ELETECH PLATO - REVIEW

A Musically Engaging and Highly Resolving Sound!

Eletech— Element Technology—is a Singapore based company founded by Eric Chong and Wang, that takes a collaborative and unconventional approach to developing its IEM cables. This approach combines an historical analysis of both the successes and pitfalls of previous cable designs, a multifaceted examination of material science, cable geometry, and metals conductivity, as well as monitoring the constant feedback from symbiotic manufacturers (IEM, DAP), distributors, and consumers.

The Eletech cables from the “Fortitude ($199)” to the “Socrates ($699)” to the “Iliad ($1,799) are to a one beautifully constructed, well designed, of premium quality materials, which range from copper to silver to gold to palladium, and each must pass stringent quality control checks, before they are considered marketable.

The Eletech cables came to my awareness, most recently, when I was asked to review several of their upper-tier cables—Socrates, Plato, and Iliad. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been burning-in the cables in preparation for analysis and a subsequent review of each for AudioKey Reviews.

This review will focus on the Eletech Plato cable ferreting out its strengths and weaknesses as a stand alone and then in comparison to its siblings—the Socrates and the Iliad cables.

REFRAIN: Unlike most reviews, this review will be non-sequential, as it will start with how the equipment actually sounds and not the process of physically “undressing” it and/or laying out its various accoutrement, specifications, etc. Think of this review then, as a  non-linear movie—Memento, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, etc—that, likewise, starts at the end and winds its way to the beginning.

The Sound

In terms of tonality the Eletech Plato offers silver sound—good resolution and detail, a modicum of warmth across the midrange, weight along the bottom end—while also providing extended treble, nice sparkle and air. Though on some tracks the treble could get a wee bit “silver” bright/hot.

The Plato’ soundstage is quite deep, nicely wide, and with good height. Transparency—resolution, microdynamics, layering, positioning—is also quite good and there is a decidedly lower noise level, which facilitates a black-quiet background from which notes arise quite nicely.

The Eletech Plato cable for the purposes of this review was paired with the MMR Thummin which was powered by the DX220/AMP-1 Mk II via its 2.5mm balanced headphone out. It should be point out that the Eletech Plato is packaged with the MMR Thummin for retail sale.

Bass 

As a test track for bass across each of the three Eletech cables—Socrates, Plato, Iliad—Massive Attack’s Angel (Mezzanine, Virgin) track was used. The Plato cable delivered a nicely developed, weighty, and rather deep bass with the MMR Thummin, which is itself a bass monster. Though the Plato could not match the bass weight or drive of the Socrates. The Plato, however, provided note clarity, detail, and a good deal more refinement and coherency across the bass region. There was also good texture and timbre and tonality were more apparent as they stood out from the mix and while there was good note separation. It is clear to see why the Plato is matched with the Thummin as they are, indeed, complimentary. The MMR Thummin thumps deeply/madly and the Eletech Plato brings in the clarity and refinement and resolution. 

Midrange

Joan Shelly’s song Wild Indifference (Joan Shelly, No Quarter) was used as a test track for the various Eletech cables. The midrange of the Plato brings greater clarity, heightened resolution, with increased microdynamics. As a result, Shelly’s vocals are very well articulated in front of a black-quiet stage. And there is a greater degree of separation and layering of players and their instruments. And as mentioned in both the Socrates and Iliad reviews, the tambourine which appears on this tract at 1:45 is still mostly in the head with the Plato (not in the room) but it is better articulated. Again, perhaps this has more to do with the MMR Thummin.

Treble+ 

The test track for treble across each of the Eletech cables was Patricia Barber’s Invitation (Night Club, Blue Note/Premonition Records). As mentioned in the DX220 AMP1 MkII review this track is rich with high-hats, ride cymbals, and crash cymbal hits which generate a great deal of middle and upper treble energy. It can be a torture track for the non-resolving or bright, wherein “Cshhhchsshhh” sound  is what is mostly generated across the sound field. The Plato handled itself very well, resolving the microdynamics of every strike or brushing of the cymbals or the high-hat. Again, it is clear to see why the Plato was matched with the Thummin, it is a transparency champion.

The Wrappings and Accessories

The Eletech Plato’s containing box is in the form and likeness of a book with a light tan “book cover” wrapped around a white containing box. The face of the box features an illustration of a bust of Plato, the cable’s namesake, with his name written below.

Like a book, the cover opens and then lays out with its “spine” separating from the now exposed inner compartment. This compartment houses a beautifully designed, round, tan leather carrying case, as embedded in a form-fitting foam cutout. Above the carrying case is a metal badge which bears the name of the included cable and its product category, which in this case is “The School of Athens.”

The packaging is well designed and evokes a familiar, classical feel via its book-like design and when opened presents a clean, rich, minimalist layout. 

Design—Look and Feel and Choice

Within the leather carrying case is the Plato cable, which is wrapped within a beautiful, seemingly luminescent, braided, silver jacket, with a two-tone, black and silver Y-connect and a matching 2.5mm balanced connector.

The design of the Eletech Plato’s is stunning, beautifully done, and all fashioned elements—Y-connect, connector, and two-pin connectors—speak to an even richer and more elegance appearance than even its Socrates sibling. The Plato is a relatively light and flexible cable.

The Plato comes as a 2.5mm balanced or 3.5mm single-ended or a 4.4mm balanced option. Customers may also choose for their IEM connection the 2-pin, MMCX, UE/qdc, FitEar, or JH Audio 4-pin connector. 

The Specifications

4-Wire, 24 AWG

Flawless Monocrystal Bespoke Silver 

Maximus efficiency strand geometry ; Kevlar infused 

Cryogenically Treated 

Eletech Bespoke Solder 

Eletech Customised connectors and Y-split

FlexiMax Insulation™ (patent pending) 

Comparison

Eletech Socrates

The Socrates drive a thumping bass that is quite hard to ignore. The Plato in comparison presents a good bass that while not as thumping as the Socrates is, however, more refined and detailed and coherent than the Socrates. And the Plato brings a good measure of transparency across the frequency spectrum far beyond the Socrates. However, it does not equal the transparency, nor balance, nor the background quiet of the Iliad.

Eletech Iliad

The Iliad relative to the Socrates and the Plato is even more refined, provides for greater depth of soundstage, and is more coherent across the entire frequency spectrum. Tone and timbre and more organic and richer in the closest approximation to the actual instruments, and its transparency is far above both its siblings. 

Conclusion

The Eletech Plato is a very well executed cable that will provide a transparent and engaging musical jaunt across one’s library of music, while also rendering decidedly good microdynamics, weight, air, and an even quieter background than the Socrates. The Eletech Plato cable provides  is beautifully packaged and constructed with excellent attention to detail and aesthetics. Bravo. 

Music—Qobuz, Tidal exclusively

Alexander Tharaud—Tharaud Plays Rachmaninoff
Omar Sosa—Ballads, Calma
Patricia Barber—Verse
Rickie Lee Jones—Pop Pop
Sade—Lovers Live
Sheku Kannah Mason—Inspiration
Tracey Chapman—Where You Live
Olafur Arnalds—Island Songs
Melody Gardot—My One and Only Thrill
Melody Gardot—My Worrisome Heart
Eiji Oue—Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Hilary Hahn—Tchaikovsky 
Mechell Ndegeocello—Bitter
Maxwell—Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite
Sarah Jarosh—Undercurrent
Igor Stravinsky—Stravinsky: Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)
Annie-Sophie Mutter—Mendelssohn, Brahms: Violin Concertos
London Grammar—If You Wait
Stevie Wonder—Innervisions 
Marvin Gaye—What’s Going On
Miles Davis—Kind of Blue
Jóhann Jóhannsson—Orphée
Dave Holland—Emerald Tears
Gidon Kremer, Daniil Trifonov, Giedre Dirvanauskaite—Preghiera/Rachmaninov Piano Trios

Ancillary Equipment

Meze Empyrean
Rosson Audio RAD-0
OBravo EAMT-2C IEMs
Final Sonorous III
FiiO FH5
AudioQuest Cobalt
AudioQuest Red
AudioQuest Black
AudioQuest Dragon Tail
Samsung S10
Apple X iPhone

The Company

Element Technology Pte Ltd
16 Shaw Road, #01-04, 
367954, Singapore
+65 82003584 (Eric)