This is not an advertisement but it is definitely a recommendation. Nothing was handed to me for free. I bought these cables with my money and on top of that, I don't even know the guy who makes these cables but I know that he is probably the best IEM cable maker I have tried - and believe me, I have tried a lot including stuff from Moon Audio.
Okay, so it was a giveaway right there that this has to do with IEM cables. I came across one (just a single review) of this Asian guy Gu who makes good cables. Thought I might give it a try. Went for his cheapest one and ordered a balanced one to use with my UE 900s. And oh boy was I in for a surprise! I was overwhelmed. Here's why:
The Presentation (pictures at the end)
Would you look at that? That's a velvetty cardboard little box and inside there is a cloth cover. Below that, lied the cable. There was a 2.5 to 3.5mm converter for the convenience and which is not even mentioned in his Aliexpress store. Just see the pictures, guys. This is too much - I mean, what more can you ask for? I paid like $59 or something and seems like something more premium than any Audioquest box I have ever seen. A real plyester bag, for a cable! Wow! That too inside a real box that you are gonna keep. Trust me.
The Material
According to the difference price ranges you will get your high priced pure silver coated to .5N OCC copper cables from this guy. It may range from as low as $35 and as high as ten times that. The best thing is, this guy is no BS. He will show you a certification and you can just go take it to your local jewellery store to see if you want to see how much silver purity and your local tech shop to test the purity of copper. I think this transparency is what sets him apart from other "independent" cable makers. There are hundreds of other stores on Aliexpress that would rip you off. But not this guy! You get what you read/see.
The Braid(s) and Strands
Like the other review on Headfi about Gu's craftsmanship, his braids are different from others. He uses a sort of his own design of a crysallish shape of braids. See the pictures besides my "very think and awesome" Fearless Audio S8F stock cables side by side. His braids can be picked out by anyone acquainted to him just by eeing the braids. No other cable maker has the same design. And ohh the strands. They speak for themselves. Again, what you see is what you get. More like, what you are promised is what you will get.
Sound
Okay okay! I don;t want to go on a war about the debate between cables making sonic difference. Let's just say I DO believe in balanced vs. unbalanced and also a crappy vs. a great cable. As the ladder clims - you reach the point of diminishing returns of course. But, yes cables do play a role in the sound if it's an analog cable that you will probably run from your DAP to your ear. It IS a big deal! And yes, it makes a difference!
With Gu's cable with the UE900s I can totally hear a staging improvement along with tighter bass, punchier mid-bass and the best part - a much clearer presentation all across the place with supreme instrument separation. But it is very neutral sound - nothing over emphasized (but of course it's job is to retain the character of your IEM without making any noise - at it does it better than any that I have heard before). Still, you may be surprized what an ipgraded IEM cable can do. Again, note that this was my first try with Gu's cables and so it was the cheapest too. But I believe it made the most upgrade in my sound.
Then after he earned my respect (and money), I ordered a pricier cable for my recently acquired Fearless Audio s8 Freedom which I absolutely love - and also can go as far to say that it will give the Andromeda a run for her money. I particulatly ordered the "GuCraftsman 6n OCC Silver 2 pin IEM Cable meant for 64 audio U12t, Tia Fourte" for $128 (
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/GUC...urte-Oriolus-re2000-Legend-X/32982536849.html).
And holy macaroni! The surprize factor was less this time because, hey, now I know what to expect. Now, I have the IEMs with the cables in my ear running from my X5 MK3. The sound is full bodied (than stock), cleaner. I wouldn't say that it has made a different IEM out of an already amazing IEM. That's not its job. But I can hear every instrument separately with a pitch black background even from a DAP that is known for some noise! On top of that, I am listening to Rage Against the Machine and I can pick out the so-rare-to-find cowbell noise from "Killing in the name of" So go figure!
Price (and "keyword" Craftsmanship)
Yes, Gu is pricier than his competition. Oter stores will offer you something of the same specs for cheaper but Gu will give you the real thing, as promised. On top of that, there's a reason for the Craftsmanship.
Gu's craftsmanship is what you are paying for - cosmetic and sonic. More on the sonic side of course but also for the hand made "honest yet premium" (honest and premium - tangibly and also sonically) cables!
Thank you Gu. You are an artist of IEM cables. Hats off to your craftsmanship.
Link to Gu's Store: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/3879013
