Equinox Cables and the HD590s, how do they do it

[crimsonadam]

According to the website:
http://www.stefanaudioart.com/EquinoxHD590.html

"The Equinox headphone cable is designed to balance the HD590 headphones and offer a higher level of performance with increased transparency, extended low frequencies, warmer mid-range and increased soundstage."

My question is how do the cables affect the sound. Not, in what way do they, but what is the physical process that takes place that alters the current/sound signal.

What is special about the material or construction of the cable, that allows it to affect the sound in such a dramatic fasion. Do the electrons flow faster, more of them, what?

[bigshot]

A cable either passes along the signal cleanly or it doesn't. Most cables, including the stock cable that came with the HD590s, do a good job. It is possible to color sound with a cable by deliberately hobbling it. If a cable sounds noticeably different from the stock cable, that's probably what's happening. Even then, the difference isn't going to be dramatic. There is only so much difference a wire can make.

If your cable is shorted out get a new one. I read somewhere the Sennheiser will usually send out one replacement cable under warranty.

See ya
Steve

[errorich]

I have an equinox cable for my 590s. It opened up the sound a little, seemed to help with the mids and it felt better on my ears. The fatigue I experienced with them before disappeared.

Unfortunately, the build quality wasn't that great. After the first month of using the cable one of the solder points on the headphone plug side of the cable cracked. I would lose sound out of one of the drivers if I moved my head around. I wrote the guys at equinox and they offered to fix it for free and sent it off. Amazingly, I had it back the same week better than before.

They reinforced the solder points and when I pulled back the sleeve the solder points definitely looked stronger. It worked well for another 2 months or so before the problem came back to haunt me and I gave up on the cable. It sits in my dresser drawer now.

I think the problem was I used it at my computer and at the time I liked to lean back while listening to music. The cable is stiff, and I'm guessing the pressure of the soldered connection being bent for hours eventually caused it to crack.

I know its a little off topic but if you're thinking about buying an equinox cable its something to think about.

Back to topic, electricity flows through different materials at different rates based on their resistance. If you have a well made cable out of a better conductor more of the original signal reaches the headphones. I'm assuming the stock cable is of a lesser grade and build quality than an aftermarket cable. I'm not an EE though so take what I said with a grain of salt.

[mister__big]

I also have the 590s + Equinox cable and like Errorich, my Equinox also causes the sound to disappear if I move my head around while listening. This appears to be a flaw with all Equinox cables.

However, the sound quality compared to the stock cables is MUCH better. Like night and day. The Equinox really opens up the sound and makes it less muffled. If only they were built better, I would recommend them without a doubt.

[Iron_Dreamer]

I had the same problem with my HD590 Equinox cable a long time ago, the connectors came loose over time at the 2.5MM jack. I repaired them mself several times before selling the cans.

[bLue_oNioN]

If I read adam's post correctly, he is less concerned about the actual Equinox cable itself, but more so with the design process and physics of cabling/benefits. In other words, when designing the cable from the ground up, how did the company know what exactly to do to create such a synergistic pairing with specific headphones?