Got any IEM care tips of your own? Shout out to HiFiGo for sponsoring Wave Guide. Check out their IEM cable selection: hifigo.com/collections/headphone-cable?rfsn=8539789.379f98
If cables don't look pretty on the IEM, at the bare minimum, what are we even doing? 😂 And roadie wrap gang. Watched your roadie wrap video many moons ago and it's been one of the best PSA for anyone that likes IEMs.
I actually learned to do the "roadie wrap" from a sound tech who does live events. That's how they'd usually coil their concert speaker cables. It allows them to safely pull the cable to the required length without tangling, and without having to unroll the whole roll of cable(which can be rather heavy). Keeps their work area neat and safe, and makes packing up easier as well. I also use those silicone cable straps to keep the rolled IEM cables securely in place.
I usually re-mold the pre-molded earhook; and my weapon of choice: a heat gun: because of the smaller nozzle, i can be more precise with the area that i want to apply heat on. Just have to be careful, and be mindful of the distance between the heat gun and the cable.
Love this series, great tips for people entering the hobby and veterans alike! Learning the roadie wrap is probably the best QOL skill anyone can learn in less than 30 seconds which will serve you a lifetime once you do it. I've been using it with anything long that wants to be stored tidy and kinkless, be it cables or hoses. I tend to look at IEM and headphone cables in mostly from a utilitarian "function over form" view - if it lacks QOL and function, I don't really care if it looks good. I use heat to remold them to a degree, but don't really need the LR indicators, since I don't see and issue wiht identifying LR from the shape of the ear pieces. Doesn't work with something like Sony MH755 you had there, those really could have a more visible LR indicators, but it's an easy fix, as you demonstrated.
Oh yeah, I use the R indicator mostly when I've removed a cable, but good point that most IEMs you can tell apart by looking at them. Although it's not obvious to people not used to IEMs, I might have to do a "how to wear IEMs" video. ...Will probably be short.
@SuperReview yeah, makes sense. Less of an issue for me because I don't cable swap a lot myself, so when I put them on, they stay on. "How to wear an IEM" will indeed be really short video, but I see it being inserted into a future video of the series, not as a standalone one.
Thanks for the video, Mark! I remember asking for the stancing video; really appreciate you making it. As I expected, I was already doing pretty much the same stuff, just less skillfully. I also kind of twist cable hooks toward my head so they fit snugly around my ears. I definitely need to try the O-rings trick because I always feel like my IEMs are about to fall out; it’s just a feeling, but I’m super sensitive to that kind of thing. By the way, I remember your old roadie-wrap video really well because it helped me learn to do it myself. I have to say, you explained it even better this time; great job on that!
Very helpful video, I like those o-ring and eartip tricks. I have a smaller heat gun for things like wire shrink tubes, and I used it to reshape the super stiff earhooks on the Galileo's cable.
@SuperReview The earhooks doesn't fit on the connector side, and when I blow it with a hair dryer the cable will try to straighten itself unlike in roadie wrap form, where it will stay in place.
More videos like this please, little stuff/tips to make things tidy, comfortable, and last long in the hobby (maybe on how to take care of IEMs, dos and donts) I also bought a few cables for the looks but I stopped. The 2 pin jacks in my Kato caved into the shell and since then I've been kind of afraid of changing cables. 😅 It's not the cable's fault, perhaps more a climate + cheap plastic jacks problem + cheap glue. But I just don't want to take risks since IEMs are pretty expensive for me.
I use ur roadie wrap for garden hoses lol. btw if u get transparent o rings u can paint them by boiling it in ❌paint❌ *synthetic dye and acetone mixture its a bit risky but the effect is awesome. Also would suggest the Q7 max cable by QKZ to gamers; i find the boom mic attachment extra helpful and doesn't catch microphonis like usual cables.
Hi Mark ! I also like my IEMs to match the cable, unfortunately sometimes this not happens out of the box, so I ended up buying a lot of cables. …actually, I have some in shipping right now😂. Anyway, a while ago,I bought the Thieaudio Elite Noir for the Monarch MKIII but this time, as a first, I feel the IEMs don’t sound the same as with the original cable. I switched back and forth and did the same with some of my other IEMs and every time they sounded bassier and a bit muddier with the Elite Noir. Can you please get a pair of Elite Noirs and check it yourself ? I think it will change your view on cables not messing the sound, as it did mine 😊
Excellent video, I've recently bought the ziigaat odyssey which is a great iem but the cable is trash. Any ideas for a reasonably priced upgrade cable please?
Hey Mark, I recently got the hiby m300 and I really like it. One problem that I am having with it is that one of my cables, the Aful Magicone cable, is not registering as the output. I have different cabels that work with the m300 including the explorer cable and they work perfectly. The Magicone cable works with other devices as well. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to fix this issue? Thanks for all the reviews, would love to see one on the hd6xx or 600s as you have mentioned them repeatedly in your other headphone reviews!
You're not the first person who's mentioned this to me. While I haven't had issues with my IEM cables, I've had a similar issue with a headphone splitter I use. I have not found a solution. I'll bug Hiby about it.
Is there a technical sound reason most audiophile cables don't have inline mic controls? I use the controls a lot but nice cables usually don't have the option. Is dedicated amps and daps the reason?
5:34 Just be careful when you heat it up. Only the 3.5 contains thermal glue. The microphone also has it In your opinion, I love a wide soundstage. Is there an IEM that has a good one or is it just a manipulation of the sound because it is the same driver and the same dimension? Unlike headphones, which are like a speaker in front of your ear and the size of the driver and distance varies, so it can give you a real wide soundstage size.
@@SuperReviewBut I think what is found in real headphones is because of the size of the driver and its distance from your ear, because if you hold a driver and move it away from your ear, it will give you something different, but the IEM cannot do that because the driver is small and in the same place.
Ay, man, just a quick question: will you be reviewing any of these new Kiwi Ears headphones? They seem to be dropping budget headphones like crazy, even ANC ones claiming 140h battery life, damn. Interested if they are actually good considering Kiwi Ears does pretty good offerings in the IEM world. Also, the Ellipse looks so f*cking good, ngl.
The cable may improve or reduce sound quality, but its price is not related to the quality it delivers. A simple example: a cheap Nicehck silver cable can provide superior sound quality compared to more expensive copper cables from Briseaudio, a cable brand that could be considered a scam. Trust me, I’ve actually cut open a $2,000 Brise Audio cable just to find that inside it was all plastic with a bit of copper that had oxidized into a greenish color, like tree leaves.
LOVE THE VIDEO MAN. Most important for me is the functionality and fit then aesthetics. I also tend to make / fix chin sliders and make earhooks sometimes. I'm no cable believer even tough I can hear slight difference regarding Copper and Silver change and some Ohm huge resistance changes.
@@SuperReview sometimes some additional tape inside fix the sliding issue or put some oil on them and fill the slider with hot glue worst case scenario a permanent glue fix in the right place
I've thought about something like that. Something I have not tried though: Some toy collectors will use floor polish to tighten up joints on action figures. Might help if the chin slider is just barely not tight enough.
@SuperReview I am using slightly modified collar clip (I am using the collar clips anyway with all my IEMs) for clipping two wires near its 0.78mm ends. The cable has NO KNOTS after removal from the pocket even if you mess it hard there For demonstration purposes i have uploaded a short video on my channel
Got any IEM care tips of your own?
Shout out to HiFiGo for sponsoring Wave Guide. Check out their IEM cable selection: hifigo.com/collections/headphone-cable?rfsn=8539789.379f98
If cables don't look pretty on the IEM, at the bare minimum, what are we even doing? 😂
And roadie wrap gang. Watched your roadie wrap video many moons ago and it's been one of the best PSA for anyone that likes IEMs.
We'll have to have a Roadie Wrap Olympics at the next CanJam.
@SuperReview - This is the way.
The roadie wrap is one of the best things that happened to the community. Thanks Mark!
didn't know I needed a 16 minute video for how to treat my iem cables
The More You Know 🌈 🦄
noone has the same knowledge than you...
I actually learned to do the "roadie wrap" from a sound tech who does live events. That's how they'd usually coil their concert speaker cables. It allows them to safely pull the cable to the required length without tangling, and without having to unroll the whole roll of cable(which can be rather heavy). Keeps their work area neat and safe, and makes packing up easier as well.
I also use those silicone cable straps to keep the rolled IEM cables securely in place.
the wraping guide was the best part of this video , really useful stuff
Have been using roadie wrap for almost 4 years now. Thank you Mark for the great tips.
🤘
I usually re-mold the pre-molded earhook; and my weapon of choice: a heat gun: because of the smaller nozzle, i can be more precise with the area that i want to apply heat on. Just have to be careful, and be mindful of the distance between the heat gun and the cable.
Tip: you can use a red sharpie and mark over the LR or fill in if they are concaved. A toothpick dot of red nail polish also works.
Nice.
@ 14:10 I realized Mark is the Jedi Master of the roadie wrap. 🙌
I love this. There's something therapeutic and tactile about sorting and wrapping my cables. Thank you for making this video!
roadie wrap trick... i've learned thank you.
🤌
I’ve been using your roadie wrap trick for a year and see great result with storing my iem’s. Will definitely try the reshaping one next!
Awesome 🤙
Recommending aftermarket cables when you are reviewing an iem or headphone would be great
Love this series, great tips for people entering the hobby and veterans alike! Learning the roadie wrap is probably the best QOL skill anyone can learn in less than 30 seconds which will serve you a lifetime once you do it. I've been using it with anything long that wants to be stored tidy and kinkless, be it cables or hoses.
I tend to look at IEM and headphone cables in mostly from a utilitarian "function over form" view - if it lacks QOL and function, I don't really care if it looks good. I use heat to remold them to a degree, but don't really need the LR indicators, since I don't see and issue wiht identifying LR from the shape of the ear pieces. Doesn't work with something like Sony MH755 you had there, those really could have a more visible LR indicators, but it's an easy fix, as you demonstrated.
Oh yeah, I use the R indicator mostly when I've removed a cable, but good point that most IEMs you can tell apart by looking at them. Although it's not obvious to people not used to IEMs, I might have to do a "how to wear IEMs" video.
...Will probably be short.
@SuperReview yeah, makes sense. Less of an issue for me because I don't cable swap a lot myself, so when I put them on, they stay on.
"How to wear an IEM" will indeed be really short video, but I see it being inserted into a future video of the series, not as a standalone one.
Creative and informative video, Mark. Well done 👊
🤙 Bloom Audio stance kits when
Of topic, but thanks for the tip for tip insertion, has completely fixed all my seal problems. Cheers.
🤘
Thanks for the video, Mark!
I remember asking for the stancing video; really appreciate you making it. As I expected, I was already doing pretty much the same stuff, just less skillfully. I also kind of twist cable hooks toward my head so they fit snugly around my ears. I definitely need to try the O-rings trick because I always feel like my IEMs are about to fall out; it’s just a feeling, but I’m super sensitive to that kind of thing.
By the way, I remember your old roadie-wrap video really well because it helped me learn to do it myself. I have to say, you explained it even better this time; great job on that!
Got any cable tips for me?
@@SuperReview haha, I'm afraid not
As long as it fits me nicely and it fits inside my IEM case, I am a happy guy
Finally! Thanks Mark✌️
🤙
It would be nice to see some of the aftermarket cables you have and where you got them.
love this video, thanks for giving us the secret(s) for how you fit so many IEMs on your desk while having them look so neat. roadie wrap ftw!
This is the only reason my wife tolerates me having half a dozen IEMs on the coffee table 🤣
I've been waiting for this. Thanks
🤘
Nice tips on cable management. I never spent more than $30. For me its all about how it feels on my skin.
What's your favorite?
@SuperReview I have two or three sub $30 Nicehck ones. They are all performing great for more than two years.
Fantastic video! You make it look so easy, but after time, it kinda comes second nature.
Literal skill issue, you can do it.
Very helpful video, I like those o-ring and eartip tricks. I have a smaller heat gun for things like wire shrink tubes, and I used it to reshape the super stiff earhooks on the Galileo's cable.
Nice, what's your heat gun solution? I've considered buying one, but this hand-me-down hair dryer seems to work.
The chef kiss emoji looks sort of like an IEM from a distance (the wrist is the ear nozzle)
I love this format - never stop 🙏
This reminds me, I still have a pair of mh755s. Today is gonna be basshead EDM day.
🤘
Great guide on making iems look good when wrapped! I would like to know how to make the cable more comfortable though
What comfort issues do you have?
@SuperReview The earhooks doesn't fit on the connector side, and when I blow it with a hair dryer the cable will try to straighten itself unlike in roadie wrap form, where it will stay in place.
Thanks Mr, Ryan. Wise words indeed!👍🏼
I have been called a wise guy before 🤔
Very clever!
Great content Mark. Thanks!
Thanks for the video!
More videos like this please, little stuff/tips to make things tidy, comfortable, and last long in the hobby (maybe on how to take care of IEMs, dos and donts)
I also bought a few cables for the looks but I stopped. The 2 pin jacks in my Kato caved into the shell and since then I've been kind of afraid of changing cables. 😅
It's not the cable's fault, perhaps more a climate + cheap plastic jacks problem + cheap glue. But I just don't want to take risks since IEMs are pretty expensive for me.
Oof, I'd be scared too if that happened.
Mark, ur wrapping tip impress me.... and I Liked and subscribe to your channel just for it... hahahaahaa KUDOS...
🤘
I can't believe Mark is a stance-bro 😭
Great video as always!
True story: I picked up this term watching a video of a guy customizing his Hot Wheels.
Very useful video
Thank you
I have all budget iems (most expensive $56 for Artti T10) but i have upgraded many of them so they match with color.
🤌
I also like to be upfront about my OCD tendencies :) Nice and tidy...
This is a safe space.
"And that's a wrap!"
MRS, the fastest roady wrapper in the West. This proves audiopools are focusing on the wrong things smh.
🤣
I use ur roadie wrap for garden hoses lol.
btw if u get transparent o rings u can paint them by boiling it in ❌paint❌ *synthetic dye and acetone mixture its a bit risky but the effect is awesome.
Also would suggest the Q7 max cable by QKZ to gamers; i find the boom mic attachment extra helpful and doesn't catch microphonis like usual cables.
Wait, boiling paint + acetone will die a silicon o-ring?
@SuperReview sry not paint, I meant synthetic dye
Water + acetone + synthetic dye
I bought a $50 set of cables for my $70 IEM’s because it felt as though it slightly reduced the 7k peak
Jk the cable just looks sick
Almost got me.
Hi Mark ! I also like my IEMs to match the cable, unfortunately sometimes this not happens out of the box, so I ended up buying a lot of cables. …actually, I have some in shipping right now😂.
Anyway, a while ago,I bought the Thieaudio Elite Noir for the Monarch MKIII but this time, as a first, I feel the IEMs don’t sound the same as with the original cable. I switched back and forth and did the same with some of my other IEMs and every time they sounded bassier and a bit muddier with the Elite Noir. Can you please get a pair of Elite Noirs and check it yourself ? I think it will change your view on cables not messing the sound, as it did mine 😊
my guy is out here ricing his IEMs
This treble and bass are 2fast, 2furious.
As a way to get a "Chin Slider" I just twist the right and left cable as many times as I think it's necessary
That'll work in a pinch.
Excellent video, I've recently bought the ziigaat odyssey which is a great iem but the cable is trash. Any ideas for a reasonably priced upgrade cable please?
The Hakugei Kuro might look nice on that. hifigo.com/collections/headphone-cable/products/hakugei-kuro-nylon-shielding-litz-hifi-earphone-cable
Hey Mark, I recently got the hiby m300 and I really like it. One problem that I am having with it is that one of my cables, the Aful Magicone cable, is not registering as the output. I have different cabels that work with the m300 including the explorer cable and they work perfectly. The Magicone cable works with other devices as well. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to fix this issue? Thanks for all the reviews, would love to see one on the hd6xx or 600s as you have mentioned them repeatedly in your other headphone reviews!
You're not the first person who's mentioned this to me. While I haven't had issues with my IEM cables, I've had a similar issue with a headphone splitter I use. I have not found a solution. I'll bug Hiby about it.
No cables were harmed during filming, though let the record show they tried to start a fight.
Ear tips? Well…they had it coming, officer.
Hold on... did I just burn-in these cables with a hair dryer?
@ oh that? a mere sauna session.
Thanks for the suggestions. Which cable did you pick for the IE600?
This one: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804464383244.html
What are your thoughts on cable straps, velcro ties, etc.?
Hi! Which ear tips are you using in IE 600? Better than the stock ones?
These are NF Audio MS42: hifigo.com/products/nf-audio-ms42
Work great for me on IE 600 and a number of my other favorites. Supernova, Ara...
What cable are you using on the IE 600? Looks pretty ideal.
It's cheap: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804464383244.html
wish there was a way to upload a photo or diagram, as i have a maestro wrapping method for turning the og chu cable from terrible to superb🤔
You got something that works on the OG Chu cable? No way.
@SuperReview yes! I've been rocking this braid mod since the og chu came out and wondered why no one has posted it to the public..
Is there a technical sound reason most audiophile cables don't have inline mic controls? I use the controls a lot but nice cables usually don't have the option. Is dedicated amps and daps the reason?
Nah. I personally don't like inline mics because they mess with the ergonomics of the cable. Not a sound risk though.
My guess is because more “serious” audiophiles don’t use their phones for listening
What cabke is the white cable? And for the Sennheiser i600?
White cable is from Truthear Gate. IE 600 cable is this: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804464383244.html
5:34 Just be careful when you heat it up. Only the 3.5 contains thermal glue. The microphone also has it
In your opinion, I love a wide soundstage. Is there an IEM that has a good one or is it just a manipulation of the sound because it is the same driver and the same dimension? Unlike headphones, which are like a speaker in front of your ear and the size of the driver and distance varies, so it can give you a real wide soundstage size.
I am not sure what people mean by "soundstage" as if it's something other than "manipulation of the sound."
@@SuperReviewBut I think what is found in real headphones is because of the size of the driver and its distance from your ear, because if you hold a driver and move it away from your ear, it will give you something different, but the IEM cannot do that because the driver is small and in the same place.
I've lost so many IEMs due to the two prong coming loose...
The iem subreddit seems to have a lot of solutions for this
Pain. You can try bending the 2-pins apart from each other to add more friction, but it probably won't last long as a fix.
always roadie wrap🔥
What was the IE600 cable? Really like the look of that thing
This: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804464383244.html
@@SuperReview Thank you Mark Super
Ay, man, just a quick question: will you be reviewing any of these new Kiwi Ears headphones? They seem to be dropping budget headphones like crazy, even ANC ones claiming 140h battery life, damn. Interested if they are actually good considering Kiwi Ears does pretty good offerings in the IEM world. Also, the Ellipse looks so f*cking good, ngl.
They sent the Division, I don't like it.
@@SuperReview good to know, thank you :)
The ear hooks on my white gate cable turned yellow already 😢
😩
Hiby r6 gen 3 2025 review please
Soon (tm)
Hey! what cable is that on the hype4?
Truthear Gate cable.
2:26 What is this beautiful white cable?
I think it's from the truthear gate.
Yep, spamcan is right, it's a Gate cable.
The cable may improve or reduce sound quality, but its price is not related to the quality it delivers. A simple example: a cheap Nicehck silver cable can provide superior sound quality compared to more expensive copper cables from Briseaudio, a cable brand that could be considered a scam. Trust me, I’ve actually cut open a $2,000 Brise Audio cable just to find that inside it was all plastic with a bit of copper that had oxidized into a greenish color, like tree leaves.
Hi Cookie
LOVE THE VIDEO MAN.
Most important for me is the functionality and fit then aesthetics.
I also tend to make / fix chin sliders and make earhooks sometimes.
I'm no cable believer even tough I can hear slight difference regarding Copper and Silver change and some Ohm huge resistance changes.
How do you fix chin sliders?
@@SuperReview sometimes some additional tape inside fix the sliding issue or put some oil on them and fill the slider with hot glue worst case scenario a permanent glue fix in the right place
I've thought about something like that. Something I have not tried though: Some toy collectors will use floor polish to tighten up joints on action figures. Might help if the chin slider is just barely not tight enough.
Cables should look good cause they all sound the same
stancing my iem's with cable lifter so the cable wouldn't interferes with earth electromagnetic background noise.
Just hold still for perfect sound.
Mac Gyver
MacGruber 🤘
cambering my iems
A lil' toe-in for sharper attack 🤌
I have invented a much faster and easier method to store my cable inside a pocket without tangling. It just take a sec to wrap and a sec to unwrap
How's that work?
@SuperReview I am using slightly modified collar clip (I am using the collar clips anyway with all my IEMs) for clipping two wires near its 0.78mm ends.
The cable has NO KNOTS after removal from the pocket even if you mess it hard there
For demonstration purposes i have uploaded a short video on my channel
Iem cleaning and ear cleaning tips next?
Getting dangerously close to medical advice.