B. Forza AudioWorks Claire Hybrid HPC (8 wire braid – 1.5m)
Picture
Material Used
8 strands of Cryo 7N UPOCC copper + UPOCC silver in semi-Litz geometry and PE insulation. 56 individual strands in 7 groups
Termination
Viablue 1/4″
Look & Feel And Presentation
The cable comes in a pretty eco-friendly fabric bag and is very nicely presented with an individual warranty card with serial number. The 8 braid cable isn’t sleeved and it is very light and of course it is thicker than the 4 braid Effect Audio cable. There is a splitter at the Y-section and it measures 29 cm after the split. The Claire hybrid is a bit heavier and thicker than the Effect Audio cable and you will notice it more while you’re listening. So while comfort wise the Effect cable might top it, I couldn’t stop looking at this perfect looking 8 braid. I also love feeling the cable between my fingers while listening, I’m afraid I might have a cable fetish I didn’t know of.
Build quality
It looks gorgeous. The braiding is very tight and you can see the copper/silver mixture perfectly. Everything is very well made with a lot of eye for detail: there is a small splitter with the cable type at the Y-section and the same can be found near the Viablue plug at the end. The heat shrink at the earphone connector is well done but I’m going to have to give the slight edge to Effect on this. There is no brand mention on the connectors but they do feel sturdier. There are no L/R markings on the connectors, but the right side connector is the one coming out of the splitter on the right side.
Customization & Options
You can choose the Connector (we chose Audez’e and Sennheiser HD650), Termination Type and length.
Price
Our 8 braid version with the 1/4 Viablue and Audez’e/HD650 termination costs €169.99 or $230 each.
Sound
LCD-2 and HE-500: This cable also shows an improved clarity with a wider sound stage and more detail. The Forza cable has more body in bass and mids and focusses less on treble and voicing than the Effect cable. A more soft, musical and relaxed sound that’s easier to listen to.
HD650: of course the same characteristics can be found in combination with the Sennheiser. While the Effect Audio cable really clears up the dark the Sennheiser this cable focusses more on its musicality. Yes you also get more detail and clarity but there is less focus on the treble and more on the musical mids resulting in a smoother sound (compared to the more detailed sound with the Effect cable). Bass on both cables is more or less the same.
Conclusion
The cables come with a beautiful presentation. A pretty looking cable, made with an eye for detail. While the cable sounds great on all before mentioned headphones I do prefer using it with the LCD-2 and HE-650 and I can listen to it for hours as it is so non-fatiguing and musical.
Conclusion Part 1: Standard Cable for Audez’e/Hifiman and Sennheiser HD650
Both cables are similarly priced (the Forza is $80 more expensive) and they clearly are better than the stock cables. Both are very well built but the slightly more expensive Forza Audio cables just look a bit better. Sound wise both are excellent with their own characteristics and there is no best cable: these are really close overall with one focusing more on the mids and their musicality and the other on voicing and treble. I have been using both depending on the headphone of my choice and my musical preference of that moment.
Part two on the next page
Marc
Great review, Lieven!!
I wouldn’t say that I’m a cable believer but that’s only because I haven’t heard any boutique aftermarket cables. The one aspect of cables I do find interesting is how they could vary in sound not just through cable material but even through cable geometry such as being made into a litz, solid core, and/or braided strands.
Common belief to the threads and articles I’ve been reading is that solid core and cables that utilize litz should be the best sonically and I think this is the closest aspect to cable material that still has objective evidence to it. I’d like to think that differences in cable material only show little to no differences in measurements as there is more than the common measurement procedures needed to notice its effects. Then again, when should measurements ever be the sole factor in judging sound.
What are your beliefs regarding cable geometry and things like “Skin Effect?”
24bit
There are no measurement devices that can show you how vast the sound stage is, how much separation between instruments their is, how light or effortless the headphone sounds, how much bass weight there is, what the texture of the lows, mids or highs might be, what the shape of the sound stage might be…these are some qualities that are often attributed to change with cable swapping.
Dollarstore and Gas Station interconnects or mic cables sound like trash. This is an overpriced hobby, just as most specialized hobbies tend to be. Sports cars can cost $500,000 but can’t be taken off road or often used for long trips, totally outperformed by the $15,000 used car. Cable wire manufacturing plants create their wires in different purities, but even the highest grade wires are produced for pennies on the dollar. Those plants sell to a reseller or middle man, who sells to a distributor, who then sells to a specialized audiophile cable making company who sticks the wire inside their own companies housings of various designs and materials. I think the difference between extremely low grade wiring and normal consumer grade ( maybe even up to $99 entry level aftermarket cables ) is extremely apparent. But, the difference between those $99 entry level cables to high end is almost non existent. Although, I admit that I believe Cryotreatment alters the chemistry of audio gear for the better. No real proof beyond my ears on that, but why is it that my stock HE500 cable sounds this way, and a spare stock cable that is identical that was cryotreated sounds noticeable more clear?
Would love someone to measure cryo treated cables against themselves in stock untreated forms on the same headphone, just curious how that would pan out and if its really the cable or if perhaps the treatment altered the connections or adapters or the cable that resulted in more efficient voltage transfer.
dalethorn
A lot of properties like soundstage can be impacted strongly by other properties. You may have the perfect sound one day, then needing to replace a component (DAC, amp, etc.), your favorite sound is negatively impacted and you can’t get it back, even trying six other components. You may have gotten used to an exaggerated property, then when all that’s available are normal components, disappointment can happen. That’s why it’s important to try a lot of different things and aim for “good” in your price range, rather than aiming for perfection.
Marc
I agree. Synergy can create magic in a system but can also turn a system into shit (and not that good kind).
L.
In the beginning I had 1€ interconnects. Then I switched to the same length hand made ones from Audio GD (about 30USD a pair) and the sound, and my world, opened up.
Marc
This is exactly my point!! There are tons of people claiming cables have no effect even without hearing them and these people claim that cables have no altered response seen through measurements. The standard measurement procedures are still lacking in totally and completely defining sound, Measurements can be seen as a basis before buying things but I don’t think people should see it as a religion.
L.
Hi Marc, Thank you first of all.
I don’t get along too well with measurements. I’m not against them but the ear hears more than the numbers can say. Now I don’t know if the geometry has a specific impact. All I know is that different cables sound different, so yes probably each and every single aspect of a cable impacts the sound.
EraserXIV
Wow. Those coupon codes ran out fast.
L.
Sorry man :/
Geek707
Why would every cable tested sound better than stock? Leaving the IEMs out of this because I have no experience there, we have three headphone manufactures, one a very old and very experienced company, the other two, company’s that aims their products at the high end market. Yet somehow no matter what cable was tried it was better than stock.
There is also the return on the dollars spent. Spending $400 on cables for a HD650 is not going to make it a HD700 or HD800. Same is true for the LCD-2. The $450 spent for the TOTL cable is much better spent on upgrading the phones. Even assuming that cables can change the sound of a system, (which I have never heard, or seen science to explain why) even cable believers have to admit the change is very small. Just read the second paragraph of this review. Spend you money on something that will make a difference you can see on a graph, and you don’t need golden ears to hear. Cables should never cost a significant percentage of you total system, and should be the last thing you add as a final tweek.
The very pretty custom woven copper cable that I got with my HD800 did sound very different than the stock. The right channel was silent…
meh
the way i see Cable is like EQ
Cans – The house
Amp/Dac – Furniture/Accessories
Cable – Finishing touch
and not all the time u need the cable, while most of the time u already get the perfect sound signature on Amp/Dac help
but i do love more people starting to believe more in this, not just a straight “no”
ohm image
I’m the sort that buys cables if they feel good. A number of stock cables (earphone cables especially) have horrible ergonomics or exhibit too much touch noise. A nice supple cable, that’s what I want.
Patrick
Agree ohm, I use mostly cables which are a bit expensiver (10-15$) than the normal audio cables from the manufacturer, because they have a way better handling and a great length (2-5m or more if it’s needed – deleycon, kabeldirect etc.).
But cables over 100$/£ is just to much for me. Anyway thanks for your review L. was great to see your opinion based on personal base – Greetz
L.
Thanks. Another option is making your own cables. Have you seen our DIY article on that?
Patrick
No not yet, thanks for mentioning this L. – Greetz
rob
My Effect cable feels stiffer as hell, but i love the way it rounded out the harshness of the stock UE TF10’s. smoother kids and way better bass definition.
Headfonia_L.
I agree. Love the Effect Thor’s sound but once you get used to the ergonomics of the Linum cables, you’ll be sold.
rob
I use the same “UPOCC SPC (Silver Plated Copper). The base core used in UPOCC is 7N purity” Effect audio cable on my UETF10’s. It’s a single ended type but i i love it.
L: What difference’s did you hear between the Cosmic Ears (i assume Linum) cable and this cable? I have the same CE’s coming to me.
Headfonia_L.
Well there are 3 different Linum Cables, it depends which one you listen to. The linums however are all very clear and detailed and won’t push the bass and add body as much as the Effect cables do.
Ddaktiv
Great review! I’ve been using effect’s cables and their service is really excellent aside from quality and speed.
Headfonia_L.
yeah, they’re really nice guys!
Nuno B
Hello Lieven, great review. Have you ended up buying the LCD-XC and tested these cables with it? Which one did you prefer the most and why? Thanks.
Lieven
Hi! Yes I did buy the LCD-XC. I’m using the plus Sound X16
https://www.facebook.com/plusSound/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1106765472701086
Nuno B
Thanks for the feedback Lieven. That one is over my budget I’m afraid. If you had to select another from the ones you tested, say the likes of Forza AudioWorks, which one would you select for it?
Lieven
Noire hybrid HPC!
http://forzaaudioworks.com/en/product.php?id_product=72
Nuno B
Thanks again Lieven! If I ever decide to move with the plus Sound X16, which is the Wire you have yours with? They have a lot of Wire options for the X16.