Pros –
Premium unboxing and accessory set, Excellent build quality and cable ergonomics, Flexible fabric sheath, Excellent dynamics, Detailed and extended treble
Cons –
Ear guides are oddly shaped, Mid bass can be overly warm on some pairings
Verdict –
Satin Audio prove that their designs deserve no less praise and attention than the big players, with the Hera impressing in all regards and making a notable and positive sonic impact.
About Satin Audio –
Satin Audio is a Vietnamese audio brand focused on high performance at minimal cost. Initially catering towards local audiophiles, the brand has since branched out into the international market. They focus on boutique custom cables using Ohno Continuous Casting (OCC) and cryogenic treatment for their conductors, Litz construction, damping core and custom insulation. Satin Audio also uses exclusive components for their designs giving them a distinct visual character. All of these are qualities seen from far pricier brands yet are offered even on their value-orientated Titan series for as little as $70 USD. The company has since expanded with the Olympus, Warrior and Monster series cables that brought more exotic and complex designs at a more premium price point similar to international competitors.
Introduction –
The Hera is the latest addition to the Olympus series which is Satin Audio’s flagship line-up that all use precious metal conductors. It is the only cable to sport a fabric jacket giving it a unique look and feel. Satin Audio also lauds this as the first palladium-plated silver-gold cable and, being a hybrid design, the Hera uses 3 conductor types in total, implementing pure OCC silver and palladium-plated silver as well. Their flagship technologies include Geōmetria multi-sized stranding and Satin Special Structure II mix that was exclusive to the flagship Zeus until now. Satin Audio has implemented the best conductive connectors and solder to achieve an excellent transmission index.
The Hera recently launched at $850 USD. You can read more about it and configure one for yourself on Satin Audio’s website here!
Disclaimer –
I would like to thank Minh very much for his quick communication and for reaching out to organise a review of the Hera. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the cable free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.
Contents –
- Page 1: Intro, Unboxing, Design
- Page 2: Sound Breakdown
- Page 3: Comparisons & Verdict
Behind the Design –
Exotic Conductors
The Hera uses 3 alloys in its conducting path. The most notable being palladium-plated silver-gold conductors combined with superior pure OCC silver and palladium-plated silver. Of these, silver boasts the highest conductivity with SP-OCC silver being the purest silver currently available on the market. Overall, this is an expensive, complex and exotic mix of materials further enhanced with Satin Audio’s geometry.
Satin Special Structures II with Geōmetria Multi-sized Stranded
SSS II was pioneered by the Zeus and is a progression of the Type 4 Litz design adopted by Satin Audio’s cheaper cables and the original Satin Special Structures. This is used in conjunction with Geōmetria multi-sized stranding. What all of this means is that the Hera has a complex geometry with an SP-OCC outer layer, combination strands within and a Kevlar damping core at its very centre. The stand size varies with the inner layer having a larger gauge. All strands are insulated separately to prevent oxidation. This design allows Satin Audio to maximize space efficiency, delivering more conductor cross-section in the same 26AWG overall diameter.
Conductive Connectors
In addition to paying special attention to the conductors, Satin Audio has chosen the most conductive connectors to ensure no part of the conductive path is bottlenecked. Satin Audio developed their own 2-pin and MMCX connectors with a much higher transmission index than copper and brass. In addition, source side plugs are sourced from Japan and are made from palladium-plated ultimate copper which promises to be both durable and highly conductive.
Unboxing –
The Hera comes in limited edition wooden packaging that provides a premium and high-end impression from the outset. The wooden box is engraved with Satin Audio branding and opens via a pivoting latch. Opening the box showcases the leather carrying case within a foam inlet alongside accessories within a box that sits snugly inside the lid cavity.
The carrying case has an authentic leather construction and soft velvet interior. It has ample room for IEMs and accessories too. Other accessories include two leather buttoned organisers, a Satin Audio sticker and a soft pouch should you want something more compact than the hard case. Warranty papers are also included.
Design –
I haven’t reviewed a Satin Audio cable since the original release of the Zeus in 2020. Since then, the company has come a long way, introducing a new softer cable insulation and improved connectors which have all been applied to a new revision of the Zeus alongside their newer releases. The Hera offers a 2 to 1 ire cable geometry with an internal braid within a soft fabric sheath. Despite this, there is minimal added bulk over your average high-end boutique cable and no ergonomic decrease due to its exceptional flexibility. The fabric exterior has a silver fleck woven in which gives it added dimension and a refined look that matches the gunmetal connectors. The actual wire showcases excellent flexibility and zero memory. It gave me no issues at all during use nor does the fabric add much weight to the design.
While other companies such as Effect Audio and Eletech do implement greater complexity in their designs, I do laud Satin Audio’s clean approach to design here. The Y-split sports a pillar motif with a dual finish in the form of a more aggressive sand-blasted texture on the gold accents. I also appreciate Satin Audio’s use of a more desaturated gold that isn’t loud and gaudy as gold can otherwise become. Internal strain reliefs are visible on the IEM and source side terminations which work in tandem with the Kevlar internal core to provide durability. The Y-split has visible screws, but this doesn’t detract from the overall look and feel.
If I had one complaint it would be the pre-moulded ear guides that have a sharp angle and extend reasonably far relative to many competitors. I find they hug the ear well and route the cable forwards which helps with minimizing microphonics as the cable is placed further away from the face. However, it also places some pressure on the rear of the ear due to the sharp angle and I would argue that a rounded design closer mimicking the shape of the ear would provide superior comfort. With that said, everyone’s ears are different, so this is just my personal preference. The Hera immediately showcases the quality you would expect from a boutique product alongside one of the softest fabric jackets I’ve felt and an overall excellent look and feel.
