Headphones - Couple Questions

AsSiMiLaTeD
AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
edited January 2008 in 2 Channel Audio
My main questions is really about grabbing the cardas replacement cable for my Sennheiser HD650. Does anyone have this - how much of an improvement did it really make? Are there any alternatives to the Cardas cable (maybe a bit cheaper) that I should look at?

Second question, has anyone tried silver ICs on a headphone rig? I'm thinking of trying a pair in the near future, but have concerns about running those on a headphone rig.

If I had $150 to spend right now, would that be better spent on upgrading from a pair of Signal Analog Two that I just bought from Russ (note I haven't actually listened to these yet) to the silvers sold by Ben, or upgrading the stock 650 cable to the Cardas cable?

Thoughts?
Post edited by AsSiMiLaTeD on
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
    edited January 2008
    I gues I should also mention that if anyone has anything extra sitting around in terms of the headphone cable I'd be interested in purchasing it...
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited January 2008
    I have the cardas cable on the HD650s. I never bothered with the stock cord. I don't have all that much patience or more importantly time anymore. Lol.

    With my limited experience with headphones (mostly my setup), they seem to be more about detail rather than soundstage and such. My headphone rig is: Laptop - M-Audio Transit (USB to Toslink) - Bel Canto DAC2 - Kimber Select KS1030 - Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2 - Senn HD650 and 2 Cardas Cross Powercords.

    I started off with some Kimber Hero's in the mix and splurged on a used set of KS1030. I get more detail with KS1030 than the Hero's. In a stereo setup the KS1030's show a much larger improvement in soundstage, imaging, yada yada that are harder to get in headphones.

    I also had to play around with a few different power cords that I had on hand and found that Cross worked best for my Headphone rig.

    Not sure if this helps at all. Have you searched head-fi?
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2008
    I made my own cardas cable and heard a nice difference. Not earth shattering but there. The cardas cable seemed to bring out a bit of extra resolution on a blacker backround. Worth the cost of buying at full cost pre made? Probably.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited January 2008
    I prefer the Cardas over stock. I got a 20' along with my used 650's.
    Also, the APuresound cable gets good ratings. Alex, the company
    founder, is an active Headfi'er and has setup several of the Dallas
    Headfi meets. And he is local! There should be another meet coming
    up in the next month or so if you can wait.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
    edited January 2008
    Thanks for the replies guys, I'm a member of Head-fi but don't go there all that much, I'll be on the lookout for the next meet here in Dallas.
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited January 2008
    Also, watch the for sale section of Headfi-some Cardas cables come up for sale. Why pay full price?
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
    edited January 2008
    Yeah I've been keeping an eye out there as well - that's really what I'm hoping for...
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited January 2008
    Dallas head fi meet Jan. 26th!!!!
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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