Gladiator Cables Virtus Ametis

Introduction to the Review of Gladiator Cables Virtus Ametis

Gladiator Cables will always have a special place in my heart – Antonio has been an avid supporter since before our co-operation began, and his Grafene headphone cable was my first written review. His offering couldn’t have come at a better time – I was getting sick and tired of the stock Hifiman cable, and the Grafene has been my companion ever since. I was very impressed to see the level of craftsmanship and expertise, as well as a sense of aesthetics, displayed by Antonio, founder of the Gladiator Cables brand. Since then, there has been innovation after innovation coming from the Italian artisan. Palladium-plated silver, gold-plated copper, copper with actual purity certification, custom-made splitters, connectors… All of this is bread and butter for Antonio, the mastermind behind it all.

Antonio strives for innovation in places most cable makers would not even think to look for. The use of exotic materials and rare alloys is supposed to serve a very particular purpose – to tailor the cable to your exact needs. No matter if it takes some ordinary high-quality copper, or a wire made from three different materials that you likely won’t find anywhere else. How do I know that you won’t? It’s actually been quite the trouble for Antonio to find companies that refine the materials he uses to a degree that would make them suitable for use with his cables. But don’t be alarmed – Gladiator Cables makes products tailored not only for your specific needs, but for your specific budget as well. The cheapest adapters are 25 EUR, and the cheapest cables are 45 EUR. Not a huge price for a state-of-the-art level of craftsmanship.

Packaging

The unboxing experience here is pretty lackluster compared to how extravagant the whole cable situation is. The Virtus Ametis cable will ship with a homemade leather cable clip, which is also getting a refreshed design, coming soon. In the “Praetorian Leather” section of the Gladiator Cables website, you can see that there are also pouches and cable clips sold separately, all made in-house from Italian leather.

I’m eager to see how this experience changes with time – maybe soon we will have homemade treasure chests with the cable inside. For now, I’d like to see Gladiator Cables release their full potential with the unboxing experience – it’s reasonable to expect something extra with such an extra design and an extra price point.

Build Quality

The cable is built masterfully, and I would expect no less of Antonio of Gladiator Cables. The strands are woven in a tight and secure way, ensuring proper ergonomics throughout the use of mobile devices. The connectors themselves are golden and shiny, which makes for a stunning appearance, but they’re quite micro-scratch-prone, so if you plan on taking photos, be aware of that.

However, you would have to take a very good and hard look, and you still may not notice it with the naked eye. Well, it’s just how the material acts, and as of right now, there aren’t any good, immediate ways to keep it polished. Other than that one, microscopic (literally) flaw, there’s nothing to complain about.

Tech

This section is going to be quite a ride, so buckle up, because all the tech jargon used in the introduction is merely a prelude to what is about to come when I tell you what the Virtus Ametis is made of. This info comes from the creator himself, and reading this for the first time, I suggested that splitting the atom was probably less complicated than the whole array of materials used just for this one cable. Antonio agreed with me on that sentiment. The cable itself consists of 8 cores made with 54 strands, each strand insulated with a double enamel layer. There are three groups of strands used to make 1 wire, and here’s what they all consist of:

Group A consists of 7N Single Crystal Copper infused with 4N gold. Group B is made of 4N single-crystal silver enriched with trace palladium. Group C, most interestingly, is made of 2N magnesium. Regarding the geometry, each core is built using a 2.5 modified Litz structure. Three groups of 18 strands in concentric bundles per core. All of that, plus 9 woven fibers of Kevlar. The 4.4mm connector is made by Topura, and the 2-pins, with the Gladiator Cables logo engraving, are made by Elec Audio, but those options are customizable as well. So is the splitter – you can choose between the classic gladiator helmet, which would be my pick, or a beautiful Damascus one.

Be honest with me now – when was the last time you saw a cable use magnesium for the strands? Maybe I’m inexperienced, which would be hugely disappointing, seeing that I’m a reviewer, but I’ve never seen such a thing before. Well, with Gladiator Cables, it’s not the first time I’ve been left stumped – the Grafene was the first cable in the world to feature, quote, “4N Pure OCC Silver wrapped in a graphene sheet composed out of a single layer of atoms in a litz type 2 geometry.” Now say that three times fast.

Sound of the reviewed Gladiator Cables Virtus Ametis

When it comes to how the cable changes the sound, there are two very distinct schools of thought, with a myriad of in-betweeners. One school says that there’s absolutely no way that a cable can change anything; the other says that you would have to be tone-deaf not to notice the changes made by a high-quality audiophile-grade cable. 

I’m somewhere in between – I acknowledge that cables can introduce audible changes, but you won’t catch me getting a USB cable with a gold-plated connector housing. Whatever floats your very own audio boat, though. I have decided to go straight to pairings immediately – I think that’s key in evaluating how Virtus Ametis can switch things up. 

I have done the bulk of my testing with my classic Luxury & Precision W2, FiiO BTR17, and the Earmen Angel.

CRAFT EARS OMNIUM

The Omnium is my pairing of choice for the Virtus Ametis, given the nature of the changes introduced by the cable. The most important aspects of the Omnium’s sound have been maintained – the dynamics are still on another level, the kick drums and snares being as sharp as they come. This IEM keeps blowing me away with what it offers for the price, but Virtus Ametis from Gladiator Cables still manages to improve upon that.

How exactly? When listening to “Crystal Ball” by Carolin No, among the highly-textured bass hits, made snappier and faster, Carolin’s vocals stand out even more, bringing extra intimacy and information to the mix. The whole spectacle sounds more lively and fun than ever, which is a factor that’s already pretty hard to improve upon, thanks to a masterful balance between instruments, courtesy of Carolin and Andreas’ performance. 

Some people say that copper cables make the sound warmer, silver makes it brighter, and to me, it seems like the Virtus Ametis has it in its nature to make the sound more dynamic and lively, and it’s a factor that has stood out to me since the beginning of my listening sessions with the cable. 

HIFIMAN SVANAR

The Svanar shares many characteristics with the Omnium. Both have great dynamics and a vast soundstage, but the Svanar is slightly softer and more mellowed out than the Omnium. It’s still a great IEM, it just excels in different departments. Thankfully, the 2-pin connectors on the Virtus Ametis fit the Svanar perfectly, which is great news, because not all cables do, with the Svanar’s recessed connector. Soundwise, it’s a perfect match as well.

The Virtus Ametis introduces slight, but much-needed changes to the Svanar’s performance. The sound is a bit faster, with sharper attack and decay, but the overall lushness and mellowness are not lost in the mix. It’s a perfect way to complete the Svanar’s sound signature. Thanks to the Virtus Ametis, the wonderful extension of the lowest and highest registries is also highlighted, giving off the impression that no information is lost, everything is handed to you on a platter of magnesium, gold, palladium, Kevlar, and copper.

One of the Svanar’s greatest strengths is its versatility in different genres and pairings. Apparently, there is space for improvement, a space in which Gladiator Cables’ Virtus Ametis fits like a glove.

Gladiator Cables Virtus Ametis Review – Summary

Gladiator Cables Virtus Ametis is a great pairing for any IEM setup. If you already have your IEMs, your DAP or DAC/AMP situation sorted, let a nice cable upgrade be your final brick in the wall. The Virtus Ametis deserves a flagship pairing, as it represents everything a flagship cable should: great design, perfect build and ergonomics, and subtle, but perfectly dialled-in sonic improvements.

Thanks to an upgrade of this caliber, IEM listening sessions became even more pleasant for me. I’ve always enjoyed my time with some good in-ears, but nowadays I find myself reaching for them more often. Part of the reason why is the fact that Gladiator Cables Virtus Ametis deserves a perfect score in every facet upon which a cable itself can be judged. Just give us some better packaging, and we will be truly golden.

Recommended.