Effect Audio Ares S 8 Wire & Ares S 4 Wire
Configuration: 8 wire OCC copper litz – 4 wire OCC copper litz
Weight: 8 wire 53g – 4 wire 33g
Ergonomics: 8 wire 4/10 – 4 wire 6/10
Cost: 8 wire $279 – 4 wire $179
Effect Audio have been a mainstay of the high-end portable audio scene for many years, and indeed may lay claim to having done more to further the popularity of premium IEM cables than any other brand.
Having previously owned EA’s Cadmus 4 wire & Eros S 8 wire, and in years gone by their Leonidas and Ares II 4 & 8 wires cables it’s fair to say I’m a fan of their work.
Initially released last year, their Signature Series is to my ears a definite sonic upgrade over the previous generation of entry-level offerings, and delivers similar levels of value by high-end cable standards.
The 4 and 8 wire versions of Ares S are almost physically identical aside from the differing wire count. As IEM cable materials seem to get more exotic by the year copper litz can begin to feel almost vanilla by comparison, but still has plenty to offer sonically.
Do these cables deserve the praise the community has lavished upon them? Let’s find out.
Ergonomics & Build Quality
EA’s Signature Series is disappointing ergonomically on a few fronts. Firstly the shape of the earhooks of every cable in the range except Eros S is excessively angular in a manner that grips the top of the ear with excessive force, which I find very uncomfortable.
With each cable I’ve attempted to alleviate this by repeatedly bending the earhooks into my preferred gentler curve, to some success. EA have been making cables a long time, and this is something they’ve never had problems with in the past which is why it’s so disappointing.
Secondly the aluminium Y-splits EA use on these cables are unnecessarily large & heavy. Attractive & attention grabbing perhaps, but I’d much prefer something lighter and more comfortable though you may feel otherwise. EA are by no means alone here – huge & weighty splitters have become the norm in the high-end cable industry so EA may feel they’ve no choice but to cater to the market’s expectations.
As for the 4 wire & 8 wire versions and how they differ ergonomically, the 8 wire version is appreciably heavier and the earhooks are a great deal thicker, and both impact ergonomics negatively. I feel the 8 wire cable’s sonic improvements justify its’ added cost in dollars far better than they do the penalty to comfort, though even the 4 wire cable’s ergonomics are impeded by those angular earhooks.
Finally the 4.4mm plugs EA use on their Signature Series cables look and feel unimpressive, and I’ve encountered plenty of much more affordable cables with plugs that feel higher in quality.
Sound
Traditionally copper cables were warm & fuzzy but that’s changed with modern materials & geometries.
Both these cables deliver a raw, meaty sound characterised by a strong bottom-end emphasis. There’s some warmth here, with all the satisfying midrange fullness you might expect from quality copper cables, but enough clarity that excessive warmth does not obscure details or blunt the rendering of technicalities like imaging & resolution.
Either Ares S cable will match exceptionally well with IEMs that feel a tad lean, lacking in midbass or lower midrange. I do find the NiceHCK BlackSoul is better at rolling off excessive treble if you’re finding an IEM particularly bright.
Where the 8 wire version kicks things up a notch over the 4 wire is by offering even better dynamics, a broader soundstage, along with slightly deeper bass and more effortlessly perceptible resolution. At a cost of significantly poorer ergonomics.
IEM Comparisons
Penon 10th Anniversary
The 8 wire Ares S raises the volume level significantly compared with the stock cable, delivering a very muscular, visceral performance characterised by significant boosts to the lower midrange & midbass.
Midrange tonality is fantastic as you’d expect from copper and although the stage dimensions expand, vocals are brought forward which can help make performances feel more exciting. This is a terrific cable for rock music.
ISN EST50
Again the bottom end is boosted, an area the basshead EST50s are hardly lacking in to begin with so you may find this a little excessive unless you literally can’t get enough bass in your life.
The 8 wire version’s dynamics are superb, imaging & resolution are improved compared with the stock cable, and the stage feels appreciably larger. The 4 wire version doesn’t enlarge the state quite as much, and resolution & bass are also lower by comparison. Neither version impacts treble negatively as you may experience with excessively warm copper cables.
Penon Impact
The 8 wire version improves dynamics, adds more midrange detail & broadened the stage but doesn’t seem to add the same magnitude of improvement it does to the previous two IEMs. Bass in particular doesn’t seem affected nearly as much, perhaps owning to the Impacts’ lack of a dynamic driver.
The 4 wire cable delivers slightly lower resolution, poorer dynamics and a narrower stage than the 8 wire, but the difference between them is less perceptible with the Impacts than the 10th Anniversary or EST50s.
Verdict
Sonically both of these cables deliver a meaty, bottom-end fuelled presentation that excels with genres like rock, with neither leaving you feeling treble prominence has been sacrificed too greatly to achieve it.
The 8 wire version is a significant auditory upgrade and in side-by-side testing you will definitely notice the difference, but the extra weight & thicker earhooks can make the ergonomics quite challenging. Indeed the ergonomic penalty is much harder to stomach than the difference in price between them.
Ares S in either configuration remains an extremely safe & dependable choice in the entry-level premium IEM cable space, particularly as pure copper cables are often the easiest to pair with IEMs successfully.
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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