As an audiophile at all times looking out for gear that gives nice worth, I used to be intrigued once I heard in regards to the new Strauss & Wagner Salo cable. Priced at simply $29.95, this twin 3.5mm to three.5mm cable guarantees to boost the listening expertise for a lot of well-liked headphone manufacturers. With some audiophile cables costing as much as ten occasions extra, I used to be curious to see how the Salo would stack up towards the competitors.
Design and Construct High quality
The center of the Salo cable lies in its high-end silver internals, which Strauss & Wagner claims carry the sign with nice readability. I discovered the construct high quality to be spectacular for a cable on this worth vary. The aluminum shells across the plugs and the braided cable building give the Salo a sturdy really feel that ought to stand as much as day by day use.
One characteristic that caught my eye was the 24k gold-plated plugs. These not solely look premium but additionally promise superior conductivity, which Strauss & Wagner says positively impacts the sound. I am going to dive into the sonic implications of this design selection later within the assessment.
At 1.2 meters in size, I discovered the Salo to be excellent to be used with moveable listening gadgets. It is lengthy sufficient to offer some flexibility however not so lengthy that it turns into cumbersome if you’re on the transfer.
Compatibility
One of many Salo’s strengths is its extensive compatibility. I examined this cable with quite a lot of headphones, and it labored flawlessly with almost all Hifiman fashions (besides for his or her electrostatic choices), Meze headphones just like the 99 Basic and Liric II, and most Focal headphones, except for the Utopia.
In my testing, I primarily used the HE1000 Stealth and the Focal Clear MG. Each headphones paired excellently with the Salo, and I seen no influence on consolation when swapping from the inventory cables.
It is price noting that whereas the Salo works with most headphones utilizing customary 3.5mm inputs, it is not at all times going to be suitable with proprietary 3.5mm connections just like the one discovered on the Sony MDR-Z1R. Nonetheless, for the overwhelming majority of headphones utilizing customary 3.5mm plugs, the Salo proves to be a superb choice.
Sound Impressions
Upon first listening with the Salo cable, I instantly seen a rise in bass response throughout all of the headphones I examined. This was notably evident with the HE1000 Stealth and Focal Clear MG.
Bass Efficiency
The Salo introduced extra influence to the bass, with a heavier slam that I may really feel in addition to hear. It is necessary to notice that this modification did not considerably alter the general sound signature of the headphones. As a substitute, it appeared to carry out extra from the sub-bass and mid-bass frequencies, including a way of weight and authority to the low finish.
To place the bass efficiency to the check, I listened to “Capital Punishment” by Detain. With the Salo cable, I skilled a a lot stronger, extra palpable feeling within the bass frequencies. The bass guitar maintained its form and definition, with all of the assault of the notes nonetheless clearly current. This enhanced low-end did not come at the price of readability in different frequencies – the guitars remained clear and well-defined.
Midrange and Treble
Whereas the bass noticed probably the most noticeable enchancment, I used to be happy to seek out that the excessive finish did not lose any readability. The truth is, the frequency response appeared to get barely hotter total. This was a nice shock, as silver cables usually carry added sharpness to the sound. I think the gold-plated connectors play a job in balancing out this typical attribute of silver cables.
On the Focal Clear MG, recognized for its considerably vibrant character, I discovered the excessive finish remained shimmery and detailed. Nonetheless, the improved bass from the Salo cable offered a pleasant counterbalance, leading to a extra full-bodied sound. Cymbals, particularly, sounded much less brittle than they did with the inventory cable, which I discovered to be a welcome enchancment.
Soundstage and Imaging
Regardless of the modifications in tonal steadiness, I used to be impressed to seek out that the soundstage maintained its width and top. The Salo did not compress or increase the sound subject, however quite appeared to fill it out extra utterly because of the improved decrease frequencies.
Worth Proposition
At $29.95, the Strauss & Wagner Salo represents distinctive worth on the planet of audiophile cables. Whereas it might not provide the identical degree of refinement as cables costing a whole lot and even 1000’s of {dollars}, the sonic enhancements it brings are removed from refined.
For a lot of audiophiles, particularly these new to the pastime or working with a restricted price range, the Salo may very well be a game-changer. It gives a style of what higher-end cables can do with out the eye-watering price ticket usually related to boutique audio gear.
Conclusion
After in depth testing, I can confidently say that the Strauss & Wagner Salo punches nicely above its weight class. This audiophile cable gives noticeable enhancements in sound high quality, notably within the bass area, with out breaking the financial institution.
The improved low-end response brings new life to many headphones, including influence and weight with out muddying the general presentation. In the meantime, the marginally hotter tonal steadiness helps tame overly vibrant headphones with out sacrificing element or readability.
Construct high quality is spectacular for the value level, with sturdy supplies and gold-plated connectors that ought to stand as much as years of use. The extensive compatibility additionally signifies that the Salo can develop along with your audio journey, working with quite a lot of high-end headphones from well-liked manufacturers.
Whereas the Salo could not compete instantly with ultra-high-end cables costing a whole lot or 1000’s of {dollars}, it would not have to. For its modest worth, it gives a degree of efficiency that I discover actually spectacular.
Whether or not you are a budding audiophile trying to dip your toes into the world of cable upgrades, or a seasoned listener looking for a budget-friendly choice to your secondary setup, the Strauss & Wagner Salo deserves severe consideration. It proves that significant audio upgrades do not at all times have to return with a hefty price ticket.
In a pastime the place diminishing returns usually set in rapidly, the Salo gives tangible enhancements at a worth level accessible to most fanatics. It is a testomony to Strauss & Wagner’s dedication to delivering high-value merchandise that punch above their weight class.
For anybody trying to improve their listening expertise with out breaking the financial institution, I wholeheartedly suggest giving the Strauss & Wagner Salo a strive. It’d simply be probably the most cost-effective improve you can also make to your present headphone setup.
Get the brand new Salo cable on the Strauss & Wagner Website or on Audio 46
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