Penon Leo Plus
Configuration: 8 wire, gold silver palladium alloy
Weight: 26g
Ergonomics: 9/10
Cost: $249
Penon sell a wide range of cables covering all sorts of price points, and one of their more universally acclaimed models over the last few years has been Leo Plus.
This cable was released back when Effect Audio was creating quite a stir in the market with their Leonidas II which also utilised palladium, and I always wondered if Leo Plus’ name was subtle nod to EA’s success with that model.
I actually purchased this cable a long time ago to pair with Andromeda 2020s, which proved to be an excellent match, but have since had Penon re-terminate this Leo Plus to 2pin from MMCX. They also replaced the old 2.5mm plug with a shiny new 4.4 version.
So is palladium just a marketing gimmick or does it yield tangible sonic benefits? I’m glad you asked…
Ergonomics & Build Quality
As an almost mid-range priced cable Leo Plus perhaps demonstrates changing market expectations. Aftermarket cables have generally been growing in size and weight for some time, and cables with massive girths & humungous strand counts seem to be everywhere now.
Leo Plus was born from a less ostentatious era when ergonomics were perhaps more heavily prioritised over sheer performance, and its’ low weight of only 26g feels refreshing next to its’ far heavier rivals.
Indeed Leo Plus features very close to the same suppleness & pliability of the S8 & CS819 which makes it a joy to use.
In terms of build quality however this cable also demonstrates how times have changed, as its’ hardware feels & looks somewhat utilitarian by modern mid-range cable standards, with many recent cables at similar prices featuring hardware that feels more premium.
Sound
Leo Plus is a cable that excels at improving an IEMs’ technical performance, in particular soundstage dimensions.
It does a fantastic job of stretching the stage wider on monitors that sound closed in, and also excels at improving imaging.
Leo Plus does have something of that upper frequency emphasis we often associate with silver cables, so if an earthier presentation with greater note weight is needed this probably isn’t the ideal choice.
IEM Comparisons
Penon 10th Anniversary
As expected the Leo Plus widens the 10th Anniversary’s stage appreciably & sharpens imaging greatly. Surprisingly bass also feels more impressive, with midbass in particular becoming more prominent.
Unfortunately dynamics seem to suffer, and the lower midrange feels conspicuously absent leading to a somewhat unpleasant tonality – giving the impression of a sacrifice being made for better technicalities.
ISN EST50
The stage widens as expected but also seems a little flatter. Perceived resolution increases and I definitely notice cymbals much more, pointing to increased treble emphasis.
Unfortunately bass doesn’t seem to hit quite as hard as the stock S8 cable, nor do dynamics feel as impressive either, leading to this pairing feeling somewhat unsuccessful.
Penon Impact
The Leo Plus creates a very wide stage with impressively sharp imaging, which is satisfying given the Impacts’ stage is not the widest I’ve heard with the stock Obsidian cable.
The midrange also seems to gain increased prominence and perceived resolution, further enhancing one of the Impacts’ great strengths, making this a very enjoyable cable pair up.
Verdict
The Leo Plus is an interesting cable, which in comparison to some of its’ more recent rivals has struggled to live up to my past memories of its’ performance.
Though ergonomically superb and attractive to look at, Leo Plus has been difficult to pair successfully though it does display a commendable ability to widen the soundstage appreciably.
Introduction
Cable 1 & 2 – EA Ares S 4 Wire & 8 Wire
Cable 3 – Effect Audio Cadmus 8 Wire
Cable 4 – Effect Audio Code 23
Cable 5 – ISN S8
Cable 6 – Liquid Links Martini
Cable 7 – Liquid Links Venom
Cable 8 – NiceHCK BlackSoul
Cable 9 – Penon CS819
Cable 10 – Penon Leo Plus
Cable 11 – Penon Obsidian
Cable 12 – Penon Vocal
Cable 13 – DIY Cardas Clear
Cable 14 – DIY Hakugei Gray Dragon
Cable 15 – DIY Hakugei Sky-Sea Voice
Talking Point – Cable Performance vs Ergonomics
Talking Point – Cable Value
Talking Point – Cable DIY
Cable Awards
Conclusion
Cable Manufacturer Links & Acknowledgements
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