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Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX

24.76.171.131
Posted on January 3, 2021 at 20:29:55
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 My son has asked me to build some cable for his headphones. He's done some research and found a build/parts that he believes will be an improvement on his stock cable.

The cable build is based on the Corpse Cable link.

I can get the parts either through Redco Audio in the USA, or here in Canada at Take Five Audio. Parts are waaaaay cheaper from Redco, but shipping to Canada is quite a bit. So it ends up being a saw off coming in at around $60 US ($80 CDN). Also, Take Five Audio's parts are all Cryo'd.

Not a big budget to work with, but he wants to keep it in perspective relative to his system. (His system is barely a month old and already wants to upgrade the cables. Sigh, that sounds familiar.)

I don't have a headphone system, but I did do a search of AA and the web, and it seems to me that what he is proposing is probably as good as it can get within his budget.

So I guess the help I am looking for is in case I am wrong. Maybe I have overlooked something? Any guidance would be appreciated.

His system:
Schiit Vali Headphone Amp
Schiit Modi Dac
Massdrop HD6xx Phones

Parts used in the Corpse Cable:
Mogami 2893 cable
HPSC Cardas rhodium connectors
Stereo Neutrik NP3X-B 1/4" gold plug

Cheers!

Jonesy






"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

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RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 4, 2021 at 10:09:14
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4390
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 Jonsey,
The Corpse cable is $140 USD - while the Mogami wire may well be better -
for $140... kind of a toss-up?
-Just saying...
Happy Listening

 

RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 4, 2021 at 10:59:46
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 All the parts in the Corpse cable VS the DIY build are identical. The only thing different would be that I would use WBT solder, while Corpse Cable builds their's with Cardas Eutectic solder. And my heatshrink finishing may not be as pretty.

So $60 US for the DIY version looks like a pretty good deal, and well within budget.

I saw some braided DIY cables, but my son didn't seem too keen on a braid. I'm actually relieved because I've never done that before.

Cheers!

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

If it were me (and it isn't)..., posted on January 4, 2021 at 11:03:11
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 I get it all from Parts Connextion (they in Canada?) and get all Cardas.

They have the HPSC Cardas rhodium connectors for the HD6XX cans (which I have used in the past with my HD600) as well as Cardas Headphone cable and 1/4 in plug.

By the way, the Mass Drop HD6XX is one of the headphone bargains of all time. Still a reasonable 'gold standard' for headphones after all of these years.






First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: If it were me (and it isn't)..., posted on January 4, 2021 at 11:38:15
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 Yeah, that Cardas cable is REALLY tempting. My son had seen it as well, but said it would be outside his budget.

I should probably just order it and everything else from Partsconnexion and pay the difference outside his budget. That would make me an Audiophile dad I guess... :)

Cheers!

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 4, 2021 at 18:25:51
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



Hi Jonesy,

Rather than running each stereo channel within the same 4-conductor cable which will produce interchannel crosstalk as a result, I suggest using two Mogami W3159 cables, one cable per channel. The stock Sennheiser headphone cable features a Siamese cable (two cables joined side-by-side) that splits with a breakout for each cup, while the pair of Mogami W3159 can be joined via various methods with a breakout to each cup. The easiest way is to simply use a wrap of heavy-duty gray colored Hercules-Megatape or Oatey FASTape PTFE tape at intervals of several inches along the length of the joined cables that will act like a molded part when rubbed hard. A very lightweight cable can be made this way.

What makes the Mogami W3159 cable so special is the foamed/cellular polypropylene CPP dielectric rather the solid polyethylene PE dielectric of the Mogami W2893. A gas-filled, "air-articulated" dielectric tends to provides a more transparent, less colored, and more detailed signal than a solid dielectric. Even a more expensive solid FEP or solid PTFE Teflon dielectric tends to sound more affected than a foamed polyethylene or foamed polypropylene dielectric. While not quite as high-performance as a cellular/foamed FEP and expanded ePTFE dielectric, foamed PP and PE are second in line, with no notable drawbacks for critical listening applications.

The Mogami W3159 is intended as internal wiring for AES/EBU digital applications, so it's why the medium strand count 24 AWG twisted pair with served shield is so thin and lightweight. It's due to the very thin PVC jacket not intended to protect the cable from rough handling, but it's fine for a headphone cable since folks tend to take care of their headphone cable when handling their cans, and the served shield will act as mechanical reinforcement like that of a fiber-reinforced headphone cable. Lightweight silk tubing can be used as sleeving for protection and a nice feeling cable, as well.

Note: The shields of the two cables must be terminated to the sleeve (ground contact) of the headphone plug, and not left floating.

While you are at it, you might like to build a good pair of rca interconnect cables with the very inexpensive Mogami W3159 during your DIY headphone cable project, Jonesy.

Cheers, Duster

See link:

 

RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 4, 2021 at 20:03:18
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 Hi Duster,

Running twin cables, each having their own shield, makes sense.

I didn't know about the benefits of the dielectric used in the Mogami W3159 hook-up wire.

This sounds like it would be a really good build.

Even more enticing with your suggestion to make some interconnects for myself!

Thanks for this Duster.

Your suggestions, and all the research you put into them, are really appreciated.

Cheers!

Jonesy



"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 5, 2021 at 00:29:40
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 If you wish to do one-stop shopping for the cable and connectors, the Canare F-10 features a Teflon dielectric, so it would be the most advisable to select from their list of rca connectors, Jonesy.

See link:

 

RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 5, 2021 at 10:59:38
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 Thanks for the suggestion!

Cheers!

Jobesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 5, 2021 at 13:02:19
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 I almost forgot to add, since the thin cable jacket is not a heavy-duty design, braided sleeving should be used to cover the cable when implemented as a line-level interconnect cable. It's not vital, but it will protect the jacket from nicks, and provide more rigidity for the wispy cable. In this case, the sleeving would not only be for "good looks".

As far as looks are concerned, the Mogami W3159 cable looks quite good with the Platinum (dark gray colored) Techflex sleeving, IME.

See link:

 

RE: Help with DIY headphone cable for Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX, posted on January 5, 2021 at 16:42:47
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 I came across some of your older posts regarding the use of Techflex for the W3159. So in a roundabout way, you've already given me the heads-up!

Thanks for taking the time to mention it again.

Those threads on metallurgy and dielectrics are really interesting. I will be going back to re-read them.

It's not that I was never aware of the importance of their properties. I just never knew why.

Cheers!

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

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