I am going to make up a stereo unbalanced cable to replace some with a break in them for a headphone application. They will ultimately be terminated in 3.5mm jacks.
I am fully on the "cables don't make a difference" train when it comes to audio quality, but I also do know that good quality cables are more robust and generally nicer to handle.
I normally just go with Van Damme + Neutrik/Ream connectors. But I can't find a Van Damme cable that seems suitable for this application. This is the closest I could find:
https://www.van-damme.com/vandamme_product/van-damme-reduced-od-console-cable/
Using the shield as common ground - but I'm not actually that's correct, and also whether having the L & R as a twisted pair is "correct" either. Finally as it's designed for console use, I guess robustness is possibly also not a primary consideration.
So in short, does any one have any recommendations for decent cable to use for headphones.
I am fully on the "cables don't make a difference" train when it comes to audio quality, but I also do know that good quality cables are more robust and generally nicer to handle.
I normally just go with Van Damme + Neutrik/Ream connectors. But I can't find a Van Damme cable that seems suitable for this application. This is the closest I could find:
https://www.van-damme.com/vandamme_product/van-damme-reduced-od-console-cable/
Using the shield as common ground - but I'm not actually that's correct, and also whether having the L & R as a twisted pair is "correct" either. Finally as it's designed for console use, I guess robustness is possibly also not a primary consideration.
So in short, does any one have any recommendations for decent cable to use for headphones.
I will only issue a warning for what happened to me with an extension headphone cable. As usual, the supplied headphone cable that came with the Hi-Fi Man 400SE was too short to be of any practical use, so I used an extension cable. Here is the problem>>> The coupler for the extension cable didn't really hold the grip that it needed to, resulting in a short in one channel as the cable was really only partially plugged in. This maybe wouldn't have mattered except in this case I was going to let the amp warm up for a minute or two while I did something else. You got it alright, one channel burned out, and this is an SPL Phonitor SE!! It is now headed for the repair shop, and I bet that I won't be able to afford the repair. I'm still wincing, so take this observance with weight.
One property that is important to headphone cables is how quiet they are mechanically - i.e. does moving them get picked up by acoustic conduction to the headphone itself and become a source of unwanted noise? Softer, lighter or coiled cables tend to fare better I think. Cordless headphones have the complete advantage here!
BTW a well designed headphone amp ought to survive an indefinite short - every time a headphone jack is inserted/removed the outputs get shorted, and your unfortunate scenario is not uncommon I bet...
BTW a well designed headphone amp ought to survive an indefinite short - every time a headphone jack is inserted/removed the outputs get shorted, and your unfortunate scenario is not uncommon I bet...
For task like this I buy sennheiser replacement cord and modify it to whatever I need.
Mark, I quite agree with both statements. It almost always surprises me when I am hearing something that is not right and it turns out to be moving my head, causing the damned cable to make its own sound. I feel trapped by the cord whether sitting or standing, God forbid walking! To listen to music 'safely' from tripping over a cord, unplugging a cord, or interrupt the performance by very noise of cable is ridiculous. OTOH, I will not listen to anything but the best performance that I can afford, and so far, cordless hasn't made the cut for me.
As to the failure of the SPL amp itself, I also find it unacceptable that there isn't some sort of circuit protection. A governor or guard to jump in place when something possibly catastrophic occurs. Having said that, there is a stern warning that comes with this amp that clearly states the damage that can be done under this exact condition. My exception of turning the amp on, headphones incorrectly connected (though I didn't know that), and then leaving the room for a few moments probably erased any reasonable possibility that the amp had to defend itself.