Difference between Siver, Blue, and Black Dragon Cables?
Jun 17, 2011 at 6:14 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 38
Alghazanth

Alghazanth

Headphoneus Supremus
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Hi, I'm about to buy a recabled T1 from Moon Audio, as the stock cable is just too heavy. Does anyone know the difference in sound characteristics and perhaps weight between these three Dragon cables?
 
[size=11pt]T1[/size] [size=11pt] with 10' Blue Dragon V3 Headphone Cable[/size][size=11pt] w [/size] [size=11pt]Furutech FP-704 [/size]
[size=11pt]Gold plated stereo 1/4" plug[/size][size=11pt]: [/size][size=11pt]$[/size][size=11pt]1350[/size]
[size=11pt]T1[/size] [size=11pt]  with 10' Black Dragon V2 Headphone Cable [/size] [size=11pt]w [/size] [size=11pt]Furutech FP-704 [/size]
[size=11pt]Gold plated stereo 1/4" plug[/size][size=11pt]: [/size][size=11pt]$[/size][size=11pt]1400[/size]
[size=11pt]T1[/size]  [size=11pt]with 10' Silver Dragon V3 Headphone Cable [/size] [size=11pt]w [/size] [size=11pt]Furutech FP-704 [/size]
[size=11pt]Gold plated stereo 1/4" plug[/size][size=11pt]:[/size][size=11pt] $14[/size][size=11pt]75[/size]
 
Or would you recommend a different cable altogether?
 
Thanks.
 
Jun 17, 2011 at 6:24 PM Post #2 of 38
I think it really depends on the headphones.  If you go to their headphone cable page, there's a link to an in-depth review but with the Senn HD650's & HD800's. Maybe that will help.
I ended up going in the middle (Black Dragon) for my HD600's and now use them on my HD650s and am quite pleased.
I also have a Silver Dragon v1 IEM cable on order for my HD25-1's.  Will try them on my 650's to see if there really s a difference between them.
Anyway, email Drew at Moon and he may be able to offer some insight.  He's pretty responsive.
 
Jun 17, 2011 at 7:13 PM Post #3 of 38


Quote:
mickeyvee said:
I think it really depends on the headphones.  If you go to their headphone cable page, there's a link to an in-depth review but with the Senn HD650's & HD800's. Maybe that will help.
I ended up going in the middle (Black Dragon) for my HD600's and now use them on my HD650s and am quite pleased.
I also have a Silver Dragon v1 IEM cable on order for my HD25-1's.  Will try them on my 650's to see if there really s a difference between them.
Anyway, email Drew at Moon and he may be able to offer some insight.  He's pretty responsive.
Click to expand...


Yea I did email him about a week ago, no response though. Could you describe how the sound changed with that cable? More bass quantity, tamer treble, etc?
 
 
Jun 17, 2011 at 10:16 PM Post #4 of 38
I found a touch better bass response.. smoother highs and definitely less harshess compared to the original cable.
 
Jun 17, 2011 at 11:24 PM Post #5 of 38
Have not heard the blue, but I used to own the Silver Dragon V3, then later switched to the Black Dragon V2 cable.  Silver dragon is more analytical sounding, airy, and bass sounds leaner but with better clarity. The cable seems to bring out the high frequency more or maybe lets all of it pass through?   That makes it less natural sounding to me.  Black Dragon has fuller midrange and low end, but highs are not as crisp as the SD.  It has maybe 95% of the clarity of the SD V3. The black dragon sounds smoother and musical, so I kept it.  I used the LCD-2 headphone and the Marantz SA8001 for the source, amp is LYR. If you want your HP to sound more analytical, airy with a slight emphasis on the high freq, then the SD is better.   SD needs 200 hrs of pink noise burn-in to smooth out the harshness.  Black Dragon didn't seem to change with burn-in.
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 12:51 AM Post #6 of 38
I see. What I'm looking for is to add some bass quantity and perhaps lower the slight sibilance of the T1's highs. Basically make it like my HE500, except not so huge and uncomfortable for my long listening sessions. It seems Silver Dragon is going to make the treble worse.
 
Do you guys think the Blue or Black would be better for my needs?
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 12:54 AM Post #7 of 38
How about adjusting the bass and treble through an EQ, and saving yourself the $1000+, and then using that money to buy more music? 
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 1:10 AM Post #8 of 38


Quote:
tmars78 said:
How about adjusting the bass and treble through an EQ, and saving yourself the $1000+, and then using that money to buy more music? 
Click to expand...


 
I want the sound to be that way in the full can itself, not have to EQ it in. EQ'd bass sounds awful and completely artificial.
 
Also, saving me $1000+? These recabled T1s cost $50-175 more than my stock T1.
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 1:13 AM Post #9 of 38


Quote:
alghazanth said:
 
I want the sound to be that way in the full can itself, not have to EQ it in. Also, EQ'd bass sounds awful and completely artificial.
Click to expand...



Ok, that works for me. It was an honest question. I know some people are against eq, and some aren't. I've read if used right it can really be useful. I am not one to eq much either. I have been tempted to really try it, but usually find myself too lazy to actually play around with things. 
tongue.gif
 And yeah, I misread...its a whole new headphone. I thought it was just the cable itself. 
 
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 1:14 AM Post #10 of 38


Quote:
tmars78 said:
Ok, that works for me. It was an honest question. I know some people are against eq, and some aren't. I've read if used right it can really be useful. I am not one to eq much either. I have been tempted to really try it, but usually find myself too lazy to actually play around with things. 
tongue.gif
Click to expand...


I had the EQ set to "Rock" the whole time I had my old D2000s hooked up to my soundcard (for 6 months) because I didn't know any better. It sounded crisper, so I was all for it. But even back then, I could tell that EQ'd BASS was awful.
 
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 1:18 AM Post #11 of 38


Quote:
alghazanth said:
I had the EQ set to "Rock" the whole time I had my old D2000s hooked up to my soundcard (for 6 months) because I didn't know any better. It sounded crisper, so I was all for it. But even back then, I could tell that EQ'd BASS was awful.
 
Click to expand...


Yeah, I think a lot of us do that before we really know any better. I heard that when you do eq, you should always eq down, and never up.
 
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:00 AM Post #12 of 38
To add more bass quantity you will need a more powerful amp which can feed more current at 600 Ohm(your T1's impedance).  Depending on your HP the SD can make it harsher sounding and can increase sibilance, for my HD580 it fixed its naturally soft treble edge. For my LCD-2 it didn't work.  Low bitrate music can sound lean with harsher treble too.  
 

 
Quote:
alghazanth said:
I see. What I'm looking for is to add some bass quantity and perhaps lower the slight sibilance of the T1's highs. Basically make it like my HE500, except not so huge and uncomfortable for my long listening sessions. It seems Silver Dragon is going to make the treble worse.
 
Do you guys think the Blue or Black would be better for my needs?
Click to expand...



 
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:06 AM Post #13 of 38


Quote:
flargosa said:
To add more bass quantity you will need a more powerful amp which can feed more current at 600 Ohm(your T1's impedance).  Depending on your HP the SD can make it harsher sounding and can increase sibilance, for my HD580 it fixed its naturally soft treble edge. For my LCD-2 it didn't work.  Low bitrate music can sound lean with harsher treble too.  
 

 


 
Click to expand...



So which provides more bass quantity/tames the treble more, the black or blue dragon?
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:19 AM Post #14 of 38
I have not owned the blue so I cannot comment on comparisons vs black. Keep in mind treble harshness and lean bass can also come from an under powered amp, lower bitrate music files, and your source.  
 
Quote:
alghazanth said:
So which provides more bass quantity/tames the treble more, the black or blue dragon?
Click to expand...



 
 
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:24 AM Post #15 of 38


Quote:
flargosa said:
I have not owned the blue so I cannot comment on comparisons vs black. Keep in mind treble harshness and lean bass can also come from an under powered amp, lower bitrate music files, and your source.  
 


 
Click to expand...


That's not it, this is in comparison to several other flagships. Characteristically bassy cans have plenty of bass with my setup, and the LCD2 has perfect bass. I'm just trying to add more bass and less treble to get it to sound like an HE500 without the comfort issues. I didn't even know the T1 had sibilance until I got the HE500.
 
 
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