Two cables , same wire , different connectors , diff sound? ( Yup)

[Nkam]

Isn’t that crazy?

I got done making two headphone cables.
Both with Belden 24 AWG 1508a cable.

Both 6 feet long
One has Neutrik connectors. 1/4” TRS Jack and AEC mini XLR
The other has Furutech connectors 1/4” TRS and Mini XLR

I just got done flipping cables and letting my wife hear.
She had the exact same impressions as me

The Furutech was cleaner, but glassy and not as much bass impact. Deep bass yes, but not as much punch.

The Neutrik had more punch, and more filled in sound and more impact.

We both liked the Furutech for Jazz , but the plain Jane Neutrik for everything else.

In general we liked the much cheaper Neutrik.

The thing that’s crazy is that , there shouldn’t be any differences. But there are. Go figure.

I’m bored so I’m getting some different wire to see if I can hear the diff between wire.
Just thought maybe some might find it interesting.

Cheers

 

[559938]

100% connectors matter, as do the joins from wire to connector. More or less solder, different materials…enjoy the journey!

 

[Nkam]

100% connectors matter, as do the joins from wire to connector. More or less solder, different materials…enjoy the journey!

I just made a cable with Mogami. Better specs than the Belden.

but the Belden is tinned copper.

I like the Belden more. Has more low mids and clarity.

 

[jimboy0]

I think it's very interesting.
A place where few have gone before. Someone recently compared a pair of 3000.00 Effect Audio cables. Same cable just using their 2 pin on one and their interchangeable ends on the other. Strait 2 pin won for sound quality. I wish someone would test these new interchangeable termination cables for sound quality
I think EA made a big mistake with there TermX conectors. Who would put those crappy connectors on a $5000.00 cable? They did and the're hoping none of us test them back to back for sound quality.

 

[Nkam]

I think it's very interesting.
A place where few have gone before. Someone recently compared a pair of 3000.00 Effect Audio cables. Same cable just using their 2 pin on one and their interchangeable ends on the other. Strait 2 pin won for sound quality. I wish someone would test these new interchangeable termination cables for sound quality
I think EA made a big mistake with there TermX conectors. Who would put those crappy connectors on a $5000.00 cable? They did and the're hoping none of us test them back to back for sound quality.

I have to look up those terminations. But yeah some terminations are made terribly, especially when they are small.

After doing all these tests or making cables, my favorite are AECO for 1/4” jacks and Neutrik and Amphenol for mini XLR. They are robust and sound great.

Mind you, we are talking very small differences here. Might not pass a blind test.

I didn’t like the Furutech rhodium sound. Those you could pass a blind test easily on. And I have no idea why they sound so different. They have a very clear sound, sorta glassy. Just different.

And for some reason I like Belden tinned wire much More than Mogami OFC. Sounds fuller and more detailed.

 

[Mofankri]

Yep you're not wrong. Different pin or jack in IEM for example, oyaide and nobunaga although having copper as the material, sound a little bit different.

Not even saying like furutech, aeco, pentaconn, nanotec and so on. But the change is just a hint tho. In this hobby I think with only that, it matters hahahah. Even more than that, the choice of solder wire also affects the reproduction

I happened to have a cable with exact components, re-terminated by using different soldering wire. Before, it sounds muddy with a hint of incoherence on the upper mids. The after version sounds neutral and more smooth transition between each frequencies

 

[Nayyte]

Every little thing makes a difference. I think that anyone making their own cables should be aware that the more expensive (but not always higher quality) components have good chance to color the sound on the sterile side (or lack of color). Me personally I don't see the value in furutech components on the amp side of the cable because neutrik is very good already. I do see the value in the furutech connectors for the headphone end because the quality is definitely there. Solder qualty is also very important in which I prefer Kester 44 RMA rosin 63/37. Having quality copper wire might be the most important. If the copper is questionable then adding the high quality connectors to the mix will just attenuate that weakness more. My last headphone cable I used forza's diy wire and I like the balance with my HD600. Definitely a buff in resolution and imaging over the hartaudio cable I was using.

 

[Tanalasta]

Eletech VERSA has been tested and (apart from with the Fifth Ode) apparently does not have a significant impact on the sound. Cable manufacturers have been polite not to rain on another manufacturers' parade in public and so much of the testing is done in private ; and results not openly discussed in a public forum. I am aware EA Con-X are not the preference.

We recently did a 4.4mm plug comparison for fun. Pentaconn had the least resolution but was warm, having more note weight in the low mids. Whilst Furutech was the cleanest, more detailed/technical.

As for headphone cables? My favourite is Cardas Clear Beyond at the moment with Utopia 2022.

 

[dougms3]

I just made a cable with Mogami. Better specs than the Belden.

but the Belden is tinned copper.

I like the Belden more. Has more low mids and clarity.

If you can stretch the budget I think the best bang for your buck is the Neotech wire.