Low end. Cheap. Generic. Otherwise bang for buck cable thread!
Aug 19, 2019 at 9:19 AM Post #2,296 of 9,185
I've been trying desperately to find a cheap, half-decent Audeze cable, but so far I have nothing to show for it. I'm talking 20-30€ max, and the cheapest I've seen are around 45€. Most are 60€ and up, which is just ridiculous in my opinion.

Any help or hints would be greatly appreciated. I never thought they would be so hard to find, considering how easy it is to find great, cheap cables for Hifiman headphones for example.
 
Aug 19, 2019 at 10:38 AM Post #2,297 of 9,185
Aug 19, 2019 at 4:53 PM Post #2,298 of 9,185
Frequency response doesn't change noticeably with cables in normal conditions (exceptions are BA IEMs with very high resistance cable, or very low impedance phones).
But due to other attributes, perception of lows or highs seems to vary. You get thicker perception of lows with most copper cables, while highs seems to be enhanced when using silver or silver plated cables.

Audiosense T800 is a multi BA very low impedance (around 8-9ohms@1kHz) IEM.
Keeping low output impedance is critical for this IEM, if you want to get its normal frequency response (I don't know the impedance curve of T800, so I can't tell if you'll get harsher or tamed treble when using high output impedance).
Very few smartphones have output impedance below 1ohm, which is desirable in this case. I don't know output impedance of Samsung J3, I guess it's between 1 and 2 ohms (not bad).
In this case, the resistance of a decent cable won't affect much to total output impedance in proportion.

I get thicker bass perception while black background, so warmer perception overall, with cable 125, which has the lowest resistance in my list besides. But it's in the stiff and heavy side.
Cable 170/171 is my favorite copper, you get more neutral perception. I'd choose any of these, 170/171 or 125, and would avoid silver or silver plated copper ones in your case.

Regardless of cable, to tame treble, I'd try tip rolling (narrow bore in long tip will help), ensure total output impedance below 1ohm (you'd need a different source), equalize, and/or add a bit of micropore tape in the nozzle.
EDIT: foam tips can also help with 8-10kHz treble peaks
 
Last edited:
Aug 20, 2019 at 2:25 AM Post #2,299 of 9,185
I'm not sure why it's so hard to find the cable I'm looking for. Can anyone point me to a copper, 8- or 16-core cable that is black, MMCX, 3.5mm L-bending connector, with NO MEMORY wire. The closest I've found is this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33029543098.html (but it's not black). Any suggestions?
 
Aug 20, 2019 at 3:48 AM Post #2,300 of 9,185
Frequency response doesn't change noticeably with cables in normal conditions (exceptions are BA IEMs with very high resistance cable, or very low impedance phones).
But due to other attributes, perception of lows or highs seems to vary. You get thicker perception of lows with most copper cables, while highs seems to be enhanced when using silver or silver plated cables.

Audiosense T800 is a multi BA very low impedance (around 8-9ohms@1kHz) IEM.
Keeping low output impedance is critical for this IEM, if you want to get its normal frequency response (I don't know the impedance curve of T800, so I can't tell if you'll get harsher or tamed treble when using high output impedance).
Very few smartphones have output impedance below 1ohm, which is desirable in this case. I don't know output impedance of Samsung J3, I guess it's between 1 and 2 ohms (not bad).
In this case, the resistance of a decent cable won't affect much to total output impedance in proportion.

I get thicker bass perception while black background, so warmer perception overall, with cable 125, which has the lowest resistance in my list besides. But it's in the stiff and heavy side.
Cable 170/171 is my favorite copper, but you get more neutral perception. I'd choose any of these, 170/171 or 125, and would avoid silver or silver plated copper ones in your case.

Regardless of cable, to tame treble, I'd try tip rolling (narrow bore in long tip will help), ensure total output impedance below 1ohm (you'd need a different source), equalize, and/or add a bit of micropore tape in the nozzle.


Thats interesting. I found that my KZ SZ6 sounds pretty harsh when it comes to treble.
I bought a silver plated 16 Core cable, this one:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32875887849.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.6ed64c4dP1sqHr


Wouldnt it then be much better if i get a pure copper cable so that the treble may get a little less harsh ?
This looks decent, no ?

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/3288...chweb0_0,searchweb201602_2,searchweb201603_52

What do you think ? Would it be a good fit ? (DAP: XUDOO X3II)

I also want to mod my KZ SZ6 like this. Maybe its interesting for you, too:
 
Last edited:
Aug 20, 2019 at 5:04 AM Post #2,302 of 9,185
Thats interesting. I found that my KZ SZ6 sounds pretty harsh when it comes to treble.
I bought a silver plated 16 Core cable, this one:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32875887849.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.6ed64c4dP1sqHr


Wouldnt it then be much better if i get a pure copper cable so that the treble may get a little less harsh ?
This looks decent, no ?

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/3288...chweb0_0,searchweb201602_2,searchweb201603_52

What do you think ? Would it be a good fit ? (DAP: XUDOO X3II)

I also want to mod my KZ SZ6 like this. Maybe its interesting for you, too:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kno...essions-thread.698148/page-1786#post-13965188
taming zs6 treble peaks (vs zs5 v1):
zs6 tip rolling: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kno...essions-thread.698148/page-1527#post-13766425
zs6 with impedance adapter: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kno...essions-thread.698148/page-1553#post-13777787
zs6 eq: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kno...essions-thread.698148/page-1617#post-13813287

foam tips, essentially. and/or eq. and or @Slater mods.
 
Aug 20, 2019 at 8:32 AM Post #2,303 of 9,185
Anyone know of any cables that have an angled .78 2-pin? Look like this
upload_2019-8-20_8-31-39.png


Preferably $100
 
Aug 20, 2019 at 9:03 AM Post #2,304 of 9,185
I ordered a black TRN 6-core upgrade cable (the one that @Slater found out wasn't wired properly) from Nicehck recently and tested it with a basic multi-meter. It appeared to measure at 0.6 ohms for both the L+ and R+ connections, versus 0.8 ohms for the improperly wired version. Is this enough of an improvement to suggest all cores are connected?

EDIT: Not sure my multi-meter is working reliably, take this with a mound of salt.
 
Last edited:
Aug 20, 2019 at 12:58 PM Post #2,305 of 9,185
I'm not sure why it's so hard to find the cable I'm looking for. Can anyone point me to a copper, 8- or 16-core cable that is black, MMCX, 3.5mm L-bending connector, with NO MEMORY wire. The closest I've found is this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33029543098.html (but it's not black). Any suggestions?
Have you researched and studied hakuzen's incredible body of work in this thread? https://www.head-fi.org/threads/resistance-of-cables-pics-comments-and-links.907998/

Post 2 (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/resistance-of-cables-pics-comments-and-links.907998/#post-14985614) summarizes the critical parameters including core counts, material used, colors available, and various connector options. Further down the page you will find pictures and links of where to buy these cables.

Yes, it will take some of your time to dig through all this great information but it is a learning opportunity as well.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Tim
 
Aug 20, 2019 at 1:41 PM Post #2,306 of 9,185


Thank you @hakuzen
Just some little piece of a kitchen sponge
put in the silicon ear buds did the trick for me.
No need to open the gear at this point of time.

Let's see what the foam tip and a copper cable can do ontop!
 
Aug 20, 2019 at 2:56 PM Post #2,307 of 9,185
I ordered a black TRN 6-core upgrade cable (the one that @Slater found out wasn't wired properly) from Nicehck recently and tested it with a basic multi-meter. It appeared to measure at 0.6 ohms for both the L+ and R+ connections, versus 0.8 ohms for the improperly wired version. Is this enough of an improvement to suggest all cores are connected?
check also negative/ground signals
 
Aug 20, 2019 at 5:40 PM Post #2,308 of 9,185
@hakuzen What Cable do you recommend with the moondrop KXXS? I might buy it and if I do I will probably buy a cable for it.
 
Aug 20, 2019 at 9:25 PM Post #2,309 of 9,185
@hakuzen What Cable do you recommend with the moondrop KXXS? I might buy it and if I do I will probably buy a cable for it.
What are you looking for in the cable? Have you burned in the kxxs enough?
 
Aug 21, 2019 at 7:57 AM Post #2,310 of 9,185
What are you looking for in the cable? Have you burned in the kxxs enough?
I usually like very thick Copper cables, But this time I want something that doesnt have much coloring as the copper increases the bass and silver increases treble ( For me) so maybe a copper/silver hybrid might be better now? Earhook is a must though.

And I havent ordered the KXXS but I am very likely to do so.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top