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The SilverFi IEM-R2 cable

Introduction

SilverFi is a very special cable manufacturer, with a truly unique and beautiful sound. The tale of SilverFi starts with Sezai Saktanber, a cable manufacturer who like most others started out with a very different profession – in this case that of city planner, following a degree in architecture. But as often in this community, music was his one true passion and still very much is. Like many of us, he was on a continuous path in search of ‘audiophile nirvana’. Sezai is in it for the music, and no matter the workload or circumstance, still listens to at least 2 hours of music every day. But his path took a twist when he started experimenting with cables back in the ‘70’s. Fascinated by the effects, he started to study the metallurgic properties of metals, absorbing the physics of conductivity, in his own words driven by “the spirit of creativity, induced by the love of music.” Over time I’ve come to know Sezai as strong-minded, quick to learn, but most of all, extremely passionate.

Over 40 years of experience and learning has paid off, for SilverFi has evolved to a truly unique cable manufacturer: while nearly all cable manufacturers will buy their wires in bulk from a processing factory, SilverFi builds their own wires from the ground up, as in, from raw material. An extremely time and cost consuming process, but it ensures total freedom in design and possibilities. Sezai emphasizes that despite his accumulated knowledge, he never sits still; or so to speak, his journey to nirvana has not ended. He endlessly experiments with gauge sizes and conductors. For instance, there are differences in diameters of conductors between models. Some of the conductors’ diameter is even variable within each sleeve, and is drawn up separately according to each model. The thickness of conductors can vary with millimeters and even one thousandth of a millimeter, all affecting the sound in different ways.

The result is an iem cable line starting with the IEM2 model priced at $389, all the way up to the their recently developed flagship; the IEM-R4 costing a massive $1999. So yes, the R2 reviewed here is not even their highest model. But SilverFi isn’t limited to iems, offering a wide variety of headphone and speaker cables, as well as interconnects, coax cables and adapters. While their price maneuvers them to the higher end of the market, all products come with a 10-year warranty, and of course, have a touch of that special SilverFi magic.

R2_Title

SilverFi IEM-R2
Alloy:                Pure Silver
Conductors:    10 wires in a flat braid
Construction:  Pure silver with cotton sleeving
MRSP:              $1295

Build & Design

Each cable has variations that make it distinguishable in its own right, but the R2 is unlike anything within my collection. The cable consists of 10 thick conductors, woven together in a flat braid. Due to the flat braid, the cable is fairly grand in its size, dwarfing cables in its vicinity. Each conductor is individually shielded by a cream colored cotton, that has a beautiful silky look and feel to it. However, the special conductors and sleeving require an alternate type of connectors at the top end. The red and blue connectors have the appearance of a sort of memory wire, but serve to fasten the conductors. Similarly at the bottom end, the plug is a high quality Neutrik jack, but the special conductors require extra sealing with blue tape. The connectors and sealing are required due to the type of construction, but the colored tones and somewhat odd connectors give the cable a kind of DIY finish. On the other hand, it is ‘DIY’ by the hand of a master, which is again a comforting thought that makes it acceptable.

My main gripe with the R2 is that due its build, the connectors, silky sleeving and flat braid, it doesn’t really invite you to take it out of the house, especially when you take its price into consideration. This is the type of cable that you keep in an elegant wooden box, and after taking it out for a listening session, gently whisper a soft ‘good night’ to before safely putting it back for storage. So while there’s no debate about the craftsmanship, build construction and overall quality, the cable isn’t the most practical for every day use.

R2_3

Page 2: Sound impressions and matching
Page 3: Comparisons and concluding thoughts

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ABOUT AUTHOR

flinkenick

flinkenick

Nic is currently in pursuit of a PhD degree in social neuropsychology, while trying not to get too distracted by this hobby. In pursuit of theoretical knowledge by day, and audiophile excellence at night. Luckily for him, both activities are not mutually exclusive which helps to lighten the workload. Always on the go, Nic's enthusiasm for hi-fi is focused on all chains of the portable system: iems, cables and daps.

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