Paired with Nostalgia Audio Durandal (Review link)
Initially, I only made this pairing due to the nice color match until I realized that they work really nicely even for the sound. Since Vortex Hroudland (Durandal’s stock cable) was solely designed and available through Durandal, the sound pairing for Durandal is already finished from the get-go (not to forget mentioning that Hroudland is a premium cable that is just as high-quality & pricey as Amethyst), though there’s always room for personal preference and taste. Even after comparison, since Durandal’s original cable Hruodland is already a neck-to-neck cable, this time, the sound impression would be more about discussing the sound change/difference rather than saying that there are ‘upgrades.’ With that said, let’s talk business.
First, the biggest difference is the sound positioning and phasing. If I stop describing here, that would cause some mass confusion for people reading. So let me give further explanations. One of Durandal’s major charms is how it creates its own spatial, very unique headroom and soundstage. It’s
Amethyst sort of ‘redefines’ how Durandal was creating its own unique soundstage. Amethyst doesn’t completely debunk the concept that Durandal had. For those who highly prioritize reference or flat-ish soundstage, the sound imaging may sound rather artificial or overly spatial – and Amethyst resolves that.
Paired with Moviate Ears MSX+ (Review Coming Soon!)
I’ve seen this matching being loved by the MSX+ users (even by the engineer who tuned the MSX+!), and I can see why. The ME MSX+ is a very cable-sensitive earphone, and Amethyst makes night and day differences for the MSX+. As you may have expected, the perception of depth gets much deeper as well as a wider, grand soundstage. One of the strong points of the MSX+ is its abyss-like wide, deep staging, and the Amethyst works like an infinity stone, empowering the MSX+ to the next level.
Another major improvement, just as much as the depth and staging, is the clarity; and by clarity, I mean in both color and phasing. Astral Amethyst significantly deepens the thickness of the color of the MSX+, adding liveliness and depth to the tone. This change of sound is similar to adjusting the camera’s pinned out focal point to its right position, making the MSX+ phasing more pinpoint accurate. Now, the MSX+ sounds noticeably more organized and clearer in overall presentation. This improvement naturally leads to better separation as well.
Amethyst also pulls out the hidden/weaker details, which bloom with clean clarity, yet without over-highlighting or sounding exaggerated. The MSX+’s original solmen, calm sound signature/characteristics remain the same, so the textures don’t get harsh or dry. The last major improvement is the fuller-bodied sound and higher texture density. The MSX+’s lows and mids get fuller-bodied, and the texture gets packed and tightened with more details, allowing better reverb control without altering the actual thickness of MXS+’s vocals. Overall, the improvements align interestingly similar and consistent to the last page’s sound impression and the above Nostalgia Durandal’s matching impressions.
Compared to Astral Acoustics Mars (Review link)
While Amethyst was relatively more low-mid body and in-depth presentation, Mars highlights more on the mid-highs, agility, and airiness. Mars brings the vocals a bit more forward than Amethyst and further tightens the mid-range, all while keeping the same fullness and well-bodiedness of Amethyst. Mars is also brighter in general, but only in relative terms, of course. There’s noticeably more upper-mid airiness and an open-ended atmosphere, creating those shiny, breezy (yet non-fatiguing) trebles.
Don’t get me wrong – after reviewing two cables, as well as demoing to several other Astral Acoustic cables, both Amethyst and Mars share the same DNA – that the overall sound balance does not get break or overly tilt the overall balance. As much as Mars had its advantages, Amethyst has its own powers that are superior to Mars. As noted earlier, the depth. Amethyst achieves a deeper bass dive, a much more mature tone, and a grander soundstage.
If Mars treated you with that lively, cheerful ACG vibe, Amethyst is about solemnity, class, and being a gentleman. Amethyst achieves just as much treble extension details but is much smoother and more delicate in approach, while Mars approaches energetically. Amethyst gives you the advantage of tuning into the sound detail with an even more fatigue-free manner, as Mars may be rather bright, depending on IEM matching or simply for having different ears.
If you want to add dynamics, liveliness, and power-based clarity to the sound, Mars will treat you better. However, if you want to add depth and that ‘expensive’ (or solemn) nuance to your tone, Amethyst will treat you better.
Compared to Vortex Cables Lavinia (Review link)
Lavinia shows some interestingly similar characteristics with Amethyst but still different. Lavinia keeps the bass slams and overall tighness relatively more soothing than Amethyst, while Amethyst is slightly tigher and more solid in texture (but nothing biggie). Lavinia also introduces that deep, in-depth tone and clarity, yet the difference remains where Lavinia places the focal point of the sound higher (right around the middle), whereas Amethyst places it slightly lower from the neutral middle point.
This means Amethyst offers a more stable, better-established ground for the sound and the lower frequencies, whereas Lavinia will offer more upper-end openness and a more airy atmosphere. As said, Lavnia achieves nearly as in-depth and thicker-color sound as Amethyst and a very balanced sound, showing great similarities between them.
Yet, these two cables have major differences and trade-offs made where Amethyst prioritizes more on the weightiness and even deeper depth for the low-mids, while Lavinia remains more neutral in brightness, and for sacrificing a bit of weightiness, it brings more air and a more uplifting, open-ended headroom for the sound.
Born for a Special Project, Born to Offer Special Experiences
During my first meeting and listening to the Amethyst during the HK exhibition, I listened to the Amethyst without being aware of its pricing. I was soon to be surprised as the retail price was only about half of the estimate I’d made after extensive listening sessions during and after the exhibition. I was thoroughly impressed with the Amethyst as it adds lush, solemn, and flagship-like elements and nuance to the IEM yet without altering the original sound signature – instead intensifying and unleashing the tools and benefits that the IEM originally had.
There are numerous cables out there that could do similar in performance and quality, but not as natural, quiet-backgrounded, and most importantly, price-competitive as the Amethyst. While I was close to finishing writing this review, I was actually a bit saddened realizing that the Amethyst (as a standalone product) was nearly sold out/discontinued and could be only acquired through the Alpha & Omega Fulgrim or Omega.
Well, who knows? If there’s enough demand, they might as well decide to go for a second round of production or come up with a different follow-up product that will live up to Amethyst’s legacy. If you see a wild new or 2nd-hand Amethyst, or if you have a chance to audition the Amethyst, make sure to give it a try. I’m sure most will be impressed (if not surprised) to grab this cable once listening.
