TACables Obsidian

Introduction

The TACables recently introduced to the audio scene which is from a known for making premium cable for iems and other audio gears.

They recently announce their debut cable, Which is the TACables’ Obsidian which is compose of 50% Black Litz 5N OCC and 50% Silver-plated 5N OCC hybrid structure. Beside from its premium looks, it is also budget friendly which price is around 20$, fair enough compared to other cables brands with the same price range, this cable offer a good quality and a pretty looking materials from earphone jack or plug into the connectors.


Sound Quality

I am a fan of cable aesthetics rather than the sound quality, if you are concern about this cable will change the sound of your IEM, don’t worry because I don’t hear any major sound quality changes that may affect it badly. It maintains the sound naturally which cables should be doing always.

Build Quality

TACables Obsidian provides a good quality hardwares and also a nicely structured cable which is composed of Black Litz 5N OCC + Silver-plated 5N OCC. The cable color itself has a unique color which gives you a reason to add this into your collection of cables. Plugs and connectors can be better, but for only 20$ you’ll get what you’ve paid for. Cable doesn’t feel stiff, it is soft as a normal 4-core Litz should be.

Conclusion

TACables did a good job on this Obsidian Cable. I suggest getting this cable compared to other chifi brands on 20$ price range. I hope TACables will continue to release other models like these. And I will continue to support this brand if they do so.

TAC OBSIDIAN SPC CABLE

TACable which stands for Technical Audio Crafts, is a part of Hakugei cable company from China which offers really good quality but great affordable options. Hakugei is already very famous for their wonderful cable and I am pretty excited for their cheaper sister company cables. This is the first time I am encountering TACables overall but I have had my share of cable change for iems and headphones. I do believe cables change sound but how much depends on the iem/headphone a lot.

DISCLAIMER- I WAS SENT THIS CABLE FOR REVIEW BY TAC CABLES AS A PART OF REVIEW TOUR IN INDIA. SURELY, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR CONSIDERING ME AS A PART OF THE REVIEW TOUR BUT ALL MY OPINIONS ARE MY OWN WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AND WILL NOT BE INFLUENCED BY ANYTHING EXCEPT ME 😋

BUILD-

The build of the cable is excellent per say. The jack options are great but I would love to have it as 4.4 balanced connection but alas this came as 3.5mm jack but the jack is strongly built. The best thing about it was the 2-pin connection which always created a Click sound on entering the iem (Satisfying feel😁).

The only two things I would complain is the length of the jack and also the chin slider. The chin slider is easily displaced and the also the jack length is bit too much, and the thing that holds the jack with the cable, it seemed a bit flimsy.


But there is no microphonics and it was supple enough to not cause me trouble. Plus, the build inspired a confidence that I only felt from using 100$ or more cables haha🤣.

SPECIFICATIONS-

Cable Structure- Black Litz 5N OCC/Litz silver plated 5N OCC
Configuration options- 0.78mm 2pin, MMCX, QDC (2pin config for the tour)
Plug options- 3.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.4mm (for the tour it was in 3.5mm jack)
Price- 20$ 🤩

NOTE- MY SOURCE IS-
1) PORTABLE -N6II R01, BTR5 AND LG G8X
2) DESKTOP- DAC- N6II WITH T01 LINEOUT
3) AMP- TOPPING A30 MODDED WITH BURSON V5I D OR TOPPING L30 OR XDUOO MT602(NOT USED HERE FOR REVIEW BUT HEY IT DOES HELP TO ADD A BIT OF TUBE TOUCH)
4)IEMS TRIED- BLON BL03, PENON FAN, MOONDROP KANAS PRO, TINT2 PLUS, TIN T2 (BOTH WITH 2PIN TO MMCX CONVERTERS), EFFECT AUDIO AXIOM, EARSONICS GRACE

OVERALL SOUND CHANGES-

BASS AND SUBBASS-

Changes are well perceived here especially in the bass region. Bass is further tightened and added more of a punch 🤩 but taking away a bit of timbre. This in turn increases the bass volume but gives away in terms of soundstage. The overall energy is increased given a forward presentation. But overall, there is slightly leaner tonality with notes being slightly lean.

Sub-bass changes are not that much but the rumble is slightly decreased but good increase in the texture of the notes. The notes are lean but there is increased separation 😁. Overall, a lovely presentation.

MIDS-

Vocals are great but largely not too much of a change. Female vocals are enhanced more than the male vocals. Though slightly lean, still they don't feel compressed and has more airy presentation.

Instruments have been more stereo separated with more space between the vocalists and the instruments. The tonality is slightly lean and timbre is slightly missed. The notes are though sharper and more defined but lack extension in to the headroom. The resolution is further enhanced and micro details are more pronounced. Dynamism takes a slight backseat though.

TREBLE-

Treble presence is more engaging and enhanced. There is more energy and sparkle. Edge definition of the notes are better. Separation is much better with added air. Some sharpness can be felt when combined with bright iems likes Penon fan, slight amount of sibilance is present but that depends on iems more than the cable itself.

TECHNICALITIES-

The head stage is more stereo separated with good space between the vocalists and the instruments. There is a small headstage width enhancement but not much in height. The projection of the notes is muted and stage depth takes a small toll. Overall dynamics is slightly lost too. But separation is more enhanced. Notes are much more defined; edge definition is much better and inter instrumental separation is much better. The resolution comes up but I can’t confirm whether it's due to foreword soundstage or increased transparency. The imaging is more stereo that giving a sense of room or theatre.

COMPARISON-

TRN 8 CORE 2.5 BALANCED SPC CABLE (NOTE I DID USE 3.5mm CONNECTION FROM SOURCE FOR COMPARISON)
Pros-
Balanced
Better projection of notes and stage depth
Better dynamics and timbre
Tonally warmer and more towards natural

TAC OBSIDIAN 4 CORE SPC 3.5mm
Pros-
Better separation and definition of the notes
Better bass punch and tightened notes
Better build
Better transparency
Better airy treble with much more sparkle
Less sibilant

**** 16CORE CABLE 2.5 BALANCED (NOTE I DID USE 3.5mm CONNECTION FROM SOURCE FOR COMPARISON)
Pros-
Better dynamics
Similar separation
Tonally more natural and better timbre
Taller stage
Balanced

TAC OBSIDIAN 4 CORE SPC 3.5mm
Pros-
Better airy and sparkly treble
Better build
Better bass punch and tightened notes

KBEAR 4CORE SPC 3.5 WITH MIC
Pros-
Better dynamics
Better projection of notes and stage depth
Tonally more natural and has better timbre
Better notes height

TAC OBSIDIAN 4 CORE SPC 3.5mm
Pros-
Better airy and sparkly treble
Better build
Better bass punch and tightened notes
Better separation
Better transparency

SUMMARY-
Cable change is an interesting place in the hobby and many swear by it and many don’t, but for me it takes trial and error to find the perfect match for you (Not every thing is the same). Now this cable seems to be intended for warm/ having muddy bass iems to provide them a bit more treble extension and sparkle and also tighten the bass and the notes of all frequencies. For my Blons 03 this was a very good match but not so much with my PENON FAN which is slightly on the brighter side. So, your mileage may vary but at this price its hard to complain about this cable, it’s full recommendation if you want the things this cable provides.

INTRODUCTION:



TACable which stands for Technical Audio Crafts, is a company from China a sister company of Hakugei company which offers affordable alternatives. This is the first product I have encountered from them and it was a nice experience. I’m not really a cable guy yet, but as a musician, cables is one thing that I invest on. I don’t limit myself to mediocre cables for my instruments. It is just a hassle if you settle for one.



Being a newbie in the audiophile world, I know that cables is one of those things that we all want to upgrade to our liking. Be it looks and sound signature purposes, and as much as our wallet can handle. This will be a short review and this is my first time reviewing a cable. Some people claim that cables have no effect on sound, but for this experience, I must disagree.



On this review, the BQEYZ KC2 was used compared with its stock cable. As a musician, I used also my trusty instruments namely KORG KROSS gen 1, and YAMAHA MOXF6 and tested with a popular plug in namely KEYSCAPE for delicate and nicely articulated acoustic pianos.



DISCLAIMER:



This unit was provided for a review tour, I did not buy this to personally keep, (well I did hope it was mine to keep) and is not provided any form of incentive. My impressions here is as honest as my experience. Manage your expectations as my personal set up will most likely differ from yours. Thus we will all have different involvement. Again, take this as a grain of salt.



Another thing to add, is I did not remove the protective adhesive tapes from the cable, as this is not personally mine.



SPECIFICATIONS:



Cable Structure: type 4

Black litz 5n occ/litz silver plated 5n occ

Configuration options: 0.78mm 2pin, MMCX, QDC

Plug options: 3.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.4mm

Length: 120cm



PACKAGING:

Package comes with a thin and flat box. Very basic inclusions.

• Cable itself
• Thank you card
• Warranty guide
• Card with TACable logo and abbreviation (Technical Audio Craft)

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES:


Obsidian is a cool looking cable. I really liked the color. It is somewhat greyish, silvery chrome. It has decent weight which is just right. Not the softest cable around but not hard enough to be stiff. It does not tangle that much which is a good thing. There are times that I need to plug in my IEMs immediately and quite often if I just let it fall, it will untangle freely.



Obsidian is not thick yet not thin also. Compare to Bravery’s Hakugei cable, this one is on the thin side. Yet it feels sturdy enough and well built. Be assured this will last long. Of course abuse is another thing. As with any other gadgets, a little extra care will go a long way.



On thing that makes Obsidian quite different from other cables is you can unscrew the insulator. Just like my instrument cables. And from here you can see the effort of the craftmanship. Must I say it is worth the 20$ price tag. I have never seen an earphone cable this meticulously crafted. I know there are more high end cables out there, but for my first time, it is a different experience and awesomeness to witness quality like this.



Chin slider is made of metal. Very easy to adjust. Cable organizer is a typical velcro with a TACable print.



Now unto its effect to sound…



LOWS:



Obsidian offers a subtle expansion here. An ever so light addition to sub bass and more on mid bass. Not bloated but tight, clean with a slight punch. I am not a bass head and this addition is just quite right for me in the case of KC2. Of course bass heavy IEM will effect more in the area too and that might be too much for me.



Conclusively, it was satisfying to have a bit more of lows here specially if your IEM sound clinical or dry.



MIDS:



In this case, I used my keyboards for it was more discernible. I used piano acoustic sounds as my ears are trained to hear the nuances of piano acoustic as it is my main instrument. I used KEYSCAPE plug in here for it offers a very accurate simulation of piano acoustics. Obsidian offered natural and forward mids here. Lushful and rich. Really really nice and desirable for me. It is best to test this on orchestral tracks and non-vocal tracks.



Conclusively, mids are the star of the show here.



HIGHS:



Again, I used the method mentioned above to hear what Obsidian does to sound. As for the highs, it tames this section. Yet maintaining openness and airiness and details. This will be suited to bright sounding IEMs if treble is piercing and harsh.



Conclusively as a treble sensitive, this falls to my perspective. KC2 has a treble roll off so you must be thinking where would be the trebles here. Don’t worry, Obsidian’s effect on the treble is so subtle. It is so subtle that I noticed it when playing alone with my piano sounds.



SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:



I did not notice any significant difference in this area for Obsidian. It remained the same compared to stock cable of KC2. If you have sharper ears, maybe you can discern this one for me.



SOURCES AND GEARS:

• LG V30 hifi dac (high impedance mode)
• Hiby Music player
• UAPP app (USB Audio Player Pro)
• BQEYZ KC2
• Yamaha MOXF6
• Korg Kross generation 1
• KEYSCAPE plug in via Ableton Live

VERDICT:

Obsidian is definitely a recommended accessory for me. The price tag won’t hurt those who are on the budget, and get these benefits on sound. With exceptional craftmanship similar to instrument cables, this one is a no-brainer. It is a must have for anyone who enjoys music and wants to take it to another level. I have not yet tested enough cables to be called a cable guy but this one did a mark on me.



Thanks, and appreciation to TACables for letting us experience Obsidian. It is my pleasure to review this one as my first cable impression.