Sennheiser HD800 Appreciation Thread - Page 416  

Hi Ian - thanks so much for your detailed posts in response to my questions about your comparative cable testing.  It sounds like you and your friend have gone to great lengths to study these effects by ear.  Am I correctly understanding that you think he may still have some or all of this data available, in the form of the recordings you made?  If so, and if there is a way to compare, chart and graph it, you might be in a pretty unique position in terms of shedding some light on the great cable debate.  If it is possible, and if you ever have a chance to publish this in some form, I know a lot of us cable agnostics would love to see it.  (Maybe I just spent too much time reading Hume as an undergrad (thus the handle), but absent measurements, I just see post-purchase justification phenomena and/or confirmation bias as better explanations for perceived changes, as compared to audible improvements based on headphone cables.  Factors you pointed out, like earwax, one ear possibly being better than the other, atmospheric pressure, low level background noise etc. only further complicate matters.)  

Also, thank you for clarifying that there is no issue in so far as ports are concerned with respect to direct wiring.  I hadn't realized that the connectors were sealed off.  I do wonder about possible vibrations though from the new hardware you installed.  Sennheiser used several patented plastics in the housing of these headphones to eliminate resonances and vibrations.  Introducing metal fixtures into the equation in order to secure the silver wires seems as though it might have its own problems.  Thoughts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeptic 

Hi Ian - thanks so much for your detailed posts in response to my questions about your comparative cable testing.  It sounds like you and your friend have gone to great lengths to study these effects by ear.  Am I correctly understanding that you think he may still have some or all of this data available, in the form of the recordings you made?  If so, and if there is a way to compare, chart and graph it, you might be in a pretty unique position in terms of shedding some light on the great cable debate.  If it is possible, and if you ever have a chance to publish this in some form, I know a lot of us cable agnostics would love to see it.  (Maybe I just spent too much time reading Hume as an undergrad (thus the handle), but absent measurements, I just see post-purchase justification phenomena and/or confirmation bias as better explanations for perceived changes, as compared to audible improvements based on headphone cables.  Factors you pointed out, like earwax, one ear possibly being better than the other, atmospheric pressure, low level background noise etc. only further complicate matters.)  

 

Also, thank you for clarifying that there is no issue in so far as ports are concerned with respect to direct wiring.  I hadn't realized that the connectors were sealed off.  I do wonder about possible vibrations though from the new hardware you installed.  Sennheiser used several patented plastics in the housing of these headphones to eliminate resonances and vibrations.  Introducing metal fixtures into the equation in order to secure the silver wires seems as though it might have its own problems.  Thoughts?

Honestly, there is no more debate in my mind. I could hear cable differences from the outset, but as my setup has improved, these differences have only become more pronounced. It has gotten to the point where I can easily point out which cable material is being used on my HD800s and HE6s blind. 10/10 times.

The trick is to learn the sound of the cable so you know what to look for in comparison to other cables.

Crucially, I have found cable differences to be far clearer when switching materials. Almost every aftermarket copper cable of decent quality I've tried sounds nearly identical, and produces nearly identical improvements over mediocre stock cords. It's when I switch from copper to silver or vice versa that I can really pick out variations reliably and consistently. IME, wire material has the greatest effect on its sound. More than geometry, gauge etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank I 

X2

x3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shahrose 

 

Honestly, there is no more debate in my mind. I could hear cable differences from the outset, but as my setup has improved, these differences have only become more pronounced. It has gotten to the point where I can easily point out which cable material is being used on my HD800s and HE6s blind. 10/10 times.

 

The trick is to learn the sound of the cable so you know what to look for in comparison to other cables.

 

Crucially, I have found cable differences to be far clearer when switching materials. Almost every aftermarket copper cable of decent quality I've tried sounds nearly identical, and produces nearly identical improvements over mediocre stock cords. It's when I switch from copper to silver or vice versa that I can really pick out variations reliably and consistently. IME, wire material has the greatest effect on its sound. More than geometry, gauge etc.

Shahrose,

Very good post..

Recently,with my HD800's & he-6's ,I've tried a number of various cables,Moon Silver Dragon v3, .DHC,silver/copper.,and soon to have a Q copper cable.

After some discussions/screaming sessions,, with other head-fiers,who have tried to convince me that "all cables sound alike"..I have to say,..they don't .

Using these other cables ,with some of my music,gives me a variety of SQ's ..,and I find myself enjoying ,the DHC silver/copper ,with my emo speaker amp  & the he-6,imho,its a perfect match..for my ears.,anyway.

But maybe others hear things differently ...??..just my .02 cents

The people who say all cables sound the same are like colourblind people who say there is no colour.

Just because they can't hear the difference doesn't mean there is no difference.

Take it from a skeptic who was amazed that he could hear the difference and was accused of confirmation bias.

Work that one out - confirmation bias charges against a skeptic who was honest enough to tell what he heard.

Some people aren't happy unless they can tell you what you should be experiencing.

Glad a cable debate came up.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by olor1n 

Seems the LCD-2, HE-500 and T1 threads were banished from Summit-Fi to this sub-forum. Curious as to why the dedicated HD800 thread continues to slum it here.

 

Now you know.

I really don't want to 'combine' the Summit-fi and regular 'Full Sized Cans' sections. I'm fine with not calling it Summit-fi, and opening it up to stuff a little more reasonably priced (HE500), but I really don't want to have to wade through FiiO threads all day either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorbidToaster 

I really don't want to 'combine' the Summit-fi and regular 'Full Sized Cans' sections. I'm fine with not calling it Summit-fi, and opening it up to stuff a little more reasonably priced (HE500), but I really don't want to have to wade through FiiO threads all day either.

+1, it's more organized this way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphinxvc 

Glad a cable debate came up.  

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by olor1n 

Seems the LCD-2, HE-500 and T1 threads were banished from Summit-Fi to this sub-forum. Curious as to why the dedicated HD800 thread continues to slum it here.

 

 

Now you know.

I was asking why this thread was in the full-sized headphone section with the uncouth masses. Looks like the question prompted the move to Summit-Fi where it belongs. Now we can ridicule others with impunity (I'm not serious)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by wink 

Just because they can't hear the difference doesn't mean there is no difference.

 

Well, it does mean there is no difference to them. Didn't think of that, did you?

Quote:

Well, it does mean there is no difference to them. Didn't think of that, did you?

Yes, I did,

The problem is that they are bringing their lack of ability to me and saying that I am deluding myself if I can hear a difference.

I am not trying to demean them, I just want to have them accept that I can hear a difference.

Some will NOT allow me that.

You could reply "Sorry for your loss…"

JJ :thumb

Seems I have nothing left to complain about with the HD800. The addition of Shunyata Venom's to my W4S Dac 2 and Beta 22, Black Dragon cable and Monster HTS 5000 power center has given my HD800's the last bit of fullness and bass weight I'd been searching. I find my Zana Deux works just as well as preamp when feeding the Beta. Portishead, Opeth, Burial (bands that never sounded quite right on any of my other headphones) are lovely through this setup.