Synergy
64 Audio Fourte
The 64 Audio Fourte, a flagship IEM, features a unique driver setup with one tia high driver, a high-mid driver, one tia mid driver, and a dynamic driver.
Its sound profile delivers impactful sub-bass, natural mids with warmth and clarity, and a treble that is energetic and sparkling. The soundstage is well-rounded, offering a three-dimensional sense with good width and depth.
Among the three Signature Series II cables, the Cadmus II pairs best with the Fourte. It enhances richness and liveliness without emphasizing any specific frequency, providing subtle refinements across the spectrum.
Cadmus II rounds off the treble presence slightly, which helps soften the Fourte’s occasionally polarizing high-end. The lower midrange gains clarity, resolution, and lushness, making vocals more detailed and extending them beautifully.
Transitions from the midrange to upper frequencies feel smooth and cohesive without excessive energy. The treble remains airy and energetic but gains a touch of smoothness. Additionally, the Cadmus II preserves the Fourte’s soundstage without noticeable alteration.
With the Ares S II, the pairing is less ideal, as the added warmth reduces excitement and slightly compresses the soundstage, giving it a more intimate presentation.
While bass gains impact and texture, the midrange is richer but sacrifices some accuracy and detailing compared to Cadmus II.
Instruments and vocals sound denser, with increased note weight, but the upper midrange and treble lose some of the Fourte’s inherent sparkle, clarity, and micro-detail, making this pairing less vibrant.
The Eros S II, though technically proficient, doesn’t ideally fit the Fourte. While detail and spaciousness improve, Fourte’s neutral-bright signature doesn’t benefit from the additional technicalities.
Occasionally, upper mids feel thin, and the treble can veer into excessive energy, making this pairing less cohesive than with the Cadmus II.
THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII
The THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII IEM uses two dynamic drivers, two Knowles balanced armature drivers, and two Sonion EST tweeters. It has a near-neutral sound signature with a touch of warmth.
The dual dynamic drivers give the bass emphasis, while the midrange remains clean, and the upper frequencies deliver detail and extension. The Oracle MKIII’s neutral tuning is responsive to cable changes, making it ideal for pairing with aftermarket cables.
The Ares S II cable complements the Oracle MKIII well, adding a musical touch and a slight sweetness to the sound. It enhances bass control and texture, tightening the low end while spreading out the midbass.
The midrange gains warmth, softening the neutral profile of the stock cable, while the upper frequencies remain well-extended, with no loss of sparkle or air. The soundstage retains its width but gains depth, offering a more immersive listening experience.
The Cadmus II cable offers a more refined and natural sound compared to the Ares S II. It brings smoothness and better coherence between the upper midrange and treble, removing the occasional sharpness found in the Ares S II.
The soundstage is more spacious, with better instrument separation and greater presence in vocals. The Cadmus II enhances the overall balance, making the sound feel more natural and lifelike.
The Eros S II brings further improvements, especially in detail and treble refinement. It reveals nuances that are less pronounced with the other cables, adding air to the treble and refining its presence.
While the bass impact is slightly less pronounced than the Cadmus II and Ares S II, the Eros S II offers the most spacious and expansive soundstage, with a midrange that feels just right—neither too close nor recessed.
Select Comparisons
Effect Audio Signature Series I
Technical
The essence of the new Signature Series II cables remains largely the same but with notable upgrades compared to the previous generation. All three cables—Ares S II, Cadmus II, and Eros S II—have seen changes in configuration and materials.
While the original Ares S and Cadmus cables featured a 4-wire, 24 AWG setup, both have been upgraded to an 8-wire, 26 AWG configuration in the new series.
The Eros S II retains a similar setup to its first-generation counterpart but introduces a new internal wire configuration.
The Eros S II incorporates a Tri-Element synCompound design, the Cadmus II utilizes Solid Core technology, and the Ares S II introduces the latest Dual Variant QuantumCopper™ technology for further improvements over its predecessor.
Design
The new Signature Series II cables retain the same overall aesthetic as the previous generation but with enhanced details. The most noticeable changes are the 8-wire configurations of the Ares S II and Cadmus II, which result in thicker, heavier cables with a firmer character.
The Eros S II adopts a darker tone, giving it a more refined and elegant look than the original Eros S cable. Despite the changes in thickness on Ares S II and Cadmus II, these cables maintain the same ease of use and don’t feel significantly heavier than their predecessors.
The splitter design has been updated to offer a sleeker, more sophisticated aesthetic. It now features a more refined shape with additional depth and silver and copper accents that reflect the individual character of each cable, adding a visual appeal that was lacking in the original design.
Similarly, the 4.4mm termination adapter has been redesigned with smoother edges and a more streamlined look.
All Signature Series II cables feature the TermX and ConX swappable systems, similar to previous Effect Audio Signature cables, allowing for flexibility and ease of customization.
Performance
The Ares S II, in particular, demonstrates noticeable improvements over the first-generation version. The sound is more musical, with a more engaging and dynamic presentation.
The warmth that defined the original Ares S is less prominent, allowing for a more dynamic, clear, and impactful sound. Bass notes are more powerful, with better texture and a stronger sense of impact.
The overall presentation is crisper, with the lower treble adding a satisfying “crunch” missing in the previous version. The Ares S II also improves bass definition and texture, excelling at creating a sense of spaciousness and improved layering of instruments and vocals. The soundstage feels deeper, providing a more three-dimensional experience.
The Cadmus II also shows decent improvements over the original version. The sound is livelier, clearer, and more refined. Vocals, instruments, and notes are more pronounced, making the music feel sharper, more precise, and more engaging.
The treble region now has added sparkle while maintaining a smooth, rounded quality that avoids excess brightness. In comparison, the original Cadmus was more restrained in terms of vibrancy, making the new version a notable upgrade.
The Eros S II is a very capable cable that builds on the strengths of its predecessor. While the changes are more subtle, the new version offers improved resolution and detailing and adds some sparkles and airiness in the upper frequencies without introducing excessive brightness.
I find it offering a bit more warmth than the earlier version while still not sacrificing the neutrality factor, allowing the music to feel natural and balanced. Notes are sharper and more precise, and the sense of spaciousness has been enhanced, providing instruments with more room to breathe.
LETSHUOER LR-Nebula
Technical
The LETSHUOER LR-Nebula cable features a 6-core design, with each core composed of 10 strands of 0.08 mm 6N high-purity monocrystalline copper.
The cable utilizes a unique balanced pairing configuration, incorporating one positive core and two negative cores, which effectively filters out RF noise. This design enhances conductivity and minimizes transmission loss, resulting in a cleaner, more efficient signal.
Design
The LR-Nebula cable boasts a minimalist design and is notably lightweight, making it easy to handle and use. It’s quite flexible and has a supple build, unlike the thicker, firmer Ares S II cable.
Both cables have a soft outer sleeve and a glossy finish. The LR-Nebula’s Y-split and 4.4mm adapter are more straightforward, while the Ares S II features sturdier, more aesthetically refined hardware.
Performance
In summary, the LR-Nebula cable can be considered a younger sibling to the Ares S II. While both share similar characteristics and produce comparable sound changes, the Ares S II, with its superior configuration, delivers a more refined performance.
Like any decent copper cable, the LR-Nebula enhances the lower frequencies, adding depth and texture. However, the Ares S II does better at showcasing the richness and texture of the bass, delivering a more impactful low end.
The midrange on both cables is clear and nicely resolved, but the Ares S II provides slightly better resolution and finer micro-detail. The LR-Nebula lacks the warmth that the Ares S II handles graciously, adding a touch of warmth without overpowering the mix.
The LR-Nebula is more tamed and a bit muted in the highs, offering little emphasis, while the Ares S II adds a pleasant crunch to the lower treble.
This helps maintain energy and extension in the upper midrange and lower treble. Both cables preserve the airiness in the upper treble, with the Ares S II handling it better.
Soundstage-wise, the Ares S II excels, offering a better width and deeper presentation. On some IEMs, the Ares S II has an intimate presentation over the stock cable; in contrast, the LR-Nebula’s soundstage feels less intimate in most cases.
The Ares S II also provides superior instrument separation, a better sense of spaciousness, and more defined layering. It surpasses the LR-Nebula in these areas, contributing to a more immersive listening experience.
Effect Audio Code 24 C
Technical
The Effect Audio Code 24C is a limited-edition cable featuring Effect Audio’s Trio-Flex Pure Solid Core System, incorporating 17 multi-sized core bundles.
It utilizes a two-wire configuration and is crafted with high-purity UP-OCC Copper Litz wire cores. Designed with 18.5AWG wires, the cable also features Effect Audio’s signature Ultra-Flexi outer insulation for added flexibility and durability.
Design
The Code 24C stands out with a striking design. Unlike the usual transparent EA jacket, it sports a solid, slightly reflective purple jacket.
The cable is stiffer and more challenging to handle compared to the Eros S II, though its weight and thickness are similar to the Eros S II. The Y-split and termination adapter are larger and sturdier than those on the Eros S II, emphasizing the impeccable build quality of the cable.
Performance
When comparing the Code 24C with the Eros S II, both cables take different approaches to sound presentation, yet each offers impressive performance.
The Code 24C is a bit more relaxed and less energetic than the Eros S II, with both cables delivering a similar level of detail, though the Code 24C edges ahead in clarity.
The Eros S II provides a crisper, more precise sound, especially in the higher frequencies, which helps accentuate details in cymbals, high hats, and vocals. The Eros S II has a prominent treble presence with a sense of airiness, adding sparkle to the mix.
In the bass region, the Code 24C excels in delivering a deeper impact and more textured sound. The mid-bass feels punchier compared to the Eros S II, which can feel a bit diluted in its impact. Both cables offer similar sub-bass depth, though the Code 24C brings greater texture and clarity to the low end.
Moving to the midrange, the Code 24C delivers a more musical and sweeter presentation, with vocals—especially female vocals—feeling more lifelike.
The added warmth enhances vocal prominence, making them fuller and more forward in the mix. In contrast, the Eros S II presents vocals as more distant, with less warmth and density.
While the Code 24C offers a more expansive soundstage, the Eros S II feels more open due to its airy presentation. The forwardness of vocals and midrange on the Code 24C creates a more intimate listening experience; however, it has a wider stage.
My Verdict
Given the acclaim that the first generation of Signature Series cables received, updating them was always going to be a considerable challenge. Fortunately, Effect Audio has risen to the occasion with the Signature Series II, delivering notable sonic and visual improvements without compromising affordability.
Among the three Signature Series II cables, the Cadmus II stands out as a real star. It injects an exciting energy into the IEMs I paired it with, and it’s incredibly versatile, offering a balanced presentation without accentuating any specific frequency range.
The Ares S II, on the other hand, showcases the strengths of copper without falling into the trap of excessive warmth. It delivers a surprising bite in the upper midrange, which is typically absent in copper cables.
The Eros S II takes things further, offering greater detail and spaciousness compared to its predecessor, and remains as capable as ever.
For those seeking affordable cables that make a noticeable impact on their IEM sound without breaking the bank, the new Signature Series II cables are a clear recommendation.
Effect Audio Ares S II Technical Specifications
- Material & Structure:
- Single Material Litz
- Copper with Central Solid Core
- Dual Variant QuantumCopper™
- Spec: 26AWG 8 Wires
- Sleeve: EA UltraFlexi™ Insulation
- Plug: 4.4mm Balance, EA Standard Rhodium Plated Brass Straight Type
- Connector: 0.78 Dual-Pin, ConX® & TermX™ Basic Sets Interchangeable Connector/Plug System (IEM Version)
- Length: 1.2m ± 5cm
Effect Audio Cadmus II Specifications
- Material & Structure:
- Single Material Litz
- Silver-plated copper with a Central Solid Core
- 6 Multi-sized Core Bundles
- Spec: 26AWG 8 Wires
- Sleeve: EA UltraFlexi™ Insulation
- Plug: 4.4mm Balance, EA Standard Rhodium Plated Brass Straight Type
- Connector: 0.78 Dual-Pin, ConX® & TermX™ Basic Sets Interchangeable Connector/Plug System (IEM Version)
- Length: 1.2m ± 5cm
Effect Audio Eros S II Specifications
- Material & Structure:
- Multi-Material Litz
- Silver and Copper Alloy / Pure Silver / Pure Copper Hybrid
- Silver Central Solid Core with 6 Multi-sized Core Bundles
- Tri-Element synCompound (TESC™)
- Spec: 26AWG 8 Wires
- Sleeve: EA UltraFlexi™ Insulation
- Plug: 4.4mm Balance, EA Standard Rhodium Plated Brass Straight Type
- Connector: 0.78 Dual-Pin, ConX® & TermX™ Basic Sets Interchangeable Connector/Plug System (IEM Version)
- Length: 1.2m ± 5cm
