[KB]

Originally Posted by vandread

There are two question: how much this HFI-780 ALO mods cost? and then what is a different between 18G cryo wire (JenaLabs) or a 20AWG vampire wire?

Firstly I want to thank Headphone Addict Larry for taking the time to author that assessment. I did not give him much info before sending the phones because I wanted to get an unbiased opinion on the headphone mod, no preconceived judgments etc. I don’t like to write up descriptions of the builds I make usually because I think the work should speak for it self through happy customers. I have been getting a lot of inquires as to the price the sound of the JenaLabs 18G vs. the more affordable 20AWG Vampire wire. I sent Larry a 18g JL headphone cable that he compared to the Vampire wire and he pretty much had a good picture of the compare and contrast of that and if he would like to post that here it would be helpful. I have found the JL 18G Cryo wire to be tighter and have a refinement that the Vampire wire does not. The JL Cryo wire also exhibits that certain sparkle that I have difficulty in pinpointing. Moreover the 18G JL Cryo wire is mechanically superior, with less resonance and soft to the bend. That being said the Vampire stuff is still a remarkable cable and vastly superior to the stock cable.

I just replied to an email asking about the mod, price and cable options. For the sake of not having to repeat this over and over again I thought I would just post this. The prices are subject to change.

Dear Sir,

I can sell you the cable but the other half of the modification is the internal alterations, and interior structural dampening. The install is also not what I would call a walk in the park, as it requires drilling on of the cups and delicate soldering that if done improperly can fry the driver or damage the micro thin voice coil.

I have 2 cable types that I am offering.

1. A Vampire wire cable, Vampire Cast Copper Wire: Extremely high purity (exceeding 6/9) copper wire, cast as opposed to drawn, single crystal (125 meters per crystal) copper. 20AWG stranded (41 strands x 0.13mm) with polyethylene insulation. The headphone cable is a 4 wire weave terminated to a Switchcraft mini plug or Canare F12 with has a slightly larger handle, both are Nickel plated. 4 to 6 foot length $295 for the modification and instillation of the cable done by me here at ALO.

2. The larger 18G JenaLabs Cryo wire. 18 gauge JenaLabs Cryo Ultra Wire. Each UW strand is an ultra high purity 99.9999%, linear crystal, stress-free, super annealed, micro-polished, ultra fine stranded copper conductor. It is jacked in modified PE dielectric which offers dissipation and dielectric constant figures similar to Teflon, but without its mechanical resonance problems. Moreover a special extrusion process allows the insulation to exert and tremendous inward redial force on the wire strands, thus reducing audio smearing micro-vibrations. UW is Immersion CRYO treated by JenaLabs proprietary process. Termination to a Canare mini plug, Switchcraft 1/4, Canare 1/4 or Cardas 1/4 plug. 4 to 6 foot length $395 for the modification and instillation of the cable. Add $20 for the Furutech 1/4 plugs.

Additionally I am selling the Ultrasone HFI-780s new with the mod and re cable complete for $450 with the Vampire wire and $595 with the JL 18G Cryo cable installed.

I will be sure to post some photos of the ALO-780 Mod with the JL 18G Cryo cable soon.

If anyone has any questions that you would rather not post please email me (audiolineout@gmail.com)

Balanced cables are available, and again the above prices can and might change. Modification times will vary depending on work load volume but typically is on its way back to you from the time I receive them, one week or less.

Thanks

Ken