Lavricables Master Line - The Silver Surfer

 4⭐️

+ High-purity 5N silver

+ Quality craftsmanship

+ Attractive design

+ A wide variety of customization options 

+ Well designed ear hooks helps to keep IEMs in place

+ Fairer pricing model than many other companies 

- Only available in 2 color options

- Cheap O-ring chin slider and hardware could be better

- Wish it was a little more soft and supple

- Some questionable logo placement 

- We burning in cables now?

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This product was provided to me by Lavricables in exchange for my impartial and honest review. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gear used: 

●Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

●HiBy R3 II

●Various DAC/amps and IEMs

Source:

●Listening was done using Amazon Music HD/Ultra HD and local FLAC files. 

Introduction:

Lavricables is a European cable manufacturer that has been in operation since 2012. It was founded by audiophiles who wanted to offer premium silver audio cables with great craftsmanship at competitive prices. Each of their cables is handcrafted, and they offer many customization options. Their cables and interconnects range in price, and their products fall within four different lines, which include Reference, Ultimate, Master, and Grand. The company sent me the latest version 5 of their Master Line 2-pin IEM cable which, depending on customization options, ranges from about $350 to $550. Though I am far from an expert on cables, I was excited to get the opportunity to test and review something a bit outside my comfort zone. So, without further ado, let's jump in and see what Lavricables has to offer.

Build and accessories:

The cable arrived in humble packaging—just an unassuming, simple brown cardboard box. Within, there was only a Lavricables sticker and a black pouch holding the cable. Before I delve into the cable, let me briefly talk about the pouch. It's a bit oversized for just a single cable, but it's made of a soft, black, velvet-like material. It features the Lavricables logo on the front and can be cinched at the top to secure the contents. It's large enough to accommodate at least a couple of cables and their accompanying IEMs, or even one set and a small-sized DAP, but it's also a bit of a dust magnet. Now, on to the cable itself. Lavricables' newest version 5 of their Master Line is made of 4 cores of 5N purity silver AWG22 multistrand litz wire. The company prides itself on using high-purity silver in its products. The V5 comes in two color options: transparent and sky blue. I opted for the sky blue just to add a little pop of color, as I'm typically a fan of more fun and vibrant cable designs. There's also a bit of an understated shine or glittery quality to it that I quite like. I'd say the overall thickness is average, and the weave hits just about right—not too tight or too loose. The sheathing material is plastic, and it feels good in hand. It's smooth and not rubbery or sticky. I would like it to be a little softer and more supple, but it coils up easily enough, though it does have a little bit of stiffness and memory. The earhooks are quite well done. They are stiff enough to hold their shape and perform their function, but not too stiff that they pull the IEMs away from the ears like some cables tend to do. As much as I generally like the cable, there are a couple of design choices that I find underwhelming. Firstly, I do like the gray metal and carbon fiber design of both the termination and the Y-split, but they feel a little cheap. I really wish they were heavier, more substantial, and felt more premium. Secondly, the chin slider. Now I understand that not everyone uses the chin sliders on cables, and most of the time I pay them little attention, but I think a cable of this price and quality should have a better solution than a small rubber O-ring. It's a cheap solution and undercuts the effort that goes into producing each cable. The most egregious design fumble, however, is the decision to include the Lavricables logo on each IEM connector. The company's logo design consists of a big, bold letter "L" embedded inside a thinner letter "C." As far as logos go, it's fine, and the meaning is easy to understand (LC = Lavricables). But it can be really confusing to see a big "L" on both ear hooks when they are often marked "L" and "R" to denote which side they connect to. In fairness, the right connector does have a red ring to help identify it at a glance, but my advice to the company would be to remove the logos from the connectors altogether. Sometimes a simpler presentation is the best way to go, especially when the logo is already featured on both the termination and the Y-split. Overall, the Master Line V5 has decent build quality and good ergonomics, though I personally prefer a thicker, more supple cable, and some of the design choices could have been better thought out.

Customization options:

Next, let's discuss some of the customization options that Lavricables offers. There's the aforementioned choice of color between transparent and sky blue, and the company also offers varying lengths. Of course, there are different connection types such as MMCX, both recessed and flush 2-pin, and even the Pentaconn Ear connection, which is used in many higher-end IEMs, along with an array of other connections for a variety of full-sized headphones. There are many termination choices, including 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm, 1/4 inch, and XLR. Lavricables will even burn in your cable for 100 or 150 hours prior to shipping if you so wish, not that I personally believe burning in a cable is necessary, but hey, it's a service they provide for those willing to pay for it. It's always good when a company offers an array of customization options for audiophiles who have particular needs, but I do wish they would offer a choice of the number of cores for those who prefer a thicker, more substantial cable. Other color options would be nice too.

Sound impressions:

Just a brief disclaimer before I start talking about the sound. I will admit that the placebo effect is a powerful thing, but I will do my best to be as honest and transparent as possible about what I hear. According to Lavricables' marketing material, "The Master line sounds more emotional, realistic, and with superior layering and more resolution. [It] will improve the full potential of your setup by revealing pleasant transparency, a wider soundstage, and crystal clarity!" That's a pretty bold claim, but not unlike those offered by every other cable manufacturer in the business. But how much of it is true, and how big can the difference be? Well, in my experience testing the V5 against the stock cables of various IEMs, I've found that it actually does improve the sound. Now, the difference is subtle at best, but to my ear, there is a definitive improvement in clarity, transparency, and a level of naturalness across the frequency response. The bass texture is tightened up without losing any of its inherent quantity. Notes are generally crisper and better defined, and vocals also become a bit richer and more soulful. Note edges and microdetails are just a bit easier to discern, and the timbre is a touch more organic. The treble texture also shows a slight improvement, and there's a spatiality that wasn't there before. As far as the soundstage claim goes, I don't particularly hear it as being any wider. So call it the placebo effect or maybe it's confirmation bias, but I actually do hear a difference compared to the stock cables of the various IEMs I used in my testing. There's a small yet noticeable improvement that could be attributed to the purity of the silver used, but keep in mind I'm talking about a small percentage, so don't expect a night-and-day difference.

Comparisons: 

The prices listed for these cables come from AliExpress. As you may or may not know, the price of most cables fluctuates pretty wildly depending on sales, so the prices are my best approximation at the time of review.

● ivipQ 530 (~$200) - The 530 features an 8-core silver palladium plus liquid nitrogen 7N OCC build. The black and purple design definitely draws the eye, and it pairs amazingly well with some purple-shelled IEMs, though the V5's more neutral sky blue aesthetic is probably easier to pair with a multitude of different shell designs. The 530 utilizes a combination of plastic and fabric sheathing material, which makes for a unique feel in the hand. It also has a thicker and tighter weave, but the actual width of the cables is comparable. The 530 is also much heavier and feels more substantial, yet it's also more supple and pliable. The V5 feels a bit stiffer and a touch more memory-prone. The hardware of the 530 also feels like a substantial upgrade. It's heavier, and the combination of gold and silver adds a nice touch, not to mention there's a metal chin slider compared to the rubber O-ring on the V5. The ear hooks of the 530 are a little more rounded versus the V5, which has a more aggressive hook shape. Both companies offer plenty of customization options to suit your needs, including various lengths, connector types, and terminations. It's not often I talk about the accessories that come with cables, but it's worth noting that Lavricables includes only a simple drawstring bag, while most ivipQ offerings that I've purchased come with a nice zipper case. When it comes to the sound, these two aren't vastly different, but I will say that the V5 is brighter and more detailed. It maintains that definitive crispness I've come to know and enjoy. The 530, though, sounds a little smoother and more dynamic, but it cannot quite reach the level of detail of the V5. Still, I like the overall feel and design of it a little better, and these two complement each other well enough to coexist.

● XINHS HS68 (~$115) - This one is composed of eight core 8NOCC frozen single-crystal copper. It's very similar to the ivipQ 530 cable in build quality, hardware, and overall design, but in this case, the colors are black and blue. The V5's light blue is nice, but there's something about the HS68's two-toned colorway that I prefer. Again, though, if you're looking to have a design that pairs better aesthetically with multiple IEMs, the V5 is better suited. Since ivipQ and XINHS are sister companies, the HS68 features many similar design elements, including a combination of plastic and fabric sheathing, which makes for a better feel. It's also much thicker and heavier than the V5, with a much tighter weave, yet it's still more pliable and better behaved. Walking around with the HS68 feels more substantial, whereas the V5 is a little easier to ignore, though I personally prefer a heavier cable. This one also comes with a nice zipper case too. With other cables, most of the difference I hear occurs in the upper frequencies, but interestingly enough, the biggest change I hear between these two cables takes place in the bass. The V5 sounds generally cleaner and better separated with better note definition and a slightly shorter decay. The sub-bass also reaches a bit lower, and the rumble is just a touch increased and more satisfying. The HS68 does have a bit more fullness in the low end, though, and a slightly smoother and less analytical nature that might pair well with a more neutrally tuned IEM or one lacking a certain musicality.

● NiceHCK Snow Ag (~$65) - This cable is made of 4-core 4N pure silver, which should make for an apt comparison to the V5's 5N silver composition. The Snow Ag features a fabric sheath, which can be a little polarizing. Some really like the feel of a fabric cable, but others don't care for it at all. Personally, I like the way it feels, but most fabric-sheathed cables come with the downside of being much more prone to microphonics. Luckily, the Snow Ag doesn't exhibit much. One thing to keep in mind is the lifespan of the sheath material. The Snow Ag is white, which can easily be stained or discolored over time, as well as having the chance of fraying or tearing. Both are very similar in weight and heft, but the V5's plastic sheath feels a little nicer and sturdier in hand. Both cables also tend to hold a bit of memory, but the Snow Ag is a bit less malleable. The weaves are similar, but the Snow Ag is a little tighter, and I really like the hardware on it too because it feels like an upgrade over that of the V5. For what it's worth, Lavricables offers a wider array of customization options for those who want them. The Snow Ag cable sounds a bit smoother and more mid-centric. It trades some bass and treble presence and resolution for a smoother, more musical response that's not entirely undesirable. It can help tame certain treble notes, but there is a notable lack of crispness and detail that the V5 accomplishes so well. Also, Lavricables' soundstage width claim from earlier actually does come into play here, as the V5 definitely sounds wider. Despite both being made of silver, I feel that these two cables can be quite complementary to each other, and ultimately the preference depends on the transducer they're paired with.

In conclusion:

There's a lot of debate revolving around whether a cable can actually enhance the sound. Personally, I've experienced a range of effects, from only marginal differences to substantial improvements, but more often than not, I detect little to no changes at all. It seems to vary wildly and is mostly dependent on the individual IEM itself. The latest version in Lavricables' Master line utilizes high-purity 5N silver, and I was able to hear a noticeable difference with some IEM pairings. The results were a sort of general sharpening or enhancement of detail, clarity, and separation, as well as a slight advantage in vocal tonality. It has a very clean and organized sound that can, for lack of a better phrase, "clean up" the tuning of your favorite IEMs. As far as the build quality goes, the V5 has a decent weave and feels good in hand, but it is a little stiff and memory-prone. With such vehemently passionate people on both sides of the cable argument, I'm not sure the debate will ever be settled, and I won't pretend to believe that my word carries any weight in the debate. However, I will say that if you are in the market for a cable upgrade and are looking for high-quality silver with plenty of customization options to meet your needs, all without costing an arm and a leg, then Lavricables definitely deserves your attention and consideration.