First, I was sent a free Cable+ Pro, full disclosure.
This was my setup for testing:
DAC: Audio GD Master 7 (2015 with DSP7 upgrade)
AMP: Apex Sangaku
Headphones: Focal Utopia
I also had a the regular Cable+ to compare with the Cable+ Pro.
Let me start with how this product helps regardless of sound technicalities.
If you have a weak source, or an amp that needs a hot input source, either the Cable+ or the Cable+ Pro is the perfect cheap solution to fix this type of issue. It gives just a hair over double the voltage of the original input.
That means if you source is only pushing out 1v max, the Cable+ series will make it about 2.1v output. This is ideal in many mismatched systems.
For technicalities, the biggest difference this can make is microdynamics and macrodynamics. This means when a sound goes from really quiet to really loud, really fast (eli5 explanation) the output needs to be able to swing that voltage. In essence, upping the voltage output from the source gives more voltage overhead for swings.
As far as what the V5 opamp does to the sound, apart from boosting voltage?
The Cable+ (V5i) was more V shaped FR, meaning boosted bass, and boosted treble. The Cable+ pro (V5) is much more refined in this specific area. The FR is much more even over the entire range. The Cable+ is a more fun preamp, good for edm, rock, pop. the Cable+ Pro is good for all genres, because it doesn't necessarily add or take away anything in terms of FR. It's not perfect FR, but it's close enough to not effect the overall sound of the system you putting it into.
What do they both do apart from those aspects?
They both add air and space, which translated to a bigger sound stage and eartheal sound.
The Cable+ Pro does have better air and space than the Cable+ as well. One big aspect I like about the Cable+ Pro too, is that it does not affect the overall resolution (AKA detail) of the music as much as the Cable+. In an extremely hifi system, almost any additional components added will slightly reduce details. Which makes sense, you're just adding more components to potentially add more distortion. With that said, the Cable+ Pro does a fantastic job of keeping this aspect at bay, and under direct comparison to regular output, it's extremely hard to tell if auditory information was lost. While for the Cable+ it was a noticeable difference.
To chalk it up, the Cable+ is a more "fun" AKA not natural FR, cheaper, still good to add dynamics and boost voltage. Cable+ Pro is more expensive, but more refined, more detail, air, space, and flat FR.
Cable+ 4/5
Cable+ pro 4.5/5
As far as cheap active preamps go. There isn't much out there, if at all, for the same price, that can do the same things, or fix the same problems. I tried to stay unbiased as well. Neither are 5/5, neither are perfect, but really solid products from a relatively unknown audio company trying to pave their own way.
This was my setup for testing:
DAC: Audio GD Master 7 (2015 with DSP7 upgrade)
AMP: Apex Sangaku
Headphones: Focal Utopia
I also had a the regular Cable+ to compare with the Cable+ Pro.
Let me start with how this product helps regardless of sound technicalities.
If you have a weak source, or an amp that needs a hot input source, either the Cable+ or the Cable+ Pro is the perfect cheap solution to fix this type of issue. It gives just a hair over double the voltage of the original input.
That means if you source is only pushing out 1v max, the Cable+ series will make it about 2.1v output. This is ideal in many mismatched systems.
For technicalities, the biggest difference this can make is microdynamics and macrodynamics. This means when a sound goes from really quiet to really loud, really fast (eli5 explanation) the output needs to be able to swing that voltage. In essence, upping the voltage output from the source gives more voltage overhead for swings.
As far as what the V5 opamp does to the sound, apart from boosting voltage?
The Cable+ (V5i) was more V shaped FR, meaning boosted bass, and boosted treble. The Cable+ pro (V5) is much more refined in this specific area. The FR is much more even over the entire range. The Cable+ is a more fun preamp, good for edm, rock, pop. the Cable+ Pro is good for all genres, because it doesn't necessarily add or take away anything in terms of FR. It's not perfect FR, but it's close enough to not effect the overall sound of the system you putting it into.
What do they both do apart from those aspects?
They both add air and space, which translated to a bigger sound stage and eartheal sound.
The Cable+ Pro does have better air and space than the Cable+ as well. One big aspect I like about the Cable+ Pro too, is that it does not affect the overall resolution (AKA detail) of the music as much as the Cable+. In an extremely hifi system, almost any additional components added will slightly reduce details. Which makes sense, you're just adding more components to potentially add more distortion. With that said, the Cable+ Pro does a fantastic job of keeping this aspect at bay, and under direct comparison to regular output, it's extremely hard to tell if auditory information was lost. While for the Cable+ it was a noticeable difference.
To chalk it up, the Cable+ is a more "fun" AKA not natural FR, cheaper, still good to add dynamics and boost voltage. Cable+ Pro is more expensive, but more refined, more detail, air, space, and flat FR.
Cable+ 4/5
Cable+ pro 4.5/5
As far as cheap active preamps go. There isn't much out there, if at all, for the same price, that can do the same things, or fix the same problems. I tried to stay unbiased as well. Neither are 5/5, neither are perfect, but really solid products from a relatively unknown audio company trying to pave their own way.
