[SSSN]

I got some Focal Spirit One S headphones and the cable has an inline remote/mic. I use them with a Fiio E10 desktop amp. Would switching to an audio-only cable make a difference?

 

[Music Alchemist]

From my experience, audio only cables sound at least twice as good as remote cables.

 

[money4me247]

  I got some Focal Spirit One S headphones and the cable has an inline remote/mic. I use them with a Fiio E10 desktop amp. Would switching to an audio-only cable make a difference?

no.
 
if there is a difference, most likely one cable is simply defective.

 

[zunehdrocks]

If the cable has high resistance or messes with electrical damping (difference between source impedence and speaker impedence Phillips fidelio x1...), its possible ,but that applies to all headphone cables. It probably won't make a much of a difference. If you really want to try another cable, vmoda's cables are pretty cheap and innerfidelity says it measures at .5 ohms.

 

[SSSN]

Well, one problem with the Spirit One S is that the 3.5mm jack on the cup is recessed in a VERY narrow and long canal.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  no.
 
if there is a difference, most likely one cable is simply defective.

 
The extra electronics in remote cables can interfere with the signal, making music sound digitized and artificial in comparison.
 
If this is not the case with all remote cables, I have not experienced it.