Synergy
The Silver Plated Copper XL cable synergizes well with our tested IEMs and typically pairs better with those looking to improve the bass and/or the mid-range frequencies.
Those with bass or vocal forward-tuned IEMs will benefit most as the Silver Plated Copper XL takes these frequencies and serves them on a higher level.
Aroma Audio Jewel
The Aroma Audio Jewel is one of the best-in-class IEMs released by Aroma Audio and comes equipped with a forward mid-bass, forward lower to center mid-range, and well-extended and detailed treble.
The soundstage is very wide, deep, and tall which is supported by pin-point accuracy imaging capabilities.
The Silver Plated Copper XL cable pairs very well with the Jewel as it colors and enhances the frequencies it executes the best: bass and mid-range.
The sub-bass depth and extension is slightly extended however the mid-bass is where the focus is. The mid-bass receives a slight boost however it noticeably becomes punchier with better control. Bass texture improves and overall quality and resolution of the bass increases.
The mids become cooler or less warm and there is more volume and weight to vocals and instrumentals. Overall resolution and clarity of the mid-range improves and vocals and instrumentals come off as smoother and lush.
The treble extension, resolution, and clarity do not change significantly and come off with a tad of sparkle and excellent extension.
Soundstage width does not change however stage height and depth increase slightly. Imaging and layering capabilities remain improved slightly compared to the stock cable and come off with excellent layering and pinpoint accuracy.
Empire Ears Odin
The Empire Ears Odin is one of the most technical IEMs currently out there. The Odin’s tuning is highly resolving and presents itself with a deep sub-bass, mid-bass boost, very forward upper mid-range, and a sparkly treble.
The soundstage of the Odin is wide, deep, and tall giving it an ethereal effect with its stock cable. Imaging and layering capabilities are second to none and are executed with perfection.
The Silver Plated Copper XL cable adds additional resolution and texture to the mid-bass and the mid-range to the Odin. The sub-bass depth extends slightly deeper but again it is in the mid-bass where the coloration is more evident.
There is more slam, tactility, and elasticity in the mid-bass. Although there is now more mid-bass quantity, it does become more controlled and punchier.
The lower-to-center mid-range gains more volume where instruments and vocals have more emphasis and come off with more resolution and overall quality. The Silver Plated Copper XL does take away that bit of “air and space” within the mid-range which the Odin is known for which is due to the added thickness.
The upper mid-range is still very forward so the Silver Plated Copper XL does not alter the original position or presentation. As such, those looking to find a silver-plated copper cable to tame any of those forward upper mids on certain IEMs will not find the solution they are looking for here.
The treble becomes slightly more sparkly with the same extension and detail compared to the stock setup. The soundstage width remains unchanged, however, the depth is slightly extended with similar levels of layering and imaging compared to the stock cable.
Select Comparisons
The following impressions were created using a Cayin N8ii as my main source combined with the Aroma Audio Jewel and the Empire Ears Odin for the main IEM pairings.
Effect Audio Fusion 1 Cable
Technical
The Effect Audio Fusion 1 cable uses a blend of Ultra-Pure OCC gold-plated silver Litz, pure silver Litz, and pure copper Litz. All of this is bundled up in a 2-wire, 21 AWG gauge configuration.
The Silver Plated Copper XL is slightly thicker at 18 AWG however both cables feature a similar amount of flexibility and suppleness.
The Fusion 1 features similar technology as the Silver Plated Copper XL where Effect Audio has introduced their new “Tri-strata layering” geometry in combination with multi-sized stranding to allow for a larger number of bundles to be included in each wire.
This means that 40 bundles are included in each of the Fusion 1’s wires which is greater than the 36 bundles found in the Silver Plated Copper XL.
Design
The Fusion 1 has a tri-color theme with a mix of light gold, copper, and silver to signify the type of cable materials utilized. This contrasts with the Silver Plated Copper XL’s simpler design which features a sparkly silver finish.
The splitter and plug casing on the Fusion 1 feature the same light gold color and blend well with the overall theme of the cable. The Fusion 1 comes with Effect Audio’s ConX and TermX technology which means both the connectors and plugs are interchangeable with other types.
This allows an additional level of flexibility which the Silver Plated Copper XL does not offer as the plugs and connectors are fixed.
Performance
The Fusion 1 colors the sound in the same areas that the Silver Plated Copper XL focuses on being the mid-bass and mid-range. Both the Fusion 1 and Silver Plated Copper XL allow the sub-bass to dig deep and provide adequate levels of reverb.
However, the Silver Plated Copper XL brings the mid-bass forward with more quantity and slam compared to the Fusion 1. Furthermore, the mid-bass from the Silver Plated Copper XL has slower decay whereas the Fusion 1 is punchier with faster decay.
The mid-range from both cables exhibit similar coloration however the main difference lies within the positioning of the lower to centre midrange and the timbre.
The Silver Plated Copper XL presents the lower to center mid-range with more forwardness and thicker weight to each note. As a result, it takes advantage of this by being able to tease out the finer details from instruments and vocals.
The treble presentation from Silver Plated Copper XL comes off with more sparkle and better extension as well as detail. It also has a similar staging width however there is noticeably more depth and height compared to the Fusion 1.
Imaging between both cables is very good however with the added depth and space the Silver Plated Copper XL is able to spread instruments and vocals deeper and therefore has more enhanced imaging capabilities.
Satin Audio Apollo
Technical
The Satin Audio Apollo comprises a palladium-plated, gold-silver mix and Superior Pure OCC silver. In simple terms, this means that the base material is a gold and silver cable which has been plated with palladium.
The materials used here are much more sophisticated compared to the silver plated copper on the Silver Plated Copper XL. The Apollo comes in a 4-wire, 26 AWG gauge which is much more flexible and supple compared to the Silver Plated Copper XL and it’s 18AWG gauging.
There is also a noticeable weight difference where the Apollo is much lighter and easier to wear on the ear.
Design
The Apollo comes in a shiny silver appearance with gold finishing on the Y split and slate grey on its connectors.
The Silver Plated Copper XL’s jacket features a shiny plastic finish which differs from the Apollo’s clear but matte-like texture. The Silver Plated Copper XL has a thread-like texture on the cable which has more shine and sparkle compared to the Apollo.
Performance
The Apollo pushes forward the mid-bass, lower to upper mid-range, and treble in a similar way to the Silver Plated Copper XL but with a slightly different execution.
The sub-bass digs deep with greater depth on the Silver Plated Copper XL with more mid-bass slam and slower decay. The Apollo brings the mid-bass forward but with less slam leading to a punchier and faster decaying sound.
The mid-range coloration is similar between the two cables where the lower to upper mid-range pushes forward. The lower-to-center midrange has very similar positioning between the two however the upper mid-range on the Apollo has more forwardness.
The treble presentation from the Apollo comes with a hint of sparkle with decent extension, detail, and resolution and matches that of the Silver Plated Copper XL’s treble presentation.
The soundstage width on the Silver Plated Copper XL comes off wider compared to the Apollo. Soundstage depth and height are very similar between the two where the stage is both wide, tall, and deep.
With this in mind, the layering and imaging capabilities are also similar between the two cables where instruments and vocals come off with pinpoint accuracy and dispersion across the stage.
Our Verdict
The PLUSSOUND Silver Plated Copper XL is 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.
What you get is added quantity to the mid-bass whilst receiving better texturing and control. Mid-range notes become thicker with more weight and finesse. Although the treble is sparkly the soundstage impact does vary depending on the IEM pairing.
Overall, it’s encouraging to see the Silver Plated Copper XL showcase PLUSSOUND’S continued pursuit of innovation and a high level of craftsmanship. This is a great example of how PLUSSOUND’S cables have come so far.
PLUSSOUND Silver Plated Copper XL Specifications
- Wires: UP-OCC
- Materials: Silver Plated Copper
- Size: 18AWG per channel
- Design: Type 6×6 Litz
- Insulation: Proprietary PS
- Dampening Cores: Proprietary Varied PS
