I recently bought both a used Ultrasone Edition 8 (Possibly with less than 2 hours of burn in) and Beyerdynamic T5P from a member of this site. Have sent both headphones to Peter at Double Helix cables to have him install Triple Threat Audeze adapters that will accept Audeze headphone cables. Am also having built the Macromolecule Elite 8 - Wire pure OCC Silver Peptide Litz headphone cable with Audeze connectors. Have been chatting with Peter today and will post some of his impressions of the recabled Edition 8 below.
All done w/ the Ultrasones.
Look/sound great, they really have some neat qualities.
Great texture & realism.
Pretty respectable, they have a very clear sound.
The stock cable is awful.
Some sort of tin shield for the negative conductor.
A plastic insulated mystery wire for +.
Clean drivers, desoldered all the factory solder off the pads.
Replaced with cardas solder.
Careful re-use of the stock strain reliefs, which have to been trimmed & adjusted.
I'm getting a lot more depth, detail, & realism now.
They sounded a lot less than a $1500 headphone or whatnot when they had that stock cable on there.
I think they're pretty neutral too, but I'll have to give them some bassier material.
These are definitely the ultimate compact can now, and they clearly differentiate themselves from a $400 headphone like P7.
Classical sounds terrific!
They really like some good power and a proper cable. Honestly I was laughing at these ED8's when they first arrived for costing this much. and the last pair I did, with SPC, it was hard to see their full potential, as they weren't set up with my big bad amp.
I'm hearing some really sexy bass right now.
These are amazing.
They REALLY needed the cable and proper amp though.
Just out of my Audioengine3 + laptop stock it wasn't anything like this.
The honest truth is that I've never taken Ed8 seriously before. I thought they were a ripoff!
I admit freely that I was wrong.
They simply scale very high.
Bad gear, bad source, bad cable, they don't sound much different than a $300 headphone.
With some burn in, cable, good source/amp and material they are fantastic!
They actually do bring something unique to the table.
Very exciting vocals and presentation.
I think these are a little less open than hd800, but much less harsh, and a bit more mid-bass.
They have very very realistic vocals.
That may be the best part.
They sound pretty organic.
It's worth noting of course that so far these ed8 are not material picky, very very lightweight and compact, and easily driven at low amp power.
I'm barely using much volume knob on my Mjolnir.
It doesn't hurt that this is the most lavish recable job ever done to an Ed8.
These are some thrilling headphones.
They may be even more interesting than T5P.
I'm putting these ahead a little more. They're a little less forward/shrill and very natural.
You will definitely have a blast with both.
Ok, just listened to a few Van Halen tracks. Switching to LCD3
See if i get more.
LCD3 has a bit wider soundstage.
It has a gentle, grunty sound.
Ultrasone perhaps rocks a bit harder.
ED8 is compressed more as it's closed. but I can't say i like how the LCD3 handled that track more.
Honestly Ed8 has more air.
And crispness.
It's surprising.
This is me referring to the track Jump.
Ed8 are brighter, which works really well here.
I think ed8 are the better can for 80s rock.
Oh yeah. Ed8 are freakishly open sounding for the size of their small cups.
Yeah, you're going to be happy w/ these.
If anyone has any questions for Peter at Double Helix cables you are welcome to email him at the address provided below.
peter@doublehelixcables.com
