Sound:
I start every cable review with this. I know it is a hot topic. Can cables make an audible difference in the audio chain or are people who buy them blinded by marketing? Personally, I think cables can alter the signature of an IEM or headphone. I have experienced it many times, but have to say, that not every single IEM/headphone will show you the differences. There are monitors that don’t display them as obvious as others. One of my IEMs that shows me the changes in the chain very easily is Noble Audio’s Katana. It’s probably the most cable and source responsive IEM I own. For that reason I like to pick it up for every cable review I am doing.
The Socrates has a warmer and thicker sound, that puts in noticeable weight into the mid-range. It spreads the stage in all dimensions and knows how to create a black background for enhanced imaging and resolution.
Bass with the Socrates is reaching low into the sub-bass region. It comes with good authority, drive and weight. It’s especially the texturing and contouring of the low end notes that got my attention. If you pair it with a monitor that comes with high quality lows on its own, like the Empire Ears Odin, you’ll be in for a massive treat. It really takes those dual dynamic W9+ woofers to new heights, and that’s not an easy trait. With the Socrates you get a bit more bass body and density as well. It improves control and speed in my opinion as well.
Mids are warmed up and thick sounding. Socrates infuses some lushness and richness into the mid-range, where male vocals receive more weight and female singers sound extra rich. The Socrates makes instruments appear with more density and an enhanced organic sound. Everything sounds wetter and somewhat tube-esque. Monitors that feature a special mid-range already, like the Zeus XIV, Kaiser Encore or A18s, have the potential to sound even better.
What the Socrates does exemplary well to my ears is darkening the background. It gives me a deep blackness, which lets musicians stand out with very good contrast. Socrates has very good imaging abilities and spreads a good sound stage. It is especially the depth and layering that convinced me with Socrates though. It really knows how to separate instruments with a clear cut and place them with good care in the constructed room. Socrates also handles details with ease. It brings out finer nuances in my monitors and displays them audibly with precision.
The treble is something I am a bit conflicted about. With some monitors, like the Zeus XIV or JH Layla, it has a tendency to sound sharp and hot. It pushes the lower treble regions a bit over the edge of comfort for me. Especially with Zeus XIV it was cymbal crashes that came across as hard edged and even aggressive at times. If you are using another, less bright, monitor you should be in the clear. For example with the Empire Ears Odin you get a clean and clear treble with Socrates. It does push highs a bit further up, but doesn’t overstep the boundaries of comfort for me.
Suggested Pairings:
64 Audio A18t, Tia Fourté; Empire Ears Legend X, Odin, Hero, Zeus XIV and Wraith; Noble Audio Kaiser Encore, Katana and Sultan; HUM Dolores;
Comparisons:
Socrates’ price range is quite full when we look at the competition. For this review I want to focus on two cables though. Namely the two-wired Torfa by HanSound and PW Audio’s Monile. If you’re keen to read other comparisons, just shoot me a comment down below and I’ll see if I have it in my inventory.
I can only compare the Socrates to other cables that I have direct access to. Which means that I won’t do comparisons based on dealer or show visits. Those are far from credible in my opinion. Personally, I could not form a solid impression like that. Others are comfortable in doing so. That’s cool.
Mentioned prices are in US Dollars and correct at the time of writing. If the prices changed after publication, it’s not my fault.
PW Audio – Monile (551.99$)
The Monile is a coaxial copper and silver hybrid cable. It uses 26 AWG copper and 25.5 AWG silver strands. Just like the Torfa it uses four conductors in two wires for signal transfer. In terms of build quality I think the Socrates is miles apart, although the Monile is more flexible than the Eletech. The hardware however is clearly nicer and more premium on the Socrates. I still think heat-shrink shouldn’t be used in high end cables… Sorry PW.
In terms of sound the Monile is more balanced to my ears. It doesn’t have the thickness or weight of the Socrates, but it brings a certain musicality ins light warmth that makes it a very nice and easy to pair cable. The Socrates has higher levels of richness and sounds lusher overall. The Monile on the other hand is more neutral across the spectrum.
Monile stretches the stage slightly more into width. It creates a more holographic appearance than the Socrates as well. Eletech’s latest however edges out the PW cable when it comes to depth and layering. It creates a darker background and gives musicians a more solid ground to stand on. The Socrates has higher contrast between instruments and background than the Monile as well.
Bass on Socrates sounds weightier and denser, whereas the Monile is a bit lighter and faster. Monile has a tighter grip around the lows than Socrates. But Socrates has more impact and nicer texture in the bass segment. Again, especially if you pair it with a good dynamic or hybrid IEM.
Mids are smoother and more transparent on the Monile, while the Socrates has a more analogue sound. It gives instruments and singers more weight, lushness and generally bigger body. The Socrates has a more intense glow in the upper mid-range, while the Monile again is more neutral in comparison.
Highs are sharper, crisper and more energetic on the Socrates, while they are a bit calmer and neutral with the Monile cable. With the Monile I never had an issue with treble sounding hot or sibilant, which is something I can’t say about the Socrates.
HanSound Audio – Torfa 2w (869$)
The Torfa is HanSound’s latest flagship cable, it comes in two flavors. In two-wire and four-wired versions. Torfa is uses UP-OCC copper Litz wires with a gold-silver alloy in a coaxial design. Unlike Socrates which is pure copper. In terms of ergonomics it’s clearly the Socrates who wins for me, as it is much more flexible and doesn’t transport friction noise like the Torfa.
On a sound perspective, they both share noticeable similarities. Like the added warmth and generally richer sound. But the Socrates goes even further in thickness and added body. With Socrates the sound becomes lusher compared to Torfa. The HanSound cable however offers a more detailed scene. It brings out even finer nuances than the Socrates.
The Socrates has a wetter and richer presentation throughout and brings more glow to the upper mids. The Torfa has more transparency in the center mids though. In the lower mid-range both bring extra weight to the table, but to my ears it is the Socrates that makes them more hefty and fuller.
Both cables create well spread stages, but the Torfa goes a notch further into width whereas the Socrates comes out with the upper hand in depth and layering. The Socrates does have a slightly darker background than the Torfa and with that, it comes out as the superior cable for imaging precision.
Treble is where I would give the Torfa the nod again. It sounds calmer and smoother compared to the brighter and sharper Socrates. Torfa is a cable I can strap on monitors to give them a silkier top end, whereas I wouldn’t assign that characteristic to the Socrates.
Conclusion:
Eletech chose to go after their perfect copper cable. To offer something fresh and unique. With Socrates they have absolutely nailed it in my opinion. I really like the hardware design that Eletech pushes with every release. It’s great to see a manufacturer to go the extra mile and do something unique with their cables. Although I still have to admit, I am not a fan of the black insulation material. It’s the only bad after-taste that I have.
With Socrates Eletech has brought us a super-analogue cable. It’s richness and thickness is something hard to come by. What makes it even more special is the combination of that lush and organic sound with precision and background darkness. It’s a refreshing take on high quality copper and with Socrates I am sure, that Eletech will hold a unique place in the cable section.
One of the best pairings I have found for Socrates was certainly with Empire Ears’ latest tri-brid flagship Odin. It’s just something extraordinary that puts a wide smile on my face. The combination of superior bass response, rich mids and exquisite and delicate treble all packed with incredible technical performance is just something else.
drift boss
In terms of ergonomics the Socrates sits comfortably behind my ear. It doesn’t disappear like the Linum cables, but still. If you’re wearing glasses it might be an issue. Although it didn’t bother me too much when I wore sunglasses.
Vladimir
Hello. Do you think will be good pairing Socrates with U12t?