Synergy
Empire Ears Valkyrie MK II
The Empire Ears Valkyrie MK II is a V-shaped tuned IEM with a heavy emphasis on the sub and mid-bass, recessed mid-range, and sparkly treble. It features 1 dynamic driver, 1 Balanced Armature (BA), and 1 Electro-static Driver (EST) and comes with Effect Audio’s Alpha IV as the stock cable.
Given that the Valkyrie MK II is a V-shaped IEM, its treble region can come off as overly bright for some.
The Eros S 1st year Anniversary cable pairs fairly well with the Valkyrie MK II as it allows the IEM to maintain its bass-head presentation whilst adding better mid-bass texture, clarity in the mid-range, and re-defining the treble region.
Mid-bass notes still slam very hard but a fraction less than the stock cable. The mid-bass does, however, come with better layering and texture. Noticeably, mid-range notes become thicker with better definition and the Eros S 1st Anniversary is able to tease out more detail from vocals and instrumentals.
Due to this, the mid-range appears to come slightly more forward however it is still recessed in comparison to the bass and treble presentation.
Timbre-wise, the Valkyrie MK II comes off slightly warm. Treble on the Valkyrie MK II still remains hot, with similar details although there is a slightly better extension. Soundstage becomes a touch wider and layering and imaging improve slightly.
Elysian Acoustic Labs DIVA 2023
The Elysian Acoustic Labs DIVA 2023 is one of Elysian Acoustic Labs’ latest releases with its focus on mid-range clarity and an overall engaging musical experience via its “rotary” switch.
The DIVA comes with 6 BA’s and 3 tuning pre-sets. Each tuning pre-set is adjusted via the rotary switch where the bass frequencies are adjusted to have increased, decreased, or default levels of bass. The DIVA comes with Effect Audio’s Ares S as the stock cable.
The Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition cable improves the mid-bass texture but reduces the level of slam. The reduction is not significant, but it is noticeable. The quality of the mid-bass does improve with better texture, layering, and details.
Mid-range vocals and instruments still sound lush and smooth and the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable and with added thickness.
As a result, the lower to center mid-range moves forward and becomes the forefront of the overall frequency response. String and ensemble instruments come off with a high level of detail.
Timbre-wise, the Eros S 1st Anniversary comes off as slightly warm. This is not as warm as the stock cable with the DIVA and to my tastes provides better definition and resolution for the mid-range.
There is still a good level of extension and detail in the treble where it has a slightly sparkly presentation.
There is more width to the soundstage, but depth and height remain unchanged. Imaging and layering improve slightly but not significantly compared to the stock cable.
Select Comparisons
Effect Audio Eros S
Technical
One of the key questions is: How does the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable differ from the original Effect Audio Eros S?
Simply put, the overall materials and technical side of the cable remains the same and only the aesthetics have been upgraded. To give those a brief overview of the Eros S, this cable is made with the same ultra-pure OCC pure silver and pure copper Litz hybrid composition.
At the time of its creation, the Eros S brought the best of both worlds from the Ares S and Cadmus cables.
Design
The Eros S has a pearl grey appearance which is finished with a matte textured jacket. The Eros S has a softer feeling to it as opposed to the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable’s plastic and shiny finish.
The Eros S matte finish gives the cable a different vibe and comes off with a more elegant and modern finish compared to the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable which leans more towards the celebratory yet stealthy look.
Similarly, between the two cables, the plugs, termination case, splitter, cable slider, and connectors are made from the same materials however the Eros S 1st Anniversary comes with jet-black connectors, splitter, and cable ring to match the overall anniversary theme.
Performance
There are no significant differences between the sonic performance of the Eros S and Eros S 1st Anniversary cable.
Both the Eros S and Eros S 1st Anniversary have a slightly elevated but punchy mid-bass, forward the lower to upper mid-range frequencies which produces a lush and smooth mid-range whilst adding a decent level of texture and resolution.
For the treble, there is a hint of sparkle with decent extension and resolution. Soundstage and imaging are similar between the two cables.
Satin Audio Apollo
Technical
The Satin Audio Apollo part of Satin Audio’s Olympus Series is one of the first cables to feature a Superior Pure OCC Silver Mix and palladium-plated Silver-Gold composition. It is built with a 26AWG, 4-wire configuration and 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm Satin Audio or Pentaconn terminations.
The Apollo uses Satin Audios advanced “Satin Special Structures II” or modified Type 4 Litz configuration. The Apollo used for comparison was a 26AWG, 4-wire cable.
Design
The Apollo comes in a shiny silver color which is finished with a plastic or PVC cable jacket. The splitter on the Apollo is gold-colored, made of aluminum, and depicts the shape of a harp which draws on the Greek God Apollo’s obsession with music.
Performance
The Apollo colors the sub and mid-bass by giving it a boost and bringing it forward. However, there is less forwardness, depth, and slam compared to the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable.
The mid-bass coloration on the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable comes with more slam and is slower to decay compared to the punchier and faster presentation on the Apollo. Mid-bass texture between the two cables is very similar with no significant differences.
The mid-range on the Eros S 1st Anniversary has more forwardness and thickness. The Apollo presents the mid-range in a more linear and balanced way with more air and space between the lower to upper mid-range.
The resolution of both cables is very good with the Apollo taking the edge as it is able to tease out the finer details. Timbre-wise, the Apollo has a warmer timbre although both cables lean towards being slightly warm.
Treble is colored with a hint of sparkle which is similar between both cables however the extension clarity and detail on the Apollo have more definition and refinement. Cymbals sound crispier and come off with more detail on the Apollo.
Soundstage-wise, the Apollo is wider, taller, and deeper. Imaging and layering are similar between the two cables.
Effect Audio Cadmus Founders Edition
Technical
To celebrate the 1st year anniversary of the Effect Audio Cadmus cable, Effect Audio has released a special version of this cable called the Cadmua Founder’s Edition.
This seems like a fitting comparison given both the Eros S 1st Anniversary and Cadmus FE are anniversary cables. The Cadmus FE features 2 cable mixes or blends:
- Blend 1: Premium Ultra-Pure (UP), OCC Silver Plated Copper Litz with septuplet multi-sized core bundles
- Blend 2: Selected Premium UP-OCC Gold Plated Copper & Selected Premium UP-OCC Silver Plated Copper Litz with Multi-Sized Stranding
That sounds like a mouthful and is definitely a different set of materials compared to the Eros S 1st Anniversary. However, both cables use copper as a base material with the biggest difference being that the Cadmus FE has gold and silver plating to finish.
Design
The Cadmus FE has a simple and elegant design which has a lighter theme compared to the darker tones on the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable.
It features a shiny, silver, and gold appearance reflecting the essence of its silver and gold plating. The inner jacket behind the clear PVC coating has a strand-like texture which gives the Cadmus FE a textured and intricate finish.
Performance
The Cadmus FE colors the sub-bass with more depth and adds more slam to the mid-bass. The mid-bass texturing and quality between the Cadmus FE and Eros S 1st Anniversary cable are very similar.
The lower and center mid-range on the Cadmus FE is slightly more forward compared to the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable. Both cables come off with a high level of detail, clarity, and a smooth mid-range however the Cadmus FE executes this with more finesse and precision.
Vocals and instruments have a touch more detail with better clarity. Timbre-wise, the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable comes off as warmer.
The treble presentation on the Cadmus FE is brighter with improved quality and detail compared to the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable. The extension of the treble is similar between the two cables with no significant difference.
The soundstage impact from the Cadmus FE is more noticeable as both the width and depth extend compared to the Eros S 1st Anniversary cable which focuses more on width extension. Layering and imaging are a bit better on the Cadmus FE which is a result of the additional space from the soundstage.
Our Verdict
The Effect Audio Eros S 1st Anniversary cable pays homage to the well-known Eros S cable which was released as part of the signature series last year.
Effect Audio has graciously improved the aesthetics whilst keeping the original sound intact to produce a cable that focuses on the mid-bass and mid-range with finesse. It does provide coloration to the treble meaning that all frequencies receive some sort of attention.
The Eros S 1st Anniversary cable is definitely a fine-looking cable with its jet-black theme which would match nicely with any IEM for any “celebratory” occasion.
Effect Audio Eros S 1st Anniversary Edition Specifications
- Selected Premium UP-OCC Pure Sliver Litz and Pure Copper Litz Hybrid
- Septuplet Multi-Sized Core Bundle
- 26 AWG 8 Wires
- EA Ultra Flexi™ Insulation
- ConX®Interchangeable Connector
- Rhodium Plated Brass Straight Type Plug.
