Astral Acoustics - Voyager II - Luna

Leonarfd

Headphoneus Supremus
Astral Acoustics - A tale of Voyager II and Luna
Pros: Beautiful and good quality design on both
Ferromagnetic shielding
Voyager II is great value
Luna is expensive but as good as it gets
Voyager II - 19.5awg 5n LCOFC SPC T4 Litz Coaxial
Luna - 19.5awg 6n OCC SPC T4 Litz Coaxial
Good craftsmanship and no imbalances
Voyager II provide smooth and full sound
Luna provides clarity and balance
Both are detailed while the Luna is extra special
Luna have exceptional imaging capability
Cons: Little stiff due to the design, but no memory it keep itself straight
Medium weight, not the lightest or heaviest
Would love the same hardware on the cheaper Voyager II
The upgrade to Luna is costly
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Astral Acoustics - A tale of Voyager II and Luna

Disclaimer

I got the cables for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

I know that cables is a heated topic, I have self been a skeptical person. So if you're against the description of cables, it's better to just stop here. I also think that cable is the thing that changes the sound the least in the chain, and it's better looking at the source gear or tips/pads first.


All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.

Going to use the ranges here in review:


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My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are metal, electronica, jazz and pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to most genres and enjoy it.

I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with my entry being Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.

I have tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to saxophone without getting far, this due to not having the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and HFA Dahlia.
My current favorites in IEMs are LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 and THIEAUDIO Origin.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the AUNE S17 Pro EVO headphone amplifier. I also use tube amplification with Cayin HA-2A, perfect to change up the sound.

Portable gear being Shanling M8T, SONY WM1AM2 and iBasso DX180, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and iFi Audio Kensei.


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So what is Astral Acoustics

Astral Acoustics is an audio cable brand from Hong Kong, founded in 2016 by Henry Tik. Henry is very experienced in the cable world, and is not afraid of trying new combinations/ materials to find sonic perfection.

They deliver high quality cables for a wide price range, not much in the budget segment but everything from midrange up to very expensive models.
Both cables today are for headphones, both being variants of SPC that I will be using with the HFA Dahlia and AUNE SR7000.

From Astral Acoustics website:

Wires

We make some of the best audio-dedicated wires ranging from Copper to Palladium, including metal grades like OFC and OCC.

We accept OEM orders starting from 300m*
Tell us your requirements, and we will turn them into reality

Please contact us directly for custom spec orders
or to obtain bulk purchase price lists

Warranty

Astral Acoustics warrants our products against material and workmanship only. Physical damage due to but not limited to, accident, abuse, misuse, or other external causes is covered under our warranty.

If a valid claim is received within the warranty period, we will repair or replace the product at no charge. However, customers are responsible for their side of shipping.

If a defect in our product arises after the 3-year limited warranty, we will repair the product at a cost. The amount charged will be determined by the materials required for repair.


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Astral Acoustics Voyager II

This is one of the two new headphone cables from Astral Acoustics, material specification:
Voyager II - 19.5awg 5n LCOFC SPC T4 Litz Coaxial

The cable is a variant of SPC(Silver Plated Copper) with Ferromagnetic shielding, the 19.5awg is a reference to the gauge(width of the wire). The lower the number the thicker the wire, 19.5 is quite low hence why it has a solid size even in a two wire variant.

The 5N and LCOFC is referring to the grade of the SPC, the higher the N the more pure grade. Linear Crystal Oxygen-Free Copper is a higher variant than just OFC.

With the last being T4 Litz Coaxial, this is referring to what type of braid and how it's built up. Litz meaning it being one wire, T4 being one cable in center with many around that it twisted.

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Here you can see the Litz design with the ferromagnetic shielding, the shielding assists in reducing atmospheric noise (RFI). The Voyager II has a grey/brown color to it, with what I assume is PVC outer.

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You have the option of Dual 3.5mm or 4pin mini XLR, there is also an option for others where you can talk with Astral Acoustics for what you need. On the end termination you can have either 4pin XLR or 6.35mm TRS.

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Astral Acoustics Luna

Luna is the other new cable, this is higher end cable with material specification:
19.5awg 6n OCC SPC T4 Litz Coaxial

This is also a cable variant of SPC with Ferromagnetic shielding, the difference is that this have a higher grade wire.

The cable is a variant of SPC(Silver Plated Copper) with Ferromagnetic shielding, the 19.5awg is a reference to the gauge(width of the wire). The lower the number the thicker the wire, 19.5 is quite low hence why it has a solid size even in a two wire variant.

The 6N and OCC SPC is referring to the grade of the SPC, the higher the N the more pure grade. OCC is quite different from OFC, this means Ohno Continuous Casting. This is outside my expertise so I found some nice information from a cable maker:

The Ohno continuous casting process used to produce OCC copper produces a material with higher purity and a more uniform crystal structure. This advanced manufacturing technology minimizes the presence of impurities and grain boundaries that can negatively impact audio performance. As a result, OCC audio cables are often considered the gold standard for high-end audio enthusiasts and professionals alike. They offer a level of clarity and detail that’s hard to match, making them a top choice for those who want the best possible sound quality.

With the last being T4 Litz Coaxial, this is referring to what type of braid and how it's built up. Litz meaning it being one wire, T4 being one cable in center with many around that it twisted.

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Here you can see the Litz design with the ferromagnetic shielding, the shielding assists in reducing atmospheric noise (RFI). The Luna is more of a white/silver, very suiting to the the name scheme.

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You have the option of Dual 3.5mm or 4pin mini XLR, there is also an option for others where you can talk with Astral Acoustics for what you need. On the end termination you can have either 4pin XLR or 6.35mm TRS.

The Luna have more premium hardware than the Voyager II, it's a simple but elegant design.

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Sound impression of Voyager II

I got both of the cables before any impressions or descriptions were made online, I came to the conclusion that the Voyager II is a warm and full sounding cable. This is also what I was told back from Henry is the sound of the cable, and is now on the product page.

The cable provides a rich sound, without being aggressive in the upper end and can soften some of the sound of a bright headphone.

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Sound impression of Luna

The sound of the Luna is transparent and open, it is clean and delivers a full sound that's more technical and airy than its brother Voyager II.

I will say this don't hinder the sound in anyway and is fully transparent, so the bass is deep and full while the mids and highs are clear. I would say this perfection in a cable, perfect for that special headphone you love.

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Headphone pairings

I have two headphones with this configuration, HFA Dahlia and AUNE SR7000.

Stock cable on the AUNE SR7000 is not very impressive, it is a thin copper variant and doesn't look very premium. Both cables sound great on SR7000, what the SR7000 needs is more organic and lush sound. Hence why the Voyager II was my favorite for this headphone, it helps the bass sound fuller and more immersive and soften some of the sound from cymbals or other bright elements. It gets a little fuller punch to the sound while also not losing any resolution, using Luna instead gives it a push in detail and clarity that I don't find needed. And bonus is that the cable is a design match, they look beautiful together.

The HFA Dahlia is also a dynamic headphone, this already had a very good stock cable as I bought it with the upgraded OCC variant. While both cables sound great on Dahlia, my pick goes to Luna as it is like a higher end variant of the upgrade cable I already have. What it improves is more in the fine details, as the soundstage gets more precision and depth. But also in how violins shimmer or a vocalist is is clear without sibilance. Just remember the difference is not day and night, but it is there for me when I listen deeply. And since I love the Dahlia I want it to perform at its maximum.

I bet some would prefer the Voyager II on Dahlia as this softens some of the treble energy instead, making headphones a little softer and warm. Both cables provide deep and punchy bass, with just more tilt toward warmth on Voyager II.

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Music

Click here for Audio with Leo playlist

When comparing cables I have used the tracks listed here and more, I will also provide a few albums I have enjoyed lately.

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Summary

The two new cables from Astral Acoustics are excellent offerings, both the Voyager II and Luna are what I consider high end cables perfect for finding sonic perfection. You get two different grades of SPC cables, both with high end ferromagnetic shielding and quality hardware.

Cables are always a very heated topic, it is needed to get sound but its always a discussion around if they change the sound or not. I find the sound to change, its small changes but there. What I value more than the sound change is the craftsmanship and how beautiful the two cables are, personally I want my headphones to look beautiful with cables like this.

The higher end Luna provides a more clear and technical sound over the Voyager II, the Voyager II on the other hand is a little warmer and smooth. Luna can be perfect to get everything out of your headphone, while the Voyager II is perfect to soften a brighter headphone or add some lushness.

I recommend both of the wires if you are looking to upgrade into a more high end wire for your headphones, my end rating is a full 5 star for Luna and 4.5 for the cheaper offering Voyager II.
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