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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