Sound Impressions
I’ve used a Luxury & Precision P6 Pro in hi-gain mode with various IEMs to test the DragonScale 2. Here’s the Tidal playlist I use to evaluate audio gear.
According to NiceHCK the DragonScale 2 boasts silver-palladium alloy conductors which have undergone liquid nitrogen cryogenic treatment no less.
What I can tell you is DragonScale 2 is on the brighter side of the spectrum, on par with many silver-plated copper cables I’ve tried.
Which means this cable is great for ‘waking up’ excessively warm IEMs, yet is versatile enough that even IEMs that are treble-prominent already shouldn’t be tipped over the edge, but do expect most IEMs to be brightened slightly. What DragonScale 2 excels at is enhancing IEM technical performance.
Soundstage width is typically improved, but I’ve definitely heard wider cables. The boost to stage depth is actually more impressive, which coincidently I find is also a tougher attribute for cables to improve.
DragonScale 2 is also great for enhancing detail retrieval, particularly through the midrange.
Dynamics also enjoy an uptick as does note weight, and imaging becomes slightly more pinpoint as a benefit of DragonScale 2’s blacker background. Bear in mind cable synergy is always crucial, so some IEMs will benefit more than others and will have their tonality affected in ways oft hard to predict.
Generally speaking I find DragonScale 2 brightens most IEMs slightly whilst creating a deeper, more three-dimensional stage in which instruments are separated better & each note feels easier to distinguish.
IEM Comparisons
I tested DragonScale 2 with several IEMs at hand to get a feel for how it alters their sound signatures.
ISN Neo 3 – 2xDD 1xPlanar (USD $199)
The stock Neo3 cable is a decent little 8 core OCC affair, by comparison DragonScale 2 feels slightly brighter, stage dimensions don’t change much but bass goes a bit deeper and resolution goes up slightly.
Imaging also feels slightly more defined, the background is blacker, and note weight is improved, resulting in greater overall definition and a cleaner presentation.
Penon Fan2 – 2xDD 2xBA (USD $279)
The stock OS133 Fan2 cable is physically super thin and has never really impressed me, so it’s no surprise DragonScale 2 constitutes a solid upgrade over it.
DragonScale 2 is more dynamic, the stage is deeper, vocals come forward and are more resolving. The stock cable’s stage feels wider but much flatter with compressed dynamics, whereas DragonScale 2 is brighter & more spacious with cleaner imaging.
Tansio Mirai X – 2xDD 4xBA 1xPR (USD $399)
The X’s seem to scale very well with cables so I notice a strong improvement here.
DragonScale 2 is slightly brighter than the stock cable (surprising since I’ve criticised X’s stock cable for being quite bright) with both a deeper & wider soundstage – the difference is very significant too.
Dynamics are better, imaging is a bit cleaner with a more spacious overall sound. Bass doesn’t go quite as deep however, and tonally a bit of warmth is lost but the price feels worth it.
Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging, Ergonomics & Build Quality
Page 2 – Sound Impressions & IEM Comparisons
Page 3 – Cable Comparisons
Page 4 – Conclusion
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