ISN G4 IEM cables

The ISN G4 Cable
It was one of those things in audio which is almost too good to be true. The simple ISN G4 cable was supposed to enhance almost every IEM it touched. How? The Graphene, the Gold Paint, the Copper etc etc....I’ll get to construction later. Also the G4 is quite the looker, as noted in the photos, that obviously helps sound!

But on a quest to fully test this phenomenon, it was the equal of Christmas here at Redcarmoose Labs. Yep, box tops we’re flying off and multitudes of IEMs were brought into service to try and pin-down exactly the heck was going on. Could it be true? Could there really be a cable like this? Surely a cable can’t enhance all signatures? I mean how does the cable know what to do, and this is fully against all I know and understand. Meaning I have a simplistic view of cable effects. Copper is warmer and enhances midrange and bass, plus normally smooths out treble. There are going to be Copper cables that don’t do such things, but I’m doing generalizations here for the sake of simplicity! Silver on the other hand increases soundstage and can reduce the bass and thin-out/brighten the treble/midrange. Gold makes stuff warmer, graphene is suppose to enhance soundstage and help with separation, and increase authority. So here is a quick rundown of my experiments with the ISN G4.

I used the Sony Walkman WM1Z, and the G4 on every test. Also amazingly I found the low-profile “donut” wide-bore tip to somehow work on every single IEM I used today!

The DUNU SA6: Included DUW-03 4.4mm ($550)
The Penon Serial: Included Penon SC819 4.4mm ($299)
The ZETIAN WU: Included 2Pin 5N OFC cable 3.5mm ($149)
The TSMR Land: Included TSMR standard 8 core silver plated OFC 3.5mm ($599)
The Penon Globe: Penon 8 core SPC with Mee adapter 4.4mm ($339)
The Noble Audio Encore: Only included cable I didn’t use. Comparison to Hansound ZEN 4 wire OCC 4.4mm ($1850)
ISN EST50: Included ISN S8 4.4mm ($459)

Above is the listed IEMs, they are all using included cables, except the Encore. The Encore has been used for years with the Hansound Zen 4.4mm, so I’m used to it. The LAND came with 3.5mm stock so that’s being used. The Penon Globe comes with 3.5mm or 2.5mm balanced, so I’m using the Mee adapter to go 4.4mm. And last but not least the ZETIAN WU came with 3.5mm but has an option for 4.4mm when you order it. Basically I’m listening for improvements how ever I can find them. So switching to a 4.4mm balanced amplifier from 3.5mm is going to be a big change none the less. Still this will hopefully show what the ISN G4 is about. I started off with the DUNU SA6 due to it being one of the first IEMs I tried, also it is well known.



The DUNU SA6:
This is a great starter as it’s well known and fairly respected in the community. The demeanor is very even handed with still a few quirks and personal traits. With a natural soundstage not always the biggest, we want to find out if the ISN G4 helps in that department. The bass could use a boost, as I use it now with the bass switch on, yet many can say impactful bass is not its best attribute. And finally my personal want would be to see if vocals couldn’t be helped in focus and separation allowing a slight more forward placement in the stage. This is pretty much a ridiculous list for Santa right? OK, here I am a 7 year old writing a letter to Santa.



Dear Santa,
I want a puppy dog for Christmas, oh and by the way these are the improvements I want for my DUNU SA6 IEM...................
Ridiculous right?

In testing the DUNU SA6:
Probably the separation at hand was the first noticeable thing. Remember too the ISN G4 is on sale. Regularly $199.00 on sale for $99.50 where the included DUNU SA6 cable is the legendary DUW-03. DUNU sell the DUW-03 for $199.99 all day long! So while the included DUNU cable is no slouch, the ISN G4 is a noticeable improvement. Besides the note separation there was a slight increase in note weight, as well as a slightly different bass character. A wider and noticeable depth to the bass that was new. And sure enough female vocals got a boost into the stage, while they still owned the slight steely-ness that’s just part of BA personality, no fixing that, other than to change-out the IEM. Still I can get used to the timbre, as this IEM is really a whole package of stuff, and valuable none-the-less. And now it became that much more valuable. Just a great IEM for what it does. Now to be real here the bass was not changed all that much, but there was separation and a slight boost. The separation added a thing to where the bass was just better localized and clearer, just not increased. Where normally there is a slight fog the bass is always fighting to escape from. Now obviously the tones in general still had that slight bunch-up that the SA6 is known for, so that was helped a little but that’s seemingly still there. All an all. A total success!



The Penon Serial:
Volume was the same at the start, though when the guitars kick-in there was a noticeable increase in midrange responsiveness at the exact same volume. This gave that section a feeling of loudness. Also surprisingly there was a slight reduction in bass emphasis. There was also a general forwardness of everything. But probably wanted the most was how the ISN G4 made brighter vocals. Not that the regular Penon SC819 cable has really any issues as far as balance. But the imaging of the guitars on the ISN G4 worth the price alone, just big, crunchy fun......focused and enhanced.



The ZETIAN WU:
Amazingly the included cable comes out sounding just slightly darker. Though that makes sense in that it’s 5N OFC. Still this change I even wrote in my ZETIAN WU review as being the way to go. Everything is increased as far as depth and stage, the pace (in clarity) seems brought up too? Still most of these changes would be a given going from copper to the Hybrid the ISN G4 is. It is represented with clearer/cleaner imaging and better separation into the stage. Any even small issues with clarity get fixed-up instantly. Though there is still this transition effect where one in a whole notes seem to get bundled up, and while the ISN G4 goes to improve that, it’s still there. There will always be a level of detail that the ZETIAN WU can’t reach, and all is forgiven due to a wonderful musicality, stage and pace. If anything this brighter version may be on the edge for some? Still I can get used to these effects! This was probably why they choose the copper cable to include, they were enhancing the inherent thickness…..there is nothing wrong with that!



The TSMR LAND:
The included cable is just OK, the ISN G4 is also way to thin/bright with the LAND. The LAND is a treble forward beast, and what it needs is the love of the PAC480. Such a cable will cater to the soundstage needs as well as a localization of imaging so important to get the right sound. The timbre and overall tone of the PAC480 with the LAND make the switch simple to make. Though the first 5 minutes with the LAND and ISN G4 was fun, it was not something I could live with for any great length of time. Hyper aggressive in nature, the two put together was like putting gas on a fire, hot. Just super imagined and spread way out to the outskirts of the soundstage. Bass was too thin with the ISN G4 LAND combo, but so lucky for the synergy of the PAC480.




The Penon Globe:
Instantly it was louder. Crazy. The vocals are way better separated into the mix, being not only more forward but an increase in detail and realism. Funny how I loved the Penon Globe in stock cable form, but this is a new chapter. Funny too as I had a feeling what the ISN G4 would do, it would be an addition to the sound of the Globe. Bass is better controlled and clarified, the added thickness............complete authority is increased. So far the ISN G4 does exactly what it is renowned to do……all of it. Though the interesting part was the diminishing of bass, in contrast to one or two included cables? This bass is tight, and while authoritative, does not really creep up into the midrange. While there is still a slight cathedral effect (reverberations) to the Globes, I sure in a hour I would get used to it.



The Noble Audio Encore:
This one I’m totally looking forward to as the Encore has been one of my single favorites for years and years, though the Encore is already bright, and I normally team it up with copper just to equalize the heat? Surprisingly the ISN G4 and Encore is spectacular. If anything it is showing me all the cymbals and upper realm of response. While the bass is tight, it has a loss of warmth from the copper. Really while this is a noticeable change, it is probably preference for someone to trade the slight bass loss for the treble gain. Though the more I listen the more it impresses me, just the spacial qualities, and transient response, everything is faster, while still holding the attributes I reach for the Encore left all in-tact. Guitars are still crunchy yet despite the heightened pace and thinner texture, they are still reminiscent of how the Encore sounds in the end.



The ISN EST50:
Yet another poster child for the clean-up! While the included ISN S8 cable is in general a well balanced additive to the sound, we may be looking for a slight boost in the midrange, while really this is very different from the W shape response of the Encore, maybe a mixture of the two could be an ultimate IEM? While it didn’t seem to make it drastically louder, it still gave that effect. Amazingly it did bring the vocals up, the bringing forth due to midrange size expansion. The thing is.........everything is bigger, so the vocals just go along with the program. While the EST50 has a great rhythm to its bounce, the ISN G4 takes a smidge of that away, but trades it for total clarity. It simply optimizes the whole sound signature. Elements in the stage are brought to life, bells ring louder, bass is more defined and faster, but most of all it removed a slight fog that was the tell-tale demeanor of the EST50 with stock cable. That character is still there, but somehow placed from upfront to behind the scenes? The amazing part was the ISN G4 almost perfectly fixed all the things I wanted fixed from the original cable, yet added thickness and treble definition at the same time? Wild?


Don’t wait as these are normally $199.00 but on sale for $99.50
https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-g4.html

Optional PAC480 cable
https://penonaudio.com/pac480-iem-cable.html

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm/3.5mm
Hansound Zen OCC 4 wire 4.4mm
The DUNU SA6: Included DUW-03 4.4mm
The Penon Serial: Included Penon SC819 4.4mm
The ZETIAN WU: Included 2Pin 5N OFC cable 3.5mm
The TSMR Land: Included TSMR standard 8 core silver plated OFC 3.5mm
The Penon Globe: Penon 8 core SPC with Mee adapter 4.4mm
The Noble Audio Encore: Comparison to Hansound ZEN 4 wire OCC 4.4mm
ISN EST50: Included ISN S8 4.4mm

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the ISN G4 review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

ISN Audio G4 OCC Graphene Silver-plated + OCC Graphene Gold Paint Hybrid HiFi Audiophile IEM cable

Description
Type-6 Litz configuration
Environmental protection transparent PVC sheath
Aluminum CNC alloy cutting integrated slider
The solder joints is silver–contained tin
Secondary oxidation gold foil gold ring

Specification
Brand:ISN Audio
Model: G4
Material: Single crystal copper mixed graphene silver-plated + single crystal copper mixed graphene gold paint hybrid cable
Number of cores: 4 shares of 180 cores per share
Connector: MMCX/2pin 0.78mm
Plug: Gold-plated
Cable length: 1.2M
Package
ISN G4

Conclusion:
The ISN G4 is a OCC 4 core Graphene infused cable. While its primary ingredient in Copper the additives help make it sound completely different than regular Copper cables. While the ratio of Silver to Copper is mainly Copper, the ISN G4 sounds almost like a Silver cable to me? Maybe that’s the Graphene talking, I don’t know, this is my first rodeo with Graphene. There are 4 cores and 180 shares. The cable is half graphene infused OCC Copper and the other half is a Silver-plated Graphene infused OCC mixed. For what it does, the results are simply amazing, though they are not exactly the same for every IEM. Meaning there is a mixture of the cables sound reflecting off the intrinsic sound of the IEM. At times the effect was wanted, though other times the add from the Silver was not needed, though the Graphene came along too and added its properties. Should you buy it? Well, it just depends on what you’re looking for. If you have an assortment of IEMs then you would probably benefit from the charms it brings. The end result for me was both a clarity and soundstage width, a rearranging of elements in the soundstage, and a tonal change overall. The ISN EST50 was truly incredible after the effects of the ISN G4, though also I like it with the ISN SC4 cable too. Though in comparison there was way more thickness combined with the added clarity from the ISN G4. The crazy part was how the ISN G4 found the exact reverberated low-end wash that ended as fog in the response, and moved it to the back of the soundstage. Sitting back there was maybe the place it should have been all along? Why this ISN G4 cable did exactly that, I’ll never know? It also brought up the imaging and relief was found to take place in a style of separation. If you think this is subtle, maybe it is, but it’s noticeable and fairly drastic once you start climbing into the rabbit-hole. These changes could easily be the same changes people find after spending more money on different IEMs. Only the change is often closer to perfection than first guessed. This is also different than an IEM purchase because of the utility of the ISN G4. It goes along with a bunch of gear and increases the entertainment factor. Such a cable is physically not really thick or thin, but is on the thicker side of the street. It comes in MMCX or 0.78 2 pin, it comes in 4.4mm and 2.5mm balanced as well as 3.5mm single ended. When you really get down to it this is a game of small details, there are only small details that separate the $500 IEM from the $900 IEMs, there is always that need for just an inkling of more detail or more authority.

Maybe the ISN G4 is all the cable you'll need, it does represent a true value for the community. Some cables are more money, some are less, but it is finding that new refreshing sound from an old IEM which makes the ISN G4 experience priceless!

ISN G4

Cables are a hot topic especially for enthusiasts. The IEM cable market nowadays has seen so many varieties and styles to choose, when it comes to cables. The big debate is do they actually help shape sonic qualities? On one side of the fence the objectivist enthusiasts do not believe in cables making any difference at all. I understand that notion but on the other hand there are people like myself that write cable reviews and talk about their finer qualities and how they affect sound for your earphones. I suppose my review here will help the folks that do like a good sound shaping cable to help with their IEM sonic profile more so than the science guys. My honest take on that is. Believe your own ears

The new ISN G4 is the first graphene infused cable by ISN and is priced to sell. When I did my first graphene cable review of the Penon OSG, I know there were some skeptics that came out of the woodworks. There always are, with the notion that graphene does nothing for sound properties. Even got a few laugh emojis. Who doesn't love a good laugh emoji. That was over a year ago when Penon released those. Today we see the newest cable also here incorporating some graphene for its cores. This time, a bit different. The OSG was more based on silver coated OCC copper cables which makes them more technical by default.

This time around the new G4 uses less silver but is more copper based on what the cables do. Hence these show more copper in sound properties vs being silver influenced. Even though 1/2th the cores are plated in silver. The actual mix of materials is half graphene infused OCC copper and the other half is a silver plated graphene infused OCC mixed. 4 cored with each core containing 180 shares of the stuff. The weave is finished off with a Litz type 6 configuration. Thicker and substantial in its size. These are more equivalent to most 8 cored cables in material bulk but in a 4 cored variant. I would say the weave is semi loose so moderate in its pliability with a very minimum of cable noise.

Standardly disclaimers; the sample was provided for the purpose of a review. If you like the descriptor of what I write here about the G4 you can certainly get one here on Penon web site here.

Bulkier, thicker cables have their purposes. If you throw on a substantial cable like the G4 on a thin sounding earphone more neutral in tuning. You will most certainly hear the benefits of a thicker copper cable. This does not change with the G4. The majority of its bulk is in fact copper. The good variety. OCC is equivalent to crystal copper and generally provides a clean, more fuller bodied natural sound presentation of your IEMs even more so the thicker the cables are.. It is the materials that are added to the copper cores that influence what copper cores do. Silver for better transients and detail with an added element of stage perception, graphene helps to enhance imaging of all things.

Better precision is another factor of the graphene influence on a sound. Graphene based cables by the way are much more numerous now in the wild and not so rare for cables anymore. The G4 affects the stage perception of your earphones. A wider, more expansive stage while adding more body, enhancing imaging to the host earphones sound. It is the graphene element that solidifies music notes to a better degree than cables without it. Sounds more precise in that regard. I noticed trebles are slightly smoother sounding from the G4 cable which bodes well for monitors with ample treble emphasis. Some pairings I will post on the read here show just that.

First up is ISNs own H50. You can read my take on the H50 here.
H50 comes with a good ISN S8 SPC cable that is a great starter cable. It will certainly give you a great idea how the H50 sounds but with the G4 brings the H50 into another level of sound. As mentioned before the sound expands in all directions giving a greater sense of space for your music. Bass I noticed gets a bump in presence while the entire presentation gets a slight forwarding in the mix. More than just a bump in stage you get a bump in imaging for your music. That added note weight for both vocals and instruments and you get a more higher end sounding H50. Superb pairing with the H50.

ISN EST50. You can read my take on them here.
The EST50 is ISNs flagship earphones and is ISNs best bass infused IEMs. The stock cable once again is the ISN S8. While a decent match up. The G4 does for the EST50 much like what it does for the H50. Expansion of stage and fullness of sound with added imaging. But one very important added benefit for the EST50 is its bass. The best bass presentation for the earphones using just about any cable I have tried on the EST50. Brawny bass is great n all but how about a more detailed brawny bass? That imaging enhancing element of graphene adds better imaging for the bass as well it seems. Big bold full bodied sound for the EST50 making it sound supercharged. Yet another great pairing for the EST50.

Geek Wold GK80. As of writing these aren’t even out yet. Look for my review of them here.
The GK80 is a new budget tribrid IEM that comes with a basic 4 core OFC cable. Not too different from other budget fi cables. The sound more than makes up for the lack of any decent cable. So these earphones will scale to better cables and sources much like previously mentioned ISN earphones but even more so as they are very limited in how they sound with the included cable. The ISN G4 is a substantial upgrade for the DX80. Yes we are talking about a cable that cost 2X more than the earphones themselves but hey the GK80 is worthy of such a cable. This pairing adds that stage element but more so how dynamic the GK80 can sound with the G4 pairing. Using the G4 is consistent on 3 aspects of enhancing your IEMS. Bass,stage and imaging. The GK80 gets bass fullness and presence, mids sees an uptick in precision and imaging. Trebles sound cleaner and well defined. Going back to the stock cable will sadden you as you will clearly be able to tell it is not the same sound you are hearing with the G4 cable.

Last but not least. With the new Tansio Mirai Akiba.
So this was a complete utter surprise. The included cable on the Akiba is no joke, it is also OCC material but plated in some thicker shiny silver. I got word the cable that comes with the Akiba might make it to market as a separate sales item. Not 100% certain on that but it is a great included cable nonetheless. I can even say the value on the included Akiba cable should be more than the ISN G4 as it has a highly transparent cable. An excellent match up with the Akiba. With the G4 the Akiba takes on a more aggressive slightly warmer more bass infused profile.

The new Akiba has some outstanding BA bass to begin with and the G4 brings out even more of it. Not only is the bass more prominent but does show an increase of note weight here as well compared to the stock cable. I do feel the stock cable has an edge for detail retrieval on the AKiba as the silver element really enhances that aspect of the sound on the Akiba but for a more musical fullness leaning that overall tonality more toward a slight warmth vs the slight brightness of the stock sound. The ISN G4 brings another sound element to the new flagship recently released by Tansio Mirai. Imaging here is very similar however as I can’t give the edge to the G4 as the stock cable does a great job with each BA and EST drivers. While the treble is not as accented on the G4 that upper energy is now taken to the low end of the sound profile.
Superb match up on the Akiba.

In the end.
The ISN G4 clearly is a versatile cable for your $100 and that is the type of cable you want. It is a musical enhancing cable that will do that for just about every earphone it is attached to. If you feel you need a bit of a musical injection for your earphone and want a full bass and mids presentation with enhanced imaging, stage and better precision. Try out the ISN G4, there are cables that do these aspects better than the ISN G4 but the cost difference will make you wonder why you spent so much to achieve slightly better. Value, good looks and not to mention the sound enhancing aspects mentioned for earphones it is attached to the the ISN G4 is yet another excellent cable by ISN.