Totem Magick
You don’t just write a review about the Totem cable.....I mean maybe you can simply write a review about it......you know, explain what it does as a cable? Yet my interpretation of the Totem is that it’s more of a destination than a thing.
Definition:
noun. to· tem ˈtō-təm. : an object (such as an animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry. also : a usually carved or painted representation of such an object. : a family or clan identified by a common totemic object.
The definition says it’s an emblem in this case. So? It’s an object that represents Penon Audio? Everything Penon makes represents Penon Audio, except the Totem is different, as it is the singular thing that embellishes what Penon Audio is. And.....in fact it’s the greatest Penon Audio product, in my humble opinion. To my eyes, and to my ears the Totem is incredibly special......it’s a symbolic new paradigm of sorts. So you’re going to read a review about this somewhat ridiculous cable, a cable priced at $699.00! Yet.....to me it’s the most important release ever by Penon Audio.
Penon Audio:
Penon got its start around the year 2013, and in many ways that time was the start of a couple concepts, all happening at once. IEMs were just then starting to be taken seriously. Sure there was IEMs taken seriously sooner, Jerry Harvey Audio got its start in 2007, after making monitors for rock stars. And of course people were learning of the sound quality of “inner-ear-monitors”.....even then. But the full-size headphone got a head-start being invented in 1910. Still it could be argued that the idea of IEMs was way sooner than 2007; I mean Knowles was first a maker of BA styled hearing-aids in 1954............that in essence is really the start of “inner-ear-monitors”. But it wasn’t until the popularly of the smartphone that IEMs really started to take off. Before that time, only a few mildly eccentric Head-Fi members were really into it. But around 2013 two things happened. One, the internet as a retail force was becoming a reality and Two, there was all of a sudden all these IEMs from China. So Penon was at the right place at the right time. They invented cables to connect the IEMs newly invented to these cellphones now in common use. Penon then expanded their line of products to include Penon IEMs and ISN IEMs/cables. Penon was addressing the needs of the audiophile community. Penon doesn’t just make IEMs & cables. Besides the Penon brand, they are a retail house that currently represents/sells well over 120 different audio brands. Not only a retailer but a renowned cable builder, making slightly under 50 different cables/adaptors right now. Penon also currently manufactures 10 separate earphones as of late. With a history going back to 2013, Penon is the logical result of years in the business. With a Penon product there is no middle-man……as this is a factory direct purchase. Penon are simply more grassroots in demeanor. Such focus of intent expands even to their whole IEM line. With the introduction of ISN; a subdivision of Penon Audio...........ISN got their start making cables, then at end of 2019 ISN introduced their first IEM, the legendary H40. Today ISN makes about 20 different cables, and 7 ear-phones.
An Audio Success Story:
This is an audio success story. Almost a fairy tale..........but Penon wasn’t done yet. Penon had to pool their resources and come-up with the ultimate cable. Such a cable would be different than most cables, it looked different and sounded different. Not only does it sound different, it’s made in such a way, that doesn’t result in anything ordinary. Ordinarily cables are chosen to either brighten a signal or warm-up a signal. Not the Totem, it works with every IEM and every DAP/source. Surprisingly they just sent this cable to me? I was totally surprised, and in truth, I’m no expert on cables or their uses. I know a little-bit about cables, but have never tested a $699.00 IEM cable before. Strangely I have been a interconnect and power cable enthusiast for years, why I never spent more than $200 on an IEM cable is because I always thought cables only made a small difference. Well........the rest is history so to speak.
Yep, this cable represents Penon 100%. It’s almost their mascot so to speak. A cable manufacturer who goes about their business for years and years.....finally working their way up to a statement product. The single solitary statement is “The Totem”! Coincidentally the Totem is my favorite product by Penon Audio. Do you know why it’s my favorite product?
Versatility:
There.......I said it. It’s versatile because it can be used in so many ways. An IEM only does one thing, it reproduces music only one way, a DAP, the same thing, you only have so much use for it. But a cable is actually a time traveler.
Time Traveling:
With the Totem you can go back to 2017 and enhance the IEM you bought then. It will make that past IEM the best it can be. If you want to, you can combine the Totem in the future with new IEMs. So there is a pretty good chance the Totem will make the 2027 IEM also the best it can be also! How many audio products have this level of versatility? But more than that, in the present day, now..... you can use the Totem to make your present day favorite IEM that much better. So instead of moving on to another and another IEM, looking for a sound, you enhance what you have. Everything the Totem touches it improves, and that one quality separates the Totem from all other cables.
How?
Palladium
Gold
Copper
Silver
Palladium:
While most rare metals have been around for 1000s of years in mankind’s use, Palladium is a new one. Discovered in 1803, it was named after after asteroid Pallas, itself named after Pallas Athena. Simply-put this stuff Palladium belongs to the Platinum Group of Metals, or PGMs. Believe it or not, Palladium is the most expensive of the four major precious metals, more expensive than even gold at more than $1800.00 an ounce. In the Totem the Palladium is used to plate the Silver elements in the cable build and enhances imaging and and detail. Note the diagram here. The very very center is single crystal Copper plated with Gold, the exterior is again Silver plated single crystal Copper. The Palladium rests in the center plated to a pure Silver cable. With this smorgasbord of precious metals, no wonder it doesn’t make stuff brighter or darker. It’s truly a Frankenstein’s Monster of a cable creation. Now it does kinda have a tone, at least it sounds different than any cable I’ve used?
I want to give my idea as to why some people believe in cables and some don’t. Think of it this way.................if you have any experience in audio you have built a house on basic beliefs. So starting from the foundation you sculpted your ideas based on both science and previous experience, which you believe hold truths. Such build-ups can be like anything you know, as layers and layers of knowledge and experience build-up. One direction is to believe cables do nothing to affect the sound when put between a DAP and an IEM. Some people don’t hear any difference between cables, then they refer to science and science reconfirms their understanding. This goes on for years as they try new stuff, and eventually they stop experimenting and become crystallized in their beliefs. The believers go the opposite route, they believe not all phenomenon can be tested, and keep finding changes due to cable build methodology. Finally they commingle into groups of other like minded people which will go on to substantiate their beliefs. Though the interesting part, is many (almost all) have the exact same sound results from the exact same cable, regardless of learning what the others had (experienced) before testing. And.....same with the Totem, all the believers, ended having the exact same ideas of sound improvement in daily testing, thus all this comes down to the same results in the end.
Left to right:
Penon Audio Fan 2, DUNU SA6, Mystery IEM
Left to right:
Penon Globe, Nobel Audio Encore Universal
Wait, what is that IEM, that mysterious IEM off to the right? It's there but out of focus. It turns out to be one of the very best examples of Totem Magick in action. Yep, expect the un-expected, prepare to be surprised, and just like with all side-by-sides, prepare to be schooled. The mystery IEM is the ISN EST50 and against all odds, it was one of the true stars of todays testing. While some may feel the Totem magick is more powerful with simple BA examples of the IEM art. Today the Hybrid ISN EST50 just went over-the-top! Over-the-edge and full-on-out...........to bring this humble reviewer closer to the music!
Testing:
The SA6 is the only IEM I haven’t tried with the Totem before! In fact the SA6 will be my first unit to demo in testing. This is exciting as I’m really hopeful the Totem will do what I’m thinking. Realize the Totem is slightly more responsive with all BA IEMs, yet still goes to enhance everything it touches. The reason I’m so hopeful about this union is the Totem brings naturally everything I actually want to hear as an improvement in the SA6, at least in theory...that is.
DUNU SA6 and Totem Cable:
The SA6 contrasts, the improved SA6 vividness. The dynamic soundstage increase in all three vectors! The crazy improvement in bass, also the separation, delineation and increased clarity of the treble. Yep, all this is actually promised and sure enough was found to be true with the past 4 test units. Yet this test is a special one, as in many ways (to me) the SA6 is in more of a place to get improvements from these character alterations. It’s just that no IEM is perfect, and the SA6 is great, but if this works out, it will be just the dose of medicine the DUNU SA6 needed.................................let’s find out!
The results fully bypassed any clue I had as to compatibility and benefits! I can’t believe this is happening? The 1st thing is the soundstage is way different, not only thicker but wider and taller. To be honest the SA6 soundstage is more thick and right to left anyway……..so that is what was increased. But because of the imaging and blackness of background, the soundstage seems of a thicker quality in that now instruments have a 3D form and texture character never found with the included DUNU DUW 03 a $199.00 cable by itself.
https://www.dunu-topsound.com/product-page/duw-03
I have to say, the number one character benefit is smoothness. That and a realism of tone and timbre. The SA6 is what it is to a point, meaning you love what it does or think it’s good, but not great. Though most people, most everyone really has thought of the SA6 as being a force in the $500 range. When you add in shape, fit, feel and bass switch abilities, it’s still a super-fun value, despite being passed up in IEM history by the DUNU SA6 Ultra. I never got a chance to hear the Ultra, but it seems the old-school SA6 had room to grow. BA sheen is always still there, were that is what you get with an all BA IEM, yet because of the way it’s tuned any real shine is circumvented.
First notice the Green SA6 graphical response, showing a subdued pinna gain in the 2k to 3k region, combined with a 4.5k peak which makes the Sony WM1A a better mate with our playback today than the WM 1Z. All and all the playback gifts us a warm and thrilling midrange production, filled with life and involvement!
Note the Encore and SA6 differences in the graphic response below. Now the SA6 is in red ink with bass switch on.
I find this graph perfect as a way to segway into the Nobel Audio Universal IEM. Yep, just look at that peak in the 6.5k to 7.5k area. Does it look like an area of concern? Ha....it may be for some? But in reality that peak is spread-out to create (what seems like) a spacial peak-soundstage around your head. It’s this quite expansive “bubble” which while seemingly wrong for many, is the exact attribute I’m dialed into. And the Totem goes along with all the Noble Encores ways of personality to bring the ultimate adventure!
It is my privilege and my pleasure to introduce to you the Encore/Totem experience! For truly this is a doozy! The Encore happens to be a total favorite, and like me, you may have an aging flagship laying around, waiting to be brought to the next level. You still like these IEMs and whatever they are, you can’t sell them...........maybe there are memories inside of them! You all know which IEMs these are in your collection. Heck, I have over 3000 hours of listening put in on the Encore, I love it without the Totem Cable add. So what happened here? How did this single listening experience make a memory? That’s right an album and a cable, an IEM and a DAP. All coming together seamlessly to create a sound, a new sound to further along one man’s humble audiophile experience.
The Totem Cable with Nobel Encore and Sony Walkman 1Z:
For reasons to not become too ridiculous, I have left the 4.4mm X 4.4mm adapters cable off. Yep, that’s right, you can for $79.90 get an extra unit of Totem to extend your Totem even further out, gaining even more Totem sound. This cable is in truth used to add the Totem metallurgy gifts to other cables, regardless of plugs. Meaning you order you adapter cable to fit your desired plug configuration. So I left the extra piece off for this test, also all the hardware makes it really a sight and with the Encore IEMs...........
Totem Cable with Noble Encore weighed:
New Totem has modular plug system, though of course you can still get the Totem Adapter as an accessory to use with other cables.
Totem terminated in 2.5mm, plus 4.4mm adapter, plus 4.4m X 4.4mm add-on plus Encore IEMs......this is how I roll normally..........at 101 grams!
The Totem 2.5mm plug added to 4.4mm plug: 76 grams with Encore.
The Totem in 2.5mm plug weighs 59 grams with Encore.
Nude Totem Cable:
43 grams cable by itself
16 grams the 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter
17 grams the 2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter
26 grams the 4.4mm to 4.4mm adapter on its own
So testing method just the Totem, 2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter and Sony WM1Z......with the Noble Audio Encore IEM.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/noble-audio-kaiser-encore.22120/reviews#review-22519
I say this is a privilege due to it all being a window, I would have never in my wildest dreams looked-though. Nope, I would probably never guessed this one. I have spent a bunch of money on interconnects and power cables, so I’m a cable believer, but I had never spent more than $200 on IEM cables. When in fact, cables are simply part of total synergy to obtain a level of playback. Meaning it all goes together. Here I am witnessing an expanded soundstage yet within that stage imaging of vocals are brought both forward and detailed inside, to approximate an advancement in realism. Such vocal relief comes with placement when all of a sudden you hear the cymbals doing a fully separate itemization out to the outskirts of the stage. Yep, all with the most charming top-end smoothness, that makes you want to write a letter. A letter to whom?
You are now reading that single written letter!
Such a love poem as could only found by accident, as most love stories are.
The bass is just were it always was and with these wide-bore tips nothing too dramatic, only it’s fast and probably close to neutral. Where the kicks are fully there and responsible, they leave room for everything else to be in focus. While the bass is of a specific ability to generate correct timbre and tone, it’s not the total emphasis here, but in an area of musical reserve, when there is only bass presentation, a clean-ness and ability start to arrive, where there is no economy of sub-bass, installments are more fast and quick, yet the lowest of lows get accessibility and thrills due to the accessibility! Due to the midrange being fairly neutral, the emphasis starts to take place with the 6.5k to 7.5k region and what an event it is. The fact that there is no thinness to be found, just bigger than big expansions of note weight and involvement.......with a slight warmth taking hold of everything, yet never even starting to lay a blanket over anything. Big choruses stagger out into view, awash with this specific glitter and lower foundational support. The glitter is really actually harmonics when viewed closer, as there becomes an element of realism to be found in timbral accents.......flowing freely showing up as simply an experience of truth. My gosh, the deep slams of transients in ability............making the most of this study.
Batman v Superman OST
Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL
“Problems Up Here”
96 kHz - 24 bit
The fact that everything is simply more open, more open for sound objects to be viewed. At 02.58 the wild synth-flute is giving me chills up my spine. When ever the chills come, that’s a good thing, and I’m pretty jaded anymore, so it’s a rare experience!
Batman v Superman OST
Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL
“New Rules”
96 kHz - 24 bit
The mission statement of any IEM enthusiast is to get closer, to simply have the music become more clear, more vivid and have a nearness. And that’s what the Totem system does. When the Kettle Drums make their entrance at the 00:18 mark they are profoundly big and holding a roundness that I’ve never heard from the Noble Audio Encore Universal before. Way out into the stage, they now occur with a presence of nearness. They simply hold size, closer to obtain that feeling you get from sound interpretation. Someone turned up the involvement factor on the musical situation…….for when it takes place, it’s simply more real-life. What the Totem specializes in is taking a slight character and enhancing it, like BA decay………..these drums are fully characteristic of BA sound, in that DDs do decays better, yet DDs don’t have all the texture present and let you look into the center of a sound, BAs do. But because of clarity here, the tail-off of decays are longer. Now I don’t want to say this is perfect, but it’s more into that direction! I have 4272 songs on this WM1Z and the bass drop at 01:38 is the best I have found. The clarity brings different ideas as to the sound, where now due to resolution, you can actually hear the attack of the bass note………it becomes softer in attack, and is almost more a bass wave than a percussion attack……….because entering this world of audio-microscopy things slowly become different as we are on a ride, a ride into the center of the song, coming directly up-front and witnessing all that’s there………..a memorable life experience.
Theatre of Tragedy
Assembly
“Episode”
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
All of a sudden I realize what extras the Totem brings to top-end treble. And no better song to explain this phenomenon. It’s actually very simple really………..and this is one of the very best characteristics of the Noble Encore………in that there are 10 BAs and a few of them are way-way up-high in tone. Typically these high-up treble embellishments are what’s left out of mid-fi IEMs, only to be treated with this extra sparkle and brightness upon putting a High-End IEM in your ears. Only now the crash cymbals have a finite smallness to them. Lol Seemingly going to the very top of our hearing and rolling-off only due to the full range of our hearing. Nothing is bright, or should I say aggressive, no, in fact, it’s more digestible than real-life. Why? Because of production, we are getting a tone and positioning that you wound never hear from real-life. It’s again like this miniature world where everything has its place. Yes, it’s trebly, yet in the best of fashion. Spread-out imaging and the falling-off of projectiles………over and over and elements found way-out into the stage where they are isolated and sculpted. If this sounds like way too much of description for a simple crash cymbal, I apologize, it’s just I have no other ways to get my point across. So it’s that time in life when a combination of focus goes to create a difference. Meaning it’s everything here………..the WM1Z treble expansion and finesse, the Nobel Encore treble boost at 6.5k to 7.5k…………..and the handling of those tones by the Penon Totem……..taking and making the most out of we’ve got…………..optimizing and exhilarating the tone…….bringing it up-front and into focus.
The Penon Totem doesn’t actually correct anything, so get those old ideas about cables out-of-your-head. We are not attempting to make anything warmer or brighter, I mean yes…….that happens where just like soundstage stuff is spread-out further into the height, width and depth. And treble is enhanced and bass in improved, but because of blackness we hear into the IEM deeper and the IEM simply becomes more of what it naturally is in the end. SO………the Totem won’t magically make the Encore acceptable to those who maybe don’t like the signature to begin with? All it does is add sound values on every vector and bring about a more authoritative yet polished rendition of what is already going on. So in ending this section……the Totem enhanced everything I already loved about the Encore, it may enhance an old-favorite IEM you have in your collection?
The Penon Globe and Totem:
The mating of the Totem to the Globe makes a perfect match. Why? Well…….lets start with size, the Globe is actually incredibly ergonomic and easy-wearing……..due to physical stature. So what is going on has to due with the ear-hooks rotating in on the Totem, the ways of the hooks enable perfect placement of the Globe. I read somewhere that Penon doesn’t ear-hook their cables normally, but due to the sheer weight of the Totem, it made the hooks a necessity. Here we are also blessed with a wonderful color match…….yep the Blue reflections inside of the Globe, along with the Green sparkles, and refractive play of light, goes to make this match-up nice. Way better fit than we could ever hope to obtain with the K-10 Encore. While the Globe now comes with a great new cable…..well it’s actually an the original cable, but you can now choose your choice of plug to go with it. The Totem system gives you a 2.5mm to 4.4mm Adapter. Meaning if you are game, you don’t have to use the whole Totem cable to get the Totem effects. That’s right, the Globe used to only come with a 3.5mm or 2.5mm balanced cable. Putting-on just a couple inches of Copper, Gold, Palladium and Silver goes about it’s business to accentuate the sound of the original Globe cable to bring the joys of the Totem in a more economical package.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem-adapter-cable.html
So at $79.90 you can get a real-life taste of what the Totem cable can do. A test, so to speak, and if you hear differences, you can then go-ahead and order the full shebang. The cable comes ordered in any plug combination you want. And nothing is waisted, as if you end up buying the full-on Totem experience later……the adapter can be rotated into use with the Totem or rotated into great use combined with the qualities of other great cables. I am not going to go into it here, but when my Totem Adapter review comes out you can read about the myriad of uses and myriad of success stories contained in uses!
Review 12/05/2022
Penon Audio Totem Adapter Cable
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-totem-adapter-cable.25805/reviews#review-29704
Umwelt
Days Of Dissent
"World Shatters"
96 kHz - 24 bit
Anyways………Coming in and accessing the Globe low-end we gain affinity witnessing incredible layering right at the take-off. Here the DD is offering a style of bass not exactly present with the Encore previously explored. It’s not that the Totem goes to make it overbearing or excessive, it’s just that the Globe is a juxtaposition of many elements and bass is one of its strong points. My gosh…….the thickness at 00:08 second mark. Here we are presented with an opening which accesses both a synth bass and way-out panned layering. Then there comes details in many more layers, the Totem makes it all slightly bigger than the included cable, bigger and more intense in the best of ways. In fact it’s the actual soundstage that allows for this song to open-up and live; this takes place due to it simply being an instrumental experience. Ahh the fit…the placement in my ears……….I’m using wide-bore tips and the soundstage is fantastic. Here is the first of the true analogue sound, as the DUNU SA6 and Nobel Encore were more BA tone focused. Where Penon somehow hides the BA timbre. There is also a slight smoothness that ends a welcome bay of refuge in these tests. It’s this smoothness that kinda takes hold of everything……..and this smoothness I at times forget about, only to be reminded one more upon IEM insertion of the Globe. You’re like…..of course it’s this smooth…..Lol. Big fat analogue synths, going bonkers here……..taking over……sleeping anywhere they want, eating anything that want……making a statement for all. It’s this spread-out lower midrange where the almost this Gary Numan style synth is used. Wild how someone brings back a synth tone, a preset of a sound, and you can remember the first time you heard such sounds…..Of course maybe this is just the evolution of techno, that some basics never go out of style…….why ditch them when they are still effective and go to become the backbone of the song. Such deep warmth, and while the included cable is nice, it’s nothing like the bath water we are bathing-in today. Warm all-encompassing, and clear. Normally Head-Fi listeners associate warm bumps with a cloudy smearing of elements, somewhere? There has to be a give and take somewhere? Well my friends that’s with other cables………..here there is no compromise, nothing to give up……..you get it all, every detail, every texture, yet delivered in a way that becomes even more clear than you have ever experienced before…………a wake-up, an eye-opening slight refreshment of the regular musicality you’re used to. Larger items, living in a larger world..........enhanced.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-globe.html
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pe...ifi-audiophile-iem.25087/reviews#review-29019
The Fan 2 and Totem:
There is something about newness which holds inquisitiveness for all. And sure enough the Fan 2 is Penon’s newest release upon the community. With 4 drivers, it’s very different than anything that has come before. My Fan 2 review has just surfaced and it goes over the ins and outs of this revolutionary IEM experience. With two 6mm “dual” bass producers firing off the low end, a Sonion BA singling out the midrange and a single Knowles BA producing treble frequencies the Penon Fan 2 produces a fully involving sound…….yet the Totem again makes it even better. In fact the Totem and Fan 2 arrived at the same time, embellished with the same tones of blue, the Totem and Fan 2 almost looked like they were made for one another. The other coincidence was that it was the Fan 2 that was put into my burn-in rig. Both the Totem, the Totem adapter cable and the Fan 2 enjoyed a solid week of burn-in attached to each other. With such a set-up momentary burn-in progress was obtained though small listening “tests”…………and finally when the Totem and Totem Adapter Cable were fully burned-in, along for the test was the Fan 2, to verify a change in sound. A thicker Fan 2 came about, also a better focused display with the Knowles and Sonion coming together, gaining cohesion. The bass smoothed out, but also became better viewed through a system of deeper stage clarity. That’s right, it went from a slightly forward brutish bass, to a more agile refined and set-back bass. With-in this bass soundstage the layers of bass detail started to arrive……….with what seemed like an extra layer of both backdrop in the bass and a forward stance into the soundstage. But what the Totem did in comparison to the equipped OS133 cable was add thickness. While the OS133 offers a hint of silver, which brings upper detail in the mids and treble, the OS133 is only so powerful to do so. The trick for the Fan 2 is that it is a necessity to bring thickness to it. Meaning Penon totally knew adding a Hybrid cable that sided with the copper side of its build was the way to go with the Fan 2. And sure enough, the Penon OS133 is the perfect value match for the $279.00 Penon Fan 2. In fact the technicalities that arrive with a close to neutral tune are even more heard in emphasis with placement of the OS133. Such soundstage expansions, fluid bass textures, and overall detail are incredibly special in the $279.00 zone, in fact I would have to call the Fan 2 a class leader as far as the imaging and overall detail it provides. But more than that, the Fan 2 isn’t adding treble just for the sake of detail, but adds a thicker more note weighty treble, that seems hard to argue with…but more than that, what can we do the optimize the Fan 2………..I know you know?
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-fan2.26145/reviews#review-29596
https://penonaudio.com/penon-fan-2.html
That’s right, add the Totem cable. You see the Fan 2 is the perfect candidate for Totem improvements, due to all the above mentioned. But slightly more than that, due to the overall Fan 2 inherent warmth and slight tilt to a warm/neutral……………the Fan 2 is begging for even more note weight. And………..not to necessarily fix anything…..but again to optimize the character it already has. Yep……..adding note weight to the Fan 2 response, it becomes almost a whole different deal. Because there is room for noticeability, maybe more noticeability, due to the neutrality at hand. So think, deeper soundstage, filled with better instrument textures and thicker over-all presentation that simply rocks. Going back to the start of the description, you have to realize Penon didn’t combine the Fan 2 with their brightest cable……….in fact it was the very first time the OS133 was ever included with an IEM.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-os133.html
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-os133-iem-cables.25829/reviews
Penon in their wisdom knew this added thickness which arrives though the use of copper was the ticket to optimize the Fan 2. Not only does the Fan 2 become a better IEM from its relationship with the OS133, it’s almost a necessity to use it, no way do we want what a pure silver cable will do for the Fan 2. And the Totem Cable works because it’s an amalgamation of all the metal compounds, which together add up to authority and refinement for the Fan 2……….taking it to the next level……….adding secret sauce to the recipe. So I truly hope if you’re not a cable believer, you stopped reading a long time ago.
The Fan 2 benefits with the Totem Cable:
The Fan 2 is a bold new direction for Penon Audio. They have run-away from home, so to speak. In some ways an IEM connoisseur would argue that it’s not even the Penon Audio sound anymore. That they have wondered too far from home, a new place, a strange place………and not with-out risk. It is a risk to wander so far away……….yet deep down I still hear the Penon sound. And this wasn’t even part of my Fan 2 review……because it takes a distancing from the Fan 2, far more distancing than you would get from writing a review……..but now I hear the relationship to all the Penon IEMs that came before and I feel the familiarity that’s taking place. It’s where it has always been, for every Penon IEM…………it’s in the midrange….of course it’s in the midrange. The OS133 is great, but add the Totem to the mix and we get an entirely new Fan 2…………it’s Fan 2.5!
I could go on and on……….but somehow a new chapter was started with the Fan 2………Penon Audio is now growing and maturing as a company and they are taking chances that are not really chances. As when this level of sound design starts to be created……….there is no stopping them…….Penon knew just how revolutionary the Fan 2 was………and the Totem takes it all completely to the next level. I don’t care what price the Fan 2 is, at any price (almost) it would be special in that this style of neutral is so very unique!
The ISN EST50 and Totem:
At times the EST50 is like strong alcohol in that it needs a chaser, or it needs a diluter to arrive at a more digestible style of intoxicant. It’s strong and the bass is strong. Most of these finding come about due to personal taste, as one mans poison is another’s folly. There is nothing exactly wrong with the included ISN S8 cable. Such a Hybrid cable adds some of the best ideas in silver use, as well as copper ideas….to fulfill the basic needs of a EST50 listener. In fact the ISN S8 is such a well-rounded performer, it becomes a value specifically sought-out by Penon/ISN to arrive at a basic, and better than basic, romantic EST50 sound. Yet for some listeners we wanted to explore. Exploring is easy with the EST50 due to temperament of EST treble……..there is a sophistication at hand………a well-rounded-ness that is afforded by the use of ESTs. It basically meant we had choices.........choices to also curtail the bass response in that while of high quality……..there was alternate ways to address the bass personality. While some even want the ISN EST50 to take on a deeper slower syrupy stance, some of us wanted firmness. Agile firmness and an increase in pace, and we were willing to give-up a slight bit of bass authority to do so. Why? Because there was a leeway to how much bass was needed and to still be acceptable. That’s right, there was so much freedom of bass application, that some tiny bit less was still way enough. But more than that we wanted to see if we could (at the same time) uncover the midrange? To almost tap into the mids as a way to add pace and midrange dynamics.........adding musicality. And finally when that (fantasy) took place it simultaneously opened up the doorway to a more involved treble experience. What? You know all this takes place due to balance, a new balance can be arrived at when the bass is subtly altered into stepping back…….allowing the midrange and treble to gain focus due to perspective. Before the Totem, I did it with the ISN G4, also great luck with the ISN SC4. Such cables had a tone, but at times a drastic change of tone on their perspective IEM clients. Still these changes, while great, were still not at the level the Totem is. Another great combo for the EST50 is the ISNSC4 and the 4.4mm X 4.4mm Totem Adapter cable. Yep, you get the brightness of the SC4…..combined with the authority and warmth of the Totem! Yet I will go into that in the Totem Adapter Cable review to come out in a week or so. This review is about the Totem and what a wonderful change by itself when used with the EST50. Let me describe……….
Just like the Fan 2 and the Globe, the ear-hooks come-in handy. Not only handy, they are a great add. Adding confidence in fitment, the cables fold ever so slightly into the ear, towards the head. Once in pace the Globe, Fan 2 and EST50 stick like glue……..without a worry or concern. They don’t move and don’t really feel like much……..this is because they are all on the smaller side of medium……..there is truly something to that…….that size? Now the bass is visceral, more visceral than I’ve ever heard the EST50 before, yet nothing is clouded, or obscured? Everything is giant, bigger and taking up more head-space. Bass has that analogue feel, with the digital edge that adds clarity……….we are surfing the best of what personal audio has to offer. While certain IEMs may offer this, or that……….there is no arguing that this show is incredible.
Ahhhhhhh!
Mick Gorden and Chad Mossholder
DOOM Eternal OST
“Phobos Space”
48 kHz - 24 bit
Better than the prior tests could have prepared me for. Insane……….what? What? Why? At times music and equipment all come together. Such moments also have to do with body chemistry and hearing. We as humans hear different every day….at times slightly better and at times slightly not. Though this effect now….this playback is way, way better than I could have ever hoped for. The overdriven bass fuzz, is somehow even more distorted as an effect of how this was recorded. This effect somehow holds the bass personality? Much of this excitement is probably coming from hearing less examples of bass replay. Kind of a startling reintroduction into bass land again. Still nothing is covered up, nothing is missing? At 00:22 the bass drop occurs in union as a follow-up to the opening bass ambient wash at starting 00:00. The rhythm is a slap of drums and at 1:46 becomes a break-down, a stopping of beat…………to mainline this bass directly into the song. Due to focus we now hear the main theme in that it’s not just bass………oh, no………..the bass has attachments, fringe so to speak. These flailing energies fall-off to the side to be cast away…………at 02:21 we hear a mechanical butterfly fly by hitting us with the flutter of her wings……….in truth, this is all that’s left of a striped-down electronic hi-hat……..dearly trying it’s best to fight-off this bass attack. At 02:44 a single bass drop occurs, yet it’s all that’s needed………as I’m crossing over, finally entering the soundscape…….I’m at one with the music. It’s the exact middle of the song and I’m now forgetting about the IEMs in my ears………Though this bass is serious business. Truly this is one of my very best experiences with the EST50. The stage, the texture, the naturalness and accessibility at hand. I’m past being judgmental of anything………just along for the ride now. And……….the song ended.
Comfort:
Here is the part that at first makes no sense. This cable is big and a little stiff. It had a pull on the IEMs (due to weight) so Penon incorporated an ear-hook system. This has been touched-on before in this review, yet I want to reinforce this single concept. The cable is in fact wonderfully comfortable. It’s maybe not something you will want to leave the house with; it’s not a sports IEM cable…….yet with home use it lays where placed and ends quite ergonomic despite the looks of it. It completely repels tangling, and while once in a while finds a memory in making a coil, is nothing that you can’t deal with. Probably the first shock (if you’re not used to bigger cables) will be the size, yet after an acclimation period, you will find the Totem to be your life-long friend, a cable you will actually miss upon not using.
Take note the new Totem comes with a modular plug system and came out about 3 days after I received the Totem review cable. So, the only thing relevant to future purchases is the middle 4.4mm to 4.4mm Totem adapter cable, in the center. The Totem Adapter Cable can still be purchased as an accessory add to the new modular Totem cable system. Or better yet, used as a way to add Totem Magick to your existing set-up.
Conclusion:
Well I hope you found this review entertaining, I had a bunch of fun writing it. Though there is nothing funny about the Totem Cable Kit. Yep, it’s about a serious as a heart-attack. Penon Audio going full-on-out and WAY-OVER-THE-TOP even over-the-edge to bring you closer to your music than you ever dreamed possible. So even though there is nothing funny here, you may chuckle, and chuckle some more? Laughing due to the realization that the cable believers were right. If there was ever a time to hear the difference between cables this is it. And……..that laughing, it’s due to astonishment, bewilderment upon discovering that all the people who have tried the Totem said the exact same thing. Yep, there is no confusion here as to results, everyone has exactly the same level of improvements, though how each listener perceives this impact, is subjective. It’s kinda like a sunset in that everyone picks out slightly different clouds or sunset accents, yet it was the exact same sunset for everyone. This is real, the results are real, yet the best part is the Totem is application creative. Meaning there may be a new IEM in 2023 which becomes the cats meow due to the reinforcement of Totem sound with that particular IEM………..it’s just you don’t own it yet and don’t know what it will be. Yet the “GOLD” here is that different than other cables the Totem is guaranteed to be the perfect cable for that IEM, yet it hasn’t been built yet! Just sit back and ponder that one for a moment! The Totem is expensive, yet it makes everything it touches better……..how much is that worth? It can be the last cable you buy, the final chapter in searching and testing. In fact due to results, the Totem is the greatest thing I’ve received this year…….you know why? Because it reintroduced me to my IEMs……..it remastered my IEM sound, and brought about a new level of excitement that I wasn’t at all expecting. If this isn’t reason to recommend something, what is? Seriously, what more do you want? This review wasn’t normal, it even started-off showcasing emotions that are rare, especially rare for this jaded audiophile, who has heard way to many IEMs than one person should. As life goes on it gets shorter…….it gets shorter and shorter until one day…………well you know where this is going. The time is now for you to take control of your IEMs, to find synergy where it can be found, and maximize all the optimizations possible………to find a way in………into the music. To make each and every listening session special………and not only special, but memorable. Penon has made the Totem as their final statement, it sounds exactly like everyone who hears it describes, only some describe sound better than others. And in fact I could have made this single review way longer. because there is so much poetry to write. Yet it may have deluded my purpose…….that being to simply explain what the Penon Totem does. And really I could have stopped with a single IEM test, yet you know there is always that possibility of finding something new. What newness I didn’t expect was the dramatic thickness the ISN EST50 had……..yet somehow that thickness was touching and real, but didn’t cloud-up anything. It was like the midrange and treble pushed through the stage and everything was found there. Truthfully I was just including the EST50 as a formality, yet I had never heard the music I was using in the test before with it. So in essence that’s what happens every time you listen to an IEM/Cable/DAP. Even if you play the same music you have always used, there is a different time, the different experience of hearing something new you had not noticed. This is the core of what music reproduction essentially is, experiencing a moment in life while entranced in your music player. And I can’t think of any more provocative way of accessing the true nature of this experience other than the Penon Totem, a cable that places you at one with your music. A cable that everyone who hears it realizes that it makes a difference…………and while that difference may not be as big of a difference than a different IEM, or different DAP, it still is an essential part of making the full-signal chain optimized………leaving no stone unturned, and experiencing music at the apex of what it can be.
Food Analogy:
Often I have used food to go one step further into describing an IEM, but I’ve never used food to describe a cable. The Penon Totem cable to me is bread, yet not ordinary bread. But it sounds like Fresh Baked Bread, that was taken out of the oven, then sliced at put back into the oven to make toast. So the sound is incredibly fresh like newly baked bread, yet there has been a new process where each piece has an edge, an edge of strength and firmness, that’s on top of this buttery forgiveness, ultimately softness. There is this doughy pliable easygoingness surrounded by the toast which is the texture on top. As the cable is both higher in detail but also forgiving and never too bright or too dull.
Coming in with a coaxial structure the Totem sports two thick cores each containing 334 shares each/per-core. Consisting of Litz 6 Silver plated single crystal copper, palladium plated pure silver and pure gold plated crystal copper. Silver for stage and transparency, copper for warmth and body, and gold for depth and richer tone. Palladium added for imaging and detail.
$699.00
https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem.html
This looks different from the review cable due to the new modular plug system. Gone are the two pigtails that allowed you to hook-up the Totem old-school way. The new methods are to just switch modular plug. The only draw back is no accessing an addition to 2.5mm to 3.5mm and 2.5mm to 4.4mm pigtails. You can still get any adapter you would like extra for $79.90 more.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem-adapter-cable.html
Due to less materials the Penon Totem cost went down from $799.00 to $699.00. The new cable offers a dark blue covering which looks different from the old-school Totem.
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the Totem 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
UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 4.4mm
You don’t just write a review about the Totem cable.....I mean maybe you can simply write a review about it......you know, explain what it does as a cable? Yet my interpretation of the Totem is that it’s more of a destination than a thing.
Definition:
noun. to· tem ˈtō-təm. : an object (such as an animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry. also : a usually carved or painted representation of such an object. : a family or clan identified by a common totemic object.
The definition says it’s an emblem in this case. So? It’s an object that represents Penon Audio? Everything Penon makes represents Penon Audio, except the Totem is different, as it is the singular thing that embellishes what Penon Audio is. And.....in fact it’s the greatest Penon Audio product, in my humble opinion. To my eyes, and to my ears the Totem is incredibly special......it’s a symbolic new paradigm of sorts. So you’re going to read a review about this somewhat ridiculous cable, a cable priced at $699.00! Yet.....to me it’s the most important release ever by Penon Audio.
Penon Audio:
Penon got its start around the year 2013, and in many ways that time was the start of a couple concepts, all happening at once. IEMs were just then starting to be taken seriously. Sure there was IEMs taken seriously sooner, Jerry Harvey Audio got its start in 2007, after making monitors for rock stars. And of course people were learning of the sound quality of “inner-ear-monitors”.....even then. But the full-size headphone got a head-start being invented in 1910. Still it could be argued that the idea of IEMs was way sooner than 2007; I mean Knowles was first a maker of BA styled hearing-aids in 1954............that in essence is really the start of “inner-ear-monitors”. But it wasn’t until the popularly of the smartphone that IEMs really started to take off. Before that time, only a few mildly eccentric Head-Fi members were really into it. But around 2013 two things happened. One, the internet as a retail force was becoming a reality and Two, there was all of a sudden all these IEMs from China. So Penon was at the right place at the right time. They invented cables to connect the IEMs newly invented to these cellphones now in common use. Penon then expanded their line of products to include Penon IEMs and ISN IEMs/cables. Penon was addressing the needs of the audiophile community. Penon doesn’t just make IEMs & cables. Besides the Penon brand, they are a retail house that currently represents/sells well over 120 different audio brands. Not only a retailer but a renowned cable builder, making slightly under 50 different cables/adaptors right now. Penon also currently manufactures 10 separate earphones as of late. With a history going back to 2013, Penon is the logical result of years in the business. With a Penon product there is no middle-man……as this is a factory direct purchase. Penon are simply more grassroots in demeanor. Such focus of intent expands even to their whole IEM line. With the introduction of ISN; a subdivision of Penon Audio...........ISN got their start making cables, then at end of 2019 ISN introduced their first IEM, the legendary H40. Today ISN makes about 20 different cables, and 7 ear-phones.
An Audio Success Story:
This is an audio success story. Almost a fairy tale..........but Penon wasn’t done yet. Penon had to pool their resources and come-up with the ultimate cable. Such a cable would be different than most cables, it looked different and sounded different. Not only does it sound different, it’s made in such a way, that doesn’t result in anything ordinary. Ordinarily cables are chosen to either brighten a signal or warm-up a signal. Not the Totem, it works with every IEM and every DAP/source. Surprisingly they just sent this cable to me? I was totally surprised, and in truth, I’m no expert on cables or their uses. I know a little-bit about cables, but have never tested a $699.00 IEM cable before. Strangely I have been a interconnect and power cable enthusiast for years, why I never spent more than $200 on an IEM cable is because I always thought cables only made a small difference. Well........the rest is history so to speak.
Yep, this cable represents Penon 100%. It’s almost their mascot so to speak. A cable manufacturer who goes about their business for years and years.....finally working their way up to a statement product. The single solitary statement is “The Totem”! Coincidentally the Totem is my favorite product by Penon Audio. Do you know why it’s my favorite product?
Versatility:
There.......I said it. It’s versatile because it can be used in so many ways. An IEM only does one thing, it reproduces music only one way, a DAP, the same thing, you only have so much use for it. But a cable is actually a time traveler.
Time Traveling:
With the Totem you can go back to 2017 and enhance the IEM you bought then. It will make that past IEM the best it can be. If you want to, you can combine the Totem in the future with new IEMs. So there is a pretty good chance the Totem will make the 2027 IEM also the best it can be also! How many audio products have this level of versatility? But more than that, in the present day, now..... you can use the Totem to make your present day favorite IEM that much better. So instead of moving on to another and another IEM, looking for a sound, you enhance what you have. Everything the Totem touches it improves, and that one quality separates the Totem from all other cables.
How?
Palladium
Gold
Copper
Silver
Palladium:
While most rare metals have been around for 1000s of years in mankind’s use, Palladium is a new one. Discovered in 1803, it was named after after asteroid Pallas, itself named after Pallas Athena. Simply-put this stuff Palladium belongs to the Platinum Group of Metals, or PGMs. Believe it or not, Palladium is the most expensive of the four major precious metals, more expensive than even gold at more than $1800.00 an ounce. In the Totem the Palladium is used to plate the Silver elements in the cable build and enhances imaging and and detail. Note the diagram here. The very very center is single crystal Copper plated with Gold, the exterior is again Silver plated single crystal Copper. The Palladium rests in the center plated to a pure Silver cable. With this smorgasbord of precious metals, no wonder it doesn’t make stuff brighter or darker. It’s truly a Frankenstein’s Monster of a cable creation. Now it does kinda have a tone, at least it sounds different than any cable I’ve used?
I want to give my idea as to why some people believe in cables and some don’t. Think of it this way.................if you have any experience in audio you have built a house on basic beliefs. So starting from the foundation you sculpted your ideas based on both science and previous experience, which you believe hold truths. Such build-ups can be like anything you know, as layers and layers of knowledge and experience build-up. One direction is to believe cables do nothing to affect the sound when put between a DAP and an IEM. Some people don’t hear any difference between cables, then they refer to science and science reconfirms their understanding. This goes on for years as they try new stuff, and eventually they stop experimenting and become crystallized in their beliefs. The believers go the opposite route, they believe not all phenomenon can be tested, and keep finding changes due to cable build methodology. Finally they commingle into groups of other like minded people which will go on to substantiate their beliefs. Though the interesting part, is many (almost all) have the exact same sound results from the exact same cable, regardless of learning what the others had (experienced) before testing. And.....same with the Totem, all the believers, ended having the exact same ideas of sound improvement in daily testing, thus all this comes down to the same results in the end.
Left to right:
Penon Audio Fan 2, DUNU SA6, Mystery IEM
Left to right:
Penon Globe, Nobel Audio Encore Universal
Wait, what is that IEM, that mysterious IEM off to the right? It's there but out of focus. It turns out to be one of the very best examples of Totem Magick in action. Yep, expect the un-expected, prepare to be surprised, and just like with all side-by-sides, prepare to be schooled. The mystery IEM is the ISN EST50 and against all odds, it was one of the true stars of todays testing. While some may feel the Totem magick is more powerful with simple BA examples of the IEM art. Today the Hybrid ISN EST50 just went over-the-top! Over-the-edge and full-on-out...........to bring this humble reviewer closer to the music!
- DUNU SA6 Universal IEM $500.00/ Six BAs comprised of four Knowles and two Sonion BAs
- Nobel Audio Encore Universal IEM $1850/ Ten custom (undisclosed) BAs
- Penon Fan 2 Universal IEM $279.00/ Two 6mm DD, one Knowles BA and one Sonion BA
- Penon Audio Globe Universal IEM $339.00/ One 10mm DD, one Knowles BA and one Sonion BA
- ISN Audio EST50 Universal IEM $459.00/ Two Sonion ESTs, one Knowles BA, one Sonion BA and one 10mm DD
Testing:
The SA6 is the only IEM I haven’t tried with the Totem before! In fact the SA6 will be my first unit to demo in testing. This is exciting as I’m really hopeful the Totem will do what I’m thinking. Realize the Totem is slightly more responsive with all BA IEMs, yet still goes to enhance everything it touches. The reason I’m so hopeful about this union is the Totem brings naturally everything I actually want to hear as an improvement in the SA6, at least in theory...that is.
DUNU SA6 and Totem Cable:
The SA6 contrasts, the improved SA6 vividness. The dynamic soundstage increase in all three vectors! The crazy improvement in bass, also the separation, delineation and increased clarity of the treble. Yep, all this is actually promised and sure enough was found to be true with the past 4 test units. Yet this test is a special one, as in many ways (to me) the SA6 is in more of a place to get improvements from these character alterations. It’s just that no IEM is perfect, and the SA6 is great, but if this works out, it will be just the dose of medicine the DUNU SA6 needed.................................let’s find out!
The results fully bypassed any clue I had as to compatibility and benefits! I can’t believe this is happening? The 1st thing is the soundstage is way different, not only thicker but wider and taller. To be honest the SA6 soundstage is more thick and right to left anyway……..so that is what was increased. But because of the imaging and blackness of background, the soundstage seems of a thicker quality in that now instruments have a 3D form and texture character never found with the included DUNU DUW 03 a $199.00 cable by itself.
https://www.dunu-topsound.com/product-page/duw-03
I have to say, the number one character benefit is smoothness. That and a realism of tone and timbre. The SA6 is what it is to a point, meaning you love what it does or think it’s good, but not great. Though most people, most everyone really has thought of the SA6 as being a force in the $500 range. When you add in shape, fit, feel and bass switch abilities, it’s still a super-fun value, despite being passed up in IEM history by the DUNU SA6 Ultra. I never got a chance to hear the Ultra, but it seems the old-school SA6 had room to grow. BA sheen is always still there, were that is what you get with an all BA IEM, yet because of the way it’s tuned any real shine is circumvented.
First notice the Green SA6 graphical response, showing a subdued pinna gain in the 2k to 3k region, combined with a 4.5k peak which makes the Sony WM1A a better mate with our playback today than the WM 1Z. All and all the playback gifts us a warm and thrilling midrange production, filled with life and involvement!
Note the Encore and SA6 differences in the graphic response below. Now the SA6 is in red ink with bass switch on.
I find this graph perfect as a way to segway into the Nobel Audio Universal IEM. Yep, just look at that peak in the 6.5k to 7.5k area. Does it look like an area of concern? Ha....it may be for some? But in reality that peak is spread-out to create (what seems like) a spacial peak-soundstage around your head. It’s this quite expansive “bubble” which while seemingly wrong for many, is the exact attribute I’m dialed into. And the Totem goes along with all the Noble Encores ways of personality to bring the ultimate adventure!
It is my privilege and my pleasure to introduce to you the Encore/Totem experience! For truly this is a doozy! The Encore happens to be a total favorite, and like me, you may have an aging flagship laying around, waiting to be brought to the next level. You still like these IEMs and whatever they are, you can’t sell them...........maybe there are memories inside of them! You all know which IEMs these are in your collection. Heck, I have over 3000 hours of listening put in on the Encore, I love it without the Totem Cable add. So what happened here? How did this single listening experience make a memory? That’s right an album and a cable, an IEM and a DAP. All coming together seamlessly to create a sound, a new sound to further along one man’s humble audiophile experience.
The Totem Cable with Nobel Encore and Sony Walkman 1Z:
For reasons to not become too ridiculous, I have left the 4.4mm X 4.4mm adapters cable off. Yep, that’s right, you can for $79.90 get an extra unit of Totem to extend your Totem even further out, gaining even more Totem sound. This cable is in truth used to add the Totem metallurgy gifts to other cables, regardless of plugs. Meaning you order you adapter cable to fit your desired plug configuration. So I left the extra piece off for this test, also all the hardware makes it really a sight and with the Encore IEMs...........
Totem Cable with Noble Encore weighed:
New Totem has modular plug system, though of course you can still get the Totem Adapter as an accessory to use with other cables.
Totem terminated in 2.5mm, plus 4.4mm adapter, plus 4.4m X 4.4mm add-on plus Encore IEMs......this is how I roll normally..........at 101 grams!
The Totem 2.5mm plug added to 4.4mm plug: 76 grams with Encore.
The Totem in 2.5mm plug weighs 59 grams with Encore.
Nude Totem Cable:
43 grams cable by itself
16 grams the 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter
17 grams the 2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter
26 grams the 4.4mm to 4.4mm adapter on its own
So testing method just the Totem, 2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter and Sony WM1Z......with the Noble Audio Encore IEM.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/noble-audio-kaiser-encore.22120/reviews#review-22519
I say this is a privilege due to it all being a window, I would have never in my wildest dreams looked-though. Nope, I would probably never guessed this one. I have spent a bunch of money on interconnects and power cables, so I’m a cable believer, but I had never spent more than $200 on IEM cables. When in fact, cables are simply part of total synergy to obtain a level of playback. Meaning it all goes together. Here I am witnessing an expanded soundstage yet within that stage imaging of vocals are brought both forward and detailed inside, to approximate an advancement in realism. Such vocal relief comes with placement when all of a sudden you hear the cymbals doing a fully separate itemization out to the outskirts of the stage. Yep, all with the most charming top-end smoothness, that makes you want to write a letter. A letter to whom?
You are now reading that single written letter!
Such a love poem as could only found by accident, as most love stories are.
The bass is just were it always was and with these wide-bore tips nothing too dramatic, only it’s fast and probably close to neutral. Where the kicks are fully there and responsible, they leave room for everything else to be in focus. While the bass is of a specific ability to generate correct timbre and tone, it’s not the total emphasis here, but in an area of musical reserve, when there is only bass presentation, a clean-ness and ability start to arrive, where there is no economy of sub-bass, installments are more fast and quick, yet the lowest of lows get accessibility and thrills due to the accessibility! Due to the midrange being fairly neutral, the emphasis starts to take place with the 6.5k to 7.5k region and what an event it is. The fact that there is no thinness to be found, just bigger than big expansions of note weight and involvement.......with a slight warmth taking hold of everything, yet never even starting to lay a blanket over anything. Big choruses stagger out into view, awash with this specific glitter and lower foundational support. The glitter is really actually harmonics when viewed closer, as there becomes an element of realism to be found in timbral accents.......flowing freely showing up as simply an experience of truth. My gosh, the deep slams of transients in ability............making the most of this study.
Batman v Superman OST
Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL
“Problems Up Here”
96 kHz - 24 bit
The fact that everything is simply more open, more open for sound objects to be viewed. At 02.58 the wild synth-flute is giving me chills up my spine. When ever the chills come, that’s a good thing, and I’m pretty jaded anymore, so it’s a rare experience!
Batman v Superman OST
Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL
“New Rules”
96 kHz - 24 bit
The mission statement of any IEM enthusiast is to get closer, to simply have the music become more clear, more vivid and have a nearness. And that’s what the Totem system does. When the Kettle Drums make their entrance at the 00:18 mark they are profoundly big and holding a roundness that I’ve never heard from the Noble Audio Encore Universal before. Way out into the stage, they now occur with a presence of nearness. They simply hold size, closer to obtain that feeling you get from sound interpretation. Someone turned up the involvement factor on the musical situation…….for when it takes place, it’s simply more real-life. What the Totem specializes in is taking a slight character and enhancing it, like BA decay………..these drums are fully characteristic of BA sound, in that DDs do decays better, yet DDs don’t have all the texture present and let you look into the center of a sound, BAs do. But because of clarity here, the tail-off of decays are longer. Now I don’t want to say this is perfect, but it’s more into that direction! I have 4272 songs on this WM1Z and the bass drop at 01:38 is the best I have found. The clarity brings different ideas as to the sound, where now due to resolution, you can actually hear the attack of the bass note………it becomes softer in attack, and is almost more a bass wave than a percussion attack……….because entering this world of audio-microscopy things slowly become different as we are on a ride, a ride into the center of the song, coming directly up-front and witnessing all that’s there………..a memorable life experience.
Theatre of Tragedy
Assembly
“Episode”
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
All of a sudden I realize what extras the Totem brings to top-end treble. And no better song to explain this phenomenon. It’s actually very simple really………..and this is one of the very best characteristics of the Noble Encore………in that there are 10 BAs and a few of them are way-way up-high in tone. Typically these high-up treble embellishments are what’s left out of mid-fi IEMs, only to be treated with this extra sparkle and brightness upon putting a High-End IEM in your ears. Only now the crash cymbals have a finite smallness to them. Lol Seemingly going to the very top of our hearing and rolling-off only due to the full range of our hearing. Nothing is bright, or should I say aggressive, no, in fact, it’s more digestible than real-life. Why? Because of production, we are getting a tone and positioning that you wound never hear from real-life. It’s again like this miniature world where everything has its place. Yes, it’s trebly, yet in the best of fashion. Spread-out imaging and the falling-off of projectiles………over and over and elements found way-out into the stage where they are isolated and sculpted. If this sounds like way too much of description for a simple crash cymbal, I apologize, it’s just I have no other ways to get my point across. So it’s that time in life when a combination of focus goes to create a difference. Meaning it’s everything here………..the WM1Z treble expansion and finesse, the Nobel Encore treble boost at 6.5k to 7.5k…………..and the handling of those tones by the Penon Totem……..taking and making the most out of we’ve got…………..optimizing and exhilarating the tone…….bringing it up-front and into focus.
The Penon Totem doesn’t actually correct anything, so get those old ideas about cables out-of-your-head. We are not attempting to make anything warmer or brighter, I mean yes…….that happens where just like soundstage stuff is spread-out further into the height, width and depth. And treble is enhanced and bass in improved, but because of blackness we hear into the IEM deeper and the IEM simply becomes more of what it naturally is in the end. SO………the Totem won’t magically make the Encore acceptable to those who maybe don’t like the signature to begin with? All it does is add sound values on every vector and bring about a more authoritative yet polished rendition of what is already going on. So in ending this section……the Totem enhanced everything I already loved about the Encore, it may enhance an old-favorite IEM you have in your collection?
The Penon Globe and Totem:
The mating of the Totem to the Globe makes a perfect match. Why? Well…….lets start with size, the Globe is actually incredibly ergonomic and easy-wearing……..due to physical stature. So what is going on has to due with the ear-hooks rotating in on the Totem, the ways of the hooks enable perfect placement of the Globe. I read somewhere that Penon doesn’t ear-hook their cables normally, but due to the sheer weight of the Totem, it made the hooks a necessity. Here we are also blessed with a wonderful color match…….yep the Blue reflections inside of the Globe, along with the Green sparkles, and refractive play of light, goes to make this match-up nice. Way better fit than we could ever hope to obtain with the K-10 Encore. While the Globe now comes with a great new cable…..well it’s actually an the original cable, but you can now choose your choice of plug to go with it. The Totem system gives you a 2.5mm to 4.4mm Adapter. Meaning if you are game, you don’t have to use the whole Totem cable to get the Totem effects. That’s right, the Globe used to only come with a 3.5mm or 2.5mm balanced cable. Putting-on just a couple inches of Copper, Gold, Palladium and Silver goes about it’s business to accentuate the sound of the original Globe cable to bring the joys of the Totem in a more economical package.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem-adapter-cable.html
So at $79.90 you can get a real-life taste of what the Totem cable can do. A test, so to speak, and if you hear differences, you can then go-ahead and order the full shebang. The cable comes ordered in any plug combination you want. And nothing is waisted, as if you end up buying the full-on Totem experience later……the adapter can be rotated into use with the Totem or rotated into great use combined with the qualities of other great cables. I am not going to go into it here, but when my Totem Adapter review comes out you can read about the myriad of uses and myriad of success stories contained in uses!
Review 12/05/2022
Penon Audio Totem Adapter Cable
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-totem-adapter-cable.25805/reviews#review-29704
Umwelt
Days Of Dissent
"World Shatters"
96 kHz - 24 bit
Anyways………Coming in and accessing the Globe low-end we gain affinity witnessing incredible layering right at the take-off. Here the DD is offering a style of bass not exactly present with the Encore previously explored. It’s not that the Totem goes to make it overbearing or excessive, it’s just that the Globe is a juxtaposition of many elements and bass is one of its strong points. My gosh…….the thickness at 00:08 second mark. Here we are presented with an opening which accesses both a synth bass and way-out panned layering. Then there comes details in many more layers, the Totem makes it all slightly bigger than the included cable, bigger and more intense in the best of ways. In fact it’s the actual soundstage that allows for this song to open-up and live; this takes place due to it simply being an instrumental experience. Ahh the fit…the placement in my ears……….I’m using wide-bore tips and the soundstage is fantastic. Here is the first of the true analogue sound, as the DUNU SA6 and Nobel Encore were more BA tone focused. Where Penon somehow hides the BA timbre. There is also a slight smoothness that ends a welcome bay of refuge in these tests. It’s this smoothness that kinda takes hold of everything……..and this smoothness I at times forget about, only to be reminded one more upon IEM insertion of the Globe. You’re like…..of course it’s this smooth…..Lol. Big fat analogue synths, going bonkers here……..taking over……sleeping anywhere they want, eating anything that want……making a statement for all. It’s this spread-out lower midrange where the almost this Gary Numan style synth is used. Wild how someone brings back a synth tone, a preset of a sound, and you can remember the first time you heard such sounds…..Of course maybe this is just the evolution of techno, that some basics never go out of style…….why ditch them when they are still effective and go to become the backbone of the song. Such deep warmth, and while the included cable is nice, it’s nothing like the bath water we are bathing-in today. Warm all-encompassing, and clear. Normally Head-Fi listeners associate warm bumps with a cloudy smearing of elements, somewhere? There has to be a give and take somewhere? Well my friends that’s with other cables………..here there is no compromise, nothing to give up……..you get it all, every detail, every texture, yet delivered in a way that becomes even more clear than you have ever experienced before…………a wake-up, an eye-opening slight refreshment of the regular musicality you’re used to. Larger items, living in a larger world..........enhanced.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-globe.html
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pe...ifi-audiophile-iem.25087/reviews#review-29019
The Fan 2 and Totem:
There is something about newness which holds inquisitiveness for all. And sure enough the Fan 2 is Penon’s newest release upon the community. With 4 drivers, it’s very different than anything that has come before. My Fan 2 review has just surfaced and it goes over the ins and outs of this revolutionary IEM experience. With two 6mm “dual” bass producers firing off the low end, a Sonion BA singling out the midrange and a single Knowles BA producing treble frequencies the Penon Fan 2 produces a fully involving sound…….yet the Totem again makes it even better. In fact the Totem and Fan 2 arrived at the same time, embellished with the same tones of blue, the Totem and Fan 2 almost looked like they were made for one another. The other coincidence was that it was the Fan 2 that was put into my burn-in rig. Both the Totem, the Totem adapter cable and the Fan 2 enjoyed a solid week of burn-in attached to each other. With such a set-up momentary burn-in progress was obtained though small listening “tests”…………and finally when the Totem and Totem Adapter Cable were fully burned-in, along for the test was the Fan 2, to verify a change in sound. A thicker Fan 2 came about, also a better focused display with the Knowles and Sonion coming together, gaining cohesion. The bass smoothed out, but also became better viewed through a system of deeper stage clarity. That’s right, it went from a slightly forward brutish bass, to a more agile refined and set-back bass. With-in this bass soundstage the layers of bass detail started to arrive……….with what seemed like an extra layer of both backdrop in the bass and a forward stance into the soundstage. But what the Totem did in comparison to the equipped OS133 cable was add thickness. While the OS133 offers a hint of silver, which brings upper detail in the mids and treble, the OS133 is only so powerful to do so. The trick for the Fan 2 is that it is a necessity to bring thickness to it. Meaning Penon totally knew adding a Hybrid cable that sided with the copper side of its build was the way to go with the Fan 2. And sure enough, the Penon OS133 is the perfect value match for the $279.00 Penon Fan 2. In fact the technicalities that arrive with a close to neutral tune are even more heard in emphasis with placement of the OS133. Such soundstage expansions, fluid bass textures, and overall detail are incredibly special in the $279.00 zone, in fact I would have to call the Fan 2 a class leader as far as the imaging and overall detail it provides. But more than that, the Fan 2 isn’t adding treble just for the sake of detail, but adds a thicker more note weighty treble, that seems hard to argue with…but more than that, what can we do the optimize the Fan 2………..I know you know?
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-fan2.26145/reviews#review-29596
https://penonaudio.com/penon-fan-2.html
That’s right, add the Totem cable. You see the Fan 2 is the perfect candidate for Totem improvements, due to all the above mentioned. But slightly more than that, due to the overall Fan 2 inherent warmth and slight tilt to a warm/neutral……………the Fan 2 is begging for even more note weight. And………..not to necessarily fix anything…..but again to optimize the character it already has. Yep……..adding note weight to the Fan 2 response, it becomes almost a whole different deal. Because there is room for noticeability, maybe more noticeability, due to the neutrality at hand. So think, deeper soundstage, filled with better instrument textures and thicker over-all presentation that simply rocks. Going back to the start of the description, you have to realize Penon didn’t combine the Fan 2 with their brightest cable……….in fact it was the very first time the OS133 was ever included with an IEM.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-os133.html
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-os133-iem-cables.25829/reviews
Penon in their wisdom knew this added thickness which arrives though the use of copper was the ticket to optimize the Fan 2. Not only does the Fan 2 become a better IEM from its relationship with the OS133, it’s almost a necessity to use it, no way do we want what a pure silver cable will do for the Fan 2. And the Totem Cable works because it’s an amalgamation of all the metal compounds, which together add up to authority and refinement for the Fan 2……….taking it to the next level……….adding secret sauce to the recipe. So I truly hope if you’re not a cable believer, you stopped reading a long time ago.
The Fan 2 benefits with the Totem Cable:
The Fan 2 is a bold new direction for Penon Audio. They have run-away from home, so to speak. In some ways an IEM connoisseur would argue that it’s not even the Penon Audio sound anymore. That they have wondered too far from home, a new place, a strange place………and not with-out risk. It is a risk to wander so far away……….yet deep down I still hear the Penon sound. And this wasn’t even part of my Fan 2 review……because it takes a distancing from the Fan 2, far more distancing than you would get from writing a review……..but now I hear the relationship to all the Penon IEMs that came before and I feel the familiarity that’s taking place. It’s where it has always been, for every Penon IEM…………it’s in the midrange….of course it’s in the midrange. The OS133 is great, but add the Totem to the mix and we get an entirely new Fan 2…………it’s Fan 2.5!
- Wild new soundstage elements enhanced with audio visibility.
- Bigger manly bass, way more enthralling.
- Smoother cohesiveness.
- Textures abound……..more real textures means more real playback.
- Size, the size is giant now, of all imaging and those imaging elements in relationship to other imaging elements.
- Fat-warm and welcome bass notes, which take up more of the soundstage.
- Separation which is fulfilled in the most natural of ways…………..
- Better actual timbre which in-turn creates a better understanding of Knowles and Sonion’s goals upon creating the new BAs Penon is using.
- Treble accents, which come-off both warm and detailed, not missing an ounce of anything…………not missing a thing, yet warmer…how is that?
I could go on and on……….but somehow a new chapter was started with the Fan 2………Penon Audio is now growing and maturing as a company and they are taking chances that are not really chances. As when this level of sound design starts to be created……….there is no stopping them…….Penon knew just how revolutionary the Fan 2 was………and the Totem takes it all completely to the next level. I don’t care what price the Fan 2 is, at any price (almost) it would be special in that this style of neutral is so very unique!
The ISN EST50 and Totem:
At times the EST50 is like strong alcohol in that it needs a chaser, or it needs a diluter to arrive at a more digestible style of intoxicant. It’s strong and the bass is strong. Most of these finding come about due to personal taste, as one mans poison is another’s folly. There is nothing exactly wrong with the included ISN S8 cable. Such a Hybrid cable adds some of the best ideas in silver use, as well as copper ideas….to fulfill the basic needs of a EST50 listener. In fact the ISN S8 is such a well-rounded performer, it becomes a value specifically sought-out by Penon/ISN to arrive at a basic, and better than basic, romantic EST50 sound. Yet for some listeners we wanted to explore. Exploring is easy with the EST50 due to temperament of EST treble……..there is a sophistication at hand………a well-rounded-ness that is afforded by the use of ESTs. It basically meant we had choices.........choices to also curtail the bass response in that while of high quality……..there was alternate ways to address the bass personality. While some even want the ISN EST50 to take on a deeper slower syrupy stance, some of us wanted firmness. Agile firmness and an increase in pace, and we were willing to give-up a slight bit of bass authority to do so. Why? Because there was a leeway to how much bass was needed and to still be acceptable. That’s right, there was so much freedom of bass application, that some tiny bit less was still way enough. But more than that we wanted to see if we could (at the same time) uncover the midrange? To almost tap into the mids as a way to add pace and midrange dynamics.........adding musicality. And finally when that (fantasy) took place it simultaneously opened up the doorway to a more involved treble experience. What? You know all this takes place due to balance, a new balance can be arrived at when the bass is subtly altered into stepping back…….allowing the midrange and treble to gain focus due to perspective. Before the Totem, I did it with the ISN G4, also great luck with the ISN SC4. Such cables had a tone, but at times a drastic change of tone on their perspective IEM clients. Still these changes, while great, were still not at the level the Totem is. Another great combo for the EST50 is the ISNSC4 and the 4.4mm X 4.4mm Totem Adapter cable. Yep, you get the brightness of the SC4…..combined with the authority and warmth of the Totem! Yet I will go into that in the Totem Adapter Cable review to come out in a week or so. This review is about the Totem and what a wonderful change by itself when used with the EST50. Let me describe……….
Just like the Fan 2 and the Globe, the ear-hooks come-in handy. Not only handy, they are a great add. Adding confidence in fitment, the cables fold ever so slightly into the ear, towards the head. Once in pace the Globe, Fan 2 and EST50 stick like glue……..without a worry or concern. They don’t move and don’t really feel like much……..this is because they are all on the smaller side of medium……..there is truly something to that…….that size? Now the bass is visceral, more visceral than I’ve ever heard the EST50 before, yet nothing is clouded, or obscured? Everything is giant, bigger and taking up more head-space. Bass has that analogue feel, with the digital edge that adds clarity……….we are surfing the best of what personal audio has to offer. While certain IEMs may offer this, or that……….there is no arguing that this show is incredible.
Ahhhhhhh!
Mick Gorden and Chad Mossholder
DOOM Eternal OST
“Phobos Space”
48 kHz - 24 bit
Better than the prior tests could have prepared me for. Insane……….what? What? Why? At times music and equipment all come together. Such moments also have to do with body chemistry and hearing. We as humans hear different every day….at times slightly better and at times slightly not. Though this effect now….this playback is way, way better than I could have ever hoped for. The overdriven bass fuzz, is somehow even more distorted as an effect of how this was recorded. This effect somehow holds the bass personality? Much of this excitement is probably coming from hearing less examples of bass replay. Kind of a startling reintroduction into bass land again. Still nothing is covered up, nothing is missing? At 00:22 the bass drop occurs in union as a follow-up to the opening bass ambient wash at starting 00:00. The rhythm is a slap of drums and at 1:46 becomes a break-down, a stopping of beat…………to mainline this bass directly into the song. Due to focus we now hear the main theme in that it’s not just bass………oh, no………..the bass has attachments, fringe so to speak. These flailing energies fall-off to the side to be cast away…………at 02:21 we hear a mechanical butterfly fly by hitting us with the flutter of her wings……….in truth, this is all that’s left of a striped-down electronic hi-hat……..dearly trying it’s best to fight-off this bass attack. At 02:44 a single bass drop occurs, yet it’s all that’s needed………as I’m crossing over, finally entering the soundscape…….I’m at one with the music. It’s the exact middle of the song and I’m now forgetting about the IEMs in my ears………Though this bass is serious business. Truly this is one of my very best experiences with the EST50. The stage, the texture, the naturalness and accessibility at hand. I’m past being judgmental of anything………just along for the ride now. And……….the song ended.
Comfort:
Here is the part that at first makes no sense. This cable is big and a little stiff. It had a pull on the IEMs (due to weight) so Penon incorporated an ear-hook system. This has been touched-on before in this review, yet I want to reinforce this single concept. The cable is in fact wonderfully comfortable. It’s maybe not something you will want to leave the house with; it’s not a sports IEM cable…….yet with home use it lays where placed and ends quite ergonomic despite the looks of it. It completely repels tangling, and while once in a while finds a memory in making a coil, is nothing that you can’t deal with. Probably the first shock (if you’re not used to bigger cables) will be the size, yet after an acclimation period, you will find the Totem to be your life-long friend, a cable you will actually miss upon not using.
Take note the new Totem comes with a modular plug system and came out about 3 days after I received the Totem review cable. So, the only thing relevant to future purchases is the middle 4.4mm to 4.4mm Totem adapter cable, in the center. The Totem Adapter Cable can still be purchased as an accessory add to the new modular Totem cable system. Or better yet, used as a way to add Totem Magick to your existing set-up.
Conclusion:
Well I hope you found this review entertaining, I had a bunch of fun writing it. Though there is nothing funny about the Totem Cable Kit. Yep, it’s about a serious as a heart-attack. Penon Audio going full-on-out and WAY-OVER-THE-TOP even over-the-edge to bring you closer to your music than you ever dreamed possible. So even though there is nothing funny here, you may chuckle, and chuckle some more? Laughing due to the realization that the cable believers were right. If there was ever a time to hear the difference between cables this is it. And……..that laughing, it’s due to astonishment, bewilderment upon discovering that all the people who have tried the Totem said the exact same thing. Yep, there is no confusion here as to results, everyone has exactly the same level of improvements, though how each listener perceives this impact, is subjective. It’s kinda like a sunset in that everyone picks out slightly different clouds or sunset accents, yet it was the exact same sunset for everyone. This is real, the results are real, yet the best part is the Totem is application creative. Meaning there may be a new IEM in 2023 which becomes the cats meow due to the reinforcement of Totem sound with that particular IEM………..it’s just you don’t own it yet and don’t know what it will be. Yet the “GOLD” here is that different than other cables the Totem is guaranteed to be the perfect cable for that IEM, yet it hasn’t been built yet! Just sit back and ponder that one for a moment! The Totem is expensive, yet it makes everything it touches better……..how much is that worth? It can be the last cable you buy, the final chapter in searching and testing. In fact due to results, the Totem is the greatest thing I’ve received this year…….you know why? Because it reintroduced me to my IEMs……..it remastered my IEM sound, and brought about a new level of excitement that I wasn’t at all expecting. If this isn’t reason to recommend something, what is? Seriously, what more do you want? This review wasn’t normal, it even started-off showcasing emotions that are rare, especially rare for this jaded audiophile, who has heard way to many IEMs than one person should. As life goes on it gets shorter…….it gets shorter and shorter until one day…………well you know where this is going. The time is now for you to take control of your IEMs, to find synergy where it can be found, and maximize all the optimizations possible………to find a way in………into the music. To make each and every listening session special………and not only special, but memorable. Penon has made the Totem as their final statement, it sounds exactly like everyone who hears it describes, only some describe sound better than others. And in fact I could have made this single review way longer. because there is so much poetry to write. Yet it may have deluded my purpose…….that being to simply explain what the Penon Totem does. And really I could have stopped with a single IEM test, yet you know there is always that possibility of finding something new. What newness I didn’t expect was the dramatic thickness the ISN EST50 had……..yet somehow that thickness was touching and real, but didn’t cloud-up anything. It was like the midrange and treble pushed through the stage and everything was found there. Truthfully I was just including the EST50 as a formality, yet I had never heard the music I was using in the test before with it. So in essence that’s what happens every time you listen to an IEM/Cable/DAP. Even if you play the same music you have always used, there is a different time, the different experience of hearing something new you had not noticed. This is the core of what music reproduction essentially is, experiencing a moment in life while entranced in your music player. And I can’t think of any more provocative way of accessing the true nature of this experience other than the Penon Totem, a cable that places you at one with your music. A cable that everyone who hears it realizes that it makes a difference…………and while that difference may not be as big of a difference than a different IEM, or different DAP, it still is an essential part of making the full-signal chain optimized………leaving no stone unturned, and experiencing music at the apex of what it can be.
Food Analogy:
Often I have used food to go one step further into describing an IEM, but I’ve never used food to describe a cable. The Penon Totem cable to me is bread, yet not ordinary bread. But it sounds like Fresh Baked Bread, that was taken out of the oven, then sliced at put back into the oven to make toast. So the sound is incredibly fresh like newly baked bread, yet there has been a new process where each piece has an edge, an edge of strength and firmness, that’s on top of this buttery forgiveness, ultimately softness. There is this doughy pliable easygoingness surrounded by the toast which is the texture on top. As the cable is both higher in detail but also forgiving and never too bright or too dull.
Coming in with a coaxial structure the Totem sports two thick cores each containing 334 shares each/per-core. Consisting of Litz 6 Silver plated single crystal copper, palladium plated pure silver and pure gold plated crystal copper. Silver for stage and transparency, copper for warmth and body, and gold for depth and richer tone. Palladium added for imaging and detail.
$699.00
https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem.html
This looks different from the review cable due to the new modular plug system. Gone are the two pigtails that allowed you to hook-up the Totem old-school way. The new methods are to just switch modular plug. The only draw back is no accessing an addition to 2.5mm to 3.5mm and 2.5mm to 4.4mm pigtails. You can still get any adapter you would like extra for $79.90 more.
https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem-adapter-cable.html
Due to less materials the Penon Totem cost went down from $799.00 to $699.00. The new cable offers a dark blue covering which looks different from the old-school Totem.
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the Totem 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
UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 4.4mm
