Effect Audio recently sent me the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition and I thought I would share some impressions here (and a few subpar pictures), as I greatly enjoy this cable. (I had the Eros S prototype over before and really liked it, so that did not come as a surprise.)
The Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition is, as I understand it, essentially the same cable as the standard version and so you can read these impressions as being the same for the regular Eros S cable. The looks of the regular version and the 1st Anniversary Edition are however very different. The 1st Anniversary Edition immediately struck me as a thicker cable due to the new classy black sleeve with golden specks. I couldn't compare directly, but Effect Audio confirmed that this is indeed the case. That does make it a fairly bulky cable, but still perfectly acceptable for me (something I will admit was unfortunately not the case with Code 23). Aside from the slight increase in thickness, the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition is a very fancy looking cable with all black parts and sleeve, and a subtle bit of sparkle from the gold specks. It is very nicely done.
Whichever version you prefer, it is all about the sound, so let's dig in with a number of pairings I tried out.
Final A8000
This is a very interesting pairing, especially for those who like the A8000's natural brightness. Paired with Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition the A8000 stay close to their stock signature with a bright sound that is now slightly warmer and smoother. It is not a huge difference, but enough to make the notes flow more organically. The bass is a bit warmer and lusher, the mids are a hint more natural and the treble is very similar with a hint of smoothness to make the A8000 more forgiving. It is not a 'night and day' difference, which is why this pairing is so interesting for people who enjoy the stock sound of the A8000.
The really big surprise however is just how insanely wide and airy the stage becomes. I don't think I have ever heard anything like it. It is absolutely huge and properly "out of the head" with a ton of air, while all the time maintaining coherence. The stock cable feels like a wall of sound by comparison.
So far, I always used the DITA Oslo cable with the A8000 and that cable is certainly good at adding to the stage, but nothing like the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition. I also find the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition more forgiving than the Oslo. Pairing with the Oslo adds more warmth to the A8000 and generally makes them sound more organic, but there is a bit of a surprise there. Thanks to that warmth the treble becomes sweeter and yet at the same time it has a certain sharpness to it that is not present with the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition. There the treble is cooler, yet smooth, which is a great indication that warmth does not always result in smoothness. I also find that the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition results in better overall clarity than the Oslo.
I have to admit that for me this doesn't yet feel like the perfect pairing with the A8000. I would personally like a bit more smoothness still and my guess is that the Chiron might fit better in that regard. However, for those who like the stock sound of the A8000 and would like to improve that the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition might well be a superb pairing.
Vision Ears VE7
The VE7 have been a huge surprise for me ever since I first heard them. The clarity of these is insanely good and the tonality is very accurate. Naturally, I am therefore quite critical when it comes to aftermarket cable pairings because I wouldn't want that clarity to be harmed, it is
that good. Happily, I can say that the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition pairs superbly with the VE7. As with the A8000, the pairing stays close to the stock sound of the VE7. The bass is again a little bit lusher, but still very well positioned. The mids are a touch smoother and still as good as ever, while the treble also becomes just that hint smoother.
Just as with the A8000 the stage expands particularly far and even starts to push to the limit of where I might say that it is too large. Go figure! I never thought I would say that when it comes to stage dimensions. The clarity rescues this because you do not lose touch with the music. Still, if you like intimacy, you might do well to look elsewhere. If you are after some serious stage dimensions and a ton of air, the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition has you covered.
Overall, the sound is just gorgeous and feels very dynamic. It is something I can listen to all day. The only reason the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition did not end up permanently glued to the VE7 is that I instead prefer the much more expensive Eletech Plato. That, and there is one pairing I particularly love with the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition, which I will get to in a minute.
Empire Ears Phantom
While gathering impressions of the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition, my dearly beloved Phantom had to be included for a very particular reason: One of my all-time favourite cables for the Phantom is the venerable Eros II 8-wire. In fact, the Eros II 8-wire is one of my all-time favourite cables full-stop. That is also the reason why the bar is set very high for any cable that uses the "Eros" name, as far as I am concerned. So how does the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition compare?
(You can see from the wear of the EA logo how much I have used the Eros II 8w.)
The Phantom come stock with the iconic Ares II and have a somewhat intimate, warm, lush and organic presentation. That is why I have always loved the Phantom; they are the IEM equivalent of a comfort blanket. They can however sound a bit veiled and benefit from an aftermarket cable that helps lift that veil and add some air for the music to breath. The Eros II 8-wire does a perfect job with that, expanding the stage, lifting the veil and improving transparency. I can now say that the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition is worthy of the "Eros" name because it does that and then some. The stage is pushed considerably further and transparency gets a noticeable boost. To me it feels like the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition reveals more of what the Phantom are capable of, but what is otherwise hidden behind the veil. Most importantly, it does this without changing the Phantom's natural "comfort blanket" feel. They are still as indulgent to listen to as ever.
Indeed, I think that while the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition will pair well with many IEMs thanks to a characteristic that doesn't impose any colour on the IEMs it is paired to (something the Eros II did very well too, btw), it might pair especially well with warmer IEMs. This brings me to my favourite pairing...
64 Audio U18s
I have always liked the U18s because of their versatile and easy-going sound. They do everything well and yet never seem to excel at anything either, despite their TOTL status. I tried a number of different pairings and never quite found one that felt right. That is, until I tried Eros S. That was the original prototype I borrowed from a friend of mine. Although I also had the prototypes for Ares S and Cadmus at the time, after trying out all three I never listened to the U18s with any cable other than Eros S. Sadly, I had to return my friend's cable and once I received the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition, I immediately paired it with the U18s.
The characteristics I have described before come back with the U18s in a way that synergises particularly well. The U18s can handle the expansion of the stage really well. It is huge and airy, yet still capable of conveying intimacy with the greatest of ease. The U18s don't really have a veil, yet just like with the Phantom, the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition feels like it reveals more of the qualities that the U18s have to offer and that is considerable. Transparency is greatly improved and the U18s feel more technically proficient.
The U18s can with some pairings have a hint of brightness that I do not like, but not with the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition. Buttery smooth and super enjoyable. Comfort blanket qualities with outstanding technical performance. This pairing is the first I have come across capable of besting my Phantom Eros II 8-wire pairing, for my personal preferences. That is probably the biggest compliment I can give any pairing. This pairing fully immerses me in the music, never leaving me wanting something more or different. This is a true 'desert island' pairing, as far as I am concerned.
Conclusions
Overall, the Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition is a very versatile cable that will probably pair well with most IEMs. It is very good at letting IEMs show off more of what they are capable of with improved clarity and transparency, without adding noticeable colour. It also expands the stage incredibly far and adds a ton of air, while at the same time adding a subtle touch of smoothness. The special updated looks are great for those who want a bit more sparkle over the regular Eros S and the ergonomics are still good, despite the slightly thicker sleeve. A wonderful cable at a very decent price.
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