IEM Cable suggestions please? - I've lost confidence in stock IEM cables

[CedarX]

Simple continuity test. Place a tester "pin" on that 5th segment and use the 2nd tester "pin" to check if there is a connection (i.e current flowing), from any of the 4 pins which connect to the ear pieces.

I was curious about your use of L & R “circuits”. A continuity test better shows nothing (infinite resistance) between the ground ring and any of the 4 pins otherwise, it would not be a balanced cable. In other words, the ground ring should not be used in a headphones cable, or connected to a shield, which are (almost?) never present.

so this would be a blank page design, possibly avoiding insulation and using only air as the insulator, as much as possible. It’s just for me, and no one else will see it, so it does not need to be pretty, only requirement is - deliver audio with the absolute minimum "obstruction". That would be an interesting project.

Good luck with that… “absolute minimum obstruction”: just make sure your amp. has good short protection.

 

[OK1]

I was curious about your use of L & R “circuits”. A continuity test better shows nothing (infinite resistance) between the ground ring and any of the 4 pins otherwise, it would not be a balanced cable. In other words, the ground ring should not be used in a headphones cable, or connected to a shield, which are (almost?) never present.

Good luck with that… “absolute minimum obstruction”: just make sure your amp. has good short protection.

All points noted. Thank you.

 

[OK1]

My goodness, it has been a journey, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. After a year or thereabouts of searching to understand more, and also carrying out my own listening tests, the general conclusion is with IEM cables, low resistance is good target to aim for, as the primary property of a cable.

Why is this an issue with IEMs? With IEMS in particular, there is very little attention paid to the need for low resistance, in a similar manner that is almost assured in the over the ear headphone, and in the case of speakers powered by an external amplifier(professional, hi-fi, and public address). What is not an issue in the professional and Hi-Fi space, cos it has been well established, is not paid any attention in IEM cables, and especially in the IEM cables bundled with IEMs.

I've compiled and will continue to update this other thread on Head-Fi(link below), which sums up and houses links, to as much information as I have considered relevant, on the subject, and it has IEM cable recommendations, based on science(i.e properties of cables), and listening (subjective I know, but I would consider myself a trained listener).

I sincerely hope others will benefit, from the pain, including some public humiliation when I spoke up on the subject, puzzlement, and eventual eureka moments, I have experienced in this cable exploration journey.

I may also add. I have no need to consider making my own cables, at least not for a good while, and if I do, it would be purely for the fun of it, as there are excellent low resistance cables, available at very affordable prices.

I have, after quite a search, found excellent cables based on very sound logic and science, and the quality of my listening on IEMs, has significantly improved. Details below.

Recommended - budget to mid priced IEM cables - with low estimated resistance, as a desirable target

Please note, this thread/post is a work in progress, and will be revised, whenever I have more information, knowledge and experience on the subject. So check every few weeks, just in case I have added some new cables I discovered, or any new relevant information. TLDR - Primary target for a...

www.head-fi.org