DIY Hakugei Gray Dragon
Configuration: 2 wire, shielded gold silver palladium copper alloy
Weight: 54g
Ergonomics: 3/10
Cost: $110 (cost of parts)
Despite being an audio DIYer for more than ten years, I’ve never bothered building my own cables until recently given they can be purchased for so little from brands like Penon & NiceHCK.
However this shootout offered the perfect opportunity to give it a try, so for my first attempt I elected to use Hakugei’s Gray Dragon wire which looked very appealing. In hindsight this was not the smartest choice since Gray Dragon wire is very difficult to work with given its’ massive girth & shielded nature, but the resulting cable has impressed sonically.
Hakugei are an intriguing brand. Unlike most IEM cable companies they manufacture their own wire, and even produce cables for numerous high-end earphone brands as an OEM. They sell both finished cables on their Aliexpress store, along with the bulk wire needed to build them if you’re inclined to DIY.
Hakugei have yet to reach the levels of hobbyist recognition enjoyed by outfits like Effect Audio & PW Audio, but after sampling the superb quality of their wire it’s difficult not to wonder how much of that is largely due to the superior marketing of more established brands.
So does the Gray Dragon sound as crazy as it looks? We’re about to find out.
Ergonomics & Build Quality
Ergonomically the finished Gray Dragon cable is second only to Code 23 as the most unpleasant in the shootout to handle.
The good news is that with only two very smooth wires the earhooks are more comfortable than you might expect for such a heavy cable, but that’s about where the good news ends.
Gray Dragon is both heavy, and due to the shielded nature of the wire much stiffer than you’d expect for an IEM cable. This makes it difficult to manage particularly when seated at a desk, as the wire simply isn’t pliable enough to flex easily as you pick up and move the audio player connected to it.
Indeed the slight stiffness of the Cardas Clear cable seems positively mild next to Gray Dragon, and its’ weight is also more easily felt.
I chose a Hakugei 4.4mm rhodium-plated plug & CEMA 2pin connectors for the hardware, and Oyaide SS-47 solder was used. For the Y-split I used a small section of vinyl tubing covered in white heatshrink which won’t win any beauty contests but weighs next to nothing, worsening the Gray Dragon’s already questionable ergonomics as little as possible.
Sound
Gray Dragon is in many ways a unique sounding cable. Its’ shielded construction & large volume of conductor material allow it to boost bass perhaps as effectively as any of the 8 wire cables in the shootout, and improvements to dynamics may be even more impressive as it is definitely one of the most dynamic-sounding cables present.
It also excels at creating a deeper soundstage, though width is not expanded to the same degree.
Though utilising a variety of materials, Gray Dragon can sound reminiscent of a copper cable by delivering a powerful, muscular presentation.
IEM Comparisons
Penon 10th Anniversary
The Gray Dragon seems to push the midrange forward, boosting sub bass and improving dynamics.
This has the effect of reducing some of the 10th Anniversary’s inherent smoothness and making them sound more exciting yet still quite well balanced, leading to a satisfying pairing.
ISN EST50
Great dynamics are again on display here, and so is the same satisfying bass boost we saw with the 10th Anniversary. There is also a greater midrange emphasis to correct the EST50’s natural V-shape.
The stage depth is increased, but imaging & resolution feels a step below that of the large 8 wire cables. Regardless, this is a very good pairing.
Penon Impact
The Gray Dragon creates a deep but fairly narrow stage with a black background. There’s an obvious lower frequency & midrange emphasis that creates a muscular, visceral tonality.
Resolution and imaging again feel inferior to the large, more expensive 8 wire cables along with Venom, Sky-Sea Voice & Cardas Clear.
Verdict
As my first-ever DIY cable, Gray Dragon turned out better than expected.
Ergonomically the cable is a bit of a nightmare, something that becomes much easier to manage if you use it every day, but conversely swapping back & forth between more ergonomic cables makes it more difficult to endure.
Sonically the cable is superb given the relatively low cost of building it, the price lies more in the weight & stiffness – I definitely consider it a ‘stationary listening position only’ cable, and even then the stiffness of the earhooks makes them uncomfortable when turning your head.
As always, everything in this hobby is a compromise.
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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