Once you’ve found a pair of headphones you love, refining the setup around them becomes part of the fun. The Strauss & Wagner Annecy offers a straightforward upgrade for headphones with dual 3.5mm connections, pairing a braided cable with a 4.4mm balanced termination. But how does it fit into an already satisfying listening system? Let’s pair this cable up with a couple of different headphones to see just how well the Annecy stacks up as a new audiophile upgrade.
What Is the Strauss & Wagner Annecy?
The Strauss & Wagner Annecy is a 1.2-meter headphone upgrade cable featuring dual 3.5mm headphone connectors and a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced plug for compatible amplifiers, DAC/amps, and digital audio players. Its braided multi-core construction provides flexibility and helps resist tangling, while CNC-machined aluminum alloy connector housings, gold-plated contacts, and reinforced strain relief complete its durable design.
Annecy X HiFiMAN HE6 Remastered Sound Impressions
I was already very enthusiastic about the HiFiMAN HE6 Remastered, but the Annecy cable made the experience even better. Even so, what really matters for the HE6 Remastered is how you power it, but a quality cable can’t hurt. The difference is immediately clear. All of the expressive detail you can hear with the HE6 Remastered is put in bold with the Annecy. This is very prevalent in the low end, where the HE6 gains a more rounded edge. On its own, the HE6 Remaster has a bass with a dense tone, with a sense of definition and fullness.
It’s hard to imagine the Annecy adding anything significant to this response, but when I started to hear the thicker notes and growlier sub-bass, I was pleasantly surprised. The HE6’s thumpy tone goes deeper, broadening its resonance while keeping the bass controlled and articulate. The highs are a nice contrast, as the Annecy is more about how much it takes away. I thought the highs were a lot more forgiving on the HE6 Remastered, but using the Annecy really reserves the treble and tightens its clarity. There’s very little brightness, and while height is still a factor, the extension does not trail off as much.
Annecy X Meze Strada Sound Impressions
Switching over to a closed-back dynamic headphone, the Annecy pairs perfectly with the Meze Strada. The soundstage receives the biggest upgrade here, with the Annecy expanding its scope and adding dimension to its spatial imaging. Instruments are further individualized with more of a holographic presentation. A more immersive stereo field is achieved, with left and right channel identity being more punctual and hyper-specific. In the lows, the Strada gains some vigor where the resposne is usually softer and more neutral. The midrange has a veil lifted, as the Strada’s warm musicality is slightly modified for more refined natural tones. Everything feels more grounded and more studio-like. It takes away a certain colorful character from the Strada in place of a more refined one that has more accuracy and detail.
Summary
The Strauss & Wagner Annecy proved to be an engaging addition to both setups, with each pairing bringing different qualities into focus. With the HiFiMAN HE6 Remastered, I heard greater bass weight and a more restrained treble presentation. The Meze Strada pairing stood out for its more dimensional imaging and a midrange that felt clearer and more grounded. These impressions make the Annecy worth considering for listeners looking to refine a compatible headphone setup, especially if they also want a flexible cable with durable connectors and a 4.4mm balanced plug. Proper amplification remains essential, particularly for the HE6 Remastered, but the Annecy complemented what I already enjoyed about both headphones.
The Strauss & Wagner Annecy is available from their website directly and from Audio46.
