Hakugei Indra and Sky-bolt

Sky-bolt (left), Indra (right)

Preamble: Introduction to Hakugei

I'd like to introduce a brand here to everybody. It's a relatively "small" brand in the reputation it's garnered, but one that has had a pervasive influence in providing us our gears today.

This is an introduction to a OEM/ODM wire manufacturing company named Hakugei.

I'm sure some of you recognize them from the chi-fi exploratory phase we've all gone through at one point in our journey. But they stand apart as an anomaly as one of the few brands to own (not partnered) a factory to manufacture their own proprietary wires. This allows them to process natural ores from the ground up and have more jurisdiction in the culmination of their end products. It's a more faithful approach compared to boutique cable makers that rely on 3rd party factories, as Hakugei is an independent that carries out supplying their own cables. Their abundance of resources allows them to creatively navigate through myriads of different samples and host a massive portfolio that surpasses many others in the industry.

It's not often "chi-fi" gets their own spotlight in today's saturated market, but I'm calling attention to this particular brand for being affiliated with many reputable brands unbeknownst to us all.

Hakugei is the official cable and wire supplier of -

- Noble Audio
- Fiio
- ddHiFi
- QDC
- MEIZU
- Moondrop
- F-Audio
- Private boutique cable makers, and many more...

Hakugei’s factory (inside view)

It's fair to say none of us may have ventured out of our way to purchase one of their cables, but I'm certain we've all at least held one that was supplied as a stock cable by one of the aforementioned companies during our past expenditures. Most notably, Noble Audio sources all their cables directly from Hakugei (with the exception of newer iems, such as Ronin), so for those who are already familiar with the reverable Magnus 8-wire, you can best bet your wallet that Hakugei make competent cables that can stand up to the market. If you're a fan of ddHiFi's adapters, their latest 2023 models - such as the DJ44CPro - also use an upgraded internal wire supplied by Hakugei. There are many other instances where the origin of held cables and wires ultimately source back to Hakugei. Therefore, much of Hakugei's revenue comes from their OEM/ODM service, as they can reach a bigger audience through the reputation of other companies who may be seen in a more favorable light. They are, by definition, our industry's equivalent of a "ghost producer" - working behind the scenes and providing goods under the name of "larger" companies. They forgo all credits of being the original manufacturer and linger in the shadows unbeknownst to everybody.

Over the past five months, I've been able to acquaint myself with Michael (Hakugei founder) through coincidental discovery and learned the intricacy of our industry from observing numerous relationships from one manufacturer to another. This has been a fascinating experience, and so, I’ve chosen to share this insight for the sheer informative purpose for our community.



Sky-bolt (left), Indra (right)

Diving into Cables

After diving deep into Hakugei’s manufacturing relationships, I’ve been given an opportunity to review two new cables that they recently released, named Indra and Sky-bolt. They are a silver and graphene-based cable, named after their lightning-like appearance with an impressively fast and tactile transient. They’re originally based off the Magnus cable with a “cool” leaning tonality opposite from the copper timbral warmth. So for those who’ve always wanted to experiment with graphene and have an innate bias for a cool and brighter tonality, these may be cables you can look into and see if they may do the deeds for you.

In this review, I'll be comparing them against today's summit-fi cables :

- Chiron
- Orpheus Shielding
- Yatono Ultimate 8-wire
- Murakumo 2

and measure their competence in this ever crowded market. I hoped to bring Aeneid and Iliad into the review, but Eletech recently overhauled their Korean distributor for a new one - making them difficult to source for this particular writing. As for Orphy, Yatono, and Murakumo - they are not the most relevant comparisons to make due to the inherent alloy differences, but I figured it would be a good time to introduce them as well considering the hot topics surrounding them within my audiophile circles.

As always, this review is one person's opinion so please take it as a grain of salt. Our hearings are subjected to vary based on our anatomical differences and implementation in our setups. Different chains of synergy can lead us to have different perceptions, so please be mindful when reading through.



Sky-bolt


Indra

I've originally introduced the prototype models of Indra and Sky-bolt to several Watercooler friends back during Canjam Singapore. Back then, the cables did not have a name so it's fun to look back and reminisce how far they've come as it was still undergoing the finalizing process. The most common remark I've received were their visual similarities to the Magnus cables. It's no surprise as I've yet to find any other cable with the same silvery-black grandeur as its primary decor.

I’d like to highlight that these are not a "copy" or "replica" as some may assume, as Hakugei is the original manufacturer of the Magnus cables. Terminologically, an original manufacturer would not be able to "copy" their own cables. Rather, these are variants - or dare I say, re-imagining of the original Magnus 8-wire that utilizes similar alloy composition, but with a subtle change in geometry and sleeves that result in slightly different executions and different tunings.



Magnus 8-wire (left), Indra (right)

For those unfamiliar, Magnus 8-wire uses multi-sized variants of graphene-plated silver and silver at a 1:1 ratio, with a pure graphene strand at its center core. Indra uses the exact same geometry, but with a thicker sleeve that leads them to not only look different, but also sound different. This might sound difficult to believe, but my A/B testing concluded that Indra had a slightly wider and leaner presentation, whereas Magnus 8-wire sounded fuller and more focused in comparison.

Of course the differences are minute, but it is audible. Otherwise, they retain the exact same tonality. So for the Magnus fans out there, you can purchase Indra for less than half the price of Magnus 8-wire ($2k through Noble Audio) and receive a very similar grade product. That's a huge win from a value proposition and I doubt anybody would be keen on spending an extra $1k for a minor difference in hardware.



Indra (left), Sky-bolt (right)


Indra (top), Sky-bolt (bottom)

Sky-bolt takes a larger deviation than Indra, as the internal geometry is changed for a more apparent tuning adjustment. Sky-bolt keeps the same alloy composition as Indra but with a different silver to graphene-plated silver ratio of 65:25 with a pure graphene stand at its center core. This is visibly evident if you take a close look at the two cables, as provided in the photo above. The black strand is the graphene-plated silver and you'll notice there is a greater proportion of it embedded into Indra than Sky-bolt. The internal wire thickness and core count are also different, so this is something to keep in mind as we inspect deeper into these cables.

I've talked to a few cable makers - some very reputable members in the industry - and graphene seems to be a controversial topic that's been met with caution and skepticism. Some claimed it as nothing more than a hoax, while others seem to be a proponent of this new material. I personally take no stance on either side of the debate, but my experience with graphene leads me to suspect that it is used to control the hardness and transients of each note without having a characteristic timbre itself. Of course, that wouldn't mean "more" is necessarily "better" as is the case of Indra and Sky-bolt. But it is a sure sign that graphene can be utilized, whether for good or worse in its varying implementation by manufacturers.



Sky-bolt

Ergonomics

Cable ergonomics are often under looked, as I've seen a fair share of competent cables go down the drain due to questionable fitting - looking at you, Code 23. Thankfully, neither Indra nor Sky-bolt suffers from stiffness or poor malleability. Being a 8-wire 21 AWG cable, they are quite a hefty beast to hold with a comparable weight to Orpheus Shielding - Indra being slightly heavier. But they're very supple and flexible to use, packing neatly into smaller surface areas when stowing them away in a bag.

Sky-bolt comes with a unique braiding style I've yet to see from any other brands out there. It's almost "square-ish" below the Y-splitter, and incredibly supple and malleable to use. It is softer and more pliable than any of EA 8-wire Signature Series, and visually appealing too - if you are a fan of its lightning-like appearance. It weighs somewhere in between Ares S and Cadmus 8-wire (the latter being the lightest), and would be my pick of choice for comfort among the three aforementioned cables.

Indra is slightly heavier and I presume the weight comes from the thicker sleeve used than the one on Sky-bolt. Indra has a more traditional braiding and is a little less supple to touch, but close enough to not be bothersome when walking down the streets. Indra has a darker and more vivid appearance with a carbon-based splitter to match its bold aesthetics. Sky-bolt, on the other hand, uses a green translucent splitter with the word "Salvation" engraved on it - denoting to Hakugei's premium lineup in its expansive portfolio.

Both cables are terminated in gold-plated OFC plugs by Pentaconn - a gold standard for having one of the highest electrical conductivity amongst all plugs.



Indra

Sound Signature

Source used: Hiby Rs8 -> Viking Ragnar

Indra and Sky-bolt are uniquely characteristic of their "cool" sounding tonality. They have a top-end leaning presentation that highlights the treble as one their most impressive assets, with a vast and wide soundstage comparable to flagship grade cables of other brands. For the past few weeks, I've been using them on a daily basis as complements to my Orpheus Shielding, and it's safe to say they’ve provided as much joy to my musical experience, albeit some shortcomings which I’ll get to later.

Indra and Sky-bolt share many similar characteristics, but mark their difference in the different frequency regions they emphasize.

Indra places more oomph and rumble down low with more glimmer and radiance up top. The subbass emerges from a deeper region (quite literally from underneath), making the low range growl more palpable and visceral to experience. Treble sparkles more from a slightly higher region, giving it a tall intergalactic experience like stars shining through from space. With the emphasized subbass and treble, midrange takes a step back as the overall presentation ends up something close to a "U-shape". Vocals take place behind stage, and instruments take authority in shaping and manipulating the soundscape. Indra has one of the speediest transient responses I've heard to date - appropriate to its name (God of Lightning) - as the ends of each note is etched out precisely with more articulation than any cables I’ve heard from memory. It has a spherical presentation with a soundstage comparable to Chiron - a little less in each axis - and is the more sophisticated sounding cable between Sky-bolt. Imaging is rendered to a high-degree, but more appropriate to its price sector than reaching the holography of boutique flagship cables. It still layers very nicely and is a definite front runner in its price sector.

Sky-bolt is a vocal centric cable that places more emphasis in the midrange. Different from Indra, vocals come across more forward and revealing with bass and treble acting as supportive figures. I'm hearing a little more body in the midbass, but the subbass is rendered more polite in comparison. The treble energy is well retained from Indra, but slightly tamed here, allowing the vocals to take greater presence on stage. It has a very fast transient, but one more akin to other flagship cables, as Indra is slightly faster and more tactile in comparison. Sky-bolt has a tremendously wide soundstage. It’s panoramic in experience as It’s width alone is comparable to Orpheus Shielding, which is spectacular for a cable ⅙ of Orpheus’ price. It falls short in creating a convincing holographic stage, as it is rendered on a flatter plane with a more traditional depth of stage. Center imaging goes in favor of Indra, but Sky-bolt is able to vastly spread notes across the X-axis with sufficient space between each note.




Key summarized notes :

Indra has a taller and deeper soundstage with a more holographic imaging.
Sky-bolt has a wider soundstage that is panoramic in experience.

Indra places more emphasis in the bass and treble with midrange taking the backseat.
Sky-bolt places more emphasis in the midrange with a more supportive bass and treble (still with enough presence).

I’d recommend :

• Indra for more instrumental genres
• Sky-bolt for vocal-centric genres

It’s personally difficult to choose one between the two, but my electronic filled library has been favoring Indra ever so slightly. I often rotate between the two cables based on my mood, but ergonomically, I favor Sky-bolt’s lighter and more pliable handling.




Cable Comparisons

The following comparisons have been written in a note-style review, so a little heads up for the clinical style of writing.




EA Chiron (~$3000 usd) :

Many of my Cooler friends know I’ve been one of the earliest advocates of Chiron during its release. It’s the cable that first opened my eyes to flagship territory and one that holds a special place within my heart. Chiron is a GPS (gold-plated silver) cable that is characteristic of its lean and sweet presentation. It is a “brighter” sounding cable that places emphasis in the upper-mid range for a more forward and lively rendition of vocals.

Sky-bolt is a fuller and wider sounding cable that is enveloping in comparison, but lacks the depth and holographic imaging that Chiron excels at. They both render vocals to a similar degree, but Chiron is a tad more transparent and revealing with a little more forward midrange in comparison. Sky-bolt has a sparklier and more accentuated treble. Its treble sounds noticeably clearer and more alive in comparison.

Indra is also fuller sounding next to Chiron’s lean presentation, but slightly more closed in stage, while retaining better depth than Chiron (by a margin). I’m hearing the subbass emerge from a deeper position. Chiron, however, sounds more spacious in every axis that delineates front-to-back layering to a more holographic level. Indra has a sparklier and more accentuated treble (more so than Sky-bolt), without any signs of sibilance that could be piercing to my ears. Indra also has a more visceral rumble down in the subbass, but the vocals are positioned a little further, whereas Chiron sounds more transparent and revealing with a higher clarity forward vocals.




PWA Orpheus Shielding w/ Con-X (~$5860 usd) :

I consider Orpheus as the de-facto flagship copper cable that has set the standards of today’s boutique flagship cables. Orpheus is a multi-strand copper-based cable insulated by 3 different types of shielding - one of which being applicable to only below the Y-splitter. It is characteristic of its smooth and warm tonality with a unique PWA copper warmth that is slightly less aggressive compared to traditional copper timbre and more organic and mature in the way it shapes its presentation. Orpheus has a tremendous soundstage (only behind Murakumo 2, which I’ll get to below) and is widely known for uniquely smoothening out any harsh ends. Treble is articulated more sublime than vivid, and has its hallmark in the super clear and transparent midrange.

Sky-bolt can surprisingly match the width of Orpheus, but falls short in every other axis of stage leading to a shallower and flatter presentation. Sky-bolt is noticeably brighter with a slightly more forward midrange, but Orpheus is a bit cleaner and more transparent in the way it renders vocals. Orpheus has a fuller and more spacious sound with a thicker bass that thumps at a more palpable degree. Sky-bolt is a tad leaner (as Orpheus leans thicker in presentation) and its brightness has a way of making it sound more lush and euphonic in comparison. Orpheus has a more convincing holographic stage with a blacker background that seems to darken up any empty space. Sky-bolt has a sparklier and more lively treble that sounds more satisfactory to my ears.

Indra has a smaller soundstage in every axis, but with a competitive depth and height not far from Orpheus. Indra has a faster presentation with quicker and more etched out transients. It is brighter in tonality and has a more reserved upper-midrange in comparison, but retains a similar vocal presence for male vocals in the lower-midrange. Orpheus has a clearer and more resolving sound, with a more midbass heavy presentation compared to Indra’s subbass leaning sound in the low range. Indra sounds more vivid and has a sparklier and more accentuated treble that sounds more lively to my ears.






Brise Yatono Ultimate 8-wire (~$2500 usd) :

I’m observing many of my friends jump on the Brise bandwagon chasing after the all fabled Yatono Ultimate 8-wire. It is a pure copper-based cable most notable for having a thick multi-layered shielding and a raw, industrial aesthetic that is forthright and unapologetic in visuals. It is characteristic of having a raw and vivid signature that is energetic in presentation, but simultaneously mature in its overall rendition. Compared to PWA house sound, it has a more rigorous and dynamic signature that keeps you actively engaged. Its best asset is in its hyper clear midrange. Its vocals are more transparent than Orphy to my ears, which is no small feat in this vast and competitive industry. The cable is very hefty and heavy to hold, so do be cautious of its contentious ergonomics.

Sky-bolt has a slightly wider soundstage than Yatono, but Yatono is a bit taller and deeper. Sky-bolt has a brighter tonality with a similarly upfront midrange, but it sounds comparatively elevated whereas Yatono is clearer and more transparent. Yatono is the more immersive cable and surprisingly has a speedier presentation. Sky-bolt has a tad sparklier treble, but looser bass. Yatono’s bass is cleaner and grittier, which I find more satisfying.

Indra has a smaller soundstage width, but a similar height and depth (albeit, Indra’s subbass emerges from a lower region). Indra has a cooler and brighter tonality with a faster and more etched transient, and a similarly clean presentation that could come across mildly sterile next to Yatono. Yatono has a clearer and more resolving midrange and sounds filled with more note weight. Indra has a more accentuated treble with greater sparkle and clarity up top. Yatono is slightly more immersive, but I find both cables equally engaging in its own respect.






Brise Murakumo 2 (~$7600 usd) :

Murakumo 2 seems to hold a mythical-level status that very few seem to have tried. What was originally a super limited edition cable that was sold only to a select VIP members has expanded out into the Western market as more cables were subsequently made (or at least, so have I been told). I first visited this cable sometime last year, but largely kept quiet to myself as I was honestly bewildered by its existence. Murakumo 2 is a copper-based flagship cable with a tremendous size and weight that urges the question of - “why” - in the practicality of its usage. But such is the nature of this hobby, as us manias would go out of our way to sacrifice ergonomics if it guarantees a 5% increase in overall technical performance. Murakumo 2 opts for a very smooth and organic presentation different from the Yatono series. Its characteristic is closer to Orpheus than Yatono, albeit a very neutral colored presentation with just a slight hint of copper timbral warmth. The midrange is positioned a little back in stage, different from the forward and engaging signature of Yatono ultimate, but has a much vaster and expansive soundstage that is larger than any cables I have come across to date. “Neutral” is key here, as it does not emphasize any particular range of frequency. It could come across a little “bland” in its neutral tonality, if it wasn’t for its impressive technicality that immerses you in a huge soundscape across every spectrum. To hear the full capacity of Murakumo 2, I strongly urge you to pair it to a competent amplifier. Scaling is key here and Murakumo 2 will reward you on a more competent source.

Sky-bolt has a smaller stage across every axis and is flatter in overall presentation. Sky-bolt is brighter and cooler sounding, whereas Murakumo 2 is much more neutral in tonality. I find both to be euphonic in presentation, but done so in a different way - Sky-bolt being a tad sweeter, whereas Murakumo 2 coming across cleaner, lush, and more organic. Murakumo 2 has a more etched out transient, as the ends of each note come across clearer and more precisely. It has a speedier presentation, but not as noticeable due to the calm and organic signature. Murakumo 2 has a more rumbly and satisfying bass with a crisper and more accentuated treble that sparkles from a taller region.

Indra has a brighter and cooler tonality with a speedier sound by the virtue of its leaner presentation. They both etch the transients to a spectacular degree, but Indra sounds “quicker” due to the aforementioned reason above. They both have similarly accentuated treble, but Murakumo 2 sounds a tad more refined in the way it handles hi hats. Both are excellent and are my personal references to how a flagship treble should resolve within the summit-fi category. Indra has a smaller stage across every axis and falls behind in clarity and resolution. The bass is a little more full on Murakumo 2 whereas Indra leans closer toward the subbass. Their bass both emerge from an abyssal region, but Murakumo 2 dives a tad deeper in comparison.



Indra

Priced at $950 and $900 respectively, Indra and Sky-bolt are Hakugei’s statement that they too can introduce flagship grade cables without breaching the $1k barrier. I’ve previously discussed in my Code 23 review, hoping and urging manufacturers to lower the price of flagship grade cables and make them more accessible to a larger community. I’m hoping to see the trend continue moving downward, as I’m very content to see how well the cables performed next to significantly more expensive cables. This is my first introduction of Hakugei to the head-fi community and I hope it won’t be the last, as they have a bright future ahead of them in this growing and ever expanding industry.

- Steve