Which BALANCED XLR cable for Sennheiser HD650's?

[daltonlanny]

Hello,
I was just wondering which BALANCED XLR aftermarket replacement cables would you most recommend for Sennheiser HD-650's to bring out their very best WITHOUT messing up their overall signature or balance, and enhances its strengths the best?
Not looking for one that overly boosts the top-end, and definitely not one that causes brightness, harshness, dryness, or sibilance.
Thanks!

 

[vcoheda]

i have only heard the zu mobius-2 balanced. i like it. not sure that helps.

 

[JMcMasterJ]

I haven't heard it, but I think you should also consider the "Oracle" by Enigma Audio. It seems to be a very good deal for a balanced cable.

 

[Voltron]

Equinox is definitely my favorite but I haven't heard a couple of your options. The Zu is one I would not recommend because of its tendency toward brightness and less balanced sound, especially with SS gear. The stock 650 cable reterminated is a nice balanced option too (and one member who owned that and the Zu compared them and sold the Zu). I would like to hear Alex's A Pure Sound cable and the Revelation Audio cable too, but I have not had access to either.

 

[Zorander]

Who voted for the single-ended stock cable?

 

[vcoheda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voltron /img/forum/go_quote.gif Equinox is definitely my favorite but I haven't heard a couple of your options. The Zu is one I would not recommend because of its tendency toward brightness and less balanced sound, especially with SS gear. The stock 650 cable reterminated is a nice balanced option too (and one member who owned that and the Zu compared them and sold the Zu). I would like to hear Alex's A Pure Sound cable and the Revelation Audio cable too, but I have not had access to either.

which zu model are you referring to. the new mobius just came out in the past few months. not bright at all.

 

[daltonlanny]

ANYONE ELSE HAVE A VOTE OR OPINION?
Thanks for your responses and votes so far!

 

[StevieDvd]

Well I sold my Zu Mobius after I bought and preferred the Moon Audio Silver Dragon v2 hence my vote. Both are better than the re-terminated stock cable or single-ended cables (to my ears).

 

[Voltron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif which zu model are you referring to. the new mobius just came out in the past few months. not bright at all.

I owned the Mobius v1 and sold it. I have heard the v2, which came out more than a few months ago to my recollection, and did not notice a big difference in the sound signature. I think that the Zu is an upgrade over the stock 650 cable but the sound is not for everyone--it certainly adds more top end and sometimes a kind of glare with SS gear, even high quality SS gear. I liked the Zu more with tubes when I compared a bunch of the available 650 replacement cables a couple years ago.

Still interested in Alex's cable, especially now that he has a new v3, and people rave about Revelation Audio also even though I have never seen or heard one.

 

[vcoheda]

i was one of the first people to get one of the new zu cables and that was in April of this year. i like it a lot. but it would be nice to compare it to some others - SAA, Moon Audio, RAL, etc.

if i thought the HD650 was the end all and be all of headphones, or close to it, i would buy a cable from each manufacturer - maybe the top 5 - and figure out which was the best (for me). but that would be a lot of money, maybe close to or over $1000, so it just doesn't make sense since i am happy with my zu and don't have the kind of disposable income that would allow such purchases just for the sake of experiment/curiosity.

 

[Seamaster]

I love the way Zu brighten things up for HD-650, just right for me. keeper.

 

[xeps]

Avoid the Revelation audio labs cables.

Purchased one a year ago on audiogon (from the manufacturer, not a third party) and never received it. Brad kept telling it was delayed (taking longer and longer to respond to each inquiry) and now just refuses to answer my emails and phone calls.

You would think he would have the integrity to at least offer me a refund, but unfortunately, he does not.

 

[vcoheda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xeps /img/forum/go_quote.gif Avoid the Revelation audio labs cables. Purchased one a year ago on audiogon (from the manufacturer, not a third party) and never received it. Brad kept telling it was delayed (taking longer and longer to respond to each inquiry) and now just refuses to answer my emails and phone calls. You would think he would have the integrity to at least offer me a refund, but unfortunately, he does not.

?!?!?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamaster /img/forum/go_quote.gif I love the way Zu brighten things up for HD-650, just right for me. keeper.

another thing about zu is their amazing turn around. if you order a zu cable, you will have it in 2 weeks. when i ordered my cable, i told them that i was also considering another popular cable manufacturer but the long wait tipped me toward the zu. when i told them what the wait was, they laughed.

zu makes good cables and they will get the cable to you in short order. that can't be overlooked.

 

[Seamaster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif ?!?!?!? another thing about zu is their amazing turn around. if you order a zu cable, you will have it in 2 weeks. when i ordered my cable, i told them that i was also considering another popular cable manufacturer but the long wait tipped me toward the zu. when i told them what the wait was, they laughed. zu makes good cables and they will get the cable to you in short order. that can't be overlooked.

Very true, they have great customer service, I am happy with them.

 

[bozebuttons]

Best balanced cable I have heard for tht 650 was the Synergistic Research Active
cable powered by a wallwart that Mikhail brought with him to the Nov Ny Meet.
Don't know if its available yet or how much it will cost,but I was very impressed with it.