This thread has to have the most hilarious content to date on HF... Don't believe me? Go to the other pages. Anyhow, I'm here to post my final impressions of the DHC Symbiote SE. As you may have already, I post some initial impressions here
http://www.head-fi.org/t/600546/double-helix-cables-appreciation-thread/90#post_8808354.
The cables are in the same physical state as when I received them, but I believe minor wear and tear caused the cable to be a bit more flexible, which is common. I have approximately 160 hours on the cables so Burn-In should be mostly complete.
Like from my first listen, static is significantly reduced compared to the stock Westone cable. I tried my best to note some significant changes from 5 hours of use to 160 hours and I managed to get some impressions. Close to <15 hours of Burn-in, the cables showed significant bass quantity increase. Once passing 50 hours or so, I felt the quantity leveled out more with quality. It felt like bass was a bit reduced from <15 hours, but it was tighter and cleaner now. Very clean sounding bass, especially with an amplifier. Compared to the Westone cable, the DHC Symbiote SE was both better in quantity and quality at the <15 hour burn-in mark, and now at 160> hours the bass is a bit more settled compared to the <15 hours, but now it's VERY clean, smooth, and very accurate. It still has more quantity than the Westone cable, but now it has so much more tightness and pace than both the Westone cable and it being at the <15 hour mark.
Ahhh vocals are sooooooooooooo good... As I said before, my CIEM is Mid forward and what the Symbiote SE does is fix the uneven bits. It just sounds much more clearer and transparent; almost effortless now. Very little fatigue because the Mids isn't grainy or shouty at all. It's powerful and very well controlled. On Peter's site, I remember reading the page where it describes the benefits of OCC copper, and after reading that and owning a cable of his, it makes perfect sense. The picture where it shows how OCC is a smooth road and all the other types of Copper are rougher and almost mountainous roads makes complete sense. The delivery is just so smooth. Really hard to explain and you need to hear it yourself to understand.
Treble energy hasn't changed, as I stated in my previous impression, but again it improved since my previous impressions. Oh so very crisp and sparkly. It's not one of those in-your-face bright and prominent treble, it's forward and not offensive. It's very detailed and just enough splash and crisp to satisfy a treble-head like myself. Again, the delivery is unbelievable, especially coming from a cable! It just sounds effortless! Throughout the entire frequency range, it just sounds smoother.
General thoughts about changes between <15 hours to 160> hours. It opened up even more, bass settled down a bit, bass has incredible texture and quality, mids are just effortless, and treble is more tamed and enjoyable.
Peter, you make one hell of a cable!!!! Your Symbiote SE made me appreciate my CIEM even more now! I'm planning on a Re-shell with better bass drivers all because of this cable now!! DHC cables just opens up opportunities for your IEMs and Headphones that you just want to make it sound EVEN BETTER NOW! Before the Symbiote SE, I thought my CIEM was the closest to perfect for me. After receiving the cable, I can spot out many flaws of my CIEMs that I never heard before with the stock cable... Is that enough of a sales pitch? Cheers to you Peter! Looking forwards to purchasing a HE-400/500 cable from you soon!