[robar]

There are many variations of steel mesh covers both in terms of shape and size. Not every kind is great but I really like the type which the N50 driver has. I would prefer this variation to the regular plastic cover, it has better comfort and stronger connection to the shells (no need of glue, plastic ones rotate around and slightly wobble for me). MX500 shell is more stable in my ears with N50 steel mesh cover than regular plastic ones. Other shells benefit from the thinner cover as well, like dp100 and similar ones because they become too big and bulky with plastic covers. On the other hand of course, if the shells are small or concave then the plastic cover might improve the fit.

I'm not sure what would be the sonic difference between two identical speakers with different covers, maybe the steel mesh rolls off a bit of treble and increases the mids but I only base this on general observations about plastic vs steel mesh speakers. The better fit can also change the sound, depending on your ears you might get a bit boost in bass if the seal improves with the thinner cover. I use donut foam usually with everything, but I think steel mesh covers are especially suitable for donuts. If you eventually buy both variations from the same speaker, let us know what you think

 

[purplesun]

Does anyone have silver-core cables to recommend?
3.5mm TRS straight plug (rhodium-plated if possible).
Litz braid is nice to have, but not important.
Cheap-ish (tens of dollars) would be good.
TIA

 

[assassin10000]

Does anyone have silver-core cables to recommend?
3.5mm TRS straight plug (rhodium-plated if possible).
Litz braid is nice to have, but not important.
Cheap-ish (tens of dollars) would be good.
TIA

Maybe the TRN one or some of the Nicehck cables?


I'd check these threads:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/low...ck-cable-thread.891911/page-299#post-15745128
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/res...mments-and-links.907998/page-20#post-15746004

 

[purplesun]

Maybe the TRN one or some of the Nicehck cables?
I'd check these threads:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/low...ck-cable-thread.891911/page-299#post-15745128
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/res...mments-and-links.907998/page-20#post-15746004

Thanks. Amazing the kind of prices we pay for cables nowadays.
Wish I could time-teleport a box full of them back to myself in the '90s and save enough to build a time-teleporter!

 

[furyossa]

Thanks. Amazing the kind of prices we pay for cables nowadays.
Wish I could time-teleport a box full of them back to myself in the '90s and save enough to build a time-teleporter!

I wish the same The question is what quality are these silver cables in general but on the other hand they are good enough for DIY and earbuds, even better then some stock one.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001166709135.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000600301778.html
It is much cheaper to take a separate rhodium plug and change it than to buy cables with already installed ones
QYFUNG store has nice offer of any type of plugs https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000392012197.html
As we all already know Japanese plugs are very high quality but I don't know about these https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000833426018.html
Whatever you choose you will certainly not go wrong. For DIY drivers I always recommend silver cables, rhodium plug is just a nice bonus

 

[Slater]

The question is what quality are these silver cables in general but on the other hand they are good enough for DIY and earbuds, even better then some stock one.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/low...ck-cable-thread.891911/page-290#post-15693714

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/aud...ressions-thread.909718/page-232#post-15461444

 

[furyossa]

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/low...ck-cable-thread.891911/page-290#post-15693714

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/aud...ressions-thread.909718/page-232#post-15461444

Wow man, you are test this cable to the core. Nice job.
I own 4 TRN cables (not silver-one) and all work great and after seeing your experiment I can only confirm that TRN is really the budget king for cables

 

[purplesun]

It is much cheaper to take a separate rhodium plug and change it than to buy cables with already installed ones
For DIY drivers I always recommend silver cables, rhodium plug is just a nice bonus

Good idea. Reminded me of some plugs I bought sometime ago (years!).
Dug around & found these; I think I bought them with rhodium-plating specced.

All I need now is some silver wires to make the cables.

BTW, the cable is for an old SHE3800 (again, years!) that I found. It's sounding a bit too warm for my ears. A bit of silver & rhodium goodness should sort them out.

 

[GREQ]

Does anyone have a recommendation for 15mm drivers? (not 15.4mm)

I'm looking for something resembling 'high-end' 'end-game' with excellent deep bass... anything in the direction of Kube or Sabia V6 but with far superior detail retrieval is what I'm looking for.
Does that even exist?

 

[assassin10000]

Does anyone have a recommendation for 15mm drivers? (not 15.4mm)

I'm looking for something resembling 'high-end' 'end-game' with excellent deep bass... anything in the direction of Kube or Sabia V6 but with far superior detail retrieval is what I'm looking for.
Does that even exist?

I can't think of any 15.0mm drivers.

Maybe use 14.8mm instead?

The best I've used are the (currently sold out on AE) diy pk1 150Ω redfilm. If used in a housing with slightly larger than average volume. Original 2-vent or apple earbud shaped housings will not let these sound their best.

Followed by the 64Ω N55 I'm currently using, which is a little rolled off in comparison on both ends (still good overall).

 

[jogawag]

Does anyone have a recommendation for 15mm drivers? (not 15.4mm)

I'm looking for something resembling 'high-end' 'end-game' with excellent deep bass... anything in the direction of Kube or Sabia V6 but with far superior detail retrieval is what I'm looking for.
Does that even exist?

If 14.8mm is OK, I think that the docomo driver, which is said to be the driver of Shozy BK, shows the best performance in the docomo shell (a slightly larger PK shell).
You can buy docomo earbuds by "PM" on the following page.
The docomo driver should be retrieved from there. (It's about $28 now, so maybe it's a bit expensive?)

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=4771866

 

[Slater]

On Ali you can find two version 15.4mm Beryllium coated drivers, 130ohm and 600ohm. It is cheaper to buy theses drivers and other parts separately and make your own earbuds, but first try with cheaper models as some have already recommended. You just have a chance to test theses Beryllium speakers before you decide to buy assembled models which in my opinion are expensive, at least double

FYI, I might have found a 3rd version of the 15.4mm beryllium driver.

It’s a 500ohm driver, and has slightly different sensitivity specs than the 600ohm driver. The driver surround is red instead of blue:



I messaged the seller to see if it was a mistake, and they verified that it is indeed 500ohm.

 

[Slater]

Can anyone help me identify this Sony earphone?

I got a pair with a bad cable for free, and if they are decent I can recable them. But if they’re low end junk, I’ll just reuse the shell.

There is no model identification, because the cable was cut off. I know the model is usually listed on the y splitter. So that’s not really an option.

Any help is appreciated

 

[captione]

@Slater I think that's a Sony E808. Not sure though

 

[Slater]

@Slater I think that's a Sony E808. Not sure though

Comparing it to the E808, it’s different.

The little triangle vent in the E808 has a bar splitting the triangle in half. Mine doesn’t have that bar.

Also, the vent on the E808 next to the cable is offset to the side slightly. Mine is perfectly centered.

Finally, the E808 shell has a curved “swirl” indented into shell by the triangular vent. Mine doesn’t have that.

Maybe mine are vintage fake Sonys?

MDR-E808: