Effect Audio Fusion 1

My nomadic system is as follows:

DAP: Hiby RS8
Source: Sandisk Ultra 1TB SD card (I can't remember the name but it's the best of the best) + Qobuz streaming
IEM: AK & Vision Ears AURA
Cables: Lavricables Grand Silver with rhodium connector option + the original cable from Effect Audio




Context

I have been using the Grand Silver cable since summer 2024, previously I used the original cable provided by Effect Audio. I was very impressed by the Grand Silver because it improved the quality of the restitution on several parameters, without significantly changing the balance of the restitution and the main qualities of the Aura.

My nomadic system is secondary, I use it quite occasionally because I have a sedentary system that I prefer for my listening at home. This system is built around the Immanis headset from RAAL 1995, with a French "handwork" 300 SE 2x12W amplifier for speakers and headphones (brand: Halgorythme), a Holo Audio Spring 2 KTE DAC, a SOtM SMS 200 Ultra streamer supported by a SOtM txUSB Ultra reclocker powered by a SOtM sPS-500, a Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch powered by a Silent Angel Forester F1. The different cables used (mains, modulation, etc.) come from 2 French craftsmen (Legato and SQ Audio). It is therefore a system based on a fairly "ultimate" headset but with electronics that are not quite up to par, which I am trying to improve according to my financial capabilities. This system is an excellent reference and it perfectly matches my tastes and expectations.



Why did I buy an Effect Audio Fusion 1 cable?

Mainly to satisfy a certain curiosity and especially the desire to push the performance sliders of my portable system further. With a budget of 1000 to 1200€, therefore quite limited, I prospected and finally contacted the Effect Audio team, who directed me to this Fusion 1 model. I had excellent experiences with headphone cables, with the Rhapsody and the Lazuli Ref Plus from Danacables on my Susvara. The effect of these cables on my system as it was a few months ago (before I invested in the Immanis) was absolutely incredible. I was previously very skeptical about the influence of cables on the restitution. This experience with the Danacables made me change my mind. And so I began the adventure with modulation cables, power cables and finally with the Grand Silver rhodium for my portable system.




The object / material

This cable seems extremely qualitative: the components have a very robust appearance, a very pleasant touch. The construction is beyond criticism and I have no doubts about the durability of this product. It is a relatively large cable, especially if we compare it to the "small" cable supplied with the Aura. But it is flexible, not too heavy and easy to handle. In short, considering the price, I am not disappointed at all and I feel like I got my money's worth.




Listening

When listening, the first thing that seems obvious is an overall sensation that is strongly reminiscent of the original cable, mainly in terms of general balance. Whether in the treble, midrange or bass range, nothing seems very clearly modified. The result is a listening experience that is always very beautiful, shimmering, rich and very pleasant. But be careful, the Fusion 1 is not limited to that. Quite quickly, when we move forward in listening, we discover that this cable offers very clear developments on several parameters.


Soundstage: clearly, the Fusion pushes the limits of the scene in all directions towards the outside. The sound bubble deepens, widens, and offers a more advanced holographic sensation. It is very clear when coming from the original cable, a little less when coming from the Grand Silver. With the Fusion 1, I have the sensation of a sound devoid of emissivity, that it does not come from the Aura but from outside my ears. It is an extremely pleasant, satisfying sensation that brings me closer to the one I perceive in concert, with or without sound. It is essential for me, and weighs heavily in my search for progress.


Resolution / precision: no doubt for me, the Fusion 1 goes significantly further than the original cable and a little further than the Grand Silver. As is often the case, it is more obvious on classical music, on voices, on quality recordings. I have noticed that very often, the best cables highlight a multitude of nuances, small details on the voices. They then become more intelligible, more present, more embodied and ultimately more "live". Here, it is obvious with the Fusion 1. It surpasses the Grand Silver, and even more the original cable. This greater resolution translates into sharper contours, more precise timbres, more perceptible reverberations. The characteristics of the recording location are more obvious. In the bass, I perceive this greater resolution by stronger, drier impacts, more intense rumbles, a more solid structure and a more marked rhythm. No, there is no more bass than with the other 2 cables, but they stand out better, and are more obvious. In the mids, the Fusion 1 brings me more emotions, more substance. The treble remains perfectly controlled, more than with the Grand Silver, and more perceptible in the nuances than with the original cable.


Listening comfort: it is excellent for me. I am used, with the Immanis, to a restitution that is both very resolving, but very balanced and very rich. I find all these characteristics with the Fusion 1. The additional resolution in all frequency ranges does not trigger premature fatigue. With the Grand Silver combined with certain IEMs, listening could perhaps become a little tiring. With my Aura and the RS8 this was not at all problematic for me. I think that the Fusion 1 will be easier to marry with IEMs that are a little excessive in the treble.



Conclusion:

So even if I was not blown away by the Fusion 1 on my Aura as I was by the Rhapsody or the Lazuli Ref Plus (from Danacables) on the Susvara, it brings enough progress compared to the Grand Silver, and even more compared to the original cable, to make the choice to adopt it. Its great strength is to preserve the excellent balance and naturalness of the Aura + RS8 set, while freeing several technical constraints imposed by both the original cable and the Grand Silver. The listening remains beautiful, and very "technical", and my portable system becomes even more endearing and impressive.

The price of this Fusion 1 cable remains high, but I think it is an excellent compromise for those who do not wish to, cannot, invest in an ultra high-end model like the Chiron Nova or the Centurion. This cable is superbly built to last, it is easy to use, and manages to erase the weaknesses of a modest cable, which restricts your in-ears, without changing their balance. I therefore recommend it without hesitation to improve your nomadic listening experience!

Effect Audio Fusion 1

Disclaimer:
I purchased this cable from Effect Audio for my personal use and am thankful for the discount they provided. However, there has been no influence on me to write anything positive or negative about this cable from Effect Audio or any other party, for that matter. That being said, this review is a reflection of my unbiased opinion about this cable based on my usage of it with two IEMs predominantly, namely, the 64 Audio Volür and FiR Audio RN6.

One can purchase Effect Audio Fusion 1 from their website, adding the link below for reference:

https://www.effectaudio.com/fusion-series/fusion-1



Introduction:
I've been a fan of Effect Audio cables, and have used and owned several of them, including Virtuoso, Ares II (silver), Ares S (4W, 8W), Cadmus S (8W, Z Reviews Edition), Eros S (4W, 8W, Anniversary Edition), EVO10, CODE 23, CODE 24, CODE 24C, Orlog (partnered with Kinera), Horus, and last but not least, Fusion 1. Fusion 1 is by far the best of all their cables I've tried, primarily because of the excellent synergy it has with the Volür and RN6.

The Fusion 1 is a hybrid cable with 40 multi-sized cores comprising of gold-plated silver litz, pure silver litz, and pure copper litz in a 21 AWG, 2-wire configuration with Effect Audio's proprietary Tri-Strata Layering Fusion mix and UltraFlexi insulation. The cable I purchased came with ConX Basic and TermX connectors because of my preference for versatility. However, one can choose to have a fixed termination of their choice (2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm).



The cable is thick and, in a lot of ways, resembles the CODE series cables. However, the cable looks way better than CODE series cables and is far more flexible than CODE 24. The cable is quite comfortable and isn't too heavy. Not that it's weightless or something, you'll definitely "feel" that you're wearing a cable around your ears, but it isn't uncomfortable, neither does it weigh down the IEMs, nor does it cause the earpieces to fall off.

The build quality is excellent, and the cable looks and feels exquisite and premium in every sense. The thick Y-splitter and termination plug inspire confidence. Although the cable is super durable, I don't think one would consider using such an expensive cable with their daily beater IEMs. Basically, if you want to use the Fusion 1 during commutes, you can.

Aesthetically, the gold/rose gold color looks beautiful. Some might consider it to be blingy, but the color scheme isn't loud or gaudy. It is, in my opinion, quite classy. While this color scheme might make it somewhat difficult to match every IEM in terms of looks, thankfully, the sound profile makes a compelling case in favor of the cable.



Sound:
The Effect Audio Fusion 1 provides a significant boost to the bass, both in terms of quality and quantity. The bass is bold and thorough. It brings out the tiniest of details and projects them with confidence. It made the Volür sound like it had a sub-woofer in there. Where the Fusion 1 excels is that it retains the speed in the bass response of the Volür and RN6, while enhancing the physicality / impact.

Fusion 1 retains the IEM mid-range while adding a slight tinge of warmth. If the IEMs have a smooth mid-range, the Fusion 1 retains the smoothness, and that slight warmth makes the vocals sound natural and lifelike. Instruments too get a slight analog touch with the Fusion 1, thanks to that tinge of warmth. The Fusion 1 doesn't mess with the note weight and delivers what the IEM is capable of.



The treble is sparkly and smooth. There are no spikes, no sharpness, and no sibilance. The treble is somewhat tamed, especially when compared to the likes of Horus, but there is plenty of air and micro-details. The Fusion 1 basically enhances the overall experience of the IEM by presenting the IEM's sound profile as is for the most part, but adding a slight tinge of warmth and bringing out the tiniest of details.

Technically, the Fusion 1 is one of the best cables I've tried to date. It maximizes the resolution of the IEM. The simplest way I can explain this is that I felt like I'd zoomed in a level while listening to the Volür with the Fusion 1. The sound is immersive and detailed. The soundstage on the Volür was huge, holographic, and deep. The RN6 has an intimate soundstage by design, but the extra level of detail made it sound far more dynamic and immersive.

Conclusion:
Cable rolling is a huge topic of debate amongst audiophiles, and I'm not going to get into whether it is worth it or not. One is either a believer or not. I'm able to hear the difference with Fusion 1, and I'm glad that I bought this cable to maximize the performance of my IEMs. Hence, if one were to ask me, if you have the budget for it, the Fusion 1 is definitely a great cable that will maximize the performance of your IEM. The fact that it has ConX and TermX makes it future-proof, should you plan to upgrade / change your IEMs.

Preamble​

Stupidly I forgot to take pics of all the cables, so please enjoy this one I took of the Fusion 1 and a terrible photo rounding them all up later on.

Many thanks to @Damz87 and @EffectAudio for arranging the Australian tour of the Fusion 1, Ares S, Cadmus S and the Code 23. Shoutout to @GiullianSN as well for lending me his personal Cleopatra II Octa for the sake of this review.

The IEMs used to for this review included:

• Fir Audio RN6;
• Fir Audio XE6;
• Fir Audio NE4;
• UM MEST MK2;
• EA x Elysian Gaea; and
• Elysian Diva.

The world of cable rolling has been a rather divisive one, with two parties seemingly slinging mud at one another over a fence. On one side, lies the denier, who vehemently disagrees that there is any sonic benefit to be gained from a cable change. On the other side lies the enthusiast who swears by synergistic pairings and the importance of cable rolling to eek out as much performance as possible. And in the middle, the fence sitters such as myself, who had little experience with a variety of cables and had little funds or interest to investigate further.

And so, when the opportunity arose for me to experiment with a venerable cornucopia of cables from well known manufacturer, Effect Audio, I jumped at the opportunity.

Today’s review concerns the Fusion 1, their latest entry into the market but also includes a review of:

• Ares S 8W;
• Cadmus S 8W;
• Code 23;
• Cleopatra II OCTA

The Factual Stuff​

Ares S 8W:​

Part of the Effect Audio Signature line and also available in a 4 core version (4 wires instead of the 8 on this model), the Ares utilises 8 wires of 24 AWG UP-OCC copper litz. Combined with their rather handsome aluminium and carbon fibre hardware, the Ares also utilises EA’s ConX interchangeable IEM connectors and a TermX interchangeable termination.

The Ares is priced at 279 USD.

Cadmus 8W:​

Similarly to the Ares, the Cadmus is also available in a 4 wire version and utilises the ConX and TermX technology. Where it differs is it’s use of 24 AWG UP-OCC silver-plated copper litz. The Cadmus is priced at 299 USD.

Code23:​

Utilising a 2-wire configuration of some thicc 16.5AWG cable, it utilises a solid copper core surrounded by 12 multi-size strands of copper litz. The Code23 adopts some very serious looking hardware.

The Code23 is priced at 599 USD.

Cleopatra II Octa:​

Part of the Heritage line, the Cleo utilises 8 wires of 26 AWG UP-OCC silver litz that are insulated and enamelled. The Cleo opts for more lightweight hardware compared to the other cables in this shootout.

The Cleo is priced at 1799 USD.

Fusion 1:​

The latest cable out of EA’s labs, the Fusion 1 utilises a mix of gold-plated silver litz, pure silver litz and pure copper litz to form a two-wire configuration with 21 AWG wire. This is combined with some very clean looking hardware.

It is priced at 999 USD.

The Opinion Stuff​

Sound:​

Now let’s get this out of the way, there is plenty of literature and double-blind tests and other evidence to point to that there is no perceptible difference with cables.

With that being said, I heard a difference. Chalk it up to a trick of the mind, preconceptions or simply me having ded ears, I don’t think you would read a cable review if you had an inkling that changing cable would change sound.

Ares:​

I am well aware of the various traits held to pure copper cables and as such, that preconception may have coloured the following opinion but the Ares is definitely all about that low-end warmth. Utilising the Ares with IEMs such as the XE6, an already warm and impactful IEM seemed to indulge even more with the mid-bass frequencies. Combining the Ares with more neutral IEMs such as the MEST MKII imbues a much needed sense of warmth and note weight creating a increased sense of impact.

Outside of the bass, the Ares seemed to pull back female vocalists away from the mic and recessed the mids of my IEMs slightly.

Outside of tonality, when comparing the Ares against stock cables, it seemed to minorly improve some technicalities by deepening the stage ever so slightly but this may be a trick of the mind through the increased bass response and seemingly more recessed vocals.

Overall, the Ares provided a warm and engaging listening experience that would be suited to imbuing a sense of easygoingness to more clinical and neutral IEMs in the market.

I would feel comfortable buying the Ares to have in rotation but also note that the difference was not hugely significant to me to swipe my credit card immediately.

Cadmus:​

Compared to the Ares, the Cadmus injects a sense of airiness to whatever IEM it is paired with. Upper mids come forward in the mix and there is a greater sense of perceived detail retrieval with all IEMs that I tested with it. There is a slight emphasis on sub-bass compared to mid-bass on the Cadmus but overall, it is not doing noticeable increases in the quantity of bass. The increased airiness adds a sense of drama to the upper end of the frequency response curve with a greater sense of tingliness with treble-heavy tracks in my library. However, the caveat of this was increasing levels of shoutiness with certain instrumentation and female vocalists. This was apparent in an A-B test of the Cadmus with the Ares.

The adjustments to the tonality of whatever IEM I was listening to appeared to present the Cadmus as a much more technical representation of an IEM. Things felt more neutral if it was already a coloured tuning and more neutral IEMs started to shift into the realm of more bright. There was a sense of greater clarity and detail but again, this may be a result of tuning differences.

Overall, the Cadmus seems more suited to injection some life and energy into more “lethargic” IEMs that may seem dark or veiled. The difference between stock cables within this test demonstrated a more significant difference than if I was A-Bing between stock and the Ares.

Code23:​

The Code23 represented a specialist cable through and through. Combined with any IEM in this review, the Code23 opened up the stage wider and deeper. Vocals became very forward into the mix presenting the image of a singer in a rather large auditorium singing at you instead of a phone booth like the Ares.

The note weight seemed to float away into a very light and effortless reproduction of instruments and vocals in the mids. With certain IEMs such as the Gaea, the bass felt slower and more boomy than the stock cable. However, on the whole one could potentially characterise the Code23 as reproducing an overly thin representation of whatever IEM you are listening to owing to the upper mid lift and increase in spaciousness. Technical performance in terms of layering, imaging and staging seemed to be substantially different to the Ares and Cadmus with these elements being sharpened out and microdetails becoming far more present.

Overall, I felt that the Code23 was less of a one-size fits all cable when compared to the Cadmus or the Ares but rather coloured sound in a manner that felt faster, more technical and less weighty. This was a rather good pairing with more dark sounding IEMs like the XE6.

The Code23 demonstrated a rather large difference against the stock cable but this isn’t necessarily a good thing given the above notes.

Cleo II 8W:​

I would term the Cleo as a more relatable version of the Code23 and perhaps the lovechild of the Code23 and the Cadmus. Silver is usually associated with brighter tonality and the Cleo seems to eschew that for a more balanced approach to sound signature. The vocals became quite forward in the mix and the staging opened up rather well, not to the extent of the Code23 but wider than the Cadmus. The leading edge of certain notes seemed to be smoother than the Code23 and I felt myself cringing less to some sibilant notes in EDM songs in my playlist when compared to the Code23. Furthermore, there appeared to be the retention of sub-bass impact.

All of these elements combined to a greater sense of perceived technical performance. Pinpointing certain sounds and instruments within a complicated song became easier yet retained a naturalness and smoothness that was very easy to listen to.

Overall, the Cleo presents a wonderful balanced approach to music reproduction with the slight caveat that vocals (and perhaps mids in general) may have been brought too forward into the mix.

Fusion 1:​

The subject of this review is the lucky last cable in this shootout, but that is for good reason. The Fusion 1 is a wonderful all-rounder in the same vein as the Cleo. This generous mix of materials seem to delicately balance all of the qualities held to each material. The Fusion manages to have a responsive and punchy low-end, a strong presence to the mids that is neither too heavy nor too thin in terms of note weight and the treble was lifted slightly imparting a sense of drama and sparkle to any IEM it was paired with.

The retention of low-end impact without being overly done with darker IEMs like the Ares was a refreshing benefit of the Fusion 1, it seemed to do so at little to no cost in terms of becoming too boomy and overly warm.

Moving on to technical performance, the Fusion seems to stage the deepest out this round-up and creates a greater “out-of-head” experience with any IEM that I threw at it. It did so without the cost of diminishing any particular element of the frequency response curve and thus presented to me, the most enjoyable experience with certain acoustic and orchestral music. Detail retrieval and imaging also improved to other IEMs in this round-up, representing a major jump from the Ares and the Cadmus and a subtle but apparent jump from Code23 and potentially the Cleo.

Overall, the Fusion 1 seems to be best all-rounder out of the cables in this round-up and I feel that it would not feel out of place on most IEMs in one’s collection. It potentially may lean a little bright and I would hesitate to pair it with an already-bright IEM but otherwise, if I was to speak in potential hyperbole, seemed to make everything 5% better.

Ergonomics & Quality of Life:​

Ares / Cadmus:​

Considering the similarity of these two cables, I believe they were largely the same in terms of ergonomics. Considering the 8 wire configuration, these are much beefier and chunkier than the usual cables you get with your IEMs or the 4w versions of these cables (duh).

This additional weight and heft does limit ergonomics slighty in that the ear hooks are rather cumbersome and the weight of the cable tends to add to the potential of dislodging the earpieces.

However, despite the rather large size of the cable, it remains fairly pliable and does not seem to retain much memory, unfurling quite nicely and not kinking unless you tangle up the cable and shove it back into its case. These are hugely beneficial when compared to more stiff cables such as my PWAudio MEST MK2 cable.

Aside from that, both cables adopt some rather chunky metal hardware for the Y-split leading to a rather ostentatious presentation and something rather annoying if you use a cross body bag such as myself.

The Ares and the Cadmus also implement creature comforts in the form of TermX and ConX, allowing the user to switch between 3.5, 4.4 and 2.5 (yuck) mm terminations and between MMCX, 2 pin and Pentaconn connectors. These are huge benefit to those with a range of IEMs in their collection or simply see their cable as a longer term investment, to go through various IEMs over the course of several years. There are however, some caveats with the TermX and ConX connectors. The TermX connector utilises a 4 pin connection between the wire and the relevant termination, there is potential for this to be dislodged and lead to the rather concerning experience of wondering why there is no sound coming from your IEM. Whilst easily rectifiable, this does not inspire much confidence as to the potential longevity of these connectors.

Overall, I feel that the additional heft of the wires themselves is not much of an issue. However, the hardware chunkiness presents some difficulties in comfortably using the cables when on the go.

Code23:​

Where do I begin with the ergonomics of the Code23, perhaps with the statement that there are no ergonomics. The Code23’s thick wire use and its sleeving reminds one of Hifiman’s medical tubing cables and leads to an extremely stiff and unwieldy cable. It retains it shape and develops kinks extremely easily and the stiffness and weight of the cable seems to be fighting against gravity as soon as the earpieces go in. The stiffness of the cable also made it very uncomfortable with larger and heavier IEM earpieces.

I do not believe the Code 23 is viable for anything else that some at-home listening which for my use case is a huge disadvantage. The hardware is also similarly chonky and issues arise with changing out the TermX connector in that the hardware requires some muscling to be pulled back on the wire. All of these elements combine for an unwieldy and annoying listening experience that detracts from comfort and from long-term listenability.

My observations relating to TermX and ConX outlined in the Ares / Cadmus discussion hold and this is worsened just by the sheer volume the Code23 takes up.

Overall, this is potentially the worst cable I have used ergonomically and as such I cannot recommend it to anyone that I believe would ever have to move slightly with their IEMs in their ears.

Cleo II 8W:​

Similar to the Ares and the Cadmus, the Cleo has a rather thick cable owing to its 8 wire setup. However, where the Cleo differs is its rather lightweight hardware which has a smaller footprint than the Ares/Cadmus. The result of this is a rather elegant looking cable that is ergonomically more viable in my use-case when compared to the Ares/Cadmus.

Compared to the Code 23, the Cleo II seems as if I am using a 2 wire twisted cable from Moondrop it feels that light. I am a tremendous fan of the ergonomics of the Cleo II when compared to the other cables in this review. Whilst the 8W set up inevitably causes issues with ear hooks and just the thickness of the main portion of the cable, the lightweight hardware and the rather malleable nature of the cable itself lends itself to being liveable compared to the Ares and the Cadmus.

As was the case with the other cables in this review, the Cleo’s ConX and TermX connectors provide you with tremendous compatibility.

Fusion 1:​

Like the Code23, the Fusion 1 adopts a two-wire construction utilising thicker cable. Where they differ is in the sheathing of the cable and the overall pliability thereof. Where the Code 23 seems like it can stand up with its own stiffness, the Fusion 1 remains more malleable. In this regard, the Fusion 1 presents a far more ergonomic solution compared to the Code23 but when compared to the 8 wire setups with thinner gauge cable, the Fusion 1 does remain cumbersome.

However, its ergonomics do not restrict or destract from the listening experience in the same manner as the Code23 and its perceived performance provides me with some greater desire to work around its slightly thicker than usual construction.

Where things start to fall apart is with the TermX connector, which as noted above, has a tendency to disconnect with the application of slight tension. Whilst this was true for most of the cables in this line-up, this issue was particularly prominent with the Fusion 1. Whilst the Code 23 had enough cable stiffness and very slight tolerances against the hardware, the Fusion does not have such idiosyncrasies to prevent disconnection.

Value​

The cost of these cables differs quite considerably but some general points can be made regarding the value of these things. If you plan on chucking any of these cables on a Salnotes Zero I would probably say don't bother and use the cable funds on another IEM. If you have a collection of IEMs or have a TOTL you're looking to squeeze out some extra performance or merely synergise better with then its a different story.

I cannot comfortably say that I recommend everyone run out and buy any of these cables but I can definitely say that the investment that a Fusion or the Cleo commands is somewhat alleviated by the ConX and TermX capabilities of all these cables. These cables will outlast a range of IEM changes and will be able to adapt to you as your collection changes.

Otherwise, I would say that the differences that the Ares and Cadmus brought were not significant enough for me to go out and buy one myself.
The Code23 has horrendously poor ergonomics and I cannot say it is worth it if you don't intend to sit perfectly still at a desktop setup.
The Cleo is the most expensive but the combination of great ergonomics and great sound mean that it is perhaps an investment that is worthwhile to someone having consistent changes in their IEM lineup.
The Fusion 1, like the Cleo, seems like a great all-rounder and thus justifies its pricepoint somewhat.

At the end of the day, I am a mere mid-fi, kilobuck enjoyer and as such, none of these cables will probably find themselves in my cart but if you have the means, I can heartily recommend Fusion 1 and Cleo.

Conclusion:​

Call it placebo, call it confirmation bias, call it simply having ded ears, the experience of rolling cables has given me an appreciation for them outside of their aesthetic appeal and ergonomic benefits. The subtle shifts in sound quality and signature with changing cables provides an added layer of customisability that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring and experimenting with. Synergy is a word that is often thrown around and in the case of cable rolling, it seems to me that it is a crucial part of those looking to play around with the nuances of their IEM.

On that basis, I note the following conclusions on each cable:

Ares S 8W:​

Warmed up in the mid-bass and imparting extra weightiness to the notes, the Ares 8W provides an end-user with greater impact and aggression to their IEM. Whilst technical differences were almost neglible in my listening, the Ares 8W is a well-made and rather comfortable cable outside of its sheer thickness and the girth of the hardware.

I rate the Ares 8W as an injection of fun into any IEM but overall, I give it a 6 out of 10 (where stock on each IEM tested is a 5).

Cadmus 8W​

A lift in the upper mids and an injection of air, the Cadmus alters sound signatures to be more clear and layered in its presentation. The perception of sounds and the ability to directionally pin-point these are improved. It appears that bass is diminished, either in absolute or simply relative to the rest of the FR curve, the Cadmus lacks low-end impact.

The ergonomics are similar if not the same to the Ares.

I rate the Cadmus as a brighter cable and overall I give it a 7 out of 10 in that it provides strong technical proficiencies and a more dramatic difference against stock.

Code23:​

Absolutely horrendous ergonomics but a tremendous expansion of staging makes the Code23 a mixed bag. The Code23 provided the greatest difference against stock cables but perhaps to its detriment. It imparts a dryness and diffused signature that may be construed as overly airy and potentially thin.

I rate the Code 23 as a 1 out of 10 simply due to the ergonomic deficiencies. Completely ignoring the elephant in the room of ergonomics and considering certain IEMs in the market that one would pair this with, it could potentially be an 8 or a 9 out of 10.

Cleo:​

8 wire but pliable, angular hardware but lightweight, great balanced approach to sound injection a sense of space, perceived technical improvements and great staging lead me to a 8 out of 10.

Prohibitively expensive yes, but for that I feel you get a cable that could last years and years of IEMs constantly rotating through and the likelihood that each and every one of them would work well with the Cleo.

Fusion 1:​

Good but not great ergonomics combined with a balanced approach to altering the frequency response present the Fusion 1 as a more jack-of-all-trades cable. There is a slight lean to highs in the Fusion 1 but I would not go so far as to say it is a “bright cable”. There is a retention of low-end, a lift in mids and a sparkle imparted in the high-end whilst opening up staging and imaging to a point of superlatives.

I rate the Fusion 1 as a 9 out of 10 due to my belief that it would synergise well with a lot of IEMs with manageable ergonomics