Modular Plug System

The Obsidian’s modular plug system works similarly to Effect Audio’s Term-X and most modular IEM cable systems – basically you unscrew the section just below the barrel of the plug itself, remove the plug, insert the new one & re-tighten to secure the new plug in place.

Four pins connect the plug to the wires of the cable, and the plug can only attach one way so there’s no need to worry about reverse polarity.

It’s not a revolutionary system, nor does it avoid the common pitfall of modular plugs – that with enough force you can remove the plug without unscrewing the barrel, so potentially there’s a risk the plug may detach at times you don’t want it to. Admittedly that’s not likely to occur unless you yank the cable quite hard, but psychologically a fixed soldered plug can feel more secure.

The other issue surrounding modular plugs is sonic degradation, since a solder joint offers superior conductivity (and potentially better audio performance) than a friction-fit connection. Opinions vary on just how much real-world performance is affected however, and Effect Audio have certainly laundered praise for the their friction-fit ConX 2 pin/MMCX connectors with few complaints of adverse performance.

 

Sound Performance

When I reviewed the white-jacketed Obsidian cable bundled with the Penon Impacts in my 2023 Cable Shootout I didn’t come away amazed at its’ performance, though in fairness it was up against vastly more expensive competition so perhaps that’s not surprising. However it meant when Penon sent me this new Obsidian my expectations weren’t sky high.

The white-jacketed Obsidian was a 4.4mm fixed-plug cable, and I wonder if it was built using different solder or 2pin connectors because this new iteration sounds different. The white Obsidian felt very midrange-centric, whereas this new modular Obsidian feels more V-shaped which I prefer.

Bear in mind locking down the “sound” of a cable can be a tricky business given they affect the performance of each IEM a bit differently, but the modular Obsidian has impressed me by deepening the bass of IEMs I use it with, increasing the perception of background blackness, improving dynamics and enhancing note weight.

The Obsidian also improves resolution slightly, and though this isn’t a behemoth 8 wire cable that’ll grow the soundstage massively it does have a way of relaxing stage dimensions to give performers more room to breathe without necessarily making the stage feel like a cathedral. Its as if the Obsidian gives the performance more headroom, in contrast with cheap stock cables that make your system feel like its gasping for breath. Improved dynamics probably play a role in that.

Of course the novelty lies with the modular plug system, so naturally you’ll ask – do the copper & rhodium plugs sound different? Yes, I find they do. The differences are more subtle than the changes between IEM cables, and you’ll notice them more on some IEMs than others.

To summarise them, the Rhodium Plug generally sounds airier and “cleaner” with more prominent treble and slightly better technical performance, whilst the Purple Copper Plug feels earthier, imparting more of a stereotypical copper tonality that sounds smoother. Things aren’t quite that simple though, as the performance of each plug is somewhat determined by the IEM you pair the cable with.

 

Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging & Ergonomics
Page 2 – Modular Plug System & Sound Performance
Page 3 – IEM Impressions
Page 4 – Cable Comparisons
Page 5 – Conclusion

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