headphone cables

[wee tee cee]

I have a pair of HD 650s which I need a 5m lead for. Having done a bit of research into after market cables the prices stopped me in my tracks.
Can anyone recommend reasonable priced cable and plugs for headphone application that I could have a go at making up my own without breaking the bank!
My soldering skills are rudimentary to say the least....but needs must!

[Canetoad]

Van Damme microphone cable and Neutrik plugs.

Cable (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130518582779?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

Jack (male) (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Neutrik-NP3X-B-Black-Gold-stereo-1-4-6-35mm-jack-plug-/270907570351?pt=UK_MusicalInstruments_Other_Pro_Au dio_Equipment&hash=item3f135978af)

Jack (female) (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Neutrik-NJ3FC6-BAG-1-4-Stereo-Female-Jack-Socket-Black-6-3mm-/270971586703?pt=UK_MusicalInstruments_Other_Pro_Au dio_Equipment&hash=item3f172a488f)

[technobear]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbo=d&site=&source=hp&q=grado+headphone+extension+cable&oq=grado+headphone+&gs_l=hp.1.0.0l10.247.6303.0.10378.16.9.0.7.7.0.231 .1401.2j3j4.9.0.les%3Bcrnk_timediscounta..0.0...1c .1.Aqt7zbQjNDE

[Mike - H]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbo=d&site=&source=hp&q=grado+headphone+extension+cable&oq=grado+headphone+&gs_l=hp.1.0.0l10.247.6303.0.10378.16.9.0.7.7.0.231 .1401.2j3j4.9.0.les%3Bcrnk_timediscounta..0.0...1c .1.Aqt7zbQjNDE

I use one of the Grado with 650s and it's superb :thumbsup:

[wee tee cee]

Thanks chaps, quite fancy making my own up. Could it be of any benefit to use speaker cable?

[brian2957]

You could try Klotz AC110 mate . Very easy to work with and a good price.

[Canetoad]

Wouldn't you have to run two lengths of the Klotz? Left, right and common? Klotz has only two wires per cable, doesn't it? :scratch:

I made up my own cable and it sounds fine using the Van Damme cable. I used it to replace my Technics SL1210 tonearm to phono cable as well. Works very well!

Tony you need 3 cable feeds for stereo. To use speaker cable you'd need to use two lengths. I could mail mine to you to try if you want Tony. You could then decide for yourself.

[brian2957]

Ah , think you're right Bernie.

[MCRU]

try frank at toxic cables, I use one of his cables for my hifi man cans and they don't cost the earth

[wee tee cee]

Wouldn't you have to run two lengths of the Klotz? Left, right and common? Klotz has only two wires per cable, doesn't it? :scratch:

I made up my own cable and it sounds fine using the Van Damme cable. I used it to replace my Technics SL1210 tonearm to phono cable as well. Works very well!

Tony you need 3 cable feeds for stereo. To use speaker cable you'd need to use two lengths. I could mail mine to you to try if you want Tony. You could then decide for yourself.
Bernie,
Thanks for the kind offer but I will try making up my own. The neutrik plugs and van damme stuff is budget wise, spot on. Looked at the Grado cable and for the money I could hack the adapter off it and stick two mini xlr on it!

[Rare Bird]

I have some Klotz Unbalanced patch cable i intend doing my headphones with..

[goraman]

Tony,
Here is some very good stuff and reasonably priced. (L-E6S)

[/url]http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=53

Here is the trick,strip off the insulation a couple of inches pull the copper braid back and strip the ends of all 4 wires then pair the 4 wires into 2 x2 so now you have the twisted braid and basically 2 wires (combining the two 21 awg wires gives you a 14 awg left and a 14 awg right the sheild is the return.
I used Netrik connectors and soft braid for flexibility and it sounds fantastic.

I have found this cable hiding under the braid in a lot of interconnects and it works well for that too.
THIS IS THE PLACE TO GET YOUR STUFF.
http://www.markertek.com/Cables/Bulk-Wire-Cable/Bulk-Audio-Cable/Canare-Corporation-Of-America/L-4E6S-BK.xhtml
http://www.markertek.com/Cable-Management-Protection/Cable-Ducting-Troughs/Techflex-Inc/NMN0-25BK.xhtml?TF-NMN025BK

http://www.markertek.com/Connectors-Adapters/Audio-Connectors/1-4in-Phone-Connectors/Neutrik-USA-Inc/NP3X.xhtml

Use a solder like WBT as it has a low melting point, a 50 to 60 watt iron should do it.

The black cable is the one I made, both sound fantastic and both are 10 ft. The big red one is 18 awg. The one I made is far more flexible and comfortable to use to spite being a Hell of alot cheaper.

If you like the Big Red you can get it here. http://www.headphone.com/accessories/dimarzio-big-red-headphone-extension-10ft.php
I like them both a lot and had other cables one costing alot more but I like these. Mine cost $20.00 to make a few years ago. 17 ft. of cable and braid will do 5M pretty cheaply.
The cable is $8.67 dollars U.S. for just over 5M, the braid $4.08 the best plugs $11.88. Total U.S. $24.63.Your cable breaks down to $1.44 a ft. Using the premium Neutrik plugs!
Happy Listening!

[Canetoad]

Bernie,
Thanks for the kind offer but I will try making up my own. The neutrik plugs and van damme stuff is budget wise, spot on. Looked at the Grado cable and for the money I could hack the adapter off it and stick two mini xlr on it!

No worries Tony. The Neutrik plugs are very nice quality wise.

[wee tee cee]

Many thanks everybody....The Sennheiser's have detachable cables at the headphone end.....I am having a bit of bother locating diy plugs at reasonable money...the Oyaide stuff looks great but too much of a risk with my ham fisted soldering ability. I might even butcher a Grado extension cable and try adding a pair of the wee plugs.
Plenty of scope to make a roaring cunt of things!!!!

[technobear]

The reason I suggested the Grado was to save you from the bother of making something and finding the right plugs for the Sennheisers. At this price level you are not going to hear a drop in quality by just using the Grado extension. It is good.

[goraman]

A Grado extension is $40.00 for 15 ft.
Would that be long enough?
I have had Grado extension cables and I wouldn't try to hack into one the inner construction dose not lend it's self to an easy modification in my opinion.
Just soldering a replacement jack on those things is a pain.( the wire is very fine and the jacket insulation is thin and will melt if your not fast handed with an iron.)
The parts I suggested make for a better cable and the build is so simple anyone can do it at nearly half the cost and as long as he needs.

[goraman]

Bernie,
Thanks for the kind offer but I will try making up my own. The neutrik plugs and van damme stuff is budget wise, spot on. Looked at the Grado cable and for the money I could hack the adapter off it and stick two mini xlr on it!


What is it you are trying to do exactly,are you trying to make a balanced cable?
Or simply need an extension using 1/4 stereo phono jacks?
Is this what you need?
http://www.headphone.com/accessories/cardas-balanced-headphone-cable-for-hd650-20ft.php

[wee tee cee]

What is it you are trying to do exactly,are you trying to make a balanced cable?
Or simply need an extension using 1/4 stereo phono jacks?
Is this what you need?
http://www.headphone.com/accessories/cardas-balanced-headphone-cable-for-hd650-20ft.php
Jeff,
Im looking to replace the 3m headphone cable that plugs into the cans with a home made replacement about 5m in length. I need 5m of cable/ a 6.3mm plug and two wee plugs that go into the cans. I currently have a 6.3-3.5mm converter and 3m extention from superlux ....It aint bad but I cant help but think that a purpose built 5m cable would do a better job.....hope that makes sense!

[goraman]

Here you go, get these and the other stuff I recommended and build your cable using correct parts the right way.
All you will need is a little shrink tubing to and your good to go, build it like the above Cardas cable.

http://www.moon-audio.com/diy-audio-parts/other-connectors/sennheiser-diy-headphone-connectors-for-hd650-hd600-hd580.html

Problem solved.

[wee tee cee]

Thanks

[goraman]

Tony, if your not real comfortable with soldering there are loads of members that live near you, some one can help you through it,I'm sure.

[RochaCullen]

Hi Tony,

I've just finished doing this myself. I used mogami W2893 mic cable, which is well known as a good cable for this purpose. Its a quad cable, so you have positive and negative for left and right. I also used a furutech stereo phono jack and the cardas sennheiser connectors. Plus you'll need some braided sleeving and some good heat shrink to finish it off. If you shop around you can get all these items at a good price. Soldering the cardas connectors is a fiddly thing.

I'll post a pic of my cable later this evening when I get a chance.

Nathan

[Mark Grant]

Hi Tony,

Soldering the cardas connectors is a fiddly thing.

Nathan

The plastic housing melts easily if the iron is too hot or held on the contact too long :eek:

Done a few and it is a bit of a fiddly job.

[wee tee cee]

The plastic housing melts easily if the iron is too hot or held on the contact too long :eek:

Done a few and it is a bit of a fiddly job.Mark, any chance you could make me up a 5m cable. There is definitely mixed reports about replacement cables for the 650s....I would rather find out first hand and let the other cans user know my findings.....

[Mark Grant]

I have only ever done the soldering on customers own supplied cable and connectors as there are so many flavours of the month with headphone cable its hard to know what to recommend so I have let people choose there own.

I can do it for you and will try to find the person on headfi or pink fish that sent me cables to help find where they where from.

[wee tee cee]

Great....let me know.

[goraman]

Get the stuff from the links I sent you, Send it all to Mark, maybe he will use some of his custom Mark Grant shrink tube.
Then you will have a custom Mark Grant cable.
Marks very fair priced from what I've seen and you'll have a first rate pair of headphones with very nice cabling. The cable I recommended is very very good and will lift the Sennhizer vale. The stuff I recommended is better than the Mogami ( 21 Awg vs. 26 Awg ) the smaller the number the larger the wire.

You should hear more detail and get a more spacious sound stage.
This project may be a little delicate for a beginner but you should try building a nice extension or something to get comfortable with an iron. Remember heat the work not the solder,and Keep the tip clean.

[archiesdad]

Wee Tee Cee, I'd be interested in the costing for one of these(parts and work up by Mark) seems like a great idea.

[Reffc]

Don't know if its of interest but I offer these:

http://referencefidelitycomponents.co.uk/products/headphone-cables/

[goraman]

Don't know if its of interest but I offer these:

http://referencefidelitycomponents.co.uk/products/headphone-cables/

Parts are around $30.00 U.S. tops.
Labor is going to be a bit more as this could easily take an hour to assemble, Headphone cables get stepped on,tugged, snagged up ect...
So it needs to be built sturdy with strain relief and solid solder joints with out melting or deforming plastic plugs and the like.
A well made cable that lasts for years and sounds fantastic is worth paying for. I have made some nice cables but I think I would let Mark build these as I don't do it every day and those Senn plugs look delicate as Hell.

[Reffc]

Parts are around $30.00 U.S. tops.
Labor is going to be a bit more as this could easily take an hour to assemble, Headphone cables get stepped on,tugged, snagged up ect...
So it needs to be built sturdy with strain relief and solid solder joints with out melting or deforming plastic plugs and the like.
A well made cable that lasts for years and sounds fantastic is worth paying for. I have made some nice cables but I think I would let Mark build these as I don't do it every day and those Senn plugs look delicate as Hell.

Sorry,

don't quite understand. The plugs I use are far from delicate and my build standards are excellent. This is a cable that will last for years. Mark's a good guy and I know he'll do an equally good job but there's nothing at all wrong with the cable highlighted. As you say, a well built cable is worth paying for. The built in strain relief on those Neutrik plugs and sockets (they're not Senn by the way) are also as good as it gets IMHO and no melting of plastic is involved! I do this every day for a living. Good luck with your cable though.

[Canetoad]

Don't know if its of interest but I offer these:

http://referencefidelitycomponents.co.uk/products/headphone-cables/

They're precisely the plug and socket I used with Van Damme cable. Excellent quality! :)

[goraman]

Sorry,

don't quite understand. The plugs I use are far from delicate and my build standards are excellent. This is a cable that will last for years. Mark's a good guy and I know he'll do an equally good job but there's nothing at all wrong with the cable highlighted. As you say, a well built cable is worth paying for. The built in strain relief on those Neutrik plugs and sockets (they're not Senn by the way) are also as good as it gets IMHO and no melting of plastic is involved! I do this every day for a living. Good luck with your cable though.

Read the whole thread,it's not an extension cable but a complete replacement
for Senn HD650.

[Reffc]

I'm with you...the cable highlighted was the one I'd use for a replacement if that makes sense. Sorry, should have made myself clearer!

[goraman]

[Number #30 is what happened, I was interrupted in the middle of posting right after I quoted you and was going to wright he wants to connect directly to the HD650's using the plastic Sennhizer plugs and he will need quad core with a copper braid.

Your Neutrik plugs are the same ones I use and yes they are the best IMO as well and not at all delicate. Sorry for the mistake I got off track compleatly.
BTW Paul take a look at post #12 you may really like the cable I have been using, it can be bought in bulk as well. Look closely at the specs.
http://store.haveinc.com/p-49694-canare-l4e6s-starquad-microphone-cable-21awg-braid-shield-cut.aspx

BEST STUFF FOR HEADPHONE CABLE.

[Reffc]

[Number #30 is what happened, I was interrupted in the middle of posting right after I quoted you and was going to wright he wants to connect directly to the HD650's using the plastic Sennhizer plugs and he will need quad core with a copper braid.

Your Neutrik plugs are the same ones I use and yes they are the best IMO as well and not at all delicate. Sorry for the mistake I got off track compleatly.
BTW Paul take a look at post #12 you may really like the cable I have been using, it can be bought in bulk as well. Look closely at the specs.
http://store.haveinc.com/p-49694-canare-l4e6s-starquad-microphone-cable-21awg-braid-shield-cut.aspx

BEST STUFF FOR HEADPHONE CABLE.

That's good cable for sure and will do the job perfectly well.

[goraman]

I want to see pictures of your 650's with the new cable Tony,a before and after shot would be nice.