Toxic Cables - Impressions and Discussion Thread

[jinxpad]

hi all,
 
Been lurking on the forum for a while, and always come here as a good source of info when looking to purchase anything of the audio nature.  I recently just bought my IE80's and I love them... definitely worth the investment for me, were priced just at the limit I was willing to spend for a pair of IEM's.  
 
Anyway, so reading this thread, from the sounds of it, a really good set of cables can really bring out the most of my IE80's.  But what I was wondering was whether or not for my own typical usage would I even notice the difference, and thus should I purchase them.
 
I primarily use my IEM's on my galaxy S3 for music (I use spotify for convenience), and when I'm at home, I'll plug them into my PC's soundcard directly (asus xonar D2).  I would say I'm far from a bonafide Audiophile, but I do appreciate high quality sound and am always looking to get the best out of the equipment I do buy.  Given my usage for my IEM's would it be worth the investment for me?  
 
I've heard nothing but great things for the Toxic Cables, so would be willing to invest in the cables, but only if it would really benefit my listening experience for what I use my IEM's for.
 
I really appreciate the help. 

 

[DamageInc77]

Quote:

hi all,
 
Been lurking on the forum for a while, and always come here as a good source of info when looking to purchase anything of the audio nature.  I recently just bought my IE80's and I love them... definitely worth the investment for me, were priced just at the limit I was willing to spend for a pair of IEM's.  
 
Anyway, so reading this thread, from the sounds of it, a really good set of cables can really bring out the most of my IE80's.  But what I was wondering was whether or not for my own typical usage would I even notice the difference, and thus should I purchase them.
 
I primarily use my IEM's on my galaxy S3 for music (I use spotify for convenience), and when I'm at home, I'll plug them into my PC's soundcard directly (asus xonar D2).  I would say I'm far from a bonafide Audiophile, but I do appreciate high quality sound and am always looking to get the best out of the equipment I do buy.  Given my usage for my IEM's would it be worth the investment for me?  
 
I've heard nothing but great things for the Toxic Cables, so would be willing to invest in the cables, but only if it would really benefit my listening experience for what I use my IEM's for.
 
I really appreciate the help. 

I doubt there will be a noticeable improvement when running out of your phone, but it should be audible out of your sound card.

 

[Justin_Time]

IJimmy,
 
Succintly put.  Thank you! I whished I had those skills.
 
I agree.  Silver (or high skin-to-volume ratio litz cables) allows better high-frequency transmission which results in better treble reproduction, more details, better soundstage and tighter bass.  Often this sound could appear (pardon the poor choice of word)  to be more detailed but brighter and thinner. I would like to add two important points in selecting the right cable for the headphones
 
First, its is not  a simple matter of accuacy or quality, but also that of sonic matching.  I found to the detriment of my pocket book hat the most accurate--or arguably the highest-quality cable--is not always the best cable for all headphones.  Quite the contrary.  The underlying assumption here is that our headphone are perfect and accurate tranducers (sound reproducers).  In most cases, that's far from true.  The HD800 for example, one of my favorite pair of headphones, throws an amazingly large soundstage in addition to great inner details and a very tight and deep bass. Alas, the upper registry suffers from a very iiritable harshness and sibilance.  I found that silver or silver/copper cable exacerbates these flaws and make the headphones sound not only overly bright but also thin as though there is hardly any bass at all. On the other hand, when coupled with an arguably less accurate or, as you apty put it, more colored copper cable such as Frank's Copper Venom, you've got...pure magic.  The sound stage remains quite wide but the sibilance and harshness all but disappear and the bass becomes fuller, more impactful and still quite taut.  in a nutshell, we should not select the best or most accurate cable but the cable with the sonic characteristics that best complement those of our headphones.  With Franks cables I found that the best matches are:  HD800/Copper venom (no silver please); LCD2-3/Silver Poison; HE-6/Copper Venom.
 
Second, the matching is even trickier than I just described as it goes beyond the cable because after all we listen to the whole audio system:  amplifier/cable/headphones.  It is the sonic characteristics of each component, link in the chain if you will, and how they interact with one another that determine the final quality of the sound we hear.  While the way the amp, cable and headphone sound separately and generally (with a variety of systems) are good starting points, the final combination could still surprise you.  I'll leave the discussion of the amp selection for another place and time. 
 
Cheers.      

 

[Justin_Time]

NEW LITZ WIRES FROM TOXIC CABLES
 
Just want to add a few words concerning the litz wires. Frank now has them as well!
 
These are very thin wires individually insulated and twisted together to make a cable with very high surface area to improve conduction of high-frequency sound (without using silver).
 
These new litz wires use OCC (Ohno copper) so they should be of much higher quality than the litz wires from the old days. I am sure Frank has added a few more twists--pun intended--to the litz.
 
I just placed an order for my Grado PS1000.
 
I cannot wait to hear what that will sound like!

 

[fuzzyash]

Quote:

NEW LITZ WIRES FROM TOXIC CABLES
 
Just want to add a few words concerning the litz wires. Frank now has them as well!
 
These are very thin wires individually insulated and twisted together to make a cable with very high surface area to improve conduction of high-frequency sound (without using silver).
 
These new litz wires use OCC (Ohno copper) so they should be of much higher quality than the litz wires from the old days. I am sure Frank has added a few more twists--pun intended--to the litz.
 
I just placed an order for my Grado PS1000.
 
I cannot wait to hear what that will sound like!

 
does there some sort of blog for new products, that im missing out of?
just wondering how new products are being announced as it looks like hes still working on his website

 

[Toxic Cables]

Quote:
No blog unfortunately. When customers contact me to ask what options i have, i usually tell them about the new products then.
 
Justin_Time owns most of my cables for each headphone, god knows what he does with them all 

, so he knows of most of my new releases.

 

[cogsand gears]

Quote:

No blog unfortunately. When customers contact me to ask what options i have, i usually tell them about the new products then.
 

 
You need to get the Toxic website updated Frank.
 
I was just browsing your profile, you got some great photos on there. I also noticed this: http://www.head-fi.org/products/silver-poison-iphone-5-lightning-cable-by-toxic-cables
 
The new Iphone has been out for what? Like a week!? Always ahead of the game! Good work.

 

[GSARider]

What options are available for the IE80's ? Looking to upgrade next payday...!

 

[Toxic Cables]

Quote:

What options are available for the IE80's ? Looking to upgrade next payday...!

Piccolino by Crystal Cable (Silver/Gold conductors)
Silver Poison (Stranded OCC Silver + up to 1% Gold)
Anthrax (Stranded OCC Silver)
Viper (Stranded Silver Plated OCC Copper)
Scorpion (Stranded OCC Copper)
 
Looking forward to taking your hard earned money. 

 

[Toxic Cables]

Quote:

 
You need to get the Toxic website updated Frank.
 
I was just browsing your profile, you got some great photos on there. I also noticed this: http://www.head-fi.org/products/silver-poison-iphone-5-lightning-cable-by-toxic-cables
 
The new Iphone has been out for what? Like a week!? Always ahead of the game! Good work.

I don't have time to do anything, other then make orders i currently have. I hope to have it updated within the next two months.

 

[ledzep60]

I just got the cables today and emailed Frank that I had received the silver poison cables for the HiFiman HE-400s. They are really beautifully made and sound just fantastic. I have had them on for 2 hrs. and can't over the sound difference just by changing cables.
Thank you again Frank for the great cables. Didn't mind waiting for them. It was worth it.
 

 

[Rawdawg3234]

Quote:

Piccolino by Crystal Cable (Silver/Gold conductors)
Silver Poison (Stranded OCC Silver + up to 1% Gold)
Anthrax (Stranded OCC Silver)
Viper (Stranded Silver Plated OCC Copper)
Scorpion (Stranded OCC Copper)
 
Looking forward to taking your hard earned money. 

I'd like to hear more about the piccolino cables.  Maybe throw a pair on my D7000s?

 

[Toxic Cables]

Quote:

I'd like to hear more about the piccolino cables.  Maybe throw a pair on my D7000s?

Sure, what is it that you would like to know?

 

[MattTCG]

Quote:

Piccolino by Crystal Cable (Silver/Gold conductors)
Silver Poison (Stranded OCC Silver + up to 1% Gold)
Anthrax (Stranded OCC Silver)
Viper (Stranded Silver Plated OCC Copper)
Scorpion (Stranded OCC Copper)
 
Looking forward to taking your hard earned money. 

 
We are all pushovers for anything shiny. I realize it...just can't do anything about it. 

 

[Toxic Cables]

I am happy to announce that Toxic Cables are now head-fi sponsors. 

 
Pictures and full details of all new cables coming soon.