Preamble
As you move up a product line, there is an expectation that you are receiving tangible and easily ascertainable benefits for your dollars. A higher trim on a car yields heated seats and a bucket of safety features you never knew you needed. A higher specced laptop provides you with greater benchmark scores. And a higher end cable provides you with…more sound?
It's a bit of a tricky one to explain but as I move into the top of the line cable for Eletech’s Virtues line of cables, I began to expect more and more. And for 529 USD, one would expect a lot more than its cheapest model (279 USD).
And were these expectations met? Or have I finally rid myself of my snake oil addiction?
The Factual Stuff
Where Azrael and Cassiel were largely the same in terms of configuration outside of the material used, the Raphael takes a further step away from its cousins. Utilising similar 25.5 AWG wire, the Raphael opts for a belnd of ultra high purity gold plated copper and a gold-copper allow. This wire is 9 core litz meaning a single wire acutally consists of 9 smaller wires twisted together in a pattern that seeks to increase conductivity and increase efficiency.
Otherwise, like the Azrael and Cassiel, the Raphael utilises a multi sized strand design and a Kevlar resilient core. The wires are cryogenically treated which intends to ‘enhance audio quality’ by ‘stabilising molecular structures’, ‘improving electrical conductivity’ and ‘increasing durability and reliability’. (All in quotes because I am not a scientist).
The Raphael comes with Eletech’s signature milled hardware, enamelled strands and their “FlexiMax” insulation. The result of this is a rather handsome and lightweight cable.
These also feature Eletech Versa, their proprietary interchangeable connector system that allows you to swap between 2 pin and MMCX.
This cable is part of the Eletech Virtues series, consisting of Azrael (279 USD), Cassiel (329 USD) and Raphael (529 USD).
The Opinion Stuff
Sound
The effects of cable rolling on sound is definitely a controversial topic but I am a believer in its efficacy. The value of this exercise is up to you but I for one can discern subtle but noticeable differences in cables. Call it copium or confirmation bias, you wouldn’t be reading this if you were not curious or a similar believer.
All impressions are taken using a variety of IEMs including UM MEST MK2, UM Multiverse Mentor, CFA Supermoon.
All A-B comparisons were conducted utilising:
- Campfire Supermoon;
- iBasso DC04 Pro; and
- a Campfire Audio Smoky Litz cable as baseline.
Bass
The Raphael is an excellent candidate for what many attribute to copper cables, even when its plated in gold. The low-end when swapping to the Raphael is extended more deeply and its quantity is increased. The sub-bass frequencies seem to pop a little more and result is a stronger sense of physicality and the mid-bass gets a slight added sense of punch compared to the stock cables as well as the other Eletech cables.
This increase in bass quantity generates a more fun and engaging sound signature that definitely pleased me on hip hop as well EDM tracks. Bass quality remains similarly good with a strong sense of texture and detail that belies the increase in quantity. On the balance of things, I believe that the low-end of the Raphael is perhaps its strongest quality, providing me with a greater appreciation for the bass. This is not a bass boost for the sake of having one and it does a great job of being well extended and with a good sense of decay that is natural and powerful.
Mids
Moving to the mid-range, the Raphael seems to confine the stage compared to the stock cable and to the Cassiel but this brings a nice intimacy to the stage that seems to heighten midrange frequencies. Unlike the Cassiel which brings the upper mids much more forward, the Cassiel remains nicely balanced and naturally timbred. There is a deepening of the stage and presents vocalists in a manner that is quite analogue in nature. There is the slightest hint of sibilance with certain female vocalists but on the whole, the mids here are natural, smooth and well reproduced.
Male vocalists receive a boost in terms of their engagement factor, perhaps by virtue of the low-end boost. And unlike the stock cable or Cassiel, this presents them in a manner that is wholly engaging and more emotive.
Mid-range frequencies seem to present in a more thick manner compared to stock and the result of this is a more euphonic listening experience wherein detail was not thrown at me but rather enveloped me in a manner that was quite enjoyable to listen to.
Treble
The upper range of the FR curve on the Raphael presented smoothly and naturally. The cable appeared to increase extension on the upper-end like it did in the sub-bass frequencies. The aforementioned confinement of the stage seems to increase the engagement with notes in this range as I felt hi-hats and other percussion seemed more visceral and more effortless in their reproduction. There is a loss of the crystalline quality found in the Cassiel but the Raphael presents in a more smooth and easy-listening manner.
The aforementioned slight sibilance in the upper-mids means that the Raphael will not tame every bright IEM in the market but the smoothing it achieves in this region without deadening the treble entirely presents a well balanced tonal colour that seems to fit in well with the aforementioned bass and mid-range frequencies.
If I had to complain, I would have liked a greater sense of airiness but the Raphael seems to want to bring everything a little more forward to engage you in a more forward manner.
Technicalities
The Raphael presents a number of oddities in terms of technicalities but I feel these all come together to present a more balanced tonal character.
The staging of the Raphael isn’t necessary the widest that I’ve tried, especially in the context of the Cassiel. The depth of stage is quite excellent, seeming to present with the greatest sense of depth out of the three Virtues cables. Those who are looking for huge concert-hall, holographic staging when swapping to the Raphael may be disappointed but the layered yet engaging nature of the Raphael is definitely something that can be enjoyed by most
Detail retrieval and resolution seems to be the best on the Raphael as I felt that notes could be easily picked out and isolated in my minds eye in spite of its smoother and more confined presentation. The aforementioned ‘layered’ effect that one gets with the Raphael is something that is helpful for critical listening but the tonal balance of the Raphael means it is also something to be enjoyed with more dissociative listening sessions.
Value & Quality of Life
At 529 USD, the Raphael presents a hard pill to swallow for many audiophiles looking to invest in a cable. However, I feel that the Raphael presents a sound signature that is befitting its price point as I believe that more enthusiast products seek out to achieve elements of sound that are sometimes contradictory. Whereas the Azrael achieves low-end power at the cost of darkening the FR curve and the Cassiel achieves crystalline clarity at the cost of fatigue, the Raphael manages to achieve both on a balance of things. Comparing to main rival Effect Audio there is nothing in their product line at this price range and the closest would be the Code 24. I had enjoyed the Code 24 but the ergonomics and rather brash colour scheme of the cable make it less of an easy recommend compared to the Raphael.
The Raphael’s wires seem more thick and less easy to manipulate compared to the likes of Azrael and Cassiel but its ergonomics remain great. It remains lightweight, albeit not as lightweight as its Virtues stablemates and as such it is not the same ergonomic slam dunk as those cables. However, I did not feel that the Raphael was out of place at all and was still excellent for listening on the go. Outside of the similar complaint of its rather chunky hardware, the Raphael is still great in terms of its malleability and manageability with its well-formed ear hooks and supple wire.
Featuring Versa, the interchangeable connector system, Raphael is easy to manage, intuitive to use and when compared to Effect Audio’s ConX system, is a far better option. Utilising screw-down covers to ensure connector security is a much more well thought out idea rather than just using screw down connectors in the case of ConX. This is especially evident with MMCX as I have had instances where EA cables MMCX connectors have just fallen off. Utilising a screw down system with a rotating connector is not a great idea it seems.
Comparisons
Vs EA Code 24
Priced at 799 USD, the Code 24 is a jump up in price and the thought one would have would be a jump up in sound quality. Bass frequencies of the Code 24 are boosted subtly and have a slower sense of decay and attack that was pleasing to listen to. In this region, the Raphael and the Code 24 seem to share similar characteristics but I believe the Raphael retains a greater sense of speed. In terms of mid-range performance, the Code 24 seems to open up the stage and impart a greater sense of space to the mids and an elevation of upper-mids is emphasised. The Raphael confines this region and makes the mid-range present in a more intimate and engaging manner. Despite this difference, both are quite well-timbred. Moving to treble, both seem to heighten high-frequency sounds and both extend well in this region and this is largely a tie for me. In terms of technical performance, the Code 24 enlarges width and presents in a more sparse manner. This helps in critical listening and you ability to pick out certain notes in a larger stage but I do not believe the Raphael is far behind despite its smaller stage.
Ergonomics is a non-factor here, the Code line of cables have been the subject of my vitriol for their poor performance in this regard. Thick and unwieldy, the Code 24 is leagues behind the Raphael.
Similar in some respects and very different in others, I believe when viewed together, the Raphael presents a far more balanced cable but with the qualification that it presents music in a more forward and engaging manner.
Vs Azrael
The head-honcho of the “Virtues” Series of Eletech cables, the Raphael provides tremendous low-end oomph but balanced with technical capabilities. The Raphael represents the Azrael but with refined to a greater level. There is great resolution here but the stage doesn’t feel as wide as either the Cassiel or the Azrael. There is greater intimacy here and a much greater sense of engagement. It sounds slightly brighter than the Azrael but not to the same extent as the Cassiel. These elements combine to make the Raphael perhaps the best sonically, providing a balanced approach to improving sound but at the cost of being the most expensive cable here. 529 USD is a much larger jump here but you get what you pay for and whether you’re willing to pay that is a question for you and your wallet.
Vs Cassiel
The Cassiel has a wider stage compared to Raphael which is a bit of a surprise but the Raphael presents in a more engaging manner with a low-end boost that puts the Cassiel to shame. Whilst low-end detail is no longer easily discernible on the Raphael when A-B’d against Cassiel, it remains no slouch in terms of sheer resolution and I feel that the Raphael presents a more balanced approach in that is not as dry nor bright as the Cassiel. There is a greater sense of engagement with low-register vocals and there is a sense of great dynamic range. Raphael’s timbre is the most natural in the Virtues series and it retains treble performance which, whilst not as forward as Cassiel, remains a great performer nonetheless. The price differential cannot be ignored and for 529 USD you can have a more well rounded cable compared to the Cassiel that doesn’t suck the fun out of the low-end. In this regard, I feel the Raphael presents an overall improvement over the Cassiel unless you are actively seeking out a colder rendition of your music.
Conclusion
The most expensive is the best? Seems like you’ve been drinking snake oil. I might have but I believe that the Raphael provides the most balanced tonal signature whilst boosting technicalities making it a very well rounded cable indeed. Whereas Cassiel and Azrael seem to take specific specialist routes, the Raphael achieves elements of both to the detriment of perhaps one factor, stage width. With an engaging and enjoyable sound signature combined with the versatility of Versa and the ease of ergonomics, I definitely believe that Raphael, despite its price, has a place in your collection.
