[squallkiercosa]

 

Consumers should stop buying overpriced products. If you guys keep buying every expensive toy out there the demand will push companies to raise the prices for hi-end gear..  don't be surprised when regular headphones end up costing as much as the Abyss...

 

[TheWuss]

So, sennheiser, you're saying the connectors on the hd800 cable cost $60 more.
Okay. We believe you. :rolleyes:

 

[Armaegis]

Nice to know the HD700 connectors are the same as my cheapo Senn HD212...
 
C'mon Sennheiser, at least standardize going forward. I can sort of understand the HD25/600/650 connectors being a holdover from the past (the spring clips with exposed leads module is a terrible idea, but that's another matter), but that's no excuse with your flagship level headphones.

 

[linglingjr]

I clicked this reading the headline and thinking "Wow that's a really great idea, +1 to sennheiser." And then I see the price... Disappointing.

 

[kurochin]

If you guys think cables made by a headphone company are overpriced, just wait till you see prices of headphones made by a cable company...... *cough... JPS Abyss... cough*

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Thanks for the detailed post Jude.  You Da Man! 
 
My popular unboxing and first look will be up tonight.  I'll embed it here for you guys.

 

[LifeAspect]

Why is America getting the cable so late? I have had mine for my hdvd800 for quite a while now thx to customcables ....read about 2? months ago.
Balanced HD800 with hdvd800 is in a different league than most other headphones!

 

[ericohgb]

Over USD 300 for the OEM cable?
I made my own HD800 4-XLR balanced cable with Mogami cables and a Neutrik conector...
I recall spending no more than USD 50...

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Using high-quality parts to assemble a cable is not the same as designing cables to have perfect synergy with the headphones. These official Sennheiser cables are designed for those models.

 

[squallkiercosa]

Using high-quality parts to assemble a cable is not the same as designing cables to have perfect synergy with the headphones. These official Sennheiser cables are designed for those models.

Enlighten us please. Could you be more specific?

 

[benjaminhuypham]

$400+ cable for $1500 headphone = $1900, not even including Amp. Those head-fiers are loosing minds and brains nowadays. Look at how many expensive stuffs they buy, $2000 for cable, $15000 for Amp, $5000 for headphone. High-end audio world is destroyed by the greediness of audio companies. Sennheiser products are getting seriously overpriced. $1500 headphone must come with stock and balance cable, period.

 

[jespersen]

I cannot stop laughing about this

! Mark my words - the true story is that these cables will be dirt cheap for the dealers and when you are from now on standing in a shop considering buying a HD800 they can then easily say "we'll give you a balanced cable for free since you are such a good customer" and you'll feel you really got something extra for your money while in reality they just gave you a 25$ cable - ha ha ha ha!!!

 
 
No wonder they made their new amplifier balanced, they probalby have the same margin on the cable as the amp... Truth is, if their flagship headphone sounds better balanced they should ship it that way in the first place by simply having an adapter plug (to let the client choose balanced or not) and not this...

 

[mikemercer]

Using high-quality parts to assemble a cable is not the same as designing cables to have perfect synergy with the headphones. These official Sennheiser cables are designed for those models.

We're going to be putting these to the test over at Audio360.org SOON!
We currently have them in-house and will be giving them a go.  
 
Thanks to @HiFiGuy528 for acquiring the review samples!
 
I also have other cables for my HD800's (Cardas Clear, WyWires, soon DoubleHelix)
so we'll see how they shake out.
 
HiFiguy means they voiced these cables specifically for the headphone (since I haven't seen or heard it yet - or received technical info, this could mean anything from using a certain geometry, dialectric, material science): all of these things could be employed in order to find a cable that mates well with the headphones. It's all about synergy - so lets see what happens!

 

[JWahl]

Using high-quality parts to assemble a cable is not the same as designing cables to have perfect synergy with the headphones. These official Sennheiser cables are designed for those models.

I would normally agree with this, if there were something uncommon or special about the materials they were using.  I have to assume they are using the same thin gauge wire as the unbalanced HD800 cable which isn't anything spectacular.  I'll admit they do look nice, but a poor value. At that price they should at least throw something in like OCC copper or something for at very least psychological benefit.
 
A good example of the value I speak of is the Oyaide Neo D+ S-class RCA cable:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Oyaide-Series-Class-RCA-Cable/dp/B004HBPYS6
http://www.neo-w.com/catalog/2010/12/d-rca_en.html
 
They utilized Platinum/Rhodium plated terminals and OCC wires, with aluminum housings and flat cable structure.  They sell for $130/1m which isn't cheap but at least they're throwing in the premium materials for the price.  Even if there are those who would argue their sonic benefit.  They are marketed towards DJ's however which explains their lower price.  If they were marketed towards audiophiles, they would likely retail for $500-$1000 or more.

 

[Austin Morrow]

I'd much rather put $200-$400 into something like Toxic Cables or Double Helix Cables, but it's also nice to have an officail cable for the same headphone, so to speak.