Sound
The Effect Audio EVO 10 is a cable that presents a dynamic approach to the sound. With the three IEMs that I tried it with, it provided me a better dynamism, bass texture and quality, and more treble energy with a bit more extension.
These are the shining traits of this cable to me. The EVO 10 certainly adds energy and vividness to the sound. Let me explain in more detail with my usual breakdown.
Bass
With particularly the Empire Ears ESR MKII, the bass became tighter and a little more punchy when I paired the monitor with the EVO 10. This is a very nice IEM to monitor the changes since it has a neutral signature. The cable boosts the bass quantity a bit. The mid-bass area is lifted slightly so it’s a good option if you seek a little more mid-bass body but quantity is still not dominating like some fully copper cables. If you want to have a bit more bass from your monitor, the EVO 10 gives that.
The mid-bass is more pronounced and definitive, but again this trait doesn’t disrupt the monitor’s overall presentation too much. Overall you get a good body and good extension in the bass. The monitors I tried it with presented a more full-bodied sound to me. The quality of the bass is impressive as well. There’s a good texture, quickness, and resolution. However, the Lime Ears Pneuma, for instance, sounded a bit too bassy for my taste. So I think this cable is more suitable for flatter-sounding IEMs.
Effect Audio EVO 10
Mids
Mids are smooth, a bit more upfront, and energetic. They become closer with the EVO 10, sounding a bit warmer. The instruments play more closely when you compare it to the stock cables and you also get a slight boost in warmth which is always welcomed by me.
Lower mids in particular receive a bit more boost to me. That allows overall mid reproduction to be warmer and fuller. The dynamism with the instruments is really good and you get great energy out of the IEMs. Mid resolution is very good as well with great transparency.
You simply get more and better focus with vocals and instruments with the EVO 10 at the same time. The mids have more transparency with better definition with also better refinement. The mids also have a good amount of air and breath with this cable. An excellent performer in the mid-range.
Treble
This area has more focus and energy as well, as this is the most striking trait of the EVO 10. However, there’s more to it. The treble receives more extension and transparency overall. They sound more detailed, more focused with more definition.
These are very good features if you want a little better treble performance from your monitor. This area of the spectrum is just like the mids; slightly better resolution and transparency. I especially liked the performance of the cable with the Empire Ears ESR MKII in this particular area.
Effect Audio EVO 10
Technical Points
The presentation broadly becomes tighter with the Effect Audio EVO 10 and everything is more focused with better refinement. The staging is excellent as the EVO 10 provides more air and space to the sound, so everything becomes a little more effortless. The feeling is like upgrading to a bigger concert hall with better acoustics in terms of sound-stage.
You get a more dynamic sound with better resolution and transparency as well. There is better layering and better texture too. The stereo imaging becomes better focused, and the instruments are defined better so the imaging becomes clearer overall. There’s more room for the instruments and vocals especially. Bass becomes tighter, dynamic but quicker with good PRaT. So you basically get a better transient response. The technical performance of the EVO 10 is very strong as you can see.
Does It Worth It?
Well, that’s the most important question of all, when evaluating an audio gear or accessory. There have been many cables that impressed me over the years. But Effect Audio is one of those brands that really get the job done in terms of overall performance. And now they set the bar very high in terms of product presentation, packaging, and style.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not all about aesthetics or fashion. The sound performance and gains that this cable brings to the table to me are undeniable. With its 588 $ price, it would be hard for many people to swallow for just one cable since you can get several IEMs at the same price level. But that’s the point. This hobby is about diminishing returns. And if you want to upgrade your portable system, and if you have this kind of budget for a cable, I think it’s definitely worth it.
There’s Brise Audio for even more expensive and very impressive cables. Lately, I’ve been reviewing their cables and they’re amazing performers. But the EVO 10 has a smaller price point with the performance not too far away from the Japanese offerings. So at this budget level, the EVO 10 is a great cable for sure.
Effect Audio EVO 10
Conclusion
I really like the EVO 10 simply because it’s a very luxurious cable combined with a very impressive sound performance. It improves technical aspects like resolution, transparency, dynamism, and texture. But it also else more fun with better energy, better focus, and refinement with excellent definition. You get closer to the true recording, and you also see your monitor’s capabilities with a good source device.
The price is not off the charts either, so this might be a very sensible purchase for the audiophiles that want to get more from their systems. However, I think it’s a bit more suitable for the IEMs with a neutral and flat response. Not because that it only performs well with those, but I just enjoyed it even more with PEARS SH3 and ESR MKII, than the Lime Ears Pneuma.
I certainly recommend the EVO 10 and it just entered our Accessories Recommendations with its excellent design elements and very good gains that it provides in the sound department.
