Effect Audio Maestro Cable

I mentioned that the Effect Audio Axiom does not come with a bundled cable, instead relying on cables you may already have and prefer. For those who wish to get one either way, the company has a rotating set of cables on discount when purchased with the Axiom. At the time of this tour, the Vogue Series Maestro was one, which happens to be Effect Audio's most affordable cable starting at $99. I have the clear-insulation version here, but there is a black color option for those who prefer it. The product box is beautifully designed, with a white base and the Effect Audio logo on the front, and an aesthetic close-up of the cable inside. The full logo and website URL are on the back, and the two-piece packaging has a sticker with more specific product information on the side.


The lid lifts off to reveal a similar design as the Axiom box, and here too paperwork greets us right away. This is easily the most paperwork I have seen for a cable, and perhaps any headphone or earphone accessory. I appreciate the care and maintenance section to prolong cable life, and the specification sheet provides all the information one needs to better appreciate the cable that comes tied neatly in a circular cutout with a silica gel packet keeping things dry.


I know I said the cable is tied, which is a testament to Effect Audio because it's one of the most supple earphone cables I have used to date. Knowing this is the company's most affordable option only makes me want to see what the higher-end options are like. However, $99 is still more than many IEMs cost. Regardless, the Vogue Maestro from Effect Audio is a maestro in showing others how to get the basics of an IEM cable right when it comes to ease of use, re-shaping, no memory wire configuration, zero microphonics, being lightweight, and ultimately looking nice; however subjective that may be. The Vogue Maestro comes in different options for connectors and plugs, and I have the 3.5 mm TRS plug option for the source that has gold-plating for oxidation resistance and is mounted to a low-profile aluminium plug with the Effect Audio logo. The housing is shaped to easily accommodate fingers when connecting or disconnecting the plug, which is one of the small things that goes unnoticed by most cable makers.

The conductor is 26 AWG ultra-pure Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) copper in a 4-strand, Kevlar-infused litz configuration for added durability and increased flexibility with an Effect Audio UltraFlexi insulation on top. The splitter is in the same design language as the other plug housings and even lower-profile. The cable cinch holds its place well along the two split wires of two strands, one per channel. Closer to the other end, plastic sheathing over the cable strands hold the pre-formed ear hooks in the cable. These head to a final set of two aluminium plug housings with the truncated logo and "L" or "R" markings for the channels. This particular cable has 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors with an extruded plastic housing for IEMs with recessed cable connectors. I will also point out that the Vogue Maestro cable comes in different connector and plug options, as well as Effect Audio's innovative ConX and TermX modular connectors.