Redstorm_UK
New Head-Fier
Hi all, I am new here. As per my profile, I am a retired Electronic Engineer with a keen interest in HifI, bordering on Audiophile. I have been getting into portable 'Hi-Res' audio of late and after a recent purchase of a FiiO X5iii, thought I'd have a go at making a balanced cable for my Bowers & Wilkins P3's. Afterall, both sides have their own individual plug so I figured it should be an easy mod.
I started with a secondary market balanced cable, nothing stupidly expensive, not forgetting the P3's only retail for £120 here in the UK. I went with a 6N OCC cable with gold plated 2.5mm TRRS connector. The other ends were fitted with MMCX connectors but they didnt last more than about 60 seconds after I got the cable out of the bag it was delivered in.
I had to shop around a bit to find a 2.5mm mono plug that was short enough and thin enough to fit inside the P3's limited 'canal' but eventually found a suitable connector after 'bastardising' a few 'nearly theres'.
Any way, long story short, Modification complete, I plugged the new cable into the bottom of my FiiO X5iii and fired up a few demo tracks (Hotel California [DSD], Steely Dan's Aja [FLAC], Fleetwood Mac [DSD] and Dire Straits [DSD] and several others) and I was instantly surprised. I hadn't expected to notice a massive difference but to my surprise I could instantly sense the wider soundstage and more precise instrument separation. I also felt like the P3's had become a little more articulate too. However, I think that was more down to the better quality cable than the balanced mode operation, but it's impossible to tell. I decided to quit the over-analyzing for now and let the cable burn in, so I spent the next few days listening to all sorts of music, before sitting down to have another listen. I am convinced the sound had improved as a result of cable 'burn-in' and bass was nice and tight with impressive attack and a detailed yet musical presentation. Overall I have to say the improvement is quite obvious and I would go as far as to say I prefer the new Balanced P3's over my P5's any day of the week!
I would love to post pictures of my new balanced cable but it appears I can only post pics that are already hosted online, there is no option to upload your own photos - please someone correct me (like I said I am new)
I started with a secondary market balanced cable, nothing stupidly expensive, not forgetting the P3's only retail for £120 here in the UK. I went with a 6N OCC cable with gold plated 2.5mm TRRS connector. The other ends were fitted with MMCX connectors but they didnt last more than about 60 seconds after I got the cable out of the bag it was delivered in.
I had to shop around a bit to find a 2.5mm mono plug that was short enough and thin enough to fit inside the P3's limited 'canal' but eventually found a suitable connector after 'bastardising' a few 'nearly theres'.
Any way, long story short, Modification complete, I plugged the new cable into the bottom of my FiiO X5iii and fired up a few demo tracks (Hotel California [DSD], Steely Dan's Aja [FLAC], Fleetwood Mac [DSD] and Dire Straits [DSD] and several others) and I was instantly surprised. I hadn't expected to notice a massive difference but to my surprise I could instantly sense the wider soundstage and more precise instrument separation. I also felt like the P3's had become a little more articulate too. However, I think that was more down to the better quality cable than the balanced mode operation, but it's impossible to tell. I decided to quit the over-analyzing for now and let the cable burn in, so I spent the next few days listening to all sorts of music, before sitting down to have another listen. I am convinced the sound had improved as a result of cable 'burn-in' and bass was nice and tight with impressive attack and a detailed yet musical presentation. Overall I have to say the improvement is quite obvious and I would go as far as to say I prefer the new Balanced P3's over my P5's any day of the week!
I would love to post pictures of my new balanced cable but it appears I can only post pics that are already hosted online, there is no option to upload your own photos - please someone correct me (like I said I am new)
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