For anyone on the fence about the Copper+ for wanted to drop this information in case it might help you make the jump and get the cable.
Just wanted to share my experience and I by no means consider myself a reviewer, just someone who enjoys good audio (hence the handle) and always willing to share info. Wanted to post here just some observations I’ve made and hope they help someone else.
Having read many of the reviews of the PlusSound Copper+ was intrigued but for the IEM’s I currently own, already quite happy with the PPH and Tri-Silver X8 cables I have on the respective CIEM’s I own, so passed for the time being.
But just like everyone else, the new gear bug bit me and pulled the trigger on a new Meze Audio Lyric closed back headphone
My goal with the Lyric’s was something that had a neutral/natural sound, that was easy to listen to, with accuracy but not so much that it would be fatiguing. In short, something “fun” to listen to. (I already have other options in the CIEM’s I own for reference sound/accuracy)
I really wanted something that I can just put on, be comfortable on my head for several hours if needed, and have a level of accuracy and clarity to be enjoyable (if either was missing to any great extent, they would NOT be enjoyable for me).
The Meze Lyrics out of the box, the sound was “OK”. Good but not great. There was as some have noted a shrill spot in the highs, and while there was bass/sub-bass, they lacked impact, and the mids were a bit muddy.
Not liking the stock cables sound, and wanting a balanced input, I ordered the Meze SPC braided upgrade cable in 4.4mm Balanced, which helped immediately over the stock cable, and the sound was better and was good for a still stock Meze setup, but I still wanted more
So knowing burn in would add something, burned in the Lyrics for 100+ hours with this cable, and took my first critical listening sessions using various FLAC and high bitrate MP3’s from various Genres of music.
With 100 + hours and the upgrade Meze cable, found the shrill spot in the highs tamed down but it could show back up depending on the source file, and the bass/sub bass had a little more impact, but the mids were still to me not as clear and sharp which seemed to prove to me these headphones were capable of much more with some cable tuning.
This led me to have a discussion with my favorite cable person, Christian at PlusSound Audio.
Discussing with Christian the Lyric’s shortcomings IMO as is, I was able to tell him that to me they did not need any more extension in the highs, but did need a little more clarity and if possible some sparkle. I also told him the mids seemed to be a little muddy and that the bass lacked some depth/impact.
I thought maybe another PPH cable, but in our discussions, it came down to either the X8 Tri-copper or the new Copper+ Exo config (which essentially and for lack of a better description, 4 wires of the Copper plus behave like an X8 build of other PlusSound cable choices.)
Having read several reviews about the Copper+ from the writers like Twister6, Ryan Soo and others, as well as a great review from Wyville using an over the ear (Senn HD650) headphone, I had lots of questions for Christian, and in the end, went with the Copper+.
Another 100 hours of burn in for the new cable (now 200 hours of burn in on the Lyric’s themselves), what a difference!
Unexpected from my previous dealings with a straight copper cable, the highs now have a level of clarity and sparkle I would not have expected, nor did I have with the stock copper cable or upgrade Meze SPC cable, and the mids now seem to “synch” with the highs and the lows. Not forward, not recessed, just right to my ears. Vocals have a nice presence, and guitars sound full and natural
But as expected from a copper based cable, the bass became clearer, tighter and has more punch and impact. Unexpected though, it seems to extend the bass down even lower.
The soundstage became even wider than stock, both in depth and width. Instrument and vocal layering and placement was much better and while not as holographic as I’ve seen his PPH cables make on an IEM, much better than expected, on a headphone that out of the box is pretty nice already.
If anyone is wondering what I used to come to these conclusions, source were mostly FLAC files of various bit depth and quality, As well as some high bit rate MP3’s in Genres that include 60,70,80's rock, Jazz (modern and Jazz Standards), R&B and classical
All files were played through a Lotoo PAW 6000 (LP6K) player in Preamp/Variable Line Out mode, going into a Cayin C9 Amp, in true Amp mode, volume being controlled by the LP6K. (A really nice sounding combo) The Cayin C9 was used mostly in Class A/Tube timbre, but I did do some listening in Class AB in both Tube and SS timbre modes..
The Interconnect is a "true" custom X8 that is 4 wires of PPH and 4 Wires of Tri-silver that makes a real difference in the sound coming out of the Cayin C9.
For anyone on the fence about the Copper+, go fot it!
For me the Copper+ was the perfect change for the sound signature I was looking for..
Did the cable change and burn in miraculously transform the Lyric into an Meze Elite or Audezee CRBN? No. but that is not what I was looking for. IMO the Copper+ changed the Lyric into exactly what I wanted and just gave me something more to Enjoy.
Sorry if I’m adding to the religious war of cable changes, burn in and even Closed Back headphones, as I do not mean to, but I’ve seen people on this forum sitting on the fence about buy, not buy, a cable to upgrade their sound.
For me the cable change really woke these already good headphones up, into ones I feel are keepers, and just wanted to pass on my thoughts
Again all above is IMO, and YMMV.
Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts!
Working on a write up now, should have it in a few days.
