[Uncledan]

I don't know it is a right place to ask this question. (maybe I should post it in DIY Discussions forum). Anyway, I try to change my K1000 stock cable to a better quality cable. To do so, I have 2 methods to do it:

Method 1:
Check the picture below, you can see the stock cable with XLR input. This method is to change the stock cable to a better quality cable, then use the same XLR input. The advantage of this method is I can change any extension cables I want later, such as: speaker cable and 1/4" cable. Then when I change my amp to speaker amp later, I can still use K1000.

Method 2:
Now, I am using Orpheus build silver cable. Method 2 is to connect the silver cable directly to K1000, so I will remove the XLR adapter. The advantage of this method is the headphone MAY sound better compare to method 1. Check below, you will see how aeberbach did on this K1000 (thx, jpelg

), this is what I plan to do in this method.

Orpheus build silver cable

aeberbach's K1000

Please give me suggestion, and please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks

 

[stuartr]

all I have to say is aeberbach is the man. I still have not gotten around to making the replacement cable a la Orpheus. I think the full mod would sound better, but I would say that you should only attempt it if you are utterly confident in your abilities at DIYing. Also, if you just stick with the XLR cable, then you can rotate cables easily as needed, and also sell it in original condition if need be. That said, it is hard to see how it could be better than if the cable was a single piece without any connectors to get in the way of transmission.

 

[aeberbach]

You can't beat the convenience and to me it sounds better. It really is nice not to have that big heavy Canare extension cable (like the ones Orpheus/I made) with the even heavier XLR connectors in the middle of the whole deal.

But be careful if you try to do it. It is cramped, delicate and not easy to get back together if you decide to open up the earpieces. The wire on the Equinox cable ends really is slightly too large...

 

[Uncledan]

Of course, I will not do the project, I will hire an audio engineer in Toronto to do this project for me. (since I am not DIY-er

) The audio engineer did the same modifcation before on msjjr's K1000. And he gives me 2 options to me.

 

[Uncledan]

stuartr, are you suggest that I should go for method 1? And aeberbach, are you suggest me to go for method 2??

 

[stuartr]

If you are having an engineer do it, I would say go with method 2. It will sound better. You can always have him chop off the ends later and put on spades. If you were going to be doing it, I would have suggested 1, just because I never think it is a good idea to crack open $400+ headphones unless you really know what you are doing, or you are prepared to replace them if you f@#$ up.

 

[MD1032]

I'm no all-knowing audiophile, but I DO know that silver is an EXCELLENT conductor of electricity. Method 2 gets my vote.

 

[Orpheus]

you're gonna cut that cable i made!!!???

my god... you just gotta see how much time i spent on just finishing each plug!!! (just an example: line up all the blue sections side by side--each one appears to be the same length.... to do that required about 20 pieces of heatshrink cut at 5 different lengths, and of 3 different thicknesses. and believe me... the rest of the cable was just as meticulously made. trust me, you really got your money's worth.)

heh he................ man....... my baby.......

(hey, so where's that "impressions" post?

)

 

[gerG]

Method, uh, 1b?

Get a new piece of siver cable (or other) and replace the stock cable. Sell the Orpheus work of art. Unless you have a balanced amp, I would go with a standard 1/4" plug. That way you can try it with various headphone amps or integrated amps.


gerG

 

[Orpheus]

sell them!? *gulp*............................. my babies being passed around like a street prostitute........................ *gulp*

edit: well, not like street prostitutes... that would be stefan audioart products. probably more like Heidi Fleiss call girls....

 

[Uncledan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Orpheus you're gonna cut that cable i made!!!??? my god... you just gotta see how much time i spent on just finishing each plug!!! (just an example: line up all the blue sections side by side--each one appears to be the same length.... to do that required about 20 pieces of heatshrink cut at 5 different lengths, and of 3 different thicknesses. and believe me... the rest of the cable was just as meticulously made. trust me, you really got your money's worth.) )

Hihi, Orpheus, I don't want to do it, however, I think it is the best use of your cable if I go for method 2. As I told you before, a stock cable connect to your silver extension cable is not a best way to use your cable. If your cable can directly connect to K1000 driver, then K1000 can get all the potential from your cable. Does it good?!?!?

gerG, are you idea just same as method 2? But the good thing is I don't need to cut Orpheus's cable.

 

[jpelg]

I would only go as far as Method 2 if, and only if, I had a headphone amp with a 1/4" jack, that I absolutely knew I was completely set on. The only two I can think of that would possibly do the K1000's justice are the Grace 901, and the RKV. Even then, the final sound you get with a non-stock cable is a crap-shoot. The Equinox cable is a proven entity both with the existing extension for the K1000's made by SAA, and its use with the Sennheisers. Its known signature is a moderate one, that tempers high-end propensities. Hence, aeberbach's confidence in cannibalizing his old Equinox for the K1000's (still a brave man, IMO).

But on its own, the silver cable you have is an unknown quantity, as far as how it will sound directly attached to the K1000 drivers. I've never heard any silver cables myself, but it is my understanding that they tend to brighten up the sound - something I would never think of adding to a K1000 system. Maybe your RKV warms up the sound enough so that it is not an issue. Still, you don't want to find out that you don't like the sound after the mod is done.

I would prefer something closer to a modded Method 1. I would think that the shorter the extension-end cable, the better. Admittedll, the XLR connectors in the middle represent a potential quality loss/convenience compromise. I've looked for 4-pin XLR->1/4" adapters, but alas none exist on the market. Markertek makes 3-pin XLR->1/4" adapters, but reports they would have to make a short cable to work with the 4-pin on the K1000's. Although I use an Equinox extension cable w/spade ends to speaker terminals normally, I plan to cut my stock extension cable down to ~12-18 inches (or less) and attach a 1/4" plug on the end, just for giggles, to play around with some other amps. Basically DIY-ing my own adapter.

As kwkarth said in a thread once, "the best cable is no cable" - referring to the extension cable portion. Amps that have direct XLR connections are always options.

 

[aeberbach]

Quote:

cannibalizing his old Equinox for the K1000's (still a brave man, IMO).

Very foolish man, I didn't know it would work! I could tell you about other things I have dismantled, like an $80 Fender Lace Sensor pickup only to find they had waxed a loop of the hairlike coil wire onto the housing so that disassembly would destroy it - but nobody brags about failures.

Having the Grace 901 was a huge motivator in doing this mod, yes. Without it I might still have done a cable mod but it is less likely.

Orpheus' cables are a work of art. You have to spend hours trying to get connector assembly as clean as he does before really appreciating it. I don't think I would want to cut anything he had made, rather I would buy raw materials and use his work as a guide.

 

[stuartr]

yes, the man's got the skillz. He gave me an in house tutoring session, and he knows his stuff.

 

[Orpheus]

thanks guys