Headphone Cables

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by rhythmdevils, Mar 2, 2021.

  1. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    There is a proper Cardas headphone cable FS here if still available: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...erless-pmb85-double-action.10821/#post-344602. Was tempted just to check out (I have too many cables already).

    I also noticed Pangea sells an extension cable using Cardas for pretty cheap that I was tempted to turn into a couple cables (it's 15ft long). Might be a fun loaner. I could do the work if I got a little help to defray cost of connectors. https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PGHPC
     
  2. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    Cardas make and sell complete headphone cables (sold through dealers). A few years ago I was looking for a balanced XLR cable for my HD6XX and it happened to come up on Drop (https://drop.com/buy/cardas-premium-clear-light-headphone-cables). Price was not bad (somewhere around $150) and was half of what online dealers were charging for the same thing. I almost went for it, but in the end I didn't feel right about spending that much for my $200 headphones and I went for a $50 cable from eBay.
     
  3. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    oh you’re right where did I get that impression. Didn’t Cardas make the infamous Smurf blue headphone cable that was super popular on HD6x0’s back in the day? (12 years ago ish). I thought that cable sounded worse than the stock cable on a pair of HD 6x0’s I had back then. Against everything I wanted to believe. (The cable came with the headphones which I bought used and I was excited about it and wanted/thought it would sound awesome)
     
  4. Claud

    Claud Living the ORFAS dream

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    I had a "Smurf " blue Cardas cable on my HD 600s. It was decent sounding. IMO. It was at best half as good as a Norne Draug 3. It was also the stiffest HP cable that I have ever owned. Best thing about it was the response to my for sale add. Sold it after two hours of being advertised on HeadFi. Had three other buyers check with me wanting to buy.
     
  5. Cryptowolf

    Cryptowolf Repping Chi Town - Friend

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    I have a smurf blue Cardas cable on my Beyer DT800-250 ohm edition from Headphones.com. I bought the unit used off ebay at a really good price because one of the grills was dented. I agree, I would not buy another smurf blue cardas cable because it is stiffer than my left knee in the morning and doesn’t coil well when not in use. I’m going with either Pridick or Norne cables for the low microphonics and feel alone.
     
  6. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Someone said that Hart Audio cables are returnable in another thread but I can’t find shy info about this on their website or a contact email.

    anyone know more? I bought a bunch of cables from them assuming they would sound normal and returning them would be nice given how they sound.
     
  7. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Hmm, is Hart's cable that bad?

    It seems that @E_Schaaf and @tommytakis decided to use Hart Audio for their headphones: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...enesis-and-genesis-p.10849/page-2#post-345560

    The review sample (headphones and cable) might be on their way to Marv, so we will be able to expect another opinion point regarding Hart as a part of his headphones evaluation (I'm sure he has other 3.5mm terminated cables to compare).

    Hart's product seems reasonable to me in pricing, so I was honestly about to order a cable or two for myself. I can't hear cable differences well tho.
     
  8. Claud

    Claud Living the ORFAS dream

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    For good quality IEM cables, at a lower price I recommend Penon. ($49 to $799) An excellent IEM cable manufacturer is PW Audio. UM IEMs is including PW cable with their Mest 2 and their new VERY expensive Mason Fabled Sound IEM.. The good thing about PW is that they have good sounding less expensive cables. $179 for a 4 wire and $300 for an 8 wire at Accessory Plus. They are also at MusicTeck. Look for sales. Most people buy the #5 and #10 anniversary cables.
    These are both Chinese cable manufactures. You can get cheaper cables at Ali Express, but these are top quality like PlusSound and Effect.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2021
  9. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    yes. To my ears very bad. Worst cable I’ve tried so far. Including the 10$ Vmoda cable that is super thin. And the stock T60rp cable.
     
  10. Drifterxny

    Drifterxny Friend

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    Ditto on that, sounded like absolute crap compared to stock hifiman h6sev2 cable.
    It's not some subtle difference, it was night and day. I don't mean some slight difference between copper vs silver etc, I was shocked on how bad it sounded vs stock. It's like going form ca andromeda to ear buds that used to come with phone bad.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2021
  11. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Don't worry, it's not a done deal. We haven't ordered any stock of them yet. I got a sample yesterday and thought it sounded fine though didn't compare to anything else. What about the cable build do previous users think would yield bad sound? I'd rather not rely on anecdotes and have an actual material reason to avoid.

    I don't spend on cables as a general statement and the extremely strong opinions regarding cables (something I've never had) makes me feel like having no stock cable is the best option if it means less price to the person purchasing the cans and less bitching after the fact.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2021
  12. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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  13. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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  14. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    SPC IS GARBAGE
     
  15. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Really good price! Makes the Focal stock cable seem even more ridiculous, as it is also a double barreled coax design but "only" OFC. Awfully similar to some Mogami I found. I am ordering some to play with.
     
  16. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Just trying to help you out. Audiophile Ninja is just as cheap and sounds fine it won’t f**k with your creation. You can get them with 4pin XLR and contact the owner Jeremy on his Etsy shop to get 4 pin XLR > 1/4” pigtail adapters.

    Hart Audio Cables sounded actively bad to me to the point I was reevaluating my mod until I happened to try changing cables and the problems went away.

    I hate dishing on them they are a good company. They offered me a full refund for all the cables I bought. But there is something wrong with the material or braid they are using.
     
  17. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    I'm ordering up a Ninja cable now to see how they compare. Price and quality looks great. Hopefully they have the production capacity for bigger orders ~50 cables or so. Thanks for the tip @rhythmdevils :) didn't mean to sound antagonistic earlier, just hadn't had my morning coffee yet.
     
  18. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    No worries I didn’t take it that way. It’s persnickety. But it’s a big deal knowing how much effort and thought you’ve put in these.

    The Audiophile Ninja cables are stiffer and thicker but the midrange is pure. A little more treble than the expensive OCC stuff but subtle and you can adjust for that. You can’t fix weird midrange shmear.
     
  19. AudiophileNinja

    AudiophileNinja MOT: Audiophile Ninja Cables

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    Hey E_Schaaf / Rhythmdevils-

    Owner/cable builder/support team of one/etc at Audiophile Ninja here.

    I've been a lurker on SBAF for a few years and have learned a TON from all the experts on here, so it's an honor to hear the positive feedback on the cables we build. I also really appreciate your support of small business.

    E_Schaaf - I just replied to your email and will get the sample order out tomorrow. Looking forward to chatting more!
    If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to reach out. Here to help! [​IMG]

    Regards,
    Jeremy
     
  20. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    this cable really sounds good. I haven’t been able to compare it to Forza or Norne because Norne has only made me my Audeze cables. And I ordered an HE6se, Audeze and T60rp cable from Lunashops but they haven’t gotten here yet.

    In terms of look and feel I think it is my favorite though. It’s not as thick as the others and it has this bare copper look and feel that’s really nice.I can’t stop playing with it.

    I do wonder though if it will turn green. There’s a reason for all the insulation on the Forza, Norne and Arctic cables. Which I don’t think this has.

    Does corrosion affect the sound? I would think so. But some green might be pretty. :)

    I’m basically ordering cables from every big player except I don’t want anything to do with Double Helix. 2k$ cables can suck it. Even if they make cheaper ones I’m put off. So I spend 300$ and it’s your worst cable? f**k you.

    anyways I’ll try to do a write up at some point. So far Forza feels like my reference cable. Partly because he got me cables for all my orthos right away but also because they have a nice balance of good sound but not gaudy looks at all. The Norne Drausk is the most intense cable I’ve ever seen. I got it to demo headphones with but it might be a bit much in its presentation. It sounds good though. My brief impression is slightly better than Forza Claire HPC Mk 2 but I haven’t compared much yet.
     

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