ALO Audio – Reference 8 Cable

The Reference 8 IEM Cable is a mmcx connector earphone cable with true high-fidelity. Four high purity silver-plated copper (SXC) conductors in FEP jackets work together with four OCC copper conductors to deliver full-bodied musicality and fine inner detail to recordings. 

It also has the enjoyable and simple sound signature of all of our ALO audio cables. The terminations are subtly marked to indicate whether they are on the right (Red) or left (Blue) (Blue).

The signature cable geometry, combined with the long-lasting FEP jacket, keeps microphonics to a minimum while providing excellent sound quality.

The FEP jacket will also protect the conductors from oxidation, which is common in earphone cables. While oxidation has no effect on the sonic quality of the cable, keeping it out ensures that your cable will look great for years.

Build Quality 

Litz Cable is the stock cable that comes with some of the higher-end Campfire earphones; it is made of individually enameled strands of silver-plated copper that are protected by a durable medical-grade PVC jacket that prevents oxidation.

The 3,5 mm, 4,4mm, and Lighting Versions of cables were all beautifully made, very lightweight, with almost zero microphonics, and the proprietary plugs, all of which are excellent, especially the one with the Lighting Termination, which appears to be made by Apple themselves.

The Ref.8 cable is an upgrade cable consisting of eight conductors (four high purity silver-plated copper (SXC) conductors combined with four OCC copper conductors) protected by a long-lasting medical-grade PVC jacket that prevents oxidation.

The build quality on the Ref. 8 Cable is excellent, as it is on the Litz Cable, from the connectors to the plugs. It’s a joy to see in person, combining excellent construction with a small and pocket-friendly size, especially for an 8-conductor cable.

Despite the small size of the conductors, the 8 conductors, rather than 4, make Ref.8 stiffer and more micro-phonic than the Litz Cable.

These two features, in my opinion, make this cable more suitable for quiet home use. Where you keep micro-phonics and movement to a minimum and can enjoy the Ref. 8’s upgrade in details and resolution over Litz Cable.

Sound Quality 

The Litz Cable sound signature is neutral to warm in tone, with a very good frequency balance. It pairs extremely well with Andromeda and Vega, adapting well to both signatures.

The Lows have good body and impact, with a focus on the midbass rather than the sub-bass. The mids have a nice organic feel to them, with filled-in low mids and airy highs with good extension.

They’re a step above the standard SPC Cable that comes with even high-end IEMs, not so much in tone as in resolution and imaging, which are very nice for the price.

Having used the Litz Cable with the Lighting termination extensively. There are no differences in sound between the 3,5 mm and 4,4 mm versions. Making it especially convenient for iPhone users who want to avoid dongle use.

Ref.8 is a step up from the Litz Cable, with a slightly different signature. More V-Shaped, but with a noticeable improvement in resolution, soundstage, and extension on both ends.

Lows are more sub-bass focused, with more rumble and impact than Litz Cable. Low mids are a little lean, and mids have a little less body than on the Litz Cable. But given the blacker background resolution and detail on Ref. 8, it is vastly superior. Highs are longer, airier, and brighter, with no sibilance.

Ref. 8’s blacker background improves resolution and imaging over the Litz Cable, and the soundstage is both deeper and wider.

Last thought on  Reference 8

The Reference 8 IEM Cable is an earphone cable that delivers true high-fidelity sound. Four high purity silver-plated copper (SXC) conductors in FEP jackets work together with four OCC copper conductors to deliver full-bodied musicality and fine inner detail to recordings.

It also has the enjoyable and simple sound signature of all of our ALO audio cables. The terminations are subtly marked to indicate Right (Red) or Left (Blue), making it convenient for use in mobile applications.

The signature cable geometry and the long-lasting FEP jacket work together to keep microphonics to a minimum while still delivering excellent sound quality. The FEP jacket will also protect the conductors from oxidation, which is common in earphone cables.

While oxidation has no effect on the sonic quality of the cable. Keeping it out ensures that your cable will look great for years.

Features

• Premium IEM cable with 8 conductors