Headphone Cables/Builds w/ Pictures - DIY

[pennstac]

I was sure that there was a discussion of this before; I know it’s been touched on. I looked here…

Whar Whars or why change headphone wires?

Robert Hartley, in The Complete Guide to High End Audio talks about Specialty Headphone Cables. He goes over the usual discussion of conductors, dialectric, terminations, and geometry. He asserts that you can’t get the best sound from good headphones with stock (or at least cheap stock) cables. I have some different criteria than the esteemed Mr. Hartley. I want cables that don’t break I prefer cables that don’t transmit physical noise, like rubbing when I move to the headphone I’m not fond …

and I looked here…

Is it a GIMMICK?

GIMMICK The history of mankind has also been a history of gimmickry. Thanks to the Internet, we have access to the incredible spectrum of gimmicks from Orgone Box Therapy through Halogenated Coffee. Audiophilia (that sounds dirty) is hardly exempt. Coming from a generation that thinks of “cables and interconnects” as “wires” or “patch cords”, I can get the materials science aspect, but my hard-boiled egghead brain balks at cryogenic treatments and bias currents supplied by batteries connected …

And HERE…

Headphone Cables/Builds w/ Pictures - DIY

I thought it might be interesting to share a few headphone cable builds I’ve done, and see what other people have come up with - both in terms of components/wire used as well as the aesthetics. Descriptions and pictures of the end-result very much of interest! I’ll start with a couple of very basic ones, and one more interesting build, and then add a few here and there if/when the thread gets going. This first two are simple builds for the various HD6XX variations (I liked the purple/titanium…

Found this @Torq quote

These cables still feature:

• Proprietary dual-interleaved, quad-helix, geometry.
• Ultra-low resistance** and capacitance.
• High purity, oxygen-free, pure-copper wiring.
• High-density, plated copper-matrix shielding.
• Electron-beam irradiation (EBI) - for improved flexibility and reduced microphonics.
• Cryogenic treatment - because … “Why not?”
• Reflective and Glow-in-the-Dark cable sheathing.

And, of course, they’re reassuringly expensive .

But no direct answer.

Let’s see what everyone thinks. Here’s a MULTIPLE RESPONSE Poll.

• Cable temperature makes no difference at any time, unless it is so hot it melts.
• Cold treatment may make a difference, but only while the cable is cold - until we get room temperature superconductors
• Of course cryogenic treatment can make a difference - I just don’t know if I can hear it
• Treatment with cold is something materials science people have done for years. Look at Damascus steel, or quenching any steel.
• Cold treatment makes a difference - to the manufacturer’s bottom line.
• "What you talkin’ bout, Willis?

And I should note that I’ve heard responsible materials scientists say that there is no directionality in piece of wire. But I don’t think I’ve heard a clear discussion of cryogenic treatment. Anyone who can reply with serious pointers please do. I’m personally of the I’ll believe it if it’s superconductive school.