The entering of the ASOS Plus Era:
Redcarmoose Labs March 14th, 2024
So when I found out Penon was planning to make a + version of the original ASOS cable I was surprised. At least I was surprised a little, because the best part of winning is to run-with-it. That’s right when you get a window to success, why not find an opportunity to make it one step better? Meaning the groundwork has already been set-up to go to that next level. Now the ASOS and ASOS+ cables look very much the same, but I can promise you the two are very different. I mean first off the sound of the ASOS+ is noticeably thicker and changes how imaging and tone is presented, especially in the midrange. Sure you may think they simply took an ASOS cable and added the different Palladium Purple Plug (on one end) and Palladium 2Pins (on the other) and called it a day. But nope, there was more footwork than that. I know because I received a ASOS+ prototype cable, and I didn’t really spend too much time with it as I was told it was an example of a product not yet finished. In truth Penon changed actual cable material inside the wires into a different make-up for each model: the original ASOS, this ASOS prototype and the final version of the ASOS+. You can physically see that they look of different thickness and color, clearly a different material build process.
One of the differences is the permanent 4.4mm or 3.5mm ASOS Plus plug, in contrast to the regularly offered 3-in-1 modular plug of the regular ASOS Cable.
The other difference from the original ASOS chrome 2Pins is the actual ASOS+ Purple Plug 2Pins to the right here.
The Palladium Purple Plugs and 2Pins:
While you could simply put a Purple Plug onto the end of the original ASOS and arrive at the direction of the ASOS+, yet there are differences. I will go into the differences from the Purple Plug (added) ASOS to the ASOS+.
Basically there was room for this new tonal expansion to take place from the original ASOS. First-off the original ASOS cable was the watershed cable event of 2023. The ASOS cable I have heard bettered an entire collection of 80 (another members) previously purchased cables in the end. Now I would not go quite that far, except the results have started a love affair here at Redcarmoose Labs. So much that the ASOS moved into the reference spot, going with pretty much every IEM that showed-up on the door-step. Why? Well, clarity my friends, the original ASOS had this see-through character which pushed-up imaging and resolve into clearly realized items of focus. Now both the midrange and treble got this slightly airy boost like a smooth style of silver energy which promoted both separation and an airy tone. That was combined with this blackness of background which somehow made a separate window to view the bass tones, they were textured and not blurry, but also itemized and in relief against this black background. As such the original ASOS didn’t really color the sound but politely offered a boost in all those things we always want from our IEMs in the first place.
Yet there was room, there was room for a ASOS 2 to come along and add imaging density and realness. A further separation of the midrange into its own 3D images out into the stage. There is no denying that these images hold a simply darker position in relation to the original ASOS, except remember there was much room to go this direction and still remain evenly balanced in the end. Yep, both cables are what I would call even balanced with an ounce of character, but not a total coloring character. The best part maybe is that both the ASOS+ and the ASOS own this midrange girth that adds stage. Yep, and I don’t want to over emphasize this, except it is one of the star attributes going on here. The ASOS…….a clearer slightly more energetic midrange girth and the ASOS+ a slightly denser and heavier touchable character, touchable and holdable because it is more real.
The thing is though both cables end-up complementary. They are almost opposite in some regards here. What that means is having both ends a true way to cover all your bases. Yep, put the original ASOS with your darker IEMs and place the ASOS+ with your brighter IEMs. Still remember there is so much balance (and non-color) going on here that strangely you can also put the ASOS+ with your darker IEMs and the ASOS original with you brighter IEMs and still reach a perfect level of satisfaction. What I just wrote may in fact be the most important sentence in this review, only because it totally explains the usage scenario here. Possibly suggesting the changes described here........resulting from the swift movement roll of the tone knob? Meaning the midrange knob roll back of the ASOS+ and the midrange forwardness (knob turn) of the original ASOS……..yet that only goes to explain a segment of the two cables sonic character. There is an actual presence of formations from tone that take on a definable but difficult to describe new character in your tracks with the ASOS+……………a denser image, holding thicker tonal ideas of reality perceived and heard, yet still with-in moderate boundaries in the end.
The Purple Plug and the ASOS+ cable material change-outs:
I don’t want to make this review longer than it needs to be except with Penon and ISN 3-in-1 modular cables you have a complete choice of different plugs to use with the Purple only offering one example of tone.
The Rhodium Plated Plug in 3.5mm Plug or 4.4mm Plug
The Palladium Purple Plug in 3.5mm Plug or 4.4mm Plug
The Oxygen Free Copper Plug in 3.5mm Plug or 4.4mm Plug
The Totem Adaptor Plug in 3.5mm Plug or 4.4mm Plug
The OS133 Adapter Cable in 3.5 mm Plug or 4.4mm Plug
Each (prior cable material choice) example drives your desired tone signature into a different part of town. At times small and at times a more noticeable improvement or change. Obviously the IEMs used, Ear-tips, Cable and Source personality can affect the end result, being which-way or the other. Because this review is about the ASOS+ and the ASOS differences we will concentrate on what the Purple Plug does to the original ASOS. Remember the included 2Pin connectors are not Purple Palladium when trying the Purple Plug with the original ASOS.
The new Penon Pure Oxygen-Free Copper Plug. Pictures from a soon to be published Penon OFC Solid Oxygen-Free Copper Plug review here at Redcarmoose Labs. At 7 grams a piece this is our heaviest plug to date, as well as holding its very own unique sound signature when placed onto the front of a Penon 3-in-1 modular cable system.
The Penon Purple Copper Plug:
The Penon Purple Copper Plug:
$29.00
https://penonaudio.com/penon-purple-copper-plug.html
Plug verification:
I just want to emphasize that while slightly confusing, it is easy to join the correct different plug and identify it from the plug grouping. As you can see the base of the Purple Plug has a small lotus flower engraved. The OFC Copper Plug has a small zig-zag line, and the Rhodium is Rhodium silver color. But beyond that……
4.4mm plug weight:
4 grams the Rhodium Plug in weight
5 grams the Purple Copper Plug in weight
7 grams the OFC Copper Plug in weight
I mean sure the weight discovery is only representative of the material used, but yes ...it is amazing that the Rhodium Plug is almost twice less the weight of the OFC Copper Plug. And there gets to a place that I’m not privy to the Penon build process. Maybe due to the Rhodium Plating that the regular plug material is the correct way to go underneath? I’m lucky as I just get the living results with-out the confusion of the build process. As the regular 3-in-1 modular plug in 4.4 weighs 4 grams. I mean I’m obsessed with this plug stuff, but I’m not totally insane……….as I haven’t weighed every plug I own. Yet the important difference is the plugs are of a very different make-up and design here.
The Purple Plug and original ASOS Cable in comparison to the ASOS+
This is simply a chance to see if we could cut costs if the ASOS was all you had, or if you wanted to beat the system and simply get the ASOS Cable and Purple Plug and call it a day, with the chance you could reach the ASOS+ levels of changes:
So remember beforehand, the ASOS+ has the Purple Plug also the Purple 2Pins and the different cable wire make-up.
Top the ASOS+ and bottom the regular ASOS cable material:
Penon Volt past flagship:
In my tests we are using the Walkman 1A and Penon Volt past flagship IEM. Changing back and forth between cables at the same volume and using the same piece of music there was a question of added darkness but beyond that it really wasn’t darkness………..more to be described as a slight down-tone……….yet only a feather of such. Maybe like using EQ, I don’t know as I don’t use EQ. But as an example the Walkman 1A uses MrWalkman’s firmware which makes it smoother than stock programing. As such it is still mid-centric with a prominent midrange resulting sound stage. As such the WM1A music gets a push in those same frequencies as the stock ASOS, and the stock ASOS and Purple Plug. Yet resulting in the Purple Plug/ASOS having the frequencies be slightly diminished, but not to the extra luxury profoundness of the ASOS+.
So brightness is top to bottom:
1) Most bright the standard ASOS with Penon 3-in-1 modular plug
2) Second brightness with the Palladium Purple Plug ASOS
3) Warmest with the ASOS+
Meaning the ASOS+ had a smoother sound and was not quite as bright in the end.
This really depends on so many things……as your source may be darker and you want the added clarity of the stock ASOS with regular Penon 3-in-1 Plug. The thing is in use with the WM1A and Volt IEM there was an ongoing connection where sure I could have changed sources, but in that case again it would be adding again a different (whole) personality to playback. What I’m trying to say is I’m getting the very best of all worlds here. Why? I’m simply getting the faster bass response of the 1A with the Volt, plus I’m getting a smoother, more accessible and richer ASOS+ playback in the end. Sure I could have written many more paragraphs on the ASOS+ Cable, the WM1A DAP and the VOLT IEM………..except it may have deluded the point. This is really not that complicated once you get down to it.
And remember too……..all this is subjective and depends on user preferences as to the tone of the DAP, the Ear-tips used, and ultimately the final character of the IEM you are using. Oh……and the character of the cable and plug you are using too. While just for for schiits and giggles I tried the Rhodium plug and found it thinner and brighter in this use with the original ASOS. It would maybe be a wanted effect if you were trying to dial in a sleepy playback or simply had a preference for more treble. Still you all know how these preferences are…….that normally they do align with common thoughts about playback. Some like warm bathwater, and some like only slightly warm bathwater, but only a few take cold baths……and only a select few take insanely hot baths……you know of the few and it is not normal. Here we are basking in the middle ground. I already explained how the ASOS+ is not too warm or too bright, in that it lives in the comfort zone, the place we all go for relaxation. Sure I used the Purple Plug to try and rearrange the tonal output of the Penon Mix Cable. See that’s the thing……..there is nothing like the Penon Mix Cable going on here with either ASOS or ASOS+.
Meaning the Penon Mix is a volatile mixture of pure silver wires and pure copper wires, which go to add vivid contrasts to whatever DAP and IEM you use. Still obviously we all have a sleepy IEM in need of a boost in treble details and air.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-mix.25122/reviews#review-30153
Remember every cable has its place and tone, yet it could be said that the Mix Cable is not as well rounded and the ASOS or ASOS+. Sure some are going to gravitate to that enhanced treble push……….where with both the ASOS and ASOS+ we are receiving a smoother yet still well (stage) expanded tone. It is these workable character additives which makes the ASOS and ASOS+ go with pretty much all IEMs and sources…………that that is what this review is about.
The Penon ASOS Plus with music and different IEMs:
Test results:
Here we simply walk through a few interfaces of the ASOS Plus in use. Yep, here is the fun part, all the dirty work we have already gone through. This is simple and easy to do. First off what happens when you take off the testing hat....... what in the musical world becomes anew? Yep, 1/2 of Head-Fi is testing 98% of the time and forgot the real reason we are here. Simply we are here to find out just how close we can get to old favorites or new music. For the music to become real (even though it is an illusion from a time long gone). An emotional experience walking into the light and mind of another’s or a whole group's musical imagination. The producers, the recording room staff, the musicians…….everyone is involved and doing something they enjoy. Getting yourself closer to the music simply means finding a tone that you relate with, finding a stage which has an enjoyable set of music characteristics to befriend.
The Penon 10th Anniversary:
My gosh, as everyone knows this is my favorite product by Penon. And to realize that the ASOS+ takes those final steps as you walk closer into illumination. Illumination bathing in the creativity of the performers. How, why………..really? You ask if I believe what I’m writing? I do and so much so this is not work but fun. The 10th goes and grabs onto the energy of the ASOS Plus stage, finding other cables maybe a tad smoother, but no way am I going to argue with the perfect quality this combination performs. It is like the question of really…………….really………….really is this THAT good? Because it is and it is almost unbelievable. Why? Synergy was the word that came up for this spectacle of performance. To try and climb down from my mountain here……….the reality is a mixture of it all. The bass is trim but holding correct detail, there is a place inside the stage where it has grabbed hold of life, life that is moving us, sometimes gently, sometimes with authority……..but always in balance.
Come-on:
This is my favorite Penon. I can talk this way……..right?
The mids with the 10th are not always the IEMs strongpoint, yet here there is only a memory of such talk. Reminder we are emphasizing midrange girth and stature and this style just blends with the 10th to bring about slightly smoother and thicker vocals enabling us to find s style of well roundedness and clarity. Clarity because playback is vivid yet well roundedness because of no heat or temper………….the 10th is going along for the ride like this particular cable was made for it. Just simply totally correct……….you get the message. It is everything I wrote about in the 10th review, only everything is a hair better……closer, bigger, more width, faster and more fun………most importantly fun!
The ISN Neo 5:
Slightly darker than the 10th, but offering just the same amount of involvement. Sure the ESTs have been changed out and that results in a portion of less electricity…………..and of course we are not basking in candle light here? In fact the two IEMs are from the same company and offer a huge amount of the same magic……….really both are exceptional for what they do. And this review is about the ASOS Plus so what do we have here? Again a bigger stage and from memory a more even balanced style of tone…………though do you know where that comes from? From control over the imaging through separation and pace. Yep, I know this sounds like a sales pitch, and it is in a way, only I am 100% honest in relaying this is some of the best I have ever heard the Neo 5 become. We have been on a journey to the Neo 5 mountain top. It came with the ISN S8 which was changed to the ISN S4 which brought up the pace and imaging, clarifying the signal to the Neo 5. And guess what just happened again………..yep taking no prisoners, the ASOS Plus is now taking the Neo 5 home to a place it truly belongs to a place where the priceless live………………….. a place of giving you the listener satisfaction that you are with-out want or desire. Need I say more?
No? Yes? No?
Ok, there is this thing with the Neo 5. Where separation moves the vocals out and forward, into this movement into the stage. These artifacts of expression are encountered just that much more connected yet bigger and without question bigger? GIANT. All the while the bass is controlled and paced into the end…….an IEM that is without a doubt fully actualized.
The Penon DOME:
I’m not so sure everyone writes DOME when describing the DOME? But I am now…..anyway. And there is a big reason for me putting this test last in the order of appearance. You see, I have already tested all these IEMs beforehand. And that I feel added quality to the review, in that multiple times we have the same playback. Of course many things affect how we perceive an IEM. What you ate for breakfast, how many cups of coffee you had. Even what IEMs you have been listening to the week before. The mind is a funny thing……..It remembers by contrast the IEM in your ear compared to one (in your ear) the day before yesterday……..this I believe. Now there is another change too. Every time we hear an IEM it is a new experience, a new chance to hear it for what it is and (what) the IEM it is not. Meaning nothing is perfect, only sunsets and beautiful women are perfect………….at times. So we have a DOME review done here at Redcarmoose Labs, and it came with opinions about the DOME. Are those opinions set in stone? Nope, they were momentary opinions taking place at the time of the review. Everyone is human and has a right to re-hear the IEM and make additional ideas known. That is a process occurring that I really want to reiterate here. That reviews are accurate at the time of review but are always subject to slight changes in perception. And while I reviewed the DOME as having an in-your-face midrange, it became even more in-your-face as the days passed after the review was written. None of this is bad, and just goes to prove that we know our equipment, except at times an IEMs character can be perceived as just slightly different. Probably the very most change has occurred for me with the ISN EST50 IEM. Through different cables and ear-tips I have learned to change the bass, and accept (through new experiences) that the ISN EST50 is a whole different beast than when I first reviewed it. Also in about 90% of cases the IEMs will get better.
Yet this DOME with the ASOS+ is what this review is about, a slightly new way to enjoy an IEM that before did the basics well and grand, yet now possibly even better. Wait I said possibly even better……..no this is most surely a great way to spend an afternoon.
The DOME with ASOS+ Cable:
Here we are taking steps towards a more timbre correct midrange. You see when things are dialed back ever so slightly a midrange and upper midrange like what the DOME does becomes that much more real. I mean sure there is a timbre that a full-range single DD does morning to nite that a Hybrid can’t touch. We all know this and accept this always. Yet there is a displacement of items…………a shuffling around of tonality into imaging and tone into broader images of the stage. These items are as real as sound artifacts can try to be, but because normally (inside the midrange) with the DOME they are big……big and in-your-face. It is this upfront midrange and this spectacular dissection of details that we came to the dinner table for. Only as guessed some cables may be slightly too much? And that is where the ASOS Plus personality comes in. It walks that fine line between separation and clarity, yet there is a place in the treble and upper midrange where it shows politeness and reserve. A smoother clean-up that we could access by using a different DAP, or different ear-tips……….still it wouldn’t quite be the same. And remember there are many ways a cable can be. This ASOS+ almost makes through balance a low end that seems slightly more sculpted, in relation to the original ASOS. Of course that could very well be resulting from complete IEM tonal relationship balance.
Yep, you go and add thickness to the midrange and just due to this new style of midrange existence, we perceive a slightly tighter bass replay in the end.
Top the ASOS+, bottom the standard ASOS
Top the ASOS+, bottom the 3-in-1 modular plug ASOS standard
The regular ASOS 3-in-1 Modular Cable one of my favorite cables of all time!
Per Dsnuts
- Silver for its highest transparency and stage enhancing.
- Gold for that rich tone and depth.
- Palladium for that remarkable imaging and detail.
- Copper for body and warmth.
As such we are simply trying to align the DAP and IEM characteristics with the Ear-tip to come about a better understanding of the music, to gain something or diminish some character trait somewhere in the chain. Except the special redeeming quality with the ASOS and ASOS+ is that they offer a particular stage size, a noticeable stage expression that goes above and beyond every cable in their respective price point and at times beyond the respective price point. As such these effects are readily noticeable and thoroughly appreciated due to specific separation and imaging always being something we are after.
It is just we are viewing amalgamation of input materials here……..
Brand: PENON
Model: ASOS
Materials: 8 strands, 25 cores alloy copper silver-plated + 99 cores single crystal copper silver-plated wire mixed
High transparent imported PVC wire sheath
Carbon fiber silver shell
3-in-1 modular plugs
Package includes:
Penon ASOS cable
3.5mm audio plug
2.5mm balanced plug
4.4mm balanced plug
Verses:
Penon ASOS+ 8 Shares Alloy copper Silver-plated & OCC Silver-plated Mixed HiFi Audiophile IEMs Cable wth Purple Copper Plugs
Description
Brand: PENON
Model: ASOS+
Materials: 8 strands, 25 cores alloy copper silver-plated + 99 cores single crystal copper silver-plated wire mixed
2pin 0.78mm purple copper connectors and plugs
High transparent imported PVC wire sheath
Carbon fiber protective sleeve
Package
Penon ASOS+ cable
To quote Dsnuts here:
“Cable manufacturers have experimented with all sorts of tricks like shielding, fancy geometries & alloys to elevate performance over the years, but the most surefire path to greatness seems to be building thick, heavy cables with huge numbers of wires in them.
More wires means more conductivity, which usually translates to better performance.”
Conclusion:
Both the ASOS and the ASOS Plus are top notch players, they go one step farther to get you and your listening times one step closer to what you want. I’m not about to say the ASOS Plus will work with every IEM, every DAP or Ear-tip on earth, but that is the way it's going. The direction is simple, add more wires and get a bigger sound, add the Purple plug and both ends of the cable and get a richer thicker sound than what the standard ASOS can do. And it’s not dark, only better separated and denser……….which brings with it a feeling of a less cluttered soundstage with more directness of focus………clarity. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, I can assure you the results are real, they are real and repeatable time after time. And I will finish with the fact that (I maybe shouldn’t say this) except the Penon ASOS and the Penon ASOS Plus are my references from here on out and will be found in use with pretty much all my future reviews. I mean because of how balanced they are, and combined with the fact that they pretty much go with everything to drum-up bigger more involving imaging………..they make every IEM different and different in a better way. Order yours today.
$169.90
https://penonaudio.com/Penon-ASOS.html
$215.00
https://penonaudio.com/Penon-ASOS-plus.html
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the ASOS+ Cable review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm
ifi GO bar Dongle
