The GranVia aftermarket full-size headphone cable by Tripowin
Redcarmoose Labs May 15th, 2025
The Ghost full-size headphone above.
The GranVia is a cable that you may purchase if the cable that came with your headphones broke. The GranVia could also be a cable that you get to explore a new and different sound from your standard manufacturer provided cable. I say this as the Tripowin GranVia has a larger stage than the cable that came with the Kiwi ears Ellipse full-size headphone. The GranVia sounded better to my ears than the included cable that came with the $349.00 Kiwi ears Atheia full-size headphone. Why?
Oxygen Free Copper with a Litz Arrangement
26AWG 36 Strands and 4 Core
This GranVia has an ergonomic feel that coils up into a relatively small coil, plus it is the opposite of those springy out of control cables that mess up your desk. I have had the GranVia for well over a month and it never frays, even a little bit. Meaning it looks and feels exactly like when it came. I’m paranoid about fraying with black cloth cover cables as a few of my fabric IEM cables have frayed just a little. Plus you can buy the GranVia typically for $49.00 which makes it a value priced cable, especially for what it does.
Tripowin GranVia
$49.00 as ordered
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tripowin-granvia
What does it do?
The GranVia can come in 3.5mm, 2.5mm balanced, 4.4mm balanced and finally 4 Pin XLR. As such it can connect your headphones to a few sources maybe not available with your included cable that came with your headphones?
Also it can come in 3 colors and a range of lengths. Just so you know 2 meters is over 6 and a half feet in length! Such a cable can come with your choice of headphone connections. They make the GranVia for the Sennheiser HD650, HD580 and HD800. It fits the HIFIMAN Ananda and many more.
And............4Pin XLR Balanced if desired!
I ordered the Tripowin GranVia as a requested review sample, so I didn’t pay for it. The way I got this idea for the cable was I was reviewing the Kiwi ears Ellipse full-size headphone and Linsoul was doing package deals to where they were selling the set of Ellipse and GranVia together. I thought they looked well together and asked for a review sample.
So again what’s it do?
After comparing it to the Thieaudio Ghost included cable, Ellipse included cable, the Kiwi ears Atheia included, and the two Sony MDR-Z1R and MDR-Z7 headphone cables I would say it darkens the sound a little. But what comes with that tone-down is a wonderful smooth pace and thickness of note-weight. It is this bigger girth in stage that procures larger imaging. This size difference is unarguable. And the thing is, I’m doing what I never do……..and that is generalizing that the GranVia does the same to every headphone. Now sure there are differences in sound, only the GranVia seems to go with every headphone I tried?
This would regularly be questionable:
Meaning my darkest headphone is the MDR-Z7, then combined with the very darkest amplifier I have which is the Sony TA-ZH1ES. With the TA priced at $2199.99, you would think it would come with EQ, but it does not. So whatever tone it is, it is. I don’t use EQ, so it’s fine! But my point is just like regular OFC aftermarket cables the GranVia adds stage size in every direction, it adds density to instruments, there is this thickness that seems to create more detail due to size, only in comparison to the regularly included headphone cable…………that after you have really become acclimated to the GranVia sound, the included cables come-off both thin and less dramatic sounding. Even the Thieaudio Ghost was the very best I had ever heard from the TA-ZH1ES. This is the kind-of phenomena where you can’t go back, and change-up the tone like many of the IEM cables I’ve tried. Meaning once you heard the Ghost sound this way, there is no other way you would have it be.
The Thieaudio Ghost and GranVia with Sony TA amplifier:
Look, the Ghost is a fairly neutral headphone. This means we can expect good results with a number of tone outputs found at our disposal. And that question of being too dark or not detailed enough is not something that can be discovered in 5 minutes. The way the mind works is it is thrilled by a new sound discovery, only to at times become bored after 40 minutes of listening. This is because somehow the mind is looking for more detail, and typically that detail is found with brighter (maybe silver) added cables. Now remember that this is the smoothest amplifier I have. Does it sound relaxing? You bet your sweet behind it is. Only I’m placing this mini Ghost review at the start of this cable review only because it had me start to ask questions. You see the Ellipse and Ghost are pretty much tuned the same. Yet the Eclipse came out in 2025 and the Ghost in 2023. The Ellipse has a 50mm Driver and the Ghost a 40mm driver, yet for the most part they really are tuned the same. And I was fine stating that in my Ellipse review about the Ghost headphone. Only I never tried the GranVia with the Ghost till I was preparing for this review you are reading. Yep, the GranVia made the Ghost special, and more than special it added this note-weight and stage girth that was simply enjoyable. It is this subtle extra dimensions of upper midrange that seem to blend yet fall-out farther to the sides. The tone of the violin, the smoothness that is newly found. Now I’m not sure if the Ghost is even available anymore, but while extra smooth here, it is fun and totally interesting in sound.
The Kiwi ears Ellipse and GranVia with Sony TA amplifier:
Interestingly enough the Ellipse is slightly more efficient than the Ghost, and slightly more forward and holding more contrasts and slightly more details, but that detail is still fully glistening in the amber light of the GranVia and TA amplifier. You would think this 50mm driver would have more bass than the Ghost 40mm, but it is really the opposite here. In fact due to now using the Ghost with the GranVia, the output is noticeably different than the Ellipse making the Ghost slightly more sleepy and that makes sense. You see in the Ellipse review I was not using the GranVia to compare the two headphones. Many have already purchased the Ellipse and I would probably recommend it over the Ghost but we are splitting hairs. And especially if you already own the Ghost, probably trying it with the GranVia would be my recommended step forward and not getting the Ellipse, due to both being close to the same tone. Still, this hobby is a study in small differences and the question of finding value inside of those differences found. Let me just put that out there!
The Kiwi ears Atheia and TA amplifier.
I know this is a cable review, only when you start switching headphones on your head you have no choice but to report on the differences in sound between them, right?
OK, so the Ghost and Ellipse offer a medium big stage, and it is crazy here as we have a full-size closed-back (the Atheia) beating the open back Ellipse and Ghost in staging! Yep, that is how it goes maybe if you place a 14.5mm Planar and 50mm. Now the most crazy part of this is the cups seem to hold all this stage inside. I mean common sense says that if the stage is big that maybe the headphone is semi-open or something, breathing anyways……..right? This semi-open sound (inside) is perfect in that the Atheia doesn't leak sound outside. And due to the shape/size and quietness......perfect for laying horizontal and not disturbing your significant other!
Anyway, to cut to the chase here, the TA and Atheia are nothing short of a miracle with the GranVia. And it is not that the included cable that came with the Atheia is bad, it is just it came with only 3.5mm, and the tone is quite noticeably thinner, holding less stage and less note-weight.
What about a DAP?
Yep, this is how I use the GranVia the most hooked 4.4mm to a DAP with the Atheia full-size Headphone. Probably you would guess it would not get loud enough, but it does..............at times I'm only at 78 clicks out of a possible 120 clicks, with an average at about 90 clicks.
I could go on and on now.
Meaning this is really the money here. That while there is still a taste of 14.5mm Planar tone, that is kinda the water we swim in. Sure this headphone is colored like crazy!
SO this color is both the mid bass hump and the 2.5kHz peak. A combination that you would think needs correction. I mean here Kiwi ears made their flat Ellipse a reference mixing headphone, and you have that with both the Ghost and the Ellipse. Only those two don’t have the musicality or detail of the Kiwi ears Atheia.
And the GranVia is adding that magic, even making the stage thicker and is darker than the included cable. The crazy part is that the 4.4mm of the GranVia gets the better amplification from bigger 4.4mm capacitors in the Sony WM1A DAP. And………I will end this chapter of the review, saying I used the Sony DAP with the GranVia in all my music tests for the previous Kiwi ears Atheia review! Yep, it was that good of a combo……..that sure the TA was technically better at replay, only at times it is not technicalities you're looking for. That bass hump found in the Atheia is so large that even adding pace from the TA, does not get us out of the woods yet. So why not relish the fun with the Sony DAP? Yes, the TA stage is slightly bigger, but again tone trumps technicalities, here and always.
Included Ellipse cable visual comparison!
Conclusion:
Best word to describe the GranVia would be organic. That you hook the GranVia between your source and headphone and it replays a natural and pure tone. Though once put in-place the tone could maybe be unexpected and slightly darker than you guessed at first. Sure the details are there, just not clinical in sound, or thin in sound. Yep the GranVia thickness up the whole party, there is no denying that. This cable is for the regular user who just needs a new cable, or for the user who wants a darker idea of replay to gain longer listening times, or higher volumes obtained from their full-size headphones. Truly I didn’t know what to expect when I asked for it, and I was slightly surprised when I first heard it. But just as many things are in audio that while my first impressions were different than my audiophile imagination said they would be, I came to an understanding. And within that understanding I started to find details and provocative realities of splendid tones that seemingly arrived out of the woodwork. That while in my full-size cable collection the GranVia is not the best cable in my collection of few cables, no. The $374.03 Sony Kimber MUC-B20SB1 aftermarket cable seemed to provide the GranVia deep stage and then promote the included cables front and center detail, becoming the best of both worlds.
Sony Flagship MDR-Z1R above
Sony past Flagship MDR-Z7 above
Though a word of warning the Sony Kimber MUC-B20SB1 aftermarket cable didn’t work with the Kiwi ears Ellipse, as I could hear grounding noise when a ground was added in both cups, but no actual amplifier music?
These cable sound ideas were discovered by trading the GranVia in turn for the Kimber MUC-B20SB1 in use with the Sony MDR-Z1R and MDR-Z7. And of course I used every manufacturer included cable with there designated headphone (in today’s testing) and compared it to using the GranVia instead. After an afternoon of hearing the GranVia in place it was hard to judge the included cables as better as 100% of the time the sound was thinner and the stage was less. So to try and summarize this, yes the GranVia provides a service for the money asked and can be a great aftermarket cable, except you do get what you pay for at times when compared to more expensive options.
Still the GranVia I find myself using a lot, and finding I just love the economics, becoming the most comfortable cable I own. Not only that but due to the MUC-B20SB1 having locking 3.5mm connection screw-downs, and the Atheia being recessed cup cable mounts..........the 3.5mm plugs with the Sony Kimber MUC-B20SB1 simply didn’t fit in. 
Though I did try the Kimber cable with the Ghost and it worked, offering a way thinner (less bass) and more detailed attainment that was cool. Though I missed the deep bass that the GranVia did. It seems Sony was attempting to retune the Z7 and Z1R with this clarity and recessed bass with the Kimber MUC-B20SB1, and now knowing that, I can honestly say the GranVia is a great and different cable added to my collection as there is no cable quite like it!
GranVia cable as ordered $49.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tripowin-granvia
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Linsoul/page/FE950F91-E513-4749-B3ED-D1482BA9DD15
Disclaimer:
The Tripowin GranVia cable has had a total of 10 days of burn-in.
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kaitlyn of Linsoul for the GranVia cable review samples.
Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm
TRIPOWIN GranVia cable in 4.4mm balanced
Packaging:
