A cable test pack

[mjg]

i agree with markl,


The headphones themselves were designed to sound a certain way certainly. There was then the price point the headphones had to meet, and a fancy $200 cable was probably considered be over-kill to the standard headphone enthusiast. They probably chose a set that met their criteria by a margin. Then again, if sennheiser truly doesn't want you to change, molest, enhance (what have you) sound of their headphone, why would they go and make the wires themselves modular (connectors and all).

It is much less tempting to tamper with something that doesn't come unplugged so easily.


I just got my hd600s/cardas, i went straight for the cardas. Maybe in a few weeks i'll listen without the nice cable, then comment on the sound. For now I'm loving what i hear... the difference to me doesn't exist, so i won't comment here. The worst thing that could happen I suppose is you try them, and then like them (to those who condemn aftermarket senn cables).

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by ManiacSmile fewtch, believe me I was sceptical when I heard that Cardas could make "a night and day" difference. But when I swapped the cable, plugged the cans in the RKV, made a sceptical wry smile expecting no changes at all, poped a Sarah Brightman CD and... and the first time the Sennheiser HD600, detailed-polite-laidback-veiled-whatever-you-call them cans were producing a music, that sent chills down my spine.

Something must have been a little off, because with the stock cables I hear no "detailed-polite-laidback-veiled-whatever-you-call them" effect you mention... maybe the prejudices were there in the first place, and the new cable merely dispelled them. And I get chills down my spine (if the music deserves it) with the stock cable.
Quote:

At that moment I didn't care about the money I spent on the cable - it was worth it. Everything else is just an exchange of opinions, nothing more, nothing less.

Great! Send me $200 and I'll say some things that will make you feel good about yourself and the world, and feel happy... you won't care about the money, you'll feel so positive and will be able to forget your troubles temporarily, I'll do such a good job of cheering you up it will be worth it. Just drop it in my Paypal account...

Quote:

Originally posted by mjg The headphones themselves were designed to sound a certain way certainly. There was then the price point the headphones had to meet, and a fancy $200 cable was probably considered be over-kill to the standard headphone enthusiast. They probably chose a set that met their criteria by a margin. Then again, if sennheiser truly doesn't want you to change, molest, enhance (what have you) sound of their headphone, why would they go and make the wires themselves modular (connectors and all).

Because every part of the headphones are modular -- up to and including replaceable headband, earpads, cord, mini-plug and even drivers (HD-580 only). This was designed into the HD580 and HD-600, and has zero (0), zilch, nothing whatsoever to do with aftermarket stuff.

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally posted by mjg i agree with markl, The headphones themselves were designed to sound a certain way certainly. There was then the price point the headphones had to meet, and a fancy $200 cable was probably considered be over-kill to the standard headphone enthusiast. They probably chose a set that met their criteria by a margin. Then again, if sennheiser truly doesn't want you to change, molest, enhance (what have you) sound of their headphone, why would they go and make the wires themselves modular (connectors and all). It is much less tempting to tamper with something that doesn't come unplugged so easily. I just got my hd600s/cardas, i went straight for the cardas. Maybe in a few weeks i'll listen without the nice cable, then comment on the sound. For now I'm loving what i hear... the difference to me doesn't exist, so i won't comment here. The worst thing that could happen I suppose is you try them, and then like them (to those who condemn aftermarket senn cables).

Then the pads, headband, foams, grills.....etc....have to be replace for an aftermarket upgrade also, go and get it.
BTW I have heard that someone had made a pad that makes it sound day and night also !!!!

BTW you are speculating there, how do you know for sure their intention.....(I have a letter from them, that proves the opposite....)

 

[kelston]

Quote:

Originally posted by fewtch Anyway... Ian's thread isn't really derailed. If you trust me with it, I'd like to try the Cardas replacement with my HD-600s if you have one, and would be delighted to pay return postage (maybe both ways, if splitting postage isn't an option). Or whoever would be willing to do this -- great, I'll give an honest opinion about the differences I hear and how they affect the sound of the HD600s to my ears. In fact, I doubt any cable skeptic would turn down Ian's offer... it's very generous of him.

YGPM. I have a spare Cardas sitting in my closet. Let me know. I can't afford to perma-donate them to a Head-Fi box but maybe it'll at least kick-start Ian's idea.

 

[mjg]

well... instead of justifying my speculation, why don't you just prove it. Paste your letter. Do you think the designers of the headphones answer these emails?

I don't think the point of this thread was this debate.

I also doubt they discourage or disaprove of the aftermarket items. It actually encourages enthusiasts, and gives them more reasons to buy in the first place. People like options. Why would they go to the trouble of building them, when there are other companies willing to do so? They aren't exactly in the cable buisness.

 

[Sovkiller]

Yes they do, and was John Willett, their Technical Application Manager in person, who wrote it, by the way he also ownes other aftermarket cables, and still preffer the stock, as it was a personal letter, and I'm not authorized to post it...sorry

About the second part, they made the new HD650 and still used a similar cable, nothing like a cardas there, and the price till now is 400+ in Europe, they could throw in a better one at that price, and OTOH they replace the drivers, for an upgraded ones, instead of the cable, so the problem, IMO, and in theirs, was not the cable....

 

[kelston]

I think the point is that the cable is designed for the headphone as opposed to the headphone designed around the cable. I doubt that Sennheiser took their 580 cable and decided to make the 600 around it.

I think the fact that the cable must be made to fit a certain price point matters. For Sennheiser, knowing that there is an aftermarket allows them to stick with a passable cable and upgrade the rest of the cans than to try and skimp on parts of the can to make a great cable.

Given $300 the selling price of HD600s, at an extreme, Sennheiser spends $240 to make the phones. Even if they spent half that on cable, that only allows a 120 dollar pocket. Aftermarketers have the ability to spend 150+ on their cable. Of course, the argument could be made that a great copper cable would be better than a terrible silver/gold cable, but i'm sure price matters.

Night and day? I'd say not, and i'm a fan of the aftermarket cables. It probably changes the "intended" sound somewhat, so in the end, personal preference plays a big factor, as with all other things audio (I mean, I don't want to think people actually *like* those free 'buds that come with their PCDPs!

).

 

[fewtch]

Edit -- never mind...

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally posted by kelston I think the point is that the cable is designed for the headphone as opposed to the headphone designed around the cable. I doubt that Sennheiser took their 580 cable and decided to make the 600 around it. I think the fact that the cable must be made to fit a certain price point matters. For Sennheiser, knowing that there is an aftermarket allows them to stick with a passable cable and upgrade the rest of the cans than to try and skimp on parts of the can to make a great cable. Given $300 the selling price of HD600s, at an extreme, Sennheiser spends $240 to make the phones. Even if they spent half that on cable, that only allows a 120 dollar pocket. Aftermarketers have the ability to spend 150+ on their cable. Of course, the argument could be made that a great copper cable would be better than a terrible silver/gold cable, but i'm sure price matters. Night and day? I'd say not, and i'm a fan of the aftermarket cables. It probably changes the "intended" sound somewhat, so in the end, personal preference plays a big factor, as with all other things audio (I mean, I don't want to think people actually *like* those free 'buds that come with their PCDPs! ).

They do not take the cable to design a headphone around it, this is stupid of course, but it was consider "as a part of", the design, and for the second time, on the HD600 they used the same, not on the third time, maybe they use a thicker jacket just to shut up the people about this issue, but I doubt anything is different inside, they still consider this as a good cable, OTOH, they could sell the aftermarket as an option also, just ask why they don't do it?.....just ask them, and you will receive a letter with the real cause?

well, never mind, the HD600 fans and the aftermarket cables fans are not my cup of tea.....believe what you want and at the end don't forget to change the headphone, OK???? The cable will not take you to any different place with it.....