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Hifiman HE-R9 Clipping with Balanced Cable

SparkyBoy

Member
Joined
May 10, 2021
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I just received my Hifiman HE-R9, I ordered these since I wanted closed back headphones that were light and worked with the same cable since I already have a HE560 v4. I'm using an ifi Zen CAN amp and noticed if I use the balanced cable the headphones start to clip around 11 o'clock so they sit around 10 which is sometimes a bit too low. I don't have any issues with the single-ended cable and am able to crank the volume up when needed.

Maybe someone here can explain to me why it's clipping. I assume this is the expected behavior when using a balanced cable at high volume with dynamic headphones? The HE560 v4 doesn't have any issues with the cable.

Edit: Maybe I should return these and just get the Aeon RT which is the same weight.
Edit 2: Just read the manual and it appears I need a single-sided 3.5mm balanced cable
 
Last edited:

Blorg

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Dec 16, 2020
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You can't use a regular dual entry balanced cable with these as the two sides are wired together in the headphone. So you'll be shorting the amp with a balanced cable (and could damage it). Dual sided is single ended only. As you say you can use a single-ended 3.5mm TRRS balanced cable. I tried this myself and noticed the same problem.

This one has reviews saying it works with the HE-R9:

 
D

Deleted member 68540

Guest
Thank you, @Blorg. It works with the HE-R9 (I had other cables by OpenHeart for other headphones already, and they are great).

But I have tested and regular 1x1 3.5mm TRS cables also appear to work with the HE-R9, so I am not sure what the balanced cable is doing here?
 
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