Effect Audio Cadmus 8 Wire
Configuration: 8 wire, silver plated OCC copper litz
Weight: 53g
Ergonomics: 4/10
Cost: $299
The 8 wire silver-plated copper counterpart to Ares S’ pure copper iteration, Cadmus shares much of its’ brother’s DNA both functionally & aesthetically, and even monetarily. I was able to demo Cadmus 8 as part of the recent Australian Effect Audio Tour graciously organised by Damz87.
Having briefly owned the 4 wire version of this cable last year & struggled to appreciate it, I suspected wire composition was to blame – silver-plated copper is often used to impart much of the sonic virtues of silver whilst avoiding the far higher manufacturing costs of pure silver wire.
Every silver-plated copper cable I’ve owned has to some extent produced an objectionable tonality I would characterise with the term brittleness. Absent is the richness of high-quality pure silver, or the warmth of pure copper.
Does the Cadmus 8 wire overcome my preference objection? Read on to learn.
Ergonomics & Build Quality
Fundamentally this cable is a silver-plated clone of the Ares S 8 wire previously described.
It is extremely thick and heavy, though acceptably supple. Comfort is not aided by the excessively weighty Y-split, nor the uncomfortably shaped earhooks which are also extremely thick owning to the large amount of conductor material.
This is not a cable who’s presence will vanish from thought easily during listening sessions, especially if you turn your head often or move around much. In fact EA’s own Eros S cable felt far more comfortable for a similar price.
Again it’s worth mention the 4.4mm plug used on this cable feels decidedly inappropriate for its’ price bracket, particularly compared with the Y-split which gives the impression of being manufactured to a much higher aesthetic standard.
Sound
Sonically Cadmus 8 is very similar to Ares S 8 as you might expect, with the silver-plating producing a very slight improvement in technical performance and a shift in tonality.
Whereas Ares S 8 is an unashamedly bottom-end dominant cable, Cadmus 8 lessens the lower frequency emphasis slightly and adds more upper end sparkle to produce a more V-shaped signature.
On the technical front, the same extremely impressive dynamics and large soundstage are apparent, which is perhaps a touch wider than that of Ares S 8, along with the same improvement in resolution. Bass is extremely impressive, but not quite as noticeable due to greater upper-frequency emphasis.
IEM Comparisons
Penon 10th Anniversary
Cadmus 8 delivers a very weighty performance with ample bass quantity, without shifting too much attention away from the treble unlike Ares S 8. However there is a mild upper-midrange emphasis that could prove fatiguing with the wrong material.
Like Ares 8, Cadmus delivers large stage dimensions including impressive depth, and strong imaging is also a standout. This is a very impressive cable pairing.
ISN EST50
Sadly the EST50s do not pair with Cadmus 8 quite as well. However technical performance is again very impressive, particularly the soundstage dimensions & dynamics improvements over the stock cable.
Unfortunately this pairing is characterised by a lack of lower midrange, leading to a hollow tonality. Even bass performance relative to the stock cable doesn’t feel as impressive as expected from an 8 wire cable.
Penon Impact
Things fare better with the Impacts, perhaps due to their inherently less-forward treble. Bass quantity is impressive, as are dynamics which are better than those of the Ares S 8 wire. Imaging is also improved.
There is an upper midrange & lower treble emphasis that was lacking with the Ares S 8, high frequencies in particular are more perceptible, leading to a somewhat more ethereal & less earthy presentation.
Verdict
Cadmus 8 is a solid recommendation if you’re looking for an 8 wire IEM cable from a premium manufacturer but prefer a little more upper-frequency emphasis than Ares S delivers.
The issue I see here is for only $20 more you can purchase EA’s Eros S 8 wire instead, a cable I owned and found to be significantly more comfortable. However Eros S is a darker sounding cable that will pair better with brighter IEMs.
Cadmus 8’s sonics are undoubtedly worth its’ asking price but ergonomics leave much to be desired with those stiff, uncomfortably-shaped earhooks and weight you will definitely notice. I suggest demoing any heavy cable before you purchase if at all possible, to determine if you can live with the ergonomics.
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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