LETECIEL SHARK + PENON ASOS CABLE.
It's not just an improvement, it's like a full-blown sound transformation, where everything you're used to suddenly reveals itself in a whole new way.The $109 three-driver dynamic LETECIEL SHARK have already proven themselves to be extremely pleasant and musical headphones with a warm, smooth and versatile delivery that easily lends itself to extended listening.
And in my review a month ago I told you in detail why I liked them, and at that time I tested them with the included cable.
But today I thought what if I combine the $169 Penon Asos cable with the LETECIEL SHARK? And from the first seconds of listening, it was clear...
This is it! - It didn't just sound better, it sounded different.
Bigger, clearer, more precise. It's like these headphones have reached a new level, and now they sound like it's not $109 at all, but a much more serious level several times over, it's really crazy...
Low frequencies with the Penon Asos cable:After replacing the stock cable with the Penon Asos, the LETECIEL SHARK bass changes noticeably and immediately. The first thing that strikes your ears is the increase in bass density and texture. Where before it felt nice, rounded and a little soft, now it becomes tight, solid and noticeably more controlled.
The sub-bass goes lower, feels deeper and more fundamental, especially in tracks with an emphasized lower range.
But most importantly, it stops being slightly diffuse and becomes more focused, with an even more readable attack and clear and confident decay. The sound in this area feels more massive, but not blurry, as is the case with “just bass” headphones.
Mid-bass, on the other hand, becomes tactile and I would say springy, gaining a nice more transparent texture and body. There is a sense of physical presence of the instrument, for example, bass guitars sound like you can feel the whole vibration of the strings.The electronic bass also becomes more expressive and readable, especially in rich mixes where before it could get a bit lost in the background of other elements.
And importantly, there's no overdubbing, as the bass still doesn't overpower or squeeze, but instead sounds more mature and organized. I have the feeling that this cable takes the lower register and builds it up as if on the shelves, gives the bass structure, but does not add unnecessary bloated mass.
Midrange with the Penon Asos cable:When the Penon Asos is connected, the midrange becomes noticeably cleaner, fuller and richer in timbre. The main difference is deeper micro detail and more naturalness in the presentation of vocals and instruments.
The smooth, warm and neutral delivery that SHARK originally had, now sounds more mature and expressive. Voices gain liveliness and breath, especially in acoustic recordings and jazz, and each vocal emphasis becomes a little closer, a little more emotional. The cable does not add unnecessary brightness, but as if carefully highlights the necessary and at the same time everything sounds natural and merged, without accents, shouting or intrusiveness.
Instruments in the middle of the range, especially guitars, pianos, strings, get more weight and texture, sound more “tangible” and full-bodied. It's as if the cable gives them an extra edge in volume and you can easily follow how the instrument leads its line in the track.
I would especially like to mention the upper mids. The LETECIEL SHARK already has good control, but with the new cable it becomes even more delicate and precise. Not the slightest irritation even in rich, full-bodied mixes, so everything is literally under maximum control, while still maintaining a sense of openness.
High frequencies with the Penon Asos cable:The SHARK treble range is initially set up with a focus on smoothness, precision and comfort without harshness, understated but quite detailed. With the Penon Asos connected, this range literally bursts with new facets, while retaining its trademark softness and delicacy.
You can immediately feel a higher resolution, cymbals, percussion, upper overtones of vocals and effects sound cleaner, clearer and more airy than with a complete cable. But not by increasing brightness, this cable so to speak does not force high frequencies, but improves transparency, emphasizes small nuances and microtextures, which before could be slightly blurred.
Transients are accelerated, attacks become a little more distinct, but all this remains within the limits of comfortable and musical sound. There are no sibilants, no tsking “s”, no artificial sparkle, just a more refined and “audiophile” presentation of the top.
It is also worth noting that with Penon Asos there is a feeling of more space and air precisely due to more precise work with the upper harmonics. This makes the stage more spacious and adds lightness to the delivery, even on dense mixes.
Soundstage with Penon Asos cable:One of the most impressive aspects of switching to Penon Asos is the change in the perception of space. The soundstage in SHARK was already decent from the start: moderately wide, with good localization and airiness. But Asos enhances these parameters in several directions at once.
The stage becomes noticeably wider. Sounds begin to be placed outside the head, side accents and nuances that were less pronounced before appear. The panorama expands, and the placement of instruments on it becomes more precise and sparse.
But most importantly, real depth is added. The cable allows you to get a better sense of the far reaches, adding volume and layering to the sound. Instruments are not just on the same level, but spread forward and backward, creating a sense of stage space
With Penon Asos, there is more air between instruments, and localization of sound sources becomes more stable and clear. Even in dense arrangements, the stage doesn't collapse and each element seems to get its own space, maintaining excellent readability.
Conclusion:With the Penon Asos cable, LETECIEL SHARK reveal themselves in a whole new way: the sound becomes noticeably more mature, expansive and refined. Bass goes deeper, becomes more textured and controlled, the mids gain liveliness, depth and naturalness, and the treble gets even more precision, smoothness and transparency.
There's also a noticeable improvement in overall image resolution and clarity, a wider stage, and more air and space between instruments.
These are not just pleasant, comfortable headphones, but truly serious sound, with a full audiophile presentation.
And yes, in this case the expensive cable makes 100% sense and it not just improves, but literally transforms the sound.
If you already love LETECIEL SHARK headphones in stock, then with Asos they become doubly impressive, I safely recommend this cable to buy!
Buy LETECIEL SHARK headphones: https://penonaudio.com/Leteciel-Shark.html
Buy PENON ASOS cable: https://penonaudio.com/Penon-ASOS.html
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). This one ticks almost all the boxes for me.
). No rush.
but if you can, it's definitely worth it
I've also listened to it with budget products with no problems, I literally take the cable and plug it into different headphones ranging from $30 to $600 and wow it's awesome, I love how it sounds now...and I also plan on comparing it to another cable like a more budget cable and I think that would be interesting, but so far this is my favorite cable that literally doesn't let me down and does its job beautifully
