Heres a little selection of cables, awaiting the Ares II from Effect audio too (Forza Hybrid (brown), Toxic Viper (grey, home built), Nobunaga Medusa (silver), Atlas Zenos IEM(black))
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High end (IEM) cable thread: impressions, pics, comparisons and reviews.
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mxroadie
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Ares II is Samba's stock cable buddy, you should already have it
I bought my Samba off someone, without the cable. That said, I will check out the Ares II. Might as well, since I can now order one with 4.4mm.
Ah I see. Ares II is also used as internal wiring, and it really shows. Samba and Ares share a roughly similar signature, but it works excellent together for the intended tuning; which is reference, not natural though.
Vitor Valeri
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mxroadie
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Nic, can I get your input on this? Since you both cables. Between the iBasso cb13 and Ares II, which would serve my criteria of attenuating bass and bringing up the highs best? The option of reterminating the iBasso to 2 pin and 4.4mm plug is available to me.
Thanks in advance!
mxroadie
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Oops, this is embarrassing. I got you mixed up with Alex (twister6)
How is that even possible, Alex and I look nothing alike
Alex will jump in, but I don't think he's heard the Ares II. But I will say, stereotypically copper/silver hybrids seem to fit the bill of what you are looking for; neutral bass and a spacious stage (except for the lifted treble).
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How is that even possible, Alex and I look nothing alike
Alex will jump in, but I don't think he's heard the Ares II. But I will say, stereotypically copper/silver hybrids seem to fit the bill of what you are looking for; neutral bass and a spacious stage (except for the lifted treble).
Oh, common Nic, i thought you are my brother from from another mother?
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Which iem do you have in mind? Based on it03 and a few Westones i tested, yes, cb13 should do the job you are looking for, but i'm also a believer that not every cable will have the exact same synergy results with different iems. As i mentioned in my cb12/cb13 review, their mmcx connector is not exactly universal until you mod it, so i didn't get as many "data points" testing it.
But based on what I heard so far, yes, the sound becomes more expanded, signature more balanced at expense of some bass attenuation, and as a result upper mids presentation came more forward. I do have Ares II, No.5, and Zen, but all with 2pin connectors, and typically with pure copper i hear more improvement in low end, not the attenuation. Cb13 is a hybrid, adding 4 pure silver conductors to 4 pure copper.
Oh, common Nic, i thought you are my brother from from another mother?
Forgot you also had Ares II for the three-way comparison.
DanDorn
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You've probably already gotten a reply to this. I purchased the LQi Esprit Series UP-OCC Silver Plated Copper headphone cable for my Focal Elears, as well as a balanced 2.5mm interconnect mini-cable, directly from the LQi website. They're simply superb.
Esprit Series UP-OCC Silver Plated Copper Headphone Cable
cables for
Dingding123
Member of the Trade: Jeff's Audio Solutions
Just got the Han Sound Redcore. Oh doesn't it look pretty!
Brief first impression
Despite the introduction on the Music Sanctuary's website describing the colour of cable as scarlet, it is actually beetroot coloured to be precise.
Terminated with either Furutech FT-735R or FT-7254 plugs, the Redcore shares a similar look to the sensational 1960 4 wire cable from PW audio. In fact, just as each wire in the 1960s contains 2 conductors, there is a silver and a copper wire in each nylon sleeve of the Redcore.
Ergonomics:
The Redcore is slightly stiffer than the 1960s, and the nylon sleeving feels slightly rough. However, the Redcore is still very comfortable to wear. Microphonics is present, but very occasional. (BTW the least microphonic upgrade cable I've tried recently is the PW No.5 and the Effect Audio line-up.) Also, the cable feels quite light, and doesn't put a load on my ears.
Sound:
Right off the bat, the Redcore sounds "just right". I often use Daft Punk's Instant Crush as my test track for cables, as it is interestingly mastered, and any sonic signature brought about by the cable is very obvious. On Redcore with Zeus R, the treble is airy - not energetic kind of sparkly + forwardly-placed, but instead, it is fast, bright and articulate. Somehow, the treble sounds like that of Whiplash TWag V3.
The bass is energetic and tight, with a slight hint of warmth, similar to the 4-wired 1960s. Mids are detailed and slightly forward. The vocals in Instant Crush sounds neither too laidback, nor too forward or too full - just as how it is mastered.
The Redcore is a transparent cable. The reverb in Daft Punk's Within sounds steady and extended. It is definitely not as transparent as PWaudio's 1960, however. On the bright side, it tames the aggressive highs in some tracks. An example is Ed Sheeran's Eraser. On the 1960s, the transparent nature of the cable makes Ed Sheeran's vocal and guitar sound sharp and almost harsh. On the other hand, with Redcore, the same track still sounds upbeat and energetic, but not aggressive at all. So in some sense, the Redcore is a more "forgiving" and less transparent 1960s.
Redcore's soundstage is excellent too. It has a wide 3D like soundstage, albeit not as deep as it is wide. I can't find a apt way to describe it, but in short, I can pin-point where each instrument is placed. (Such as in Muse's MK Ultra.)
I'm gonna burn in the cable now. Can't wait to see what it turns out to be after the burn-in.
Brief first impression
Despite the introduction on the Music Sanctuary's website describing the colour of cable as scarlet, it is actually beetroot coloured to be precise.
Terminated with either Furutech FT-735R or FT-7254 plugs, the Redcore shares a similar look to the sensational 1960 4 wire cable from PW audio. In fact, just as each wire in the 1960s contains 2 conductors, there is a silver and a copper wire in each nylon sleeve of the Redcore.
Ergonomics:
The Redcore is slightly stiffer than the 1960s, and the nylon sleeving feels slightly rough. However, the Redcore is still very comfortable to wear. Microphonics is present, but very occasional. (BTW the least microphonic upgrade cable I've tried recently is the PW No.5 and the Effect Audio line-up.) Also, the cable feels quite light, and doesn't put a load on my ears.
Sound:
Right off the bat, the Redcore sounds "just right". I often use Daft Punk's Instant Crush as my test track for cables, as it is interestingly mastered, and any sonic signature brought about by the cable is very obvious. On Redcore with Zeus R, the treble is airy - not energetic kind of sparkly + forwardly-placed, but instead, it is fast, bright and articulate. Somehow, the treble sounds like that of Whiplash TWag V3.
The bass is energetic and tight, with a slight hint of warmth, similar to the 4-wired 1960s. Mids are detailed and slightly forward. The vocals in Instant Crush sounds neither too laidback, nor too forward or too full - just as how it is mastered.
The Redcore is a transparent cable. The reverb in Daft Punk's Within sounds steady and extended. It is definitely not as transparent as PWaudio's 1960, however. On the bright side, it tames the aggressive highs in some tracks. An example is Ed Sheeran's Eraser. On the 1960s, the transparent nature of the cable makes Ed Sheeran's vocal and guitar sound sharp and almost harsh. On the other hand, with Redcore, the same track still sounds upbeat and energetic, but not aggressive at all. So in some sense, the Redcore is a more "forgiving" and less transparent 1960s.
Redcore's soundstage is excellent too. It has a wide 3D like soundstage, albeit not as deep as it is wide. I can't find a apt way to describe it, but in short, I can pin-point where each instrument is placed. (Such as in Muse's MK Ultra.)
I'm gonna burn in the cable now. Can't wait to see what it turns out to be after the burn-in.
mxroadie
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How is that even possible, Alex and I look nothing alike
Alex will jump in, but I don't think he's heard the Ares II. But I will say, stereotypically copper/silver hybrids seem to fit the bill of what you are looking for; neutral bass and a spacious stage (except for the lifted treble).
Well, I always turn to reviews from either of you before making any momentous financial decisions. Anyway, I really really appreciate the inputs here.
Yes, I have heard that hybrids is the way to go if one is looking for soundstage, not aware they are also known for neutral bass.
@twister6, I'm looking for a cable for my Jomo Samba. Which is nearly perfect except for the bass that I find too strong and too much.
Cb13 sounds perfect. I will have it modded for 2 pin usage. I will definitely share my findings here.
Thanks both!
Thanks, you are actually the first! What have you compared them to?
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