Kinera Orlog - Do Pricey IEM Cables ONLY Impact the Bank Account? - Honest Audiophile Impressions

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sorry about the sync issue, tried to reload and it still happened. I am unable to record again as the Kinera Orlog has been packed up and shipping label attached for the next reviewer on the tour. Sorry again, don't know what caused the sync issue.

[@adilsonnogueira6468]

As an electrical engineer its is difficult to me to buy such diferences in a 1.2m cable…the welding and connection quality is much more important compared with a cu or a ag cables…

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

As I said, the differences are subtle at best. Thanks for your thoughts and comment.

[@CovertOperative]

As a sound engineer, the ONLY differences that cables carrying an audio signal can make are a marginal deviation in the Sound Pressure Level depending on the inductance and resistance levels of the specific cable. No cable manufacturer has ever published research and verifiable measurements to support their marketing declarations that cables make significant differences in the frequency responses.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Totally agree. As mentioned in the video, the audible differences are subtle and hard to determine. Most differences I've experienced are with the presentation between silver, copper and hybrid wire type. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing.

[@maynardewm]

Not everything an be measured. Especially when people say "measured" is a smoothed out FR curve that shows no detail.

[@housepianist]

If we’re really honest, as audiophiles, we sometimes buy a cable for its aesthetics. Maybe you like the color of it or its thickness or thinness. Even the way they’re woven or the style of the plugs and splitters can influence whether you purchase or not. I admit I can’t hear much differences at all in the sonic qualities of these cables but some of them look really cool! I have a number of cables but my favorite one (so far) is one from Thieaudio called the Smart Cable. It comes standard with their Monarch Mk II and V16 Divinity IEMs but I think it looks great - thick, cool plugs/splitters, cloth fabric, deep brown color. And it matches the aesthetics of some of the IEMs I have. Does that make me shallow? Maybe, but sometimes, looks do matter. No shame, no excuses. 🙂

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I love the ThieAudio Smart Cable, use it quite a bit. Yep, aesthetics do matter a bit as well as sonics.

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

I love Kinera and i do own some of their cables. Also some of the expensive Fiio cables. The one cable i use the most, and i actually bought a few of them, are the NEX KBEAR 16 Core. A friendly pricetag of just €40,-. It's soft, very pleasant fit, they look gorgeous and they sound stunning. They arrive in a plastic bag, nothing fancy. No. For my IEM collection it's not worth spending hundred's of Euro's on the cables.. It's different when we talk about tonearm cables or interlinks.. i builded my own! speaker cabels. 2k speaker cables for a fraction of the price. Use good basic materials and you will be blown away. My tonearm cable is made out of silver. Expensive, yes. But definitely worth it. Cables matter. 700 euro iem cables don't.I tried so many of them. As long as tney are build properly it really makes no sense to spend more money on fancy looking cables. I worked in the industry years ago, and we were always laughing when we sold the stock in the box cart cable's for ridiculous prices. Cables are a myth, most of the time. Easy to sell with enormous profits. Often X 5 ore evenmore. Up selling. Easy money.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Yeah 700 is a big reach in my opinion for an IEM cable, especially when it doesn't blow the socks off the dog in sound quality in comparison to stock cables. Thanks for the thoughts, much appreciated.

[@Rsalmond83]

Non modular cable to swap 4.4, 2.2, or 3.5? Sounds like a hit to the bank account to give it less sparkle and oomph.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

It would have been better if it had both the ConX connections and the modular terminations.

[@missmygamergirl445]

Dave it should of come with a crown to wear while using it than I'd be buying it for sure! oh and a scepter upgrade for conducting! be sure to let them know ha ha I bet they sell just fine.

[@rafdes]

I can definitely hear the difference in silver vs copper, at least in some headphones. I have a copper cable for the 109 Pro, and it did tame the treble compared the included stock cable. By how much? Not a whole lot, really. It was there though.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Awesome 👍😎

[@Sweetaccord]

There is a difference in cables and you stated it correctly. For me pure silver adds harshness and edgyness. Pure copper reduces what silver causes. A hybrid is in the middle. It's is super subtle difference and takes training and multiple attempts to isolate what you are hearing to even hear the difference. Casually and or if you don't pay attention or at under maybe 50-60% volume you won't hear a difference. At higher you can.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

💯 agree 👍

[@DrinkWater713]

Can you detect it in an ABX blind test?

[@Sweetaccord]

@@DrinkWater713 Easily yes

[@quantumcreator8888]

Dave … can u get the Hiby FC6 dongle for review .. of topic I guess 😊 awesome review on cables not my cup of tea ☕️ just functional 30 to 60 $ dollars is good reliable

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will see if a Hiby FC6 is available for review.

[@MrZedelijk]

Your skeptical countenance on the thumbnail says it all. Now I kind of doubt whether I should watch the video or not. (Just kidding, I’m gonna watch it anyways)

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@TBMartin]

I'm a believer that different materials used in cables does sound differently. I say this as a man who at 40+ can still hear up to 20khz and can also hear the difference between different low pass filters that some reviewer (Z as an example) can't hear so dismiss it as not a useful feature. I completely understand that not all of us have the same hearing so that's why some people don't think it makes a difference because they can't hear it.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Pretty similar thoughts to my own. Most of the differences I have heard is very subtle and comes down to preference. Thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated.

[@TBMartin]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Oh yeah, it's not a massive difference but it's still a difference that I can hear. I feel you have to look at it in a scientific way too. Different metals do conduct differently and I do feel that does affect sound as well. What I could not understand if true is if different metals conduct differently, it doesn't affect sound differently in any way. Science doesn't lie in my opinion so if science says it's true and my brain/ears tells me the same then I'll be convinced lol

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Exactly, I can't deny that there are some sort of audible differences, most of the time. Price and value is the bigger deciding factor for me.

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

I also believe that everything in your audio system matters, and if you change something, it will have an effect on the sound. How big of a difference and whether you can hear it or not is a different story.

[@Weareonenation303]

I'm not a cable believer personally, the difference in sound does not justify the insane prices cable makers like Effect Audio are asking for their most expensive models which is enough for a kilobuck IEM. Companies will keep charging ludicrous amounts of money for cables as long as enough people believe in this nonsense which is frankly a number of audiophiles with large wallets. I'd only consider a pricey cable for the aesthetics really but wouldn't be throwing my wallet anytime soon on a cable that retails for 700 bucks.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Totally understand.

[@classicalthrasher]

Glad you admit there is a difference. Often subtle, not always the best! But some IEMs can be flattered with some cables' pairings. Effect Audio (for instance) almost always changes the sound of my many IEMs, for better or worse. But I have yet to spend more than $199.00 yet, as my budget is low. Ares II, Grandioso, Cadmus all have "their sound" even if they emit no sound. I think this Kinera and other even more expensive cables are meant for wealthy audiophiles-there are probably differences, but as you stated, likely minuscule, and only worth it if you have the funds to spend. I personally wouldn't spend $700-much less $3,000!-for even really great cables-be it Kinera, Effect Audio, etc.-as these are not meant for music lovers of meager means such as myself. As long as there are sonical *differences*, I do not mind it if others buy it, but definitely would disapprove if these were bad cables and it was only a scam. What I do is set a budget, and avoid looking "up there"-we are not missing that much with the "low tier" of cables, and not all expensive cables must sound "better" than the stock one ("different" is not necessarily better.) Thanks so much for acknowledging that you do hear differences-it's impossible to "prove", and you probably will get unfairly insulted by some, but we *know* what we hear-and I hate scammers and liars, so I would be the first to let others know when a cable does not sound any different, or is even much worse than stock or very cheap ones. Best wishes, and ignore pseudo know-it-all trolls. 👍 (For the fans: not insulting the Orlog, and do have an "Leyding" that sounded "better" than a stock Kinera cable. This is simply something out of my budget.)

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for the comments. Honesty is the best policy.

[@lb3537]

Yeah 700 is a tough sell considering you can buy a pretty good headphone for that price alone… I can see spending 100-150 on a headphone cable you like the look and feel of it, but after that the laws of diminishing returns take over …. Especially that buying a different amp or DAC would far exceed any perceived sound difference from a cable …100 bucks for a cable is too much you’re kind of paying for the craftsmanship and build quality at that point…. 700 seems like a total burn IMHO …. Mine as well donate to a charity … at least it’s going to something good … just my thoughts

[@nawashunn]

My Orlog changes the soundstage to my Faudio Mezzo IEM in a very good way. I believe you have to pair the right IEM with the right source so that you can actually realize how a cable shape the sound. Some IEMs are not sensitive to different cables.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Absolutely, more resolving the gear the more differences you will be able to hear. As stated in the video, I heard differences, mostly subtle and in my opinion not enough to purchase the cable. I'm glad you enjoy your Orlog. Thanks for watching and commenting.