New Hifiman HE-5LE planar magnetic headphone - Page 97

Quote:

Originally Posted by captouch 

Changing topics - anyone using Mogami wire for their cord? The stock XLR cord is too short and thinking of having a head-fier make a 14 footer out of Mogami for me.

I think it should fare quite well.  While I'm not using Mogami at the moment, I built my extension using Canare, since that's what was originally used for my cable.  However, I have a 10' section of Mogami Gold Neglex for my next build - just haven't gotten to it, yet.  I also happened upon a site that sells the gold coax connectors for the HifiMAN phones for about $10 a pair.  They're not the same as the HifiMAN offerings, but do claim that they're constructed for easier soldering.  I've got to run to an event.  A bit later today, I'll see if I can't get the link for those connectors and post it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by captouch 

Changing topics - anyone using Mogami wire for their cord? The stock XLR cord is too short and thinking of having a head-fier make a 14 footer out of Mogami for me.

I am using cryo-treated UP-OCC solid core copper (28AWG), purchased from Take Five Audio in Canada.  

Also, just ordered the Qinpu A-1.0X integrated for amping.  : )

Materials for a 7.5 foot cord cost:

(1)  $60 for the cable

(2)  $07 for the Neutrik 4-pin male XLR

(3)  $05 for the Mundorf solder

(3)  $00 for the HifiMAN connectors (used the extra pair that came with the 5LE).

About $90 in materials, then, if the HFM connectors had to be purchased outright.

Still much cheaper than buying from an after-market source.

Here's a quick link to Double Helix Cables, where they have the "revised" or custom connectors for the HifiMAN headphones for $12.00 a pair.  At some point, I'm going to order a pair for some future cable work.  The seem to be made better for the DIY cable crowd as opposed to the connectors from HifiMAN.  (I'm not affiliated with this company in any way, and this would be my first purchase - so, I can't attest to their service).

http://doublehelixcables.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=57

XLR connectors do not. Most jack connectors do, they have very bad contact points.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eugenius 

XLR connectors do not. Most jack connectors do, they have very bad contact points.

Sorry, I was too busy staring at your avatar.  What was that you said again?  

Quote:

Originally Posted by captouch 

You guys think extra connections degrade SQ? Have a XLR speaker tap now, but stock 5LE XLR cord is too short to let me listen from the couch. I can either make a brand new 14' cord to replace stock (and go Mogami all the way), or get a 5' XLR extension cord that would bridge the distance shortfall between speaker tap and stock cord. So one XLR connection vs two.
Thanks for the link wje. I still have the connectors that came with the set - didn't notice how easy/hard it is to solder to those, but most likely I won't make either cord by myself.

Connectors are rather negligible, at least until you get to the rhodium stuff. I wouldn't sweat it. I'm not sure if headphone cables are meant to be that long though, double the length is like double the capacitance.

I'd just use the XLR extension though, it's chaining multiple sets of extensions (like 3) I'd worry about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Himself 

Connectors are rather negligible, at least until you get to the rhodium stuff. I wouldn't sweat it. I'm not sure if headphone cables are meant to be that long though, double the length is like double the capacitance.

 

I'd just use the XLR extension though, it's chaining multiple sets of extensions (like 3) I'd worry about.

Thanks (to eugenius too) for the XLR comments - I picked up an extension cord for cheap.

Chris, I saw you sold your HE-500's.  Did you sell those over your 5LE's because of better resale value or did you prefer the 5LE's in the end?

Quote:

Originally Posted by captouch 

 

 

Thanks (to eugenius too) for the XLR comments - I picked up an extension cord for cheap.

 

Chris, I saw you sold your HE-500's.  Did you sell those over your 5LE's because of better resale value or did you prefer the 5LE's in the end?

I get the feeling Chris prefers the 5LE's slightly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by captouch 


Does it sound a lot better than stock?

They are not actually made yet.  Just got the solder in.  God willing, I'll have them done by next week.

Quote:

Originally Posted by captouch 

 

 

Thanks (to eugenius too) for the XLR comments - I picked up an extension cord for cheap.

 

Chris, I saw you sold your HE-500's.  Did you sell those over your 5LE's because of better resale value or did you prefer the 5LE's in the end?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainFood 

 

 

I get the feeling Chris prefers the 5LE's slightly.

Sorry it takes me quite a few days to reply.

The HE-5LE went to my best friend on Head-fi, PandaB55 which was one of my first customers. I gave him a rock solid deal and I built him a nice cable to go with it.

The HE-500 DID sell. Reason? WELL ITS EXPENSIVE AS **** to run. It just dawned on me that I needed $1300 worth of equipment to get the HE-500 and the necessities in order to run it 100%

I went back to an LCD-2 and a Nuforce Icon HDP. I'm not a fanboy of anything but the HE-500 is a better looking headphone, I like wearing them, and the cable connectors cost like 80 cents so they're super duper easy to build. The LCD-2 bass doesn't go down as low but I haven't run these on silver yet so I can't tell you their final sound. The HE-5LE or HE-500 on Lyr was probably as good as it gets guys.

If you have an HE-5LE on a good amp, don't bother. If you have a feeling you're not getting the most out of your HE-5LE on a normal amp, it's a really tough call to see if you should go for the 500's or just get a Lyr.

Hope that helps... 

Oh yeah this post is worthless without pics

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Himself 

If you have an HE-5LE on a good amp, don't bother. If you have a feeling you're not getting the most out of your HE-5LE on a normal amp, it's a really tough call to see if you should go for the 500's or just get a Lyr.

 

In regards to driving the HE-5LEs, it's really a rather simple process.  It's called speaker taps.  Plus, it's not an over-the-top expense that people would not be able to afford.  The HE-5LEs love it, I love it and it's more than enough for what the HE-5LEs need.