Specifications:
Cable Material: 28 AWG Silver-Plated Copper, TPE Insulation
Cable Length: 1.2 m
Braid: 4-wire or 8-wire (on request)
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Kotori Audio in any way. Kotori Audio sent the Silicon over to us as a loaner unit. The opinions on the product are solely our own and Kotori Audio did not in any way or form influence us to say anything positive or negative about the product.
Thank you, CW, Jonas, and Ray for this opportunity to review your products!
Reviewed by: “Charlie” from The Little Audiophile
Kotori Audio Silicon Retail Price (at time of writing): S$119.90
Expanding their lineup, Kotori Audio recently introduced the Silicon, a Silver-plated copper cable crafted to complement it’s copper litz older brother, the Graphite. SPC and copper form the bread and butter of any cable lineup, without one or the other, a lineup feels incomplete – to me, at least.
The folks at Kotori Audio prides themselves for delivering quality products that do not burn a hole in your pocket, and with the Silicon priced at around a hundred, the aforementioned still seems to hold true.
THE BOX
According to Forbes, an impression regardless of positive or negative is formed in the first 7 seconds of meeting the person. With a demure outer box that opens up to reveal a wealth of accessories and finally the cable delicately cradled at the heart of it all, ain’t that a good first impression indeed. For the asking price, the unboxing experience is definitely commendable.
What we get:
- a couple of “Lo-Res Audio” stickers
- a velcro cable-organizer
- the Silicon cable itself
For the price, you get a fun sides of tidbits aside from the main product itself and it surely gives a slight edge over the competitors in the same price category. I really enjoy the cheeky stickers that they provided, I found myself plastering it all over my pelican cases. I guess it works as an advertisement for Kotori Audio too so it is a win-win situation after all.
BUILD AND DESIGN
Jack and Termination
The Silicon comes in a range of connector options – MMCX, 0.78 mm 2-pin and Fitear, with the latter charging an additional 10 dollars. These three connector types are the most commonly found on IEMs, but unfortunately, proprietary connectors such as Audio Technica’s A2DC and MEE audio’s detachable cables do not find their way into the connector selection menu.
As for jacks, 2.5 mm Balanced, 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm Balanced options are available. The 4.4 mm jack would set you back an additional 6 dollars. Apart from these 3, what other options would you need anyways?
I have my unit terminated in 0.78 mm 2-pin with a 2.5 mm balanced jack.
Kotori Audio’s decision to streamline their termination options are a mixed bag for me. Sure, for the price the AEC connectors are decent enough – durable and lightweight with a smooth finish that does not snag on corners or clothing. But on the other hand, options such as 90-degree jacks are out the window.
Wire
Ah yes. The veins of the cable – the wires themselves. When I first unveiled the cable in the comforts of my bedroom, I was instantly drawn to the wires – almost sparkling in the soft lighting of the naked incandescent bulb.
The gorgeous silver strands are beautifully enclosed in an ultra-transparent TPE insulation. Aesthetically speaking, I am sure the colour-neutral tones would jive well when paired with any IEM on the market. Silver is a classic colour anyways.
The wire spans 1.2 metres long which are just enough for most individuals. The insulation appears sufficiently robust and with proper care, it should last you a couple of years.
However, if there is one drawback with this cable, and it is with its (mild) stiffness.
The stiffness does not come close to being inflexible or impractical, but it definitely lies toward that side of the spectrum and tends to spring outwards when coiled. Intrinsically, the thinness of the wires probably helped alleviate some of the stiffness. My unit exhibits some mild microphonics, even when brushed gently across a hard surface. This effect is, however, significantly reduced when you have music playing through your IEMs. A forgivable characteristic in my opinion. A looser braiding might alleviate some stiffness and microphonic effects of this cable.
Workmanship
The workmanship on the Silicon is a reflection of the experience the engineers at Kotori Audio has amassed over the years. Braids were evenly spaced and tight throughout the length of the cable. Jacks and terminations were properly aligned and professionally soldered.
SOUND QUALITY
Note: Sound Quality was tested on my Fiio Q1MKii
~ I would have very much wanted to review the cable with the Opus #1. However, the entire screen on that bugger recently went bust and is completely unresponsive to touch. A huge bummer! ~
The Silicon was paired with the QoA Pink Lady.
Let us start by recapping how the Pink Lady actually performs. The Pink Lady flexes its muscles with a rich powerful bass that is well extended into the lowest registers. Normalized by the bass, we would see a slight dip in the mids, then, yet another boost in the treble region which is both airy and have a sparkle to them while never sounding offensive.
What changes do I hear with this cable as opposed to the stock one? Well. A-B-ing them side by side, the changes are night and day.
Bass
The biggest improvement when switching from the stock cable over to the Kotori Audio Silicon has definitely got to be the bass region. Tested with the track “In a Week” by Hozier, which has a massive bassline, the Silicon sounds noticeably faster, more controlled, especially in the sub-bass lines. Bass notes are also more intimate and rich which was very pleasant for me.
Mids
We see a slight lift in the lower-mids region making male vocals sound more hearty and boosting their presence in the mix. Upper-mids, however, do not benefit in the same way. Upper-mids sound more articulate and some micro-details are recovered. Otherwise, there aren’t many changes to the presentation.
Trebles
The Silicon’s treble region is airy and spacious with a touch of sparkle to it, although it does not really help much with extending the trebles. The sibilance range would not be emphasized with this cable either. It simply builds upon the existing treble characteristics of the IEM. It is still very well balanced with the bass and mids in terms of presentation.
CONCLUSION
The Kotori Audio Silicon is an easy recommendation from me. It is well-priced and brings noticeable benefits to the table, even for entry-level IEMs. It does not stray too far from the original sound of the parent IEM, but instead, improves on the existing quality of the IEM itself. Chances are, this cable will pair with the IEM you are sporting. The cable is well built, though slightly microphonic.
The cable is also available in 8-wire version and can be purchased HERE.
Thanks for reading and see you in the next one!
THE LITTLE AUDIOPHILE 