[xenithon]

Hi all. Out of interest, I would like to know if anyone out there owns aftermarket cables for their Sennheisers (HD650/600/580) by [AK]Zip (Apuresound) or Enigma Audio (the "Oracle" as it is known).

There is plenty of info on the others like Zu, SAA, Moon Audio, Headphile, RAL etc. but little about these, and I'd love to hear from owners (or people who had a chance to hear them) what your impressions were.

Thanks in advance,
X

 

[Icarium]

I haven't heard the HD650 [AK]Zip cable, but I did get a Qualia cable made by him. Sadly I ordered the wrong plugs on misinformation so I am waiting for him to come back from vacation to swap it out. I hear a lot of good things about his cables and the stuff he puts in them seem quite thought out and he's done a lot of mats testing to figure out the best combination. (Silvered copper + cotton + cryo which he personally doesn't believe in but has the means to do so he figures what the hey might as well). Plus his turn around time is nuts (~Week).

I haven't heard Enigma Audio cables but I do have some rca to rca by him and they seem to be several notches up from my old radio shack ICs even though they are his ultra budget version (So budget not even offered on his website).

 

[recstar24]

Zach was gracious enough to loan me his oracle cable for my 600's to compare against the cardas. His cable is not only built impeccably but I found it sonically superior to the cardas. There is a glare in the upper midrange to the cardas that makes it somewhat fatiguing long term. That aspect is absent on the oracle. In addition, The enigma oracle is very balanced, with smooth highs. The bass is very full and has lots of presence and weight, giving the 600's a very powerful sound. I have had enough experience with equinox, zu, and cardas to know for myself that the oracle is the best bet for the 500's, IMHO.

 

[xenithon]

Thanks for the info guys. From what I can tell, I believe one of the main differences is that Enigma Audio's cables use stranded alloy wire; Apuresound's cables use solid alloy wire (please correct me if I am wrong). Other than that, very little info/impressions about them (although have read impressions of their recabling for the likes of the L3000 and K701).

 

[Zorander]

I wouldn't want solid wires in a headphone cable. Way too stiff (frustrating) and prone to breakage (you're bound to sooner or later from all the struggle with the stiff cable).

 

[[AK]Zip]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenithon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the info guys. From what I can tell, I believe one of the main differences is that Enigma Audio's cables use stranded alloy wire; Apuresound's cables use solid alloy wire (please correct me if I am wrong). Other than that, very little info/impressions about them (although have read impressions of their recabling for the likes of the L3000 and K701).

My wires are stranded wires. Not solid strand.

-Alex-