Liquid Links Martini
Configuration: 8 wire, palladium plated silver & gold plated copper
Weight: 46g
Ergonomics: 5/10
Cost: $349
Liquid Links is a brand that’s come to prominence in Western earphone circles more recently, perhaps due in part to their collaboration with Elysian Accoustic Labs who bundle Liquid Links cables with their critically-acclaimed Diva, X & Annihilator IEMs.
The Martini uses an interesting combination of palladium & gold plated materials, and is without doubt one of the prettier cables in the shootout. At $349 it’s a natural competitor to Effect Audio’s Eros S, with both cables sporting a similar 8 wire girth.
Whilst the Martini is commonly cited as one of the most attractive cables on the market, ownership numbers are relatively low. So does it sound as good as it looks? Keep reading to find out.
Ergonomics & Build Quality
At a more manageable 26 AWG than the larger & heavier 24 AWG of the Ares S & Cadmus 8 wire cables, Martini feels significantly less irksome in use but still lags behind most 4 wire cables in comfort, largely due to the added weight.
The Martini lacks a chin slider should you feel one is necessary, but this is perhaps excusable to maintain the minimalistic look of its’ Y-split which surely ranks as one of the most attractive in the industry. The 4.4mm plug is similarly stylish, and although aesthetics are largely a matter of preference I feel this is one area where Liquid Links are leading the pack.
Build quality of the Martini is about as good as it gets, the wire is very supple and the Y-split, plug and even 2pin connectors inspire a feeling of luxuriousness. Indeed the cable sets a hard task for itself to perform at a level commensurate with its’ appearance.
Sound
The Martini features the same significant dynamics & soundstage improvements common to other 8 wire cables like the Ares S 8. Where those two particular cables differ mostly is in tonality, with the Martini emphasising the upper midrange far more and lacking the bottom-end meatiness & warmth of pure copper.
So although the Martini offers excellent technical performance in areas like resolution & imaging, pairing it successfully has been a challenge. It is perhaps well suited to thinning out excessively warm IEMs, but can leave a bad pairing sounding dry.
IEM Comparisons
Penon 10th Anniversary
With all the superb dynamics and broad stage of the Ares S 8 wire, the Martini eschews its’ lower frequency emphasis for one that feels better balanced across the entire frequency spectrum.
Unfortunately the Martini pushes the upper midrange too far forward for my taste, which leaves the 10th Anniversary feeling slightly fatiguing. I find the mindrange tonality wonky in a manner difficult to describe, and don’t particularly care for this pairing.
ISN EST50
The improved dynamics are very noticeable as is the deeper soundstage, which despite not being vastly wider than that of 4 wire cables somehow makes the presentation feel like it has more room to breathe.
Likewise resolution also seems a touch more effortless, perhaps due to the increased upper midrange which aids articulation. Surprisingly the Martini even manages to smooth out the EST50s treble so the possibility of fatigue is lower than on the stock cable, making this a satisfying pairing.
Penon Impact
Stage dimensions are improved in both depth & width, but bass doesn’t feel quite as substantial as is observed with other large 8 wire cables in the shootout.
Furthermore the Martini’s upper midrange emphasis creates an unpleasant sort of hollow tonality, rendering this pairing quite disappointing.
Verdict
Martini deserves praise for reaching an amicable compromise between ergonomics and performance, owing to its’ use of smaller wires than Ares S 8 wire for instance.
It’s also perhaps the most attractive IEM cable I’ve run across, which I’ll happily admit was a reason I was drawn to it in the first place. This is cable that screams quality, making any IEM attached to it instantly feel more expensive.
Martini can be a bit more difficult to pair than Cadmus 8 or Ares S 8 especially, but I do find it noticably more comfortable.
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
Comments