Why doesn't every headphone come with detachable cables?

[nfusion770]

I just picked up another pair HD580s and love the fact that, without further expense, I can test them with my stock 650 cable and my balanced RAL cable. It's such a convenience it makes me never want own another headphone without detachable cables (not literally of course).

I wonder what it would take for the industry to get together and agree upon a standard plug to be implemented in all full size headphones. The only reason I can imagine the industry resisting this idea would be aftermarket sales, but honestly, 98 times out of 100 times the average Joe is going to replace his severed HD580 cable with whatever Sennheiser tells him to buy. The only market they would "lose" after market sales to would be the headfi crowd, but then again, none of the manufacturers have offerings to compete with what the headfi crowd desires, so basically the perceived loss is non existent

I know it may be argued that Headfi is a theoretical small slice of a headphone manufacturers pie, but judging by participation in the community and at annual meets, its an important one that they develop their flagship products to please. You'd think manufacturers would realize the benefits of detachable cables, not only from a customer satisfaction perspective, but from cost savings and streamlining of service as well.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[el_matt0]

detachable cable means an additional 2 connectors (male and female) for each channel. theoretically (whether one can perceive this difference or not is probably widely debated), this will add a slight amount of resistance in your cable. i believe that ultimately, hardwiring your cable to the headphones AND your amp would give the most "direct signal route" with the least amount of components in the signal path, but obviously at a certain point the ease of being able to unplug your headphones from your amp outweighs that. i have seen people do it with k1000s and such though. i believe the same logic should apply to the "headphone end" of the cable. if you cant perceive a difference in SQ then detachable cables are definitely far easier for reasons like you mentioned above. i do believe thats why most headphone companies hardwire the cables to the cans. that AND simple production costs...you gotta figure its at least a little more expensive to include such components - although probably minimally in reality.....

 

[zonalblitz]

I could only think of reasons like wear-and-tear, exposed metals from the gold layer would invite oxidation. Detachable cables also reduces the risks involved in attempting to experiment and reconstruct a cable of your choice (garage scientists at work).

For convenience during transportation of your beloved, I would still love to have the cables detached.

 

[nfusion770]

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_matt0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif detachable cable means an additional 2 connectors (male and female) for each channel. theoretically (whether one can perceive this difference or not is probably widely debated), this will add a slight amount of resistance in your cable. i believe that ultimately, hardwiring your cable to the headphones AND your amp would give the most "direct signal route" with the least amount of components in the signal path, but obviously at a certain point the ease of being able to unplug your headphones from your amp outweighs that. i have seen people do it with k1000s and such though. i believe the same logic should apply to the "headphone end" of the cable. if you cant perceive a difference in SQ then detachable cables are definitely far easier for reasons like you mentioned above. i do believe thats why most headphone companies hardwire the cables to the cans. that AND simple production costs...you gotta figure its at least a little more expensive to include such components - although probably minimally in reality.....

SQ is debatable I guess. Regarding cost- I agree it's probably a factor, but likely a pretty negligible one.

 

[ericj]

sennheiser only does it because their cables break so frequently . . .

 

[krmathis]

I guess there are several reasons behind this.
They probably want to have control of which cables are used on their headphones, since its part of their sound signature. There might be production cost, and durability reasons as well.

Anyway. If only the SR-007 had a detachable cable, and that there were aftermarket cryo treated silver cables available...

 

[AudioCats]

Nobody wants to make recable easy for the users, or they will figure out the factory cables are crappy....

 

[ph0rk]

I am sure it is because of added costs from connectors.

 

[philodox]

Hardwire is always preferable anyways since you can solder directly to the driver. Also, who wants to have to deal with a faulty connector?

 

[F107plus5]

I have mixed feelings from a personal standpoint. On the one hand I realize that having the extra connections in-line can cause difficulties in poor connections when the little springy thingies in the Sennheiser housings get out of kilter and need adjustment, or just get yukky from corrosion. On the other hand I'm glad that when I stood up with that silly ten foot long monster on the floor under-foot, that it actually unplugged itself and did no damage to wire or housing.

 

[Kosmic]

Livewires detachable cables are a brilliant idea. Allowing the option of custom cables for the future.

 

[kanamin]

I want as few mechanical connections between my amp and headphone drivers as possible, perhaps it's all in my head, but connectors do get looser over time, with less contact area, less current transfer, not to mention the different wear patterns that will probably happen between the left and right channel connectors.

 

[MH79]

I find it annoying that you cannot get senn plugs at a reasonable cost, but you can always cut up the stock cable.

I'm planning on having 2 hd-650 cables, 1 balanced, and the other unbalanced... and I am planning on swapping these cables quite a bit - I was wondering if this would wear out the connector on the hd580's?

 

[DSlayerZX]

I think the main point of using a connector is to prevent someone accident pulled on the headphone cord. HARD.

if it is direct wire, then it will probably damage the driver, but if it
is like the Senns, then the cable will detach it self from the headphone to prevent damage

 

[Iceroid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSlayerZX /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think the main point of using a connector is to prevent someone accident pulled on the headphone cord. HARD. if it is direct wire, then it will probably damage the driver, but if it is like the Senns, then the cable will detach it self from the headphone to prevent damage

I don't know if the HD580 and 600 are any different than the 650 in terms of cable grip, but I know on my HD650, those cables are stuck into the headphones TIGHT.