I prefer Apuresound ER-4P than ER-4S - Page 5 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Nirmalanow · 04-16-2008, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by jlingo

If you are using an EQ, then uh it's not the same thing, Try to turn off the EQ. The sibilance is not in every recording depending on the quality of music, but it's there more than the P version. Please remember I'm being critical here to really differentiate between the P and the S. Also Synergy plays an important role. With a wrong synergy, any IEM could have a sibilance at least that's my experience.

Try to listen to ER-4P(Apuresound), You would know what I mean

Yeah the EQ is going to affect things, but since I don't have a P cable, I can only compare the S cable with and without the EQ. To me it sounds better with the EQ. You are right there is a synergy at work in every system for good or for bad, and right now I am enjoying the synergy of my setup.

I also use a totally different source of a laptop with usb DAC, so I am glad I asked. Thanks for clarifying that it is the amp in the Predator that does it's magic with the ER4 with APS P cable. Have you used any of the other Ray Samuels amps?

jlingo · 04-16-2008, 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by Nirmalanow

Yeah the EQ is going to affect things, but since I don't have a P cable, I can only compare the S cable with and without the EQ. To me it sounds better with the EQ. You are right there is a synergy at work in every system for good or for bad, and right now I am enjoying the synergy of my setup.

I also use a totally different source of a laptop with usb DAC, so I am glad I asked. Thanks for clarifying that it is the amp in the Predator that does it's magic with the ER4 with APS P cable. Have you used any of the other Ray Samuels amps?

Yes I used to own SR-71 -> Tomahawk -> Hornet. Hornet I believe is the worst of Ray's portable amp. It doesn't suit my taste at all with SR-71 being the most impressive.
I haven't had a chance to compare SR-71 and Predator side by side anymore. but I had a chance to compare Predator with tomahawk and hornet side by side. Tomahawk, has a very similar sound signature to predator but improved in soundstage, high, and BASS department. Predator bass goes way deeper than the tomahawk.

Nirmalanow · 04-16-2008, 05:20 PM

Thanks for your perspectives. For now, I am going to stick with what I have. The Lisa sounds good with the S cable as you mentioned. I sometimes use my Lisa with my ATw1000s and that is a nice combo also.

Nirmalanow · 04-20-2008, 02:17 PM

hey jlingo,

Any chance you ever used the APS P and S cables with a Pico? I just got a Pico to use as a portable amp and also as a USB DAC feeding my Lisa III. I have just started checking out the APS S cable with the Pico and it sounds good, although I still like it better with the EQ settings mentioned above. Then I started wondering if the P cable might work even better?

jlingo · 04-22-2008, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by Nirmalanow

hey jlingo,

Any chance you ever used the APS P and S cables with a Pico? I just got a Pico to use as a portable amp and also as a USB DAC feeding my Lisa III. I have just started checking out the APS S cable with the Pico and it sounds good, although I still like it better with the EQ settings mentioned above. Then I started wondering if the P cable might work even better?

Hmm, possibily. I sold already my pico because I found the soundstage was too constricted for my taste and the bass was too overwhelming for UE11. I still prefer the predator. But Pico has a really superior DAC though.

I no longer remember how the ety sounded with pico. I'm so sorry.

Nirmalanow · 04-22-2008, 02:18 AM

I am using the Pico as a DAC to feed the Lisa and that sems to be a good combo with the S cable. The Pico by itself is kind of bright and edgy with the S cable. The Lisa takes the edge off, but the Pico still adds more detail and resolution compared to the Trends UD-10 I was using as my DAC.

However it is interesting that so far, I find I do not want the EQ on when using the Pico feeding the Lisa, even though before the S-cable seemed to do better with the EQ. It always amazes me how much every change (like a new DAC) means you have to readjust everything until you find that sense of things falling back into place.

webbie64 · 06-08-2008, 04:39 AM

Simply had to post my simple joy at hearing Alex's Apuresound ER4P cable. He has definitely done it again - in cable design and construction for a set purpose he is nothing less than a genius. I'm sure, like Einstein, his genius qualities are based on solid application of thought and dedicated application but I simply had to acknowledge that, as with other items modded or created/produced by him, the Apuresound ER4P cable is exceptional. Well built and, after 120+ hours burn in, sounding tremendous.

Thanks for your efforts, Alex, both in terms of your no doubt extensive design period and, of course, taking the risk of going into production with it. I'm sure that risk (i.e. investing in sufficient quantity of the source cable) is continuing to pay off every day.

nc8000 · 08-08-2008, 09:39 AM

Having gone to the new iPhone 3G as my portable rig I found that it was struggeling driving the ER4-S so I have bought the P cable made for Quaddy and passed on the Steviebee (actually I swapped one of my APS S cables for it).

Have just received the cable and am trying it out as I write. Very nicely build as usual and the right angle plug is actually briliant as it goes flush with the top of the iPhone instead of sticking out half a mile. Sound wise it is all I hoped it would be as well. I can now go from 90% on the volume to about 50% for good volume in a quiet environment. There is also the expected P effect with a bit more weight to the bottom end and the rest of the spectrum is execelent as usual. Actually this cable combined with going without filters (as recomended by Alex) seems the perfect balance to me. Love it.