Effect Audio : Signature Series Review

SOUND QUALITY:

If you ever felt that your IEM can do better than what it does now, you are totally right and these cables are the biggest testament for that. These aren’t very expensive but bring a lot of improvements to the IEMs. I love the way these cables work like fillers. I have used Kinera URD and Axiom for this review.

EROS S:

I was instantly gravitated towards the Eros S cable. I had not seen a cable which looks so simple and attractive at the same time. Not only it’s a looker, it sounds very good too. Let it be dynamics or ability to extract details, Eros S doesn’t show any weakness. It brings a energetic and sparkly the treble range with excellent lower end body. Bass is tighter while maintaining a higher quality punches with a fuller body and has very good movement of air. Decay is on the faster side but still has good weight. Sub-bass is deep and the mid bass is in line with it. If the IEM allows, this cable retains very good amount of texture and layers. Treble heads will definitely love this cable. It has much better treble energy and the upper treble dip with the Kinera URD is rectified with this cable. Layering and separation is top class with higher sense of air and transparency. Sonics too are fantastic with high quality dynamics. This cable have a couple of minor shortcomings though. It’s lack of energy with instruments around the vocals gives it a W shaped signature while the notes have hint of metallic timber with neutral sounding IEMs like Shozy Elsa (this is clearly evident when A-Bing with the Cadmus and Evo-10 cables) but pairs exceptionally with slightly warmer sounding IEMs like Axiom and EST112. Vocals have very good definition with a more precise body and texture.

Stage size is very good too, but has a bit of an hourglass type shape, has nice expansion in every direction with excellent cue placement. Sonics too are very good.

CADMUS:

What’s impressive about the SPC cable is, this sounds better than the hybrid cable in some areas. SPC has better balance, strangely it’s vocals forward with a more vivid presentation, has bigger and better bass presence, similar decay, slightly better texture, better mid range details and definition, more balanced and the treble is a bit more controlled without losing extension or sparkle. Ah.. Longest sentence in a while I think. Let’s break it up.

Vocals as I mentioned earlier are more vivid, fuller with true to nature timber and tonality. It has better texture and definition too. Another good thing is, both male and female vocals excel with this cable. This cable impressed me with its dynamics and contrast of fore and background instruments. Instruments have slightly less pop to them but have impressive transparency and clarity. Treble is a bit more controlled. It doesn’t have taller notes of the Eros S but has an aptly lively presence. Extension, layering and separation are impressive too (if there wasn’t the hybrid cable, this would have been the best of the lot). Bass is more voluminous than the Eros S and has equally impressive rumble and sub-bass extension. Thanks to the bigger volume it feels more complete. Mid bass has fuller body but doesn’t get heavy handed. It’s tight and precise.

Cadmus has a more rounded stage with similar dimensions. Let it be instrument placement or air between instruments, this cable doesn’t take a back step. Sonics too are impressive with finer and delicate cue placem9. This is the best SPC cable I have used under $300, no questions asked.

ARES S:

So.. What does the copper cable brings to the table. This replaces the famous Ares 2 after all. It’s surprising that this isn’t a very warm, and thick sounding cable which favors bass and lacks treble energy or definition. This isn’t a lot in the V either, it’s slightly, but not much. Yes, one can tell, this is a copper cable since it doesn’t have the deepest of subs or lot of rumble while the mid bass has more body, good amount of definition and a well developed layered delivery. It feels satisfying the way the waves of notes hit with precision. Decay is not loose but leaves the notes with good amount of weight and punch.

Mids are well defined with very good vocal presence, yes the finishing definition is slightly on the lower side compared to the SPC cable but this does better than any other copper cable under $200. Treble is similar but instead of being smooth, it’s more textured with very good transparency and resolution. Yes, the extension isn’t as good as the hybrid cable but it’s plenty for a copper cable. If you feel copper cables are a bit too in the V and the instruments across the spectrum aren’t exactly lively or transparent, this cable is the answer to this. It has the sparkle and lively feeling we all look for.

Stage size is not the biggest but has a taller projection. X-axis isn’t very wide but I like the way it maintains the layers and separation without any veil.

CONCLUSION:

The one that impressed me the most is the SPC cable, it’s unlike any other SPC cable I have used and is much closer to what I look for in a cable. It has the kind of vocals I love, juicy and accurate. Sounds Lovely looks cool. The hybrid cable is for an IEM that needs a boost to the treble region while delivering excellent details and transparency. Copper cable is what I will like to call a proper solution to those seeking more details but do not want to sacrifice much of the warmth or musicality.

All in all, this Signature Series has an excellent set of cables with integrated Con-X. They do not take details lightly, none of these cables are overly warm or have a deeper V shaped sound. Pick one as per your preference, Effect Audio has come up with a set of undeniably good cables this time around.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Suman Sourav Meher

Suman Sourav Meher

My humble audiophile journey started in 2010, when I was in college, where I fell in love with the elements, nuances, and variations of this mesmerizing world. The ability of tiny earphones to recreate amazing sounds made my bad days tolerable and good days better! Now I am a full-time audiophile with a preference for musical tracks, especially vocals and engaging ones. I must admit I am addicted, but not to drugs or alcohol, but to earphones. Come join me as I share my experiences, bad or good, and let’s have some fun!

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2 Responses

  1. 99 / 5,000
    Resultados de traducción
    Excellent analysis, I ask you which is the best SPC cable that you have used regardless of its cost?

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