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Cable upgrade for HE-5LE?

post #1 of 10
10/22/10 at 5:05am
Thread Starter 

I'm keen to upgrade the stock cable for something that would smooth out the top end of my HE-5LEs (currently amped single ended out of an EF-5).  Any suggestions please?

 

I'm based in the UK so would prefer to buy something here if possible (much easier to sort out any problems if they occur) but if there are better options from overseas I would consider these too.  I'm also not big on DIY, so someone that would supply the cable with the correct connectors readily installed would be vastly preferable!

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

HE-5LE
post #2 of 10
10/22/10 at 6:03am

I remember when silver cable was first introduced in the UK by Audio Note at the end of the 80s and at that time we were told that silver smoothed sound.

 

However today we are told that silver "cures darkness" amongst other things smily_headphones1.gif

 

So the actual effect on the nature of the sound by silver cable has apparently changed over the years.

 

Needless to say the golden ears with their silver cable in the late 80s reported a smoother sound whereas the golden ears in the current day report curing darkness with their silver cable.

 

I have to tell you that I don't think the alternative cables offered for your headphones will have any significant influence on the sound despite the astonishingly high prices asked for them.

 

If there is a problem with the treble then you need to fix it. You need to find out where it is going wrong and put it right. Is it the headphones, the amp or the source?

 

What alterations can be made to those components?

 

It is the only way you are going to have an influence on this.

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post #3 of 10
10/22/10 at 9:04am
Thread Starter 

Thanks Patrick - albeit I'm sure many will disagree! 

 

Irrespective of whether one believes cables can change sound signatures (and I don't really want this thread to turn into a debate about that), it is true that changing the amp components may also help with my treble issues.  I'm currently using an EF-5 with the stock tube (source is my PC (.flac files) through an HRT MS2+ DAC).  An obvious tweak would therefore be to roll the EF-5 tube or (a bit more hassle) to change the OPA module.  Any suggestions in either regard would be welcome....

 

That said, I don't think there is 'a problem' with the DAC or the amp, because I have tried it with other headphones (B&W P5 and Sennheiser IE-8) and not had the same issue.  I have also tried the HE-5LEs with my Audio-GD DAC-19 DSP1 - C-2 combination in my living room rig, which is very transparent and neutral.  However, I didn't find this to be a happy marriage at all - the HE-5LEs sound thin/distant and the treble was quite tinny.

 

Overall, it may be that the sound signature of the HE-5LEs just isn't for me (albeit I'm not quite ready to admit this yet!) and something with more mid-range presence and a less agressive treble would suit me better (I do like their bass characteristics a lot).  Suggestions of an appropriate contender for an alternative set of open sounding cans that fit this description would also be welcome!

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post #4 of 10
10/22/10 at 10:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tashlin View Post

Thanks Patrick - albeit I'm sure many will disagree! 

 

Irrespective of whether one believes cables can change sound signatures (and I don't really want this thread to turn into a debate about that), it is true that changing the amp components may also help with my treble issues.  I'm currently using an EF-5 with the stock tube (source is my PC (.flac files) through an HRT MS2+ DAC).  An obvious tweak would therefore be to roll the EF-5 tube or (a bit more hassle) to change the OPA module.  Any suggestions in either regard would be welcome....

 

That said, I don't think there is 'a problem' with the DAC or the amp, because I have tried it with other headphones (B&W P5 and Sennheiser IE-8) and not had the same issue.  I have also tried the HE-5LEs with my Audio-GD DAC-19 DSP1 - C-2 combination in my living room rig, which is very transparent and neutral.  However, I didn't find this to be a happy marriage at all - the HE-5LEs sound thin/distant and the treble was quite tinny.

 

Overall, it may be that the sound signature of the HE-5LEs just isn't for me (albeit I'm not quite ready to admit this yet!) and something with more mid-range presence and a less agressive treble would suit me better (I do like their bass characteristics a lot).  Suggestions of an appropriate contender for an alternative set of open sounding cans that fit this description would also be welcome!


Just looking at the FR for those headphones there is a notable dip in the midrange followed by a peak in the treble which is likely to make them sound brighter I would have thought. You could try adding a EQ ?
 

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post #5 of 10
10/22/10 at 7:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tashlin View Post

Irrespective of whether one believes cables can change sound signatures (and I don't really want this thread to turn into a debate about that), it is true that changing the amp components may also help with my treble issues.  I'm currently using an EF-5 with the stock tube (source is my PC (.flac files) through an HRT MS2+ DAC).  An obvious tweak would therefore be to roll the EF-5 tube or (a bit more hassle) to change the OPA module.  Any suggestions in either regard would be welcome....

 

That said, I don't think there is 'a problem' with the DAC or the amp, because I have tried it with other headphones (B&W P5 and Sennheiser IE-8) and not had the same issue.  I have also tried the HE-5LEs with my Audio-GD DAC-19 DSP1 - C-2 combination in my living room rig, which is very transparent and neutral.  However, I didn't find this to be a happy marriage at all - the HE-5LEs sound thin/distant and the treble was quite tinny.

 

Overall, it may be that the sound signature of the HE-5LEs just isn't for me (albeit I'm not quite ready to admit this yet!) and something with more mid-range presence and a less agressive treble would suit me better (I do like their bass characteristics a lot).  Suggestions of an appropriate contender for an alternative set of open sounding cans that fit this description would also be welcome!


I don't have any experience with the equipment you mention so I cannot comment.

 

I don't know how long you have had the cans and amplifier but if they are new maybe if you do absolutely nothing the problem will go away!

 

The reason I say this is that I find that if stuff is new (to me) sometimes I pick up on some issue and focus upon it negatively for a period of time, can be weeks.

 

So, these days I try to hang onto things for quite a long time before I come to any conclusion about them.

 

I've googled the amp and headphones you mention and all that has done is tell me that I really don't know anything about them.

 

I notice in this review:

 

http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2010/01/26/hifiman-ef5-headphone-amplifier-review/

 

They say:

 

Quote:
The Hifiman EF5 specialises in calming troubled treble waters. If you’ve got a pair of cans that can sound harsh at its top end, the EF5 will be able to smooth over any harsh bits, making them sound altogether more refined.

Which suggests that in its stock state it is unlikely to be causing the problem, but of course I don't really know that.

 

Maybe if you email the company that makes them they could suggest something?

 

I think the suggestion of an equaliser is a good one. I haven't got one myself but I think that a good one of these can resolve problems like this. I've never used a software equaliser, I don't even know what is available, but I wonder if there is a good one that you could try with your computer?

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post #6 of 10
10/30/10 at 8:47pm

Warren Audio, Moon Audio.  Thats all I can think of off the top of my abnormally large gargantuan melon head.

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post #7 of 10
11/27/10 at 8:14pm

Apuresound, I am thinking about getting those. Great contruction.

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post #8 of 10
11/27/10 at 8:56pm

Is the HE-6 cable an upgrade?

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post #9 of 10
11/28/10 at 2:22pm

I very much prefer the HE-5 spc cable. Treble extension is noticeably better.

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post #10 of 10
1/25/11 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tashlin View Post

Thanks Patrick - albeit I'm sure many will disagree!

Irrespective of whether one believes cables can change sound signatures (and I don't really want this thread to turn into a debate about that), it is true that changing the amp components may also help with my treble issues. I'm currently using an EF-5 with the stock tube (source is my PC (.flac files) through an HRT MS2+ DAC). An obvious tweak would therefore be to roll the EF-5 tube or (a bit more hassle) to change the OPA module. Any suggestions in either regard would be welcome....

That said, I don't think there is 'a problem' with the DAC or the amp, because I have tried it with other headphones (B&W P5 and Sennheiser IE-8) and not had the same issue. I have also tried the HE-5LEs with my Audio-GD DAC-19 DSP1 - C-2 combination in my living room rig, which is very transparent and neutral. However, I didn't find this to be a happy marriage at all - the HE-5LEs sound thin/distant and the treble was quite tinny.

Overall, it may be that the sound signature of the HE-5LEs just isn't for me (albeit I'm not quite ready to admit this yet!) and something with more mid-range presence and a less agressive treble would suit me better (I do like their bass characteristics a lot). Suggestions of an appropriate contender for an alternative set of open sounding cans that fit this description would also be welcome!




Thanks for your explanation! It is just the solution for my problem.
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

HE-5LE