a decent chunk of change. An extra $500 in the grand scheme of things probably doesn't sound like much if they are already spending a large amount of money.
Dave Kay 3 months and 3 weeks ago

You're probably right. Reminds me of the priceless Transparent Cable "Add $$$ To Your Installs Here!" picture.

Transparent Cable
Electrodynamic 3 months and 3 weeks ago

Can't really blame them. If people are buying into the other BS that the hi-fi realm has been known to carry with it, why not make an attempt to dabble in that market? If a cable cost $20 to make, charge $5,000.
aCiD 3 months and 3 weeks ago

The other ones I could almost deal with, this one I cannot deal with.

Although, I lol'd when I saw it.

In fact, I thought it was insane enough for Best Buy, Futureshop, Circuit City types to sell normal Cat5 patches for grossly inflated prices (Read: $10 for 6' or something like that).

This is why I buy cat5 by the box, make one 100' cable and the spool, and all the tools just paid for themselves.
Kyle 3 months and 3 weeks ago

I bought 5 of them.
my music is so much more airy and the bass is tighter!
lukas 3 months and 3 weeks ago

Haha, hopefully they are installed in the right direction with multiple cable risers.
Mike Edgar 3 months and 2 weeks ago

You'd think they would get at least black RJ-45 connectors so you wouldn't see the Cat-5.....
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