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I've been on the lookout for a 4 pole locking 2.5mm connector for almost two years now I think. Finally was able to get ahold of some recently!

I really like these headphones. Very comfortable, they sound great, and are at a reasonable price point which is always a big deal for me. Being able to run a single entry headphone balanced is underrated I think, especially when considering casual or entry level enthusiasts.

I didn’t think this was possible

I know right, honestly I had a bit of doubt too, but it does indeed work!

Okay, I'm bamboozled.

The 2.5mm balanced connection isn't going to provide a true balanced (independent polarity connection) to the drivers given the nature of the plugs, right?

Or is this simply to make use of the more powerful balanced output from your amp? The drivers are going to be fed with both neutrals at the same time right? Like, the plug is simply jumping both of them together?

I don't understand much about this it seems

Sennheiser themselves even said the 560s can be run balanced. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-new-hd-560s-linear-acoustics-at-a-breakthrough-value.943107/ check post #10

Oh, thats nice

So, the standard SE pin simply doesn't use the dual neutrals inside the headphone's female plug right?

I suppose it's cool for the novelty, but for highly sensitive headphones like these on overpowered amps this offers even less adjustment on the volume knob.

I'd be surprised if you can hear a noticeable difference at all with 560S

I think the stock cable just puts the 2 negative pins to ground

source/link to the connector?

Why balanced? Don't you get enough volume out of your set?

But what even is the point of running a balanced connection in this case?

It doesn't matter if its the 560s or 660s.

Balanced gives more power and thats about it.

Yes technically it gives better signal synchronization but we cant hear the difference anyways.

unless you have DOG hearing.

Yeah but what for?

Because it's fun to play around with!

1. because it's fun!

2. I've had a ton of people ask me about it since the realease of the 560s so I know there's at least some amount of people interested in it 👍🏼

Where did you find the 4 pole locking connector?

(Turns on soldering iron)

You can technically make any stereo headphone balanced, it's just a different way to wire them up.

Is there a main different? I am getting a pair of sundaras soon. Never had a balanced cable

You can't really do a balanced cable with a single ended cable...

The whole "balanced" is having ground for each side, and with how the 560s is built, you can't do that lol.

That's the reason it took you 2 years to find it, cause you can't make such a cable for this headphone.

Ig it is functional at least which is nice, but the "balanced" part of it is fake.

Unfortunately you're mistaken.

I think you're confusing "Single Ended" with "Single Entry".

Single Entry != Single Ended

As long as the headphones are not wired internally with the grounds tied together (Which in this case the HD560S is not), there's nothing preventing a single entry headphone from being ran balanced.

The only thing making the HD560s Single ended (unbalanced) is the cable / source. If you have the right connector (a 4 pole locking connector that fits the headphone), and wire it right, you're in balanced capable territory, just need a balanced source and the right connector going to the source.

Other examples of balanced capable "Single Entry" headphones would be the Fostex T60RPs, Modhouse's Balanced Argons, Hifiman DEVA, Beyerdynamic DT177X GOs, The new Hifiman headphones with the ridiculous cups (Can't think of the name, but boy can I picture the hideous things, they're a metallic red) that can take a balanced single entry connection etc.

Hope that info helps / makes sense. As someone else linked elsewhere in the thread, Sennheiser themselves have confirmed these headphones are balanced capable. That way you don't even need to believe / trust me.

The basic benefits of a balanced connection are:

1. More power. In most general "balanced" setups, you end up with two discrete amplifiers powering each cup of the headphone, rather than one powering both. Generally this results in more power going to the headphones.

2. Less noise. By nature of the way things are wired in a balanced set up, things are less susceptible to "noise".

But please note that for the vast majority of headphone applications, noise is not really a concern because the distances signals are being ran are so short, and in most cases (such as this one, which many other pedants in this thread have kindly pointed out lol) the extra power is not needed.

In the case of the Sundaras, you may find yourself wanting more power than what your phone / laptop / whatever you're using provides, but there are plenty of single ended (unbalanced) amplifier options that would do the job just fine, even if the balanced options are neat / fun to play around with.

Hope that made sense.

As I mentioned to someone else in the thread.

1. It's fun to play around with / with the way my stuff is set up, I'll use the headphones more if I can hook them up to my balanced interconnects, but that's just specific to me.

2. I've had a lot of people ask me about it over the lifetime of the 560S headphones existing, so I figured there'd be some amount of people interested.

I allready own an g5 creative on my pc so i think i am suited enough for my sundaras which are comming friday. It drove my 1770 verry well. So i think i am good. Maybe ai should get a new dac/amp at one point.

Welp I tried to PM you but it's not allowing me? PM me if you're able to!

Yes you are more than taken care of from the looks of it.

Always fun to play with new DACs / Amps, even if the reasons for getting them aren't super great haha.

It is cool for the novelty 👍🏼

Also for me specifically, just with the way my workbench / desk is set up, I'm more likely to use a headphone that can be ran balanced than I would one that isn't. But again, that's very specific to me.

Alright!

I also have a 560s, always wanted to see the difference with balanced cable, but didn't think it's worth getting because not many people seem to suggest it. In your experience is there any difference even if it's a minor one?

Everyone asking why bother. My question is hows it sound? Noticeably better? or just for funsies / aesthetics

Grats