Today we review the PlusSound SPC XL and Copper XL cables, which cost around 999$ and 749$ respectively.
Disclaimer: PlusSound provided the SPC XL and Copper XL free of charge for this review. PlusSound is not a site advertiser and is not affiliated with Headfonia.
About PlusSound
PlusSound, headquartered in Los Angeles, is an esteemed American company renowned for its expertise in crafting aftermarket cables, alongside venturing into the realm of portable amplifiers. Recently, PlusSound has expanded its offerings to include a new lineup of universal IEMs.
Since its inception in early 2012, PlusSound has garnered widespread respect and interest within the audio community for its exceptional products. Ordering from PlusSound is a seamless experience; customers can easily navigate the website to select their desired cable type and customize various aspects such as materials, terminations, Y-splitter, and chin-slider. PlusSound allows colour-coding left and right-side connectors for added convenience as well.
Over the years, we have extensively covered various products by PlusSound. For those keen on delving deeper into their offerings, you can explore further here.
PlusSound SPC XL
The latest offering from PlusSound, the SPC XL, is their first product that features larger wires (18AWG). This new wire is PlusSound’s biggest wire thus far. Based on their signature Type 6 design, the increased thickness allows for a significant increase in group bundles to 36, compared to the previous wire (26AWG) which only had six, eliminating electrical resistance to enhance output power. This makes it more efficient to drive any IEM and headphones on any source.
Furthermore, PlusSound has introduced varied dampening cores, enabling them to maintain a round shape for consistent conductivity, prevent mechanical vibrations that can cause interference and interruptions, and soften the XL wire to make it as flexible as its smaller counterpart for on-the-go use. Additionally, each wire strand has an enamel coating over a silver layer to decrease electrical anomalies and prevent oxidation over time, maintaining the same cosmetic aesthetics for many years.
PlusSound Copper XL
The Copper XL cable is made up of 36 wire bundles of pure UP-OCC copper that are arranged in a custom Type 6×6 Litz configuration. Each wire bundle has multiple dampening cores, including a large primary centre core. This design results in a soft and pliable cable that maximizes conductivity and performance. The Copper XL cable shares identical mechanical components and design with the SPC XL cable, except that it uses pure copper instead of a silver-plated copper configuration.
Expect a highly refined copper sound with a wide soundstaging and excellent transparency not found in other cables.
Package
Opening a PS package from any cable manufacturer is an experience like no other. The XL cables are delivered in a sleek black box with reflective stickers on it. The box contains a plexiglass window that reveals the cable’s origin – it was designed and handmade in LA, California.
Inside the box, the cable is nestled in a leather pouch, a luxurious touch, in my opinion. The package also includes some additional accessories such as a cleaning cloth, a leather strap, and a warranty card. All the accessories, except for the leather cable binder, bear PlusSound’s logo. Overall, the unboxing experience is top-notch.
Build Quality and Ergonomics
PlusSound has come a long way in terms of build quality. and they now use custom hardware for connectors and plugs, in this case, the cables have fantastic quality.
The cables are nicely braided with good consistency. The hardware, on the other hand, is incredibly good. My set came with all silver/copper accents with 2-pin connectors and a 4.4 mm termination. The 2-pin connectors have to go with logos facing inwards, as the screws have to go out, contrary to many other manufacturers.
The 4.4m plug is the highlight of the cables to me, as it fits any 4.4 output snugly. The quality and the finish are excellent. Also, there’s no visible heat shrink from plastic or any other flexible material. Instead, the 2-pin connectors and the plug are finished with aluminium rings, so the cable looks very sharp and clean. The Y-split and chin slider on the cables are aluminium. Overall the cables are fantastic in terms of build and design.
In terms of comfort, these 18 AWG cables are not the most comfortable or the lightest, as you feel a certain weight whilst using them. So if you plan to get either of these, you shouldn’t seek the best comfort for on-the-go use. The positive thing is the flexibility, which is impressive despite the thickness of the cables. Microphonics is very low, and it’s reasonably comfortable around the ears. But there are many cables on the market with more flexibility and comfort for sure, they just don’t come with 18 AWG.
Page 2: Sound, Conclusion
