GUCraftsman6N Single Crystal Silver Upgrade Headphones Cable 4Pin XLR/2.5mm/4.4mm Balanec Headphone Upgrade Cables for AUDEZE LCX-X LCD-XC LCD2 LCD3 LCD4 MEZE EMPYREAN MEZE Elite (4.4mm Plug)

How does this headphone cable smell? Asked NO ONE. So why is everyone commenting on the smell? No, mine did not smell like toxic waste, but it did make my Audeze MM 500 sound better than the stock cable.The sound stage became wider, the imaging more accurate, and the volume headroom (not that my headphone amp needed it) increased. This cable, having some silver combined with high quality OCC 6N copper, adds a bit of sparkle at the top. But it also detracted a LITTLE bit on the smoothness and warmth, as the sound became noticeably sharper. If i had to put a percentage, I would say this cable improved my headphone sound by around 10%. Overall, this is an worthwhile upgrade of higher caliber headphones.

I bought this to use with the new Audeze MM-500 headphones. I purchased the 4.4 mm balanced version.The shipping was fast, the cable arrived a week before it was scheduled. I have the same comment as reviewer Decius on the crazy package taping, but my product did not smell. Once unwrapped, the box was nicer than the one Meze supplied with their balanced cable.The cable is light and soft, it feels more like an IEM upgrade cable than a nearly $200 headphone cable. Unlike the stock cable, it is aesthetically pleasing.I'll go out an limb and claim I hear a bit more detail and air in the treble regions. That's why I like silver cables. YMMV.I prefer the GU to the Meze 4 pin XLR, it's just more pleasant to use.Audeze needs to step up its game on the included cables.

High quality hardware and excellent quality workmanship.This cable sounds noticeably better than the stock Audeze cable. Great cable at a great price.

Cable seems well made, sounds good, pliable, non microphonic, nicer than the standard stock lcd-xc cable. That being said good lord it smells like an ashtray. I guess the guy(s) or gal(s) soldering or braiding them smokes but it's not appreciated for a nearly 2 hundred dollar cable to smell like cigarettes, hopefully it'll diminish over time.

The cables themselves look and feel great. I knocked off a star because I almost had to break my cable to get it out of the insane amount of packing tape they sent it in.When I opened it I could not help but notice that it stunk extremely badly. It smelled like someone left the cable in an ash tray before they shipped it, and the tape smelled like chemicals...After I got over the smell though I'm really enjoying it

I compared this cable to the original cable which comes with the Meze Empyrian (which is by far a pretty solid cable!).The GUCraftsman cable is extremely light, highly flexible and has zero mirophonic effects. Craftsmanship ist also very satifying.But the strongest argument for this cable is its sound: Much more transparent than the original cable, detail resolution is on another level, bass is more accurate (without loosing attack or volume) and the sound stage is a little wider and signifficantly deaper. The highs and top-end is improved by quite a margin: much crispier, very airy but with no sibilance or harshness. In comparison the original cable sounded muffled and somehow closed-in. The performance of my Audezee LCD-MX4 also increase signifficantly when powered through this cable. Only negative points I found so far: the locking mechanism of the Rean mini XLR-connectors is pretty tight and hard to release (although the connector material is of very good quality). Highly recommended!