RefleXicammie
New Head-Fier
Review: Arctic Cables: Cuprum & Magnus:
After ~350 hours burn in, the cryogenically treated 8 X 26 Awg 7N OCC copper Cuprum,
sounds like a knife cutting through hot butter. Everything Ooozes like it's a smooth creamy liquid
with increased 3D texture & layering. This is where I noticed that increased layering decreases harshness
since each individual sound occupies a different space in the 3D shape within the 3D soundstage, in contrast
to how an intercom at school sounds horrible because all the sounds seem be smooshed into one flattened space.
With Cuprum, sheets of synthesized swooshes, now shred effortlessly through the entire soundstage, with
a 3 dimensional texture & shape, I had never experienced before listening to music up until this point.
In contrast, after 40 hours of burn in, the cryogenically treated 4 X 18 Awg 7N OCC copper Magnus,
has, at least a 15% larger stage than Cuprum, if not more. It might not feel that much bigger, since the
entire image is slightly bigger, presumably due to the roughly 3X the copper that Magnus has over Cuprum.
Although Cuprum may have changed my life a bit, since I had never experienced music before in this way before,
Magnus kinda makes Cuprum feel like an IEM cable in comparison. Magnus is definitely more holographic than Cuprum.
Even with no burn in, I could easily tell, side by side, Magnus gives a bit more shape & texture to sounds than Cuprum.
Also, due to it's larger image, Magnus also seems to have a tad bit more resolution than Cuprum.
And Cuprum's resolution / sound separation, was such an improvement over Audeze's stock cable,
that I doubt that an LCD-XF with it's stock cable, would outperform an LCD-2F with Cuprum Or Magnus.
Regardless of whether this is absurd or not, I still feel like my drivers were being neutered by Audeze's stock cable.
Even if one strapped the $599 Audeze Premium cable on the Audeze LCD-XF, I don't think it would outperform
an Audeze LCD-2F with Magnus. I don't think it would be clear which was the more expensive headphone
in a blind test, under these conditions.
Given that most youtube reviewers seem luke warm to dead cold on cables, as a novice audiophile,
I was quite shocked by how much of an improvement, Cuprum & Magnus, were, over my stock cable.
Was I hallucinating this seemingly enormous difference? Was it a matter of what music I/they listen to?
Scientifically it makes sense that crystalline structures that are more orderly will produce clearer sound
reproduction, since we already know this to be true for casting bells. The more ordely the crystalline
structure of the bell, the more resonant the bell sounds. Despite the clear, holographic picture,
7N grade cables can create with the appropriate headphones, this may matter significantly more
to people that listen to very geometrical music, such as, Autechre, Matmos, Richard Devine,
Aphex Twin, Phoenecia, Qebrus, BOC, Squarepusher, Etc.
I question whether the original artists have even heard their own music in this way. This technology,
as far as I know, is pretty new. I'm not sure any cable manufactuer has even attempted a headphone
cable with as much 'metal' as Magnus. Before Magnus, Cuprum was likely the best 'bang for your buck'
cable on the market starting at $250. But now Magnus, for only $50 more, with more than 3X the copper,
is the best 'bang for your buck' cable on the market by a long shot. It's also the most beautiful cable I have ever
layed my eyes on. I'm not sure why anyone would take Cuprum over Magnus, since they're the same grade copper.
In conclusion, both these cables have significantly enhanced my listening experience. I feel like I am listening to
my entire catalog for the very first time. For this review, I have obviouslly been using an Audeze LCD-2F. I have also
been using an iFI Micro iDSD Signature. I generally always have the 3D+ & X Bass switches ON. I love the feeling like
sounds are being suspended out in front of me. I do not consider myself an Audiophile, but more of an Autechrephile.
An Autechrephile is basically an Audiophile that thinks of synthesizer music as an extension of the audio technology itself. Fittingly, Autechre Live might very well be 'Peak Sound Design', and this new line of 18 Awg cables from
Arctic Cables, might very well be 'Peak Cable Design'. I mean, I care more about my Magnus than I do about
my headphones. I feel like my headphones can be replaced. My Magnus can only be replaced as long as
Arctic Cables exists. This might sound irrational but I no longer dream of what an Audeze LCD-4 sounds like,
I wonder what it would sound like with a cryogenically treated 7N OCC 4 x 18 Awg cable attached.
After ~350 hours burn in, the cryogenically treated 8 X 26 Awg 7N OCC copper Cuprum,
sounds like a knife cutting through hot butter. Everything Ooozes like it's a smooth creamy liquid
with increased 3D texture & layering. This is where I noticed that increased layering decreases harshness
since each individual sound occupies a different space in the 3D shape within the 3D soundstage, in contrast
to how an intercom at school sounds horrible because all the sounds seem be smooshed into one flattened space.
With Cuprum, sheets of synthesized swooshes, now shred effortlessly through the entire soundstage, with
a 3 dimensional texture & shape, I had never experienced before listening to music up until this point.
In contrast, after 40 hours of burn in, the cryogenically treated 4 X 18 Awg 7N OCC copper Magnus,
has, at least a 15% larger stage than Cuprum, if not more. It might not feel that much bigger, since the
entire image is slightly bigger, presumably due to the roughly 3X the copper that Magnus has over Cuprum.
Although Cuprum may have changed my life a bit, since I had never experienced music before in this way before,
Magnus kinda makes Cuprum feel like an IEM cable in comparison. Magnus is definitely more holographic than Cuprum.
Even with no burn in, I could easily tell, side by side, Magnus gives a bit more shape & texture to sounds than Cuprum.
Also, due to it's larger image, Magnus also seems to have a tad bit more resolution than Cuprum.
And Cuprum's resolution / sound separation, was such an improvement over Audeze's stock cable,
that I doubt that an LCD-XF with it's stock cable, would outperform an LCD-2F with Cuprum Or Magnus.
Regardless of whether this is absurd or not, I still feel like my drivers were being neutered by Audeze's stock cable.
Even if one strapped the $599 Audeze Premium cable on the Audeze LCD-XF, I don't think it would outperform
an Audeze LCD-2F with Magnus. I don't think it would be clear which was the more expensive headphone
in a blind test, under these conditions.
Given that most youtube reviewers seem luke warm to dead cold on cables, as a novice audiophile,
I was quite shocked by how much of an improvement, Cuprum & Magnus, were, over my stock cable.
Was I hallucinating this seemingly enormous difference? Was it a matter of what music I/they listen to?
Scientifically it makes sense that crystalline structures that are more orderly will produce clearer sound
reproduction, since we already know this to be true for casting bells. The more ordely the crystalline
structure of the bell, the more resonant the bell sounds. Despite the clear, holographic picture,
7N grade cables can create with the appropriate headphones, this may matter significantly more
to people that listen to very geometrical music, such as, Autechre, Matmos, Richard Devine,
Aphex Twin, Phoenecia, Qebrus, BOC, Squarepusher, Etc.
I question whether the original artists have even heard their own music in this way. This technology,
as far as I know, is pretty new. I'm not sure any cable manufactuer has even attempted a headphone
cable with as much 'metal' as Magnus. Before Magnus, Cuprum was likely the best 'bang for your buck'
cable on the market starting at $250. But now Magnus, for only $50 more, with more than 3X the copper,
is the best 'bang for your buck' cable on the market by a long shot. It's also the most beautiful cable I have ever
layed my eyes on. I'm not sure why anyone would take Cuprum over Magnus, since they're the same grade copper.
In conclusion, both these cables have significantly enhanced my listening experience. I feel like I am listening to
my entire catalog for the very first time. For this review, I have obviouslly been using an Audeze LCD-2F. I have also
been using an iFI Micro iDSD Signature. I generally always have the 3D+ & X Bass switches ON. I love the feeling like
sounds are being suspended out in front of me. I do not consider myself an Audiophile, but more of an Autechrephile.
An Autechrephile is basically an Audiophile that thinks of synthesizer music as an extension of the audio technology itself. Fittingly, Autechre Live might very well be 'Peak Sound Design', and this new line of 18 Awg cables from
Arctic Cables, might very well be 'Peak Cable Design'. I mean, I care more about my Magnus than I do about
my headphones. I feel like my headphones can be replaced. My Magnus can only be replaced as long as
Arctic Cables exists. This might sound irrational but I no longer dream of what an Audeze LCD-4 sounds like,
I wonder what it would sound like with a cryogenically treated 7N OCC 4 x 18 Awg cable attached.
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