Moon Audio Black Dragon V2 Headphone Cable

Customer Reviews

Great Service, Great Product Review by Vic

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While Moon Audio identifies a number of headphones that the Black Dragon can improve, I would add the DT 1350 to that list! I was gifted the headphones and after living with the stock cable for a while i sent them to Moon Audio to mod them with the Black Dragon, following Drew's advice. Immediately the cable filled in all the so-called weaknesses (i.e. some thinness) while accentuating its strengths. In short the cable improved the treble, fills out the mids and accentuates the DT1350 bass. The sound staging also improves with better instrument positioning and wider sound stage. It also added analogue warmth to the DT 1350, taking care of the clinical sound criticisms I've seen online.

Additionally, the service at Moon Audio is OUTSTANDING! Drew works with you to make sure that the product meets your needs (even when there may be something else that increases his bottom-line more).

I love the Black Dragon for my DT1350, but which ever cable you buy from Moon Audio for your audio needs, it will a good purchase. I highly recommend Mood Audio and the Black Dragon! (Posted on 5/17/12)

Brilliant for HD800! Sound is non fatiguing w/super resolution. Review by Richard

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The Black Dragon V2 is a perfect match for the HD800, which tend to be somewhat fatiguing with some tipped up highs and and accentuation of some digital glare innately. The HD800s had some searing and piercing highs that could make them intolerable sometimes, even though they had great staging, tonality, and texture. The Moon Black Dragon V2 I have beautifully, miraculously deals with all that while preserving all the intense resolution, macro and micro soundstaging, and precise imaging an layering of the 800s. It is a must-have cable for the 800s. The Black Dragon achieves the holy grail of audiophile sound for the HD800s. Now my 800s are my favorite phones absolutely, substantially ahead of Audeze LCD3s, Grado PS1000s, Beyer T1s, Denon 7000s, and more. I feel I don't even need my speaker-based system anymore. The Black Dragon also adds some sort of "integrity" to the sound, with the images more grounded instead of some blobs floating in space. A vocal sounds like a real person of full height, not just a pinpoint voice. There is just a perfect balance of ease and excitement now with the Black Dragon, I feel like I just don't want to change a thing. If you have HD800s, you really have to try this cable. It is a real bargain, too. Thanks Drew, for a real masterpiece. (Posted on 3/28/12)

The ideal HD800 cable Review by KJ

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First of all, thanks for Drew's patience: I originally took his advice, then questioned it and ended up ordering all three cables (including the Blue and Silver Dragons) to try with my HD800 before figuring out for myself that he was right to begin with. So thanks, and apologies for the run-around!

The HD800's stock cable is terrible: it has somewhat curtailed upper octaves which bring forward a weird peak in the treble that everyone can hear. The bass region is also weak, leaving the sound akin to pricking my eardrums with a needle. I'm here to tell you that IT'S THE CABLE'S FAULT! Every single replacement HD800 cable I've tried doesn't have that treble peak.

My HD800s are driven by the excellent Grace M903 amp, both as a USB digital source and as an analog amp for my Graham Slee phono preamp. This pairing is very neutral but not bright or harsh: in fact I find the M903 + HD800 quite musical and even analog, but still extremely revealing of cable differences. In this rig, the ALO Reference 16 cable had the widest dynamics -- in fact, it sounded outright louder, if you can believe it -- and had the greatest upper octave extension. I would say the PFO article was accurate: it really is an exciting-sounding cable and takes the HD800's strengths to the max. You'd think this is a negative thing, given the HD800's propensity for "speed," but really it is quite exhilarating, if not strictly accurate.

With the M903, the HD800 cabled by Stefan AudioArt's Endorphin cabling had the highest transparent, and also sported a very natural tonal balance particularly with acoustic instruments (classical in particular) and female voices which it brings forward. In addition, it has the widest soundstage of all the cables I tried, and the most powerful bass impact. I really fell in love with this cable with the above genres, and deeply respect the cable. However, in ameliorating some of the HD800's faults the Endorphins tilt the sound balance a bit too far towards the rich end of the spectrum, for my tastes. Over the long run, I also felt it lacked some ambiance and air which was especially obvious in comparison to the Black Dragon and ALO cables.

We come now to the Black Dragon. This one just sounds right. It doesn't zip like the ALO Reference 16, nor does it swath you in chocolate velvet like the SAA Endorphins, but combines some of their best qualities in a thin, flexible, and tough package. It has some of the zing of the ALO, but reins it in to keep me from having high blood pressure. It has quite a bit of the oomph of the Endorphins as well as the flatter midrange/upper-midrange, but adds back the treble air. Despite it not having quite the transparency and soundstaging of the Endorphins, nor the pyrotechnic dynamics of the ALO cables, it provides me with greater overall satisfaction by simply having the most natural overall tonal balance.

For the price, unbeatable! I am so happy to have tried the Black Dragons and will soon be acquiring one for my aged HD600 as well. Thanks again, Drew! (Posted on 2/27/12)

Brilliant service all around! Review by Borrowedarrogance

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Just the cable my 325is needed prior to being magnum-i-zed. Not only did I get the chance to talk to "the" man from the company, but he was more than helpful in dealing with my noob-ness. I highly recommend this company, my cable was expertly crafted, so it looks as good as it sounds, and now I don't have to purchase an extension :) (Posted on 1/23/12)

A valuable enhancement Review by Warchild

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I finally purchased the Black Dragon for my HiFiMan HE 5LE and it was the right thing to do. It's like having new headphones.
Previously I had tried home brewed Cardas and some silver/copper cables which both had a positive effect on the sound but not as definite and positive an effect as the Black Dragon.
It is expensive. Expensive enough to make me apprehensive but it is a solid purchase that makes me even happier with my headphones and amps.
Shipping was quick. Moon-Audio is about a two hour drive from me. UPS shipping got it to me next day. (Posted on 1/20/12)