Headphone Cables

Yeah, I would go Furutech's. But here are some other options (apart from the usual Amphenol, Neutrik/Rean, Switchcraft):

* Eidolic - https://doublehelixcables.com/product/eidolic-emx-4r-rhodium-4-pin-female-mini-xlr-for-audeze-zmf/

* PLUSSOUND - http://www.plussoundaudio.com/diy/c...LUSSOUND-4-Pin-Mini-XLR-Connectors-p250592649

* Toxic Cables - https://toxic-cables.co.uk/product/toxic-cables-4-pin-mini-xlr-single/

* DH Labs too, apparently - https://www.ebay.com/itm/DH-Labs-Mi...e-connectors-DIY-headphone-cable/362479401799

Now if only Neotech would get into the 4-pin and 4-pin mini XLR connectors game.

EDIT: Added DH Labs, which I just found.

 

Think i'll just go with the Furutech ones since they're available on Audiophonics where i'm ordering the other stuff from as well. Not had the best experience in the past with Furutech HD800 connectors but i'm willing to give it another shot.
Already made a nice collection of parts! Gonna do some more research before placing the order.

 

I have refer Neutrik XLR connectors FWIW and they’re much cheaper.

 

They don't have Neutrik/Rean unfortunately... But since the order needs to be split anyway since i don't have a solder pot for the litzwire they could still be an option.

 

The Furu mini XLRs are about 1000% better than the HD800 connectors. The Furu HD800 connectors are unusable junk due to the awful tolerances. The 4-pin mini XLRs are really nice to work with.

 

Yeah no kidding i practically had to use pliers to unplug the damn connectors.

OT: I wonder if there is a cheap hacky diy way to get a solder pot. Blow torch and a metal bucket? I mean i can buy one but the only use case seems to be litz wire which i'll probably never use after this.

 

If you don't need to tin too much wire, just cranking the iron to high with a fat blob of solder on the end also works. This is how I've always done it.

 

FWIW, the Neutrik/REAN connectors are what some LCD-5 owners are complaining about being too tight, tight enough to yank out the socket from the headphone cups/chassis.

 

If they ever get stuck like this, grab the connector and clip with a pair of pliers and they come right out.

 

Right parts ordered! Went with the Rean connectors since i can get them for €2,70 a piece rather than 10x as much for the Furutechs. The cable will likely never be removed anyway so if it's a little hard to do so i don't mind really. Will try @Armaegis method of doing the litz wires. Total cost came down to €144 with shipping, most of the cost went into the litz wire since i need 4m.
Will post some pictures of the process later

Thanks for all the help!

 

Hey, just noticed this after I got a shipping notice from hificollective, but there's another Neotech OCC HP cable they've got::Sheathed cable

 

Interesting but it doesn't look to be braided? And there is also no shielding it says. So i'm not so sure about this one for my usecase. Short iem lengths would probably be fine.

 

So i finished the cable and i'm pretty happy with it. The Neotech cable is about the same thickness as the stock Audeze cable but noticeable more flexible and perhaps a bit more microphonic but not bothersome. It is also a bit lighter i think. The soldering went pretty well once i pumped my soldering station to 450C to melt off the anamel.

One thing i've learned is that when twisting the ends that go to the headphones perhaps it's probably a good idea to twist them counter to one and other to reduce them tangling. This is something i will fix later if it starts annoying me too much. Also after twisting them put on some heatshrink to keep it in place and also to protect the cable from the strain relief.

I planned to put a sleeve on the the cable but the one i ordered was too tight and probably a bitch and a half to get on a 4m cable even if it did fit. Probably gonna be a chore to keep it neat when the dog is shedding but ah well. But i like the look, it's a slightly dull copper(duller than the pic) but looks good either way.

 

One trick for pre braided wire to keep the leads going to the headphone more tidy is to clamp them taught and very, very carefully heat them with a heat gun. It will soften the pvc and when it cools, it should lose a little bit of the memory from the machine braiding. Of course, too much heat or staying on a spot too long could ruin the wire, so...

 

That's a good idea i will try that

 

A hairdryer works for this, too!

 

No worries invested in a nice Hyundai heat gun years ago!

Edit: It worked great

Nice and straight.

 

So having lived with this cable for a bit i feel i can give some sound impressions. Compared to the stock Audeze cable that came with the XC's(2021) these are a definite step up. Overall it's cleaner with better separation and thus a better defined headstage. Smoother and at the same time more detailed and textured, more depth and clearer tonal colors. More palpable instruments. I just want to listen all day man...
The stock cable was good don't get me wrong but if you want something better that doesn't break the bank and you know how to work a soldering iron i can highly recommend these.
No problems with the Rean connectors either, a little snug but no pliers required.

 

Having some weird problems with my cable and i think it's either a bad cable or bad mini xlr, i reterminated everything and it persists.
Problem is a channel imbalance with right being lower in volume. But weird thing is i've been swapping around a bunch and now it suddenly works ok? Messing with the cable does not seem to affect it, i measured the resistance and everything is 0.01 ohms which seems good for a 4m cable.
Maybe the capacitance changes due to a bad connector? idk just guessing atm...
Think i might buy some different connectors and see what those do, what does the stock cable use? Amphenol?

Edit: I use bluetack as a third hand maybe some got inside the connectors? Will test for a while to see if it holds up...

 

I am using an OIDIO cable with my Verums for about a month now, terminated with 4-pin XLR. it's a really good cable: great build quality, customisable looks, flexible, not microphonic in the least. I did not have my ears peeled for the sound of the cable per se and I don't really want to take out the Chinese cable I was using before for A/B comparison - it's a phase I am currently in, and frankly, I am happy to be out of the critical mode. suffice it to say that I really enjoy the sound.

it's on the pricier side, at least for me, and given that it's made in the UK I had to pay the import duty and tax, but it was well worth it.

I have someone traveling in from the US and, and the occasion allowed me to acquire two Audiophile Ninja cables - SE for HD650 and XLR for Fostex TR-X00, curious to try them as I read a lot of good reviews.