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SteelyD
60
Jan 6, 2017
I've had this cable for a year and I recommend it. It's the cheapest option I could find but it's still of a very good quality, I've had no issues. But it won't improve sound quality one bit, cables don't work like that and anyone trying to convince you they do is selling snake oil.
But this is a good product at an attractive price.
TeensierPython
19
Jan 6, 2017
SteelyDI bought one just to be able to connect to different types of amps.
CanFan
17
Jan 6, 2017
SteelyDCables are *not* snake oil. Different designs, construction procedures, and materials DO make a noticeable difference. Period. There's no need for the ridiculous ongoing online argument about this issue! If you're unsure, just LISTEN to some different cables!
SteelyD
60
Jan 6, 2017
CanFanIf I'm unsure? I've been conducting tests with equipment, including various cables for 30+ years. There's not much about cables I'm unsure of any more, not regarding their influence on sound quality anyway. Audio cables just do not influence sound quality unless they're somehow faulty or for some reason overly resistive. Even the cheapest cables shouldn't be more resistive than expensive ones, since resistance is not a matter of using expensive materials. You want cables to be mounted with the right connectors and made of good, flexible materials. Stay clear of cables that claim to improve sound quality. Same with crystals you put on your Hifi equipment that "clean the air" and reduce EMI. They're snake oil.
CanFan
17
Jan 6, 2017
SteelyDI wasn't clear. When I said, "If you're unsure..." I didn't mean you specifically, Steely; I meant "if you THE READER is unsure." Hearing is subjective, and people hear things differently. Some cables have a better "synergy" with some equipment than with other equipment. A cable is a more complicated "system" than a plain, old piece of naked wire. You're saying that the HD800 replacement cable that Massdrop has for sale will sound the same as the cable that came with the HD800? PAHHHH!!! An utterly wrong and ridiculous assertion. And nobody said anything about air cleaning crystals: I agree that they would certainly fall under the heading of "snake oil."
SteelyD
60
Jan 7, 2017
CanFanThis cable will sound better than the stock cable. But not because of the cable itself, because of the balanced topology of the amp it uses (ideally). Cables themselves do not have sound quality changing properties. They just don't. There has been proper tests done where even hardened audiophiles (I consider myself one) can't tell the difference in blind ABX tests between $300 Monster cables and coat hanger wire. I have tried myself to make out any difference between different cables and always failed. The HD800 is excellent at revealing details and is very picky about the rest of the signal chain, but even they don't sound any different with different cables used in the chain. Go with a balanced cable, any kind, and you're golden.
BradTombaugh
22
Jan 7, 2017
SteelyDI think that this is the key point -- the biggest impact isn't the composition or construction of the cable, it's the fact that it is a balanced circuit. See this article https://www.headphone.com/pages/balanced-headphones-guide for a detailed explanation. The best reason to upgrade the cable on your Sennheiser's (600/650/800) is be able to use a balanced amplifier.
At this years Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver, I noticed that all of the demo units that Sennheiser had out were connected to their amplifier with a balanced cable. I had brought my HD600 with me, and plugged into the same amp, so the only difference was the balanced cable, and heard a significant difference -- more tightly controlled bass, better clarity in the high end, and a wider soundstage.
I ordered a Schiit Jotunheim and a ZY balanced cable like this for my HD600 that night. A balanced amp and cable makes a world of difference. Note that you will need a headphone amplifier that supports XLR balanced output to take advantage of the balanced cable. I will never go back to "single-ended" headphones again. The ZY cable is well made, and should hold up well.
The price for Sennheiser's balanced cable for the HD800 is $379.95 from Sennheiser, and the ZY cable with balanced XLR is $159.99 on Amazon. If that isn't enough to convince you that this is a good price, then do a search on Cardas cables.
FuckHead-Fi
424
Jan 7, 2017
CanFan Cables are snake oil. Different designs, construction procedures, and materials DO NOT make a noticeable difference. Period. There's no need for the ridiculous ongoing online argument about this issue!
FuckHead-Fi
424
Jan 7, 2017
CanFanIt will in fact sound exactly the same unless it is defective. Please stop spreading misinformation.
FuckHead-Fi
424
Jan 7, 2017
SteelyDBalanced cables have no advantage over single ended cables if the amplifier is well designed.
FuckHead-Fi
424
Jan 7, 2017
BradTombaugh Balanced cables have no advantage over single ended cables if the amplifier is well designed.
BradTombaugh
22
Jan 7, 2017
FuckHead-FiAs I mentioned: At this years Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver, I noticed that all of the demo units that Sennheiser had out were connected to their amplifier (a $2,200 Sennheiser HDVD-800 https://en-us.sennheiser.com/headphone-audio-amplification-hdvd-800-acoustic) with a balanced cable. I had brought my own HD600 with the original cable, and plugged into the same amp, so the only difference was the balanced cable, and I heard a significant difference -- more tightly controlled bass, better clarity in the high end, and a wider soundstage.
SteelyD$100 is a good price? Are you out of your mind? I made my own for half that much, including $45 for rhe hd800 connectors
Steve007
24
Feb 18, 2019
BradTombaughAre you comparing balanced to unbalanced? If so its apples and oranges.
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