I also like ADL purple, a bit like Whiskas.

ajheadfi said:

  I also like ADL purple, a bit like Whiskas.

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This one?
 
http://www.e-earphone.jp/shop/shopdetail.html?brandcode=003015000032&search=ADL&sort=brandname
 
I've not tried it. In general I find cables in Japan to be quite expensive (in terms of what you get for what you pay).

I can't recommend that cable, don't like it that much.

anakchan said:

   
 
This one?
 
http://www.e-earphone.jp/shop/shopdetail.html?brandcode=003015000032&search=ADL&sort=brandname
 
I've not tried it. In general I find cables in Japan to be quite expensive (in terms of what you get for what you pay).

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Those are it. The AU retail prices are here http://www.addictedtoaudio.com.au/category/accessories/furutech/, looks like Japan is where these are cheaper unless you need to import.
 
My experience is these cables work well with a quite a wide range of gear, not extreme top end detail, enough for great imaging and smooth copper effect.
 
Naturally there are many hand made cables that ought to be better matches for certain equipment, but quality always costs when there are many steps in the processing and design.

. I'll definitely shut up and stop complaining about Japanese prices!!
 
I've tried them in e-earphone and I to be honest I haven't found anything special with them yet (sonic). To me something like Custom Art's $40+ cable gives more "zing" than the ADLs. Maybe I need to spend more time with them.

The ADL is not for everyone, most people I have heard from don't find them great. I would unlikely use them on a $5k per component system, however I have found them to be superb for their intended purpose. Part of their appeal to me is they don't exacerbate the high domain, they are smooth like high quality copper. Solid core 5n high tech treated Ag is likely better all round, but do you want that on portable stuff? I'm someone who doesn't. I hope that gives people more of a idea why I like the ADL. Certainly not the be all end all, and also not to everyone's or possibly anyone else's liking. Meanwhile though I'm impressed with their understated quality.

Great review on the mini cable, but for $150 I feel it's too expensive. Even $100 is way overkill. Good review though.

anakchan said:

   

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Very nice reviews.  I started out as a skeptic about SQ differences, but I'm starting to hear them now the more I listen to them.  BTW, what is the purpose of the silicone band around one end of the cable on the sheathed interconnects?  Thanks!

I sure hope none of you people are actually buying this snake oil. It is literally, and yes I mean literally, the most dumb backwards thing I've ever seen.
 
http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/46225/41567257.pdf
 
You know this is why no one takes audiophiles seriously anymore, and why prices keep going up overtime rather than dropping (and I mean actual economic depreciation, I'm not talking the general value of goods weighted with inflation). There isn't a science driven mind among you guys.
 
This is wine all over again - http://www.caltech.edu/content/wine-study-shows-price-influences-perception

bitvar said:

  I sure hope none of you people are actually buying this snake oil. It is literally, and yes I mean literally, the most dumb backwards thing I've ever seen.
 
http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/46225/41567257.pdf
 
You know this is why no one takes audiophiles seriously anymore, and why prices keep going up overtime rather than dropping (and I mean actual economic depreciation, I'm not talking the general value of goods weighted with inflation). There isn't a science driven mind among you guys.
 
This is wine all over again - http://www.caltech.edu/content/wine-study-shows-price-influences-perception

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Of course price influences perception, I would never argue against that premise.  That's the way we are all wired to some degree.  This is just a hobby, and I spend discretionary income on it.  If perception is my reality, so be it, I'm quite content with that.  And I've certainly reached an age in my life where there are fewer and fewer people that I really care take me seriously.  I don't even take myself as seriously as I used to, and I'm a happier person for it.
 
PS - I don't like cheap wine either. 

fiascogarcia said:

   
Of course price influences perception, I would never argue against that premise.  That's the way we are all wired to some degree.  This is just a hobby, and I spend discretionary income on it.  If perception is my reality, so be it, I'm quite content with that.  And I've certainly reached an age in my life where there are fewer and fewer people that I really care take me seriously.  I don't even take myself as seriously as I used to, and I'm a happier person for it.
 
PS - I don't like cheap wine either. 

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Fantastic post! +1

For a sound engineer who have looked inside a "few hundred thousand dollar" console and found no exotic cables inside, this is mindblowing information. Making me very curious about these "hiFi cables" versus those cables used in the studio whose recordings you are actually listening to. 

kleefurd said:

  For a sound engineer who have looked inside a "few hundred thousand dollar" console and found no exotic cables inside, this is mindblowing information. Making me very curious about these "hiFi cables" versus those cables used in the studio whose recordings you are actually listening to. 

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Admittedly, especially in the portable world, there is minimal equipment used.  So "bling bling" plays a big part in it!    Differences are very subtle, at best, and it's not a question of better SQ, just different.  Many will tell you there is absolutely no differences at all!

fiascogarcia said:

  Admittedly, especially in the portable world, there is minimal equipment used.  So "bling bling" plays a big part in it!  

  Differences are very subtle, at best, and it's not a question of better SQ, just different.  Many will tell you there is absolutely no differences at all!

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Thanks for the clarification. I suspected as much too, as well these cable sales keeps the industry going. Profits drive R&D budgets which in turn churns out new companies and new products. So in a way it is quite healthy (to some extent).

I mean, I agree with good cable design for headphones like the braiding that minimises the microphonic effect, shielding for cables used that are too close to things that causes interferences, etc. These keep the sound in the cans "cleaner" but some of the exotic cables I have seen in the shops are costing as much as a motorcycle and that always baffles me. Audio engineers tend to shy from the hi-fi community but my curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to find out more about the mindset and the way folks here look at all these accessories.

Looking forward to getting more insight from this community, as it is healthy and there are some matured people who are really open to discussing things with an open mindset.

*respect*

I was a cable skeptic till I finally had a cable made for me. Not I did not pay huge dollar on it and I had no idea what it was made up, the designer asked me to test it and listen with the other cheaper mass produced mini-mini and I did. The changes for me was not subtle. Initially I came from two mini-mini interconnects that was made by oyadie and furutech that are both sounded the same to me which should as both were threaded standard copper. After asking the designer about his cable he advised me that he used four solid core coper/silver hybrid. 
 
I agree paying 500 for a mini-mini is insane, sure it will sound different (better or worst is up to you preference) but after reading about it all nothing cost as high as 300 for a short mini-mini. What noramally happens is the designer finds a good design, tests it with different people and as it gets famous they set a high dollar figure on it. People eventually accept it as it has way too much positive review backing it up.
 
So can it sound different? Yes. Would you like it? Depends on you.
 
As AnakChan said already interconnects should be the last thing in anyones chain. Once you have your IEM and DAP/amp all set than focus on the final bits of your setup.