Lavricables Grand Review
Since 2019, when I bought my first pure silver headphone cable, I've been amazed at how a piece of wire changes the sound simply because it's made of a different metal. No wonder I wanted to try how this effect would be combined with my favourite Abyss AB1266 PHI TC. However, first things first…
Build quality
This cable is made in two versions, I have a thicker (8 cores) type. It’s my third Lavricables and the build quality is top notch as always. The cable is very soft and pleasant to touch. And looks are even better. Grand is perfectly braided and it’s probably the prettiest headphone cable I've ever gotten my hands on. Silver in transparent isolation looks more like a piece of jewelry than an audiophile cable. And here I mean "jewelry" in the good sense of the word. Not something shiny and conspicuous, but refined, stylish and expensive looking.
It is worth noting the use of transparent heat shrink instead of a typical splitter. Classic metal splitters for headphone cables are only good in photos. I like the heat shrink solution much more - it weighs less and does not pull the cable down, plus it does not look as pretentious as big logo splitters.
Unfortunately, my photo skills leave a lot to be desired, and my camera is just an old iPhone, so when looking at the photo, keep in mind - it looks much, much better in person.
Sound
After several weeks with Lavricables and I can say that it’s definitely an improvement over stock. I normally try not to judge any new stuff from the beginning. Brain needs some time to adapt, so I spent two full weeks listening to Lavricables Grand and only then began to compare it with stock cable. This is not my first silver cable, so there were certain expectations, which were confirmed after listening, although there were some surprises.
What is typical of silver is beautiful high frequencies. Any silver or silver-plated cable emphasizes the high frequencies slightly. However, unlike silver-plated, pure silver cable makes treble smoother and less harsh at the same time. With this cable, the effect is fully present. And then the surprises begin…
Usually silver cables have a lot of benefits, but have a significant drawback in the form of a more "lightweight" sound. And the new Grand does not have this drawback at all. High frequencies seem to even acquire additional “weight”. Treble becomes more tangible. Cymbals, plates, triangles - everything that rings sounds noticeably more realistic.
The midrange is also changing for the better. The voices do not sound "fat", as is the case with thick copper cables, but rather sound “confident". Just a touch warmer and less distant than with a stock cable. The “texture” of the human voice is rendered with a lot of fine detail and therefore sounds more realistic overall. Together with beautiful highs, the operatic soprano is simply breathtaking.
Bass sounds more controlled. At first glance, it seemed to me that there was less bass, but after changing the cables several times, I was convinced that I liked the new sound better. It just beats faster and more precisely, the stock cable seems slightly smeared in contrast. Low-frequency sounds are better localized in the soundstage.
The soundstage with Lavricables Grand has become slightly deeper and more three-dimensional. Various reverbs and a sense of space are more distinct. Imaging is more holographic. In general, this cable complements the sound (which was already excellent) with a variety of small touches here and there. The changes may seem rather small, but taken together, these small touches create a strong overall impression of "better sound”. I also liked the overall tonal balance. The sound does not seem "warm", but rather "not cold”. Such tuning does not lose transparency, but it is still pleasant to listen to.
Old Grand vs. New Grand
I enjoyed using the old version of the cable which was made with multiple solid conductors and I have to admit that I like new version better in every way. It sounds better, feels better and looks better. Does it make sense to change the old one to the new one? If you want the best, yes. The old version was a great cable, but the new one is truly something.
Abyss with Lavricables Grand
I really, really liked the sound of headphones with a stock cable and mostly out of curiosity decided to try another cable. However, after a few weeks with Lavricables Grand, going back is not an option. The sound with silver cable is more realistic and more beautiful at the same time. This is especially evident with a live music with minimal compression.
In terms of comfort there is nothing really to speak about. The Abyss stock cable is stiff, springy and extremely uncomfortable. Any braided cable will feel better, and the Grand is no exception.
Considering that with Abyss you can increase and decrease the amount of bass by changing the position of the cups, I personally don’t see any shortcomings at all. Yes, it's pricey, but the sound is worth it. Given the absolutely insane prices for some other TOTL cables, Lavricables offer feels absolutely reasonable. You can buy a more expensive cable, but I highly doubt you can buy a better cable.
