Brise Audio ASUHA Ref.2 Review

Sound

As I said in the intro, I certainly think that aftermarket cables make a difference one way or another. You can check Linus’ many reviews of cables for that. But it’s not always a positive difference. Some cables work well with your specific IEMs and some don’t. I’ll try to explain the ASUHA Ref.2 and how it affects the sound.

The ASUHA Ref.2 added great dynamism, texture, and definition to the IEMs I’ve tested it with. That certain Brise Audio touch is once again there, but this one is also quite different than the Yatono RH2+. Rather than being neutral and flat, this cable boosts up the bass region and creates a warm sound with great pace. Let me tell you in detail.

Bass

Just like the STR7 Ref, the ASUHA Ref.2 provides a great sense of texture to the bass region. It’s easily one of the best cables that you can have in terms of bass. The quality is sublime, the resolution and texture are extremely good, and the decay is great.

Especially the midbass section is a bit boosted and that was the most apparent with the PEARS SH-3. That is normally a flat IEM in terms of presentation, but this cable added warmth and more bass overall. The SH3 became a very engaging IEM with this cable and it gives great punch and kick as well. The quantity is certainly elevated with all the IEMs I’ve tried, but it doesn’t do that just for the sake of fun. The quality of the bass is also very impressive so it’s not a bloated presentation in any way.

Think about switching to the Sony WM1Z from something like A&K SP2000. WM1Z is warmer and more organic with a definitive mid-bass focus so it sounds a bit thicker than many sources. That is exactly what happens with the ASUHA Ref.2. If that kind of presentation is what you’re after, and then this your TOTL cable for sure.

It just gives a very impressive bass response that doesn’t feel overpowering. If I have to repeat again, it’s not just a supplement of bass. The overall quality of the low region is also bettered with the ASUHA Ref.2. The resolution, texture, decay, and pace are all improved. However, if you have a warm sounding IEM, then the bass presentation become quite overwhelming so I suggest you to pair this cable with flat-ish sounding IEMs.

Mids

The mids are excellent with the ASUHA Ref.2. That is simply because of the wonderful timbre that it brings. Once again, the SH-3 is a perfect example here. Sure, it has good tonality with its standard cable, but when I plug the ASUHA Ref.2, the instruments become more refined with better definition and the timbre is simply better.

Apart from timbre -which is the most important thing in my book when it comes to mid presentation-, the ASUHA Ref.2 also provides better resolution and separation. Since it improves the definition, you get sharper imaging with better accuracy. This is Brise Audio’s single most noticeable trait in my opinion. From the STR7 Ref. to the Yatono and this one, they all improve the definition of instruments. You also get better musicality overall.

The mids are also warmer overall which is not a surprise since it adds a certain amount of mid-bass so the presentation becomes a bit thicker. You notice this the most with instrument focused songs. Especially live recordings sound excellent. The live recording experience definitely steps up with the ASUHA Ref.2, as well as binaural recordings such as Amber Rubarth’s “Sessions from the 17th Ward”. You get excellent note size and those guitar notes sound very very pleasing.

Treble

The treble doesn’t change that much when compared to the other parts of the spectrum, but there are still some things that ASUHA Ref.2 brings to the table.

One of them is the transparency of the treble. I noticed that the treble is a bit more detailed and it’s defined better. It’s a bit more articulated and thanks to the cable’s excellent separation ability, it sounds sharper because it’s simply more isolated from mids. The level of detail is also excellent.

The treble is overall a bit more energetic with more bite and sharpness. There’s more transparency and resolution in this area when compared to generic cables, which was expected. You have slightly better articulation and there’s more resolution in the upper treble area.

Technical Performance

The presentation slightly becomes narrower with the ASUHA Ref.2 in terms of sound-stage performance. So the staging dimensions are slightly smaller and the overall presentation becomes a bit more rounded. On the other hand, as I mentioned above, you get better dynamism and definition. The separation is sharper and stereo imaging is more precise.

You also get great resolution and dynamic range. The keyword here is dynamism like the other cables of Brise Audio that I tried. However, the best thing about this cable that it makes you want to listen to more instruments, more vocals, and more cymbals. I started to listen to more instrumental recordings with it and especially guitar notes sound amazingly well.

So it’s all about tonality here, which to me is extremely important and it’s an overlooked aspect sometimes. With the ASUHA Ref.2 you get great musicality and timbre so it’s not all about better technicalities. It also creates a more enjoyable presentation when you pair it with flat sounding IEMs.

Conclusion

Brise Audio impresses me every time I test one of their cables. The build quality and attention to detail are astonishingly good. Looks-wise it’s a personal opinion of course. I think Brise Audio is among the best in terms of aesthetics but bear in mind that I like more serious-looking gear.

It’s hard to realize that this is an 8-core cable. It’s very ergonomic for a cable of this kind so it’s surely a huge success. The Japanese craftsmanship is really something else and the attention to detail in this cable’s structure is simply excellent. I don’t actually know if a cable like this exists with an 8-wire configuration.

Of course, once again it’s a very expensive cable. So it should only appeal to the people that have high-end gear. If you have a high-end source and a TOTL IEM together, you might check out Brise Audio since they make outstanding cables.

So, let’s say you have TOTL gear and you’re on the lookout for a great cable. If you want a warmer presentation from your flat or reference type of IEM, then the ASUHA Ref.2 is the top-end version of the ASUHA line-up. If you want the absolute reference presentation, excellent transparency, and resolution, you can get the Yatono Rh2+. It all comes down to your gear and what harmony you want between them in your audio chain.

I absolutely recommend the ASUHA Ref.2 for those who seek the things I mentioned above. So it just entered our Accessories Recommendations with its outstanding performance in terms of technicalities, musicality, and overall ergonomics for an 8-wire in terms of structure.

 

5/5 - (22 votes)
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A keen audiophile and hobby photographer, Berkhan is after absolute perfection. Whether it is a full-frame camera or a custom in-ear, his standpoint persists. He tries to keep his photography enthusiasm at the same level as audio. Sometimes photography wins, sometimes his love for music takes over and he puts that camera aside. Simplistic expressions of sound in his reviews are the way to go for him. He enjoys a fine single malt along with his favourite Jazz recordings.

1 Comment

  • Reply January 13, 2021

    KD

    How do this compare to str7ref?

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