And now on to Cassiel
The Cassiel is a bit of an anomaly for me personally. Normally when I see a silver-plated copper cable, I try to avoid it. Most of them have a tinny and brittle sounding treble, which just isn’t my sound. Cassiel however is not one of those SPC cables.
Although Cassiel to me adds speed and clarity to the highs, it does so without pushing treble over the edge of comfort. It gives me a more detailed top end but by at the same time staying neutral in its overall tone.
At the other end of the spectrum, Cassiel also added a bit more bass presence, which to me is more in the mid- and sub-bass region. The in-line upper bass and lower mids gives the midrange a neutral tone. With this, the Cassiel does not warm up mids like Azrael at all to me. It only creates more space and air around the musicians on stage.
Cassiel creates higher resolution throughout and gives a clearer picture of the performers. Instruments and singers sound more on point. With the added resolution imaging got sharper. Of course, the darker background helps here as well. The sound stage also got wider and deeper dimensions with the Cassiel.
Eletech Cassiel
Conclusion
Both cables are absolutely stunning. Visually and in terms of performance. The Azrael is such a great first step into the world of boutique cables. It’s a great companion for any IEM out there in my opinion. It enhances technical performance and adds a layer of emotional smoothness around the vocals, that makes them just so enjoyable.
The Cassiel is a personal surprise for me though. I have never been a fan of silver-plated copper. They are too often glary at the top end which made highs sound shrill and sibilant. For many years I have looked at them with despair, but the Cassiel is the perfect exception. It gives definition and resolution to the bass and keeps the treble neutral. Cassiel pushed my IEMs to new heights in terms of technical performance.
Eletech Cassiel
Between the two, Cassiel is the one that sounds a bit more energetic while Azrael is smoother and calmer. Depending on your needs both are excellent options!
It’s easy for me to recommend both cables to anyone who’s looking for the first upgrade.
Pros:
Great performance
Accessible pricing
Build Quality
Exemplary customer service (see head-fi thread and Eric’s presence 😉 )
Cons:
None at that price point
