Thanks
@EffectAudio and
@Sebastien Chiu to give us the opportunity to listen to these cables!
Here are a couple of pictures and my impressions on the Cleopatra II Octa
The Cleopatra II is part of the Effect Audio Heritage Series.
The first Cleopatra was released back in 2019 and was one of the first successful high end cables at a time where the kilo bucks cable market was still in its infancy.
The Cleopatra II was released around 3.5 years after at the end of 2022.
Here is a chart depicting the difference between version 1 and version 2 in term of sound but Effect Audio also updated the hardware, which is very nice.
The Cleopatra II comes in 4 wire version (US$ 1.199) and in 8 wire version (US$ 1.799). It's the latest that it's on tour and that I was able to test.
Sound : I tested it with a Sony WM1ZM2 DAP and FitEar DC Ti CIEM and Elysian Acoustics Labs Pilgrim UIEM.
It's a 26 AWG silver cable but it doesn't sound like a typical silver cable. It brings a delicate warmth while preserving details and pleasantly boosting treble and bass without being harsh.
I preferred it with the Pilgrim, it was really a very nice, enjoyable and balanced chain. The Cleopatra brought a boost in vocal which was a bit recessed with the cable provided with the Pilgrim. It also added soundstage expansion.
I own an Effect Audio Code 51 and I think actually that the Cleo II is a better choice, it's a better all rounder.
Ergonomic : one of the best 8 wire cable I have ever tested! Very soft and light.
It also comes with ConX and TermX which allowed to test it with FitEar (FitEar connectors) and Elysian (Pentaconn Ear connectors), in balanced and in 3.5 mini.
Switching connectors is really easy and quick, although it would be nice to have some sort of marking on the termination to allow a more straight forward insertion.
The cable is also very nice (check
@paulwasabii pictures!). I hope it's not prone to oxydation on the long term.