Peter Pinna
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
- Posts
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I have found that the people who believe that different cables cause headphones to sound differently are absolutely correct in their thinking (or, so it seems). Now, I am probably guessing right when I guess that some of you are saying "Duh, Pinna!" while some others are saying "Oh no, another one who has let his imagination run away with him."
I have always suspected that different relatively equivalent cables cause a different sound in headphones. How I seemingly validated this thinking was not by re-cabling my headphones. I have always used the stock cables on headphones. I will probably change in that regard based on my recent experience which I will share with you.
It's a simple story, really. Recently, I came across a coiled headphone extension cable which I had purchased several years ago. I connected this extension cable to my Pro 750's stock cable and then to an amp. This cable made my Pro 750 sound quite different, it caused an audio quality that, for lack of a better description, sounded "plastic-ish" and stifled. There was also a "veiled" sound and a limiting of the highest and lowest frequencies. I "A/B'd" a few times to analyze and compare the different sound qualities.
I have considered the possibility that two reasonably equivalent headphone cables would sound way too similar for almost anyone to discern the difference between them. I have also considered the possibility that there would be a discernible difference between them. I have always tended to buy what I believed to be high quality audio accessories. Because of this tendency, I am sure that the headphone extension cable written about in this post was one of, at least, reasonably high quality. And, because I believe this extension cable to be of, at least, reasonably high quality, it was mildly surprising to me to find out that it caused a different sound quality to my Pro 750. I wrote "mildly surprising" because, actually, I was, to some extent, expecting the possibility that the extension cable would cause a difference in the sound.
Because of the experience written about here, I am going to be looking into eventually re-cabling my Pro 750. And, I will probably re-cable future headphones I purchase.
I would like to read suggestions from other members pertaining to what cables you have found that sound best with the Pro 750 as well as other headphones. I don't want a cable that adds or subtracts "warmth" or limits detail or "colors" the sound. I need to hear, as much as possible, the actuality of what the recording engineer intends for the listener to hear. I think I am hearing "actuality" now with the stock cable but it wouldn't surprise me if I hear even more detail and other sounds (that were "masked" when utilizing the stock cable) with the right cable.
It makes sense, now that I think about it, even though I had some doubts before. I have found that different grades of speaker cable causes speakers to sound differently. So, why couldn't it be the same for headphones?
I have always suspected that different relatively equivalent cables cause a different sound in headphones. How I seemingly validated this thinking was not by re-cabling my headphones. I have always used the stock cables on headphones. I will probably change in that regard based on my recent experience which I will share with you.
It's a simple story, really. Recently, I came across a coiled headphone extension cable which I had purchased several years ago. I connected this extension cable to my Pro 750's stock cable and then to an amp. This cable made my Pro 750 sound quite different, it caused an audio quality that, for lack of a better description, sounded "plastic-ish" and stifled. There was also a "veiled" sound and a limiting of the highest and lowest frequencies. I "A/B'd" a few times to analyze and compare the different sound qualities.
I have considered the possibility that two reasonably equivalent headphone cables would sound way too similar for almost anyone to discern the difference between them. I have also considered the possibility that there would be a discernible difference between them. I have always tended to buy what I believed to be high quality audio accessories. Because of this tendency, I am sure that the headphone extension cable written about in this post was one of, at least, reasonably high quality. And, because I believe this extension cable to be of, at least, reasonably high quality, it was mildly surprising to me to find out that it caused a different sound quality to my Pro 750. I wrote "mildly surprising" because, actually, I was, to some extent, expecting the possibility that the extension cable would cause a difference in the sound.
Because of the experience written about here, I am going to be looking into eventually re-cabling my Pro 750. And, I will probably re-cable future headphones I purchase.
I would like to read suggestions from other members pertaining to what cables you have found that sound best with the Pro 750 as well as other headphones. I don't want a cable that adds or subtracts "warmth" or limits detail or "colors" the sound. I need to hear, as much as possible, the actuality of what the recording engineer intends for the listener to hear. I think I am hearing "actuality" now with the stock cable but it wouldn't surprise me if I hear even more detail and other sounds (that were "masked" when utilizing the stock cable) with the right cable.
It makes sense, now that I think about it, even though I had some doubts before. I have found that different grades of speaker cable causes speakers to sound differently. So, why couldn't it be the same for headphones?