Test Chain JRiver>Gungnir>Onix SP3>HE-500 (XLR to SE adapter)   Sound Quality Since I do not have another speaker tap to compare I'm not sure how to tackle this as SQ will be highly dependent on whatever amp you pair it with.   At 1st I thought I had wired something incorrectly as with amp and Tap set to 50% volume I heard NOTHING on my HE-500.  Pressed play and nearly jumped out of my chair.  In other words with Amp & Tap set to 50% volume there was NO background noise! Especially as I'm testing with a Tube amp I was mentally prepared for...

Xev Balanced XLR Extension Cable      I purchased a short 5 foot HE-500 replacement cable on the principle of "Shorter run" is better - see prior review http://www.head-fi.org/users/279370/reviews   This worked just fine for listening sessions but when I was working I had a bad habit of forgetting that I was on a short leash, turning around to grab something off the the printer and - well the results where fairly predicable.     + 1 for Trebuchet that having the XLR yanked from Amp by the wire had absolutely no effect.  Just me nervously...

Trebuchet HiFiMan Balanced Cable Teflon over UP-OCC: Ultra Pure Ohno Continous Cast Copper Viablue Y Splitter Switchcraft 4 pin XLR Ordered 5 ft length   So a bit of background here.  I absolutely despised the stock cable which came with my HE-500 and started searching for a replacement and exploring DIY options.  My He-500’s are paired with the Schiit Gungnir and Mjolnir and I quickly zeroed in on wanting to try a pure copper cable to balance the SS Mjolnir and avoid stiffness of silver cables.  I have no issue with investing in quality gear...