Lavricables Master Line V3

LAVRICABLES MASTER SILVER AWG22 (V4)

DISCLAIMER: MASTER SILVER AWG22 was sent to us directly by the LAVRICABLES team, free of charge, for review purposes. We at Aural Cafe are excited about this being our first collaboration with LAVRICABLES, and we would like to thank the LAVRICABLES team for their kind support to Aural Cafe.

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe, we will be reviewing Master Silver AWG22, an IEM cable from the house of Lavricables. MASTER SILVER AWG22 is the latest offering from the house of Latvia-based LAVRICABLES, featuring 5N purity silver AWG22 multi-strand Litz wire. Master Silver AWG22.

LAVRICABLES is a Latvia-based hi-fi brand founded by a group of audiophiles in 2012 as a hobby. The team of audiophiles from Northern Europe based in Latvia, in their quest for value-for-money cables, started their journey with the launch of a silver cable along with proprietary RCA interconnects in May 2012. What makes LAVRICABLES a distinct high-end cable brand in comparison to other high-end cable brands is that they are only into handcrafting silver cables and now offer 100+ different types of pure silver cables to cater for the needs of an audiophile across different use cases. The team of Lavricables started their journey with silver cables and decided to just use Silver not only because it is one of the best conductor of sound frequency but because of its neutrality, resolution and spacious soundstage Being an experienced team of audiophiles who loves music and enjoying hi-end hi-fi equipment for decades the team of Lavricables decided to minimized skin effect in high frequencies primarily related with silver based cables by increasing the number of cores. The audiophile team of Lavricables decided to braid the silver wires in a proprietary geometrical design to eliminate radio frequencies and electromagnetic frequencies so as to achieve hi-fi sound quality.

Unlike most brands that purchased standard cable structure directly from cable factories, the Lavricables team do not outsource production of their cables as it can affect the quality of their offerings. Each cable coming from the house of Lavricables features Lavricables' proprietary wire geometric design, after which each cable is carefully hand-braided and welded, and that’s how each cable from Lavricables comes into life. What also makes Lavricables a bit more different from the other brands in this product line is they don’t come up with a new model of cable every now and then but take customer feedback very seriously and based on this feedback the Lavricables team continuously improves its products over time by refining alloys, connectors, and cable structure. After surfing through Lavricables official website we were also pleasantly surprised to observe that unlike other cable brands who list their cables in a more generic way such as SPC, Copper and Silver the Lavricables team have listed their cables offerings on specific models of popular headphones and IEMs which is such a welcome change as it makes the decision making of an audiophile so much more easy.

The Lavricables team started their journey by handcrafting interconnects and speaker cables, and gradually moved into headphones, IEM and power cables. Lavricables cables offerings are grouped into four different product lines by the name of REFERENCE, ULTIMATE, MASTER AND GRAND Line. The Reference line serves as an entry into Lavricables' Silvery World. The cables here are made from solid silver of 5n purity and AWG28 gauge. Compared to copper/ stock cables (headphones), the difference is in the wider soundstage, better clarity and transparency. The Reference line serves the needs of an audiophile who is into headphone or speaker setups, but doesn’t cater to the needs of an IEM lover. The price of the cables from the reference line starts from 55 USD and goes up to 600 USD based on customization and use case.

The Ultimate line is more advanced in sonic characteristics and cable design in comparison to the Reference line. The headphones and IEMs cables from this product line are made from 4x awg24 multistrand Litz wire, while the interconnects and speaker cable from this product line are made up of 14x awg28 solid silver strands (awg26 gauge is used for speaker cables). The cables from Ultimate Line share low capacitance due to woven cable geometry, which brings a reduction of skin effect on high frequencies, eliminating electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. As per the Lavricables team, cables from the Ultimate line sound more three-dimensional, with increased imaging and amazing articulation. Unlike Reference Line, Cables from Ultimate line also have bi-wiring and power cables and cater to the needs of an IEM lover. The price of the cables from Ultimate line starts from 115 USD and goes up to 917 USD because of customization and use case.

Going further up the ladder, we arrive at the Master series. The sound is more emotional here, realistic and with better layering and more resolution. The Silver AWG22, which we are reviewing today at Aural Cafe, is the latest offering from the Master Series. The headphone and IEM cable from this product line features 4x awg22 silver multistrand Litz wire along with a small addition of copper alloy to reveal more soundstage depth along with better micro dynamics in comparison to the Ultimate Line, while the Interconnects, Speaker, RCA interconnects and copper XLR plugs from this product line features three different types of pure solid silver core as a result of which the speaker and other cable from this product line beats faster and more precisely in comparison to the similar cables from the Ultimate Line. The price of the cables from Master line starts from 115 USD and goes up to 1332 USD based on customization and use case.

Finally, we reach the TOTL line of Lavricables, the GRAND Line. The Grand line was launched in March 2017, and the aim of the Lavricables team here is to achieve a Grand sound which is natural and inspiring, vis-à-vis being uncompromising and dynamic by using UPOCC silver cables and eliminating brass from the chain. The tale doesn’t end here as the cables from this TOTL product line use the best components available in the market, such as 6n cryo-treated silver, 10% Mundorf silver solder and pure copper AECO plugs. The headphone and IEM cable from this product line features 4x or 8x AWG20 cryo-treated 6n purity multistrand Litz wire with a small addition of graphene groups in the middle. The headphones and IEM cable from Grand Line are neither warm nor cold, and it is definitely not bright. The headphones and IEM cables from this product line sound very transparent and refined while exuding better body from bass to treble in comparison to the cables from the master line, without losing any micro details. Compared to the Master line, Grand has faster and more thumpy bass, along with better dynamics, imaging and coherency. When it comes to ICs/ Speaker/ Mains cables from Grand line, it features 20x cores of different geometry and a gauge of silver for interconnects (30x for mains cables); 28x cores for speaker cables and exudes spectacular drive and energy, a more three-dimensional sound compared to other product lines. The price of the cables from the TOTL Grand line starts from 115 USD and goes up to 1736 USD on the basis of customization and use case.

Our customized review unit of MASTER SILVER AWG22 retails for 336 USD and arrived with a Lavricables proprietary carbon 4.4mm balanced plug along with a Lavricables Carbon Y splitter in two-pin termination. Since Lavricables continuously upgrades and improves its existing line of cables on the basis of customer feedback, our review unit of MASTER SILVER AWG22 is the latest Version 4 of Master Silver AWG22, which was launched around April 2024. As per the Lavricables team the Version 4 of Master Silver AWG22 exudes a better soundstage, silky smooth highs, a better subbass impact, and a slightly warm presentation in comparison to its predecessor. When it comes to physical changes, the Version 4 wires are a lot more attractive and tough in comparison to their predecessor. As per the Lavricables team the version 4 of Master Silver AWG22 will help an audiophile to experience the full potential of its portable setup by making the overall sound a lot more transparent and crystal clear, along with a better soundstage.



Specifications: -

Material: Four cores of 5N purity silver awg22 multistrand Litz wire.

Color: Sky blue

Jacket: PVC

Gauge: 22 AWG

Standard type: 4-wire

Termination: 2-pin/4.4mm

Length: 1.2 meters

Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -

Our review unit of LAVRICABLES MASTER SILVER AWG22 (V4) arrived in a minimalistic black colour velvet pouch with the Lavricables brand name and logo in silver colour font, along with red hues printed right at the center of the bag. The Lavricables tagline “Hear the difference with pure silver!” is printed just below the brand name again in silver colour fonts. On opening the pouch, we are directly welcomed with the beautiful MASTER SILVER AWG22 (V4) cable elegantly exuding sky-blue hues. Inside the pouch, we also came across a small Lavricables sticker and a business card with QR links to their social media and website. All in all, the unboxing experience is pretty minimalistic, which is so different in comparison to other brands whose cables arrive in fancy packaging. We at Aural Cafe don’t give much value to the unboxing experience and feel that it’s the final product that ultimately matters to passionate music lovers like us. We at Aural Cafe also feel that since the Lavricables team aims at offering pure silver cables at reasonable prices, they have decided to keep the unboxing experience quite functional and minimalistic.



When it comes to design language, our review unit of MASTER SILVER AWG22(V4) arrived with a Lavricables proprietary carbon 4.4mm balanced plug along with a Lavricables Carbon Y splitter in two-pin termination with Sky blue PVC jacket. Since every piece of Lavricables is handmade and made on an order basis, the Lavricables team offers an exhaustive option of customization. When it comes to Master Silver AWG22(V4) cable, an audiophile has an option to select the length of cable, which starts from 1 meter and goes up to 2 meters. When it comes to a PVC jacket, one can go with a transparent PVC jacket or can also go with sky blue PVC jacket. When it comes to IEM plugs, one has the option to select between gold-plated or rhodium-plated, while when it comes to plugs, an audiophile has an option to select between carbon and premium AECO plugs. We would also like to add a link to the FAQ section of Lavricables here(https://www.lavricables.com/faq/), which would help an audiophile to understand the importance of cables in hi-fi setups and will also make them understand the impact of the customization offered by Lavricables on the overall sound quality. When it comes to our review unit, we at Aural Cafe loved the elegant sky blue coloured PVC jacket. The Sky-blue PVC jacket is soft and supple, ensuring comfort during long listening hours. The Lavricables Carbon 4.4 mm balanced plug and Y Splitter are truly solid and functional due to their lightweight design, as they will surely help an audiophile to listen to music on the go. The two-pin connectors are lightweight yet sturdy and durable. When it comes to braiding, the Master Silver AWG22(V4) cable showcases a solid functional braiding that is neither too tight nor too loose. All in all, we at Aural Cafe are pretty satisfied with the lightweight yet sturdy connectors of Master Silver AWG22(V4), which help a lot in keeping the cable weight at an optimum level of around 31Gms. And will go a long way in helping an audiophile to listen to hi-fi music on the go. All in all, the build quality of handcrafted Master Silver AWG22(V4) is sturdy yet functional and will definitely aid an audiophile to listen to hi-fi music on the go.



Sound Analysis: -

We would like to firstly state here that we have put the Lavricables Master Silver AWG22(V4) IEM cable under 100 hours of burn-in as suggested by the brand. To better understand the effect of burn-in in we would suggest our readers and fellow audiophiles go through the FAQ section of Lavricables by clicking on the following link: https://www.lavricables.com/faq/. We matched Lavricables Master Silver AWG22(V4) with a high-end neutral IEM and a neutral source to understand the effect of Lavricables Master Silver AWG22(V4) on overall sound quality in a clear and rightful manner.

Tonality: - After pairing Master Silver AWG22(V4) with a solid neutral IEM and hi-fi source and testing Master Silver AWG22 for several weeks we at Aural Cafe feel that Master Silver AWG22 didn’t alter the overall tonality of the IEM and will showcase the true tonality of an IEM, the way it has been tuned by its maker. What Master Silver AWG22 actually does is it adds a dash of transparency to the overall sound frequency, as a result of which the instrument's timbre and the vocals come out more revealing. From the very moment we compare Master Silver AWG22 with the stock cable of the IEM, we can feel a definite improvement in the overall sound transparency. Unlike other silver cables, the overall sound presentation with Master Silver AWG22(V4) at the helm is a bit more neutral, immersive and relaxed. There was no background noise or any hint of microphonics, which aids a lot in retrieving micro details, which the Master Silver AWG22(V4) showcased in a much smoother way. Due to the added dynamics with Master Silver AWG22(V4) at helm, the sub-bass reaches a bit deeper while the mid-bass is a bit tighter and engaging. The lower-mids showcase a lot better stability, while the upper-mids are smoother with Master Silver AWG22(V4). As suggested by the Lavricables team, the Master Silver AWG22(V4) showcase a buttery smooth high along with solid transient response. Both the Male and Female vocals come out quite neutral and raw with a solid and stable tone, which we totally enjoyed while listening to ‘Out of Time’ by The Weekend. We at Aural Cafe feel that Master Silver AWG22 will seamlessly merge with Rock and Roll, Electronic, Psychedelic rock and blues genres of soundtrack due to its neutral yet raw and stable presentation.

Lows: - To test the effect of Master Silver AWG22in Lows, we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Angel’ by Massive Attack. After careful comparison with the stock cable, we can confidently state that Master Silver AWG22 definitely add a subtle body to the sub-bass, making sub-bass a bit denser with a solid heft, which is an experience in itself. We at Aural Cafe believe that it’s the small addition of copper alloy that is doing its magic here in this part of the sound frequency. While listening to ‘Giorgio by Moroder’ by Daft Punk, the mid-bass comes out a bit tighter with better speed, which is quite an engaging and foot-tapping experience in comparison with the stock cable of the IEM at helm. The Master Silver AWG22 present the lows in a very raw and immersive manner, which is kind of a new experience for us at Aural Cafe. We also like to add here that due to this quality of Master Silver AWG22, it will surely help to enjoy electronic music at its best.

Mids: - To test the effect of Master Silver AWG22 on Mids, we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Money for Nothing’ by Dire Straits and ‘One of These Nights’ by Eagles. There were no changes in the positioning of the Mids, which was dead neutral. When it comes to vocals, both the male and female vocals come out in a very raw yet smoother way in comparison to the stock cable of the IEM at hand. Both males and females do show a bit better clarity with Master Silver AWG22 at helm, which really helps while listening to complex metal tracks. Both the male and female vocals show a better tone, which really aids while listening to vocal-centric tracks. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to ‘Black Dog’ by Led Zeppelin. The lower-mids became a lot more stable while the upper-mids became a lot smoother with Master Silver AWG22, while the musical instruments exude a ‘technically correct’ timbre, which aids a lot, especially listening to heavy metal genre of soundtracks.

Highs: - To test the effect of Master Silver AWG22 on Highs, we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Time’ by Pink Floyd and ‘The Song Remains the Same’ by Led Zeppelin. The Highs became a lot smoother without losing their soul in comparison to the stock cable of the neutral IEM. The upper treble showcased a smoother extension with Master Silver AWG22 at the helm in comparison to the stock cable. We would also like to add here that the cymbal hits were on another level with Master Silver AWG22 at the helm, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to the heavy metal genre of soundtracks.

Soundstage & Imaging: - To test the effect of Master Silver AWG22 on the soundstage, we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Power is Power’ by SZA, The Weekend and Travis Scott from the Game of Thrones series. The soundstage comes out a bit more transparent and spacious from the very moment we swapped the stock cable of the IEM with the Master Silver AWG22. There was a subtle improvement in the soundstage depth, with the soundstage width staying more or less the same with Master Silver AWG22 at helm in comparison to the stock cable. There was no day and night difference in imaging, but it becomes a tinge more precise with Master Silver AWG22 at helm. To test the effect of Master Silver AWG22 on layering, we took the help of the soundtrack ‘Dil Se Re’ composed by A R Rahman for the movie Dil Se. The layering comes out a bit cleaner and more stable with Master Silver AWG22 at helm in comparison to the stock cable of the IEM. We at Aural Cafe also like to add here that the separation between instruments improves with Master Silver AWG22 at helm, which really aids while listening to complex metal tracks.

Synergy: - After testing Master Silver AWG22 with many neutral, reference, and warm IEMs along with neutral source we feel that Master Silver AWG22 synergises at its best with reference and musically tuned IEMs. The neutral character of Master Silver AWG22 merges beautifully with the musical and reference IEMs with altering the unique soul of an IEM, which is what makes Master Silver AWG22 a unique cable in itself. The moment we swapped the stock cable of an IEM with Master Silver AWG22, the overall sound frequency became a lot more raw, transparent and spacious, which was quite a pleasant encounter for us at Aural Cafe.




Conclusion: -

This is the first time we are reviewing a cable from the House of Latvia-based Lavricables. We at Aural Cafe are pretty impressed by the humble beginning and minimalistic presentation of the Lavricables at the company level. In today's time, when most of the company are coming out with fancy packaging, the team at Lavricables are simply focusing on the basics, which is the wire geometry, the quality of Solder, Plugs, and Connectors, which play a crucial role in bringing a solid cable to life. In today's time, when we keep hearing about a new metal being used by hi-fi brands, we, being audiophiles, are truly inspired by the focus and love that Lavricables has shown for pure silver cables since its inception. One more thing which we at Aural Cafe loved about the Lavricables is the way they are offering a unique cable for a specific case, which definitely makes the life of an audiophile a bit easier. When it comes to Master Silver AWG22, what makes Master Silver AWG22 a truly unique cable from the Aural Café’s perspective is how Master Silver AWG22 presents a very raw, revealing, yet silky smooth and transparent sound experience without altering the unique sound tonality of the IEMs. We at Aural Cafe would definitely love to see a cable strap along with Master Silver AWG22 cable considering its price but if you are audiophile in search for a solid lightweight silver cable to experience a revealing and transparent sound presentation along with solid sub-bass heft then you can definitely check out the Master Silver AWG22 (V4) from the house of Latvia based Lavricables.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
https://www.lavricables.com/line/master/

Lavricables Master​

Lavricables – their Master line offers great materials, lots of customization, and promises superb performance. How do they stack to other cables on the market at $279?


Introduction to the review of Lavricables Master​

Lavricables has something major in common with Ear Fidelity. It is a passion project established by hobbyists who said: “We can bring something into the community”. I love working with people like us. There is a great vibe in the air from the start. You, my dear reader, are one of us too. I can’t imagine anybody not being passionate about the audio quality going through my reviews. So, we are stuck in this passionate triangle. No homo, homie.

Jokes aside, as Lavricables is a no-BS company. You won’t find any magical tales on their website. Everything is straight to the point. Lavricables Master wants us to get great-quality silver wires to use in audio. It’s their favorite conductor, and they have dedicated their time to providing the best possible configurations. There are many options for you to choose from. Pure silver wires of different types, a selection of connectors, and some extra customization options. Super easy to get a hold of, and very versatile. You can have it your way, trust me.

There are 4 levels of quality. Reference, Ultimate, Master, and Grand. They differ from the wire used. We will focus on the Master line this time. One of the others will be covered by Paweł soon, so stay tuned. The Master line contains earphone, headphone, interconnect, speaker, and power cables. The IEM cable is made of 4 PVC isolated 22AWG 5N litz silver wires.

My version came with 2 pin recessed connectors, a 4,4mm jack, gold plated, blue jacket, no sleeve, and the optional carbon, and aluminum splitter. What I really appreciate, is the fact that they also offer DIY supplies including conductors and connectors. I’m a DIY guy, and I appreciate the option to buy high-quality parts from a reputable vendor.

Packaging and Build Quality​

It comes in really basic. A very well-secured package contains a soft, branded bag protecting the cable itself. Of, the sticker is cool, it comes with the set. I told you it’s no BS company. No budget went to fancy boxes.

The cable is built very well. The construction is flawless, everything is super sturdy, yet lightweight for a relatively thick conductor. For IEMs 22AWG is thiccc. With three “c”. The conductor was described before, but I just want to add that 5N silver litz wire is one of the best options on the market. No corners cut here. No Sir.

As far as comfort is concerned, the Master is a comfortable cable. While being bulkier and a bit stiffer than usual, it still doesn’t pick up any microphonic noise, it’s plenty soft and not too prone to tangling. While I wouldn’t call it ultra-comfortable, it’s definitely not problematic at all.

Sound of the Lavricables Master​

Why would we want to use silver wires at all? The theory says that it’s the best conductor of electricity. In practice, silver wires offer brighter tonality, more resolution, and better sound staging than their copper counterparts. It’s exactly what Lavricables Master does. No surprises there.
In the beginning, I want to make it clear that this cable sounds like silver should sound like. It is on the brighter side, but doesn’t lose the timbre and meat on the bone. That can be an issue with lesser quality silver cables that are plenty on the market. Similarly to poor quality copper, it can cause unsatisfactory results. A shiny, glassy, hollow sound is the usual description of the changes.

So we have that out of the way. My Lavricables Master 2 Pin was made with gold-plated connectors, which gives it a little more warmth compared to rhodium-plated connectors. Have that in mind, you can tilt the sound of it a bit more into detail and openness. We all need to find our balance. I went with the safer option, as I’m going through a lot of different IEMs when reviewing.

Bass
Silver is often accused of cutting out bass. I would use that sentence about the reviewed Lavricables Master. In the end, 22AWG wires offer super low impedance, so nothing will hamper the bass on the technical side. On the subjective take, Master tightens the bass and gives it exceptional clarity and resolution. You lose a bit of the oompf, but you gain so much more in sheer quality.
I usually try to find the best usage of equipment characteristics, but besides people who prefer boomy bass (ain’t no shame in that), most of the rest will gladly take this deal. Take a look at the monster of pop music, Bruno Mars, and his banger That’s what I like. The bass has a very nice punch, and excellent control, and is fun as should be.



Midrange
The midrange is super clean and extremely smooth. Right now I’m listening to Kendrick Lamar’s HUMBLE. and I love how liquid his voice sounds. Combined with his flawless delivery it really is something to consider.
It’s hard to go back after hearing this liquid and organic sound. An additional pro is that it really allows the tiniest detail to shine. It gives the extra depth and decay that usually gets lost. There is just a bit more sound in the music. Those of you who pay extra attention to those frequencies should take notes. Lavricables master might be a cable for you if you wish to get the most out of your IEMs.

Treble
Silver and treble are like a cold beer at the BBQ. It just does wonders for the treble. Especially litz wires, like the reviewed Lavricables Master, which are specialized to work with high frequencies (much higher than 20kHz), so audio is like DC for them. They are completely transparent for that range. Once again we get the ultimate smooth, liquid, and organic sound. Trebles are rich, crystal clear, snappy, and super realistic. It’s not done by influencing the tonal balance, but by refining the signal delivered. Or maybe it’s the copper that adds coloration. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
To put it blandly, Lavricable Master has one of the top treble responses I have heard, including some really high-end cables. To give you a quick example, the cymbals in Tear Don’t Fall by every 00s teenager metal entry band Bullet for my Valentine, they don’t fall, they crash around me. Some of you will get it, the rest, well listen to the song goddammit. That’s why I write about them here!

Soundstaging
Reviewed cable really brings separation and effortlessness to the sound. With IEMs sometimes the soundstage gets shallow in between the channels, while with Lavricable Master this negative effect seems to be reduced. It won’t transform your earphones, but it allows them to give you better, more realistic sound staging. The imaging and separation are what you’d expect from a great-quality silver cable – accurate, clean, and snappy. Very good results here.

Comparisons​

Eletech Prudence


Recently reviewed cable from Singapore is a mix of materials: silver and copper. It really comes down to stereotypes. Pure silver Lavricables Master offers better detail, resolution, textures, and sound staging. The Prudence has a more tactile bass, warmer, more moist midrange, and calmer treble. It really does come down to the preference, and IEMs that you own. Both are excellent cables.

If you’d like to make your IEM faster, snappier, and more intense sounding, the Lavricables Master should be your choice. However, if you’re into a more intimate, richer, and smoother overall presentation, the Prudence will be better for you. Take note that the Prudence won our “Cable Of The Year 2022” award, so the fact that I’m rating the Lavricables Master as comparable to the Prudence is a rather high praise.

Pairings​

LETSHUOER EJ07M
The ultimate combo for transparent midrange, and supernatural midrange. The Lavricables Master really brings out the resolution of this great IEM. This cable is a relatively big part of the IEMs price, but I can see people doing that investment. Many could live with that sound.

Unique Melody MEXT

One of the most fun IEMs on the market goes really nicely with this silver cable. It gives a nice kick to the energetic, sparky outgoing tuning of the MEXT. I would be careful with the pairing, more bright sounding electronic won’t pair nicely with them. Something warmer, and darker is very welcomed. Neutral is fine too if a strong V-shaped characteristic is your thing.

Final Audio B1

A pairing I couldn’t do, since my Master has 2 pin and the B1 has MMCX sockets. It is a pairing that I can give my head for though. They will go fantastic together. Imagine a warm, honey-like midrange from the B1 with the openness and detail of the Lavricables Master. This one would be a blast, definitely.

Summary​

Lavricables Master delivers exactly what it promises. Superior quality of the conductor, high build quality, and excellent performance. It’s hard to argue with the results. While the price might seem high compared to Aliexpress brands, have no doubts.

The difference in the price is reflected in the quality of the sound. Also if you look at the price of bare components like 5N silver wires, and good connectors, the price that Lavricables puts on their products is more than fair. This cable gives you all the pros of silver wires, with no usual drawbacks.

It delivers clarity, resolution, control, and smoothness. It really can make a difference and elevate the sound of your favorite IEMs. Add to that rugged build quality and tons of customization options. This really is one of the best silver wires on the market, and I have no doubt saying that.


Big thanks to Lavricables for providing the Master for this review. I wasn’t paid or asked to say anything good or bad about this product, all of the above is just my personal, unbiased opinion.

About Author​

Michał Sommerfeld​

I can really say “been there, done that” in regard to audio. Designing, building, fixing, reviewing, selling. All of that for big boy stereo. Headphones are something new and fresh for me. We all need something exciting now and then, so join me in my quest of discovering this cool world. We will listen to, drink and WE WILL bring the balance to the force. Oh, I like beer.

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don't use affiliate links.
You can find retail prices for all Lavricables product lines and other information at their website.

Introduction

My first experience with Lavricables was with their Ultimate line, a cable that I have reviewed here.
After that I must admit that I became a loyal customer and I have ordered pure silver cables from the Ultimate line for all the headphones of my collection.
It was a couple of months ago that Konstantin from Lavricables suggested that I should test the new Sky-blue Master line V3 cable with my Meze Elite and HiFiMan Susvara and was kind enough to send me two samples for evaluation.
Regular readers will find some inevitable similarities between the Ultimate cable review and this one.



About Lavricables

Lavricables is a Latvia based company that was created back in 2012 as a hobby.
To ensure the highest quality of their products they use pure silver which is the best conductor available nowadays. Silver is also known for its neutrality, resolution and soundstage openness. Moreover, braided solid core cable geometry allows to eliminate radio frequencies and electromagnetic interferences and with increased number of cores skin effect is also minimized on high frequencies.
Currently they make cables for most of the headphones and IEMs available on the market.
Most of their products are available in three lines: Reference, Ultimate, Master and Grand.

Entry point is the Reference line for anyone who looks to upgrade from the usually low quality stock cables.
More advanced in sonic characteristics and cable geometry is the Ultimate line.
Then the Master line was introduced, offering more premium products and the best possible products are represented by the Grand line.

Silver cables need burn in time

According to Lavricables, it is always important to remember that silver reveals its potential only after 100-150 hours of burn in time (hence they offer burn in services). There are lots of different opinions related to this topic as well as a great amount of technical articles proving that. From their point of view this is a MUST for every cable. Sound characters that might seem in the beginning a bit harsh or even unpleasant on some revealing systems will noticeably change with time and become more relaxed and neutral.
The review samples came already burned by the manufacturer.



My general thoughts about cables

Before reading the review you should probably know that I am not a cable zealot nor a cable denier.
I have a diploma in physics and I certainly trust in measurements and science but don’t think that everything can be measured, especially when it comes to sound. There are a lot of parameters involved and in the end I prefer to trust my ears rather than reading measurements.
When it comes to cables I can easily blind pick differences between speaker cables and I do think that they greatly affect the performance of a sound system.
Interconnects are more related to component matching and their effect can vary from minimal to more substantial depending on the output/input impedance ratio while I would lie by saying that I can hear any sonic differences between power cords.
Thus said this is a purely subjective and not scientifically based review, something that I am asking to be respected.
I am not going to engage into a “do cables make a difference” discussion and such comments will be totally ignored.

Lavricables Master Series Headphone cables

To reveal the potential of any hi-fi setup, the Master line has been introduced by the manufacturer, one step before their flagship Grand line.
The Master line used to be an awg22 hybrid cable and remained unchanged until recently when the new, much improved, version 3 was introduced.
This new cable is quite different from the previous one, still silver but the wire now gained significant flexibility improvement as a result of a new double twisted geometry as found in the Grand line.
Moreover it has a redesigned structure which covers the size and amount of enameled cores and also a small amount of patented alloy cores in the middle.
Furthermore they have also introduced a sky-blue tint of pvc insulation which stands out of the crowd and looks totally amazing.
The cable is highly customizable and you can choose the termination and headphone end plugs, the color, the Y splitter and whether the cable will have a silk sleeving or not.



The review cables

The review samples are two, one cable for the Meze Elite and the other for the HiFiMan Susvara.
The first one has Furutech mini-XLR plugs with rhodium plated pins on the headphone side and is terminated with the Lavricables custom 4.4mm plug with rhodium plated pins.
The other is using standard 2.5mm plugs for the headphone and the Lavricables custom made 4.4mm gold plated plug on the other end.



Build quality

The cable is of the highest quality, it seems ultra durable, is very soft and not stiff, lightweight, easy to handle without getting tangled and has absolutely zero microphonic noise.
The plugs are also of the highest quality and they come well assembled with heat-shrink strain reliefs.
If there is something to complain about, it is that I would have liked a little longer and beefier heat shrinks.
The new sky-blue sleeving is absolutely beautiful, this is one of the best looking cables in the industry and while external appearance will certainly not affect sound performance I know that there are a lot of people who are buying upgrade cables for aesthetic and ergonomic reasons only.
I wish that I had the photographer skills to show how the light radiates through it and changes the color shades.



Before the listening impressions

I Know that many of you are wondering:

Will the Master upgrade cable add more bass to my headphones?
Can I use it to make vocals sound more forward and closer to my liking?
Is it possible to cut a few db in the treble to make my headphones sound smoother?
Should I buy it to equalize the frequency response of my headphones?
I have been reading that silver will add harshness and brightness on my headphones, is this true?

Well, the answer to all the above and similar questions is a definite NO.
Yes NO, you have read it right, the Lavricables Master is not some kind of a passive equalizer and will not change anything regarding the frequency response of your headphones and the electronics behind them.
If you don't like your headphones frequency response or the synergy of your sound system then you better invest in another headphone or tweak your system or just use a hardware/software equalizer.

But if you love your headphones system and want to squeeze every last drop of performance then keep reading.



Listening impressions

I have been using both cables continuously for more than a couple of months and I have naturally rotated between most of my listening gear.
The Violectric V380², iBasso DX320, Cayin C9, FiiO M17 and Feliks Audio Euforia just to mention a few of them.
The listening metrology was to cycle between the Master and stock cables while keeping detailed notes of all audible differences.

Listening with the Lavricables Master and comparing with the stock cables you can't fail to notice certain sonic improvements for both headphones.
And I am not only referring to the stock cables that come bundled with the headphones and are of really bad quality (especially the Susvara cable) but also to the Meze Elite copper upgrade cable that is sonically much better than the stock.
Of course most of the differences are not jaw dropping, night and day, you have to be patient and let the cable work its way into your ears.
But after using the cable for a couple of sessions and switching back to the stock it is right then when you immediately realize the audible sonic improvements.

There is a considerable improvement into the overall transparency and the clarity of the sound.
The Master cable is like being more "absent" from the chain, there is this strange feeling that your headphones are directly connected to the amplifier output jack.
The cable allows for more treble extension and resolution without adding any signs of harshness or brightness and without making your headphones sound more analytical than they really are.
You can't also fail to notice the extra flow of information both to the mids and the bass with improved layering, definition and articulation.
Dynamics also become more contrasted and impactful, it is like that all of the amplifier energy is passing through the cable to the headphones without a single percentage of loss during its way there.
The Susvara and the Elite are already two headphones with a speaker like quality in their soundstage presentation but the Master cable upgraded the experience by adding extra layers of depth, more holographic relief and helping a lot with the imaging.
One strange thing is that while most people believe (including me before trying) that a pure silver cable will add sharpness and a metallic tint to the sound, the truth is by far the opposite.
The timbre gains more in naturalness and realism and the texture becomes more smooth and polished but not shiny.

The better your chain is the more apparent the sonic improvements will become but there is also a catch.
The highly revealing nature of the cable will expose bad quality recordings and will ruthlessly highlight all the disadvantages of your chain.
So if you already love your headphones and your sound system then you are going to love them even more but be careful because by using such a revealing cable there is a great chance that if there was something already bothering you, now it will become a real pain in your ass.
The Elite with the Master cable plugged into the Feliks Audio Euforia fed by the Ideon Audio Ayazi MK2 DAC resulted in an orgasmic listening experience when I revisited my favorite recording of Beethoven's 9th symphony.



At this point someone would ask about the differences between the Lavricables least expensive Ultimate cable and the Master.
While I can't offer a direct comparison since the Ultimate is configured for the HiFiMan Arya Stealth and the Focal Clear Mg, i feel confident in saying that both cables enhance the same kind of sonic attributes with the Master adding just a tiny bit more of everything and is a worthwhile upgrade IF you have the headphones and the upstream gear to make use of this little extra percentage of improvement.



In the end

The Lavricables Master Sky-blue is a very beautiful looking and well built cable that offers an excellent handling experience and enhanced sonic qualities compared both to the stock and some other aftermarket cables alike.
Sonic improvements are definitely audible but not night and day so if you have everything else settled down, then the Lavricables Master is the perfect icing on the cake to make sure that you are getting every last drop of performance your system is capable of.

Test playlist

Copyright - Petros Laskis 2022.

A bit about headphone cables in general...
Audiophile cables are a topic around which the Internet battles are very common. I can write a lot on this subject. But I won't. Just try it yourself, in the audiophile world, your own experience is the most valuable.

Does a headfier really need to upgrade the headphone cable? I would say that it all depends on the headphones and the cable that comes with them initially. I had an experience when the stock cable did not fit the headphones at all (Meze Empyrean) and did not allow them to fully reveal their class (T+A Solitaire P). With LCD5 the case is different. The stock cable is fine, and the headphones are neutral enough to want to change something. However, what can you do, if you've already picked out the best components, love your headphones, and don't want to change anything but wouldn't mind improving the sound just a little bit more? That's right, a new headphone cable.


My experiments with LCD5: new Lavricables Master, DIY copper cable with thicker conductors, Arctic Cables Magnus and stock Audeze cable

I experimented a lot with cables and this is what I understood for myself for sure:

1. The quality (purity?) of the metal is more important than the cross section of the conductor. I don't know exactly how it works, but it works. My DIY cable (black fabric braid) with thicker conductors almost did not differ from stock. And Arctic Cables Magnus was very distinct, although all three were made of copper.

2. The silver cable seems to add high frequencies, but at the same time they are perceived as less harsh. Sounds counter-intuitive, but I've had the same experience with other headphones. If you haven't tried silver cables - give it a try, it's a more interesting experience than it seems.



...and about Lavricables Master V3 in particular.
Master cable came in a simple box. Some wrapping paper, a storage pouch and a sticker. The cable itself is in a transparent blue braid. Very light and flexible. Aeco 4-pin XLR and Rean mini-XLRs at headphone side. Conductors in a transparent isolation have that special silver shine. Looks great in person.

I bought my first cable from Lavricables in 2019. Since then, I have contacted them several times for different orders and each time I have been completely happy with both the process and the result. So I can only say good things about the customer service.



Listening...
I try not to make too quick judgments about new components, so in the beginning I just listened to music with a new cable for a week, getting used to the sound, and only then made a critical comparison.

Of my four LCD5 cables, Arctic Cable Magnus and Lavricables Master were noticeably better. The stock cable and my DIY sounded ok on their own, but weaker in comparison. The choice between Magnus and the Master was more difficult for me. Both cables were a clear improvement over stock, but sounded quite different. Copper gave more weight, but was inferior in quality and elaboration of high frequencies. Not immediately, but I leaned in favor of the Lavricables Master.

To be honest, I originally expected that thick copper would be the best solution for LСD5, but in practice it turned out differently. Lavricabels Master perfectly emphasized the fast and energetic nature of these headphones. Everything that I liked in Audeze's top was turned up to eleven. Speed, punch, energetic vocals - everything.


Conclusions
Is it worth spending the extra money on a piece of wire, even if it's silver? This may sound strange, but yes. Getting to the top headphones, we run into a natural barrier. You can't buy LСD6 - they just don't exist (yet). But you can buy a better cable for LСD5. Better vocals, a little bit of speed, some soundstage improvements, and here comes another dose of audiophile satisfaction from the fact that everything now sounds even better.


TL;DR
Yes, it is audible. Yes, it's worth it.