[thejoker13]

Oh wow this was unexpected. One of the best cables I purchased recently is on sale for the cheapest I have seen. Winter Sale going on at Aliexpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...a2g1y.12024536.productList_2717662.subject_18

Get em while they are cheap.

+1 on this recommendation. This really is a great cable and is well worth the asking price.

 

[hakuzen]

+1 on this recommendation. This really is a great cable and is well worth the asking price.

+1

 

[CoiL]

@hakuzen maybe You could recommend some known brand microphone/instrument cable which has soft-coated copper strands inside that we could strip down and make cable? I know there is starquad, canare, van damme etc. but I haven`t seen any yet with soft PVC coating inside.
Tried with van damme XKE pro but it is teflon insulated and when braided is quite stiff.

 

[ForceMajeure]

Good wires with a good core count, soft and coated PE are not cheap unfortunately.
Hakugei is worth a look they are sold on ali as well.
They also have a store on taobao.

 

[hakuzen]

@hakuzen maybe You could recommend some known brand microphone/instrument cable which has soft-coated copper strands inside that we could strip down and make cable? I know there is starquad, canare, van damme etc. but I haven`t seen any yet with soft PVC coating inside.
Tried with van damme XKE pro but it is teflon insulated and when braided is quite stiff.

most of my interconnect cables use canare star quad (L-4E6S) wire, and are made by ghentaudio.
http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=53
http://www.canare.com/UploadedDocuments/Cat11_p35.pdf
the copper is insulated by their own PE (polyethilene) type, don't know how flexible it is:
"Insulation. Canare Cables utilize special polymer compounds that reduce capacitive “R-C” filter roll off within the cable and prevent high voltage breakdown. By irradiating the material, the polymer becomes extensively cross-linked, chemically inert, water resistant, and remains flexible at very low temperatures. Irradiated PE is superior to ordinary polyethylene because it is heat resistant. Canare insulation will not shrink back, flow or char when soldering, so you save initial and rework time, and achieve more reliable connections".
but that would be a lot of work, and not cheap.

if you plan to make the braid work, guess there are some wires available, like this one, for example.

but i'd keep on searching for pre-braided soft wires, like the ones you linked to a few posts above. now i think it's a good option.
edit: acrolink has got many variants of 4, 8, and 16 cores braided soft wire, flexible and decent conductivity, but most are silver plated copper.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PAP...ne-Cable-Audio-Line-AUX-Wire/32867317898.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...le-HIFI-DIY-Audio-AUX/914995_32867369251.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...phone-Cable-DIY-Audio/914995_32870471307.html

 

[CoiL]

most of my interconnect cables use canare star quad (L-4E6S) wire, and are made by ghentaudio.
http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=53
http://www.canare.com/UploadedDocuments/Cat11_p35.pdf
the copper is insulated by their own PE (polyethilene) type, don't know how flexible it is:
"Insulation. Canare Cables utilize special polymer compounds that reduce capacitive “R-C” filter roll off within the cable and prevent high voltage breakdown. By irradiating the material, the polymer becomes extensively cross-linked, chemically inert, water resistant, and remains flexible at very low temperatures. Irradiated PE is superior to ordinary polyethylene because it is heat resistant. Canare insulation will not shrink back, flow or char when soldering, so you save initial and rework time, and achieve more reliable connections".
but that would be a lot of work, and not cheap.

if you plan to make the braid work, guess there are some wires available, like this one, for example.

Will look more into Canare cables and that Litx 6N copper wire is best I found on AE too. Another option would be to buy uncovered litz and buy heat-shrink PVC tubing. But that is crazy work to do.

 

[Broquen]

Oh wow this was unexpected. One of the best cables I purchased recently is on sale for the cheapest I have seen. Winter Sale going on at Aliexpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...a2g1y.12024536.productList_2717662.subject_18

Get em while they are cheap.

Could anyone gently help me to find this cable (or equal) in a shorter version to use with Bluetooth adapter like ES100?

 

[CoiL]

@hakuzen ,btw I just found these with claimed ultra-soft PVC insulating:
1) copper: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PAP...940.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.18b72e0eK7DKNt

2) silver plated copper: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PAP...321.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.18b72e0eK7DKNt

You have experience with these? I`m thinking to try these out but price is going to be pretty high for 2-meter cable as 8-core braid (4xAgCu+4xCu) - 66$.
I would like it to be 3m and then price would be even higher. Thus, looking elsewhere probably.

 

[hakuzen]

Could anyone gently help me to find this cable (or equal) in a shorter version to use with Bluetooth adapter like ES100?

the wire used in that cable is http://www.lunashops.com/goods.php?id=5957
that link, together with links to other cables (different terminations) which use that wire, are included in my list (spoiler section). they come from lunashops, maybe you can mail them to ask for your custom one (they answer in 24-48 hours usually).

@hakuzen ,btw I just found these with claimed ultra-soft PVC insulating:
1) copper: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PAP...940.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.18b72e0eK7DKNt

2) silver plated copper: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PAP...321.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.18b72e0eK7DKNt

You have experience with these? I`m thinking to try these out but price is going to be pretty high for 2-meter cable as 8-core braid (4xAgCu+4xCu) - 66$.
I would like it to be 3m and then price would be even higher. Thus, looking elsewhere probably.

no, sorry, i've not tried these wires.
thought you wanted pure copper, not mixed with spc. if you don't mind mixing, consider this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...le-HIFI-DIY-Audio-AUX/914995_32867369251.html
it's 6n occ mixed, 0.1mm*19 (25awg/core), so you get around 22.3awg per signal (less than 100mOhms/1.2m). 3m, for 33€.
the sleeve is transparent, just a bit smoked.

 

[kingdixon]

Hey @hakuzen

I have 2 questions for you,

I see you added a couple of 052 different versions, can you provide the link of the first one the best in conductivity (gold,eid)

also, i checked your feedback around magaosi K5, if you got other chi-fi iems, what would you recommend with best value, i don't have any specific requirements, just need to try chi-fi stuff to see the progress in that realm. ( i have also seen people enjoying the kz zs7 but thats much cheaper around 50$ i think)

 

[Goosemama]

Could anyone gently help me to find this cable (or equal) in a shorter version to use with Bluetooth adapter like ES100?

I own ES100 and have ordered FiiO LC-3.5BS cable for it. available on amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KVZWW73/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

here is the description
Premium quality cable using high-purity 8 strands of 24 0.05mm silver-plated OCC wires each
Gold-plated MMCX connector and 3.5mm L-shaped plug for lower resistance and lower impedance
The around-the-ear design ensures your earphone will fit snugly and securely
The 45cm length of the cable is just right to avoid the mess of long wires especially when out and about

 

[Broquen]

I own ES100 and have ordered FiiO LC-3.5BS cable for it. available on amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KVZWW73/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

here is the description
Premium quality cable using high-purity 8 strands of 24 0.05mm silver-plated OCC wires each
Gold-plated MMCX connector and 3.5mm L-shaped plug for lower resistance and lower impedance
The around-the-ear design ensures your earphone will fit snugly and securely
The 45cm length of the cable is just right to avoid the mess of long wires especially when out and about

Thank you. Forgotten to mention that I'm looking for balanced one.

 

[ForceMajeure]

For those who are looking for a right angled 4.4mm jack.
This is an 8 braid very soft that has a 4.4 L jack

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Occ-8core-...hash=item41e7a02b5d:m:mS_RTL9_G8A-lAvhwJWhMwg

it can be found on ali as well and exist in black. unfortunately only mmcx

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ZSF...MCX-2-5-3-5-4-4mm-Balanced/1000006345965.html

on taobao it's priced slightly cheaper btw

Thanks to theUKMrT that found that cable here https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-nw-zx300.854693/page-477#post-14395781

 

[hakuzen]

Hey @hakuzen

I have 2 questions for you,

I see you added a couple of 052 different versions, can you provide the link of the first one the best in conductivity (gold,eid)

also, i checked your feedback around magaosi K5, if you got other chi-fi iems, what would you recommend with best value, i don't have any specific requirements, just need to try chi-fi stuff to see the progress in that realm. ( i have also seen people enjoying the kz zs7 but thats much cheaper around 50$ i think)

that cable was in stock in some shops time ago, but now you can find it only here at ali. provided this link in my list (first link of 052 cables). the price is near double the price of the other 052s, though.

i'll post full measurements of kz zs7 in kz thread in a hour. kz sound, pronounced V-shape. for the price, they sound very well.
but you know i'm searching always for better mids and neutral signature.
love toneking t4 mids, because they play the less colored more natural vocals i've ever found. they sound like if you were near listening to a singer, who isn't using a mic. resolution and cleanness is superb. highs are also remarkable (small sibilance). lows are flat like old school target curve (below hartman 2017 levels), with some bass roll-off. so not recommended if you need a good amount of bass.
toneking t88k is always in my radar, because use same drivers than t4, plus dedicated lows drivers. but it seems they don't have t4 mids, are darker and thicker (based in some owners impressions); the latter is the cause of not being ordered yet.
magaosi k5 is an all rounder; people say they need more bass, but i'm happy with their amount, higher than t4. they are less analytical than t4, and i much prefer t4 vocals. k5 have detailed highs as well, but more sibilant.
i'll post full measurements of t4 and k5 in a few days.
passed on bgvp dm6 (not my signature), and was near to push the trigger of moondrop kanas pro; even ordered them, but cancelled one day later because i think they aren't an upgrade from my stock. other sidegrades could be tansio mirai tsmr-3 and kinb.. mk4.
the other iems that are in my radar (besides of toneking t88k) are tansio mirai tsmr-4, 5, 6, 8... (but no reviews yet), ncm's (nc5 v2, tango, bella, i don't know if these can be considered chi-fi), and moondrop blessing and a8 (guess the signature of these moondrops would be my best fit).

 

[ForceMajeure]

@CoiL you might want to take a look at these as well
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...ml?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.1.1de021baCwDemx

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...ml?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.3.3b044cf4vWRRFw

the last link is for 1 single not braided but has all the technical info for each sort. probably the same wires used for the 4 braid and 8 braid weave they sell.

These look to me like the same stuff that is used on many cables selling for ~15-30+usd if you ask me.
They have a PVC insulation and btw that store accepts Paypal