Lavricables Reference Headphone cable

Lavricables contacted me to suggest that I should test a cable from their Ultimate line and then provide my honest listening impressions.
Except for the review sample, I didn't receive monetary or any other kind of compensation, I don't use affiliate links and Lavricables didn't read the review prior to publishing.
You can find retail prices and all the necessary information at the Lavricables website.

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 sample was fully burned in from 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 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 cables.
Thus said this is a purely subjective and not scientifically based review and this is 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 Ultimate Series Headphone cable

The Ultimate upgrade cable is made out of 4 cores of 5N purity silver awg24 multi strand litz wire and is available for almost all the headphones and earphones of the market.
I have decided to ask for a 3.5mm plug on the headphone end so I could use it with a greater variety of my headphones like the HiFiMan Arya SE & Sundara, Focal Clear Mg & Elex and Meze Audio Liric.
The amp end has a custom 4.4mm carbon plug and the headphone sockets are also custom made and rhodium plated.





Build quality and handling experience

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 sleeving is transparent and made of a high quality material but since the cable is brand new I cannot possibly know if it will remain as such or develop a yellowish tint after a few years of use, time will tell.
Build quality is just excellent, the plugs are bulletproof and come with heat-shrink strain reliefs.
The headphone side 3.5mm plug is of thinner diameter than the one found on the Focal stock cable so there is a small visible gap between the ear-cup female jack and the plug.



Nonetheless the cable plugs in securely and stays stable so it doesn't rock or move even when applying force.

The cable is so beautiful and well made that it makes for a worthy upgrade to stock ones even for purely aesthetic reasons or the excellent handling experience and the zero microphonic noise.

Listening impressions vs all stock and the Forza Audioworks Claire HPC MK2 cables

My main cable is the Forza Audioworks Claire HPC MK2 which is made from highest purity, 8 strands of 26AWG cryo 7N UPOCC copper wire in Litz geometry and PE insulation.
This cable is already a great upgrade over stock as it offers better build quality and handling experience plus an improved sonic performance.
When compared together, the Lavricables Ultimate is a more beautiful looking cable with better ergonomics, it has higher quality plugs while it is softer and more lightweight.
Sonically they are quite close, Claire is a stellar performer but the Ultimate has a couple of aces under the sleeve.



So by now you have probably been wondering:

Will the Ultimate 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 smoother sounding?
Can I use this cable to manipulate the frequency response of my headphones or the rest of the chain?
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 Ultimate is not some kind of a passive equaliser and will not change anything regarding the frequency response of your headphones and the electronics behind them.



So is this a fake review and a marketing ploy to make you buy the cable because it only looks better?

Again NO, the Lavricables Ultimate does offer some sonic improvements, much more noticeable and pronounced to the stock cables and to a lesser extent when compared to the Claire.
While listening to my test playlist or some really demanding classical music, like Stravinsky's "Rite of the Spring" it was not that difficult to spot the differences.



With the Lavricables Ultimate, sound was definitely cleaner and more clear, the whole system gained in transparency and overall fidelity increased.
Bass layering improved and also became more dynamic and impactful while everything sounded better defined and articulated.
Micro details appeared more nuanced, detail retrieval digged deeper without becoming analytical and the soundstage opened up more, gaining in width and imaging sharpness.
As said earlier the differences were not night and day.
The better the headphones and the chain it was used, the more apparent the sonic improvements were.



On the other hand the highly revealing nature of the cable exposed bad recordings and highlighted all the disadvantages of the chain together with the advantages.
So here is where the catch and the misconception that silver may add harshness and brightness.
Let's suppose that you find your Arya SE a little treble forward, then by adding this highly transparent and revealing cable to your chain the forwardness will be highlighted and perceived as more pronounced.
The same principle applies to all of the chain, so if you find your DAC a little dry sounding, now it will sound even drier etc.
Of course the exact opposite also applies, the cable will greatly highlight and elevate everything you love about your sound system, so be prepared for an orgasmic listening experience.



In the end

The Lavricables Ultimate is an aesthetically pleasing and well built cable with excellent handling and sonic properties.
Sonic improvements are not night and day but if you have everything else settled then the Lavricables Ultimate will be the icing on the cake to make sure that you are getting every last bit of performance your system is capable of.

Test playlist

Copyright - Petros Laskis 2022

Introduction:
Just to mention it at the beginning, I am not the person who trust that much in cable sound. I usually buy custom / after market cables for other reasons like a much better design, flexibility, weight and build quality and last but not least sympathy (really important for me, I can not explain this ).
And usually I am not the guy who is writing reviews or stuff like this for cables, but since I love this cable so much, I would like to share my opinion and experience with you. Maybe it will help you
My first Lavricable was a cable from the Ultimate Serie (Multistrand litz 24Awg 4 cores) with just 1.2m in lenght (was okay, because I used it with an ifi Signature and ifi Diablo afterwards) and stock plugs (4.4mm and 2 times 3.5mm) for my former Hifiman Arya.
Few months later, I stumbled across the version with solid core Awg28 and 8 cores and purchased it used from a privat person. But to be honest, yes, the solid core version looks better, but the flexiblity is just not good and I sold it quite fast. I tested few other cables as well (custome made from private persons), Forza Audio, etc. but I never found a cable which provides such a good feeling as the Lavricable from the Ultimate Serie (4 cores version) does it. But we all know how we audiophiles are ... Can it be even better? Yes, but it must wait for now. I have to upgrade the headphone first and switched to a HE1000V2. Since I was already in love with the Grand Serie cable because I checked out the configuration opportunites quite a lot and I said to myself "**** off, I need such a cable!" and I just purchased it. I ordered it with 1.5m in lengh and 4-Pin XLR Aeco as well as 2 times 3.5mm plugs from Aeco.


Design:
If you already like the 4 core Ultimate Serie from Lavricables, you will just love the Grand Serie. It is their "TOTL cable" and you defenetally see this as well. Specially in the right day light, the silver details are looking just amazing. Some people said to me, my former Ultimate Serie cable looks good, but time to time a bit "cheap", but this disadvantage is totally gone.
I am a fan to have all plugs from the same manufactor, even if it is not cheap. But I think it is definitely worth spending a little more here (on long term). In Germany we have a saying which says "Das Auge isst mit" which means that "the eye eats too", I am not sure if this is a saying worldwide, but at the end it means that the decision to buy something or to not buy it will be influenced buy your eyes as well.


Build:
Since the Aeco plugs are well known world wide, we all know how good they look, feel and how good they are build. Together with the Grand Serie cable, it is some kind of dream team. The shrink tubing are well chosen and almost unvisible, but perfectly united with the plugs and the cable. Few years ago, Lavricable just a red rubber which was "fastened" into the notch of the right connector, which was doomed to failure, as this somehow wears out and dissolves after time. In the new versions, there is just a little red indicator around the right cable strand close to the right headphone plug. This solution is much better, specially on long term.


Sound:
Let us come to the most difficult part where the opinion of different people is very different from one another. As I said, I do not have a good balance cable here to compare with the Grand Serie cable from Lavricables. If I would need to say something, I would say the sound gets just a bit more detailled with a little bit more sparkle in the treble. The bass is not more, but a tiny bit more structured, but it could be placebo as well. Hard to compare a cable regarding sound if you do not have the cables next to you to do 1:1 tests.


Comparison:
Unfortunatelly I do not have a cable to compare, but you all know the crappy Hifiman stock cable, so there is no need to compare. But the cable I could compare is a custome made balanced cable with 2 individually twistable strands and Furutech plugs. Design is always a matter of taste, but for me the Lavricable looks better, even if it looks totally different.


Customer service:
After few weeks, the right headphone plug had an issue (loose contact) and I wrote an e-mail to Lavricables. After a short communication, they said I should sent it to Latvia. They received the cable on a Saturday, repaired it on Saturday and sent it back directly on Saturday. I was quite surprised how fast and customer orientied they are working. Additional to that, the repaired cable got a small splitter which would usually cost 10€ extra. Great job.

Conclusion:
If you have found your personal end game headphone and looking for a really good cable with a greate overall package (design, price, build quality and flexibility) and you do not want to spent 4 digit amounts, you should definitely check out lavricables.com and configure your own Grand Serie cable
Would I buy this cable again? Yes, sure! Would I recommend this cable for the price? Yes, sure!

Disclaimer

This is a third product I bought from Lavricables (had them make two adapters for me in the past). I have worked with other manufacturers on custom projects before, but Lavricables quickly became my favourite. As I am a returning customer, they kindly asked me if I could share my experience with others, which I agreed to.

Important to mention is that I paid the full price for the cable (and upgraded connectors), however, they included their 150 hours burn in period service and express shipping for free. I am assuming here that they wanted me to judge the cable after it has been properly burned in and since that added a significant delay, they wanted to ship it to me as fast as possible, at no additional cost. For both I am very grateful, but I sincerely believe I am able to offer my honest opinion, as I both wanted the cable in the first place, as well as paid for it in full.

But I understand if you think I am biased towards liking them, as I clearly prefer them over other manufacturers. On the other side, I have high expectations towards them every time, and will call out when they are not met.

The stock cable

You may ask, why am I upgrading my stock cable? Well, the reason is simple - ergonomics. The stock cable my headphones came with (AB-1266) is very stiff and what is worse, is split in two at the XLR connector. This means that it is quite annoying to deal with, especially at 2.5m length. I had to tape the two individual cables into one just to cope with that. So I really wanted a more pleasant cable that I can live with, is soft to touch and light to wear.



An upgrade option

As any other Abyss headphone user, I have also considered upgrading to JPS Labs (Abyss company) Superconductor cable. I had actually owned one for my previous headphones Diana V2, which I no longer own. The cable is very expensive and comes as an upgrade for 1850 Eur (for 1.8m), so my expectations were very high. Unfortunately, with Diana I did not hear much difference at all (even after cable break-in) and the ergonomics were not that great either. The Superconductor cable was a 2 piece (left and right channel in its own sleeved cable) and the material wasn't soft to touch - quite scratchy. I am mentioning this cable because Superconductor upgrade exists for AB-1266 as well, which is essentially the same exact cable material / sleeving, but with a different connector (mini-XLR), for 2990 Eur (1.8m) or 3490 Eur (2.4m). Because of the price and ergonomics, even if the cable is said to improve the sonic presentation (and "fix" AB-1266 midrange) I did not consider buying one because of my Diana V2 Superconductor negative experience.



Lavricables Grand

Finally on the part of the review you came here in for. This is Lavricable's TOTL Grand offering (they are willing to work with you on bespoke customs, more on this later), the cable has been burned in 150+ hours, which is the minimal recommendation from Lavricables before you start any critical listening (they did the burn in themselves for me for free, see the disclaimer above).



One thing that I noticed immediately (took me 5 seconds) in the Eric Prydz Opus song, is the extra sounds in the background, layered behind the main part (the first minute or so). I had never noticed this before, and I know this song very well. I was amazed how much more resolving the cable is, and how it makes it easy to notice new information, as if imagining got sharper. Going back to the stock cable now that I know it is there I can hear it, but it is smeared / congested. Another thing that has changes is the soundstage, it feels more 3D holographic. I am assuming that this is because of the improved imagining / resolution, that helps with the layering / perception of dimensionality in the sound stage.

The above mentioned improvements to the imaging/staging feel to me as a clear improvement in technicalities due to the cable change. Now, with tonality things get trickier, as I only listen to electronic music, stuff that may not have a real world counterpart, or is heavily altered by the artist. Here I can only talk to subjective properties of the cable change, what I like more or prefer over the stock cable. That thing is midrange - many criticise AB-1266 for its punchy bass and airy treble, believing the mids are recessed, making it a V shaped headphone. This is exactly why I bought AB-1266, as with EDM, I wanted exactly these properties, punchy base that has a thunder level of slam, with airy top, to highlight the electronic music I listen to. Now, songs that are heavily based on vocals, sound so much sweater/lusher/relaxed, but in comparison, base sounds a tad slower / less pronounced. I like this change on some songs, less on others.

So how am I liking Lavricables Grand? Am I satisfied with the build and sonic performance? Would I recommend it to others? Let me try to answer that.

Build - 10/10, I love it. A huge improvement over the stock cable, and in my opinion, also over the Superconductor cable (that I owned with Diana V2, not AB-1266). This is exactly WHY I wanted an aftermarket cable, as the stock cable was difficult to live with. Lavricables definitely delivered and exceeded my expectations here.

Technicalities - imaging/staging/resolution refined - it is a clear improvement over the stock cable. This came to me as a surprise, I did not expect it at all and I am liking what I hear, what a clear step up over the stock cable.

Tonality - more relaxed / lusher sound, mids coming forward slightly more than on the stock cable (recessing the lower end by comparison), which helps AB-1266 on some songs, but hurts on others. Worth repeating, I listen to EDM music where it is difficult to judge what it is supposed to sound, so I can only judge what sound I like. Before songs were sharp, but human voice sounded a bit too cold, now the mids are fixed, but base took a step back in that regard. Hard to say if a Superconductor cable would be absolutely transparent, or do the same, as people report it changes the mids presentation as well.

I spoke with Lavricables folks about the tonality and they told me that they could make me 8 gauge cable (awg17 instead of 4 gauge awg20) that would have a deeper low end register, and be a bit more transparent and airy. Unfortunately for me, this would make the cable bigger/bulkier/heavier and decrease the ergonomics, which was the main reason to upgrade the stock cable in the first place, so I decided against it.

Customer care

What Lavricables folks also excel at is their customer support. Over the couple of months (and two previous orders) they have always replied to me within a couple of hours (yes, even on weekends) and did their absolute best to meet my requirements. They are patient, not pushy, happily explain everything I have asked about. I have ordered from some other custom cable makers in the past but no one matched their speed / quality / price. I can only recommend them.

Summary

I paid around 600 Eur for 2.5m long Lavricables Grand cable, which compared to JPS Labs Superconductor, would cost me 3500 Eur. After owning this cable in the past (with Diana V2, not AB-1266), I find ergonomics (material feel, the weight and the fact that it is one cable not two separate cables) much better with Lavricables. The looks are of course subjective, some will prefer the silver colour, others black sleeving, I am indifferent to both. So if you are interested in an aftermarket cable for your AB-1266 for ergonomics reasons, as you (also) don't like the stiffness of the stock cable, consider buying from Lavricables.

If you believe cables can sound different, then consider Lavricables Grand as an improvement. It helps with resolution/imagining/holographic soundstage, allowing you to extract more from the songs you know well, which I consider a technical improvement. This being said, I am removing 0.5 points from my rating for one and only reason - the tonal change. There is a slight and subtle difference in midrange, that becomes lusher/more liquid/forward, which works well on some songs (vocals), less on others. With AB-1266, which are considered to have a weak point in their mids, I think this works very well. But I wanted to warn those who wants this cable for V shaped headphone, as it alters the lower end (makes it more relaxed) compared to the stock cable. Those would be (perhaps) better served with Lavricable's 8 gauge cable instead.

But what do I know, I listen to EDM, which is often not a real music anyway. And that's why this review is my subjective opinion, so don't shoot the messenger please, I am just sharing my experience with you.

Background and Disclaimer:

I am an ardent audiophile and audio reviewer. My YouTube channel, Amplify, is here. My favorite headphone is the HIFIMAN Susvara. When Lavricables wanted to send in the Grand Line Silver Cable for review, I did not hesitate to say yes, because I wanted to test whether the cable would hold up to its reputation.



I was already aware that the cable could make sonic differences, as several Empyrean users have testified on Head-Fi and other platforms. I had read up on this cable, and was already aware that this cable could have the impact of clarifying the Empyrean's (relative) muddiness. Therefore, in order to compensate for this bias, I tested this cable both with my eyes wide open as well as through a blind test. In this review, I summarize impressions I gleaned through both blind-testing and open-eyed testing.

In any case, I would like to thank Konstantin of Lavricables for providing me with this review unit. I am not affiliated with Lavricables beyond this review, which reflects my true and unaltered opinions about the product.

Another important disclaimer is that I am a cable-believer. Yes, I believe there is a ton of snake oil in audio, whether it is overpriced headphones, speakers, amplifiers, DACs, and of course, cables. I also think that cables are the last thing you should upgrade in your audio chain. But if you have a revealing enough system, and you know what to listen for, a good cable should yield perceptible sonic differences that do not even require a blind test.

About Lavricables:

The brand Lavricables was created in 2012 by hobbyists. The founders operated from the standpoint that cable manufacturers were over-charging for cables. While keeping prices relatively reasonable, to ensure quality, they use silver, known for its neutrality, tonal balance, sound stage openness; while using braided solid core cable geometry to eliminate radio frequencies and electromagnetic interference. Lavricables makes cables for most of the headphones and IEMs available on the market and open to customizations on request. Their website is here and blog here.

Price:

The price is EUR 399 for 1.2 meters with 2x Aeco 3.5mm plugs and Aeco 4-Pin XLR. The unit I reviewed was 1 meter, upon request (priced the same as for 1.2 meters). Purchase link here.

Technical Specifications:

• Model: Grand Line
• Structure: Multi-strand Litz
• Wire Diameter: Awg20 per each wire
• Material: 6N purity Cryo-treated Silver (49 enamelled cores in soft PVC)
• Connectors: Pure Copper AECO
• Cable: Handmade 4-Core Braided
• Cable Length: 1 meter for review

Equipment Used

Holo Audio May DAC > Accuphase e380 integrated amplifier > Stock Cables > HIFIMAN Susvara
Holo Audio May DAC > Accuphase e380 integrated amplifier > Lavricables Grand Line Silver > HIFIMAN Susvara



Build, Ergonomics, and Customer Service:

In my opinion, the cable is an absolute stunner. Cables I have seen look this good are usually available in much higher price brackets. It is robust, nice to the touch, and does not coil easily, unless you want to coil it into a circle, which is easy to do. The AECO XLR feels absolutely premium and adds to the feeling you are dealing with a high-end cable. The splitter is a transparent piece which keeps the design minimalistic. The cable comes in a nice little black cloth bag with Lavricables logo.



Overall, my experience dealing with Konstantin of Lavricables was an absolute pleasure. I am usually the sort who responds to emails within minutes and I was glad to see a kindred soul in Konstantin. The entire process of ordering, specifying cable particularities, and shipping was handled with timely and clear communication, which is laudable, given many cable manufacturers are so difficult to pin down, even if their craft is great.

Sound Impressions:

When I first plugged the new cable in and fired the Susvaras up, I knew immediately a certain change was afoot.

Compared the stock Susvara cable, the change was very evident. If I were to summarize the contributions of the Lavricables cable, they would be as follows: an opening up of sound stage; a greater sense of upper mid-range clarity and lower treble clarity; more air; and a tighter bass. There were also faster transients compared to the stock cable as well as more "punch" and dynamics.

To dive into particularities:

Bass: The bass is perceptibly tighter and faster on the Lavricables cable. Playing Daft Punk's contact, drum beat attacks are faster, which of course, is not just a function of bass, there is certainly a clarity with which bass notes come through. Overall, I would not say that there is "more" or "less" bass because of the cable, but a certain cleanliness to the bass presentation, which is noticeable. This was also evident playing rock tracks like Bruce Dickinson's Darkside of Aquarius.



Midrange: The HIFIMAN Susvaras are already the master of Midrange, but the Lavricables do appear to add more clarity to the upper midrange, which renders the presentation of tracks even more crystal clear. In fact, the clarity of presentation of the Susvaras on the Lavricables is stunning. There is no longer a window through which you perceive the music. The window is broken and you have the mix itself.

In that sense, the cables do appear to have the effect of bringing you closer to the music, not in terms of sound stage intimacy, mind you, but in terms of pushing you "closer to the mix" which is why I personally prefer headphone listening to speaker listening. Combos like the Lavricable with the Susvara are reasons why my Sonus Faber Electa Amator III's don't get as much listening time!

Treble: In terms of treble frequencies, both the lower-to-mid treble as well as the air region comes through more clearly on the Lavricable + Susvara combo. So that translates to more clearer rendition of piano notes, and a more acute representation of air frequencies, which means vocals will sound as breathy as they are intended to, cymbals as shimmery as they are meant to, and so forth.



Technical Performance:

There is an overall improvement in technical performance. I do perceive more details on the Lavricables cable. My attention is drawn to trailing edges of tones, spacial cues, and such things. I also perceive an improvement in sound stage width, faster transients, attack of notes, etc. Transitions from louder to quieter passages are handled more delicately.

These differences in technical performance are not night-and-day, but given that I am already in the business of paying for nuance, I would say they are small but remarkable. Of course, what is remarkable to me, may not be remarkable to you. In the TOTL space, every little change tends to be greeted with enthusiasm, and why not.



Conclusion:

At 400 Euros, the Lavricables Grand Line Awg20 Silver Cable is a solid investment, and I dare say, a value-for-money one. Let's not forget that high-end cables people buy for headphones like the Susvara and the Abyss 1266 Phi TC are frequently in the $1000-2000 range.

Yes, it's about nuances, and the differences are not night and day, but to me, it's certainly not placebo in play or pyscho-acoustics. The changes are immediate when switching back-and-forth between cables. They are also evident in blind-tests, especially when playing tracks that can reveal the aforementioned differences.

In the case of the Susvara, the changes are very welcome, if you are looking to upgrade from the stock cables.

I should add that I imagine the changes may be even more welcome, if you are looking to pair with a headphone with "muddier" upper-mids and treble. I can think of several flagship headphones that fall into this category, much more than the HIFIMAN Susvara, so that's there.

Overall, this cable gets my highest recommendation for its price.

Disclaimer: This cable was sent from the manufacturer for review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

This cable was used with my Inearz P350 CIEM's, 64 Audio U6 and Noble Sage.

Lavricables Reference
4 cores of AWG28 (0.33mm ⌀) solid silver 6N purity wire
http://www.lavricables.com/cables/reference-silver-1964-ears-adel-a10-u10-a12-u12-upgrade-cable/



Packaging, Build Quality, and Ergonomics:
The Reference cable comes in a nice little velvet pouch; there is no other packaging to speak of. Lavricables are very well priced and less on packaging means more savings to the end user, I am not that bothered about the lack of fancy retail box.

The cable is very well built, the braid is very even and the connectors are all very well put together, the connectors cannot be opened, they are sealed with glue. The y-split is a simple piece of heatshrink and there is a chin slider, included are some light and flexible rubber ear guides. The cable has good strain relief, with an extra strand of wire internally where there is more stress to help prevent the cable from breaking. Overall I really like the build of the cable, and providing you don’t stress it much it should last a long time.

Ergonomics are not this cables strength, but that is because it uses a single strand of solid pure silver cable so you expect it to be a little stiff and also to transmit noise. It is not as bad as I was expecting, but it does retain its shape if coiled for any length of time and is a little noisy when it hits against things. The ear guides help lower the noise, but I prefer to use the cable without them.





Sound:
To start off with the Reference cable does not sound thin, the bass does not disappear but what happens is really impressive. The bass becomes tighter, more responsive but still full bodied and articulate. This is not a cable that is thin or harsh; the lows still slam and punch with excellent power, body and extension.

The midrange becomes sharper with finer details being easier to pick out, there is extra air around notes and the sound is less congested in faster passages. Electric guitars in rock music have a sharper edge and become a bit more aggressive and crisp.

The highs gain some extra presence and seem to extend a little more effortlessly, however there is not even a hint of glare or harshness. There is a better sense of air up top with slightly more natural tonality.

This cable does not totally transform the sound of your IEM’s, but it pairs best with IEM’s that have a slightly warmer sound. This cable tightens up the lows, adds additional air to the whole sound and there is improved separation and definition. The treble gets a slight boost without any harshness, if you could get this sound from a stranded cable, it would be high up in my list of recommendations.

This cable is a more up front, energetic and engaging yet still airy, it is not a lush laid back sounding cable so careful pairing is key. Lavricables offer some excellent sounding cables, at very reasonable prices, but they are best suited to home systems where you won’t be moving around a lot.