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I've had a few mini-to-mini SE cables in my possession for some time. Whilst some are mine, others have been on loan to me by the makers for some time. Although I've not paid much attention to them enough, I thought I'd spend some time actually focusing on them, jot down my thoughts and share them here. In no particular order :-
1) Twag2 Mini-2-Mini purchased as a set 2nd hand from another HF member about 20 months ago. Price as a set was $200
2) ALO Copper 18AWG (discontinued) - a gift from ALO. Retail price ???
3) VentureCraft V7MJ2L 7N Class - on a (permanent??) loan from VentureCraft. Retail price $98
4) VentureCraft Go-DAP DD Limited Edition Promotional gift - copper/silver mix with Neutrik right angle connectors, soldered with ViaBlue silver solder. Estimated $100
5) Mezzo Soprano with Oyaide straight connectors - on loan from Mezzo Soprano. Retail Price $350
6) Mezzo Soprano with (unknown?) right angle connectors - on loan from Mezzo Soprano. Retail Price $350
7) Tralucent Uber Cable with Oyaide cables - gift from Tralucent. Call for pricing.
- iPhone 4S
- Cyperlabs Algorhythm Solo (CLAS) -dB
- ALO Audio Rx Mk3
- Tralucent Uber Cable
- Tralucent 1Plus2 Hybrid IEMs
The Twag2 probably the brightest but also harshest signature of the cable lot. Bass leans a little on the thin side and overall sound feels quite dry & sterile. It was great when it was released during its time but since then cable technologies seemed to have changed and improved quite significantly.
The ALO Copper 18AWG on the other hand was the opposite where it felt warmer, lush, and presents a fuller or somewhat more robust signature. However it lacked resolution and detail that I'm accustomed in new cables. Again, this was quite a popular cable back 20 months ago.
The VentureCraft V7MJ2L 7N Class starts to show the improvement in some cable technology. Aside from a proper 7N Class (not certain what VentureCraft means by "proper" but just regurgitating what they have told me), I don't know much about this cable. Sonically though to my ears the V7MJ2L starts to have a more holographic stage and the presentation sounds smoother and cleaner. It seems to blend the rather opposites ALO Copper 18AWG & Twag2 but in a refined signature. For $98, they're actually quite good value for money.
During the promotion of the VentureCraft DD 12V Limited Edition DAC, VentureCraft bundled in a mini-2-mini cable made by another cable maker in Japan. The cable is made up of stranded tinned copper for the signal lines whilst the ground signal is a single sterling silver wire. ViaBlue Silver solder was used to solder the wire strands to Neutrik L-shaped plugs. There's even an orientation to the able where one side should be plugged into the source whilst the other to the amp. This cable although sonically preferable over the Twag2 and ALO Copper, seems to have a slightly smaller soundstage and sound somewhat "flatter" than the VentureCraft V7MJ2L. However due to it's size and lower profile, it shortfall in SQ over the V7MJ2L is somewhat forgivable.
The next two are the Mezzo Soprano cables, one with Oyaide straight gold plated connectors whilst the other with an unknown maker's right angle connector. Again I don't know much about the make of these cables however they do appear quite chunky and thick. Sonically I find both of these are again, another step up from the V7MJ2L. Signatures are further cleaned up and with an even more holographic presentation. Resolution and detail retrieval is a step up again, but yet maintains a smooth signature. The difference between the connectors is the unknown maker's L shaped connectors seem to have a richer vocals and treble focused signature, whilst the Oyaide has a somewhat slightly warmer signature. The Oyaide connector has better instrument separation though. The prices of these cables don't come cheap though. They're $350 each (as per Mezzo's home page).
Finally is the Tralucent Uber mini-to-mini with Oyaide gold plated connectors. To my ears this is my preferred connector. It's not as aggressive as the others but feels more spacious, articulate with lots of room for the instruments to breath. It maintains an exceptional holographic staging that's wide and deep. Resolution and detailed is maintained and almost in a much more natural presentation without being "in your face". However if the pricing of this Uber cable is anywhere along the lines of the 1Plus2 earphone Uber cable, don't expect the pricing of this cable to be cheap. Since it's solid core gold/silver mix, it's also quite delicate and once a flex position is decided, it should maintain that same position or the solid core can crack and break.
EDIT: Added Custom Art SilverLine to the thread on post #54 :-
http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/45#post_9739299
Edit Added: Crystal Cable Connect Micro from Gavin/Spkrs01
Edit Added: Siltech Duchess also from Gavin/Spkrs01
Both Crystal Cable and Siltech quick impressions can be found on Post #63: http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/60#post_9864941
Edit: Added Forza AudioWorks Claire Hybrid
Impressions can be found here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/60#post_10388016
ALO Autobahn (self term, not official name!) Mini-2-Mini IC
Impressions can be found here:http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/120#post_12555841
1) Twag2 Mini-2-Mini purchased as a set 2nd hand from another HF member about 20 months ago. Price as a set was $200
2) ALO Copper 18AWG (discontinued) - a gift from ALO. Retail price ???
3) VentureCraft V7MJ2L 7N Class - on a (permanent??) loan from VentureCraft. Retail price $98
4) VentureCraft Go-DAP DD Limited Edition Promotional gift - copper/silver mix with Neutrik right angle connectors, soldered with ViaBlue silver solder. Estimated $100
5) Mezzo Soprano with Oyaide straight connectors - on loan from Mezzo Soprano. Retail Price $350
6) Mezzo Soprano with (unknown?) right angle connectors - on loan from Mezzo Soprano. Retail Price $350
7) Tralucent Uber Cable with Oyaide cables - gift from Tralucent. Call for pricing.
Setup as follows :-
- iPhone 4S
- Cyperlabs Algorhythm Solo (CLAS) -dB
- ALO Audio Rx Mk3
- Tralucent Uber Cable
- Tralucent 1Plus2 Hybrid IEMs
The Twag2 probably the brightest but also harshest signature of the cable lot. Bass leans a little on the thin side and overall sound feels quite dry & sterile. It was great when it was released during its time but since then cable technologies seemed to have changed and improved quite significantly.
The ALO Copper 18AWG on the other hand was the opposite where it felt warmer, lush, and presents a fuller or somewhat more robust signature. However it lacked resolution and detail that I'm accustomed in new cables. Again, this was quite a popular cable back 20 months ago.
The VentureCraft V7MJ2L 7N Class starts to show the improvement in some cable technology. Aside from a proper 7N Class (not certain what VentureCraft means by "proper" but just regurgitating what they have told me), I don't know much about this cable. Sonically though to my ears the V7MJ2L starts to have a more holographic stage and the presentation sounds smoother and cleaner. It seems to blend the rather opposites ALO Copper 18AWG & Twag2 but in a refined signature. For $98, they're actually quite good value for money.
During the promotion of the VentureCraft DD 12V Limited Edition DAC, VentureCraft bundled in a mini-2-mini cable made by another cable maker in Japan. The cable is made up of stranded tinned copper for the signal lines whilst the ground signal is a single sterling silver wire. ViaBlue Silver solder was used to solder the wire strands to Neutrik L-shaped plugs. There's even an orientation to the able where one side should be plugged into the source whilst the other to the amp. This cable although sonically preferable over the Twag2 and ALO Copper, seems to have a slightly smaller soundstage and sound somewhat "flatter" than the VentureCraft V7MJ2L. However due to it's size and lower profile, it shortfall in SQ over the V7MJ2L is somewhat forgivable.
The next two are the Mezzo Soprano cables, one with Oyaide straight gold plated connectors whilst the other with an unknown maker's right angle connector. Again I don't know much about the make of these cables however they do appear quite chunky and thick. Sonically I find both of these are again, another step up from the V7MJ2L. Signatures are further cleaned up and with an even more holographic presentation. Resolution and detail retrieval is a step up again, but yet maintains a smooth signature. The difference between the connectors is the unknown maker's L shaped connectors seem to have a richer vocals and treble focused signature, whilst the Oyaide has a somewhat slightly warmer signature. The Oyaide connector has better instrument separation though. The prices of these cables don't come cheap though. They're $350 each (as per Mezzo's home page).
Finally is the Tralucent Uber mini-to-mini with Oyaide gold plated connectors. To my ears this is my preferred connector. It's not as aggressive as the others but feels more spacious, articulate with lots of room for the instruments to breath. It maintains an exceptional holographic staging that's wide and deep. Resolution and detailed is maintained and almost in a much more natural presentation without being "in your face". However if the pricing of this Uber cable is anywhere along the lines of the 1Plus2 earphone Uber cable, don't expect the pricing of this cable to be cheap. Since it's solid core gold/silver mix, it's also quite delicate and once a flex position is decided, it should maintain that same position or the solid core can crack and break.
EDIT: Added Custom Art SilverLine to the thread on post #54 :-
http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/45#post_9739299
Edit Added: Crystal Cable Connect Micro from Gavin/Spkrs01
Edit Added: Siltech Duchess also from Gavin/Spkrs01
Both Crystal Cable and Siltech quick impressions can be found on Post #63: http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/60#post_9864941
Edit: Added Forza AudioWorks Claire Hybrid
Impressions can be found here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/60#post_10388016
ALO Autobahn (self term, not official name!) Mini-2-Mini IC
Impressions can be found here:http://www.head-fi.org/t/668330/portable-mini-to-mini-cables-quick-impressions/120#post_12555841
