Referring to some earlier post - I have a HD650 and never believed in cable.
Until sometimes ago...
my friend and I came around a famous cable shop in my area, which seems that they really know what they are doing. I asked, "my hearing is not trained nor great, can I actually hear difference with cables?" Cable guy confidently said, "c'mon, give yourselves a try." We didn't have the leisure to do blind test with each other (yes the shop has HD650, HD800, LCD2, HiFiMan and other cans for you to play with), but by switching the cable in sighted comparison, stock vs custom "rectangular occ copper" - the difference was quite noticeable. Since we are DIYers with electronics background, we had been very skeptical about cable effect, but if we both could hear difference while trying to convince each other that there is none at all, that just sparked much interest in us and I decided to switch some cables for fun.
I started out on Sommercable Peacock, the cable my beloved T1 used. The difference is in fact noticeable. Our theory was that because the stock cable was horribly thin (>28awg - anyone bother to cut the stock cable open for measurement?) that damped the headphone in a whole, which is a trick manufacturers can use to save cost and achieve certain sonic signature while compromising the details on replay.
(On the cost: people argue how much one can save from using crap cables, actually that's a huge lot. Long story short - you know McDonalds counted their sesames on the bun?)
So then the HD650 Sommercable "peacock" was made. I was happy with the result, but from my memory the difference wasn't quite as dramatic as I thought. That is noticeable, but not as spectacular as comparing to my faded and subjective memory. The sound got clearer, the bass are less bloated.
Then I sourced some audiophile grade 18 awg occ cable. Heck I can get a bottle of Cannubi Boschis with the material cost! No wonder why people would think those making after market cable are making big bucks out of nowhere. It's the craftsmanship and sourcing which are expensive. 60 strandings into a 18awg, that's probably the best according to audiophiles' comment.
Even more unbelievable was that it claimed directional. We thought that was BS. My mate accidentally drop the label indicating the direction, we didn't give much care. But curiousity called - after measuring the cable from "front to back" and "back to front" the value was different. The test was did with precise equipment. I will be ordering more and try to repeat the test with video recording in the hope that the test was really, really screwed up.
(Side note: This custom Neutrik plug is plain awesome.)
So the cable was made yesterday. Sound got much, much richer. Mids and bass got much richer, soundstage widened, while the high got much detailed. With stock cable, Sommer Peacock and 18awg occ in hand, will be conducting blinded test later when I can get an extra pair of HD650.
I still need time to investigate theories on this. But now I agree that my T1 need recabling. Which is not good to my heart and wallet. My mate want to make it with silvergold (not with Mund0rf).
For those who are interested, stay tuned.
(T1 & HD650)
P.S. - While doing sighted test or blinded, we could tell difference which are huge, but cannot write like a cable connoisseur. Forgive our lack of literacy or creativity.
