Penon Bass IEM Cable

To begin this minimal review of mine have to make clear one thing straight from the beggining :
me not much of a cable believer..
At least not ,till now..............

A FEW WORDS / INTRODUCTION
PENON needs no introduction imho, not from me anyway.Been established as a company in the Audio Business years now and have proved themselves not only as a retailing company but as audio experts as well producing over the recent years a big deal of in ear monitors gaining thus way a reknowned place in Asia's and not only market.What separates those guys from many others is simply their passion & devotion as well to the audiophile community and their experimentation with different new technologies/implementations regarding audio equipment goes....
Now to the point.....recently purchased from Penon guys Penon 10th AE MONITOR that literally blew my mind and ears as sound goes overall...and convinced me to write down a review for that one as well ,all that just a few weeks ago....Since then been reading lot's of stuff about a recent entry in their cable manufacturing line named PENON BASS CABLE and many guys mostly Penon's devotees praising that cable's characteristics and sound effect in such a way that made my choise so much easier and triggerd my curiosity how that cable could enhance an already flagship sound signature monitor like the 10th.
So......in order to be honest here i bought Penon Bass Cable not to experiment around but just hoping that this one would be a perfect match for my beloved 10th not only aesthetically speaking bust most importantly sound wise cause that's my one and only motivation at this game regadless of anything else coming along here........
You can purchase for yourself Penon Bass Cable in any case you re interested using this link over here :
Penon Bass Cable





PACKAGE / MATERIALS / SPECIFICATIONS

Description

• Red and blue mixed cloth skin
• Copper silver alloy + oxygen free copper IEM cable
• 2 shares, single share is 20 cores, a total of 2 × 20
• Single core copper silver alloy diameter is 0.08mm
• Single core oxygen free copper diameter is 0.06mm
• Copper and silver alloy contains 75% copper and 25% silver
• Antioxidant shield
• Carbon fiber material plug and splitter
• MMCX/2Pin 0.78mm connector
• 3.5mm audio/2.5mm/4.4mm balanced Gold-plated plug
• Cable length: 1.2M

Quite simple package including the neccesary metal shirt clip to adjust the cable on your wearing and a leather strap providing from things getting messed up inside the blue case.......
Considering the thickness of this particular cable Penon thoughtfully provides inside a large blue plastic case with the glod PENON logo on top so that any monitor sits comfortably inside the case along with the Bass cable.Nothing fancy but it does the job perfectly well .....have to admit that.
fabric material is to my opinion a wise choise Penon made if you take under consideration that cable's specs ( 2 shares, single share is 20 cores, a total of 2 × 20 ).
it comes with a termination of your choise (balanced or single ended) and as expected you can choose the connectors to be MMCX or 2Pin 0.78 mm as well.
I ordered the 4.4 balanced option along with 2pin connectors to use it (hoping permanently) with PENON 10th AE




LISTENING IMPRESSIONS / TEST TRACKS

As i allready mentioned from the beggining of this, my only and main motivation was this cable to be a good match to my beloved 10TH AE and i can say now rensponsibly that it easily surpassed my expectations there............
So.....the moment i realised that there was a noticeable improvement over 10th's original CS819 PENON cable it stayed there for good............i have to be completely honest to you :
No further comparisons were made during this test with other monitors or other cables just because i could no see any reason for me to try it on different ones,it was simply the perfect match BOTH aesthetically and sound wise Bass Cable & PENON 10th AE
As a source i choosed to try iBASSO DX170 dap which is a highly transparent and tonally accurent neutral source.



What you see above is 10th's FR curve, a W sound signature monitor with emphasized lows mids and highs as well.



Penon 10th comes with CS819 original stock cable, which is a Penon highly selling product on it's own, due to its highly transparent sound properties . A Silver-plated Mixed Braided cable that does the job pretty well and fits (sound wise) with plenty of different monitors out there sonically speaking. No complain whatsoever on this one...
Until l i plugged in PENON BASS CABLE .......
The ELEVATION OF THE STAGE was what struck me at once and the most ....up to the point that triggered me to wonder about cable's impedance. Couldn't find much there my self,either Penon had anything to add regarding this subject
So.....i had to trust only my ears on this one ...
One may ask himself? An ELEVATION measurable on dBs ?? Well....nothing like that at all....it's a most noticeable note weight improvement in every division of the FR starting from the very lows and reaching on the very higher registries.
the most spectacular thing though is the conservation of the overal air flowing among instruments and the uplifting of their image all these at the same time.................
The ambience that is created using the Bass Cable is trully remakable !!! so is the cohesiveness even at the most higher volume. Listening sessions comes with a certainly WoW factor regarding the sub bass / bass regions providing an "oomph" feeling without being blurry or veiled at all....it's all about texture and articulation when it comes to bass using the Bass Cable.
That robust sense of reproduction doesn't mean lack of airyness at all. just adds bigger proportions to the stage as an outcome and enlarges the listener's head-stage allowing at the same time to turn up the volume without being afraid of resulting into shoutiness or distorted images as well.....
The midrange becomes more authoritative and full bodied with accurate instrument imaging and placement ,the lines between different instruments and voices are more distinctive than ever... and the highs are protected from any kind of hint or glare or even harshness even at poor recorded tracks.
This cable certainly does not alters 10th's tonality at least ,only brings to the table a more stereophonic approach towards all axes of the stage and a most REMARKABLE DEPTH to the scene which at the first place was not one of 10th's stronger aspects. if i had to mention one and only one improvement over the stock CS819 cable, that one would be the noticeable improvement on the depth of the scene coming as a result of an improved and more robust note weight maintaining at the same time all the amount of air and the openess of the scene.
Who can really tell ?? maybe those guys from Penon had in mind this particular combo at the first place..... ( just cannot get out of my head how great those two match together in terms of aesthetics as well..........)

i strongly advice/recommend to anyone who has purchased both of them to check out those tracks and find out for themeselves the phenomenal powers / characteristics of the PENON BASS CABLE :

Svaneborg Kardyb - Orbit



Svaneborg Kardyb are Nikolaj Svaneborg - Wurlitzer, Juno, piano and Jonas Kardyb - drums, percussion a multi-award-winning duo from Denmark, where they won two "grammys" at the Danish Music Awards Jazz 2019: New artist of the year and Composer of the year. 
Drawing on Danish folk music and Scandinavian jazz influences, their music is an exquisite and joyful melding of beautiful melodies, delicate minimalism, catchy grooves, and subtle electronica vibes,
at this particular track percussion takes rule of everything and matters the most creating the whole ambience of the scene .the "ooomph" and weight at the bass region created using penon bass cable with the 10th is trully unbelievable ,the drums hit with authority and substance in a most unique and natural manner leaving you with the illusion that you re in a middle of a live recording session standing there with awe and admiration for this phenomenon.


Vega Trails - Love your grace

Vega Trails is a new project from double-bassist and composer Milo Fitzpatrick, a founder member of Portico Quartet, who has also performed with the likes of Nick Mulvey and Jono McCleary and features saxophonist Jordan Smart (Mammal Hands, Sunda Arc) in a richly powerful duo bringing together two powerfully charismatic musicians creating one hell of a record there.............
Double bass is the key instrument here and the physicality that this is presented is further enhanced using the Penon Bass Cable bringing out pure naturaliness and acoustic nirvana to your ears....

SUM UP

Have started this brief description of Penon Bass Cable declaring that i am not particularly much of a cable believer ...
That one still counts.....but nevertheless this one particular cable coming from PENON headquarters surprised the hell out of me....The one and only reason explaining why i havent tested it with more monitors from my collection (believe it or not) is at one hand being afraid of damaging the connectors of that cable and at the other hand finding that PERFECTLY MATCHES PENON 10TH AE which still is one of my most beloved monitors in my possession . in fact not only matches perfectly but enhances the overal performance there in a most unique way enlarging the stereo image providing authority and substance to each and every track listened there.....if this was up to my i would have named it the SPACE CABLE meaning that the effect that this cable has to the stage of any track is remarkable. i strongly suggest to anyone (and not only) allready obtains PENON 10th AE to grab one of these cables ABSOLUTELY , an undoubtedly perfect and right choise to go with, no question about it.........
Thanks for reading.............................................

The Penon Bass Cable
Redcarmoose June 15, 2023

https://penonaudio.com/penon-volt.html

Penon Creativity:
Penon in their creativity introduced a new specialist cable recently. While some cables go with a wide-range of DAPs and IEMs and are thought of as generalist cables, a specialist cable has lesser applications in life, yet those applications provide great results.

Starting with the $299 Flow cable, Penon then introduced the $99.90 Space cable. And while I haven’t heard the Flow, the Space really lived up to its name, seemingly adding stage size without changing the tone all that much. At the very beginning of April Penon surprised everyone with the introduction of the $69.00 Vocal Cable! So you can kinda read where this is going……..Flow, Space, Vocal and now Bass. Only Penon tricked everyone. Yep, and because this is a review and reviews are suppose to offer enlightenment, you’re going to get the low down as to why the Bass Cable is one of my new favorites! And while the Space and Vocal Cables lived up to their names exactly, enhancing stage and vocals respectively………the Bass does not exactly add bass! Well, it does add bass but more of a refined bass and less than you would think from its name.

What?
Really what?

That’s right my friends, the Bass Cable actually modifies the bass slightly! Except in doing so offers a style of bass sculpturing and bass focus. Confused yet?

The only reason this could be slightly confusing is the Penon Bass Cable also lifts the midrange......like the new Vocal Cable only less.

And being the somewhat specialist cable that it is, it does it in a very charismatic way, offering bass resolution and pace instead. Such a cable was probably named bass as it does have a sonic relationship to the new Vocal Cable in essence adding a competent mid-range, but was named The Penon Bass Cable due to adding more bass and bass resolution than the what the Vocal Cable does? This review takes 12 different IEMs and 12 very different sound signatures and try to make sense of it all. Won’t you join me in the investigation of the Penon Bass Cable.

Penon BASS 2 Shares Copper Silver Alloy & OFC Audiophile IEM Cable

Description

• Red and blue mixed cloth skin
• Copper silver alloy + oxygen free copper IEM cable
• 2 shares, single share is 20 cores, a total of 2 × 20
• Single core copper silver alloy diameter is 0.08mm
• Single core oxygen free copper diameter is 0.06mm
• Copper and silver alloy contains 75% copper and 25% silver
• Antioxidant shield
• Carbon fiber material plug and splitter
• MMCX/2Pin 0.78mm connector
• 3.5mm audio/2.5mm/4.4mm balanced Gold-plated plug
• Cable length: 1.2M

As far as cables go I have reviewed 17 different individual Penon/ISN cables since July of 2022, and each one is unique and different. And with the Bass Cable being my 18th cable review I have to say, the tone variety is maybe endless? It’s kinda like Penon is this wine maker, constantly introducing new flavors and experiences. As far as prices go the Penon Storm is the priciest cable at $1,199.00 and the best value would be the Penon CS819 at $49.00, or the Globe aftermarket cable at $18.90? And while I haven’t heard the Storm, the CS819 is included with a number of Penon IEMs, including the Vortex single DD IEM, the Serial 3X DD IEM and the new Penon 10th Anniversary Special Edition IEM. Imagine a $49.00 cable being issued so much and being put into use so often. Why? The CS819 offers a middle of the road tone that pretty much leaves the signature alone. In testing I found it ridiculously transparent for what it costs, while still adding a hint of warmth in contrast to other included cables. At this point you must be wondering why I’m even bringing-up the CS819 in discussion? For one the CS819 cable represents an example of a generalist cable, yep….it leaves tones alone, and is well behaved in handling.

Penon 10th Anniversary and Penon Bass Cable:
But there are other reasons here. In comes the Penon 10th Anniversary IEM. It came with the CS819 cable as its cable, but something interesting came out at exactly the same time……….The Penon 10th Anniversary IEM is red and blue and guess what matches it to a T? That’s right our Bass Cable. I haven’t heard the 10th Anniversary yet, but word on the street says it’s a radical V response, that while vibrant may not be for everyone. So along comes the Penon Bass Cable to save the day! And……it’s really not that much extra money to go ahead and get the Bass Cable as an add-on possibly with your Penon 10th Anniversary order? You see in their wisdom Penon is supplying both a matching cable and matching IEM to give listeners a chance at finding their personal listening nirvana. Or of course if you are ordering a Penon product for the first time and it’s the 10th Anniversary, just use the included CS819 to truly understand Penon’s signature statement.

We don’t all hear the same, or have the same sound preferences. We use different sources and ear-tips too. So even though I’m going to use 12 different IEMs today with the Bass Cable, it doesn’t mean you will have the exact same experience as I. Though keep in mind that part of my success (if any) comes from understanding cables and their affects on sound signatures. And to let the cat out of the proverbial bag here……..there are going to be a number of IEMs that excel to the max with the Bass Cable set-up. This means that while the Vocal Cable brought new and different tones to listeners, that cable also had its (specific) uses and defined personality. The Bass Cable brings new and different powers to the table and while slightly related to the Vocal, is still very much a different animal. I say this except the Vocal Cable also has a relationship to the Bass cable, yet the Vocal Cable adds vocals the Bass cable modifies bass. Whew!

The tests:
It is my privilege and pleasure to introduce to you the B2 IEM made by Shozy!

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/shozy-isn-audio-scb2.25535/reviews#review-28891

Listen, I am going to introduce a handful of IEMs that go to the next level with the Penon Bass Cable, yet this one is in the very top-tier of the pack. I’m also going to introduce a few IEMs that don’t work-out with the Penon Bass Cable, remember it’s a specialist cable………..but after you hear what it does with a few IEMs, you’ll totally understand why the Bass Cable is special. Shozy, Shozy…..Shozy. Believe it or not Penon added a past specialist cable to the B2 IEM…….yep, they added the $99.90 ISN SC4 cable as a way to move the signature and align it to what most folks want for $299.00. In so many ways the Penon Bass Cable is doing the same thing. And to be truthful there have been one or two cables out there that are able to dial this IEM in. Yet here something special is going on…..really special.



The Penon Bass Cable and Shozy B2:
I like to start off these tests on a super positive note, and I can’t think of any more positive than this combo. Yep, intimacy and provocativeness, but to get down-to-earth here, the foggy bass has all but been vacuumed-up. It’s gone. I’m using the Bass Cable, the Sony WM1Z and the B2 with slightly longer clear silicone tips than I standardly use. The tips are by the looks of them my standard ear-tips that I use regularly, only now they are a smidge longer to make-up for the nozzle length of the B2. The favorite titanium nozzles are in use with this 10mm single full-range CNT driver. Amazingly this is a dual front ported IEM (with a single back vent) and the staging becomes something else!

The B2:
This is fantastic, due to the pace found, the clarity found and the unification of tone out-put. So very natural and real? The Bass Cable provides an additional spatialization of treble elements, which can be confusing due to its name! It’s the separation at hand, the bounce? I will tell you this is very much a small IEM with a big cable attached to it. Yet all is well, and it stays in place fantastically. A big part of working with this IEM is positioning the vocals. And while they are not way out in front, they are fine, fine….in just the right place. This is definitely one of the best tones in this price bracket, at least for me it is. How I discover these combinations is I just think about which bass heavy IEMs I’ve come in contact with the last year and a half, then I put stuff together, and once in a while I find joy.

The warm fluid bass, the positioning of how everything is together and most of all the dead-on timbre…has me spellbound. This, this one set-up I could take along on a six month trip, a vacation from all the gear………paradise! Such due to simply correctness of both tone and technicalities and a nonchalant sexiness that just won’t stop. Beautiful! Darn! Synergy!

But what about the ISN SC4?
So the ultimate question here is how does the Penon Bass Cable compare with the ISN SC4? The fact of the matter is the B2 has been (retailer) included with one or two other cables in its history. One retailer includes the B2 with one aftermarket cable, another with another. There is even a super expensive DAIKOKU ELECTRIC COPPER CABLE edition of the B2 from at least two retailers. Even Penon has included the B2 with two different cables at times…..as a package, starting off with the ISN SC4, then making lower cost budget offering called the Christmas and New Year special edition. I have not heard the Christmas/New Years edition but this test will be if the B2 is truly better with the ISC SC4 cable or the Penon Bass Cable.

Penon Bass Cable v ISN SC4 Cable:
First off the physicality is very different between the two cables, really the opposite, as the SC4 is almost hair thin, and the Penon Bass is slightly a brute. Later in this review I will get to the Bass Cable form and ergonomics, yet in this instance where the B2 is on the incredibly small size (for an IEM) and the Bass Cable on the bigger side of cables….yet all is well, at least for me? Though it is a joining of contrasts, I will tell you that, which just by the difference, makes you kinda realize that Penon joined the ISN SC4 and B2 cable at the start for reasons of ergonomics? And I will not lie, the SC4 and B2 bring about a great synergy, as you totally understand that the cable added a special pace to the bass, cleaning house so to speak. Now the question is does this thick (Bass) cable trim the bass and deliver a better than SC4 experience or a lesser than SC4 experience. There is a slight price difference as the ISN SC4 is $99.90, and Penon Bass Cable at $79.00. So you can see that besides sound…………really a big part of this question is cable size…….do you want to, or can you deal with this fire-hose size in Penon Bass Cable?

The results:
While performing very close to offering the identically same response results from the B2 the Penon Bass Cable is just a hair warmer and a tad thicker sounding. This probably means there will not be enough difference to change if you are already enjoying the SCB2 combination. That may sound inconsequential, yet it is what it is. And if you are splitting hairs, it’s really probably a matter of preference if you would chose one over the other. Yet the B2 and Penon Bass Cable combo is great and truly all I am looking for in an IEM……one that offers some of the best single DD tone and personality that I have come across. Also there are more combinations coming, so if you have the IMR BC 2023, or the ISN EST50, I can honestly say the Penon Bass Cable is one of the singularly best cables I’ve ever put into use with the two. More on that to follow.

https://penonaudio.com/shozy-scb2.html



In the picture left to right:

1) Penon Fan 1......single full-range 10mm DD/$139.00
2) Shozy B2......single full-range 10mm CNT DD/Penon package with ISN SC4 $299
3) Tipsy Pinestone Sea......single full-range 12mm LCP DD/$89.00
4) Kiwi ears Cadenza......single single full-range 10mm Beryllium DD/$31.49
5) BLON X HBB Z300......single full-range 10mm Silicone DD/$39.99

Penon Fan:
Going back to my review from December 31st of 2022, I see there was some cable rolls.

Cable comparisons:
A) Included Penon Cable
B) ISN G4 Cable https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-g4.html
C) ISN S2 Cable https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-s2.html
D) Totem Cable https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem.html
E) Penon Obsidian Cable https://penonaudio.com/penon-obsidian.html

Of the previous tests I can conclude this Bass Cable as offering the cleanest and fastest pace. And while not offering the density of any on the list, we are met with a more midrange style of playback. Really this does work and could be loved by many, yet when you take the basis for the Fan personality which is found with-in deeper bass playback, there is this revealing that is left………? I mean this is not the Fan 2 but slightly going in that direction? What is amazing is just how the midrange has changed from stock. Big yet slightly thin guitars providing a style of get-in and get-out authority, well maybe not exactly authority either? While there is nothing wrong with this arraignment.......I could easily find a better cable match-up.

Tipsy Pinestone Sea:
You know we as a group have not heard much from Tipsy? While the brand it seems still offers a range of products, there has been little to nothing on offer since the Pinestone Sea made its presence in March of 2022. The thing is, the Pinestone Sea was and is extremely bass heavy. Yep, and if you’re wondering if we have enough bass to play with we do. Oceans of bass, seas of bass, if you’ll forgive me for saying. In fact this is one IEM that I would often use the ISN SC4 cable to bring about a new a shinny style of clarity. You see it’s what these style of cables are for. You buy an IEM thinking you love bass, and there is nothing wrong with that. Except after awhile the IEMs personality starts to become too much, and as owners of IEMs we simply downgrade our listening time, that or chose the musical genres to listen to due to such changes. And the Pinestone Sea has a fan base, it’s just that for some the amount of bass got old........this effect is a double edged sword, where it can be thrilling to experience the bass levels which are at the edge of acceptability, only to still lose playtime, as the signature is found to be less exciting as the ownership period goes on. If you have such IEMs and you can relate with what I’m saying, then really the Penon Bass Cable is totally the ticket to bass-pace. A new and invigorating signature that simply is more technical. The tone is slightly different too, but this primarily centers around the way the drums and bass interact to replay quickness and pace.

L Shape:
The Pinestone Sea is L shape, yet now with the Penon Bass Cable it’s not. Nope it’s now a spacious midrange infused spectacle of fun. More vocals, better pace and a truer to life rendition of your favorite songs. Just fast and playful, mid-rangy and fun. If you can think of any IEMs in your collection that could be given a new lease on life……the changes here are profound and real. It’s a soundstage that all of a sudden has me smitten with this particular set-up………that no-way is this an $80.00 IEM? It just sounds miles better than I could have guessed? I know of a few members that have the Pinestone Sea, I can’t wait to hear about their own personal revelation with the Sea and Penon Bass Cable! Perfect!

Kiwi ears Cadenza:
Probably almost the most talked about IEM in the photo above? You know what they say about popularity contests. The results of the contest simply rely on how many votes are obtained. Yep, only votes. It doesn’t always mean it’s the best IEM. Except out the two Kiwi ears I’ve heard, I like the Kiwi ears Orchestra Lite better, but that’s just me. Really the Cadenza is incredibly popular for what it is, offering a U shape signature that seems to check a lot of people’s boxes? Though if you read the reviews on the Cadenza, almost 100% of the time you will read about missing technicalities. With technicalities not being the Cadenza’s strong point, they get by with being musical anyway, that and the price tag of $34.99……which definitely helps their popularity. For me (to be honest) I only gave the Cadenza 3.5 stars, I just didn’t value the sound as much as others? But there may be a way in…….a way to increase the sonic value here. It wouldn’t be the first time a cable went and changed pace and vocal placement for the better!

Let us see?
You have to love it, I’m putting a cable that is twice the price of the IEM in question, yet isn’t that what Head-Fi is about? Making products optimized in sound, taking a lackluster technical IEM and dusting it off, attempting to align the sound more to your personal taste preference. Well, it’s not totally great, but way better. Remember I never totally liked the Cadenza in the first place, so no risk here. The vocals are more forward….check. Is bass offering a more technical position, yep. More airy in the midrange and faster, this is one of a few examples that shows, while not perfect in any way, that there is a repositioning of focus into which the midrange is found. And yet the bass is still ample as we had a thick low-end to work with. Also there is great separation, yet that still can’t help the itemization and stage as I’m sorry, maybe I just got a bad pair…….a Monday build? Not so great in the end, even with all the help of an TOTL DAP and Penon Bass Cable? Everything is just clumped together with limited resolution and boring separation.

BLON X HBB Z300:
Wow, I’m so happy this one worked out. I mean everything we have learned so far about the Bass Cable would direct us this way. Still there is the midrange to be curious about. Where we could guess that the L shape (read heavy) bass response would have enough meat on it to trim, and that is what happened. Bass is now fast and clear……..as clear as can be expected for $39.99. There can be a phenomena where if you take an IEM tuned like this one and pull-the-bass covers off so to speak, that you will remove the musicality present. Where technically yes, there is a more technical and faster response, yet a small portion of the Z300’s soul was removed too? Maybe a smidge, I’m not so sure? Though this is by far the best I’ve heard the BLON X HBB Z300! And with the right tracks it’s absolutely beautiful! I mean this was Penon’s goal……to make a sound harvester cable, a cable that would take a few IEMs that you would normally put on the back shelf and optimize them and offer an opportunity for the tune to be brought forward once more, into the limelight so to speak. This stage is amazing, and the bass itemization, the texture that was always there, but hidden beneath the overpowering sludge of excess bass. Now removed and we are face to face with bass technicalities! Of course once again we are taking a cable almost twice the price of the IEM and combining them, yet getting results, real value. This was the potential I possibly guessed was hidden inside the BLON X HBB Z300? And remember too we have to accept the whole enchilada here, the treble is well itemized and formed, the mids (while being a song by song affair) are generally well done and forgiving. All and all I would consider this a success and the meaning of why the Penon Bass Cable was invented. Scary good, for the money and scary good in relation to even spending way more money. In fact I want to halt my review and not take these out of my ears? Just wonderful separation and naturalness about, pleasant cohesiveness and true timbre.

As a Z300 side note:
When I did my Z300 review the 7Hz Salnotes Zero (in comparison) was liked slightly more, due to just how fascinating the Zero’s midrange is, yet now with the Penon Bass Cable I would say the Z300 was brought to equal terms with the Salnotes Zero. Both are still different but comparable. What interesting though is due to the midrange positioning over the bass in the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, it is does not play well with what the Penon Bass Cable brings to the table. Nope the Zero does not go with the Bass Cable in the end. A perfect example of how the Bass Cable is not always a perfect match-up with midrange centered IEMs, though bring the Penon Bass Cable to a match-up like the BLON X HBB Z300………and prepare to be amazed. L shaped bass responses were made for the Bass Cable. Though you (may) find the copper 4 core cable the BLON X HBB Z300 comes with makes the Z300 slightly more well rounded? And this is actually typical in the IEM community, that when you try to lift the L veil of bass, detail and pace are found, but slightly less forgiveness. Such a change almost leaves you with two different IEMs, and I could easily see a person switching between cables to match the Z300 to music.



More join-ups:
The Penon Globe:
Well, well……another winner. And it surprises me how much better this is than the original Fan with the Bass Cable? Here now the bass is separated off to the side, textured, focused and paced. But what has me dumbfounded is just how organic and close the vocals are now. I can touch them……the subtle way they go about communicating is intoxicating. They are both clear yet refined, and pleasant as all get out. While in truth I was not in any way expecting this outcome. After doing this a while you start to prejudge the results due to thinking you know it all. When in truth there is only one way to know, and that’s to try things……….simple. I have been on a Penon Globe roll this last few weeks, and in many ways the Penon Globe is like the Penon EST50 as there is a lot to work with as far as replay personality, and being able to alter playback with cables. But this here, this Globe and Bass Cable is beautiful and timbrally accurate, more than I would guess. Being the Globe is a Hybrid made from only three drivers….It’s a $329.00 10mm DD mixed with a Knowles branded tweeter and single Sonion midrange. Now that may not sound like much, but driver count doesn’t matter…..if it mattered the cheap 15 BA driver models from the other guys would be famous, but they’re not……why…because number of drivers don’t mean a thing. Here I was worried about BA forwardness, only because better aftermarket cables often smoothed out the highs and midrange with the Globe to reach a level of new success. This here is all day listening and any file type of playback…..really almost perfect. I will return after the review is over to become reintroduced to the magic found, surprisingly! Big rolling sound that is both smooth and tonally correct.

https://penonaudio.com/penon-globe.html



The TSMR Land: 6 driver, 4 channel 4-way crossover design
Another hybrid for review. This unit at $599.00 uses the 1X2 double punch of 2 ESTs and a single BA for treble mixed with a 10mm DD for lows and a dual intermediate BA for the mids. And while often I have found finding the right cable for the Land challenging……I didn’t have much faith in what the Bass Cable X Land mixture would bring to the table. More filled-out and expanded than the Globe could ever get to. At close to 2X the money of the Globe you almost expect this……bigger more badassness to be discovered here. And yet this is nice, a combo that I was again afraid to taste due to pre expectation bias, thinking it would be too bright.............it’s still smooth and enchanting, really it is. Probably the charm is the timbre found here……the imaging which due to the tuning, combined with the exquisite treble positioning workhorse of the top end..........brings it. The Bass Cable will take an IEM that you have only set aside for certain cables and show you that it can play ball too! Yep, it’s maybe not that much of a specialist cable after all, as the more IEMs I put with it, the more well rounded it starts to reveal itself. Because during the start of this review I would never have guessed the Land and Bass Cable to be a match made in heaven? If you could see me right now you would see my head shaking from right to left in disbelieve. But it’s true, this totally works, and better than works, it’s a cable I would leave on the Land for eternity! Why? Because of balance. Where still some may find the Land too bright because it is a bright IEM, except maybe the Bass Cable simply smooths it out in the best of places? The bass is there and focused better than I remember, the highs are big yet smooth and rewardingly accessible.

https://penonaudio.com/tansio-mirai-land.html



The TSMR Sands:
Honestly if the Sands works out, I maybe will have to rewrite the whole review?

I say this as I hold both the TSMR Land and Sands very close in ways to being the same. And the Land totally challenged (everything) I thought I knew about the Penon Bass Cable. But testing can be that way. Do you think you would know about a specific cables personality after 12 IEM tests, yep……you know more and more with the additional IEMs you interface with a cable. The Sands at $319.00………the 2 Sonion BAs fill-out the midrange and the single Knowles takes care of the treble. A 10mm DD takes care of the bass. But what is unusual is so many going to choose the PAC480 (aftermarket) cable as the way into the sound signature. Yep, this one needs some adjusting, but once there you are gifted with some of the very best detail per dollar spent, as even after all this time and all these IEMs through the door, I still am slightly amazed at what the TSMR Sands is truly capable of!

The Sands:
As the antithesis of the Shozy B2, and while slightly hot, it still works only just OK. Probably at this point I need to turn-in my review card and make this my very last review, as I’m fully confused. But once again proof is in the putting. But this is a sound I can recommend, it is just hotter than the Land and maybe not for everyone. But if you had the Sands already and wanted to take a chance, the stage is big, as it is normally provided with the Sands……only it seems bigger than normal? What maybe makes this all go down so well is the bass has authority and texture……..so maybe the Penon Bass really lives up to it’s name? It’s separated and refined bass, doing the style of rhythm you want. But the really incredible thing here is the provided midrange stage expansion? Big…..that's the only word I have for what is going on? And detailed, meaning typically you don’t always expect this level of detail from an under $100 cable, but remember you’re combining it with an incredibly detailed IEM to start with. But in the end this combo is not one I can recommend for everyone, just too hot.

https://penonaudio.com/tansio-mirai-sands.html



The Kiwi ears Orchestra Lite:
Showing-up with 8BAs a side, the tune is very much midrange focused. What is happening here is the sculpting of bass is just taking away a little too much, where it needs to be emphasized instead. That and if you’re paying attention the Penon Bass Cable is also affecting the midrange to bring it a little forward…….not the best sound design for the Kiwi ears Orchestra Lite. You can read my 5 star review and realize I have nothing against the Orchestra Lite, except in this set-up we are promoting the wrong style of playback. The best I ever heard the Orchestra Lite was with the ISN Solar Cable. Where the Solar warmed-up the midrange and thickened what the new midrange was asking for. That and a smoothness which somehow created more cohesiveness than expected?

https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-solar.html



The Penon Serial:
This could very well be the most anticipated IEM in the review. Wildly popular at the moment and for good reason. I’m always getting PMs asking about it, and the audiophile community is in a style of mass curiosity over the uniqueness held inside this simple thing. Basic and not complex as the way the best inventions are, the Serial is in a way the opposite of the Sands. Only three DDs, and all of different sizes, relay a message of drama that few IEMs display regardless of price. The Serial is many listeners deserted island IEM. An IEM they would choose to ride-off into the sunset with regardless of price. Literally yesterday a (Head-Fi) member PMed me to let me know his Serial arrived and he was smitten with the outcome.

So what do we have?
Size! We have increased size, don’t ask me why. There is also an upfront style all of a sudden that reminds me of the ISN H40. And you may ask why I didn’t match the Penon Bass Cable with the ISN H40? And my answer to that is you can’t match them all…..the review would start to become sleeping medicine, if this review hasn’t already? The upfront style? It’s way bigger than the H40…….asking for you to look inside and perceive new sounds and light just beyond semi-opened doorways. The Bass Cable/Serial combo is one of the very best outcomes today. Due to the Serial being probably 2nd place in the range of neutral Penon is attempting, there is an agileness to change and freedom to move the signature to a new position. Now I probably heard other cables make the Serial more thick, but that is not the central theme here, no the Bass Cable is doing something way more valuable. The Bass Cable is accentuating the mids and adding a slight forwardness to the vocals that almost has me in tears. Yep, my friends it’s that good, and so good that this isn’t even a matter of opinion. Nope, if you have the Serial, just get the Bass Cable and call it a day!

https://penonaudio.com/penon-serial.html

OK, Now it’s time to go to the next level:

What? More L shapes?

Yep, more.

And we haven’t even got to the best part of the review yet!



The IMR BC 2023 and the ISN EST50:

IMR BC 2023:
After all the preceding as a lead-up we have now reached the climax of the review. Yep, the epicenter of the controlled bass earthquake. And you may be wondering how complete and how fabulous is it? Well after I figured out the reverse in naming this cable, I went right to the heaviest bass IEM I had. I had to see if control and sculpturing was still possible, I had to know just how powerful the Penon Bass Cable could be to align the possibilities of sonic success……..and I broke-out the IMR Bass Canon 2023.

https://penonaudio.com/imr-bc-2023.html

The deal with the IMR BC 2023 is IMR knows that one signature is not going to be right for everyone. That’s why they include a two stage set of tuning nozzles to focus or de-focus the bass. These nozzles also can bring about clarity and even bring the IMR BC 2023 closer to reference. Though because I’m more of a cable guy…………



I choose to use cables to change and align tone to my wishes. Yep to be clear, the best part of todays experience was the fact that the IMR BC 2023 personality and character was still present. The difference was it was simply faster and of better pace. The Penon Vocal Cable was different, in that it made the IMR BC 2023 mids slightly too much. That is the trick to the IMR BC 2023, that is has boosted midrange and boosted bass…..and the Penon Bass cable was actually better suited in this regard. Where with the ISN EST50 the Penon Bass Cable or the Penon Vocal Cable could in fact be used interchangeably in my uses.

So what do we get?
Using the bass emphasized Sony WM1Z with MrWalkmans firmware we are provided with clarity? While yes, there is a noted bass centric playback still, but it comes-off surprisingly balanced like good home theater can be. You know when you hear deepness that is the capability possible, yet seem to gain correct involvement due to no murk. Firing-off is one 6mm ADLC (amorphous diamond like carbon) driver and one (size undocumented) ADLC driver, yet where they separate in frequency is anyone's guess?

So we have the timbral accuracy in spades, especially with certain music, but provided 100% of the time making this bass centric IEM very well rounded, if you can believe that?

Probably the success here, or at least one of the factors would be how the midrange in positioned, showing vocals set-in just right. But there is also a smoothness and an easy going effortless that is applied to every single song that just has you coming back for more. Now the IMR BC 2023 is like this anyway, and I gave it 4.5 stars due to such capabilities. It’s just that much better with this unforeseen additive. Warm, easy-going, listenable, correct, forgiving and real would be how I describe it. It’s the audio equivalent to climbing in a warm bed and experiencing the comfort of pillows, you know those pillows you never get tired of..........and don’t want to replace ever.



(The King) The ISN EST50:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/isn-est50.25254/reviews#review-28717

Back in near the end of June in 2022 I reviewed the EST50, hard to believe it was almost a year ago. But during the last year after the review I got a chance to learn more about the chameleon known as the ISN EST50. Yep a true changer of stature. What could be looked as dark and L shaped in response could (somehow) accept a lot of different tonalities of input and become a different animal all together. And it isn’t just I that found this out, many members are using cables and different sources to explore the sonic possibilities hidden inside this single IEM called the EST50. In-fact if there’s an additional revamp to any of the 81 reviews I’ve written since the EST50 review..........my single opinion here has changed the most. Why? Cables mostly, I found that cables changed the ISN EST50 and provided a doorway to new lands. These new continents of exploration primarily centered around cleaning-up the L shape bass frequencies, but in result opened up midrange and vocal perception into new vistas of appreciation. Who would of thought? The Penon Vocal Cable is another perfect example of surprises occurring beyond what possible performance guessed. In fact for many including myself, we found-out that there was almost a new IEM to be found waiting. One we already had, but hadn’t even guessed or known about………could be found altering its personality in alarmingly beautiful ways…..with the Vocal Cable, and of course the Penon Bass Cable!

Much of this is simply taste, that many fully enjoy standard playback and bask in the warm profound L shape signature that made the EST50 initially famous. There is nothing wrong with that. Except if you read my EST50 review from a year ago you can’t help but get my message. Yep, I loved it but gave it 4.5 stars not 5 starts, with the Penon Bass Cable the EST50 would garner 5 stars now. Why? More my style of tone. In fact the W shape ISN H50 that came later was instantaneously more fun. Faster bass, cleaner midrange and clarity. Just the stuff we are now getting from the EST50 with the Penon Bass Cable! Only now I view the EST50 as the ultimate ISN IEM, due to technicalities and tone, yep now it has it all, and the ISN H50 due to its natural frequency response is not able to accept this lift. Nope, the ISN H50 is already a W response with a forward midrange which with many cables in just perfect, except put the Penon Vocal Cable on the H50 and it’s a heat festival. The Vocal Cable is the cat’s meow with the EST50 and I hope that anything I write here does’t detract from that. Yet there is a slightly different flavor capable from the EST50! One new taste that isn’t so vocal forward. I can’t believe I just used vocal forward and EST50 in the same sentence? Most folks already know the EST50 tune is not about vocals and the Pinna Gain (ear-gain) area of FR that the EST50 purposely sets back. Except for those of us that are looking to dial in the EST50 there are a few cables that do so, each in slightly a different way, but slightly profound none the less. The Penon OSG really adds epic detail and smoothness yet it’s slightly less than 4X the cost of the Penon Bass. In so many ways the Penon Vocal Cable and Penon Bass Cable are related. They were also released back to back.

So in conclusion to our EST50 tests, the Penon Bass Cable will go ahead and offer a smoothness.......a deepness over the Vocal Cable. You actually could go ahead and describe it as added bass in relation to the Vocal Cable. And where the Vocal called up more midrange…..subtly the Bass Cable goes deeper, richer………..to make the bottom end more full and round with the EST50. So in the end it really kinda does live up to its name in contrast to the Vocal Cable. But there is more, gloriously more included……..yep the mids, the vocals with the Bass Cable? And the speed and pace of it all….the PRaT included……..but most of all it’s the balance……for me anyway. I mean I saved the best for last, how could I not? The tones are somehow thick but not totally dense, that if you know the EST50 normally, there can be this denseness that is mood. And there is nothing wrong with that mood if that’s the mood you’re into? Only now things are more clear, yet holding everything we came to the EST50 for except there is more much more. In my imagination I see Penon engineers sitting in the backroom and thinking if they (the public) like the Vocal Cable that much (with the EST50) we will go ahead and really give them something to sink their teeth into. Yet the Vocal Cable and the Bass Cable can be looked at as brothers, where one has a slight midrange spacial ability connected to FR tone, and the other...........those same abilities only lower into the bass sectors slightly. Both cables offer the same value and tonal character in many ways.
https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-est50.html






The Bass Cable physical structuring:
I didn’t try to coil the cable to hide any of it’s intrinsic personality, or should I say the Bass Cable wouldn’t let me? While connected to players and IEMs it’s a little stiff but never shows a problem with such demeanor. Though it would be truly personal preference if the thickness was loved or not? Holding the Penon Space Cable next to the Bass you can see they are comparable in size, though with the Space’s 4 wires you get slightly more dexterity, the simple bigger 2 wires are what causes such stiffness maybe? And while the Penon Totem is the only Penon Cable with ear-hooks that I own (besides the ISN Solar) that cable leads me to wonder. I mean the Totem is stiffer than almost anything except possibly the Effect Audio Code 23. And the Totem ear-hooks go to add manageability, which would in-fact be my possible recommendation for the Penon Bass Cable? So that is something that maybe would be food-for-thought? Still I love the Penon Bass Cable and will be using it long after this review is finished. While the Penon Vocal Cable is over the top in looks, the Penon Bass is way more subdued, yet noticeable in public. Noticeable due to both size and colors. Such factors are a new wave in marketing it seems, to make your product stand out better than the next guy’s. All and all it adds to the experience found and simply adds to the fact that the Penon Bass is a different product for a choice. The actual hardware of splitter and plug are beautiful, the subtle colored blue and red rings on the IEM 2 pins or MMCX, nice. The attention to detail boosts this product and in whole it feels like way more money in your hands, sounds like it too. The nylon cloth jacket covering the cable does not seem to fray like others in the past, also showing characteristics of its very own style of microphonics? When the music is turned off you can slightly hear a low smooth rumble as the cloth gets pulled across your personal fabrics, I mean how could it not? Though at the same time there is a predictability as to how the Bass Cable acts, especially out-and-about. Impervious to wind, and relatively heavy weighing-in at 40 grams for the 4.4mm model, it’s one of the few IEM cables that I would consider for use with full-size headphones.

Conclusion:
What? A new addition to our lives. Yep, a new cable. Seemingly a little unwieldily and gruff, the Penon Bass Cable can be the boss if it wants to at times, almost pulling the IEMs out of your ears. Yet not all the time, and you know how we are as audiophiles…..yep we put-up with outrageous personalities of products to get a sound. Maybe it’s climbing into attics of other audiophiles to excavate old 300b vacuum tubes for our 2 channel system? Maybe it’s taking a plane ride to a different continent to hear new gear? Whatever it is it’s sacrifice, plain and simple, short and sweet. Now when you really get down to brass tacks here, the Penon Bass Cable actually requires very little sacrifice and a ton of gain. It’s big, it’s brawny and it gets the job done. Yet what it’s good at can vary from IEM to IEM, causing this particular reviewer confusion. But if you made it this far reading, then you read my takes with 12 different IEMs, and you know what the outcome is. Hopefully? By the way I have the Penon Serials in my ears as I’m writing this, I can’t take them out, they won’t come out. Yep, the Bass Cable is a value in the world of cables………….get yours today!

$79.00
https://penonaudio.com/penon-bass.html

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the Penon Bass Cable review sample.

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

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
PENON AUDIO TAIL Dongle DAC/Amplifier 4.4mm