Recabling HD600 or headphone extension cable

Get a shielded extension cable. That way you can easily switch between long and short lengths depending on your need. And the cable can be used for other headphones too. Canare or Mogami star quad are good choices. Canare being slightly more durable and Mogami having slightly better shielding.

The only drawback of an extension cable is that you might get small amounts of cross talk (i.e. maybe 2% of the left channel sound leaks into the right channel at high volumes and vice versa). This is due to the TRS plugs on the headphone cable having a common ground conductor, together with the long length of the extension cable. This happens with all unbalanced headphones anyway, but it will be a little more noticeable with a long extension cable.

If that matters to you, then you can re-terminate your headphone cable with a 4-pin XLR, and have the extension cable match that. In other words:

HD600 ->  XLR ->  extension cable -> TRS -> amp

This way the ground channel wires from the headphones are only combined right at the end before they enter the amp. As a bonus, you'll have a HD600 ready to use with a balanced amp. On the other hand, you won't be able to use the headphones on normal amps without an extension/adapter anymore.

ps Maybe you should post this in the For Sale forum?

Yes, recabling will reduce crosstalk compared to using a normal TRS-to-TRS extension cable. But an XLR-to-TRS extension cable will not give you crosstalk.

Here are the options as I see them:

A. Get a new longer HD600 cable.

B. Re-terminate your HD600 cable into XLR.

     i. Get a long XLR-to-TRS extension cable to use with normal amps.

     ii. Get a short XLR-to-TRS adapter cable to use with normal amps up close.

C. Get a normal TRS-to-TRS extension cable.

Both A and B will not create crosstalk. But now that I've thought about it more, option A is probably the best for you since the HD600 cable is easily detachable. So there isn't as much benefit in using an extension cable except maybe the lower cost. In your case you can just swap the long or short cable as needed. But realistically the crosstalk shouldn't be that noticeable even with option C.

As for the exact cables, Canare L-4E5C or Mogami W2893 are nice for headphones. I suggest posting a WTB ad in the Head-Fi Cables For Sale forum to get offers from people. Lots of DIYers here on Head-Fi.

you got pvt message

I bought an extension cable on eBay from a seller, heels-6 I believe, for about the same cost of the Grado extension and much better quality.  I believe he offers them with Canare or Belden.  I've used it with both my HD580 and AKG 701 and it's great.

Bill

No, this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Audiophile-Headphone-Extension-1-4-TRS-Cable-15-foot-/120606854173?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0#ht_720wt_1035

I've run one from my office system full of computer equipment to a comfy chair, no issues.

I've run that same one from my home theater equipment rack across the room to the couch, no issues.

I've run another one from my headphone amp in the bedroom (fed wirelessly from Airport Express) to a comfy chair, no issues.

It seems really well made but I could understand the international shipping being a drawback.  

Bill