ddHiFi BC150B Upgrade Cable Review
ddHiFi BC150B Upgrade Cable Review
Introduction:
ddHiFi (DD Electronics Technology Co.Ltd.) founded in 2017 is a company located in China that is specialized in the producing of Portable Audio Accessories like Protective/Storage Case’s for DAP’s, DAC/AMP Adaptors, Cables and more.
The ddHiFi BC150B is the companies new Double Shielded Silver Headphone Upgrade Cable with 4.4mm Balanced plug that is available in various types of connector options and cable lengths. The BC150B features a double-shielded coaxial structure, featuring separate 22.8AWG and 24.3AWG wires for the positive and negative signals, respectively, and a 21.5AWG shielding wire. This design ensures excellent signal transmission and minimizes interference. Moreover, you can choose from a variety of connector types to match your headphones, including standard 3.5mm, 3.5mm extended, 2.5mm AD2C, Sennheiser 2-Pin, Sennheiser 2-Pin recessed, and Focal Lemo connectors.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank ddHiFi for providing me the BC150B Headphone Upgrade Cable for review purposes. I am not affiliated with ddHiFi beyond this review and these words reflect my true, unaltered opinions about the product.
Price & Availability:
The MSRP price of the ddHiFi BC150B varies between 119.99 US$ to 204.99 US$ depending the connector type and length of the cable. More information’s can be found under the link below;
Package & Accessories:
The ddHiFi BC150B headphone upgrade cable came inside box made from environment friendly recycled paper material.
Inside of the box are the following Items/Accessories:
- 1x ddHiFi BC150B Headphone Upgrade Cable
- 1 x Print Material
Design & Build Quality:
The ddHiFi BC150BB headphone cable features a double-shielded silver coaxial structure, designed to minimize signal interference and ensure accurate audio transmission. Its conductors are crafted using a combination of pure silver wire, silver-plated oxygen-free copper, and Furukawa silver-copper alloy for positive and negative (+/-) signals and a silver-plated OFC layer for the shielding in order to potentially improved audio performance.
The wires are protected with a nice looking PVC insulation that shows just a low amount of microphonic effect.
The cable utilizes a secure and reliable 4.4mm Pentaconn headphone plug, and various connector options, including standard 3.5mm, extended 3.5mm, 4-pin XLR, and various 2-pin configurations for Sennheiser and other brands. Dedicated LEMO connectors are available for Focal Utopia and Ultrasone Edition 8EX headphones, providing a stable connection for potentially optimal sonic performance.
The BC150BB comes in three cable lengths – 145cm, 195cm, and 295cm – to suit different listening setups. Each cable arrives pre-equipped with the selected headphone connector.
The connectors of my review unit do have a premium looking metal housing with a silver finish that varies from the connector model you will chose.
BC150B comes with a stylish Y-splitter. The outside of this Y-splitter is round, with a triangular-shaped recess in the middle with rounded edges. The surface also features the text “BC150B Headphone Upgrade Cable.”
The elegant gold-plated 4.4mm Pentaconn Balanced plug boasts a straight-profiled metal housing, the ddHiFi brand logo embossed on its top surface.
“The build quality of this upgrade cable is truly outstanding. The sturdy connectors, high-quality braided cable, and meticulous soldering all contribute to a feeling of exceptional durability.”
Technical Specifications:
- Conductors: 22.8AWG (Signal+) / 24.3AWG (Signal-) /21.5AWG (Shielding)
- Cable Structure: Ø 0.08mm 4N Silver + Ø 0.05mm 4N Silver + Ø 0.05mm Silver-plated OCC + Ø 0.05mm Furukawa Silver-Copper Alloy (Signal+) / Ø 0.05mm 5N OCC (Signal-) / Ø 0.06mm Silver Plated over OFC (Shielding)
- Plug: 4.4mm TRRRS Balanced
- Cable Length: 145cm, 195cm and 295cm
- Weight: 60g (145cm)
Equipment’s used for this review:
- Headphones : iBasso SR2, HiFiMAN Sundara CB
- DAP/DAC/AMP : FiiO M11 Plus, ddHiFi TC35C
Albums & tracks used for this review:
- Adele – My Little Love (Spotify)
- Randy Crawford – On Day I Will Fly Away (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Hayley Westenra – Odyssey Album (Dezzer HiFi)
- Dionne Warwick – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
- Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Sonya Yoncheva – (Giuseppe Verdi) II Trovatore, ActI (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Elton John – Rocket Man ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- B.B. King – Riding With The King (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Jo Blankenburg – Meraki (Spotify)
- Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
- Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Gogo Penguin – Murmuration (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
- Otto Liebert & Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Metallica – Master of Puppets (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Rush’s – Leave That Thing Alone (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
This review has been written after a burn-in period of about 80 hours. I have paired the cable with Headphones like the iBasso SR2 (Semi Open-Back) and HiFiMAN Sundara CB (Closed-Back).
iBasso SR2 + ddHiFi BC150B:
Bass: The ddHiFi BC150BC + iBasso SR2 pairing delivers a tighter, more authoritative bass response. It effectively eliminates some of the graininess in the lower register, enhancing clarity and extending sub-bass presence for a richer, more textured experience. The improved control in the midbass region further contributes to precise layering and definition.
Midrange: Pairing the iBasso SR2 with the ddHiFi BC150B improves the midrange clarity. Enhanced detail retrieval brings out subtle nuances in vocals and instruments, particularly in percussion and strings, which gain a touch more presence. A slight upper-midrange emphasis adds brightness to the sound without introducing additional sibilance, an issue sometimes encountered with the iBasso SR2 on certain tracks.
Treble: Paired with the BC150BC, the SR2 gains a touch of presence in the lower treble area, while the upper register shows a slightly increase in terms of brilliance and airiness. This might seem initially pronounced on treble-heavy tracks, but the noticeable improvement in resolution and technicality is undeniable.
Soundstage & Imaging: The ddHiFi BC150BC enhances the iBasso SR2’s soundstage, offering a wider and more defined sonic space. Instruments are better separated and placed with greater accuracy, leading to a more open and realistic listening experience.
Conclusion: The ddHiFi BC150BC elevates the iBasso SR2 from an already decent Semi-Open Back headphone to a truly exceptional performer. Enhanced bass response, midrange resolution, and treble texture, combined with an expanded soundstage are the key Seatures for this pairing compared to the stock cable that comes with the iBasso SR2.
HiFiMAN Sundara CB + ddHiFi BC150B:
Bass: The BC150BC cable improves the HiFiMAN Sundara CB’s bass response, eliminating muddiness and enhancing agility and precision. Subbass notes are deep and impactful, while midbass shows a more controlled foundation for various genres, from electronic music to acoustic pieces.
Midrange: With the ddHiFi BC150B pairing vocals gaining an audible sense of additional clarity and intimacy. Both male and female vocals retain their accuracy while instruments shine with sharper definition. Compared to the odd stock cable, the BC150BC brings the midrange slightly closer to the listener without affecting tonal balance.
Treble: The BC150BC cable balances bright articulation with smooth extension. Lower treble frequencies present crisp cymbals and hi-hats, while the upper treble retains enough sparkle for instruments like pianos and guitars. The slight warmth of the stock cable is replaced by a touch of airiness and presence.
Soundstage & Imaging: This is where the BC150BC truly excels when paired with the Closed-Back Sundara. The BC150BC expands the soundstage significantly, creating a more holographic soundstage atmosphere. Instrument separation and imaging are improved, allowing for precise identification of each sonic element.
Conclusion: The combination of the HiFiMAN Sundara Closed Back headphones and the ddHiFi BC150BC cable offers a significant upgrade in sonic performance. This pairing delivers exceptional clarity, detail, and accuracy compared to the stock cable that is somewhat missing.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the ddHiFi BC150BC headphone upgrade cable demonstrably improves sound quality across the frequency spectrum. It delivers tighter, more controlled bass, enhanced midrange clarity, and a touch of brightness in the treble. Additionally, the cable expands the soundstage and improves instrument separation for a more immersive and realistic listening experience. Overall, the BC150BC is a significant upgrade for compatible headphones, offering a noticeable improvement in audio fidelity and performance.
Pros & Cons:
- + Enhanced Clarity and Resolution Across the Sound Spectrum
- + Excellent improvement in terms of Soundstage & Imaging
- + Various connector and length options
- + Solid Craftsmanship
- + Eco-Friendly Packaging
- + Competitive Pricing
- – May not ideal for overly bright headphones
- – Only available with 4.4mm Headphone Plug
- – No Storage Case
Thank you for the Read!
