Vortex Eddie Square Review – Verisimilitude

Pros –

Gorgeous build and design, Soft faux-silk sheath, ConX support, Natural and balanced tonality, Articulate and responsive bass

Cons –

Tightly woven jacket isn’t as flexible as competitors, Below average end to end extension and soundstage

Verdict –

The Eddie Square showcases top-level design and craftsmanship and provides a clean, natural and low-fatigue listening experience.

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About Vortex Cables –

Vortex is a boutique cable brand from Hong Kong founded in 2018. Since the brand has gained a lot of popularity and recognition within the domestic market and have now made an effort to break into the international market through MusicTeck. Vortex sources their conductors both internationally and locally, using only the best in their designs. In addition, their cables all sport a unique shielded design with fabric sheathing to aid performance and durability. Vortex also uses Effect Audio’s ConX system for enhanced versatility and is the first company from HK to do so. The ethos of the company is underpinned by “affordable luxury” and this is reflected in the pricing of their lineup.

Introduction –

Vortex’s C.F.S series is their most well-known product line available on the international market. These cables target comfort, lightweight and style whilst offering unique tonalities united by a dark background. In addition, they all sport a fabric sheath that employs soft synthetic silk as opposed to nylon promising superior comfort and decreased microphonic noise transmission. The Eddie Square is a collaboration work between Vortex and Eddie of Eddie’s HiFi Audio World – a prominent reviewer in Asia. Together, the pair sought to deliver a high-performance cable with a focus on affordability whilst offering a unique colour scheme chosen by Eddie himself. In accordance with the reduced asking price alongside Eddie’s own sonic preferences, a pure copper conductor setup was chosen to breathe the Eddie Square to life.

The Eddie Square is available for $299 USD. You can read more about the cable and customise a unit for yourself here!

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Oscar and Justin very much for reaching out to organise a review of the C.F.S cables. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the cables free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

Contents –

• Page 1: Intro, Unboxing, Design
• Page 2: Sound Breakdown
• Page 3: Comparisons & Verdict

Behind the Design –

Golden Ratio OCC Copper

To realize high-quality sound at an entry-level price, Eddie Square uses Taiwanese OCC copper conductors. It draws inspiration from the flagship Lavinia, using a golden ratio core structure.  This involves the use of multiple sizes of copper strands that use the skin effect to create a unique channel within which each frequency range is conducted allowing for fine-tuning of the sound profile.

Shielded Twisted Pair

Like many cables, each conductor has independent insulation, and the positive and negative wires are twisted to reduce interference and noise in addition to improving rejection of external EMI. The Eddie has a 21 AWG thickness. Despite the conducting path being copper, it has silver-plated 5N LC-OFC Copper shielding.

Composite Insulation Damping

Vortex implements a damping layer within each cable that resists external vibrations and microphonic noise. Though it adds considerable difficulty to manufacturing and is difficult to accommodate within a slender diameter suitable for IEMs, Vortex reasons it contributes to the excellent background cleanliness they were able to achieve.

Effect Audio ConX

Introduced by Effect Audio, ConX is a modular threaded connector system that permits the user to change the IEM connector making the cable compatible with a wider range of IEMs. EA promises a long service life and reliable sound transmission. MMCX, Ear Connector, A2DC, and IPX are all supported though only 2-pin and MMCX are included with the Vortex cables.

Unboxing –

As I received a pre-production unit of the Eddie Square, I did not receive the official packaging. However, I did receive most of the accessories that will be included with retail units. This includes a new soft pouch carrying case with an elastic accessory compartment and separate zippered section. It has a nylon carrying strap that makes for a convenient overall form. The cable itself comes with a brown leather button clasp organizer and the connectors are plastic-wrapped so they are in perfect condition when unboxed. Effect Audio’s ConX system is adopted by all of Vortex’s cables and the company includes both MMCX and 2-pin which are by far the most popular standards on the market.

Design –

Vortex’s cables all sport a similar design language that gives their lineup a distinct identity alongside clearly delineating between each individual model. Uniting their cables are custom-designed and milled alloy Vortex connectors and internally braided wires with a soft and compliant slik jacket. The colour scheme differs from model to model yet all offer familiar in-hand feel and dimensions. The Eddie Square is one of Vortex’s most striking designs, adorned with a vibrant purple fleck and contrasting gunmetal connectors.

The IEM connectors are Vortex branded, offering a consistent colour that matches the y-split and source plug. However, they still support Effect Audio’s ConX system meaning the cable will be compatible with a wide range of IEM connector systems. The y splitter has a triangular design like the company’s other cables though it does not feature the cutout design as on those models nor the carbon fiber insert on the opposing side. The plug also lacks the geometric milled pattern instead having concentric grooves that provide grip for similar ease of manipulation.

The actual wires are supple, smoothly textured and relatively compliant. The fabric sheath is a tighter fit than on many competitors which translates towards a slight springiness and some coiling issues if the cable is twisted, but also more streamlined dimensions. Despite this, they still wind up for storage with ease and microphonic noise is minimal, aided by the over-ear fit style. The pre-moulded ear guides impress with a comfortable and well-fitting shape, and tangle resistance is excellent too. Despite a slight simplification of the formula, the Eddie is a stunning cable in both look and feel. It feels just as premium as far pricier competitors if still shy of the complexity and flourish offered by premium models from market leaders.

Next Page: Sound Breakdown