Headphone Amps: How to match your cans with different balanced outputs standards?

[jhwalker]

14 minutes ago, jp11801 said:

The future of balanced cables are coalesceing around 4pin balanced and 4.4 Pentacon. I wouldn't be surprised to see 4.4 on home amps in the future. 

 

I like the 4.4 Pentacon - have both that and the 4-pin XLR on my Topping A90 - they sound the same, of course, but really like the form factor of the Pentacon :)

[jhwalker]

3 hours ago, DuckToller said:

Thank you for your reply, that meets exactly the question, unfortunately without answering it ;-)
The pentacon is as well the form factor offered with the new iFi micro iDSD Signature. The 4.4mm seems to be more for iems, afaik?

How did you manage the task, I haven't seen a lot of cans with Pentacon cables as original outfit?
- You bought a fitting cable from your can manufacturer? 
- You bought a fitting cable in the aftermarket?
- You bought a balanced cable with adapter for both, 4.4mm Penatcon and 4-pin XLR?
- You bought only an adapter?

Curious, Tom

 

Well, I use the Pentacon cable with my Focal Elegia - definitely not an IEM ;)

 

I just ordered a custom cable (i.e., with Focal connectors on the headphone end and the 4.4 on the other).  I believe I used LQi Cables, but you can find LOTS of boutique cable shops online, from anywhere from around $50 to ... sky's the limit.  I wouldn't spend more than about $150 on replacement headphone cables.