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.
What makes this sort of amazing is that the stock HD800 were really a disappointment for me; I thought they sounded thin, weak and artificial. Sure they were fast and the soundstage was large but they just didn’t sound true to may ears. I heard them at CanJam on a couple of different very nice amps, with Larry’s ZDT and a few other amps – but really couldn’t understand the hype surrounding the phones or the price tag. When Larry installed the upgraded V1 Double Helix cable, I felt they improved to the point where I could see owning a pair; they were more transparent, the soundstage opened up and they retained their speed. But frankly, I had been listening to a pair of custom backloaded FE206e horns out of my ZDT and had been totally ignoring my phones – that and the price tag of the HD800 AND the V1 cable made it fairly easy to dismiss the possibility of ownership.
With the ZDT amp and Double-Helix cable the HD800 are my best dynamic headphone. This HD800/cable combo also works well with my Woo WA6, and I did not have to roll tubes in the WA6 from my usual RCA 6DE7/Sophia Princess 274b to get the HD800/Double-Helix cable to work well together.
HD800 Double-Helix cable: 01/11/10: I received an updated HD800 Double Helix cable to replace the one that I broke when I twisted the HD800 connectors tighter (and had to repair before RMAF), even though the first cable has been working fine for the past 3.5 months. Rick’s new build process cuts the cost to $299 for 2 meters and $100 for each additional meter, making it half the cost of the previous cable, despite a proprietary new insulative material. And at the same time it balances out the sound a little more so that I don’t have to swap DACs, sources or tubes when I switch between my HD800 and K1000 on the ZDT amp. With the ZDT set up for the K1000, when I switch to the HD800 the sound is a little fuller or warmer with less treble emphasis than the original Double Helix, but at the same time still warmer and more detailed and transparent than the stock HD800 cable. So, now if I wanted to I could use my PS Audio DAC in 192K mode for the wider soundstage again, as it allows more flexibility in my setup.
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 FA 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.
Right out of the gate i noticed a clarity with a smooth natural sound. The clarity and detail took be by surprise. The bass was tighter and clear. I am not used to that. The mids smooth, yet dynamic. . The highs were clean, detailed yet with absolutely no irritation. The flute did not have a trace of harshness as I had heard before. I said how can this sound be clean and natural and how can i hear instruments or tones that I never heard before.
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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