My Amplifier (cont.)

[Sneakeater]

One aspect of my new apartment is that, smaller than the old one though it is, the layout and my furniture placement impose longer distances than before from my amp to where I might listen.

Longer than the stock cable supplied with my beloved Audeze LCD-X headphones would permit.

Now I think the stock cable that came with the headphones is perfectly fine -- and I'm skeptical about the value of "upgrade" cable.

But if I want to use my headphones here (and I'm sure my downstairs neighbors want me to even if I don't), I need longer cable.  The available stock upgrades (which aren't even really stock, but rather "premium" in their own right) aren't long enough.

So I had to go into the secondary market.

Moon Audio makes "upgrade" cables for Audeze headphones that are very well regarded.

Moon Audio recommends the "premium" version of their Black Dragon cable for Audeze LCD-X headphones like mine. So that's what I got.  Is it a "night and day" improvement?  Absolutely not.  Is it a detectable improvement?  Absolutely yes..

Instrument separation is improved.  The lows are extended but also rounded.  The highs are smoothed out a bit -- which some would count as a negative, but which to me enhances the listening experience.

Is the difference commensurate with the high price of this cable? No way!

But since I bought this cable primarily for the extended length, I'm shocked and surprised (and happy) to hear there even is an audible sonic difference.

Edited June 15, 2024 by Sneakeater

[backyardchef]

Would you ever consider going bluetooth? 

[Sneakeater]

NO

[backyardchef]

That's too bad. 

[Sneakeater]

Not for my ears and my records.

[Sneakeater]

I mean you want to talk about audible sonic differences.

[Wilfrid]

There's no question there's a big sacrifice in sound quality. On the other hand, packing a small bluetooth speaker for travel is a great convenience. I also use music to get to sleep sometimes (perhaps that's scandalous), and I prefer not to sleep on the floor in front of my regular speakers.

[backyardchef]

1 hour ago, Sneakeater said:

I mean you want to talk about audible sonic differences.

I would rather talk about the tyranny of cables

[Sneakeater]

You care about how things sound, you put up with limitations.

[Sneakeater]

5 hours ago, backyardchef said:

I would rather talk about the tyranny of cables

1.  So if I want to read something after dark tonight, I'm subject to the "tyranny of lightbulbs"?

2.  Convenience roolz?  You microwaving Mrs. Paul's fish sticks for dinner tonight?

[Sneakeater]

6 hours ago, Wilfrid said:

There's no question there's a big sacrifice in sound quality. On the other hand, packing a small bluetooth speaker for travel is a great convenience. I also use music to get to sleep sometimes (perhaps that's scandalous), and I prefer not to sleep on the floor in front of my regular speakers.

Hey I'm only talking about serious listening.  The clock radio on my nightstand has a CD player in it to fall asleep to.  But I'm talking about sitting in my living room listening to records late at night when noise is an issue.

[Wilfrid]

Check!

[backyardchef]

On 6/18/2024 at 7:35 PM, Sneakeater said:

1.  So if I want to read something after dark tonight, I'm subject to the "tyranny of lightbulbs"?

2.  Convenience roolz?  You microwaving Mrs. Paul's fish sticks for dinner tonight?

Only if you plan to insist on boring everyone by lecturing us how much better natural light is than electricity. 

I only cook fish sticks if I plan to pretend that someone else's elite idea of superiority was worth skewering.