Introduction
A while back, one of my closest friends @MikePortnoy and I participated in a winter exchange program for underprivileged cables that want to travel the world. My Rhapsodio 2.98 8-strand cable, born and raised in a warmer climate, missed the sun so I sent it off to Turkey. @MikePortnoy shipped over his SilverFi IEM2 cable to Amsterdam in return; today’s topic of review. As long as I’ve known my good friend he’d been going on about the special tone of SilverFi cables, so my expectations were high; although I wasn’t sure in which way they would manifest.
SilverFi is a Turkish-based company, run by Sezai Saktanber; a passionate craftsman, and very pleasant person to communicate with. SilverFi differentiates itself by manufacturing its own raw material, where most cable makers will buy the materials to produce the cables. The IEM2 cable is the entry model for iems; but their product line ranges up to a whopping $1999 for the IEM-R4 cable. Yes, that’s almost $2000 for a cable.
Build
The IEM product line all consists of 4-braid cables in a cream-colored sleeving. I find the color very chic, and the cable itself is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. But in order for the unique wires to be attached to the connectors and plug, the connectors are finished with a red and blue plastic that looks like memory wire, but isn’t implemented for that function – it’s for connection purposes. The jack is also covered with a blue plastic. So its design has a pro and con from an aesthetic perspective.
Impressions
Truth be told; the first minutes I listened to the IEM2 cable (connected to Zeus), I realized I was hearing something special. It’s warm and soft sound, the realistic tone of instruments – I was stunned. Ask anyone on the forum what the difference is between silver and copper cables. Even though a large group unfortunately still doesn’t ‘believe’ in differences between cables, I think most people will be familiar with the stereotype of copper cables being warm, and silver cables being bright or analytical. A more experienced user will know that the differences aren’t that simple, as every cable has its own signature - just like iems or daps. But generally speaking, while silver cables can have a very balanced tonality, their atmosphere is generally very clear – not warm.
The SilverFi cable line is a very rare exception to the rule. The IEM2 cable is noticeably warm; not in response to the mid-bass, just an inherently warm and pleasant atmosphere. I still don’t understand the physics behind a pure silver having this tone. Rumor has it, mr. Saktanber is aided by elves and fairies in the fabrication process – it’s an explanation that makes the most sense. Yet mr. Saktanber insists all labor is done by himself. I guess I’ll have to believe him on his word.
The IEM2 cable produces a sound that doesn’t really appeal to an analytical breakdown of its components. The magic is in its holistic presentation: its tonality is just right, instruments sound very realistic, yet this realism isn’t coupled to a dry presentation. Its atmosphere is warm, and tones are thick and smooth; this is a romantic realism, inviting and enveloping rather than distant or analytical.
The sub-bass is punchy, and hits with good depth and detail. The mid-bass is vey slightly enhanced, contributing to the overall thicker note presentation. The midrange is warm and creamy, and the IEM2 cable truly brings out the best in vocals. But it’s in the treble where the IEM2 differentiates itself from most silver cables; most silver cables open up the treble, allowing for more detail while making them more prone to sibilance and harshness. The IEM2 cable attenuates the lower and mid treble, taking the sharp edge off of bright sounds. Instead, tones are smooth and soft, while still having a very realistic tonality – the level of transparency is quite good. The upper treble appears to be a bit more attenuated, which can affect the resolution of iems that already have smoothed over treble. As such, the IEM2 cable is a better match with neutral or brighter iems. The presentation is slightly more forward and upfront, which brings the soundstage closer to the listener; it’s precise, but slightly more intimate.
Select comparisons
Toxic Cables Silver Widow ($325)
The Silver Widow brings out the best in the upper mid and treble region, improving resolution and detail. It’s a dynamic sounding cable, with an accurate display of quick transients. While the treble improves overall instrument definition, it comes at a cost of a recess on the lower midrange, resulting in thinner notes. Electric guitars sound less full, while affecting the depth of male vocals. The open treble improves the soundstage width, providing an overall airier sound. The Silver Widow’s background is clear, and only very slightly bright. The IEM2 cable has a very different approach; the overall tone is richer and more musical, compared to the slightly more analytical Silver Widow. The Silver Widow brings out more detail in the treble, but can also sound harsher and less controlled compared to the smoother IEM2 cable. The IEM2 cable falls slightly behind in resolution, but has a far thicker note presentation, and a more realistic tone.
Rhapsodio 2.98 Silver-Gold 8-strand ($550)
Rhapsodio’s 2.98 cable is another cable that departs from the silver cable stereotype of being bright or cold. It has a warm tone, and an enhanced mid-bass that gives a very full sound with thick notes. Notes are thicker than the IEM2 cable, the 2.98 sounds fuller overall. But the 2.98 also has a warmer atmosphere that seems to muddy the presentation a bit, although actual resolution and detail retrieval is higher. While the 2.98 impresses with its size, the IEM2 has a more natural and realistic tone. The 2.98 has a more midforward presentation; this cable was built for rock, giving electric guitars size and power. But the IEM2 performs better with acoustics and vocals, they sound more natural and transparent.
Final thoughts
I’ve heard and owned quite a few cables, but SilverFi’s IEM2 still managed to surprise me. It’s a cable meant for synergy; it will work best in certain combinations. Bright iems have their advantages, but can also be harsh or fatuiging in longer listening sessions. The IEM2 cable with its soft, romantic tone brings out the best of such an iem. It also works well for brighter daps that can use a touch of warmth. The 901S is an outstanding dap, that delivers a sound that borders on technical perfection; its resolution, transparency and dynamics are hard to beat. But in doing so, it trades its warmth for clarity and precision. The IEM2 cable brings that warmer touch back, while still uncovering abundant detail. Its tone is reminiscent of sitting by the fire on a cold winter day; a touch of warmth and light in a colder atmosphere.
SilverFi IEM2 cable
Wire: 4-strand pure silver
Price: $389
Iems used for listening:
Empire Ears Zeus, Rhapsodio Solar, Rhapsodio RTi2, EarSonics Velvet.
A while back, one of my closest friends @MikePortnoy and I participated in a winter exchange program for underprivileged cables that want to travel the world. My Rhapsodio 2.98 8-strand cable, born and raised in a warmer climate, missed the sun so I sent it off to Turkey. @MikePortnoy shipped over his SilverFi IEM2 cable to Amsterdam in return; today’s topic of review. As long as I’ve known my good friend he’d been going on about the special tone of SilverFi cables, so my expectations were high; although I wasn’t sure in which way they would manifest.
SilverFi is a Turkish-based company, run by Sezai Saktanber; a passionate craftsman, and very pleasant person to communicate with. SilverFi differentiates itself by manufacturing its own raw material, where most cable makers will buy the materials to produce the cables. The IEM2 cable is the entry model for iems; but their product line ranges up to a whopping $1999 for the IEM-R4 cable. Yes, that’s almost $2000 for a cable.
Build
The IEM product line all consists of 4-braid cables in a cream-colored sleeving. I find the color very chic, and the cable itself is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. But in order for the unique wires to be attached to the connectors and plug, the connectors are finished with a red and blue plastic that looks like memory wire, but isn’t implemented for that function – it’s for connection purposes. The jack is also covered with a blue plastic. So its design has a pro and con from an aesthetic perspective.
Impressions
Truth be told; the first minutes I listened to the IEM2 cable (connected to Zeus), I realized I was hearing something special. It’s warm and soft sound, the realistic tone of instruments – I was stunned. Ask anyone on the forum what the difference is between silver and copper cables. Even though a large group unfortunately still doesn’t ‘believe’ in differences between cables, I think most people will be familiar with the stereotype of copper cables being warm, and silver cables being bright or analytical. A more experienced user will know that the differences aren’t that simple, as every cable has its own signature - just like iems or daps. But generally speaking, while silver cables can have a very balanced tonality, their atmosphere is generally very clear – not warm.
The SilverFi cable line is a very rare exception to the rule. The IEM2 cable is noticeably warm; not in response to the mid-bass, just an inherently warm and pleasant atmosphere. I still don’t understand the physics behind a pure silver having this tone. Rumor has it, mr. Saktanber is aided by elves and fairies in the fabrication process – it’s an explanation that makes the most sense. Yet mr. Saktanber insists all labor is done by himself. I guess I’ll have to believe him on his word.
The IEM2 cable produces a sound that doesn’t really appeal to an analytical breakdown of its components. The magic is in its holistic presentation: its tonality is just right, instruments sound very realistic, yet this realism isn’t coupled to a dry presentation. Its atmosphere is warm, and tones are thick and smooth; this is a romantic realism, inviting and enveloping rather than distant or analytical.
The sub-bass is punchy, and hits with good depth and detail. The mid-bass is vey slightly enhanced, contributing to the overall thicker note presentation. The midrange is warm and creamy, and the IEM2 cable truly brings out the best in vocals. But it’s in the treble where the IEM2 differentiates itself from most silver cables; most silver cables open up the treble, allowing for more detail while making them more prone to sibilance and harshness. The IEM2 cable attenuates the lower and mid treble, taking the sharp edge off of bright sounds. Instead, tones are smooth and soft, while still having a very realistic tonality – the level of transparency is quite good. The upper treble appears to be a bit more attenuated, which can affect the resolution of iems that already have smoothed over treble. As such, the IEM2 cable is a better match with neutral or brighter iems. The presentation is slightly more forward and upfront, which brings the soundstage closer to the listener; it’s precise, but slightly more intimate.
Select comparisons
Toxic Cables Silver Widow ($325)
The Silver Widow brings out the best in the upper mid and treble region, improving resolution and detail. It’s a dynamic sounding cable, with an accurate display of quick transients. While the treble improves overall instrument definition, it comes at a cost of a recess on the lower midrange, resulting in thinner notes. Electric guitars sound less full, while affecting the depth of male vocals. The open treble improves the soundstage width, providing an overall airier sound. The Silver Widow’s background is clear, and only very slightly bright. The IEM2 cable has a very different approach; the overall tone is richer and more musical, compared to the slightly more analytical Silver Widow. The Silver Widow brings out more detail in the treble, but can also sound harsher and less controlled compared to the smoother IEM2 cable. The IEM2 cable falls slightly behind in resolution, but has a far thicker note presentation, and a more realistic tone.
Rhapsodio 2.98 Silver-Gold 8-strand ($550)
Rhapsodio’s 2.98 cable is another cable that departs from the silver cable stereotype of being bright or cold. It has a warm tone, and an enhanced mid-bass that gives a very full sound with thick notes. Notes are thicker than the IEM2 cable, the 2.98 sounds fuller overall. But the 2.98 also has a warmer atmosphere that seems to muddy the presentation a bit, although actual resolution and detail retrieval is higher. While the 2.98 impresses with its size, the IEM2 has a more natural and realistic tone. The 2.98 has a more midforward presentation; this cable was built for rock, giving electric guitars size and power. But the IEM2 performs better with acoustics and vocals, they sound more natural and transparent.
Final thoughts
I’ve heard and owned quite a few cables, but SilverFi’s IEM2 still managed to surprise me. It’s a cable meant for synergy; it will work best in certain combinations. Bright iems have their advantages, but can also be harsh or fatuiging in longer listening sessions. The IEM2 cable with its soft, romantic tone brings out the best of such an iem. It also works well for brighter daps that can use a touch of warmth. The 901S is an outstanding dap, that delivers a sound that borders on technical perfection; its resolution, transparency and dynamics are hard to beat. But in doing so, it trades its warmth for clarity and precision. The IEM2 cable brings that warmer touch back, while still uncovering abundant detail. Its tone is reminiscent of sitting by the fire on a cold winter day; a touch of warmth and light in a colder atmosphere.
SilverFi IEM2 cable
Wire: 4-strand pure silver
Price: $389
Iems used for listening:
Empire Ears Zeus, Rhapsodio Solar, Rhapsodio RTi2, EarSonics Velvet.
