kimlachum
New Head-Fier
Here you are. Topping DX9 + EA Root + VE10. I’m here, patiencely waiting for someone drop both Root and Beyond.
Effect Audio cables thread
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I had the pleasure recently to test out Effect Audio's Signature Series II cables, many thanks to Effect Audio for the kit, and as ever to @Damz87 for organising these amazing tours!
Just a quick note on cables. To me, it's probably one of the last things to consider when upgrading the entire audio chain; differences that I perceive between cables are very subtle, but I do hear them. For some people these differences are not worth the effort, and I understand that. But for the most obsessive of audiophiles, it can definitely be worth the spend to eke out the last few percent of performance from an IEM with a cable upgrade.
From a hardware point of view, each of these cables are very well made, with excellent 4.4mm jacks and Effect Audio's ConX system of interchangeable IEM connectors. Both the all-copper Ares S II and silver-plated copper Cadmus II feel similar to the touch with a smooth plastic jacket over the wires; they appear to have the same weave, and seem in every respect identical except for the wire material. Eros S II differs both with the material used, and the feel of the cable itself. Eros S II is a hybrid cable using pure copper, pure silver, and silver-copper alloy wires, and it also has a dark grey jacket hiding the wire itself, with a more grippy, tactile feel to it.
First up, I tested out these cables with the Hidizs MP145 ($199) as it's planar driver is pretty good at teasing out the subtle differences between cables, and responds well to cable rolling. MP145 is also at a place in the market where hobbyists interested in cable rolling might start experimenting with upgrade cables like the Effect Signature Series II.
MP145 Stock
Bass digs deep, stage is decent sized, more notably tall and deep than wide. Upper mids & treble are ok, but detail gets a little lost in busier sections. MP145 with its stock cable feels slightly sibilant and harsh by comparison to any of the Signature II cables.
Ares S II ($199)
This is a notable upgrade from MP145 stock. Bass is still deep, but stage width is better. Upper mid details are more clearly defined and any of the hints of sibilance or harshness I picked up with the stock cable are gone.
Cadmus II ($249)
Cadmus II brings out more forward, brighter upper mids than Ares S II, without being harsh or anything; but this offsets bass impact a little. This is overall a cleaner sound than Ares S II with a blacker background. Stage is a bit wider than Ares S II or Eros S II for that matter, so if that's what you are going for, then Cadmus II would be a good choice.
Eros S II ($299)
Eros S II is thicker and deeper than Cadmus II or Ares S II. Upper mids don't quite as "aggressively" forward as Cadmus II, but just as nicely detailed. This is the most balanced & refined sound of any of these and for me I'd go straight for this cable, the extra $50 or $100 is definitely worth it.
Micro details in Thom Yorke's "Not The News" are best heard with Eros S II.
I also had the ISN H60($349) on hand from another tour, and I really don't like it's stock cable, so I thought made it a for a good candidate to test out with these cables
ISN H60 stock
I hear good strong sub-bass, upper frequencies are also pushed forward, but have a very slight etchy-ness to them. My biggest complaint with this IEM with its stock cable is that it is lacking coherence between the dynamic drivers down low and BA drivers up high.
Ares S II
This is a neater, tighter presentation; bass is still deep and rich, but has better texture. Upper frequencies are tamed slightly, which has the effect of improving coherence.
Cadmus II
Tighter and more controlled than stock, much like Ares S II. I hear a little less bass focus, more emphasis up high. But that again improves coherence, just with a skew towards a different segment of the FR. Gotta say, I really like this pairing with a track like Juanita Stein’s “Mother Natures Scorn”
Eros S II
Once again this feels like a ‘best of both worlds’ from Ares S II and Cadmus II; you get the bass impact of the former, with better details in the upper mids and treble. I think stage width is similar to Cadmus II, but perception of depth improves for a larger, “grander” overall sound image. For a track like Axel Boman’s “Acid Left And Right”, this works beautifully well..
Eletech Aristotle ($749)
While i wouldn’t necessarily recommend anyone spend $749 on a cable to pair with a $349 IEM, I have the Aristotle anyway, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to compare. This cable takes pretty much everything Eros S II does with the H60 and elevates it even further. Bass is wonderfully deep and rich with excellent details, upper frequencies are forward with a well-defined tightness, and a dark blackness behind the notes that really makes the music pop out of the background better than any of the above cables.
To conclude, I will say that perhaps this is a good example of diminishing returns in the hobby, comparing a $749 cable to the $299 Eros S II. But hearing them side-by-side, as I mentioned in the intro, I do hear differences, and it's really down to the individual as to how much those differences are worth paying for.
For anyone looking at an upgrade over the stock cable that came with your IEM, and who doesn't want to break the bank, the Effect Signature Series II cables should be at the top of your list to check out!
Just a quick note on cables. To me, it's probably one of the last things to consider when upgrading the entire audio chain; differences that I perceive between cables are very subtle, but I do hear them. For some people these differences are not worth the effort, and I understand that. But for the most obsessive of audiophiles, it can definitely be worth the spend to eke out the last few percent of performance from an IEM with a cable upgrade.
From a hardware point of view, each of these cables are very well made, with excellent 4.4mm jacks and Effect Audio's ConX system of interchangeable IEM connectors. Both the all-copper Ares S II and silver-plated copper Cadmus II feel similar to the touch with a smooth plastic jacket over the wires; they appear to have the same weave, and seem in every respect identical except for the wire material. Eros S II differs both with the material used, and the feel of the cable itself. Eros S II is a hybrid cable using pure copper, pure silver, and silver-copper alloy wires, and it also has a dark grey jacket hiding the wire itself, with a more grippy, tactile feel to it.
First up, I tested out these cables with the Hidizs MP145 ($199) as it's planar driver is pretty good at teasing out the subtle differences between cables, and responds well to cable rolling. MP145 is also at a place in the market where hobbyists interested in cable rolling might start experimenting with upgrade cables like the Effect Signature Series II.
MP145 Stock
Bass digs deep, stage is decent sized, more notably tall and deep than wide. Upper mids & treble are ok, but detail gets a little lost in busier sections. MP145 with its stock cable feels slightly sibilant and harsh by comparison to any of the Signature II cables.
Ares S II ($199)
This is a notable upgrade from MP145 stock. Bass is still deep, but stage width is better. Upper mid details are more clearly defined and any of the hints of sibilance or harshness I picked up with the stock cable are gone.
Cadmus II ($249)
Cadmus II brings out more forward, brighter upper mids than Ares S II, without being harsh or anything; but this offsets bass impact a little. This is overall a cleaner sound than Ares S II with a blacker background. Stage is a bit wider than Ares S II or Eros S II for that matter, so if that's what you are going for, then Cadmus II would be a good choice.
Eros S II ($299)
Eros S II is thicker and deeper than Cadmus II or Ares S II. Upper mids don't quite as "aggressively" forward as Cadmus II, but just as nicely detailed. This is the most balanced & refined sound of any of these and for me I'd go straight for this cable, the extra $50 or $100 is definitely worth it.
Micro details in Thom Yorke's "Not The News" are best heard with Eros S II.
I also had the ISN H60($349) on hand from another tour, and I really don't like it's stock cable, so I thought made it a for a good candidate to test out with these cables
ISN H60 stock
I hear good strong sub-bass, upper frequencies are also pushed forward, but have a very slight etchy-ness to them. My biggest complaint with this IEM with its stock cable is that it is lacking coherence between the dynamic drivers down low and BA drivers up high.
Ares S II
This is a neater, tighter presentation; bass is still deep and rich, but has better texture. Upper frequencies are tamed slightly, which has the effect of improving coherence.
Cadmus II
Tighter and more controlled than stock, much like Ares S II. I hear a little less bass focus, more emphasis up high. But that again improves coherence, just with a skew towards a different segment of the FR. Gotta say, I really like this pairing with a track like Juanita Stein’s “Mother Natures Scorn”
Eros S II
Once again this feels like a ‘best of both worlds’ from Ares S II and Cadmus II; you get the bass impact of the former, with better details in the upper mids and treble. I think stage width is similar to Cadmus II, but perception of depth improves for a larger, “grander” overall sound image. For a track like Axel Boman’s “Acid Left And Right”, this works beautifully well..
Eletech Aristotle ($749)
While i wouldn’t necessarily recommend anyone spend $749 on a cable to pair with a $349 IEM, I have the Aristotle anyway, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to compare. This cable takes pretty much everything Eros S II does with the H60 and elevates it even further. Bass is wonderfully deep and rich with excellent details, upper frequencies are forward with a well-defined tightness, and a dark blackness behind the notes that really makes the music pop out of the background better than any of the above cables.
To conclude, I will say that perhaps this is a good example of diminishing returns in the hobby, comparing a $749 cable to the $299 Eros S II. But hearing them side-by-side, as I mentioned in the intro, I do hear differences, and it's really down to the individual as to how much those differences are worth paying for.
For anyone looking at an upgrade over the stock cable that came with your IEM, and who doesn't want to break the bank, the Effect Signature Series II cables should be at the top of your list to check out!
Just want to share my review for Effect Audio signature series II cable: Here. Enjoy the read.
Hey guys!! I'm on my way to NYC for CanJam and I brought the badass Trinity of The Legacy Bundle (Elysian DIO + Effect Audio APEX, both prototypes) with me 
The 19hrs flight will be way more bearable now
If you guys are heading over to CanJam NYC this weekend and would like to give the bundle a try, do fill up this form
https://forms.gle/TJtrXQTiKBLFL5UH7
It's been so long since the last visit, can't wait to see everyone!
- Jordon
The 19hrs flight will be way more bearable now
If you guys are heading over to CanJam NYC this weekend and would like to give the bundle a try, do fill up this form
https://forms.gle/TJtrXQTiKBLFL5UH7
It's been so long since the last visit, can't wait to see everyone!
- Jordon
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is the cable apex? it doesn't feel like it is the flagship cableHey guys!! I'm on my way to NYC for CanJam and I brought the badass Trinity of The Legacy Bundle (Elysian DIO + Effect Audio APEX) with me
If you guys are heading over to CanJam NYC this weekend and would like to give the bundle a try, do fill up this form
https://forms.gle/TJtrXQTiKBLFL5UH7
It's been so long since the last visit, can't wait to see everyone!
- Jordon
Lim Rui EA
Sponsor: Effect Audio
Yes APEX is our exclusive flagship created specifically for the DIO. The one shown in the photo is the prototype cable (without the final hardware).
Can’t wait to have an opportunity hear that…
What about the new flagship cable? Tell us a bit more @Lim Rui EA @JordonEA
What about the new flagship cable? Tell us a bit more @Lim Rui EA @JordonEA
Charlie Norwood
Previously known as Infinity Knives
Effect makes my favorite after-market cables at an approachable price point. I have the Cadmus 8, Eros S, Ares 8, and addition Ares from multiple generations.
Just tried the the Ares S II x Cadmus II at Can Jam NYC and it’s the cable I’ve always been looking for. Great mix of warmth and bass extension from the Ares + resolution from the Cadmus. Will be picking that up when it launches later in a month or so to pair with SoftEars Twilight.
Just tried the the Ares S II x Cadmus II at Can Jam NYC and it’s the cable I’ve always been looking for. Great mix of warmth and bass extension from the Ares + resolution from the Cadmus. Will be picking that up when it launches later in a month or so to pair with SoftEars Twilight.
Frnkk
New Head-Fier
The Effective Audio Cadmus cable paired with the Sennheiser IE900 brought noticeable refinements to the sound, making it a great upgrade over the stock cable. While the IE900 already excels in bass texture, treble airiness, and dynamic contrast, the Cadmus enhances clarity and control without altering the core signature too much.
I am now a cable believer. Centurion II knocks it out of the park and love the modularity option.
Ran on Rn6
Ran on Rn6
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matze76287
100+ Head-Fier
Does anyone know why the Code 24 is sold out at EA and Musicteck? I thought only the 24C was a limited edition?!
Music2Enjoy
New Head-Fier
The Fusion 1 caught my attention right from the bat. Beautifully constructed and sound pairing with VE8 is as beautiful.
Awesome!
Awesome!
Bought the Ares S II today after trying it at Canjam. These are definitely an upgrade to the stock cables that came with the Fathom in look and comfort. Being able to switch between MMCX and 2Pin is also a plus.
The upcoming Ares Cadmus II(?) also look great.
The upcoming Ares Cadmus II(?) also look great.
ExTubeGamer
1000+ Head-Fier
If anyone in europe is interested in the now out-of-production Griffin cable. I am selling mine.
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