Synergy
The Copper XL cable paired well with the two IEMs used. It may pair better with those looking to improve detail from their IEM, while also increasing bass quality and quantity and the mid-range frequency coherence.
Those with bassy IEMs will benefit most to me, as the Copper XL takes the low-end and reaches the extremes of bass frequencies better, with an increase in detail as well.
Empire Ears Legend X
Known for legendary bass quantity and quality, at the expense of overall detail and clarity, the LX took an immediate shine to the Copper XL. The normal pairing used with this IEM (an aftermarket) sounded quite dull when I compared the two.
Bass quantity reaches a bit deeper, with better attack and decay; and without losing note weight. Added into that equation, the quality of notes sounded markedly better defined and present. Coherent note-playing added detail to the overall warm, rich character of the LX, much to its advantage.
Where the Silver Plated Copper XL focuses on mid-bass, the Copper XL excels in the sub-bass region, making sure not to hinder the already top quality in midrange clarity or detail retrieval.
The soundstage is wide and deep with very good height, besting what I have previously heard from the Legend X. Treble extension adds to the good height, giving the LX added beneficial layering in the upper region.
I could easily see this as the new pairing for the LX.
Spirit Torino IEM Twin Pulse Beryllium
When I reviewed the IEM Twin Pulse, I lauded its rich, organic signature, which comes across with a natural smoothness, and with good detail. For a company that specializes in headphones first and foremost, the IEM Twin Pulse came across as a very laudable effort.
Adding the Copper XL allowed for bass to hit slightly harder in the mid-bass region (much like the Silver Plated Copper XL), with added depth to the sub-bass region.
Not bass-shy, but not as prevalent as the Legend X, the Copper XL allowed for a more vibrant tonality to come through the Twin Pulse with added girth, instead of simply becoming weighty.
The midrange of the Twin Pulse was the star to me, and this carries over with the Copper XL. Vocal presentations simply sing with harmonious levels of detail, without becoming antiseptic or sterile.
The combination of adding the Copper XL to the Spirit Torino offering is a definite positive. Mind you, the included Spirit Torino cables are no slouch to start with.
While that is good, there are some parts, which may detract. The thickness of notes in the midrange seemed a bit thinner, with less weight.
Not that the bass regions overshadowed the mids, but they seemingly took a step back in presentation, especially when using a brighter pairing such as the FiiO K9 Pro ESS. On the Shanling M6 Pro, the mids came back with aplomb, but the overall signature seemed a bit too forward comparatively.
Select Comparisons
PLUSSOUND Silver Plated Copper XL
Technical
When Joshua reviewed the PLUSSOUND Sliver Plated Copper XL he called it, “a very good addition to one’s cable collection if you are looking to provide extra color and detail to the mid-bass and mid-range of your high-end IEMs.”
Carrying much of the same construction and technicalities of the Copper XL, the Silver Plated Copper XL changes the wire choice to UP-OCC silver-plated copper as its base material.
The geometry is unchanged which means a Type 6×6 Litz, 18AWG gauge 2-wire geometry using a 36 bundle implementation.
With 18AWG gauging per XL wire, the Silver Plated Copper XL is a thick cable. However, PLUSSOUND has done exceptionally well to keep the cable as flexible and as supple as possible by using their very own propriety outer insulation for the cable’s jacket.
Design
The Silver Plated Copper XL comes with exceptional build quality, that is no different from the company philosophies in the other models they produce and have designed, making for a very premium experience.
The braided wire, finished with a threadlike texture, has a sparkly silver color, which represents its silver-plating properties. Each wire has sufficient tension in the braiding design so there are no unwanted gaps or slacks in the cable.
Built very similarly to the Copper XL, but with different accents, the Silver Plated Copper XL is stunning at which to look, regardless.
Performance
The Silver Plated Copper XL colors the sound by further enhancing the overall resolution and clarity of the mid-range whilst creating more depth and slam to the bass frequencies. It should be noted that staging and treble impacts do vary depending on the pair-up.
A noticeable impact was had on the sub and mid-bass gaining more depth, extension, and elasticity. The sub-bass digs deeper and the reverb becomes more tactile with the mid-bass receiving a noticeable boost whilst gaining more slam and control.
This differs slightly from the Copper XL, which promoted deeper sub-bass, yes, but less mid-bass.
The mid-bass punch feels “elastic” in the sense that its dynamic range and control improve. The bass texture within both the sub and mid-bass improves resulting in better overall resolution and quality. Similar to the Copper XL regarding the added dynamic control and range.
The lower and center mid-range move forward whereas the upper mid-range positioning remains unchanged relative to the IEM’s (Twin Pulse) original setup.
The lower and center mid-range is also delivered with added volume and weight to each note which is a result of the additional mid-bass presence. The Copper XL promoted more warmth and richness, with slightly less vibrancy to the tonality than the Silver Plated.
The resolution of the mid-range improves and there is a step up in overall sound quality being delivered as the Silver Plated Copper XL can tease out the finer details.
Yes, the Copper XL adds more resolution (again almost antithesis to a copper cable), but not on the same level (or amount) that the Silver Plated does. Both are excellent additions but for different reasons.
Effect Audio Code 24
Technical
The Effect Audio Code 24 is also a 2-wire cable but uses a thicker gauge than the Copper XL at 16.5AWG combined with UP-OCC silver-plated copper in a Litz configuration.
All the wires within each cable have a similar proprietary multi-sized strand blend using 13 multi-sized core bundles in the structure.
The solid core structure at the heart of the cable remains, softening it from previous models due to user input regarding the stiffness of the previous iterations.
Now, there is a new Trio-Flex™ Pure Solid Core System which consists of 3 slightly smaller core wires as opposed to one big fat single version. That will give the cable a more pliant feel and better handling characteristics than the previous cable.
Design
The Code 24 is a colorful cable, thick in girth, and carries some extravagantly engineered barrels topped with lower-profile designed cable cinches.
That color scheme may shout garishness but be assured the goods back that up. Plus, with all of the personalization, the user can come up with pretty much any combination.
The finishing accents on the flagship Code 24 are bold with striking gold trim on top and bottom of each barrel. The new aluminum alloy barrels should be familiar with their unique cutaway design playing on the company’s past iterations.
The Code 24 splitter barrel uses a custom Timascus (Titanium Damascus) design for the inner shield with a unique staining design on the surface. The new barrels are substantially larger than the company’s other models, adding to the luxury component.
The cable is terminated with a 4.4mm Pentaconn plug, by default, however, you can opt instead for an interchangeable TermX system or an Android-compatible USB-C or iPhone Lightning alternative on EA’s website.
The connectors are also by default ConX which includes 2-pin 0.78mm and MMCX but you can also add terminations such as IPX or Pentaconn for an additional $15.
Performance
The Code 24 is less reference and more on the musical side with my paired IEMs. This translates into emphasizing the bass somewhat, bringing some vocal bloom in, while also teasing out some treble sparkle and enhanced spaciousness from monitors that are capable of delivering it.
This is a seriously good upgrade from the company’s EVO series in terms of dynamics, vocal clarity, and staging depth. It’s incredible to listen to just how far these cables have come from a few years ago in terms of performance.
Compared to the Copper XL, there is a more vibrant character, with better detail; while not emphasizing the lower end quite as much. The makeup of the cable should make that perfectly reasonable and this will come down to whether you want more clarity and a vibrant character (Code 24) or an increase in detail and a better lower end (Copper XL).
Eletech Socrates
Technical
The Socrates is one of Eletech’s midrange IEM cables coming in smaller 24AWG. Made from monocrystal 7N OCC Copper, the similarities with the Copper XL seemingly end there.
A Kevlar-infused strand at the core helps keep stability and adds to its “Maximus Efficiency Strand Geometry.”
Also cryogenically treated like the Copper XL, this purports to align the strands so that the transmission of electrical signals is faster with less distortion and low electrical resistance.
Design
Stiffer in feel than the Copper XL, the black plastic sheathing looks less luxurious than the Copper XL, too. Curved ear hooks are shrink sheaths, helping to keep the cable in place better than the non-existent ear hooks of the XL.
The black and rose gold Y-splitter has no cable cinch and looks a bit less upscale as well. I do appreciate the “L” and “R” on the 2-pin jacks, though. A gold 4.4mm balanced termination counters the rose gold and black coloring scheme, but when plugged in, you cannot see it anyway.
While the Socrates is quite the looker, the Copper XL comes across as more upscale and luxurious in look and feel.
Performance
Copper traditionally is known for good bass extension and a darker, richer signature. The Socrates is no different.
Providing very good reach in the sub-bass region, and with good control. That bass extension carries over into the mid-bass, giving a bit more grunt to the low end than the Copper XL. The definition is better in the Copper XL, though.
The midrange comes across as rich and melodic, with less detail than the Copper XL. This is a very organic sound, but it carries thickness over complete naturalness. Vocals sound sumptuous on the Socrates whereas on the Copper XL, they sound more accurate.
Once we hit the top end, the Socrates falls behind the Copper XL with less punch and sparkle due to the darker signature. Where the Copper XL carries clarity and a bit of sparkle up top, the Socrates carries the note thickness into the nether region.
This will come down to whether the listener prefers a darker, thicker note weight that carries an organic signature or one that carries the best of bass notes in-depth and quality while sounding more detailed and accurate.
My Verdict
The PLUSSOUND Copper XL is a great aftermarket audio cable with an attractive design and a performance that allows the listener to hear a high level of detail from paired IEMs.
Despite its thicker gauge reducing some of the pliability and usability the Copper XL still handles quite well so I would not be concerned too much about it being too stiff.
While the Copper XL does not tangle, even with a somewhat sticky tactility to it, you need to work the cable to get a good lay to it.
This is of course overshadowed by the looks and performance. Adding bass quality and quantity is one thing, but adding detail retrieval and clarity to the sound as well is top-notch in my book.
PLUSSOUND Copper XL Technical Specifications
- Wires: UP-OCC
- Materials: Pure Copper
- Size: 18AWG per channel
- Design: Type 6×6 Litz
- Insulation: Proprietary PS
- Dampening Cores: Proprietary Multi-varied PS
