Cable Upgrade Guide: Strauss & Wagner Sion and Effect Audio Eros S

Jumping into the world of cables will be daunting. Knowing which of them to get or how efficiency will scale is hard. Add the various value factors of cables to the combination and issues can get actually complicated actually quick. So in the present day testing completely different ranges of cables to see simply what distinction they make at completely different ranges of value. We’ll hearken to the brand new Campfire Audio Fathom with its inventory cable, a Strauss & Wagner Sion cable, and the Effect Audio Eros S cable. With these, we’ll break down the sound high quality, completely different options, and construct high quality that may be achieved on extra premium cables.

Campfire Audio Fathom Stock Cable

We gained’t spend an excessive amount of time speaking concerning the inventory cable as a result of most of this data will be present in our full evaluate of the Fathom. That stated, we are able to study quite a bit about primary cables from this IEM, as Campfire is thought to supply glorious inventory cables for his or her IEMs. In reality, if you happen to needed to purchase the cable that comes with the Fathom, the Time Stream, for an additional pair of IEMs, that may run you again about $99.

I ought to be aware that the Fathom really comes with two of those cables. One with a balanced 4.4mm termination and one with a 3.5mm single ended termination. As far as performance goes, the inventory cable is fairly simple. It has two MMCX connectors on one finish, and the headphone termination on the opposite.

Build high quality is sort of good for a inventory cable, although it must be for an IEM at this value. It feels premium and sturdy and is made with a flat design to forestall tangling. The Time Stream cable is made out of eight silver-plated copper conductors to supply higher ergonomics and low microphonics.

With regards to sound, that is how I think about Campfire initially meant the IEM to sound. It’s a heat and intimate listening expertise. Midbass is sort of distinguished, with a delicate low finish and clean high finish. While I discover the Fathom to be a wonderful IEM, it will probably sound a bit uninteresting and shut at occasions. So whereas the Time Stream cable is clear and top quality, there may be room for sonic and purposeful enchancment. Enter the Strauss & Wagner Sion.

Strauss & Wagner Sion

Strauss & Wagner Sion cable

Also coming in at $99, the Sion is an aftermarket cable from Strauss & Wagner, a headphone and cable producer that we’ve been recognized to like right here at Major Hifi. While the value is technically the identical because the Fathom’s inventory cable, there are some key variations that make the Sion a singular improve.

Let’s begin with construct. The construct of the Sion is about on par with the Time Stream cable, although they’re constructed in another way. Whereas the Time Stream cable goes for a flat and bulkier design, the Sion stays a bit thinner with a extra light-weight, braided look. To ensure, I don’t assume that makes the Sion any much less sturdy than the Time Stream. In reality, I discover it equally as sturdy whereas decreasing the burden of the cable and making it much more ergonomic.

Then there’s the design of the cable. Like the Time Stream, the Sion makes use of silver in its wiring. But what’s actually cool concerning the Sion is that it comes with an interchanging termination system. The interchangeable system comes with 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4.4mm termination choices. Simply pull off the connected termination and substitute it with the termination of alternative, and voila! It’s extremely handy when switching between my laptop computer’s built-in headphone jack to a balanced dongle. Of course, this use case is probably not vital for everybody. But it’s a powerful and handy addition that provides a style of what’s potential as you proceed up the cable improve ladder.

As for adjustments to the sound, I discovered the Sion to widen the soundstage a bit extra and punch up the dynamics of the IEM. The midbass transition space turns into a bit higher outlined and mids get snappier total. The excessive finish turns into a bit extra thrilling and the bass will get deeper and sooner.

I ought to be aware that these sonic adjustments aren’t night time and day. The unique traits of Fathom are nonetheless there. This doesn’t flip your IEM into a distinct IEM. It simply provides delicate nuances and enhancements that take your listening to the following degree. And talking of subsequent degree, let’s transfer on to the Effect Audio Eros S.

Effect Audio Eros S

Effect Audio Eros S cable

The Eros S is an entire different beast solely. It has its personal distinctive design language, extraordinarily handy featureset, and spectacular sound high quality. that is the place you begin to see the advantages of a premium audio cable.

Build high quality is high notch. The putting grey, braided cable feels extraordinarily sturdy. It’s light-weight and versatile whereas nonetheless feeling sturdy and opulent. It takes the already nice high quality of the cables we already mentioned, and brings it as much as an excellent increased degree. I additionally discover that the cable is just not susceptible to tangling. It’s simply an total very well-built cable that feels prefer it ought to at its value level.

When it involves the design of this cable, Effect Audio steps up the parts they use to make the cable. The Eros S makes use of a proprietary hybrid system that makes use of each pure silver and pure copper Litz.

Like the Sion, the Eros S additionally has some methods up its sleeve. However, not like the interchangeable terminations on the Sion, the Eros S opts for interchangeable connectors. That means you should utilize this cable with MMCX and 2-pin. So in case you have a number of IEMs which have completely different connector sorts, you gained’t want two separate cables to get the most effective sound out of them. While I just like the comfort of the switchable terminations on the Sion, I might really see the interchangeable connectors being extra helpful to listeners in the long term.

When it involves sound, the Eros S is fingers down a serious improve. Bass was certainly punchier and the mids had been cleaner whereas staying very current. The greatest distinction in sound high quality, although, is the soundstage. Not solely did the Eros S open up the lateral house on the Fathom, but it surely additionally creates a high to backside impact that’s actually participating. The cable improves depth and the Fathom’s imaging capabilities actually shine.

Summary

So what can we make of all of this? I believe the principle takeaway is that cables do undoubtedly matter and might have an effect on the listening expertise in some ways. Stepping up from every degree of cable confirmed new technological options in addition to sonic enhancements. But what’s most vital is that you simply don’t need to spend high of the road cash to get a cable that brings these enhancements. It was nice to see Strauss & Wagner present an ideal characteristic set and improved sound at an ideal value. However, the Eros S is that rather more of an enchancment, incomes its value. This finally means the you may belief that cable upgrades can degree up your listening expertise, it doesn’t matter what your price range.

The Strauss & Wagner Sion and Effect Audio Eros S can be found at Audio46.

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March 15, 2024 at 07:08PM