Review: Astell&Kern Billie Jean – The One

Aftermarket cables:

I really like to play with aftermarket cables in reviews, because it’s fun to see how the monitors react to different materials and cables. Of course you have to stay within a certain price point, otherwise it’s getting ridiculous. In my opinion a cable should never be more expensive than the monitor, but I know many people out there play a different game.

Effect Audio – Ares II

The Ares II is a wonderful Copper cable that has a very nice timbral presentation. It gives Billie Jean a warmer and more vibrant lower midrange with added bass-body. Overall the sound seems cleaner to me, with higher dynamics in low-ends and a richer top-segment. The sound stage also expanded more into width and depth with greater layering and instrumental separation. Vocals, especially male, received more weight and body. Treble still is clean as a whistle while being tamed by a slight margin.

PlusSound – X (GPC)

The X series is the pinnacle of portability in an IEM cable for me. It’s lightweight and ergonomics are unmatched. Maybe Linum offers a similar performance, but I don’t have any of theirs here, so PlusSound it is.

The Gold Plated Copper X series offers wonderful transparency throughout the frequency, with very nice resolution and instrumental separation. It beefens up the bass on Billie Jean, extends it’s bass response to deeper levels and gives treble a nice warmth and richness which suits the AK IEM very well. Sound stage does also go a touch wider and deeper, yet not as much as with the Ares II.

Astell&Kern Billie Jean

Sources:

The Billie Jean is not a hard to drive monitor, also it does not need excessive power to be at its optimum performance. What is quite obvious though is that Billie Jean scales well with better sources. All impressions were done with the stock cable.

Astell&Kern – SP1000

The A&ultima of course pairs very well with the AK monitor, there’s not the slightest hissing to be revealed. The Billie Jean reaches fairly deep into sub-bass with great dynamics and good texture. The overall signature is more on the brighter side, but with excellent richness in it. The sound stage stretches wide and deep, with wonderful instrumental separation. The background is nicely black. Mids are fairly neutral but with good body and weight. The resolution is outstanding and the same applies to stereo imaging and layering. Treble might be on the brighter and sometimes harsher side,

Chord Electronics – Mojo

The Billie Jean picks up very slight hissing from the Mojo, but it disappears once the music is playing through them. To me this might be the best pairing of all. Dynamic, well layered and excellent separation. Bass is punchy and deep, with great body and weight. Billie Jean reaches deep with good rumble. The sound is clean and precise with good speed and decent warmth to fill up the signature. Mids are well bodied with a natural appearance and good amounts of emotions. Treble is fast and precise with a bright tone. The sound stage again is nicely wide and deep.

Astell&Kern Billie Jean

Chord Electronics – Hugo₂

The Hugo₂ is also not free of hissing with the Billie Jean, while it can be heard easier than with the Mojo, it also disappears once the music starts playing. The Hugo₂ is a resolution monster and that is very clear with the AK IEM. There are loads of information displayed right in front of you and the level of micro detailing is just incredible. Bass is punchy and dynamic, has excellent texture and goes deep into the sub-bass regions. Midrange is more on the neutral side with heeps of emotions, but is presented in a more airy manner. Treble might be a point where some could draw the line. While the Hugo₂ usually covers it’s top end with a silk layer, I fear it is not always the case with Billie Jean. The sound sure is top class level, but for some it might just be too bright and too hot at times. The sound stage is incredibly wide, deep and high. Definitely the best of all tried units, but what good is it, if the overall sound is just not pleasing. Layering, separation and imaging are of course also top notch.

Luxury&Precision – L3 Pro

A DAP I like to use when I’m on business trips. It’s not as extravagant as the A&ultima, but delivers a very nice sound with good levels of musicality and decent warmth in it. The UI is pure crap though. You will get a punchy and fast sounding, well layered and highly resolved pairing with the Billie Jean. The level of details is very good and the instrumental separation is as always with Billie Jean outstanding. Mids are warmer and have thicker notes and heavier weight, but they don’t come across as too thick and slow.

The final page is all about Comparisons and Conclusion.