Just ordered a balanced cable for my HD800, am I wasting my money?

[jabbr]

I used balanced cables on my HD800s ... just because ??‍♂️ ... the universe should be balanced ?

[jabbr]

15 hours ago, pkane2001 said:

 

A balanced universe might be a very boring place. It’s the spontaneous symmetry breaking that created the laws of nature in ours, and therefore us, and everything else. ...?

 

Excellent point! Let's say that the background universe should be balanced, and we are the spontaneous symmetry breaking. Analogously, our reproduction electronics should be neutral and balanced, allowing the music to flow spontaneously ?

[jabbr]

9 hours ago, sandyk said:

 Jon

 You may be interested in my recent post in this thread.

Alex

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/28628-my-setup-macbook-pro/?tab=comments#comment-827852

 

 

I don’t spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about cables. If my DAC has balanced output and my amp balanced input then I use balanced XLR interconnects. 

 

I use a resistor network attached to my First Watt J2 to drive my headphones. Sennheiser makes great headphones (I also have AKG) ... since Sennheiser provides for balanced cables to the HD800 that’s what I use ... similarly I use the AC power cord that came with my First Watt ?

[jabbr]

Yes my cables are Canare star-quad ... just because its a good brand of cable ... I haven't done head to head listening tests:

 

https://robrobinette.com/BalancedCable.htm

 

You can make your own or buy pre-made

 

The HD800 connectors can be expensive e.g. $40-50 for a pair.

 

You can get cables pre-made:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-Sennheiser-HD800-HD800S-HD820-OFC-Mogami-Klotz-Canare-High-Quality-Cable/142717309779?hash=item213a9d5353:m:mzD7B1oLng_W01bAzyrXatQ

 https://www.ebay.com/i/251578675480?chn=ps&var=550479780509

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-5mm-Balanced-OCC-Silver-Plated-Copper-Cable-For-Sennheiser-HD800-Headphone/222867553801?hash=item33e3f0fe09:m:mIbNfmNk6LHPCrSuVrkPDqw

 

This isn't a big deal

 

[jabbr]

47 minutes ago, phosphorein said:

 

And Canare cables with Neutrik connectors from Markertek. Reasonable pricing and good quality. Handmade in New York.

Totally. If one wants to go high end can use a Lemo connector or similar on the amp output. These would be DIY. 

[jabbr]

Look, here’s the bottom line sports fans: assuming balanced outputs from the amp, the balanced cable delivers the R +|- to the right headphone and the L +|- to the left headphone, there is no reason to share a “ground”. This is the most natural cabling. Prices for x,y or z are another issue.

 

Did you pay too much? All depends  on what you paid ??‍♂️?

 

[jabbr]

On 6/4/2018 at 1:17 PM, Musicophile said:

This may well have been simply the most expensive plug I ever bought, but it just feels right. 

 

Just has to do with the market. Really high quality XLR jacks are dirt cheap because of the large market ... no go looking for a 4 pin Lemo connector which is another great smaller diameter plug for which you would need a Lemo amp out so unless custom not too useful, but goes to show the cost ... and for the Senn you are paying for the headphone side connectors and then the labor to make the cable (assuming you don't DIY) and then profit and the price really isn't terrible.

 

I guess the cheapest way to go would be to cut the plug off your single ended HD800 cable and attach the XLR ... so, the savings of DIY...