Effect Audio is a manufacturer of premium earphone cables. Its headquarters is in Singapore, one of the largest audiophile hubs in the world, an example of this is the country's audio event, CanJam Singapore, hosted by Head-fi.


Recently, the cable developer has launched a new series called Vogue, which promises better cost-effective cables and at the same time as good build quality as its best cables, such as the Effect Audio Thor Silver II.




Effect Audio cables and their series


The Singaporean audio company has a split between its cable models, the most basic being Vogue. In this series we have 3 cable models, the Maestro, which has copper wires, the Virtuoso, which has silver plated copper wires, and lastly the Grandioso, which has a OCC pure copper and another pure silver wire.



Above the Vogue series we have the Premium series, consisting of 4 cable models, Ares II, with copper wires, Thor Silver II, with silver wires, Eros II, with one copper wire and another silver wire, and lastly Mars, which has gold-plated silver threads.


Finally, we have a series that is special, because this is where Effect Audio tests the limits of its technologies by experimenting with different types of metal alloys in cable making. In the Heritage series, we have 3 cable models, Lionheart, which has a gold-plated copper wire and a silver-plated copper wire, Leonidas II, which consists of a palladium-plated silver wire and a hybrid silver wire. , and lastly the Cleopatra, which has selected silver yarns with a different confection (see full specifications here).




Vogue Cable Construction


The construction of the new series cables developed by Effect Audio surprised me. I thought there were no ways to improve comfort and ergonomics since the Y-split shrunk, being called the Y-split mini. However, as always, the company is concerned not only with improving the material quality and construction of the wires used in the cables, but also with the usability of the cable. To further improve ergonomics, comfort and practicality while using its cables, the company has redesigned the connector, termination and y-split on this new line.



The connector that fits into the earphones is embossed near the pins to improve finger grip and make it easier to push to fit the cable to the in-ears. It is a small detail that makes a total difference, as the user most of the time must exert considerable force to fit the 2-pin into the IEM, and sometimes it is necessary to use a fabric to improve the grip.


In Y-split we had a huge decrease in size compared to Y-split mini, providing such a lightness that I do not even feel the piece touching my body, or even exerting downward pressure through its weight.



The termination came as 2.5mm balanced, but I know there is the option of 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm balanced. In the case of the 2.5mm connector, I noticed that the size and lightness had a big improvement, the size of the plug is minimal and has a relief near the socket, with the same principle of the connector that fits in CIEM, help to fit with more easily and comfortably the pin on a DAP (Digital Audio Player), for example.



In addition to the connectors, I noticed that the Vogue series cable wires are thinner and more flexible than the Premium or Heritage series. This made it easier to roll up and store them.


Note: The design of the Vogue series cable connectors, terminations and Y-split is different from the design used for the Premium and Heritage series cables.




Vogue Cable Sound


For the testing of Vogue series cables, I used CIEM JH Audio JH5 PRO and DAP FiiO X7 Mark II (AM3A amp module). The testing period was approximately one week.



The first model I tested was the Vogue Maestro, the copper wire version of the series. In this cable I noticed a melodious, harmonious sound, with full, spreading bass, sweet mids that make the singers' voice more pleasurable to hear and treble without stridency.


Switching to Vogue Virtuoso, the silver-plated copper wire version, I immediately noticed a change in the way music is performed. Here I found a more controlled sound, "correct", with a tendency to neutrality. The bass compared to the Maestro became more controlled and gained more depth, more extension. If in Maestro the bass filled the spectrum of sound, in Virtuoso they have a smaller decay, with a faster attack, giving definition and speed.



The mids in the silver-plated copper cable were slightly backward compared to the Maestro, but when the voices were more active in the high mids, they gained a little more prominence. I felt in Virtuoso that the mids got a little colder than in the Maestro, precisely because it had a higher activity in the upper and lower backs. Already in the treble, I felt that there was an improvement in control, speed and definition, leaving the reproduction of the sound in more detail.


I first described the cables Maestro and Virtuoso because the cable that I will describe next is the junction of the two, the Grandioso. When I say that the two come together, I say not only in physical terms, because they have a conductor and a virtuoso, but also in sound, because there is a mixture of characteristics here.


When I first tried Vogue Grandioso, I was surprised by the result, as I didn't expect there to be such a good marriage of Maestro characteristics with Virtuoso.



The bass in this cable has body and at the same time are controlled and deep, it can have that bass that expands in music as we find in the Maestro and at the same time has a control and speed providing greater definition and lower decay. Let's say the Grandioso bass is the middle ground between definition and euphony, it doesn't have the same control and speed as the Virtuoso bass, but it comes close, while it doesn't have bass as massive as Maestro. I feel that the Grandioso bass have authority, strength, and at the same time are melodious, relaxed.


The Grandioso midrange is just right, neither forward nor backward, giving an excellent balance with the other frequencies. We don't have a cold sound here, but we don't have a warm sound either. You can delight in the sounds of voices and strings with very good consistency in playback.


The treble of Vogue series mixed cable (copper and silver), we have a certain detail and control of the treble, giving good length and detail. However, these characteristics are not found in the same way as in Virtuoso, where there is greater extension and control. I see that it is a compromise between the silver-plated cable and the Maestro, which has more relaxed mids.




Conclusion


As I analyzed the three cables, I realized that their names really say what they look like. Maestro will make your music sound harmonious, make the melody of the instruments enjoyable to your audience. Virtuoso will show that concern for neutrality, definition, “right” sound is important, providing a detailed sound where the listener will perceive the nuances of the music. The Grandioso will show that it is possible to unite harmony and definition, reproducing an imposing sound and pleasant to hear.



It is hard for me to say which one would be the best, as each has its own unique quality. In addition, the result will also depend on the characteristics of each headset, resulting in more or less obvious features provided by the cables. It is up to you to choose the type of sound that will please you the most.


In addition, it must be placed on the table that all three cables deliver comfort and practicality in use. That is, when buying a cable, it is not only the sound that matters, you must analyze the whole. This is what Effect Audio seeks to deliver, sound and design, striving for perfection.

Physical aspects

I found the cable very well built (I even made a video showing it better).

The plastic used seemed good quality, is very soft and does not scratch the skin and does not bother the ear. They also took care of the positioning of the reinforced plastic in the part where the cable leaves the connector that fits in the handset thus providing a more anatomical fitting in the ear so as not to disturb during a walk for example.

Although the connectors are made of metal, in this cable they have taken care of the size and type of metal so as not to weigh the whole assembly when the person is using it. They were especially careful with the Y cable splitter so as not to get heavy and "pull" the handset down injuring the user's ear.







In the connector that fits in the phone we observe by the photo even though it has an extra layer of plastic placed close to the metal part to avoid that the cable breaks in that part that usually moves more when we walk with the phone or when we fit in the ear.

The cable is super malleable, has no memory and I did not detect any microphones during my walks on the street. So if you want to go out even with wind, the cable will not produce sounds while you listen to the music.







Sound

A very detailed sound, presenting micro details that I had not noticed before.

The sound stage has increased considerably and has more layers with better separation of the instruments.







The bass has excellent impact, speed and texture. I can perceive with greater clarity the details of the sound produced by the instruments.

The middle men that I thought would be more reticent and less musical surprised me! I imagined that this cable would follow the same line of other silver cables! This pleased me greatly because I do not like a cold sound.

The trebles achieved good extension and detailing without being aggressive in an impressive way! I liked the result! I was very afraid the highs would be aggressive because the silver cables usually increase activity in this region in a sometimes bad way.







Conclusion

It's a cable that not everyone can buy. But worth it for everything it offers (comfort, excellent sound, robustness and beauty).

 
 
 
Physical aspects

I found the cable very well built (I even made a video showing it better).

The plastic used seemed good quality, is very soft and does not scratch the skin and does not bother the ear. They also took care of the positioning of the reinforced plastic in the part where the cable leaves the connector that fits in the handset thus providing a more anatomical fitting in the ear so as not to disturb during a walk for example.

Although the connectors are made of metal, in this cable they have taken care of the size and type of metal so as not to weigh the whole assembly when the person is using it. They were especially careful with the Y cable splitter so as not to get heavy and "pull" the handset down injuring the user's ear.

In the connector that fits in the phone we observe by the photo even though it has an extra layer of plastic placed close to the metal part to avoid that the cable breaks in that part that usually moves more when we walk with the phone or when we fit in the ear.

The cable is super malleable, has no memory and I did not detect any microphones during my walks on the street. So if you want to go out even with wind, the cable will not produce sounds while you listen to the music.
 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 
Sound

The bass has gained more impact, speed and definition.

The middle ones became sweeter, melodious.

The treble gained more stretch and definition.

Of course the proportion of this is not gigantic like changing a earphone. But the combination of these details that modified the music playing on my handset gave the final set a very big touch of euphony and made the songs much more enjoyable to hear.
 
 
Conclusion

The cable is worth it. The final set of comfort, sound, robustness and beauty convince me that it was worth it.

 
(Player: Cowon Plenue D ; Earphone: JH5)
 
Before I start, I must say that this was not the beginning of my experience with the brand cables. I own the Ares cable also (first model) and make some comparisons between him and Thor Copper.
 
When I received the cable already realized that there was an evolution in the finish of the materials. The P2 connector and the cable splitter me seemed more resistant and beautiful at the same time (I enjoyed the details in carbon fiber). The cable itself seemed more malleable and flexible cable that Ares! (Which was already good, improved even more! )
 
Compared with Ares cable, which already is an excellent cable and was a great improvement over the cable JH Audio stock, I found the sound became more detailed, the bass and treble gained more definition and extension.

The mids however performed more timid compared to the Ares cable. The mids in Ares cable are warmer and softer compared to the cable Copper Thor. However the Thor mids they are still good, have good performance.

My conclusion is that Thor Copper cable would be more analytical, detailing, while Ares cable would be more musical, fun, hot, euphonic.
 
 
PS: I also did a review of Ares cable if you want to read http://www.head-fi.org/products/effect-audio-occ-pure-copper-ares/reviews/12420

JH5 + Effect Audio Ares Cable
 
Physical aspects
 
It is a cable with higher copper purity than is commonly used in normal cables.  It is made up of cryo treated UPOCC Pure Copper. The base core used in UPOCC is 7N purity.
 
Face you already realize that is a better made out in all parties. The 3.5mm connector that goes to the player is more robust and has a much softer fit. The connector will the handset has metal finish (against the stock plastic cable)
 
The cable is more comfortable than the stock (which came with the JH5 headset) in the part that surrounds the ear even though it is more robust. He managed to keep almost the same malleability of old and does not have any microphony.
 
Sound
 
In the bass there was an increased texture and gained more depth.
 
The mids were more forward. I found them a little indented for my taste in JH5, especially on vocals, I thought the middle voice lifeless. The cable made the mids more warmer and sweeter.
 
The highs have gained a bit more brightness, nothing extraordinary. But improved enough to satisfy me.
 
The soundstage was increased, perhaps this is due because of the improvement in the bass.
 

Introduction 
 
I decided to buy the CIEM JH5 when I talked to my friend who has the CIEM JH5, JH13 and JH10x3 and he told me that he most CIEM hear is JH5 because it does not show either the "defects" of the music of poor quality or unrecorded and hence to casually listen for hours. How would I already spend good money and did not want to disappoint me made ​​the choice so that my more experienced friend gave me, buy JH5. 
 
 
 
Physical aspects 
 
From the pictures I saw on the internet, I thinking that earphone would be big, but I was wrong! It's too small!
 
Although many criticize finishing of the JH Audio in CIEM, I liked it. I thought well polished acrylic however not happy with the impression art in the earphone, I found a somewhat checkered. 
 
The cable gave me the impression of being tough (and is thicker than the earphones I've ever utilized) and malleable. Liked his looks not generate microphony 
 
In the first two weeks or not at all, the earphone bother leaving a little sore ear after auditions  After that time, the earphone was very comfortable and I felt no more he was in my ear, though it is made ​​of a hard acrylic.
 
The earphone is able to generate a very good insulation, so that I did not hear any external noise when I'm on a bus with the volume on my MP3 Player at 30% (Cowon J3).
 
 
 
The Sound
 
I was impressed with the sound the first time I heard. The first thing I noticed was the sound stage that really differentiates itself from universal earphones, the sound extends far beyond. Of course it does not get to be a headphone but the sound comes out a bit of the head (a characteristic that the universal in-ear that I had not experienced). With this positioning of the instruments was very good, could easily perceive each instrument of music, although only having 2 BA CIEM (of course if you compare to a JH13, we will have much more than that, but that's what I realized with respect to my old earphone Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10) 
 
The bass generated by JH5 is detailed, deep and full but it does not have much punch, does not have the weight I wanted (the best bass I've ever heard it was A demo version of Merlin). With an amp the situation has improved somewhat however gets tiring to hear after a while.
 
The mids are crisp and defined, however missed warmth on them for some reason unknown to me.
 
The treble is very good, has a good extension, are clear, however wish they were a little bit brighter. They got a little brighter with a amp.
 
Did not have specific styles that I liked to hear more in JH5. He, to me, played nicely in all styles, is a very versatile earphone.
 
 
 
Conclusion 
 
For those who want portability, sound quality, extreme comfort and noise isolation, is the best value that exists.
 
 
Unboxing:
 

 
 
Photo: