[dsincere]

What're the options for rewiring for this IEM. Looks extremely appealing to my standards (audio nirvana with enhanced bass) and I've bumped up my budget for a Hi-Fi IEM. I just might bite. I've heard about the ALO Audio modified cable but I don't see any options for just rewiring. I've heard some people with wiring issues and I understand Sennheiser has been able to repair them for people (some more than just once) but how does that work unless I buy it directly from Sennheiser? I was thinking along the lines of finding the best price although they might not be verified resellers.

Hmmm funny you would ask this I've just gotten a pair back from a guy here that made my set of unbalanced 800s into a balanced set I will be posting some pics and giving a sound impression of what I think a little later...I have two sets and was thinking about going the ALO route but was like man more money on another set ...The owner of the audio shop here told me he could do it with with ease as their getting quite a reputation here and have a good business model for being in this part of Asia .....we did a 3.5 balanced connect from the Y connector with extension to 2.5 balanced for use with AK240 then he made me another long connector to connect at the Y for right angle 3.5 unbalanced because I didn't want adaptor or short cable as you can go that route too ....he didn't have any 2.5 female plugs in stock to use 2.5 from the Y so I said it was ok to use 3.5 he said if at anytime I want 2.5 he'll do it for me "no charge" as I said I'll post some pics later when I get a chance I would like to further evaluate the differences ...as there are some in sound quality .....most being very good

 

[xedjflowx]

Hmmm funny you would ask this I've just gotten a pair back from a guy here that made my set of unbalanced 800s into a balanced set I will be posting some pics and giving a sound impression of what I think a little later...I have two sets and was thinking about going the ALO route but was like man more money on another set ...The owner of the audio shop here told me he could do it with with ease as their getting quite a reputation here and have a good business model for being in this part of Asia .....we did a 3.5 balanced connect from the Y connector with extension to 2.5 balanced for use with AK240 then he made me another long connector to connect at the Y for right angle 3.5 unbalanced because I didn't want adaptor or short cable as you can go that route too ....he didn't have any 2.5 female plugs in stock to use 2.5 from the Y so I said it was ok to use 3.5 he said if at anytime I want 2.5 he'll do it for me "no charge" as I said I'll post some pics later when I get a chance I would like to further evaluate the differences ...as there are some in sound quality .....most being very good

Please do. The whole previous page is filled with cable troubles.

 

[M-13]

Yeah it's really bummer about the cables for some folks here.
 
Luckily Mine have been holding up fine after a few months (knock on wood), and I've accepted the fact that they're not detachable and I still like them very much. My serial number is in the high 8000s too, so it's kind of an old batch, but my cable is only getting softer with use, not harder.

 

[xedjflowx]

 
Please do. The whole previous page is filled with cable troubles.

too late. already bit.

 

[dsincere]

Ok here's my thoughts on the balanced iE800 I had made.....I had talked with Egg Head audio here in Manila and inquired about balanced iE800 possibly from ALO as sir Rico does business with them and receives orders in, he said sure he could most likely order them in but told me since I had two pair with one just recently purchased from him why not modify the existing pair? I didn't know how their cable work would be but being how they have a very nice rep here for phones and other audiophile equipment and are really the place to go hang out listen and try different combinations of gear and product, I already had a good feeling about this....This is sir Ricos hobby he loves it and he works with all types of cable...so he said try the copper litz I'll make a balanced set for you...so he constructed a set for me after getting some ideas of what I liked, we ran into one issue "which I didn't think was a true issue at all" but being how he was out of stock on the female 2.5 plugs we decided to go with 3.5 balanced from the Y connect and the end would be terminated in 2.5 balanced for the AK240 his work is very clean and precise as I was looking for a nice industrial type look and I actually like the break and Y connect as he says he doesn't care for it as much and like the clean cable look, but I've found to appreciate it as it has some uses which I prefer, and I plan on having the same type of break made in my other cables as well "I have a set of iE80s that should be completed by this weekend and I can't wait for these because I was a fan of the iE80 I really loved their sound because for one the bass is tunable and also if balanced is any indication to go by the clarity should be even better as well as a black background...well I got the iE800 back and I can tell you as an owner of the Shure SE846 which I had been running in balanced mode a week or so after I brought them, these two phones are very close in performance with the Shures mids being slightly forward as one would expect, the iE800 are beautiful in their sound open great sound stage, very nice bass the overall improvement makes one think or rather wish Sennheiser should've sold these balanced from the start, with another cable for unbalanced use even if it made the price a little higher. These truly are excellent sounding IEMs and I feel that they were modeled similar to the HD800 but with a touch added bass because they thought most people would take advantage and use them for travel as well, running in balanced mode makes them reach really high for that top tier bar and to me they've reached it...I played everything from AAC files from HD Tracks 24/96 24/192 and even DSD, and all sound great with the AK240 then I sir Rico had also made a matching balanced to unbalanced 3.5 to go along with the balanced cable...I switched them out ran them directly into my iPod Touch "not the most recent but the one right before the most recent we have now" and they actually sound better quality wise than the stock, no it's not like the switch to the balanced that I feel anyone will "or rather most people" hear the difference right from the start, but I think the cables did make a noticeable improvement in over all sound quality not just one area. Rico told me that also if I would like when the newer 2.5 balanced plugs were in he would put new connects on my cables for me because he said I may be concerned with the slight weight over the 2.5 with the 3.5, but so far I like it no it's not a very noticeable weight gain but its very slight which I actually find as a bonus being how I've heard some people have had fit problems for which I haven't really had once I took a nice sit down session and played with all the tips until I found a good fit through some swapping back and forth many times "trial and error" for those that have been here for a while you'll note I've even come up with a mod for those who like comply T500 as well as "I think" TS500 comfort fit" I believe this to be correct as I'm writing this from memory I posted the mod before here and will be glad to look it up for anyone who isn't sure...but it involves using the factory center locking bores to obtain a great lock and fit "comply should really take note as they themselves could mold this piece into the comply itself for use with the iE800 and I think they would sell...I feel that anyone thinking of going the balanced route really should rather it's buying a set from ALO or having a pre existing set modded it's worth it and you'll be happy you did...and if you're near Manila Philippines or just want to look them up search for Egg Head Audio I think sir Rico would take the time to show his love for the hobby as well.....It was right after I heard this balanced set that I didn't even hesitate and sent my iE80 in as well as a matter of fact I think when I receive my replacement set of SE846 back "yes they have had a few issues as well" the iE800 aren't the only IEMs that's had some issues" I think I will have sir make me another set for those too, as I already have a set of the ALO copper but I really love the over all appearance of his cables with the tight braid they sound as nice as they look "and yes if one wants he can make them even fancier than mine" as I said I was after a industrial type look that's user suited to me ...I took a lot of time comparing and listening in both modes and unfortunately I didn't get to do a side by side comparison with a factory set cables untouched versus these...yes I own two pair but I had a small incident as the day I was getting the balanced set back grrrr actually two hours before, I was washing my hands and had placed the stock set from my ears to the collar of my shirt being how it's warm and I was going to throw some water on my face well they slipped from my collar and fell to the floor "tile floor" ceramic on ceramic" yes they cracked from the rear port along the side so as the balanced set was picked up the factory set was sent back for repair or replacement as I should find out sometime.. but fortunately I have a great new balanced set to hold me over ....I really like these a lot .....I listen to all types of music from Hip-Hop , EDM, Jazz, Lounge, Rock "Led Zeppelin" I, II, III remastered 24/96 with both studio cuts as well as raw cuts "which are very detailed" along with concert tracks....these shine with all....I'll post photos as well to give a look at the work completed to give and idea, as cables can be done in more than one way or style Thanks for reading and I hope this helps.....



















**Note** The right angle plug is the unbalanced cable

I would like again to thank Rico Cheng of Egg Head audio in Manila for the nice work and fast turnaround....I love balanced

 

[tgx78]

wow my eye actually hurts reading that.

 

[high-fidelity]

Please edit your paragraph.It is so hard to read.

 

[dsincere]

Please edit your paragraph.It is so hard to read.

Sorry I would like too but it was very difficult to do as I posted all of this from an iPod touch and the mobile site does not always corporate when trying to do many things at once....

 

[florence]

Hi all,
 
Maybe you remember some of pictures that I have posted earlier in this thread. The rubber parts were a bit worn and cable colour was a bit dark.
 
So I sent my IE800 to AccessoryJack a couple of weeks ago because it was bought from there and I actually wanted them to deal with all the necessary process. Well, they have contacted me today that mine is replaced by Sennheiser and brand new IE800 is ready to be shipped to me. So far so good.

 

[daseinpdx]

  Hi all,
 
Maybe you remember some of pictures that I have posted earlier in this thread. The rubber parts were a bit worn and cable colour was a bit dark.
 
So I sent my IE800 to AccessoryJack a couple of weeks ago because it was bought from there and I actually wanted them to deal with all the necessary process. Well, they have contacted me today that mine is replaced by Sennheiser and brand new IE800 is ready to be shipped to me. So far so good.

 
Actually, dealing with sennheiser directly is pretty painless.   You just go to their website and answer a few questions, upload a copy of your receipt, print out a return label, drop off to ups.  About 2 weeks turn around.  I have done this twice already.  Other than not having your phones, not really much of a problem.  I imagine going through a third party would delay getting your replacements.

 

[dsincere]

Actually, dealing with sennheiser directly is pretty painless.   You just go to their website and answer a few questions, upload a copy of your receipt, print out a return label, drop off to ups.  About 2 weeks turn around.  I have done this t
wice already.  Other than not having your phones, not really much of a problem.  I imagine going through a third party would delay getting your replacements.

Yes going through some third parties will delay the process sometimes, I've experienced both not so great "which is one reason I have two pair" and then great turn around service just depends on the company/ shop you're dealing with good shops take care of their customers

 

[florence]

   
Actually, dealing with sennheiser directly is pretty painless.   You just go to their website and answer a few questions, upload a copy of your receipt, print out a return label, drop off to ups.  About 2 weeks turn around.  I have done this twice already.  Other than not having your phones, not really much of a problem.  I imagine going through a third party would delay getting your replacements.

I had only digital receipt unfortunately and I wasn't the person who bought the phones originally, I am second owner. Hence, in my country Sennheiser distributor was there to make difficulties, demanding warranty papers. I decided to send it to third party where it's bought from and thankfully they directly passed it to Sennheiser. Replaced phones are on the way now. I will never buy anything from this distributor just because of this indirect warranty process.

 

[Raiton]

Interesting change of cable surface (the cable to the left earphone is affected) with my headphones. From nice soft round surface to hard scalloped just after three months. Here is photo too. I´m sending them back for repair soon probably.

 

[chawya22]

  Interesting change of cable surface (the cable to the left earphone is affected) with my headphones. From nice soft round surface to hard scalloped just after three months. Here is photo too. I´m sending them back for repair soon probably.

As one who has also been afflicted with the left cable syndrome twice, Sennheiser really needs to figure out 'wassup'. If you're in the States and sending them back to Sennheiser in Connecticut, PM me for the name of the product specialist to send them to the attention of. I'm on my third pair and still enjoy them sonically but spend way too much time analyzing and worrying about the left cable.

 

[ryanjsoo]

So James and rin mentioned a mod where you place a bit of cloth on the nozzle of the iem to improve frequency response and dynamics, but when I tried this it just drowned out all the details. I used an alcohol swab which I cut into two small circles which I wedged down the tubing in between the tips and the iems themselves. What did I do wrong, is there a right way to do it?, I find the highs kinda splashy without any mods which can make high cymbals sound like smashing glass.