As in most hobbies and industries, it’s usually the big brand names that come to mind when we’re looking for any sort of product or solution.
But every so often I come across smaller, niche, boutique companies, with expert skills for very specific services the larger companies simply don’t offer.
Such was the case when I was looking for someone to help me modify my trust Drop x Fostex TH-X00 headphones. This particular set is one from the original batch, complete with a non-detachable monster of a cable. It’s a set I inherited from a dear friend, which I had previously modified with a ‘partial’ detachable cable solution.
What I really wanted was a full modification of the headphone itself, which would involve cutting into the cups and baffles and installing female connectors for a removable cable. Back in the day, when this headphone was first released, there were numerous enthusiasts offering this type of service, but now they’re few and far between since most new headphones are made with detachable cables.
A Google search lead me to an Etsy listing from someone in Estonia offering a similar service for other types of headphones. That someone turned out to be Albert Lacueva, founder and owner of Arachne Audio. It turns out this boutique cable maker was not only happy to accommodate my request, but invited us to look in on the process.
So without further ado, here’s our in-depth conversation with Albert, going beyond my particular mod to learn more about his company in the hopes that others will be able to benefit from his service too.
Albert, please can you tell us about yourself, your background, and how you came to start Arachne Audio?
I have always been someone extremely curious about how things function. Ever since I was little, I would disassemble things, play with them, and then try to put them back together.
By pure chance, the town I used to live in back in Spain was full of musicians. Since they knew I was a tinkerer, they would give me their headphones and instruments to fix. Custom cables weren’t even on my horizon back then. I just liked fixing stuff.
I have always been into music, thanks largely to my dad. One day I bought myself the Sennheiser HD 650 and a tube amp, the DarkVoice 336SE, and it blew my mind. However, I wasn’t happy with the stock cable. I had just modded my entire computer wiring, so the headphone cable looked off to me. I had to match it. I looked for solutions online, found custom builds on forums, and thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
I taught myself how to do it, studied electronics, and read a lot of info from forums and books for a little over two years. I made my first cable for myself, and after I finished, I realised how much I enjoyed the process. I thought I could perhaps do this for other people.
I did more research, and then Covid hit. I lost my job and thought, “If I don’t do it now, I won’t ever do it.” So I started with two cable models on Etsy and it took off from there. I had to work two other jobs to sustain myself, as it wasn’t viable at the beginning, but we got there.
What does Arachne do primarily? Who are your clients and where are they usually located?
Arachne specialises in audio accessories, primarily audio cables. However, we also do headphone mods, such as detachable cable mods and custom paintwork. Our clients are international, but currently, our three main markets are Germany, the US, and France.
I first came across your headphone modding service on Etsy, but I see you mostly make and sell cables. How did you get into headphone modding?
My curiosity led from one thing to another. It felt natural for us to not just repair headphones, but to offer solutions to avoid common issues, like a broken cable because the cat thought the wire looked yummy. Since I research how specific headphones are built, I can spot opportunities for improvement that manufacturers cannot necessarily address in mass production.
What would you say are the most important things for someone to consider when it comes to modding a headphone – either for sound or a cable refit?
It has to be the cable refit. Altering the sound would actually go against our target unless we are specifically asked for a sound-changing mod. Generally, we want to preserve the original sound profile as much as possible while improving the functionality.
With regard the mod on my Fostex headphone, what was the toughest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
Definitely the drivers. There is literally no space inside the cups to make the 3.5mm female jacks fit because the driver is in the way. You need to cut part of the baffle and align things perfectly. You have to take extreme care not to ruin anything.
It used jewelry files, checking all the alignments and fittings five times between each step, and having some music in the background to help focus. I think I was playing “The Alan Parsons Project – I Robot” at the time. That made it a breeze.
What are some of your audio principles? In other words, what are the most important things you consider when doing a mod or making a cable?
For me, it is about improving the experience. This is a very subjective topic. Some will enjoy the sound better, while others prefer the tactile feeling of the cables. Perhaps it is purely aesthetic and fits their desk setup better, or maybe they simply hate the rubbery feel of stock cables. In any way we can, we are improving the user experience, which makes our customers enjoy their music more. That is the goal.
How important is DIY becoming, and would you say it’s getting easier or harder to do as a craftsman?
We actually have plans to make DIY kits for those interested in this niche, kind of like a Lego kit for audiophiles. But honestly, it couldn’t be easier right now. Anyone with the will to go on YouTube or forums can learn how to do anything. The internet makes it incredibly accessible.
Continued…
