Ares Audio Okami and Kasai review everyone! This isn’t really a debut of reviewing cables for Audio Realviews. We had features from upgrade cables coming from BQEYZ which gave us glimpses of what to expect from an upgrade cable. But why do you need an upgrade cable and what is it really there for? Here’s my take on it.

An upgrade cable is one of the few things that grants you an official “audiophile” mindset. You’re not settling for the “regular” and “usual” stock cable that comes from your earphone or headphone. Stock cables are great, and they work and do the job just as they are intended to do since they were essentially part of the thought process when a certain product was conceptualized, designed, and manufactured. There’s completely nothing wrong with staying with your stock cable.

Enough with the talk about stock cables and let’s move on to the star of the show. Ares Audio – a boutique cable maker hailing from Singapore and founded in March 2018. There are multiple ways you can tackle audiophile accessories and Ares Audio’s approach focuses on the key aspects of luxury, comfort, and aesthetics without sacrificing the core element, sound. I saw their recent cable offerings making the rounds on my different social platforms and when I got offered a chance to evaluate some of their handmade cables, there was no saying no.

The signature IEM cables that we would be reviewing are Ares Audio’s Kasai and Okami. They were all sent free of charge in exchange for an honest take on them and need not be returned, there were no other monetary factors involved.

The Ares Audio Kasai is currently unavailable for purchase but was previously listed for SGD$170 and is specifications are a 4-core pure 7n OCC copper cable with a standard length of 1.25m and comes in a two-tone color combination which we would dig into deeper later in the review.

The Ares Audio Okami is the one that is currently available for purchase at around SGD$79-124 which depends on your choice of connectors(2-pin, MMCX, JH 4-pin, Fitear RA, QDC, UE IPX, A2DC, and non-extruded 2-pin) and termination (2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and Type-C). The support for all these variations shows their versatility and commitment to catering to any of the audiophile configurations that might come their way. The Okami’s specifications are a 4-core 5n OCC copper and 3n silver-plated cable which comes in a twisted nylon core and PVC sleeving configuration with a standard length of 1.25m.

You can check the Ares Audio Okami and Kasai cable along with their other audiophile accessories lineup on their official website – https://www.aresaudiosg.com/.

Packaging

I had little to no expectations as to what I anticipated the Ares Audio Okami and Kasai cables would come packaged in. I immediately distanced myself from unboxing photos the moment a review unit was to be by them. A set of cables coming in a metal canister certainly did me a surprise. The front of the metal canister is adorned with the Ares Audio branding and logo along with some charming audiophile quotes that warn everyone that they’re in for a treat. Do note that I received both cables in a single packaging as they are review units.

Inside the canister is a black foam cutout that protected the cables. It comes with a set of Ares Audio stickers and a plant fiber-based drawstring bag. A pecan-hued leather cable organizer is also supplied to make storage of your new Ares Audio cable easy and neat. The accessory set included in Ares Audio products allows itself to have a first-rate character and feel to it making each purchase truly on its own.

Build Quality

It wouldn’t be an upgrade cable if there are no real distinct functional improvements and appearance to it which is why it’s one of the things that I immediately look for in products such as these Ares Audio Okami and Kasai cables. With Ares Audio being a full-time independent accessories maker, it would be safe to say that I was expecting certain unique differentiating components to them and that’s where we will take it next.

Okami

Ares Audio draws some Japanese inspiration from the Okami which means Wolf and gamers might have some flashbacks to Capcom’s 2006 release under the same name. We have this prejudice about the Wolf being a cunning and stealthy animal and the Ares Audio Okami exemplifies that to a point. Its black-on-black cable color configuration leaves little space for creativity which highlights any mark of imperfection to be easily observed.

These imperfections are nowhere to be found on the braiding, sleeving, and sealing of the cable. The braid tension hits the right amount of tightness and looseness to it making it steady and in place when in actual use and pliable when storage time comes. The cable noise when touching your shirt or skin is kept at a bare minimum as well.

I’ve already mentioned how versatile the Ares Audio cables can be based on any particular audiophile’s request and they gladly indulged my request for a .78mm 2-pin connection on a 4.4mm termination. The 2-pin housing is clean and has circular creases to it for a tight grip when attaching and detaching the Okami and a pre-molded over-ear memory guide is also present. The Y-split and 4.4mm metal barrel-type housing is a signature Ares Audio piece which can be found on their entire line of cables. Last but not least is the inclusion of a round rubber chin slider which worked great and is able to give that needed measure of fit.

Kasai

There is always more to a name than it denotes. Kasai means Fire in Japanese but is also often associated with suddenly turning up and then leaving without a trace. The Ares Audio Kasai is currently a “come and go” product since it isn’t available for purchase as of the moment, who says cables aren’t fleeting?

The Kasai uses identical Y-split, 4.4mm, and 2-pin housing as with the Okami except for the difference in the cable used which the Kasai employs with a 7n OCC copper cable. The sleeves are also now in Burgundy for the lower half of the cable and translucent twisted nylon to highlight the copper inside and recreate the “Fire” hues that the Kasai stands for.

The braiding and tension still keep the right amount of tightness and looseness which showcases consistency across the different offerings of Ares Audio despite being two totally different models. Cable noise is also kept at a minimum.

Sound

The Okami and Kasai are both Ares Audio’s select introduction pair into their world. Both are marketed to offer a mild touch of warmth into your sound chain while being able to retain much of their sonic fundamentals. While minuscule changes are inevitable, we are hoping that it creates a desirable tilt toward the expected warmth signature. I used the Sony WM1A (stock firmware 3.02) for the duration of the Ares Audio review along with 2 of my most used IEMs in my inventory, the LX Ear Pluto CIEM and the Custom Art FIBAE Black UIEM. You can check out my reviews for both units to get an in-depth look at both if you are already really considering getting any of the Ares Audio cables by now.

Okami

The Ares Audio Okami keeps the brunt of its performance towards creating a tighter and fuller-sounding midbass which both the Custom Art FIBAE Black and LX Ear Pluto crave. The resulting control and resolution on the LX Ear Pluto’s low-end are much more appreciated as it was able to be felt easily after continuous engagements. The inherent midrange and the high-frequency sound of both earphones were retained, and no distinct improvements/changes were to be found even when pumping midrange and high-frequency laden tracks such as Black Eyed Peas Rock That Body and Angela Bofill’s Angel of the Night.

This character of the Ares Audio Okami cable places it in a spot where it addresses the lack of low-end grip and control and is best suited for earphones that exhibit it. It would push bass-loving IEMs to the point of congestion and boomy-ness. Once again, synergy is key.

Kasai

Having been pumped full of the Okami’s low-end frequency-loving character, the Ares Audio Kasai almost made me hope it goes towards the polar opposite of the spectrum and enhances the high frequencies. It didn’t adhere to my hopes and in the end, ended up with an almost identical character to the Okami. What the Kasai does at a higher degree is its subtle push on the upper midrange making a more suitable solution for vocal-centric tracks while also taking into consideration bass body control.

The lows on the LX Ear Pluto are kept tight but with an added resolution to it which the Kasai and Okami do well. Where the Kasai separates itself is when the midrange frequencies come into play making tracks sound more engaging and livelier. Vocals have more weight and body to them making the LX Ear Pluto and Custom Art FIBAE Black lush sounding. The high frequencies are basically left to their own devices which as a treble head myself made me wish more was done but we couldn’t get it all and the almost identical sonic character of the Kasai and Okami might be the reason the Kasai isn’t up for purchase for now, just a wild guess.

Conclusion

Ares Audio commands both attention and recognition despite its recent inception into the audiophile accessory field. This starting impression of mine towards their brand shows that nature comes out in each of us, the artisans and aficionados behind the company translate to their brand. The Ares Audio Okami cable offers added lift towards your low-end preference in your IEMs. The Kasai offers an overall balanced sound with a breath of midrange articulation. While that is admirable in itself, the outstanding build quality. The careful attention even towards its packaging on both cables makes the Ares Audio cables an easy recommendation for us audio enthusiasts looking to further push for the better our own respective sound setups.