Today we’re looking at the SuperBaX cable by Linum, a light and high performing aftermarket cable.
Disclaimer: Linum provided the SuperBaX at no cost for this review. Linum is not affiliated with Headfonia and not a site advertiser. Many thanks for the generosity and opportunity to review the SuperBax.
About Linum:
If you have ever considered buying an aftermarket cable, you definitely came across Linum. The Danish earphone cable brand has been around for a few years already and has brought us many great cables in the past.
Lieven has done a good number of reviews for Linum cables already, a list of relevant links can be found at the end of this article.
Linum is owned by Estron, a company that has been working in the hearing aid and audio business for some years now. They’re one of the biggest suppliers when it comes to hearing aid wires. When keeping this in mind, it makes a lot of sense that comfort is one of their top priorities.
In Linum’s portfolio we can find three different cables. The Music, the BaX and the SuperBaX. The SuperBaX has been in the works for quite some time and Lieven has looked at their prototype all the way back in 2016. Today, I will take it for a spin and give you my evaluation.
Last year (2018) Ultimate Ears announced that they will bundle their UE Live monitor with the SuperBaX cable of Linum. Partnering with what might be the biggest player in the pro-audio CIEM filed is more than just good recognition for Linum, it shows how much the industry values their quality.
Linum SuperBaX
About SuperBaX:
The SuperBaX is a four wire IEM cable that delivers the ultimo of comfort. It is very lightweight, flexible and still perfectly built. It is made of 168 silver plated copper Litz strands and has an impedance of just 0.75 Ohms.
For cables the impedance is a very important factor, and you want it to be as low as possible, to not hold any of the signal back. SuperBaX can be ordered with MMCX, 2-pin or T2. All their cables are sold with a right angled 3.5mm stereo plug. However, I did request a 2.5mm balanced termination and also got it. So I guess you just have to ask.
SuperBaX can be acquired directly from Linum for about 249€ (incl. VAT) or from one of their many partners world wide.
Package:
Linum ships their cables in nothing more than just a small plastic bag together with a silicone cable binder and a short user manual. That’s it. On one hand, knowing what their competition offers, I feel they could give a little more accessories, but on the other I don’t think anything’s missing. You’ll hook the cable up to your monitors, and there’s no need for more to be honest. Especially at that price.
Linum SuperBaX
Build Quality:
Prior to this review I have only handled a Linum cable once in my life. It was 2016 at a headphone show in Germany when I came across the booth of Headphone Company, their regional distributor. The people running the tables were incredibly nice and I am still sometimes in touch with them just talking audio.
I was really impressed by the extreme comfort and tangle-free effect of the Linum cables they had at the show. However, I must admit, I didn’t try one out then. Why, I don’t know to be honest. Fast forward to late 2018. Linum has sent me their SuperBaX and trying it out I did.
From the build quality perspective, I think the SuperBaX is a very nice product. The braiding is excellent and consistent, it’s straight and indeed pretty much tangle free. It also is the most comfortable IEM cable I have tried to date. In the past I’ve always been raving about PlusSound’s single wire X series cables. While they’re still top comfort, the Linum beats it. Once you have the cable around your ear, you’ll forget it’s even there.
My cable is terminated to a 2.5mm balanced plug. This one is made of metal and probably the heaviest part of the entire cable. It still isn’t anywhere near heavy though. One thing I like about the SuperBaX a lot is the implemented chin slider. It has a simple, yet well working locking mechanism which keeps the cable in place.
At the very top end of the SuperBaX there are the 2-pin connectors. These are the smallest ones I’ve seen during my entire time in audio. While they’re excellently labeled with a red and blue dot for right and left, they also don’t look like they’re suitable for recessed sockets. Rendering some of my monitors unable to play with the Linum. Also worth noting is, that the cable does not provide any preformed earhook and no memory wire (thankfully). This makes it perfectly capable of being used with glasses.
It continues on page two!
Ivan Parshenkov
I’ve read a lot of good things about Linum, regular BaX is definetly on my to-buy-ASAP list.
Could you get Linum Music and regular BaX for a review for budget-minded audiophiles?
Linus
Hi Ivan,
thanks fir your comment.
Check out Nathan’s article, linked at the end of the review, he wrote about them I think.
Cheers!
Phil
That’s the Noble Khan in the last photo? Also pardon me on this, but why would you not use the SuperBAX on EE IEMs? I don’t fully get what you mean re. the semi-recessed connector. Many thanks.
Linus
Hi Phil,
thanks for your comment.
Well spotted! Yes that’s the Khan. I wanted to sneak it in. You’ll be seeing more of it in future reviews and of course in the full length feature in a few weeks.
The reason why it doesn’t work well with the Empire IEMs is that the 2pins of the SuperBaX are too small body wise. They do fit in, but it’s more difficult to grab and to get them out again… the universal IEMs of EE have flushed sockets, so there wouldn’t be that issue. It’s only the CIEMs.
Ilistentomusic
I personally like it. Just pull out using the cable. I think they meant for it to he so small so it can conform better to the ear. Maybe they should provide 2 options.
Erik E
Hi Linus, I’m currently using the Superbax via the E4UA adapters on my JH Audio Roxanne ciem. I have noticed that the base quantity is significantly lower when compared to the stock cable. I listen with the pod’s dialed to 4 – fully open – it’s my guilty pleasure. Did you experience significantly lower levels of bass quantity with the SuperBax on your Layla’s?
Erik
Hi Linus, I’m currently using the Superbax via the E4UA adapters on my JH Audio Roxanne ciem. I have noticed that the base quantity is significantly lower when compared to the stock cable. I listen with the pod’s dialed to 4 – fully open – it’s my guilty pleasure. Did you experience significantly lower levels of bass quantity with the SuperBax on your Layla’s?
Linus
Hi Erik,
no, I did not notice that. My Layla pretty much stayed the same.
Sorry to hear that. Did you try other cables with the E4U adapter installed?
Cheers
Erik
Hi Linus, I’ve already ordered a new cable with 0.1Ω impedance, that should probably help. Since I wrote my initial comment, I’ve discovered that the bass quantity seems to increase when turning the dial counterclockwise as apposed to clockwise, i.e. max bass at 8:00 instead of 04:00. Do you recognize this? 🙂
Linus
Hi Erik,
sorry it took me a while to reply. Work’s a little crazy lately, not enough time for Headfonia comments. 🙁
Yes. I did notice that as well with my E4UA adapter. Guess they just set the dial the other way.
Cheers and have a great weekend!
Erik
Hi Linus, no apologies needed, I really appreciate that you took the time to reply to my messages. Another mystery solved 😀 Have a nice evening, cheers!
Cornel
Hello , please i really need an adwice …what cable is suitable and best compatibility with etymotic ER4XR ?
Best regards ,
Cornel
rob osbourn
Great review, thank you and i wanted to get your thoughts on whether this might be suitable for full size headphones, because i’m looking for something light-weight with uncoloured sound to use with my Stellias. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
:)Rob