In August 2024, Han Sound introduced the cable of the earphone named” KULA,” a brand new cable is specifically designed and tuned for those with enthusiasm for the music of anime.
The way KULA looks bears PVC wrap in semi-transparent and the color of Violet. The inner hidden a blue yarn in a contrasting color design is not monotonous but presents unique beauty. It seems like a blooming splash of color in the music world. Combining two different types of OCC litz and silver-plated-copper litz, similar to a coaxial structure, allowing one of each note to shine like a star. The dynamic experience is different from the past experience.
KULA took the Litz Type 4 of 24 AWG structure as the foundation to ensure stable signal transmission and excellence in sound quality performance. When the adequate conductor of 24 AWG maintains softness, it simultaneously provides excellent durability and anti-interference ability.
The conductors chosen were OCC litz and silver-plated-copper litz, deployed respectively at the conductor’s core and external area. The silver-plated-copper litz were arranged in the external area, and the OCC litz were placed in the core area. Such an arrangement not only abundant the charm in low and middle frequency but also further enhances the correspondence in high frequency, allowing each detail of the music to be listened to articulated, and the high intensity of Nylon yarn was placed in the center area of the core to reduce the quiver and strengthen the toughness of the conductor.
The cable of Kula is wrapped with medical-grade PVC as the jacket, with a tender and elegant violet color, full of fashion and personality. The single blue litz of silver-plated-copper is hidden in the violet color, such that the color arrangement benefits the core of the cable and adds extreme taste with youth and dynamic.
The abundance of the atmosphere appears in Kula's sense of pitch, light-weighted, transparent, and not boring; the flexibility is in low frequency bearing full of dynamic rhythm, the broad band of fluent vocal bearing the sense of intangible, lean on forward but not crowed, the sound stage completed and possess the quality of the music with the feeling of water-slippery.
When the listeners are on a dynamic dance floor, Kula allows them to feel the sudden moment in of each rhythm, whether a fine melody or a passionate and excited rhythm. It enables each music lover to immerse themselves in the ocean of the touched music.
Features
Especially designed for music of anime and fast rhythm
Composed of OCC and Silver-Plated-Copper similar as coaxicial structure
Pros: Improved Lower Ends of the Frequencies, Opens up the Sound to More Spectacular, Brilliant Looking
Cons: Not Much (Price Could be a bit Lower, Nitpicking)
HAN SOUND KULA- AN IMMERSIVE DIVE
DISCLAIMER: The Han Sound Audio team sent Han Sound KULA to us directly, free of charge, for review purposes. This review is also special as this is our first collaboration with Han Sound Audio, and we would like to thank the Han Sound team for their kind support of Aural Cafe.
Introduction: -
Today at Aural Cafe, we will review HAN SOUND KULA, an IEM cable for a change. HAN SOUND KULA is the latest budget offering from the house of Taiwan-based HAN SOUND Audio featuring OCC Litz and Silver-Plated-Copper (SPC) Litz wires in coaxial structure.
We at Aural Cafe strongly believe that it’s the foundation, the team, which is responsible for the success of the product, so let's start the review of Han Sound KULA by introducing our readers and the newbie audiophiles with the HAN SOUND Audio first. Han Sound Audio started its journey of manufacturing high-quality upgrade cables for headphones and in-ear monitors (IEMs) way back in 2012 by establishing a shop in Taiwan by the name ‘HAN VOICE’. The first cable from the Han Sound Audio was an IEM cable with the name ‘MAGIC’ which was launched in February 2012. The team at Han Sound started the expedition for hi-fi sound by taking cues from high-end acoustic system structure design and implementing the same into the IEM chain. The big moment for Han Sound came in 2016 when Han Sound came up with the world's softest upgraded cable ‘ZEN’. The excellent sensation of wearing and skin-friendly texture of ‘ZEN’ made it an instant hit among audiophiles. In 2017, when we were just entering the Audiophile hobby, Han Sound Audio came up with their first headphone cable. This was not all as Han Sound launched the world's first IEM cable with shielding feature named ‘VENOM’ in 2017. The design separated signal and shield ground and achieved ground connecting effect through player devices with 2.5mm and 3.5mm output or 4.4mm output. The result was solid as the shielding helped in a blacker background thereby effortlessly retrieving the micro details along with an enhanced soundstage.
What makes Han Sound Audio different from the other premium cable manufacturers is its core values, innovation, cooperation, and integrity. All the cables owned by Han Sound are designed and invented by Han Sound. Unlike most brands that purchased standard cable structure directly from cable factories, the Han Sound team designed the cable structure itself and then entrusted the qualified factories in Taiwan. During the handmade process, all the hand braiding and welding are made by the professional staff of Han Sound. This is how Han Sound has been able to differentiate itself from the competitors and survive for such a long duration while going strong. Being in this hobby for the last 9 years, we also came to know that Taiwan-based factories are very efficient in coming up with high quality wires and many premium brands source their cables from Taiwan. Since Han Sound is a Taiwan-based IEM and headphone cable brand, we at Aural Cafe are a bit more excited to test KULA.
HAN SOUND KULA is the latest IEM cable in the budget segment from the house of HAN SOUND Audio featuring OCC Litz and SPC Litz wires in coaxial structure. HAN SOUND KULA was launched in August 2024, especially for audiophiles with enthusiasm for the fast rhythmic music of anime. KULA retails for around 999 HKD and comes only in 4.4 termination, along with two-pin and MMCX options. We at Aural Cafe will be reviewing the two-pin version of the KULA. The team at Han Sound Audio took the Litz Type 4 core wires of 24 AWG structure as the foundation for KULA to ensure stable signal transmission. The 24 AWG wire is integrated into Kula by the Han Sound Audio team to achieve sound transmission stability along with added benefits of durability and anti-interference capability. While the OCC Litz wire forms the core of KULA, the silver-plated-copper Litz wire is deployed on the external area of KULA in coaxial structure to enhance the lows and Mids of the overall sound frequency. The tale doesn’t end here as the high intensity blue colour nylon yarn was placed in the center area of the core to reduce the quiver vis-a-vis strengthening the toughness of the OCC Litz core. As per Han Sound team, such kind of arraying doesn’t only make the lows more dynamic and the Mids sweeter but adds smoothness and stability to the Highs of the overall sound frequency. HAN SOUND KULA retails for around 999 HKD.
Specifications: -
Material: Composed of OCC and SPC in co-axial structure
Color: Violet
Jacket: PVC
Gauge: 24 AWG
Standard Type: 4-wire
Weight: 33.1g
Termination: 2-Pin and 4.4mm
Length: 1.2 meters
Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -
As you can see from our short unboxing video () KULA arrived in Han Sound Audio’s classic square shape, shiny silver colour cardboard box. On the top is a brand logo in copper colour, which is so cool as the logo is inspired by the PAC MAN Game of the 1990s. On careful examination, one can locate the Brand Han Sound Audio written at the bottom part of the logo, while the back side of the box is where the specification of the Kula is printed. Opening the upper lead followed by opening a round cut-out cover, we are directly welcomed after by the beautiful vibrant Violet colour Kula IEM cable along with the stock accessories. Kula comes with a brownish colour cable strap along with a small black colour PVC accessory which can be used to manage the cable during usage. The thoughtful usage of a shiny silver box along with a copper colour logo symbolizing the combination of wires being integrated into Kula is quite fun and pleasant at the same time. Overall, the unboxing experience of Han Sound Kula is simple and functional, which is fine as Kula is a budget offering from Han Sound Audio.
When it comes to the build quality, Kula, despite being a budget offering from the Han Sound Audio, the Han Sound team seems to have given their best to come up with a solid, durable and vibrant cable for an audiophile and anime enthusiast. Instead of the usual boring transparent PVC jacket, Kula comes wrapped in a vibrant violet colour medical grade PVC jacket which just adds up to the vibrancy and fun quotient of the Kula as the upgrade IEM cable. From the very moment one opens the silver colour box, the Kula, through its violet-coloured PVC jacket, transports a user to the world of anime and gaming. The soul of the Kula is as solid as its outer vibrant body, as the team at Han Sound Audio has integrated two types of high-quality Litz wires into the Kula. While the OCC Litz wire forms the core of KULA, the silver-plated-copper Litz wire is deployed on the external area of KULA in coaxial structure to enhance the lows and Mids of the overall sound frequency. On careful examination, one can also see a single blue Litz of silver-plated-copper is hidden in the violet color, such that the color arrangement benefits the core of the cable vis-a-vis adding up to the overall fun and youthful quotient of the Kula.
Kula also comes integrated with the Han Sound proprietary black colour standard metal, chisel-top Y-split along with the brand logo in the centre, accompanied by the matching black colour metal cable cinch. Lastly, the cable terminates with the solid gold-plated 4.4 mm plug, along with a beautiful honeycomb textured body. All in all, Kula is quite supple and light in weight along with the usual kinks in the two-pin side. We at Aural Cafe would also like to add here that we didn’t come across any kinds of noise or microphones during our usage and testing.
Sound Analysis: -
To test the Kula rightfully, we tested it with a hi-end neutral IEMs and Sources.
Tonality: - After pairing Kula with several neutral IEMs and testing Kula for several days, we feel that Kula didn’t alter the overall character of the neutral IEM. What Kula actually does is add a dash of musical soul to the overall sound frequency without altering the neutrality of the IEMs. From the very moment we compare Kula with the stock cable of the hi-end neutral IEM we can feel a definite improvement in the overall sound transparency. The micro details come across more boldly in comparison to the stock cable. There is a definite quantitative improvement in the lows and upper-mid range of sound frequency. Kula ends up adding a lot of weight in the lows, which is quite engaging and immersive to experience. The vocals have a better note weight and thickness, which is really fun to experience. The musical instruments, especially the string-based instruments, sound more soulful and natural with Kula at helm. The high quality Occ Litz core of Kula seems to be doing its job wonderfully well as it adds subtle musicality to the overall sound frequency. We at Aural Cafe feel that Kula will seamlessly merge with the anime-based soundtracks, and when it comes to us, we at Aural Cafe just enjoyed listening to Swashers by Yosi Horikawa.
Lows: - To test the effect of Kula in lows, we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Jean du Voyage – Nakshatram (feat. V. Soundara Rajan)’ and we paired it again with a high-end neutral source and IEM and compared the effect with the stock cable of the same IEM. After careful testing, we can confidently state that Kula definitely adds a subtle body to the subbass, making subbass a lot denser, which is fun to experience. When it comes to mid-bass, the Kula increases the dynamic quotient of the mid-bass, without affecting the body of the mid-bass as a result of which the mid-bass showcases a bit more punch and elasticity when Kula is paired with a neutral IEM. The increased dynamics just make the neutral IEM a lot more fun, engaging and truly immersive. We at Aural Cafe also like to add here that due to this quality of Kula, it will surely help an anime enthusiast to thoroughly enjoy the anime-based movie BGM and soundtracks.
Mids: - To test the effect of Kula on mids, we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Zariya’ composed by AR Rahman for Coke studio India. While the Kula doesn’t alter the positioning of the mids, both the male and female vocals sound a bit more soulful, textured and natural in comparison to the stock cable of the neutral IEM. We also experienced a definitive improvement in the note weight and thickness. When it comes to musical instruments, the string-based instruments especially exhibited a more lifelike natural timbre all thanks to the high-quality OCC Litz core of the Kula. The upper-mids also showcased a better stability on pairing Kula with a hi-end neutral IEM in comparison to the stock cable. Micro details also come out with a better body.
Highs: - To test the effect of Kula on highs we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Hotel California’ composed by the Eagles. We didn’t experience a major effect of Kula in this region. The Highs with Kula has a touch better extension in comparison to the stock cable, which can only be felt if one is listening to the soundtrack in an absolutely silent environment. The Kula does make the Highs a bit more stable and smoother in comparison with the stock cable of the neutral IEM.
Soundstage & Imaging: - To test the effect of Kula on the soundstage and imaging, we took help with the soundtrack ‘Skyfall’ written and beautifully sung by Adele. The Kula does enhance the lows as well as the highs, because of which we experienced a more spacious and open sound experience with the Kula when paired with the neutral IEM in comparison with the stock cable. We felt that kula surprisingly increased the soundstage depth while the soundstage width stayed more or less the same. When it comes to layering, the layering is a bit cleaner and more stable with Kula at the helm. When it comes to imaging, we didn’t find any impact of Kula on the imaging-capability of the IEM.
Synergy: - After testing Kula with many neutral, reference, and warm IEMs, along with a neutral source, we feel that Kula synergies at its best with neutral IEMs and reference tuned IEMs. When it comes to warm and musical IEMs, the Kula does make the lows a lot more engaging and punchier, which in return can be distracting for some, but it performs at its optimum with a neutral and reference IEM. Kula does make IEMs a lot more immersive and fun, and makes you feel that you are listening to closed-back headphones. The moment we swapped the stock cable of the reference IEMs with the Kula, the overall sound frequency became a lot more spacious, which is really a surprising and pleasant experience.
Conclusion: -
This review is kind of special for us at Aural Cafe as this is our first collaboration with Han Sound Audio and being our second review for an IEM cable. We started our audiophile journey around 2017. We do remember the craze of Han Sound Venom during that time, and we did aspire to have a Han Sound cable in our collection. In this musical journey of more than eight years, we also came to know that lots of premium cable manufacturers source their wires from Taiwan-based factories, so we were quite excited to review the cable of a solid Taiwan-based audio brand Han Sound for which we have deep respect and trust. During this journey, we have tested and owned lots of hi-end, and midrange cables across different premium brands such as PW Audio, Effect Audio, Rhapsodio, Linksmith and many others, and truly believe in the capability of a solid IEM cable. For Han Sound Kula, a budget offering from Han Sound, we at Aural Cafe didn’t have high expectations from it. But after testing Kula and listening to many soundtracks across genres, we are truly surprised by the capability of the Kula. From the very moment we swapped the stock cable of the IEM with Kula, the overall sound became a lot more transparent and spacious. The Kula also increased the overall dynamics of the lows while the mids sound a lot more textured and soulful thanks to Kula at the helm. So, the kind of effect which Kula has on overall sound frequency, we do believe that it will help an anime enthusiast to enjoy soundtracks and movies at their best. For an audiophile, if you are out there in a market in search of a top-quality cable to make your neutral IEM a lot more engaging and immersive, then Han Sound Kula can be a nice addition to your collection without going bankrupt. We at Aural Cafe surprisingly didn’t find any negatives with Kula, but if we do have to do a nitpick, then we wish that the price could be a tad bit less, making Kula a bit more accessible, especially among value-conscious audiophiles (which is a myth).
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