Penon Leo Plus-IEM cable from Penon
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Penon Leo Plus 3 in 1 Cable System
Let me break this down for you. The Leo Plus is a Penon IEM cable, it costs $249.00. The Leo Plus is made with 8 strands of gold-silver-palladium alloy wire, the original Leo (non-Plus) cable is $50 less and only made of silver. Now this is where it gets good. While the Leo Plus looks like a run-of-the-mill silver cable, it doesn’t sound like a silver cable at all. Why?
Maybe the Gold and Palladium mixtures along with the geometry over-power the Silver's brightness? There is a slight Silver sound, only it’s the underlying spacial feature into the soundstage, with the Gold adding an unmistakable warmth/thickness and the Palladium creating enhanced imaging and detail. So possibly the actual stage size is created by the silver, yet that’s almost where the silver properties end.
In the end we are gifted a style of do-all cable, a cable that ends up incredibly well-rounded yet instills its unmistakable personality into any sound signature!
Wow!
So we are left with this hybrid effect, a blending of materials which promote a sound signature different than any cable that came before. At least I haven’t heard this exact signature before. It’s a little like the ISN Solar ($399) or the legendary Penon Totem ($699) in that the sound is both subdued into warmth yet more clear and detailed than most any cable.
Though there is a benefit that the Leo Plus does that’s above and beyond what the Solar or Totem do……and combined with the price at $249.00, it makes it one-of-a-kind! The benefit is luxurious ergonomics! Yep, the Leo Plus is more like a tiger kitten in that it goes anywhere and everywhere with supreme dexterity! Literally, if you were just looking for a thinner cable that still sounds wonderfully thick…..well, I don’t have any other recommendations, other than that of the Leo Plus.
So just remember it’s the un-silver sounding warmer thicker sounding silver cable that gets out of the way and goes wherever you choose! Yep!
First off cable reviews are (for me) the easiest things to write. There is also somehow less pressure to get things exactly right? Meaning (if you can imagine) I get cables in for review and simply try them out with various IEMs. I listen, and write down exactly what I hear, and let things fall out where they may. It is what it is. Where with DAPs and IEMs there is specific things that can be determined to be wrong or off. With cables if they don’t work with one set-up, you simply move to another. See! Are you starting to get an idea of how relaxed this environment is! Where sure I may want a cables character to blend with a DAC set-up, with a certain IEM, but if it doesn’t work out.....well I simply move on. There are often surprises, but this business has some common sense involved.
Though where it gets tricky is trying to find very specific attributes which may by across the board for many DAPs and IEMs. Meaning there may be a cable that makes the soundstage bigger always, with-out changing to tone too much. Now that style of cable would be different than the style of cables which seem to change the midrange and treble tone and move the stage out into farther directions. Or even a situation where a cable seems to tighten and subdue the bass, which by reaction then seems to make the midrange bigger or more emphasized.
Then there is the treble reactions. As some cables are darker but still will emphasize the treble or result in a push of treble into achieving a separation into which elements are better heard due to maybe a darker midrange or separated lower regions. So you can see this stuff is all interconnected and relative unto how each tone section is perceived. At times maybe it’s personal, but at other times it’s concerning results that most will find to be true. As an example there are a few bright cables that simply don’t go with bright IEMs. Almost no one is joining such combinations together as everything’s simply too bright. Yet due to the subjectivity of this hobby there will of course be that outlier who seems to enjoy such spectacles of heat. Normally though (even then) the entertainment factor may not be found to long term. Meaning even that level of treble listener will have limits as to how long they can stare at the sun.
So my standard mode, is to simply put on a cable and listen. While I do know what elements each IEM has naturally, I’m more or less trying to determine if my guesses are true and how stuff finally sounds as a real world result. Meaning often there will be a single feature (like a hybrid) silver (pure silver) and copper cable which I will try anyway with say a 2BA/1DD Hybrid IEM. What I’m trying to see is if (the set-up) works. The way it could work is the stage will be greater from the silver but also the tonal characteristics will come into play. Meaning are the BAs too bright or if not too bright, is there a character in-which the BAs seem too metallic or not balanced? Then the issue may be the DAP, meaning a more V shaped signature DAP may not be the choice and a more midrange emphasized DAP could be the ticket to where everything lines-up. It’s in such situations where you really come to understand that success is geared on everything becoming synergistic and blending. The end results are always the sum of everything. Of course there is still the independent individual hearing, but at the same time there can be group discoveries which go ahead and workout for large numbers of listeners.
All and all though it still is a situation by situation example of success or failure. And my job is easy because I simply have to listen and test the waters. Yes, I have pre-determined ideas about how cables sound, but at the same time it doesn’t always come out the way it is expected to. As it’s not always a thing you can guess beforehand. Probably where this is most noticeable is when coming to the conclusion in an IEMs use, to where one cable emphasized the midrange in a flat, more easy going way, without boosting a section of the treble but adding authoritative tone expansion none-the-less. Often a quick change to a pure OCC cable will then confirm the test. Meaning instantly you will hear the change in soundstage brightness which has been reduced by the pure copper, either getting a formal across the board smoothness which may be agreeable, or possibly too dull and going to reduce detail and stage to bring about a kind of boredom. Remember all this at times takes long listening runs, where time can be either your friend or foe. Most often a darker cable will start to open-up and become interesting regardless of how dull it sounded at the start. This is due to the fact that often it is the contrast of hearing (cable) tones which makes the difference. You have to learn and eventually gain understanding regardless of what tone you have been (previously) hearing. At times I will even take a detour to a friend’s house for a second opinion, simply to get another’s idea as to their opinion on tone.
Though where it gets tricky is trying to find very specific attributes which may by across the board for many DAPs and IEMs. Meaning there may be a cable that makes the soundstage bigger always, with-out changing to tone too much. Now that style of cable would be different than the style of cables which seem to change the midrange and treble tone and move the stage out into farther directions. Or even a situation where a cable seems to tighten and subdue the bass, which by reaction then seems to make the midrange bigger or more emphasized.
Then there is the treble reactions. As some cables are darker but still will emphasize the treble or result in a push of treble into achieving a separation into which elements are better heard due to maybe a darker midrange or separated lower regions. So you can see this stuff is all interconnected and relative unto how each tone section is perceived. At times maybe it’s personal, but at other times it’s concerning results that most will find to be true. As an example there are a few bright cables that simply don’t go with bright IEMs. Almost no one is joining such combinations together as everything’s simply too bright. Yet due to the subjectivity of this hobby there will of course be that outlier who seems to enjoy such spectacles of heat. Normally though (even then) the entertainment factor may not be found to long term. Meaning even that level of treble listener will have limits as to how long they can stare at the sun.
So my standard mode, is to simply put on a cable and listen. While I do know what elements each IEM has naturally, I’m more or less trying to determine if my guesses are true and how stuff finally sounds as a real world result. Meaning often there will be a single feature (like a hybrid) silver (pure silver) and copper cable which I will try anyway with say a 2BA/1DD Hybrid IEM. What I’m trying to see is if (the set-up) works. The way it could work is the stage will be greater from the silver but also the tonal characteristics will come into play. Meaning are the BAs too bright or if not too bright, is there a character in-which the BAs seem too metallic or not balanced? Then the issue may be the DAP, meaning a more V shaped signature DAP may not be the choice and a more midrange emphasized DAP could be the ticket to where everything lines-up. It’s in such situations where you really come to understand that success is geared on everything becoming synergistic and blending. The end results are always the sum of everything. Of course there is still the independent individual hearing, but at the same time there can be group discoveries which go ahead and workout for large numbers of listeners.
All and all though it still is a situation by situation example of success or failure. And my job is easy because I simply have to listen and test the waters. Yes, I have pre-determined ideas about how cables sound, but at the same time it doesn’t always come out the way it is expected to. As it’s not always a thing you can guess beforehand. Probably where this is most noticeable is when coming to the conclusion in an IEMs use, to where one cable emphasized the midrange in a flat, more easy going way, without boosting a section of the treble but adding authoritative tone expansion none-the-less. Often a quick change to a pure OCC cable will then confirm the test. Meaning instantly you will hear the change in soundstage brightness which has been reduced by the pure copper, either getting a formal across the board smoothness which may be agreeable, or possibly too dull and going to reduce detail and stage to bring about a kind of boredom. Remember all this at times takes long listening runs, where time can be either your friend or foe. Most often a darker cable will start to open-up and become interesting regardless of how dull it sounded at the start. This is due to the fact that often it is the contrast of hearing (cable) tones which makes the difference. You have to learn and eventually gain understanding regardless of what tone you have been (previously) hearing. At times I will even take a detour to a friend’s house for a second opinion, simply to get another’s idea as to their opinion on tone.
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 about 50 different cables/adaptors right now. Penon also currently manufactures 12 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 8 ear-phones.
What does all this nonsense mean to you!
First-off, if your not sure about whether or not the Leo Plus is for your uses, I can tell you it actually works with all IEMs regardless of their intrinsic sound profile. How is this? Normally we use cables to try and dial-in an IEM tone to our preferred sound. But here there is a kind of well rounded-ness mixed with detail that simply makes the Leo Plus the perfect upgrade from your run-of-the-mill cable. Besides the Solar and Totem cable, the Leo Plus kind of reminds me of the new Penon Obsidian, especially how it sculptures the low notes. But still in the end the Obsidian and Leo Plus are ultimately different animals........more on that to follow.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-obsidian.26143/reviews#review-29789
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-totem.24688/reviews#review-29643
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/isn-solar.25111/reviews#review-30408
Questions can often be more important than answers:
What happened and what started me on my Leo Plus journey was a few questions from another member. What started as a quick msing539 PM answering session quickly escalated into a 30 answer event. Why? We wanted to find out which cables were good for the Penon Fan 2. The Fan 2 was his secondary choice! He couldn’t find a Penon Serial to buy because they were sold-out world wide. No one was willing to sell their used Serial (to him) either. So we went ahead and brought out a few cables to test the Fan 2 with. I simply have too much stuff to review and even though I had recently received the Leo Plus from Penon, I didn’t know a thing about it. Yet like we all do, I had expectation bias which was soon to be disproven. After a number of cable change-outs I then joined the Penon Fan 2 to the Leo Plus. And guess what? As a cable it did everything right. Meaning it widened the stage, smoothed out everything, created a boost in imaging and even gave the bass its own character. With the Fan 2 we actually need to be careful. With the Fan 2 we walk a fine-line in that due to its inherent neutrality the sound can go into any number of directions. Some of those directions can actually be too bright, or too intense with a portion of the frequency somehow over-powering another. But here we were partaking in heaven. Heaven because of the balance, but more than that heaven because of the direct character of the Leo Plus being bestowed upon the Fan 2. You see because of the Fan 2 neutrality and its style of resolution, we could actually hear what the Leo Plus was doing. The Fan 2 stage was widened, the midrange was smoothed over with a glistening light……..part of the results in the midrange I don’t have a word for....let’s just call it Leo Plus character and leave it be.
Leo Plus Bass:
The bass was another important feature of the Fan 2 that had to be there. Meaning due to the neutrality the bass could be moved to either be diminished or pushed. And it was gloriously there, but in a fashion that resembled the Totem at 1/3 the cost.
The Penon Serial:
Next was another question from msing539. If in fact he did buy the Serial later, what would be a good cable for that. I explained that in my review I found the included CS819 cable to be sufficient to get the Serial message across. And in fact (to me) the Penon Serial and CS819 combo was better than when Penon included the CS819 with the VORTEX IEM. It was just if you wanted more crisp detail out of the Penon Serial you may want to start to look elsewhere, as the CS819 is only so bright. It’s given as the included cable with the Serial due to its unapologetic middle-of-the-road-ness.
So in my quest for thriftiness I then moved over to try the Leo Plus with the Penon Serial. Surly this (Serial/Leo Plus) combo must be too dark I thought, before hand? That’s right, more bias.
Yet the realization of such bias just comes with experience, where you start to guess the outcome of cable joins. But I was wrong again, yep! While other cables like the Penon Mix 3-in-1 cable use pure silver to white wash the upper divisions, here was a more subdued yet wonderful experience……..it was (if I can say) romantic. Literally the Penon Leo Plus cable did it again……it infused its very own signature sound into the Penon Serial. That sound was a midrange expansion combined with increased details and authority. The bass was actually cleaned-up and defined over most other cables…….let’s just say I was surprised. I was so surprised that (combined with the Leo Plus ergonomics) the Leo Plus became one of my single favorite cables ever.Yet there was more to be discovered:
While the Penon Fan 2 and the Serial IEMs do go to a great length to prove the over-all value found with-in the Leo Plus experience, I had to know more. Where before the Fan 2.....the Serial was considered to be the most neutral Penon IEM ever made. And while luck with the Leo Plus was found there, I needed to know more. My main question was if the Leo Plus would be like the Penon Obsidian with my Noble Audio K-10 Encore Universal? It’s safe to call the Encore a problem child. Most of the silver cables are just too intense with the crazy upper midrange/treble shelf the Encore plays for fun with. And I’m not a treble head at all. It’s just that (for years) pure Hansound OCC Litz was the ticket to my nirvana………
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/han-sound-audio-zentoo.23993/reviews#review-22783
What is happening is the warmth of the OCC is bringing a deeper quality to the bass and ultimately smoothing out any fire with that 6K peak. Laughably that peak is often used as an anti-siblence peak with about 99% of IEM sound design ideas. And if by chance they go to that part of town they never go to that extent….making the Encore both strange and rare. Yet I love the sound, and in-fact have put more that 3000 hours in enjoying the strangeness!
Joining the Leo Plus to the Nobel Audio K-10 Encore Universal:
The first thing you notice is how the 2pins feel, then after connection, the way the whole cable lays…….and I haven’t even turned-on the music yet!
Sound:
The bass is curtailed, I mean how else could we even hope to arrive at the bass definition here? It’s called sculpting yet there is also a round dynamic personality that reminds you that the bass is actually enhanced over any possible OCC playback. So maybe no more bass or less bass, except more bass detail. I like that. And truth to be told the Encore bass being just slightly more than neutral needs to be catered to! But the real deal here is that there is now separation of all elements. The first duty is to make space inside the sound stage because with out this apparent width and forward and back there would be nowhere for the notes to be placed. Not to mention the vertical ups and downs……..
It’s super clean:
OK so I have gotten used to the Encore with OCC cables for years and years, but I have yet to appreciate what is exactly going on here? Probably the most amazing thing is any music can be played. As I was worried due to being limited in my musical choices. Now the Encore is not necessarily an EDM choice anyway, except there is this thing……I don’t even know what you call this thing. The Encore is renowned for being one of the single most well-rounded IEMs out there. It’s criticized too, for not doing any one genre the best, except it does do everything well, and I’m fine with that. A switch to robust EDM is showing me that both the bass is not too curtailed as well as the hi-hats are never too bright. But we need to traverse over to our genre of choice, we need to migrate over to rock town. As it’s here that the most interesting finds may be unearthed? Maybe? Rock is in fact slightly thinner than the Obsidian probably due to the Obsidian silver content which is zero!
The Obsidian Quote From Dsnuts:
"Obsidian is pure OCC copper but with 2 simple cores out of 400 has a pure gold plating. The genius of that design is it barely has gold plating just enough to affect the tonality to be slightly richer. If the entire thing was plated in gold that brings a bit too much coloration. Reason why cables like the Totem and the ISN Solar use partial plating of gold. I own a few gold plated copper cables and those are not as versatile as the obsidian.
Only works great on brighter neutral IEM to give them some flavor.
Then the accessories or the connectors and plugs are also gold plated copper material further enhancing the richness factor of the Obsidian. It is mostly copper in sound properties but with enough gold in it to give IEMs a touch of richness and better texture for the sound."
So as it turn out in the end:
While the Leo Plus is actually fine with the Encore, I’m not so sure I could live with it as my only cable, and only IEM? Where the Obsidian is simply better suited for such treble centric (crazies) as the Encore. That doesn’t mean that you may not find love with an IEM like the Encore and Leo Plus. Where the differences in comparing the two showed actually a more forward and refined placement of even vocals with the Obsidian, where (due to the silver additive) the Leo Plus was wider and more dispersed, that……..and there was a slight extra warmth to the deep-downs which is expected from the Obsidian in comparison to the Leo Plus. Still both cables share a character, and even though both are slightly different, they are brothers in production emanating from the same (Penon) company. Still the Leo Plus and Encore combination calls me, it’s romantic and could even ask of me to cross the line into using EQ to fully find my destiny? With that said…..lets move on.
The Serial and Leo Plus:
Revisiting the combination is due to profound curiosity on my part. Yep there was still rooms to visit and pages to turn. Lands to explore and tones to come face-to-face with. Truth to be told even though my answers to msing539 were complete and correct, I just visited the town and didn’t take the full tour. Here is the thing…..the Penon Serial has a magic quality in that there are 3 DDs all both joined in union, except that they are also each doing their job. But I’ll be fully confused to try and explain where the crossovers meet. Yep, all as one, and gloriously as one with the Leo Plus. It’s the same features as with the Encore results, only the Penon Serial is very much the opposite of the Encore. Still where they both profoundly express the Leo Plus's personality in resembling guitar tone. Can you imagine? Yep the same tone of guitar is both found in Encore replay and Serial replay with the Leo Plus. Maybe both IEMs are meeting in the middle? But what it is becomes known through a style of both texture and relief. Where the success here is maybe found in separation? If any one was to throw rocks at Serial replay it could be that there is a slight congestion in the mids. And in fact that is the avenue that the few that want more are looking down when they attempt a cable change-out for the Serial. Mind you this is not silver sounding, but just right. I mean there must be some silver sound (somewhere) or else how else would it delineate itself with Encore Universal use, in contrast to the Obsidian? But the story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears takes notice here. Where there is this added smoothness or lovely (thing) that the Leo Plus has that is its character. A thing that I have tried but have failed to put into words………it’s inside of the reverberations and expansions into the stage. It’s a tone color (that’s the word color) a mandatory descriptive. Yet none of that “color” is even bad or even wrong, with any IEM I have bestowed the Leo Plus on? And in that lays the riddle and the gift of what we find with the Leo Plus.
There is no conclusion to this review.
$249.00
https://penonaudio.com/penon-leo-plus.html
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the Leo Plus 3-in-1 Cable System review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
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 and 3.5mm
gael
@Redcarmoose It was a 
to your "There is no conclusion to this review."
to your "There is no conclusion to this review."
Redcarmoose
@gael
Oh, that’s right? Forgot about that.
Oh, that’s right? Forgot about that.
Penon Leo Plus
Leo is represented by the lion, and these spirited fire signs are the kings and queens of the celestial jungle. They're delighted to embrace their royal status: Vivacious, theatrical, and passionate, Leos love to bask in the spotlight and celebrate themselves.
Vivacious, Theatrical, and passionate good way to describe the Penon Leo Plus. I know this may be a bit over the top when describing a simple iem cable but I think the designers know what they are going for when naming such a cable.
Today we are talking about the premium cable from Penon. A strong name for a cable and then you add a plus. It turns out that Penon has an 8 core premium all silver cable which goes by the name LEO. So what was added to call this newer version with a plus? I suppose this is the type of name given to something that stands out and after using the Leo Plus, getting to know what it does. I feel this is a perfect name for this cable.
At the base of the 8 core cable is silver but incorporated into the silver we get a dose of some premium materials. Gold-silver-palladium alloy to make the cores. The plus means you get something extra. How does that translate to sonics?
First I would like to thank Penon for the review sample of the Leo plus. As an added perk I would like to mention Penon audio is doing something for their customers that I have yet to see in the world of audio. If you buy any products from Penon audio and choose DHL shipping. They will include some of their Masks. Penon is providing masks for folks that are affected by the spread of the scourge that is COVID-19. You can read about it here. The Leo Plus can be purchased here.
Onto the cable review. Silver cables all have one thing in common and that is absolute transparency. It is well documented that silver will give the best transmission of all things sonically. The added materials on the Leo Plus is new to me and at one point in my hobby history I was more than skeptical of the extravagant materials that a lot of the higher end cables use. Is it worth all that money to spend on a cable?
Let's say you have an IEM you just can’t live without. You have searched years for that perfect in ear that just does everything you like in a sound. You know all about how tips can have an affect on your sound but then what about the cable you're using?
Cables do make a difference in maximizing the ability of your in ears. If you're oblivious to it or in the camp that think they don’t. This review is not for you. Carry on soldier. Truth is cables do make a difference and here we have a premium cable that costs more than a lot of in ears. Let's be real $300 can buy you a cheaper DAP and a cheaper IEM to go with it. But for the folks that know a bit something about sonics and how a cable can shape the sonics. These are for you.
The Leo Plus makes your good sounding favorites into something different and for the much better. There is no other way to put it. First listen with a well burned in ISN H40. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The H40 didn’t sound anything at all what I was listening to previously.
First there is the expansion of the stage. Immediately perceived the stage of the sound on the H40 expanded width wise that clearly goes beyond previous perception of the sonics on the H40. It sounded so wide I had to take them out of my ears to see if I had the same earphone in my ears. It wasn’t a slight jump in stage; it sounded like a different earphone altogether.
Then there was the definition of the H40. I did a full review of this earphone and I know the sonics on them blind folded. I listen to it just about every day and again I was astonished at the definition jump I was getting. I know the silver aspect was what was at work here. So the biggest surprise was not these two aspects of the cable change. It was the 3rd aspect.
Texture. Better perceived texture for mids, bass and even treble. Vocal texture especially has increased. Basically the H40 no longer sounded like the H40. I own earphones well above 1K in price range and the H40 now sounds more like a premium high grade of earphone and this was from a simple cable change?. The added effect was not subtle like most cables I have used on the H40 before the Leo Plus. It is clearly audible with and without the cable.
So my point is. As good as your in ears sound to you. Imagine the previous noted impression about how the Leo plus has affected the H40 onto what you're using. Then you might get a good idea why these cost as they do. I have to admit I had my doubts as noted earlier. But no longer do I doubt the higher end cables and what they do. You're not going to see me review a $1800 cable. There is a point where money is better used on other things that actually produce sound. But for what Penon is asking for these. It is more than reasonable. They are giving you a premium cable in every sense of the word.
The Leo plus is soft 8 cores of the stuff that makes your in ear sound premium. Connectors, chin slider down to the termination is the highest of quality as it should. Soft supple with very minimum microphonics. I know $300 is a bit much for just a cable. But we are not dealing with “just a cable.”
As all good things goes in life. Premium stuff costs more. Here is a case where you are most definitely getting your money's worth in an IEM cable. My measuring mark for such cables is. Does it do one better than the next price point cable I have owned? The clear answer to that is absolutely. Vs other cables I own as shown.
Vs community favorite. 175 Electro Acousti hybrid. Advantage Leo plus in stage expansion. Definition is similar here but where the Leo Plus separates itself is that sound texture. 175 cable is comparable for clarity and blackness of space but that added texture is something special on the Leo plus.
Vs ISN AG8. AG8 is a new cable from cable maker ISN and is unique due to the thicker cored 8 braided pure silver cable I did a review for here. Sound stage is similar given the fuller thicker cores which translate to the sound perceived but again where the Leo Plus separates itself is that added texture to the sonics with a touch more precision. Bass also has a bit more impact and definition in the region.
Vs Penon Fiery. I figure I would add a pure copper cable to the mix. Copper does not expand the sound quite like silver does so there is a clear difference in perceived stage vs the two. The Leo Plus is the grand hall. Fiery is an intimate venue. Fiery gives a very nice full definition to the mids and bass end as good copper cables do, but here is where the Leo Plus clearly shows its superior effect. The stage not only increases but again that sound texture has an increase here as well. You would figure mid bands would be won out by a pure copper cable. Fullness of sonics have some similarities but the Leo Plus clearly has the superior sound separation stage and texture to the sonics.
The Plus of the Leo is that texture enhancing ability I can’t find in any other cable I own. Before the Leo Plus I have had cables that adds to the sound better fullness, stage, definition, separation, enhanced treble to bass but never have I seen a cable enhance texture of the sound quite like the Leo Plus. Something new for me. Also of note. I do not perceive any thinness to or leaning out of the sonics as a lot of silver cables has a tendency to do.
Bonus. Leo plus on my other in ears.
On the Andromeda S.
AndromedaS has one of the best balanced presentation of the various Andromedas CA comes up with regularly it seems. Leo Plus adds even a better bolder effect to the Andro S and is the best cable I have used on the Andro S. Adds that texture to the sonics and supreme sound separation and adds even a better sense of stage. Excellent pairing.
Finally my newly acquired DUNU LUNA.
Oh wow. Where to start. First I want to say the stock cable that comes with the LUNA is no swiss cheese. It is another premium cable from the DUNU camp which comes with every termination possible with one of the best designed quick switch termination systems for their premium cables. It matches sonically perfectly with the LUNA but for grins I attached the Leo Plus on it. Attached it one time and that is all it took.
All I can say is. This is the type of sound dreams are made of. Full bodied luscious rich full dynamic sound from top to bottom. I realized just how extreme the Leo Plus meshes with the LUNA and decided it will be the cable I will leave on the LUNA for the foreseeable future. LUNA is a very transparent well balanced flagship from DUNU and the Leo Plus adds even a better sense of stage. The blackest of backgrounds. Even better precision. And surprisingly a full bored bass end. Vocal textures just mesmerize and can leave goose bumps. I don’t know if sound can actually get better with this one two punch. In any case this is not a review of the LUNA but more the cable I have decided to keep on the LUNA. Once you hear it. You can’t unhear it. It is my precious.
As you can tell I have quickly become a fan of the qualities of the Leo Plus. My only gripe is I wish I owned a few more of these cables to use with my other in ears. In the end as much as I wanted to keep this cable on the H40. Luna just sounds extreme with this cable and who am I to break up this happy marriage. Thanks for reading.
Leo is represented by the lion, and these spirited fire signs are the kings and queens of the celestial jungle. They're delighted to embrace their royal status: Vivacious, theatrical, and passionate, Leos love to bask in the spotlight and celebrate themselves.
Vivacious, Theatrical, and passionate good way to describe the Penon Leo Plus. I know this may be a bit over the top when describing a simple iem cable but I think the designers know what they are going for when naming such a cable.
Today we are talking about the premium cable from Penon. A strong name for a cable and then you add a plus. It turns out that Penon has an 8 core premium all silver cable which goes by the name LEO. So what was added to call this newer version with a plus? I suppose this is the type of name given to something that stands out and after using the Leo Plus, getting to know what it does. I feel this is a perfect name for this cable.
At the base of the 8 core cable is silver but incorporated into the silver we get a dose of some premium materials. Gold-silver-palladium alloy to make the cores. The plus means you get something extra. How does that translate to sonics?
First I would like to thank Penon for the review sample of the Leo plus. As an added perk I would like to mention Penon audio is doing something for their customers that I have yet to see in the world of audio. If you buy any products from Penon audio and choose DHL shipping. They will include some of their Masks. Penon is providing masks for folks that are affected by the spread of the scourge that is COVID-19. You can read about it here. The Leo Plus can be purchased here.
Onto the cable review. Silver cables all have one thing in common and that is absolute transparency. It is well documented that silver will give the best transmission of all things sonically. The added materials on the Leo Plus is new to me and at one point in my hobby history I was more than skeptical of the extravagant materials that a lot of the higher end cables use. Is it worth all that money to spend on a cable?
Let's say you have an IEM you just can’t live without. You have searched years for that perfect in ear that just does everything you like in a sound. You know all about how tips can have an affect on your sound but then what about the cable you're using?
Cables do make a difference in maximizing the ability of your in ears. If you're oblivious to it or in the camp that think they don’t. This review is not for you. Carry on soldier. Truth is cables do make a difference and here we have a premium cable that costs more than a lot of in ears. Let's be real $300 can buy you a cheaper DAP and a cheaper IEM to go with it. But for the folks that know a bit something about sonics and how a cable can shape the sonics. These are for you.
The Leo Plus makes your good sounding favorites into something different and for the much better. There is no other way to put it. First listen with a well burned in ISN H40. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The H40 didn’t sound anything at all what I was listening to previously.
First there is the expansion of the stage. Immediately perceived the stage of the sound on the H40 expanded width wise that clearly goes beyond previous perception of the sonics on the H40. It sounded so wide I had to take them out of my ears to see if I had the same earphone in my ears. It wasn’t a slight jump in stage; it sounded like a different earphone altogether.
Then there was the definition of the H40. I did a full review of this earphone and I know the sonics on them blind folded. I listen to it just about every day and again I was astonished at the definition jump I was getting. I know the silver aspect was what was at work here. So the biggest surprise was not these two aspects of the cable change. It was the 3rd aspect.
Texture. Better perceived texture for mids, bass and even treble. Vocal texture especially has increased. Basically the H40 no longer sounded like the H40. I own earphones well above 1K in price range and the H40 now sounds more like a premium high grade of earphone and this was from a simple cable change?. The added effect was not subtle like most cables I have used on the H40 before the Leo Plus. It is clearly audible with and without the cable.
So my point is. As good as your in ears sound to you. Imagine the previous noted impression about how the Leo plus has affected the H40 onto what you're using. Then you might get a good idea why these cost as they do. I have to admit I had my doubts as noted earlier. But no longer do I doubt the higher end cables and what they do. You're not going to see me review a $1800 cable. There is a point where money is better used on other things that actually produce sound. But for what Penon is asking for these. It is more than reasonable. They are giving you a premium cable in every sense of the word.
The Leo plus is soft 8 cores of the stuff that makes your in ear sound premium. Connectors, chin slider down to the termination is the highest of quality as it should. Soft supple with very minimum microphonics. I know $300 is a bit much for just a cable. But we are not dealing with “just a cable.”
As all good things goes in life. Premium stuff costs more. Here is a case where you are most definitely getting your money's worth in an IEM cable. My measuring mark for such cables is. Does it do one better than the next price point cable I have owned? The clear answer to that is absolutely. Vs other cables I own as shown.
Vs community favorite. 175 Electro Acousti hybrid. Advantage Leo plus in stage expansion. Definition is similar here but where the Leo Plus separates itself is that sound texture. 175 cable is comparable for clarity and blackness of space but that added texture is something special on the Leo plus.
Vs ISN AG8. AG8 is a new cable from cable maker ISN and is unique due to the thicker cored 8 braided pure silver cable I did a review for here. Sound stage is similar given the fuller thicker cores which translate to the sound perceived but again where the Leo Plus separates itself is that added texture to the sonics with a touch more precision. Bass also has a bit more impact and definition in the region.
Vs Penon Fiery. I figure I would add a pure copper cable to the mix. Copper does not expand the sound quite like silver does so there is a clear difference in perceived stage vs the two. The Leo Plus is the grand hall. Fiery is an intimate venue. Fiery gives a very nice full definition to the mids and bass end as good copper cables do, but here is where the Leo Plus clearly shows its superior effect. The stage not only increases but again that sound texture has an increase here as well. You would figure mid bands would be won out by a pure copper cable. Fullness of sonics have some similarities but the Leo Plus clearly has the superior sound separation stage and texture to the sonics.
The Plus of the Leo is that texture enhancing ability I can’t find in any other cable I own. Before the Leo Plus I have had cables that adds to the sound better fullness, stage, definition, separation, enhanced treble to bass but never have I seen a cable enhance texture of the sound quite like the Leo Plus. Something new for me. Also of note. I do not perceive any thinness to or leaning out of the sonics as a lot of silver cables has a tendency to do.
Bonus. Leo plus on my other in ears.
On the Andromeda S.
AndromedaS has one of the best balanced presentation of the various Andromedas CA comes up with regularly it seems. Leo Plus adds even a better bolder effect to the Andro S and is the best cable I have used on the Andro S. Adds that texture to the sonics and supreme sound separation and adds even a better sense of stage. Excellent pairing.
Finally my newly acquired DUNU LUNA.
Oh wow. Where to start. First I want to say the stock cable that comes with the LUNA is no swiss cheese. It is another premium cable from the DUNU camp which comes with every termination possible with one of the best designed quick switch termination systems for their premium cables. It matches sonically perfectly with the LUNA but for grins I attached the Leo Plus on it. Attached it one time and that is all it took.
All I can say is. This is the type of sound dreams are made of. Full bodied luscious rich full dynamic sound from top to bottom. I realized just how extreme the Leo Plus meshes with the LUNA and decided it will be the cable I will leave on the LUNA for the foreseeable future. LUNA is a very transparent well balanced flagship from DUNU and the Leo Plus adds even a better sense of stage. The blackest of backgrounds. Even better precision. And surprisingly a full bored bass end. Vocal textures just mesmerize and can leave goose bumps. I don’t know if sound can actually get better with this one two punch. In any case this is not a review of the LUNA but more the cable I have decided to keep on the LUNA. Once you hear it. You can’t unhear it. It is my precious.
As you can tell I have quickly become a fan of the qualities of the Leo Plus. My only gripe is I wish I owned a few more of these cables to use with my other in ears. In the end as much as I wanted to keep this cable on the H40. Luna just sounds extreme with this cable and who am I to break up this happy marriage. Thanks for reading.
FalseProphet
Hi, surely you saw my comments about this cable, I 100% agree with what you said, I am shocked in fact. I found an alternative which I believe is the same thing in fact, the cable itself looks identical but it doesn't mater, what maters is that I am really shocked, obvious improvement in soundstage, transparency, details and dynamics. Now I not just listen to music but experience it. The only downside is that it is a bit heavy, sometimes that weight can affect the fit, I like when I wear my IEMs and don't notice them, but it is not a big deal nothing compared to what it brings to the table. I have thoughts about ordering a 6 core custom built cable, so it would be more lighter, cheaper and shouldn't take a big hit in SQ I believe.
Thanks for pointing me to this cable, I confirm, this is not a shill! 
Everyone should have this cable in their collection if possible and then you can transform your budget sets into something else!
Thanks for pointing me to this cable, I confirm, this is not a shill! Everyone should have this cable in their collection if possible and then you can transform your budget sets into something else!
FalseProphet
Sure.
Inconclusive? There is no inconclusiveness at all with the Neo Plus. It does exactly the same features and sound characteristics always, though-out different IEMs/DAPs. The only question is......if you personally like the exact set-up your listening too. And after this review was finished I found even more ways to use the Leo Plus. While not as dense sounding as as the Penon OSG, it’s more airy, not the amount of blackness of background as the Penon OSG, but in some ways similar.