Topic: HD800 cable? (Read 21682 times)

Marvey · « **on:** March 28, 2014, 02:02:38 AM »

Any recommendations for an HD800 cable?

Requirements:

Copper (oh god not silver. please not)
Flexible
Not thick / ridiculous looking
Cheap

While we are at it, are the Amazon warehouse HD800 deals OK? Don't care about scratches. And I figure I can measure them for anomalies.

Maxvla · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2014, 02:12:39 AM »

I have solid core silver on my balanced cable (made by Ted at Headphone Lounge), but since I sold my BHA-1 like 6 months ago.... I've been using the stock cable with the M-Stage. Can't wait to get back to the balanced cable cause the stock is so bad. Too long, odd lumpy feeling, and since it is so long, it's heavy.

I've never had two cables of the same termination to compare configuration/materials so I don't know if there's actually any difference in sound.

I can send you my balanced cable if you want to try it, Marv. You'd just have to be careful with it, since it's solid core, it can't take bends very well so I try to keep it as straight as possible. Even being careful, I've broken the core twice and had to get it repaired. It has a sleeve on it now, so it should be better protected. It's about 6 foot long.

Marvey · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2014, 02:21:23 AM »

I'll pass. I hate the feel the silver solid core.

Maxvla · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2014, 02:30:29 AM »

I think I sent it with my HD800s when you measured them anyway, but you may not have tried it.

You might contact Ted Allen and see what he will quote you for a cheap copper cable. I got my silver cable for around $100 way back when.

tedallen0220@gmail.com

Stapsy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2014, 02:36:05 AM »

I was looking into this for a while. ZeeDee recommended Ted to me as well. Looks like he uses a thinnish cable and the prices are pretty good.

I ended up getting a long SPC cable made by a local guy which I quite like using mil-spec cable. Basically just a slight improvement on stock in clarity.

I also have a copper cable coming in from Trevor at Norne Audio who was recommended to me by Greed. Trevor is a really nice guy and gave me a smoking deal on a HD800 and HE5 cable. I will see how the sound goes but it will probably fail on your ridiculous scale. I like thick cables to impress my friends. The HE5 cable I got will be quite thin for improved comfort with orthos. It is SPC but Trevor may be able to do copper for you if you ask. Only $150 for the HE5

One last idea. I just got some Wywire interconnect which I really like. Bass response is good and treble is very clear yet non fatiguing compared with the old cables I was using which were an annoying combination of muddy and bright in comparison. Wywire just released a headphone cable which looks thin and could be a nice match for the HD800. Quite likely will fail your cheap criteria.

The real problem with "cheap" cables is that the damn HD800 connectors cost like $50.

hiyu64 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2014, 02:49:14 AM »

When I had an HD800 I picked up a 8 feet UPOCC cable made by ted from headphone lounge terminated in 4 Pin XLR. I then got a 1' XLR to SE adapter cable made from cable to finish it off. Cost me about $200. The outer sheathing was MDPC-X sleeve. The good thing is that it never got into a tangle, was flexible, and was very sturdy. The bad thing is that the inside diameter of the sleeve was much larger than the diameter of the actual cables so there was quite a bit of space between them. I really wish the cable and the sleeve could have been made to snugly fit together. Also, when i ran my fingers along the sleeve, I can hear that in the headphone. An effect kind of like that paper cup and string telephone thing kids used to play around with.

1. Copper check
2. Flexible check
3. not ridiculous looking check(it looks very sleek with the sleeve)
4. cheap - fairly cheap? depends on what you consider cheap.

Here is an old picture: http://i.imgur.com/nrLUWyC.jpg

burnspbesq · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2014, 02:51:28 AM »

I've always used the Cardas cables from HeadRoom (yeah, I funded their buyout of Tyll

). Both SE and balanced (2x3-pin). No complaints.

Marvey · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2014, 03:36:10 AM »

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the look of the Ted cables. I've heard the Cardas and I like their sound. Need to think a bit on this. Maybe I'll just buy the $50 connectors from ALO or Moon or ebay.

I'm going for simplicity - like the skinny Mogami microphone cables I currently have for the Abyss. Just super flexible, no shealth over a twisted pair, no sections of the cable which are exposed to reveal the twist, etc.

azncookiecutter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2014, 03:43:26 AM »

Forza? http://www.forzaaudioworks.com/en
Super cheap compared to other options, that's for sure. I picked up one for the HD 600s and it's treating me fairly well.

Anaxilus · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2014, 04:03:05 AM »

I hate the sound of Cardas myself, seems like they dull and compress the HD800 a bit too much for my tastes.

I like the true type2 litz copper of my Double Helix peptide but his soldering is awful, doesn't reply to emails and support is slow if not non existent. Maybe you could just get him to send the base cable and DIY your own.

The problem is the new/current Chinese knock off connectors are crap and the tolerances are all over. They can wiggle around and bend the pins causing the channel to cut out. I had to layer enamel on mine to stabilize the connector since double helix support for the crap connector vanished. So make sure you get good connectors that don't wiggle. In/out is okay, side to side is bad. They make new jumbo connectors but not sure how the tolerances are and they seem to possibly add more stress, not sure since i haven't played with them. Furutech makes some nice ones and the tolerances should be spot on since Japanese.

I like the Norse cable on my HE5 quite a bit. Looks like he has rebranded to Norne audio:
http://www.norneaudio.com/litzheim/

Author Topic: HD800 cable? (Read 21682 times)

Marvey

HD800 cable?

Maxvla

Re: HD800 cable?

Marvey

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Maxvla

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Stapsy

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hiyu64

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burnspbesq

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Marvey

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azncookiecutter

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Anaxilus

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Author Topic: HD800 cable? (Read 21682 times)