[ld100]

Has anyone tried cxnnected cables on Etsy? Worth getting? Their modular system is similar to Hart cables. Wondering which one is more convenient to use.

 

[dunring]

Yep I had those a while ago and also Hart cables with the quick connect system. Both work well and really convenient to save wear on headphone plugs if you switch amplifiers a lot. I have to test a lot of amps for the business that come in so not wearing out the plugs on the headphones is a huge plus. Also if you have an HD800s, which can take a scary amount of effort to remove the plugs from the headphone, it's great to swap with quick connects instead of that white knuckle experience.

 

[ld100]

Which one did you like more? Based on the images Hart seems a bit flimsy but more user-friendly.

 

[winter_syn]

I was actually planning on posting here about this company as I've bought two cables from them recently.

As well as the Etsy page, they also have a normal website https://cxnnected.co.uk/.

I stumbled on them when I was looking for a way to connect my Presonus Eris E4.5 powered monitor to my ifi Zen Can 6XX via the amps balanced out. Trying to find a 4.4mm pentaconn to 2x6.35mm jack plugs was proving extremally difficult (as in I couldn't find them anywhere). This company offered custom cables and being in the UK like I am, I thought I'd email them and see if they would be able to help.

They responded in about a couple of hours and said "no problem". We them went back and forth over the next couple of days sorting out length, cable colours and which connectors. I chose a 2m cable with white paracord from the 4.4mm to the split and then navy and red paracord (left and right respectively) from the split to the 6.35mm jacks with a Rhodium plated 4.4.mm and Neutrik 6.35mm jacks. This took 3 days to arrive. The packaging is a small branded cardboard box with the cable inside and a bit of padding. Taking it out and the cable was super flexible and looks very nicely made. I've been using it for about two months now and cannot fault it.

At this point I decided to see if they could make a cable for my Fostex TH-900 Mk2 SB's as finding custom cable makers that do these headphone connectors is few and far between. They didn't have this one on their website so I contacted them again and within a day I got a response which was again "no problem" they had looked and could source the connectors in both a clear and a black, I said I'd like the clear one and they said that they will order some in and as soon as they got them we can discuss the cable. When they got them we again went over the build, I went for 1.5m with a long Y-split, non-modular (as wanted to check out their standard cables first), white for the main cable and navy and red for the split, with a 4.4.mm Rhodium jack. This again took 3 days and when it arrived it was again in excellent condition and well built. Had it in use on my Fostex for about a month now and it sound fantastic.

Since then they have now added the Fostex connector on their website for both their standard and modular cables.

Think I'm going to go all in and get some modular ones for the Fostex and Sen HD6XX in both 6.35mm and 4.4mm so I'm covered on all my amps.

I'm attaching a picture of the one on my Fostex so you can see them.

 

[iFi audio]

Presonus Eris E4.5 powered monitor to my ifi Zen Can 6XX via the amps balanced out

That's an intersting use case scenario. If I may ask, are you happy about our ZEN Can used for these monitors as a preamp?

 

[ld100]

Which one di

That's an intersting use case scenario. If I may ask, are you happy about our ZEN Can used for these monitors as a preamp?

No toggle switch between headphone and preouts makes Zen CAN models very inconvenient for use with powered monitors.

 

[winter_syn]

No toggle switch between headphone and preouts makes Zen CAN models very inconvenient for use with powered monitors.

I'm the complete opposite to this. If I'm using the headphones, I turn off the monitors as the power switch for them is on the front. When I'm using the monitors I don't have any headphones plugged in.

For me this is very convenient as the monitors are either side of computer monitor and well within arms reach.

I fail to see what is difficult about this.

 

[winter_syn]

That's an intersting use case scenario. If I may ask, are you happy about our ZEN Can used for these monitors as a preamp?

I sort of stumbled into this setup, as things broke in the chain it evolved to this.

Originally it was just a Logitech Z5450 connected to my PC, then I got introduced to decent headphones (Sennheiser HD6XX) and added in a separate DAC (Qutest) and a headphone amp (Gilmore Lite Mk2) and ran them both off the same PC switching between them. Then the Logitech broke after well over 10 years of service so I looked to start consolidating the chain.

The Qutest sounds fantastic, so that wasn't going anywhere but it only have the one set of RCA's, but the Gilmore had a pre-out so decided to go the powered monitor route and connect them to it. The Presonus are fantastically sounding monitors for the price and had good reviews so I bought them and am very happy I did.

When the Gilmore started having some issue with the headphone jack I decided to look for a different amp (I do plan on getting it fixed at some point). As I had the 6XX, I thought the Zen Can 6XX would be a good choice. It sounds absolutely amazing with all my headphones, especially the 6XX and my TH900's. As it has a balanced out and the monitors have balanced in, that's when I started looking for a cable for them.

With this custom cable, the monitors sound great, and it keeps my chain less messy than what it previously was. Just got to sort out the hum I am getting when the monitor volume (the one on the Presonus, not the one on the Zen Can) is cranked up and I'll be set.

This setup is a very nice and compact system that sounds great and is good value for money. The amp works well in this setup and for a desktop setup, very convenient.

 

[ld100]

I'm the complete opposite to this. If I'm using the headphones, I turn off the monitors as the power switch for them is on the front. When I'm using the monitors I don't have any headphones plugged in.

For me this is very convenient as the monitors are either side of computer monitor and well within arms reach.

I fail to see what is difficult about this.

Most powered speakers have controls on the back. Mine certainly do and I can't reach them easily.

Every source I ever used had a toggle switch. Audio GD, Questyle, Fiio, etc. Try something that has a switch for a few days and you will never go back to unplugging your headphones and using speakers controls. It is just extremely inconvenient once you get used to a toggle switch/button. That was a deal breaker for me with iFi despite that I really liked iFi's Zen and wanted to keep it. I have better equipment than Zen but that small thing was fun and certainly stood out compared to Shiit, Fiio, smsl, Toppings in the same price bracket. The absence of the toggle was a deal breaker for me and I suspect for many others who use powered speakers.

 

[iFi audio]

I'm the complete opposite to this. If I'm using the headphones, I turn off the monitors as the power switch for them is on the front. When I'm using the monitors I don't have any headphones plugged in.

For me this is very convenient as the monitors are either side of computer monitor and well within arms reach.

I fail to see what is difficult about this.

Yup, that was our mindset as well. Thanks for bringing it up!

I sort of stumbled into this setup, as things broke in the chain it evolved to this.

Originally it was just a Logitech Z5450 connected to my PC, then I got introduced to decent headphones (Sennheiser HD6XX) and added in a separate DAC (Qutest) and a headphone amp (Gilmore Lite Mk2) and ran them both off the same PC switching between them. Then the Logitech broke after well over 10 years of service so I looked to start consolidating the chain.

The Qutest sounds fantastic, so that wasn't going anywhere but it only have the one set of RCA's, but the Gilmore had a pre-out so decided to go the powered monitor route and connect them to it. The Presonus are fantastically sounding monitors for the price and had good reviews so I bought them and am very happy I did.

When the Gilmore started having some issue with the headphone jack I decided to look for a different amp (I do plan on getting it fixed at some point). As I had the 6XX, I thought the Zen Can 6XX would be a good choice. It sounds absolutely amazing with all my headphones, especially the 6XX and my TH900's. As it has a balanced out and the monitors have balanced in, that's when I started looking for a cable for them.

With this custom cable, the monitors sound great, and it keeps my chain less messy than what it previously was. Just got to sort out the hum I am getting when the monitor volume (the one on the Presonus, not the one on the Zen Can) is cranked up and I'll be set.

This setup is a very nice and compact system that sounds great and is good value for money. The amp works well in this setup and for a desktop setup, very convenient.

Thanks a lot. This had to be quite the journey for you. If your setup is a bit cleaner than it used to and it souds great, that's great! Enjoy!

 

[ld100]

Yup, that was our mindset as well. Thanks for bringing it up!

You guys make great devices! Don't get me wrong... But why would you lose/alienate potential customers? The toggle is just a convenience. At least make it toggle when the headphone jack is inserted or removed. Shiit was stubborn that way and lost its market share because Fiios/Toppings/SMSL/etc figured out how to make similar devices and make them more convenient than the Shiit boxes. In terms of shiit it was power on the back and a few other quirks. Ifi's Zen line needs the toggle option for sure.

 

[iFi audio]

You guys make great devices! Don't get me wrong... But why would you lose/alienate potential customers? The toggle is just a convenience. At least make it toggle when the headphone jack is inserted or removed. Shiit was stubborn that way and lost its market share because Fiios/Toppings/SMSL/etc figured out how to make similar devices and make them more convenient than the Shiit boxes. In terms of shiit it was power on the back and a few other quirks. Ifi's Zen line needs the toggle option for sure.

I'm not sure whether this will change in the future as far as our products go, but I hear you and I'll gladly pass on your feedback internally, thanks!