[EffectAudio]

Thank you for the recommendation, i'll try to scout some thor ll+. Hopefully i can find some, if not i'll probably stick the the regular silver thor ll.

If you are scouting for cables you can also keep a look out for Ares II 8w or Eros II 8w. With Eros II it is essential that it is 8w if not you will effectively cut out the lower mids

 

[deafenears]

O

If you are scouting for cables you can also keep a look out for Ares II 8w or Eros II 8w

Oh, is EA still selling the Ares, Eros, and Thor?

I had a look on the EA website recently and didn't find any of those so thought they were phased out.

 

[EffectAudio]

O

Oh, is EA still selling the Ares, Eros, and Thor?

I had a look on the EA website recently and didn't find any of those so thought they were phased out.

Yes they're indeed being phased out, although we still have some in stock. But in this case I got the impression @NickleCo was scouting for second hand cables anyways

 

[feverfive]

@EffectAudio Is the black ConX hardware available for any cable (can it be requested when ordering), or is it only for bespoke builds?

 

[NickleCo]

Yes they're indeed being phased out, although we still have some in stock. But in this case I got the impression @NickleCo was scouting for second hand cables anyways

yeah... Asked my local store and they said they only have regular thor 2 lol, 2+ was rare enough on release and now that it's being phased out became more of a unicorn .

 

[NickleCo]

@EffectAudio any recommendations from the current line ups? ConX seems like a worthy trade off for the holographicness.

 

[14christ]

@EffectAudio any recommendations from the current line ups? ConX seems like a worthy trade off for the holographicness.

So the ConX takes away from the holographic nature of the cable?

 

[twister6]

So the ConX takes away from the holographic nature of the cable?

No, it doesn't. It's a low impedance connector, should be quite transparent.

 

[EffectAudio]

@EffectAudio Is the black ConX hardware available for any cable (can it be requested when ordering), or is it only for bespoke builds?

Yep can be requested when ordering.

So the ConX takes away from the holographic nature of the cable?

He was indeed referring to the type of cable, ConX does not affect the sound

 

[EffectAudio]

@EffectAudio any recommendations from the current line ups? ConX seems like a worthy trade off for the holographicness.

Well, personally I quite enjoy EVO10. EVO10 also has a unique sort of melodious tonality like I described for Centurion, except it has a smoother treble so it is more midrange-oriented. If Centurion is the A18t in cable form, you can say EVO10 is the A6t. Or the EarSonics EM10, but I doubt many have heard it. Performance-wise it's a bit lower than the silvers, but I'm also a sucker for tone.

If you're looking for performance and staging Leonidas II offers energy and detail, while retaining a full-bodied sound.

-Nic

 

[Gavin C4]

Hi guys, here are my impressions of Centurion. Of course, I am an employee of EA, but I am still a reviewer at heart. So for what it’s worth I still uphold my own set of morals when it comes to writing. But yeah, take it for what you will and some skepticism is always healthy in this hobby

-Nic

Centurion

Centurion is a high-performance cable that delivers top-tier resolution and staging. While its stage is above average expansive in all directions, it perhaps mostly impresses due to the stability of its black background, resulting from its high resolution. The contrast of high-definition notes set against the backdrop of a black background accentuates the three-dimensional feel of the stage, while putting a spotlight on minor details.

Even so, I can keep this relatively short because when it comes to technical ability, it simply delivers as you would at the very least expect, or even hope it, to. In my opinion, Code 51 already set a high standard when it comes to resolution and transparency. Centurion does not provide a substantial improvement over it, other than that its three-dimensional stage edges just a step further outwards than that of Code 51.

Besides performance however, its second distinguishing feature is its tone. Accurately conveying it is somewhat challenging. Simply put, Centurion’s tonality is characterized by a lift in (upper) mid and treble energy.

Increasing this range is commonly associated with a brighter, more clarity-oriented signature, that can sound a bit dry and lacking in naturalness (just think of IEMs like the DN-2000j or Katana for instance). However, there are IEMs that are equally tuned with a lift in the upper mids and higher frequencies that maintain a more melodious or at least realistic tone (for example the A18t, Flamenco, or even Focal Utopia) – albeit in a different way than the ‘classic’ lightly warm version of natural.

For this same reason, I also used to read varying different descriptions of the A18t, with some referring it to as ‘natural’ and others as ‘bright’ – while it can perhaps best be described as a synergy between the two. This marriage of constructs is how I would characterize Centurion’s signature. It has a more vivid upper mid to lower treble range, but it’s a more enjoyable, natural energy, than the more common ‘neutral’ or even ‘sterile’ brightness.

However, it is important to mention that I listen with the AK Ultima SP1000 Copper, which inherently has a warm and natural tonality. It therefore synergizes excellently. With brighter DAPs Centurion’s brightness and tonality will of course vary.

That being said, I also found it to pair excellently with the OG LPG. The LPG is brighter than the AK. It actually has a more similar signature to Centurion itself, which can be described as a 'lively clarity'. Despite that the LPG has a touch of brightness in its signature, the Centurion did not brighten the treble, but rather give the higher frequencies a more enjoyable tone. Compared to the AK the pairing is more clarity-oriented and forward, but its livelier presentation matches the AK in engagement. In fact, I regret only trying it last night when I was testing it for the review.



Horus Octa
Such nuances on tonality in higher frequencies return when comparing Centurion and Horus/Octa. They share a similar signature in the sense that both provide a slight increase in the upper mid to lower treble range. In addition, their bass response is more or less similar in terms of quantity and impact. For Horus, this results in a neutral midrange, with a clarity-oriented but smooth tone and a subtle touch of sparkle.

But while Centurion delivers similar clarity to Horus, it differentiates itself with a more melodious tone. If you can consider a neutral, clear tone as being ‘white’, think of Centurion’s tonality as a more glowing, softer yellow. It has more color so to speak, truer to the recording. It’s the type of signature that gives an almost euphoric touch to electronic melodies in pop or electronica (which is also why the A18 remains my favorite IEM for those genres, as it shares this characteristic).

But Centurion equally provides a more musical touch in the way instrumental or band-based music is conveyed. For instance, there's still warmth and naturalness in the deep voice of Leonard Cohen. At the same time, the violin and acoustic guitars in the background sound more vibrant, as if they're lighting up the melancholy of Leonard's lyrics; providing a more positive undertone to his solemn message.

Horus-X
Horus-X’ tonality is more similar to that of Centurion, bridging between Horus Octa and Centurion. It equally provides a more vibrant, colorful variation of clarity. Although a subtle nuance, I would say the transition in tonality between midrange and treble is more coherent in Centurion.

One of the reasons I personally love to listen to electronica for testing is because differences in resolution provide more dramatic effects. A well-crafted song usually contains such complexity in melody- and bass-lines that some are easily overlooked, even with highly familiar tracks.

When I'm listening to Horus X I am already actively enjoying listening to such high definition, that your brain does not think it's possible to go higher – it can't see its own blind spot, that what you're not hearing. Yet when I switch to Centurion the image is so much clearer it changes the way I am experiencing a track. I hear extra lines or reverberations, while the increased depth perception results in a more holographic feel.

Of course, differences in resolution are subtle and their perception differs dramatically between listeners (which I think largely contributes to why the effect of cables differs per individual and is therefore heavily debated). So your mileage can, and most likely will, vary.

Code 51
Where it becomes really interesting is how Centurion compares to Code 51 – which remains impressive in its own right. Code 51 equally combines a high-resolution sound with its own unique and differentiating tone.

Code 51 is characterized by an uncolored signature that seems to bring you eerily close to the original studio recording. Where Code 51 has a refined yet understated tonality, Centurion adds a touch of energy and color to its signature, resulting in a more euphoric sound. So, where Code 51 seeks an objective truth, Centurion adds a touch of melodic energy: its aim is more oriented at amplifying the beauty of the music.

When it comes to performance both cables offer top-tier levels in resolution and transparency, but differ in their detail retrieval. For starters, Centurion’s tonality is a bit more lively compared to the more organic neutral signature of Code 51. In addition, Centurion adds a little bit more weight to its treble notes and depth in its bass, resulting in a slightly fuller sound. Due to the added body of the treble notes and their enhanced clarity, microdetails are highlighted more explicitly; they gain in presence so to speak.

However, the fuller sound of Centurion equally works in Code 51’s favor. Due to the slightly leaner notes there is bit more space between instruments, resulting in an airier stage and therefore cleaner separation. So, where Centurion comes at you full-on with a more engaging presentation, Code 51 takes a slight step back giving its instruments a bit more room to breathe. When going back in forth between the two it is therefore not so much a case of which is more detailed, but how minor details are reproduced.



Pairings

My most common IEMs for testing are Zeus-XIV and the original Soundwriter. I consider both more or less dead neutral in tone (the IEMs themselves, without stock cable), which therefore excellently serve as a blank canvas to be colored on (more or less similar examples are the VE8 or ES80). This category of IEMs will best demonstrate Centurion’s distinguishing tone: the ‘musical’ lift in the upper mids and treble resulting in its melodic signature. In addition, Centurion’s resolution and staging is more noticeable with such technically capable IEMs.

One of my personal favorites was with the Phantom. The Phantom has a warm and natural signature, which has been criticized by some that don't appreciate it as too dull or laid-back. When paired with Centurion you get a beautiful tone but with a livelier, more transparent signature. Vocals are still conveyed with its characteristic warmth, but the overall sound is livelier and more sparkly, combining naturalness with energy. A similar result was achieved with the SE 5-Way, also a warmer IEM.

Another last moment discovery was the pairing with Maestro V2, which I admittedly tend to ignore most of the time. But this pairing walks right on the very fine line of being precisely neither warm, nor lacking in warmth. Its tonality sits between the more neutral IEMs as Zeus-XIV and the warmer IEMs like the Phantom. As a result, I find it one of the better executions of what I would describe as 'musically neutral'. Its resolution might be a touch lower than the aforementioned neutral IEMs, but it is smoother and tonally right on the money, making it a highly enjoyable listen.

With the UE 18+ Pro I couldn't make up my mind whether if was a good match or not. Pairing with Centurion strips away the very light warmth from which it normally derives its naturalness. But where the Maestro V2 finds the right balance, this pairing tips it towards neutral with brighter elements. It isn’t bad per se, just not as natural. On the other hand, the brighter signature does sound good – just different.

This was even more pronounced in the Prelude. Although an unlikely pairing, I tested the combination out of curiosity since it is probably the warmest IEM I have. It turned out to be an unlucky match, because warmth is such an essential aspect of the Prelude’s distinctive (natural) tonality. When paired with Centurion it therefore deviates too much from its essence: the warmth is replaced by a livelier, brighter energy which sounds alright, just not in the spirit of its design.

For electronic-based music like pop or EDM the A18t pairs excellently, displaying a simply wonderful synergy. In fact, this has probably been my most listened to combination. As previously mentioned, their two signatures are somewhat similar. Yet when combined they build on each other to bring out their best. The A18t is even more vibrant and highly resolved, bringing out minor details with simplistic ease.

Another interesting pairing (especially) for these genres is Odin, although I have mixed feelings about it. Odin’s tight and impactful dynamic bass is one of the most engaging bass I have heard. However, Odin combines a prominent lower and upper treble peak, where the raised upper treble brightens the lower treble peak. As a result, the treble tuning doesn't always agree with me on occasional tracks.

In the (excellent) Twister6 review of Centurion, Alex mentioned he preferred the stock pairing over Centurion. Personally, I find Odin’s tonality a bit too neutral-bright for my taste with the stock pairing. For me Centurion adds a more melodic and colorful tone to the upper mids, making it a more musical signature. Evidently, this depends on preference. Centurion doesn’t smooth out the lower treble, but I regard it as more inherent to Odin than the pairing.



Concluding thoughts

Since I am employed by Effect Audio, I can’t make any statements about value. Obviously, Centurion is a highly expensive piece of equipment. I can only judge Centurion’s performance relative to EA’s preceding flagships. Centurion’s latest design distinguishes itself by its gold-plated silver-gold alloy wiring. The ensuing sound is a lively signature set against a black background, resulting in a highly resolved and engaging sound.

Where raising the upper mid and treble energy in silver-alloy cables often translates to a neutral-to-bright tone, Centurion displays an elegant combination of enhanced clarity yet in a melodic and, dare I say, ‘musical’, tone. For me, its added value therefore lies in this combination: top-tier performance with, what I consider, a beautiful tonality.

Saw this great impression from EA, I immediately went through my van nuys box and took out the Zeus-XR to try out the pairing. I was astonished by the results. And I am really digging the black and gold color matching.

 

[EffectAudio]

Saw this great impression from EA, I immediately went through my van nuys box and took out the Zeus-XR to try out the pairing. I was astonished by the results. And I am really digging the black and gold color matching.

Nice man, you have the Black! Guess you have an even fancier version than I have

I'm thinking that black would have paired pretty nicely with my XR

 

[twister6]

Saw this great impression from EA, I immediately went through my van nuys box and took out the Zeus-XR to try out the pairing. I was astonished by the results. And I am really digging the black and gold color matching.

I know you mentioned about waiting for EE Legend EVO to pair up with Centurion, and... so far it is the best cable pair up with EVO I heard

 

[riverground]

I know you mentioned about waiting for EE Legend EVO to pair up with Centurion, and... so far it is the best cable pair up with EVO I heard

Everyone’s wallet

 

[Gavin C4]

I know you mentioned about waiting for EE Legend EVO to pair up with Centurion, and... so far it is the best cable pair up with EVO I heard

Really look forward to your impression of the EVO and EA pairing.