REVIEW: Audio Fidelity Headphone Cable Cable

Model:	Headphone Cable
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$150.00
Description:	Dead Neutral Headphone cable
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Fidelity

Review by Capt. Z on July 20, 2009 at 11:21:11
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for the Headphone Cable

Before I start writing my first impression about this cable I want to let you know that I am not really a reviewer with great and colorful words. I just wrote down a few notes while comparing some different cables.

I do believe that cable can alter the sound, since I heard it many times in my own system with my own cables. headphone cables are NO EXEPTION to that.

The Fidelity Audio headphone cable just arrived today and in the evening I sat down first comparing my DIY Solid core 18 awg to my DIY Canare.
Headphone amp used is a Woo3
Headphones are 2 Beyerdynamic DT990 with the old 600 ohm drivers from the mid 80's. Sorry US citizen, most likely you never heard of them before, since I rarely see them here in the USA, but they used to be very common in Germany and are sold frequently on the German fleebay. If you ever get some used ones you MUST replace the ear pads with the new, gray velour pads and add the thin foam sheet in front of the driver. Also, re-cabling is a must with these phones, otherwise they can and will be 'hot' sounding on the top. Otherwise properly one of the best phones ever made. Both phones had newer ear pads and were identical.
Music were 2 Test/Sample CDs from Chesky.
CD player is a Cary 308 T

While the impressions are still fresh let me write down my listening notes:

1. My DIY cable with 18 awg solid copper:
slightly leaner mids than the Canare
more extended highs, maybe just a little shinny
I hear more of the room the musicians were recorded due to the extended highs
more true to neutrality when compared to the Canare

2. DIY Canare bought from a head-fier:
strong bass
slight muted highs, which made the phones sound a little more relaxed and romantic sounding
calmer, warmer sound
nice for relaxing

3. Fidelity Audio headphone Solid core cable - after taking of my DIY Solid core and soldering it to the driver:
Fuller lower bass than Canare
slightly more mids and highs than the Canare which brings out the vocals a little more - a good thing
the highs are extended but NOT shrill
I prefer this over my solid core DIY cable

Overall the Fidelity Audio Headphone cable has been my best headphone cable.

These are my first impressions after fighting soldering the solid core onto another solid core connection - what a pain. :-)

I am planning on doing some more comparing of the two phones with the different cables when I have more time.

Also, dealing with Rick Warren was a joy. He was very informative and very fast in responding to my emails.

Cable looks and feels very well made, much easier to handle than my own 18 awg. DIY Solid core cable.

Rick custom made me a cable since I needed an extra long - 15 ft. cable and he burned the cable in for about 60 hours (over the weekend) before sending it to me.

There is probably a lot more positive things to say about Rick and his cable, but I just can think of it at the moment. You know how that is. Before you have all these wonderful commends in mind, but when you sit in front of the keyboard those thought are MIA.

Product Weakness:	Haven't found any so far.
Product Strengths:	Super light; dead neutral, smooth, spacious sound, never fatiuging

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Woo3
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Cary 308T
Speakers: Beyerdynamic DT990 from the 80s
Cables/Interconnects: DIY Magnet wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz and classical
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

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Topic - REVIEW: Audio Fidelity Headphone Cable Cable - Capt. Z 11:21:11 07/20/09 (1)

Modertor TYPO The name is Fidelity Audio - Capt. Z 20:32:21 07/21/09 (0)

Amplifier:	Woo3
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cary 308T
Speakers:	Beyerdynamic DT990 from the 80s
Cables/Interconnects:	DIY Magnet wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz and classical
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

REVIEW: Audio Fidelity Headphone Cable Cable

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