Dual-Copper explores the ends of the copper spectrum to formulate a whole new unique sound.
For this limited offering, we focused our attention on two copper materials in this design: pure copper and palladium plated copper. During research and development of these two metals, we've found new ways to maximize spacing within our standard 26AWG. In addition to refining the diameter across strand, plating, and insulation materials, we've been able to incorporate new hybrid cores that consist of both wire and dampening. This improved the conductivity while reducing mechanical vibrations at the same time. One unexpected benefit from hybrid cores is the improvement in overall feel and flexibility of the build, making this cable the softest cable we have designed thus far.
This variation of Type 6 Litz design cable also comes with signature features. The enamel coating is carefully added onto every strand intended for preventing anomalies such as skin and proximity effect, as well as halting cable from turning green (oxidation) to maintain same cosmetic aesthetics for many years. The new hybrid cores at the center of Dual-Copper helps keep both copper metals winded tighter and close together to maintain a circular shape. Doing so reduces any mechanical vibration in the process. Our proprietary outer insulation is used here for maximum flexibility and durability. Wires receive cryo treatment to align crystal boundaries more closely to each other to transmit electrical signals faster with less distortion and low electrical resistance and reducing noise to permanently maintain excellent sound quality.
Dual-Copper offers one of the most unique copper sound you will hear and pairs well with various IEMs and full-size headphones on the market.
Technical Specs
Wires: UP-OCC / Materials: Copper + PPC / Size: 26AWG / Design: Modified Type 6 Litz / Insulation: Proprietary PS / Cores: New Dual Hybrid (Wire + Dampening) Limited quantities will be produced worldwide. Comes with exclusive packaging including purple leather cable pouch and band.
Pros: Premium and beautiful design
Full bodied sound
Extra sub bass extension
Added warmth to mid bass and mids
Little more depth/width to stage depending on IEM
Little softness to sharper sets
Pliable and good economics
Brown matching accessories
Little fancy unboxing
Cons: I have no real cons for this one
Could say added body is not to everyone's preference
PlusSound Dual-Copper cable - Full bodied balance
Disclaimer
The PlusSound Dual-Copper I got for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.
I know that cables is a heated topic, I have self been a skeptical person. So if you're against the description of cables, it's better to just stop here. I also think that cable is the thing that changes the sound the least in the chain, and it's better looking at the source gear or pads first.
All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.
Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce
My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.
My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are metal, electronica, jazz and pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.
My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are 634ears LOAK 2-TX02 and UM MEST MKIII CF.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.
Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
Portable gear being HIBY R8 II and iBasso DX180, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.
PlusSound
PlusSound started in 2012 as the world's first fully customizable audio cable service for earphones and headphones. This is an American brand that hand assembles their products in Los Angeles in California, and that is more than just cables. Can read more in the about page from PlusSound.
The Dual-Copper is their newest limited cable costing $499, this cable is a modified Type 6 Litz cable with two different types of copper. The one part is a pure copper cable while the other is a copper cable plated with palladium.
The quality of the braiding is excellent, being both tight and clean. I won't open the hardware to see the insides of the soldering, but polarity is correct and the plugs themself are tight on both the IEM side and jack.
There been plenty of research into this cable, some of this include:
Maximize spacing in the standard 26AWG
Make new hybrid cores of wire and dampening, this improving conductivity, reducing vibrations and also making the cable more flexible
Enamel coating to every strand to prevent oxidation, and also preventing proximity or skin effects
A big part of PlusSound is being able to customize the cables, this can be the amount of wires. You can get it in 4 wire and you can also have 6 or 8 wire versions with different options for braid type.
My version is a 4 wire in 4 feet, the hardware is in rose gold with the left side ear cup having black shield. The plug is a straight 4.4mm with gold plating, and the connectors are gold plated 2-pin.
The connectors and terminations have a lot of different types to choose from, be it for the new type of T2 cables or being standard 2-pin. This is also true for the terminations.
Another very cool thing here is the option to customize the indicator shields, plug or even the splitter. Options include black, chrome, gold, rose gold, carbon fiber, red, blue and silver.
Included leather pouch, sticker, cloth and cable tie.
IEM pairings
I have chosen 4 very different IEMs to test the Dual-Copper with, ranging from single DD to more advanced tech with quadbrid design with bone conduction. When testing I have used both stock cables and some comparison cables.
UM MEST MKIII CF
This is a wonderful pairing, the sound of MEST MKIII is very transparent and technical and the Dual-Copper softens some of the treble and also the sharper transients. Adding some better musicality to the IEM, perfect synergies in my opinion. This is also one of those IEMs I hear a wider stage when changing over to this from my other copper cables, my main cable has been a Type 6 Litz copper cable from Clan Audio.
What maybe impresses me the most here is that I get more body in the music without making the clear and transparent highs any less pronounced, basically gives me added musicality and make MEST MKIII even more enjoyable. This also means that when I listen to orchestral works with string instruments like double bass or cello they showcase an extra amount of both detail and fullness to the music.
This fullness and control together with the holographic wide stage getting some extra width makes it a perfect cable for MEST MKIII, going to be my main cable for MEST MKIII after the review period.
Thieaudio Oracle MKIII
One of the latest IEMs from Thieaudio having a tribrid design with double DD and 2 BA and 2 EST, the tuning is slightly colored with dynamic warmth. Stock cable on the Oracle MKIII is good for being a stock cable, being both ergonomic and sounding full. I'm not sure what type of material they use, and is not stated on their product page.
I sometimes lack two things with Oracle and that is some extra fullness to the sub bass texture, and also better control on sharper cymbals elements or bright vocals. Lucky for me this is what the Dual-Copper delivers when I change from the stock cable, the sharpness is a little softer and controlled. The bass is a little more resolving in the sub bass texture, and sounds more extended due to this. Added bonus is a little extra shimmery effect to the air. The soundstage is already very wide on Oracle and doesn't change.
DITA Audio Project M
PM is their newest IEM, this is a hybrid with 1 dynamic driver and 1 balanced armature. Quite special IEM as it is first and foremost a DD set, with the single BA in there to add treble. This is the most neutral and bright IEM in the comparisons, and suits to have cables that control the treble or dampen it.
Stock cable is their own Mocca cable with Cardas copper, ergonomic but not as pliable as Dual-Copper. For the sound this is more similar to the other Type 6 Litz cable but less resolving, so compared to the Dual-Copper it lacks the fulness and depth of the bass and also is brighter up top. It's a reason why I decided to use Project M here, since the Dual-Copper is like made for the tonality of Project M. Controls the sharp treble making it softer and adds a little extra body to the tonality, stage is slightly wider instead of the more spherical stage with original cable.
Venture Electronics Grand Duke
The Grand Duke is quite a special IEM, has a thick and full bodied sound coming from a single DD. The transients are slower and the soundstage is extra spacious, but still has lots of detail coming forth for such a tuning. I believe the original cable is a generic cable, I was given this IEM without accessories. My preferred cable has been the Effect Audio Cadmus 8W, this is an SPC with rhodium plug. Cadmus is slightly bright, and sounds very balanced on the Grand Duke.
Used this IEM as a baseline for comparing the Cadmus with the Dual-Copper, first I noticed the bass being fuller but in this case also a little denser with better attack. Midrange is also fuller and more rounded on transients, Cadmus instead has an extra midrange bite. Treble is hard to notice difference between the two, both have a tendency to keep IEMs from sounding too bright or sharp. I could go both ways for which I prefer together with the DUKE, the denser bass is more positive to me than the brighter upper midrange of Cadmus.
Cable comparison
I have used 3 cables other than the stock IEM cables in the comparison above, this is a mix of SPC, Silver and Copper. All of them I regard as high quality cables, that also don't break the bank.
First is a Lavricables Master Silver V4 cable with gold plugs, also in 4 wire and a little thicker at 22 AWG. The ergonomics and pliableness is similar to the Dual-Copper, but design is more premium and looks better than the carbon design on the Master. The braiding was perfect when new on the Master, but over time it has gotten not as uniform and look not as nicely braided as the Dual-Copper.
This is a very resolving cable, but unlike the traditional belief it's not a bright cable. It has some softness to transients and is just very balanced, also has an extra ethereal effect to the treble without sharpness.
The Dual-Copper is then more full bodied in the lows with better punch, the midrange is very similar and both have good control without making stuff sibilant or thin. The highs are sort of different, the Dual-Copper is smoother while the Master is extra airy and shimmery. Soundstage is also wider on Dual-Copper while the Master projects more forward.
Then the Effect Audio Cadmus 8 wire, this is a SPC cable that has a brighter but full sounding tonality. The design looks equally premium as the Dual-Copper with quality hardware, the braiding itself is also nicely done but has gotten less tidy over time. The comfort is not that good on the 8w signature series cables, it gets too heavy and thick and doesn't provide good comfort.
As I said this is a brighter cable, but not in the way that it lacks full bodied sound. It's more that the upper mids and some parts of the treble is pushed forward some, quite opposite in the treble than the Dual-Copper. And while it has a balanced and extended body to the bass it lacks the same depth and density of the music. Brighter elements like brass or some vocals can get sibilant and sharp on Cadmus, here it's just resolving and natural on Dual-Copper. Soundstage is also nothing special on Cadmus even if it has 8 wires you don't get the same holographic stage like the Dual-Copper.
Another cable that is an interesting comparison is a 22 AWG Type 6 Litz copper from Clan Audio, this has been my most resolving copper having a less typical copper sound being open and more bright. The design is not as premium as this one, the wire is also thicker and less comfortable.
Bass is both denser and deeper with Dual-Copper, has that extra depth for sub bass and also extra punch to the midbass. The midrange is more rounded and not as sharp on transients with Dual-Copper, same treble is slightly more relaxed and controlled. Here it's more one cable being more clear and transparent with the other being more full bodied and euphonic.
Soundstage is more neutral and doesn't do anything extra on the Clan Audio cable, technical chops is about the same with small win to the Clan Audio due to brighter tonality.
The link above is the playlist made for this review. It has a good mix of music I enjoy and also some that I often use for testing.
Summary
PlusSound has made an extremely great cable here both in sound and design, also why I decided to use the photo above for the summary. The sound is full and vibrant, it's pleasant to listen to and matches with every IEM I have tried it on.
The braiding looks perfect, the cable itself has great balance between being thin and having a little weight. I would think it would also be comfortable in a 6 wire version and maybe even 8 wire as the cable is thin and pliable. The hardware is beautiful with my version having rose gold design, its many options for customizing to get a cable that would match the use case or preference.
It is easy to recommend the PlusSound Dual-Copper, even if the price is on the higher side. The truth is you have to pay for quality products, especially when made in the USA.
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