Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy that brings together four disciplines: doing what makes you get out of bed with joy, contributing to what the world needs, doing what you are good at, and earning a living at the same time. This is what drives Jeffrey Dam of IKIGAI Audio to handcraft his cables every day. Not without reason – and very fittingly – the company’s slogan is: "Connecting your passion."
Voor Nederlands, klik hier
A pleasant and educational visit to cable maker IKIGAI Audio in Roosendaal can only truly be concluded by taking some cables home. After all, a brief listening session on the spot is enjoyable, but not decisive enough to draw meaningful conclusions about performance. So, I was handed a suitcase full of Sugure cables to test extensively: a digital interconnect, an analog interconnect, a set of speaker cables, and three power cords – enough to fully connect my system. Some cables were brand new – including an interconnect made during my visit – so they required breaking in and were simply left in the system. After a few days, the time had come to open my ears, select music without bias, and commit my experiences to the keyboard.
IKIGAI Sugure
Sugure is the entry-level cable line from IKIGAI Audio at the time of writing. Above it are the Kangai and Kinzan lines. The hallmark of every Sugure cable – completely handmade at IKIGAI Audio in Roosendaal – is the use of 5N pure silver as the conductor. Before being insulated, the twisted conductor undergoes a crystallization process to improve its structure – this is where IKIGAI Audio’s DNA is embedded.
The details of this process remain secret: “the blacksmith’s secret.” Around the conductor is a Teflon insulation, sealed airtight to prevent oxidation of the silver. Shielding against RFI and EMI is provided by a tinned copper braid, and the cable is finished with a dark blue sleeve.
Digital interconnects use 75 Ohm WBT Nextgen RCA connectors.
Analog interconnects use ETI Research Kryo RCA plugs.
Speaker cables come with ETI Kryo spades (bananas optional).
Power cords use ETI plugs and C15 device connectors.
Lengths I received: 1 m for interconnects, 2 m for power cords, and 3 m for speaker cables. The finish is flawless: sometimes with custom 3D-printed strain reliefs by Jeffrey, cable housings with direction indicators and unique serial numbers, and a leather tag with a laser-etched logo. Even the packaging is bespoke – every detail is considered, both technically and for pride of ownership.
My Test Setup
In all cases the IKIGAI Audio cables replaced my current set, which consisted of a mix of Ricable, Inakustik, Audes and AudioQuest. In consultation with IKIGAI Audio and distributor Very Fine Solutions, I used my “small” setup, which consists of an Audes ST-900 power conditioner, an Auralic Aries G1 streamer with a modified power supply, a Metrum Acoustics Adagio DAC3 digital-to-analog converter, and a tube EAR/Yoshino 8L6 power amplifier.
The latter was connected to Falcon LS3/5A Gold Badge monitors with additional Townshend Maximum super tweeters. That meant three devices after the power conditioner to connect with three power cords. The digital connection was between the Auralic and Metrum, the analog connection went from the Metrum to the EAR/Yoshino and then to the Falcons. This allowed me to properly build a system in which I could explore the expected synergy between the IKIGAI Audio cables.
Anyone who adds up the prices of IKIGAI Audio cables will quickly realize that they make up a considerable share of the total system cost. For me, a cable is not just an isolated piece of wire but a component in itself. Every part of my system was chosen with care, both by ear and in terms of synergy. Since I’ve owned the components for some time, I know their sonic qualities well. That is why I dared to use cables that are more expensive than the speakers themselves. The loudspeakers and the room complement each other, which is not always the case for everyone. There is a reason why a small, precise, high-quality monitor is worth its weight in gold when paired with the right amplifier. That makes the connections equally important.
Starting Digitally
Comparing digital cables is the easiest, a matter of selecting a different input on the DAC where both AES/EBU and the Sugure coax are available. I chose the AES/EBU cable because in my opinion my Metrum DAC works optimally with this input and because that cable performs in a lively way. With “The Windmills of Your Mind” sung by Nicki Parrott, the difference between the cables was significant. In favor of IKIGAI, the Sugure cable played a little darker, but at the same time presented a very natural stereo image, wide enough to extend beyond the speaker setup.
Nicki’s voice gained extra depth, was fuller, and conveyed more air from her chest. It lost much of its hi-fi glare and instead became more relaxed, calmer, and simply more pleasant to listen to. I used the Sugure coax extensively over three weeks and time after time I found it more enjoyable than my carefully selected references. For that reason the Sugure coax remained in place through all the subsequent comparisons.
Analog Interconnect
“Vogue” by Madonna was mixed in Q-sound, which is quite spectacular, with voices sometimes appearing right beside my head. It has a tight rhythm and strong bass, not perfect but effective. Another track I used was an old Dire Straits recording, “Ride Across the River.” I know it well and it contains many subtle sounds. With my own interconnect, made of 100 percent copper, the Dire Straits track sounds grand and imposing. The Sugure coax also played a part in that, but it was time to switch the interconnect.
The Sugure interconnect had already played quite a bit, as it was brand new out of the box and needed a lot of airtime. The difference was striking. I swear I didn’t touch the volume, yet the music felt louder. Knopfler’s voice rose higher in the stereo image, the bass was tighter and fuller, the kick drum had real impact. It was a robust whole where power and detail worked together. Nothing dominated, and when I expected subtlety, I got subtlety.
In a direct one-to-one comparison I realized why I had enjoyed listening so much over the past weeks. This is truly a very fine cable to work with. With Madonna, the Q-sound was even more fun, playful and spacious. Instruments could be pinpointed one by one, the recreated space dissolved the walls and the rear of the room. I could already feel the synergy between the digital coax and this interconnect. The DNA of the Sugure line was beginning to show.
Power Cords
Swapping power cords is more of a hassle, as devices have to be switched off and on again. I started by fitting a Sugure power cord to the streamer and DAC. I know my EAR/Yoshino power amp can react quite strongly to a different cord, so I saved that for later.
With Madonna again, I immediately noticed a little more space, along with a darker tonal balance. The differences were not dramatic. I went from enthusiastic and lively with my own cords to serious, correct and very precise with the Sugure. The stereo image was somewhat smaller, with less of the spatial information that, upon reflection, isn’t really important. A Sugure power cord on the sources made the presentation more businesslike, tighter, and stronger. With Dire Straits, the kick drum and bass gained extra power, which was actually welcome on my small monitors. The longer the cords stayed connected, the more pleasant the listening became, and the more alive the system felt.
It was time to swap the cord on the power amp. That immediately made it clear there had to be space behind the rack: these cords are stiff, not easy to bend, and require a wide arc. This has everything to do with protecting the silver conductors and their layers. But I managed. The amp meter on my power conditioner showed that the amplifier was quickly ready to play again. As I said earlier, my amplifier can react strongly to power cords, and this time too – thankfully, in a positive way.
First of all, there was more calmness, a quieter background in which small details stood out more. Bass and kick drum were calmer, delivering slightly less energy, but going deeper and with increased dynamics. With Madonna it was even more extreme: the silence in the system allowed every instrument and every voice across the 180-degree arc to gain a little more focus and detach from the background. That made me happy. Was anything worse? No, I noticed nothing negative, although the recording quality of “Vogue” played a bigger role. Madonna’s singing was never worth an Edison, and it became increasingly obvious that her voice was more raw than trained. The system became more critical of what it was fed.
I wanted to return to Nicki Parrott. What worked against Madonna worked in Nicki’s favor. The piano came alive, percussion was more powerful on drums and subtler on cymbals. Her voice stood beautifully free, taking the well-deserved lead role. Full and rich, warm without exaggeration, pleasant and lively. Complete, detached from the speakers, with a large stereo image and a joy to listen to. A pity that I had to continue with the speaker cables, because that meant switching off the amplifier. With a tube amp I take no risks – power off first.
Speaker Cable
A quick calculation showed that with a digital coax, an interconnect, three power cords and a speaker cable, I had a substantial budget tied up in IKIGAI Audio. This was partly because I had longer lengths than the standard offerings. The extra silver – much purer than that used for jewelry – was extremely costly at the time of writing.
Add to that the other materials, lasers and production tools, rent, heating and wages, marketing, distribution and dealer margins, and suddenly the price looks very realistic. Time for Nicki to start again.
With the full IKIGAI Audio DNA in place, I rubbed my hands. Every component in my system performed above its usual self. The cables didn’t change them; they simply got out of the way, acting more neutrally and allowing the electronics to show their real worth. My setup had never sounded below par – with careful building I had achieved much – but with IKIGAI Audio cabling from start to finish I took not just one, but several steps forward in experience and musical enjoyment.
To give an idea of the stereo image with Madonna: the bass drum was on the floor, percussion above it, voices at human height. Not quite as wide as before the speaker cable was in place – about 120 degrees instead of 180 – but in exchange Madonna’s raw edges were now under control. Synergy, synergy – I cannot stress enough how important that is with cables. Unless you have an almost unlimited budget to mix and match brands, often leading to coloration and unpredictable results, it is better to stay with IKIGAI Audio.
Pleasure
I did not deny myself the pleasure of listening to these cables in this system for a long while. Even though the listening room looked like a jungle of tangled vines, the music made me close my eyes and enjoy. Tidying up could wait. Albums by Alicia Olatuja, Stacey Kent, Vilde Frang and Vox Feminae alternated with those by Passenger, Heavn, Keith Jarrett and the Bobo Stenson Trio. Albums I know inside out, yet they surprised me again. It was above all the natural presentation, the calmness and the silence in the background that created a detailed rendering that never drowned in technicality, but always stayed true to music. Once again proving that silver as a conductor is a great advantage.
The old myth that silver sounds sharp could once again be thrown in the trash. Silver is not sharp; it is impurities in silver that create sharpness. That is why IKIGAI Audio uses silver of 5N purity, in combination with its own crystallization process. Expensive, but effective.
Stacey Kent often brings well-made recordings, and “Dreamsville” is a good example. Slow jazz for the late hours. You won’t fall asleep until the album is over. Through Sugure her voice sounded so pure, so clear and liberated, with the instruments positioned neatly behind her. With Passenger I switched back to my AES/EBU cable once more, but it was no success. A little bit of magic was lost, which did the entire IKIGAI chain no good. The music became simpler, less lively, less clear against the background, more messy. Still enjoyable, but now I knew it could be better: bigger, more spacious, more expressive.
“La Capricciosa” played by violinist Vilde Frang was as subtle as possible, better than ever with this system, emotional and alive. Driven by passion, delivered with passion and emotion. The silence in the background was etched forever in my brain. So this is how it can be! When, after hours of listening, Bobo Stenson finally closed the session, I was still sitting in concentration, only getting up for food and drink in an overheated room. A high outside temperature during these summer weeks combined with a class A tube amplifier tend to turn up the heat, but I hardly noticed – enjoying music like this is a gift.
And then it was time to disconnect and pack up, restoring my setup and playing the same music again. The simple conclusion after removing the IKIGAI Audio Sugure line was that the sound became harder, with more hiss, more restlessness, more direct and upfront. No longer at the Sugure level – and yet Sugure is only the entry-level cable. I will get used to my own cables again, but the difference in price was clearly reflected in the difference in sound, and with Sugure the promise was fulfilled.
Excellent
Anyone who translates “sugure” from Japanese will find that it means “excellent.” A name well chosen for a series of cables that currently represent the entry level of IKIGAI Audio. I am happy to agree with that description, because what I was able to achieve with the Sugure cables was indeed excellent. It starts with a digital coax, continues with the interconnect and speaker cable, and also proves itself with the power cords. As always, one should never forget power supply, because that is where electronics begin.
Sugure may be the entry point into the world of IKIGAI Audio, but the price does not immediately suggest that. As I explained, silver is expensive, and all the extras add up quickly. Viewed as just a piece of wire, you might scratch your head, but considered as a component in an audio system, it becomes another story. Jeffrey Dam of IKIGAI builds components, just as others build amplifiers, streamers, and speakers. With love, with knowledge, with craftsmanship. An IKIGAI Audio cable is a component, an essential passive part of the audio chain. It participates, and it can make or break the final result.
IKIGAI creates, improves, brings purity and life. Try it for yourself in your own system, but be warned: every step with IKIGAI is addictively positive and connects with your passion.
IKIGAI Audio
www.ikigai-audio.com
Very Fine Solutions
www.veryfinesolutions.com
IKIGAI Sugure
Sugure digital coax : starting at 1.450 euro (0,75m)
Sugure interlink: starting at 2.350 euro (0,75m)
Sugure speaker cable: starting at 5.950 euro (2,0m)
Sugure power cord: starting at 3.150 euro (1,5m)
Rating Sugure range 5 / 5
