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DJAT
299
Dec 7, 2018
OK okay... for all you with questions, I already have a similar cable... Let’s just say, I have an mmcx fetish ever-since I modded my EMU Ebony’s. First things first: this is actually selling on AliExpress, by more than one vendor. That’s where I ordered it. Now most of these cables look pretty similar, and I probably have the exact SAME one, albeit a different color. My cable’s the silver 8-core one. For me, AE is usually reliable. I can say that confidently after over a 100 orders. And this kind of stuff is solid, so don't worry about Chinese vendors and manufacturers. Now as far as the METAL is concerned, mine is OFC copper, SILVER plated. The cable does sound better than all the rest of the cables that I have, so I guess the plating works. The cable makes my cans sound a little LOUDER than the rest, and it’s making sound BRIGHTER. Now I’m not one of those snake oil guys so I’ll just put it like this: this cable’s letting electrons flow better cuz of better materials, hence the improvement in sound. Better conduction= better audio results. Simple. Now, why do I have a battalion of cables? I was looking for a solid cable. Something SOFT, DURABLE, GOOD LOOKING and well… more BLING. You get all of that in this cable. It’s SOFT… doesn’t memory into any particular curve, it just stays free. And it’s light. Almost too light, but it’s well-made. And I think they’re right with the use of silver-plating too. The sound tells it. As you can see, I’ve collected a few in my time, and I could even tell you which one’s NOT recommended and which one IS. The paracorded one (my DIY) is a normal single wire silver-coated ($18 AliExpress), which sounds like the grey single wire ones in the picture here ($20 AE). The silver one, the single one here ($15) is also okay. Again, this sounds quiet-er so again, I guess inadequate conduction in comparison. The black/grey is BGVP, I got from PenonAudio ($20). This cable is… stubborn. It stays curved and bent most of the times, and it’s too thin. Not recommended. It sounds… not up to par either. Overall, I think this is a good buy. But here’s the thing: I got mine from AE during 11.11. It was… drumroll please… $12! Plus $7 two-week shipping. So there. At what price Massdrop sells it, is their prerogative, maybe if it's GOLD plated, that's why the price is higher. These cables are the usual $20-$40 ball-park. Any one cable can be better sounding or more durable than the other. Coincidentally, this is a good buy – at the right price, that is. I'm thinking the cable in the drop is not too far from what I have. Probably worth it. It will surely sound better, I'm sure.
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(Edited)
HeyBoard
25
Dec 8, 2018
DJATdrumroll here thank u bro LOL
Gdebrito
41
Dec 8, 2018
DJATThanks for the info. The brightness you're experiencing is due to the silver NOT having been cryogenically treated. Given the pricing you stated that's not surprising. Silver responds particularly well to cryogenic treatment. FWIW, many audiophiles consider cryo treatment to be mandatory for silver and silver plated copper cables. Take Five Audio (https://www.takefiveaudio.com/) in Canada offers custom cryogenic treatment @ very reasonable prices.
DJAT
299
Dec 8, 2018
GdebritoNice cables there but damn they're pricey. Hard to put that together with sub 200 Hifiman and Senns though. Still, well built and I'm sure, very resilient and much longer lasting. I think you're right. The treatment should be done there. A cable I got a long time ago has actually turned green. I think it may have oxidized... I hope not because of light otherwise I guess all glittery silver cables of mine may turn green... *sighs*
Fluph
56
Dec 8, 2018
DJATYeah some of that just isn’t true. Audiophiles everywhere failing science :(
Uzuzu
1431
Dec 9, 2018
Gdebritocopper > silver every time, fight me
Uzuzu
1431
Dec 9, 2018
DJATMMCX instead of 2.5mm.................. ....................... .......................... ....................... ......................... ...................... ......................... ...................... ........................
Gdebrito
41
Dec 9, 2018
UzuzuFight you? How about we work together to move closer to the truth of the matter? Theoretically silver is superior to copper. Of course, our theories are completely based upon our semi-pathetic understanding of reality. There does appear to be a consensus that OCC copper overlaid with highly pure silver and then carefully treated with crogenic treatment is overall superior to either copper or silver. That may change but appears to be the current state of the art within the parameter of real world pricing. That said, Dueland is challenging that assertion with their tinned copper wire. https://www.partsconnexion.com/duelund-hook-up-wire.html Their 16GA hook up wire makes a superb speaker cable.
Gdebrito
41
Dec 9, 2018
DJATUpgrading phones with better cable makes sense when the quality of the cans supports it. Generally, detachable cables are an indication by the manufacturer that the quality of their phone does support it but that pricing considerations prevent them from including that better cable. Of course some use it as a marketing ploy... I think most are missing the boat, they should conduct tests, determine say the 3 best options and offer those superior cables as a future upgrade and... do so at cost. When will businesses realize that treating customers as they themselves would wish to be treated (the golden rule) and offering more for less is the secret to outstanding business success? Look at hugely successful Schiit's products; cost low, quality high... http://www.schiit.com/
DJAT
299
Dec 9, 2018
UzuzuYeah I didn't wanna do irreversible mods. Besides, mmcx has it's own... bling. How many cans have mmcx? How many Fostex? Only a handful few. And I was the first in the world to snap mmcx on Fostex/EMU TH00 cans so that's a first.
DJAT
299
Dec 9, 2018
GdebritoBut less often than not. Stock sennheiser, beyer cables are pretty damn good. I find no reason to change them other than bling reasons.
Uzuzu
1431
Dec 9, 2018
DJATNo you weren't, I've seen it done on head-fi years ago.
Uzuzu
1431
Dec 9, 2018
GdebritoThink of it like this. Copper was the standard for basically forever. All the gear most songs were, and still are made on travels through copper wires, thus are tuned for it. Just a quick theory, but I like most people think that silver just sounds brighter, and not in a good or natural way.
DJAT
299
Dec 9, 2018
Uzuzuhttps://www.head-fi.org/showcase/e-mu-teak-headphones.21741/reviews#review-16715 yeah this is my review. There's nothing earlier than this. That's why I had no path to follow and did what seemed to work for me. I still think this is a fantastic mod, though Chan (@EMU) did speak to me and mentioned that maybe this won't work for balanced. But then again, I'm not a super-believer of balanced. And there still, I think it can work if it's isolated properly. But that's for another time...
(Edited)
Gdebrito
41
Dec 9, 2018
DJATIndeed, stock Sennheiser with beyer cables are pretty damn good. And if you're happy with that level of performance, then fine more power to you. However, clearly you did not acquire all of those cables because you were satisfied with stock performance. So isn't it a bit contradictory to now say that the only reason to go beyond what you now have is solely due to a desire for more bling? You bought what you currently have apparently ignorant of the benefits of cryo treatment. Welcome to the club. Most of us have equipment that we now wish we'd waited on purchasing till we gained further knowledge. But then at what point do we know 'enough' before purchasing? And the endless round of 'just a bit better' continues... the trick to getting off the audio merry-go-round is to recognize when you reach the point where there's a permanent grin plastered on your face... I'm certainly not there yet but I'll know it when it gets here.
DJAT
299
Dec 9, 2018
GdebritoI hear you. Yeah that bling turned out to have actual benefits, yes. I guess there is definitely way up the ladder still. Though I will, surely, never fork out $300+ cables for cans that are sub $300. That's something my BANK part of the mind doesn't justify. And well... $1000+ cables will probably never make sense to me. The point is to find something better that still lets you keep the house lol.
(Edited)
Gdebrito
41
Dec 9, 2018
UzuzuI like copper and especially like Dueland's new tinned copper wire, which is a semi-return to yesteryear but with modern technology applied. OFC and OCC copper use modern methods to improve copper's conductivity. Cardas makes their own wire, as George Cardas was dissatisfied with what was then being manufactured. Dueland makes the finest capacitors, bar none in the world, so they know high end sound. Jeff Day and other reviewers are turning on the rest of us to this stuff. But Dueland is also making silver cable, so they're not wedded to ideological perceptions. Take Five Audio, Furutech and other companies are insisting that Cryo treatment is an absolute necessity to tame silver's brighter, harsher highs. Buyers and reviewers are confirming those claims.
DJAT
299
Dec 9, 2018
GdebritoHarsh highs... yes I'm hearing some of that...
Uzuzu
1431
Dec 9, 2018
DJATI've seen it before EMU was a thing, my dood
DJAT
299
Dec 10, 2018
UzuzuOooookay... I guess. Maybe I did it much later. Though I didn't see any at the time... hmmm... But well I bet you haven't heard about triple driver EMU or HD6xx, or dual driver He400i or Koss Porta or Beyer Custom studios... yet. But well, that's a discussion for another time.
(Edited)
Uzuzu
1431
Dec 11, 2018
DJATCute. I'd show you but I quit using Head-fi after Jude ruined his website with its current UI, it's a nightmare to navigate through and everything's broken, ffs.
Uzuzu
1431
Dec 11, 2018
GdebritoI'm really skeptical about the cryo treatment and if it's just placebo effect. I'd need to see measurable differences to be convinced, or I'd just nitrogen bathe them myself instead of paying some dumb cost and find out, haha. How does that tinned copper wire work out for you? I know your experience might be subjective, but that's fine. Warmer, brighter, tighter? How does it sound compared to standard OFC wire. I make my own cables and all, I use mogami and it has sounded great for me for years
UzuzuOff-topic, but it wasn't his choice. He had to leave his partnership with Wikia and couldn't take the existing forum software. Given the software was entirely proprietary, much of the functionality didn't exist anywhere else.
Gdebrito
41
Dec 12, 2018
UzuzuI just put together a long reply, opened another tab to get a link, returned to here and the whole reply is gone arrgh! Not going to go through that again. Cryo treatment has a lot of fans. Just a few bucks to determine it for yourself. Silver is especially affected. Highs especially are smoothed. Dueland's tinned wire is a winner in my system. Smoother, more 'organic' (balanced, whole, real) presentation. It replaced the DNM solid core OFC I was using.
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