johnwmclean
Aka: capone, bignurse.
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2008
- Posts
- 2,909
- Likes
- 52
Here I am with my very first formal review, the review subject being a HD800 Vortex balanced cable with BAXLR connectors. The cable is made by Jeremy (qusp) of Twisted Cables.
I’ve had the cable now for a month or so and have used it exclusively with my Buffalo Sabre32 DAC and balanced β22 amplifier. The Vortex replaced the balanced stock Sennheiser cable which I had terminated with Neutrix XLR connectors. I was very accustomed to the sound signature of the system when I introduced the Vortex, and was not sure what it would bring to the table, I was sure the system was at it’s maximum potential.
From my own personal experiences headphone cables in particular seem to make the biggest differences that I can audibly hear compared to other after market audio tweaks. When I owned the HD650 I noticed a very big difference over the stock using a Moon Audio Silver Dragon cable, it opened the sound right up adding more life and zest. The HD800 is a different kettle of fish, Sennheiser has clearly done a superb job with the stock cable, although thin (32awg) it’s extremely well made, and having had first hand experience in cutting open this cable to re-terminate I can truly vouch for it’s quality. Cable makers in general now have more of a battle on their hands with the HD800 stock cable, although in contrast the HD800 is a lot more resolving so any cable differences should be easier to discern.
The Vortex cable is made from Cryo-treated OCC copper, physically it’s flexible and lightweight, very comfortable and has a soft feel to it. Contrastively the baxlr connectors from Bocchino Audio are huge, the biggest connector I have ever seen, they dwarf the front panel of my β22. The quality and build of Twisted Cables products is exceptional, this little Aussie company kicks some big serious arse.
Perhaps I should start my listening impressions with the character of the stock cable.
Stock Cable
I was very happy with the stock quite frankly, if I never had never heard the Vortex, I would have been none the wiser. It has a ruler flat balance, and did not get in the way of the music, only upon using the Vortex have I found the stock to have shortcomings, I’ve found the stock to be a little lifeless and lack naturalness, the best way I can describe it would be a sheen over the music. Instruments leading edges are little grainy, at first it seems like a little more detail but longer listening reveals imaging and midrange purity suffer. There’s less dynamic shift which sounds like a slightly higher noise floor, I noticed less driving force with up beat tempo music, also micro dynamics are not as easily resolved. The treble is good and could not discern any real differences over the Vortex, on the other hand bass is dryer and less natural and does not seem to extent to the degree as the vortex.
Vortex Cable
I like this cable a lot, it brings about a freshness and naturalness that are so important with my systems overall balance. It’s transparent, and does not seem to have a sound signature, it will not transform or shift the sound signature of the HD800. It improves upon the stock cables weaknesses (which are few), and gives the HD800’s a boost in performance that I for one value.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to read this, it’s a very sketchy topic with opinions so divided. I did not ABX or blind test the cable, the differences I experienced were taken listening for a week with the stock then a week with the Vortex. I have found acclimatisation over long period of time with a wide selection genre to be the best test for my ears. Thanks nismohks for the photography.
For further reading another review can be found here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f21/tw...cables-437569/
I’ve had the cable now for a month or so and have used it exclusively with my Buffalo Sabre32 DAC and balanced β22 amplifier. The Vortex replaced the balanced stock Sennheiser cable which I had terminated with Neutrix XLR connectors. I was very accustomed to the sound signature of the system when I introduced the Vortex, and was not sure what it would bring to the table, I was sure the system was at it’s maximum potential.
From my own personal experiences headphone cables in particular seem to make the biggest differences that I can audibly hear compared to other after market audio tweaks. When I owned the HD650 I noticed a very big difference over the stock using a Moon Audio Silver Dragon cable, it opened the sound right up adding more life and zest. The HD800 is a different kettle of fish, Sennheiser has clearly done a superb job with the stock cable, although thin (32awg) it’s extremely well made, and having had first hand experience in cutting open this cable to re-terminate I can truly vouch for it’s quality. Cable makers in general now have more of a battle on their hands with the HD800 stock cable, although in contrast the HD800 is a lot more resolving so any cable differences should be easier to discern.
The Vortex cable is made from Cryo-treated OCC copper, physically it’s flexible and lightweight, very comfortable and has a soft feel to it. Contrastively the baxlr connectors from Bocchino Audio are huge, the biggest connector I have ever seen, they dwarf the front panel of my β22. The quality and build of Twisted Cables products is exceptional, this little Aussie company kicks some big serious arse.
Perhaps I should start my listening impressions with the character of the stock cable.
Stock Cable
I was very happy with the stock quite frankly, if I never had never heard the Vortex, I would have been none the wiser. It has a ruler flat balance, and did not get in the way of the music, only upon using the Vortex have I found the stock to have shortcomings, I’ve found the stock to be a little lifeless and lack naturalness, the best way I can describe it would be a sheen over the music. Instruments leading edges are little grainy, at first it seems like a little more detail but longer listening reveals imaging and midrange purity suffer. There’s less dynamic shift which sounds like a slightly higher noise floor, I noticed less driving force with up beat tempo music, also micro dynamics are not as easily resolved. The treble is good and could not discern any real differences over the Vortex, on the other hand bass is dryer and less natural and does not seem to extent to the degree as the vortex.
Vortex Cable
I like this cable a lot, it brings about a freshness and naturalness that are so important with my systems overall balance. It’s transparent, and does not seem to have a sound signature, it will not transform or shift the sound signature of the HD800. It improves upon the stock cables weaknesses (which are few), and gives the HD800’s a boost in performance that I for one value.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to read this, it’s a very sketchy topic with opinions so divided. I did not ABX or blind test the cable, the differences I experienced were taken listening for a week with the stock then a week with the Vortex. I have found acclimatisation over long period of time with a wide selection genre to be the best test for my ears. Thanks nismohks for the photography.
For further reading another review can be found here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f21/tw...cables-437569/