Cable Comparisons
As always I’m curious to learn how the EA1000s scale with aftermarket cables.
Since the EA1000 stock cable has a 3.5mm termination I instead paired them with a fairly basic 4.4mm Penon Globe silver-plated stock cable as the “default” option, to make comparisons with other 4.4mm cables fairer given DAP performance can change greatly going from unbalanced to balanced output.
Simgot LC7 (USD $69)
Pity this isn’t the EA1000 stock cable, because it sounds like Simgot tuned it with the EA1000 in mind – as such I recommend every EA1000 owner considers purchasing or at least demoing one.
In this fantastic pairing the EA1000 stage deepens, dynamics improve, the midrange resolution increases, note weight is increased and even treble seems more articulated. It almost feels like the cable adds a couple of extra BAs to each earpiece.
Penon Vocal (USD $69)
As expected Vocal is a great budget option for ‘correcting’ the Harman tonality by emphasising the midrange, lower midrange in particular. Vocals definitely come forward with greater weight & resolution.
The presentation feels a bit smoother with treble slightly rolled off though I don’t get the sense important details are lost, the stage feels a touch narrower but deeper as if your listening position is thrust forward closer to the performers.
NiceHCK FirstTouch (USD $89)
I quite like this pairing, and what really jumps about it is how much more resolving the EA1000 midrange becomes – FirstTouch is almost like a baby PW Audio Orpheus in that sense.
The stage feels a tad flatter but slightly wider, however the background is certainly blacker which helps improve imaging and I do notice a bit more midbass which helps make bass feel slightly more impactful.
Treble seems slightly rolled off, but the cable does creates a smoother, more refined tonality.
Penon ASOS (USD $169)
The ASOS has become my basshead cable of choice, for reliably improving IEM bass performance. So it’s no surprise EA1000 bass impact is improved but unlike other cables in this comparison I feel extra sub bass output, rather than simply more midbass.
The soundstage is definitely deeper and even feels slightly taller, the background is blacker & dynamics are improved, and even treble feels more articulate with imaging appreciably clearer in this impressive pairing, though the EA1000’s tonality is affected less than by some of the other cables.
Effect Audio Ares S 4 Wire (USD $179)
As expected the Ares S increases midbass which makes bass feel a bit punchier, tonality is slightly warmer & smoother but thankfully there’s no treble roll off as can happen with other copper cables.
Stage dimensions don’t seem to change much, note weight is a little better and surprisingly imaging is slightly clearer, but dynamics feel a tad muted and I was left a touch underwhelmed by this pairing.
Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging & Ergonomics
Page 2 – Sound Performance, Technical Performance & Tuning Nozzles
Page 3 – IEM Comparisons
Page 4 – Cable Comparisons
Page 5 – Conclusion
This is the most accurate review of ea1000 over all others.