The PENON official thread

[Redcarmoose]

OK please give some impressions for Bass cable with Neo 5!
Very much appreciated

I can guess it will be a total success, I will try is about 8 hours or so. The Bass Cable I will put in the Neo 5 review too.

 

[-rowan-]

So I've just recently been seeing mention of the 'purple plug'... So I went to Penon's site, and lo and behold, there it is, a 4.4 plug all by itself. Does this 4.4 plug really affect sound in a noticeable way? I may need to get one in and play around with it on a couple different cables / IEMs.

Tl;dr - yes.

There is a fascinating discussion on the mid-priced cables thread, starting with this post: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mid-priced-iem-cables-thread.927268/post-17552264

The next few pages are well worth reading. It gets a bit technical along the way and I don’t claim to understand all of it, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

There’s a nice summary here:

It depends on the wire. You probably can't have a plug that works perfect with every wire like the Bispa totally kills the sound of the Grey Dragon. So far I like plugs made by Eidolic, Bispa and Furutech. (I only have the cheap version of the Furutech plug now and it's on the smoother side and can get slightly unexciting, so I bought the Alpha Copper to find out how much better it is)

Edit: the plug affects the sound more in the speed (colouration, as I mentioned multiple times, especially in the bass and mid-bass), quantity of the bass (not extension), treble extension, stage size and height, the smoothness of the transition between each note, which partially causes sibilance and harshness in the sound.

The wires on the other hand determine the resolution, separation, extensions, quantity of the frequency at different amplitudes by having varying speeds and resonances, which we preceive as the cable being an EQ, etc.. Just IMO.

I’m generally a cable believer but hadn’t thought that the plug would make this much difference until relatively recently. But it does offer a possible explanation why most if not all my cheaper XINHS cables sounded quite unremarkable and similar. And why some cable makers, like Wagnus, develop their own solder and offer different plug options for their cables.

All that is interesting but difficult to experiment with unless you’re handy with a soldering iron. Which is why a modular plug upgrade like the Purple offers the easiest route to trying it out oneself.

It doesn’t drastically change the character of a transducer for sure. But me, I find myself reaching for the S2 a lot more now it has the Purple plug on.

 

[saldsald]

But it does offer a possible explanation why most if not all my cheaper XINHS cables sounded quite unremarkable and similar. And why some cable makers, like Wagnus, develop their own solder and offer different plug options for their cables.

Yup, they all sounded way too similar to my ears so I sold most of them.

 

[cn11]

Tl;dr - yes.

There is a fascinating discussion on the mid-priced cables thread, starting with this post: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mid-priced-iem-cables-thread.927268/post-17552264

The next few pages are well worth reading. It gets a bit technical along the way and I don’t claim to understand all of it, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

There’s a nice summary here:



I’m generally a cable believer but hadn’t thought that the plug would make this much difference until relatively recently. But it does offer a possible explanation why most if not all my cheaper XINHS cables sounded quite unremarkable and similar. And why some cable makers, like Wagnus, develop their own solder and offer different plug options for their cables.

All that is interesting but difficult to experiment with unless you’re handy with a soldering iron. Which is why a modular plug upgrade like the Purple offers the easiest route to trying it out oneself.

It doesn’t drastically change the character of a transducer for sure. But me, I find myself reaching for the S2 a lot more now it has the Purple plug on.

Thanks so much for this!!

 

[Redcarmoose]

So I've just recently been seeing mention of the 'purple plug'... So I went to Penon's site, and lo and behold, there it is, a 4.4 plug all by itself. Does this 4.4 plug really affect sound in a noticeable way? I may need to get one in and play around with it on a couple different cables / IEMs.

The plug imbues a style of thickness and warmth that can help add weight with brighter cables and is able to be differentiated by the flower symbol on them.

Palladium is used often to coat the plug with cable builds, adding a regular price of $100 for the option. Here you can add palladium to any modular cable for less.

 

[Redcarmoose]

The easiest way to find the plug is use google.

 

[weexisttocease]

I received today my CIEM Volt. Beautiful IEM. And it sounds organic with smooth treble and deep bass.

 

[saldsald]

So I've just recently been seeing mention of the 'purple plug'... So I went to Penon's site, and lo and behold, there it is, a 4.4 plug all by itself. Does this 4.4 plug really affect sound in a noticeable way? I may need to get one in and play around with it on a couple different cables / IEMs.

The plug imbues a style of thickness and warmth that can help add weight with brighter cables and is able to be differentiated by the flower symbol on them.

Palladium is used often to coat the plug with cable builds, adding a regular price of $100 for the option. Here you can add palladium to any modular cable for less.

I must say that this is probably made by this same factory judging by the finishing and it should be called 'red copper' instead of "purple copper" due to mis-translation.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....0.0.7f174ae4qqwIf6&mp=1&gatewayAdapt=glo2deu

I probably have only come across one single plug which claimed to be palladium plated and I knew it's fake. Do you mean Rhodium here although there are some palladium plugs in the market? Plugs are usually nickle plated followed by a layer of (chemical, not real) gold so palladium is on the rarer side.

 

[emdeevee]

Anyone got and tried these new blue Penon silicone/foamies?! I like em a lot! Super comfy and great seal. Better than Symbios for my ears.

 

[Redcarmoose]

@Nas Volokin


The ISN G4 bring vocals upfront, heck it brings everything up front and out. Gloriously out into stage positioning, now maybe some may notice the BA timbre with all the sheets and blankets pull-back, but I don’t seem to noice. Hybrids are my favorite way to go so….this sound I welcome. Just big, so huge staging and image-izanion. All fully natural to me?

The ISN G4 was absoululy made for the ISN Neo 5!

The prettiest cable-add I’ve ever seen in my personal history? Not as authoritatively thick as the ISN G4 but a total add none the less. Noticeable is the bass curtailment and forward vocals, a slightly more reserved yet complete statement than the Graphene power of the G4. What wild energy of the graphene is replaced by a slightly more together playback. Still stage is huge, no wait, giant!

The Bass Cable:
Strange how the Neo 5 shows total contrast to the Vocal Cable and Bass Cable...............bigger stage and more like the G4, yet heavy and brisk at the same time. Bass Cable vocals are even better than the Vocal Cable offering a more separated and slightly toned down affair.

Probably G4 and Bass equal, though somehow I really like the Bass Cable and Neo 5, maybe the natural separation and fullness?

All in comparison to the included S8 that is no slouch. Really if you were short on cash just leave the ISN S8 on and be experiencing 90% of what the ISN Neo 5 does anyway.


Top to bottom, Penon Leo Plus, Penon OSG, ISN H2, Penon Bass, Penon Vocal, ISN S8, ISN G8, Penon Mix.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I must say that this is probably made by this same factory judging by the finishing and it should be called 'red copper' instead of "purple copper" due to mis-translation.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....0.0.7f174ae4qqwIf6&mp=1&gatewayAdapt=glo2deu

I probably have only come across one single plug which claimed to be palladium plated and I knew it's fake. Do you mean Rhodium here although there are some palladium plugs in the market? Plugs are usually nickle plated followed by a layer of (chemical, not real) gold so palladium is on the rarer side.

I was informed as to the properties of the plug by Dsnuts.

 

[rawbine]

Just received this cable a few days ago and...oh boy am I impressed?!
This is my second cable from Penon - the OS133!
My first one was a recommended from @Dsnuts - ISN G4 which is a great cable but didn't do much justice for my ISN H50 but....OS133 is another beast. I have been using my Dunu Amber cable exclusively for this iem until I decided to go with some OFC cable from NiceHCK and I liked the result! Then just recently I ordered the OS133 and I'm really impressed - the sound of ISN H50 has become more thicker with great soundstage, more vivid and energetic. Also I switched to the new ddHifi ST35 D-tips which brings a little flavor to the low-end, this combo is just unbelievable. It just transformed this iem to a whole other level
I know it may not be a new thing for you but this cable is a real discovery for me

Congrats!
Mine resided with the Globes

@Nas Volokin : I’d like to call it a jack of all trades cable, economical, quite a looker and importantly deliver the goods.

@ehjie : Definitely one of the better matches for Globe. Have you tried it on the Orb?

Tl;dr - yes.

There is a fascinating discussion on the mid-priced cables thread, starting with this post: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mid-priced-iem-cables-thread.927268/post-17552264

The next few pages are well worth reading. It gets a bit technical along the way and I don’t claim to understand all of it, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

There’s a nice summary here:

I’m generally a cable believer but hadn’t thought that the plug would make this much difference until relatively recently. But it does offer a possible explanation why most if not all my cheaper XINHS cables sounded quite unremarkable and similar. And why some cable makers, like Wagnus, develop their own solder and offer different plug options for their cables.

All that is interesting but difficult to experiment with unless you’re handy with a soldering iron. Which is why a modular plug upgrade like the Purple offers the easiest route to trying it out oneself.

It doesn’t drastically change the character of a transducer for sure. But me, I find myself reaching for the S2 a lot more now it has the Purple plug on.

Believe it or not the below adapter actually expand stage size.

 

[-rowan-]

Believe it or not the below adapter actually expand stage size.

I can believe that. It’s a good job that you managed to stick with 2.5mm all this time - CEMA may have some nice cables but their 4.4mm plugs didn’t play well with my gear (Cayin, Hiby and Shanling) so they eventually had to go. From all accounts it seems to affect only 4.4mm plugs. Penon’s plugs on the other hand work every single time and if I’m spending $50 or more on a cable I don’t want to have to deal with that uncertainty.

Do you mean Rhodium here although there are some palladium plugs in the market? Plugs are usually nickle plated followed by a layer of (chemical, not real) gold so palladium is on the rarer side.

I think only one person can answer this. Perhaps @Penon could provide more information on the Purple plug now that several of us have tried it and given our impressions?

I had a link to the Purple plug in my last post but if anyone missed it or is still looking for the listing, here it is one more time: https://penonaudio.com/penon-purple-copper-plug.html

 

[Redcarmoose]

I received today my CIEM Volt. Beautiful IEM. And it sounds organic with smooth treble and deep bass.

Congratulations, a CIEM must enhance the bass? Cool! I bet it's gorgeous, post a picture whenever you get a chance.

 

[Nas Volokin]

@Redcarmoose
Thank you for your cable comparison with Neo 5
I think that Bass cable is intriguing but it looks really big and stiff comparing to the others lol
I have the G4 but in MMCX, I have received an adapter from Penon - a female MMCX to 2Pin which I might try with Neo 5 once I receive it