Electronics Archives

Warren Audio HD800 Cable Review

Warren Audio HD800 cable – aka Double-Helix cable: I had the HD800 cable on display at RMAF 8 weeks ago, with my Eddie Current ZDT amp and GE 5751 black plate tube, and everyone loved it. The cable clearly improves the detail and transparency of the HD800, and takes the HD800 another step further in approaching my electrostatic headphones in speed and transient response. I consider the HD800 to be like an HE60 with bass impact, which is a good thing. I did find that people listening at RMAF would switch the PS Audio DAC to 96K up-sampling when using the HD800, as it was not as bright, but then when they’d listen to the Woo GES/Stax O2 Mk1 they’d go back to the brighter 192K mode, so I’m not the only one.

I have only gone back to the stock cable once since RMAF and that was to compare cables after switching to a brighter sounding Sylvania 5751 gold pin tube in the ZDT. I found that when I switch the PS Audio Digital Link III to 96Khz up-sampling to compensate for the brighter Sylvania tube, that I enjoy the HD800 better with the Warren Audio (aka Fidelity Audio) cable than the stock cable. I also found the Apogee mini-DAC compensates fairly well for the brighter Sylvania tube, allowing me to still use the Warren Audio cable which is not as rolled off in the highs as the stock cable.

The V2 cable and the HD800 combo changed that, first off the price came down significantly, but more importantly the little issues I still had with the re-cabled HD800 are resolved: the HD800 grew some bass – with nice, tight impact unlike the stock version’s hint at the lower registers. The soundstage always was huge but now it also sounds natural unlike the stock version – maybe the best sound staging / imaging I’ve heard besides an HE90 and it retains all the great qualities in a more tonally balanced and accurate (to my ears) presentation. 

Seems to me that separation is even better than before, which was what impressed me the most with stock HD800. It sounds a little warmer and fuller too; and not so cold. Maybe the stock cables weren’t so great? As far as the cables themselves, I like how it is marked left and right on the cables; very nice touch, since I always feel like red should be on the left side; reading left to right, I guess. Why is that the standard scheme, anyway? I think the Cardas connectors on HD650 had the same color marking scheme. Anyway, thanks again for the cables, really. I can already tell it’s a big step up from the stock cables, probably a bigger jump than when I put the APS cable into the HD650 about 2 years ago. If I had money lying around, I would most definitely invest in your RCA cables; I have a feeling those would make a difference.

Overall, I have listed impressions with different recordings but it all seem to revolve around the same point: there’s a feeling of smearing of highs with the stock cable which at first gives the impression of detailed sound but soon turns into lack of spacialization and increased sibilance / graininess of high pitch sounds. The Warren Audio cable makes a very noticeable improvement to the presentation with a smoother sound, better layering and placement of instruments, no sign of sibilances / graininess. The Blue Dragon also does a very good job at reducing the treble emphasis of the stock cable but sacrifices some resolution in the process. The Warren Audio cable is very detailed while significantly improving transient response / decay.

It took me 15 minutes to gently unravel your protective wrapping thinking there must be a handful of diamonds inside. My first impression was how solid and professional the cables were put together. The detail work was impressive. For some reason I had expected a thicker cable thinking that double helix means many strands in a helix shape wrapped around each other. This cable was sleek with a nice black wrap.

Overall this is a nice upgrade for the HD800 and is now even more affordable. I think it makes the HD800 sound more balanced and detailed than the stock cable. And it allows one to put in less effort to get just the right DAC, tubes and other components to pair up the HD800 with one’s rig.

Blutarsky came over to listen to the eXStatA amp this weekend with his Stax Lambdas, and while he was here he tried out the newest HD800 Double Helix cable. Now, as some of you know, prior to hearing the HD800 with the original Double Helix cable Blutarsky didn’t like the HD800 with stock cable, as he thought his Equinox cabled Grado HP-1000 were superior. When he first heard the HD800 with the original Double Helix cable a few weeks ago he began to seriously consider buying an HD800 for himself, as they weren’t as veiled or sibilant to him as with the stock cable, and he loved the huge soundstage (we have the same EC ZDT amp to drive them, and similar sounding DACs).

One thing holding him back was the high price for the HD800 cable. He did not want the HD800 without the upgraded cable, and $799 for a 3-meter cable just pushed the total price too high in this economy. This time, with the latest Double Helix cable, Scott was thrilled because he said it sounded even better – fuller, stronger and that it “just sounded right”. He was asking me if I changed tubes, or what did I do to make it this good. He was surprised that the only change was the updated cable, and he feels the sound is even better balanced now. He went as far as to say that while he really did like my Woo WES with Stax O2 Mk1 today, he felt that the HD800/Double Helix combo on the ZDT was superior. He agreed that my HE60 on the WES amp now have the best bass he’s ever heard from them, and that they sound similar to the HD800/Double Helix; but he felt that the Warren-Audio cabled HD800′s soundstage and dynamics were still superior, and that it was like being there vs listening to a really good reproduction on the HE60.

So if looking for the ultimate improvement for your HD800 headphones, or any headphones for that matter, be sure to check out Warren Audio for all of your Headphone Cable needs.

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Total Customer Reviews: (6)
Seller: Amazon
This brand new Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner has powerful transducer and stainless tank for superior cleaning results, making it great for both professional cleaning and personal use. It is the first use of digital program in ultrasonic cleaner to control the unit to choose a working cycle, based on the quantity and condition of the items to be cleane[Read More]
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Total Customer Reviews: (224)
Seller: Amazon
Fusing 12.3-megapixel image quality inherited from the award-winning D300 with groundbreaking features, the D90s breathtaking, low-noise image quality is further advanced with EXPEED image processing. Split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames-per-second provide the power to capture fast action and precise moments per[Read More]
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Total Customer Reviews: (43)
Seller: Amazon
Amazon.com Product Description The eagerly awaited sequel to one of the best-selling Xbox franchises ever is finally here. To commemorate this event, Xbox and Epic Games have partnered with Zune to create this Special Edition Zune Player so you can take the experience with you. The new Zune Gears of War 2 Special Edition has the Crimson Omen et[Read More]

Yoostar Entertainment SystemGot a budding actor or actress in the family!!!!

Maybe you picture yourself as the next Brad Pitt or Sigourney Weaver.

Oh come on admit it, we all think we could be pretty damn good in the movies.

Well nows your chance to be the biggest ham around. You can become a star right there in your own home. And what a great xmas or birthday gift.

The Yoostar Entertainment System gives YOO the opportunity to star in movie scenes, TV shows and NBA games. 

Just imagine scoring the winning basket for your team – the kudos – the admiration and YOO did it.

Simple to use, Yoostar lets you replace the actors and perform their dialogue  or place yourself in a scene and add your own dialogue.

Turn your home into a movie studio with the Yoostar Entertainment System and after you have shot your clip, starring Yoo, you can post it to your Yoostar.com page to share with family and friends or let it out to for the whole world to see how good you are. You can also add a Yoostar widget to your Facebook, twitter or Myspace accounts. 

And you can also share your big moment on your big screen TV. 

Everything you need to get you started is in the box. 

Camera_Laptop__V229284494_What’s in The Box:

  • Studio-grade USB web cam*
  • Portable and collapsible Greenscreen quodpod stand
  • 6′ x 6′ Greenscreen
  • Remote control
  • Monitor clip adapter (hook your camera to your laptop)
  • Universal tripod & quodpod adapter (mount your camera on your own tripod, or to the top of the supplied quadpod)
  • Yoostar software
  • 12 movie scenes plus
  • 2 bonus scenes 

You can access over 1,000 films and TV shows from the Yoostar library and more titles are added weekly and here is a sample of what you currently have to choose from. There is bound to be something to suit everyone in the family in this extensive range of movies.

  • Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein
  • Addams Family, The
  • Animal House
  • Beverly Hills Cop yoostar_white-side-view__V229284490_
  • Black Stallion
  • Blues Brothers
  • Casablanca
  • Chech & Chong’s Next Movie
  • Dracula
  • Duck Soup
  • Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • Forrest Gump
  • Friday the 13 th, Part, 1, 2, 3
  • Godfather, The
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers
  • Little Princess
  • Marathon Man
  • Midnight Cowboy
  • Night of the Living Dead
  • Norbit
  • Overboard
  • Platoon
  • Psycho
  • Rocky, Rocky 2, Rocky Balboa
  • Roman Holiday
  • Saw 1, 2, 3
  • Terminator
  • Up in Smoke
  • War of the Worlds
  • And then there is also Sesame Street TV, NBA games and exotic backgrounds you can perform in front of to create exciting electronic postcards.

Whats Planned for the Future:

Yoostar are developing a range of music videos featuring your favourite recording artists.  

You will be able to ‘shoot’ yourself lip-synching or actually singing if you want, and then you will be able to place your performance into the music video.  Another option is to put yourself in singing the backup vocals or even playing in the band.

*Plugs into the USB port of your PC. (The Mac version will be coming soon.)

Move over SingstarYoostar is the next generation in home entertainment.

Some reviewers have expressed disappointment that whole movies aren’t available but everything needs a starting point.

Kindle US and InternationalI am so excited, at last the Kindle is available outside of the US so I will be able to purchase one from Amazon and have it shipped to austraila. In fact the Kindle Wireless Reading Device
is now available to over 100 countries.

For anyone who isn’t aware, a Kindle is an electronic book repository that holds up to 1500 of your favourite books. Up until the 19th of October 2009, Kindle was only available in the US.

At this stage the Kindle DX which holds 3500 books isn’t available internationally, but hey, I’m happy with 1500 books.

The beauty of the Kindle is that it is so slim, just over 1/3 of an inche in thickness, and lightweight at 10.2 ozs, which makes it ideal to take traveling. Something I do a lot of. So no longer will I have to decide which book to take with me to read, and then think about the added weight which means only taking something that is lightweight which usually means both the topic and the size of the book.

Books are available in under 60 Seconds, just think of a book and you could be reading it in less than a minute.

The free 3G wireless lets you download books with no monthly fees, service plans, or having to search out for Wi-Fi hotspots. And for non-U.S. customers, there aren’t any additional charges for having wireless delivery in or outside your home country.

The Kindle Wireless Reading Device comes with a USB cable so that you can charge it through your computer.

And the long life battery means you can read for days without having to recharge.

Well I know what I will be buying myself as an early Christmas present.

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