DHC "Macromolecule"
8-wire Headphone Cable
Macromolecule SE now available - choose our new "Peptide" type 2 OCC copper litz for the highest performing Macromolecule yet!
Now available for Sennheiser HD800 or Hifiman HE series!
The top headphones today and their endless potential make an 8-wire cable suitable, in conjunction with their thirst for power from big amps. Compared to a regular 4-wire cable the extra conductors for each polarity reduce resistance - as a result, these cables sound robust and exude confidence, providing intense bass response while still maintaining delicate microdetail. They are the ultimate cable for portable use or high-power single ended amps, but are great for balanced applications as well. These cables use twice as much of my "Nucleotide" cryo OCC copper wire and are quite time consuming to weave a perfect braid for - they are true works of art and must be seen to be believed.
While a lot of extra work was required, through some modification to the design and connectors we can now build a Macromolecule cable for HD800 and HE-6 that meets our standards for the connection of the wires and the overall durability. Available for immediate purchase...
We have two kinds of braids. For 99% of people, they will want to choose the semi-flat 8 wire braid. This design is efficient, comfortable, and very nice to behold. It resembles two waves of 4 wires crossing together at a central point, and consumes hardly more space than a Molecule 4-wire headphone cable.
However, this braid wasn't enough to satisfy our need to create. So, on a limited basis we offer in shorter lengths (4 foot only) the Kumihimo braid, woven laboriously on a Japanese loom by hand. It is a little stiffer than the semi-flat braid and consumes a further 20% additional wire due to its convoluted looping pattern. It consists of spiraling columns of vertically stacked, offset loops in a continuous corkscrew. This braid takes more than five times as long as any other braid to construct, and requires absolute focus as a single error will ruin the pattern. The result is an ornamental cable and conversation piece like none other. This design was not intended to improve the sound, it is an aesthetic marvel and nothing more.
Now available with a handsome and lightweight Viablue black aluminum y-split cover in place of the usual DHC logo heatshrink.
Macromolecule SE:
We have applied our top-performing new copper wire, the "Peptide" OCC copper type 2 litz, to the Macromolecule as an available option. It is slightly larger in diameter for a slightly larger cable overall. This beast of a cable delivers 840 strands of individually insulated cryoed OCC copper to the headphone of your choice. This upgrade, aside from making one of the most beautiful cables we have ever constructed, lets the most powerful amps of today show what they are made of - these cables are among the best we have ever produced. Simply choose "Peptide" from the choice of wire box below and leave the rest to us! Peptide is available in 2 colors just like "Nucleotide" and is compatible with most connectors and other options, please email us with any questions you might have.
New review of the Macromolecule:
"I purchased the Macromolecule for my LCD-2 rev.2 a couple of months ago, and I think it's safe to say that they're fully burned-in by now. To tell you the truth, I bought the Macromolecule because practically everyone who owns a HD800 or LCD-2 at Head-fi had their headphones recabled by some cable companies, which made me feel like I had to follow suit - although I've never had any actual experience with an aftermarket headphone cable, not to mention hear any difference. I know it's embarrassing to admit, but the reason Macromolecule got my attention was not because of some rave reviews (headphone cables reviews are pretty rare to come by), but because of its aesthetics. A pink headphone cable with this cool-looking Viablue cover is enough to get any LCD-2 owner's attention. Then I read in your website that the Macromolecule is the ultimate headphone cable for single-ended high-power amps. Single-ended and high-power? My hybrid amp Schiit Lyr perfectly fits the profile! I thought, 'Did these guys intentionally design the Macromolecule with the Schiit Lyr in mind?'
Anyhoo, after fully burning in both the stock and Macromolecule cables for months, I concluded that the latter was superior to the former in almost every way. Aesthetics aside, this high-value 8-wire copper cable widened the overall soundstage, while making the bass tight and slam even harder and deeper, a sonic feature the LCD-2 is already well known for. I had thought of a silver cable to bring a bit more light to the treble end of the LCD-2 (which is also known for being dark-sounding), but the rev.2 version had better treble clarity than the original, so I ultimately settled on a copper cable. As I expected there weren't significant improvements in treble, but the mids are more *forward* sounding. The Macromolecule also presented a faster, more immediate response. I was a bit worried that the cable would make my LCD-2 sound tubey, but I heard no such tubey sound.
Though I am planning to purchase a balanced headphone amp, along with a balanced headphone cable in the future, right now the Macromolecule is a great-sounding headphone cable when it comes to single-ended applications. I'd especially recommend this cable to those who uses Schiit Lyr, or anyone who likes listening to rock music like me. Aesthetics is a bonus, I'm sure there are people out there who are willing to spend some more buck for just for the pleasing-to-the-eye Kumihimo braid."
Some color options:
The Macromolecule can be done with combinations of my black and clear Nucleotide OCC copper wire with some neat effects. Just let me know what pic you like best, no extra charge.
Kumi braid options - other than all black or all clear, we can mix the wires...
On the loom, doing all 1 color 1 side and 1 color the other side:
On the loom, alternating colors:
Detail shots:
Models
Specs:
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Originally designed for the LCD-2, excellent for portable use. Â HE-6 Â and HD800 versions now available!
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Use with our Triple Threat adapters to connect the Macromolecule to any headphone
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Prefer a more traditional-looking, non-naked cable? Try our infinitely customizable "Molecule" headphone cable, available for the LCD-2 and any other headphone.
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DHC "Nucleotide" cryo finely-stranded PE-insulated ultrapure OCC copper wire. Or pick our "Peptide" litz type 2 OCC copper for an even higher performing cable.
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8 wire flat braid (standard) or Japanese Kumihimo ornamental braid (additional-cost, up to 4' length). Â The differences are simply cosmetic. Â
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Choice of DHC logo heatshrink on y-split or Viablue aluminum y-split cover
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Choice of DHC black aluminum custom 1/4" or 1/8" plug, Neutrik 4-pin, or Neutrik 3-pin XLR. Email us for other custom possibilities.
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