Mobile Audio Update - Balanced System Review 13Dec16-28Jan17

"Holy Mackerel Andy"... I commissioned build of a balanced cable set for my Audeze LCD-2 cans from Amplifier Surgery (AS, affordable but HQ US guy). My stock cables were fine for me but didn't allow me a balanced system setup. "Normal" headphones/earphones connect to amps with 3 pole (3.5mm or 1/4") plugs; on these connections there is a common ground and a L and R signal vs that. Balanced systems drive a L+/L- and a R+/R- via 4 conductors terminating in a 4 pole 2.5mm TRRS plug. Amps with balanced outputs need to deliver both +/- to each "ear/side" and moving to a balanced configuration typically is only done on 'phones which have replaceable cabling. My Audeze cans have this capability. The tiny 2.5mm 4 pole plug is not physically robust but is the current standard and supported on my DAP (Sony has proposed a fatter one). A balanced system is different than an unbalanced one in many good ways, and some bad ones. Unbalanced signals are all driven "above 0" while balanced systems drive "above and below 0" - basically one gets 2X the voltage swing from a balanced system than an unbalanced one. The downside is that you also potentially get 2X noise too - so value depends on system quality and how well matched the components are. Driving the planar magnet headset is tough but spectacular when done well - the balanced cable set allows my DAP to drive the shit out of the Audezes. Now, the DAP's amp section outshines even the Woo Audio Fireflies DAC/AMP (which only has unbalanced output) IMO! I didn't expect it'd be that distinguished. Serious punch, sub-bass excellence, mid-range furry, crisp cymbals... it's all there. I did have AS terminate from the headset to a 4 pin XLR and then I add a short 4 pin XLR female to to 2.5mm 4 pole plug when connecting to the DAP or a short 4 pin XLR female to 1/4" 3 pole plug (shorting the common conductors together) when connecting to the WA7.

So, three things are obvious to me now and may guide my next steps toward audio-spectacular improvement. #1 Can I find Shure IEMs with replaceable cabling, so I can drive them balanced? My SE530 balanced armature (BA) earphones are stunning but don't have that ~ the "successor" SE535s and SE846s do! That's a big upgrade however as the 535s are ~$500 (like the 530s are; 846s are ~$1K) and a balanced cable set would be another $200+ (the reason the 530s and 535s are nearly the same price is that the 535s are bigger and not quite as comfortable). Also in the IEM realm, I need to try some dynamic (vs balanced armature) earphones (or hybrids: BA mid & high and dynamic "woofer") to get more bass. #2 Can I afford a balanced desktop amp as my reference to replace the WooAudio WA7 DAC/AMP? There are plenty I'd like and have heard but reference grade balanced tube amps are thousand$ and they don't even come with integrated DACs. #3 Should I consider driving big "closed" cans, balanced of course, from my DAP (as the Audezes are "open" and bug people around me). I know to get Mr Speakers Ether Flow C planar magnetics with balanced cable termination for $1800. Right now the best sound is coming from my new DAP with either my big cans or IEMs. Hmmm... the significant improvement from balancing my system wasn't expected.
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On The Way... I followed through on #1b above (dynamic IEMs) in finding a well-priced Sony MDR ex1000 earphone set. These are made of just a single large (16mm) dynamic driver on each side (as opposed to my Shure's which use triple balanced armature drivers). The Sony's are awesome and extend bass response below where my 530s venture yet still deliver uncolored sound. The fit is fine for me with the large sound-isolating tips as I have big ears.

These IEMs are really great as they are but I might get improvement from a balanced cable set ~ I'll go on a hunt but what I've seen thus far is a bit too expensive. Too, if I do go for another set of Shure earphones to get removable cabling I will chose the SE846 instead of SE535 ~ might as well go for as much improvement as I can if I update.
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Pursuit Of Perfection... I have secured a pair of quad-driver Shure SE846 earphones and some very reasonably priced balanced cable sets custom made from silver in China. The Shures were fast and responsive as unbalanced stock - especially driven by the WA7 but ultra-shined over all when mated to the Chinese balanced cabling and driven by the DP-X1... best yet. Boom, shaka, laka.... the test soared so high on Al Stewart, Wheatus, Elton John, Norah Jones and more. I invested and appreciated the earphone stereo and DPA such that I decided the whole rig deserved an uncrushable  Pelican casing. Final test pending vs the Sonys balanced but unbalanced the EX1000 won in the low end again on Notting Hillbillies while the quad-Shures kicked butt everywhere else. Notably now I hear the best from the full planar magnetic cans on power while dynamic range goes to the earphones and DP-X1. On it goes...

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Sonic Glory... The PlusSound custom cables for the Sony MDR ex1000s arrived. It was challenging finding a balanced cable set for these and I even had to adjust the fit of connectorization to get the cables fully mated to the earphones. I contacted PlusSound and described my issues and debated how to fix the mating. A bit of 600 grit emory cloth on the electrical contacts of the Series X cables ultimately yielded a smooth & full fit. Driving the Sonys balanced is spectacular - so much clean low end from an IEM is stunning and the mids and highs became more intimate with the balanced cable set. I don't think they "beat" the Shures in those areas as to dynamism but they are now very close. Both the Shure SE846 and the Sony MDR EX1000 driven from my Onkyo DP-X1 deliver the best audio I've experienced - and this from a mobile setup! I don't prefer one over the other yet and both can be used for long term listening without fatigue... super fun. I did make a packaging/carrying modification for the Sonys as their carry case is comparatively very large and didn't fit into my Pelican kit (see pic above in upper right). I bought several $2 cases from China and chose my favorite for the Sonys - everything fits great now.

Final Thought... I'm done with this mobile kit pursuit as it's glorious. One sonic aspect of my desktop setup based on JRiver which I've come to appreciate is it's ability to crossfeed for headphone use. Here, a subtle mix of L & R channels is done for each side to mimic what you'd really hear in a open air speaker situation, as when live or listening to full range speakers. Both your ears hear what comes from both sides of the stage or stereo setup. It just makes the headphone/earphone listening a bit less different from live - some may not like the idea but I do. The DSP in the Onkyo DAP "could" do this but no such setting exists.