In-akustik Referenz Micro Air Cables Review
Cable quality is often overlooked when assembling a hi-fi system, and its contribution to sound quality remains a subject of debate among enthusiasts. After more than 30 years of experimenting with cables from a wide range of manufacturers, I have come to see careful cable selection as a worthwhile investment. In my experience, well-chosen cables can help a system realise its potential and contribute to a more cohesive and rewarding listening experience.
Having recently reviewed the In-akustik Power Station AC4500 and been impressed by the improvement it brought to my system, I was keen to explore the company’s cable range further. For this review, I have installed a complete loom of In-akustik Micro AIR 404 cables, connecting the components throughout my system. Inakustik cabling also appears internally in the AC4500 and throughout the Accuvoice loudspeakers I reviewed most recently, which increased my interest in evaluating these cables on their own.
As I noted in my Power Station review, In-akustik has manufactured cables since 1977, bringing nearly five decades of research, development, and engineering experience to its products. Throughout that time, the company has continued to refine its designs, combining technical expertise with innovative approaches to cable construction. This depth of experience underpins its reputation as a respected cable manufacturer in the hi-fi and AV industry.
Build Quality and Features
The build quality of In-akustik’s Micro AIR cable range is exceptional. Beautifully crafted and incorporating technologies developed through extensive research, these cables demonstrate an impressive level of attention to detail.
Building on the principles of In-akustik’s original AIR Helix design, Micro AIR technology uses a complex, diamond-shaped insulating structure to create pockets of air within the dielectric. This design is intended to minimise capacitance and preserve the integrity of the delicate audio signal. The speaker cables feature a concentric copper arrangement, while the interconnects use a guided copper design, each tailored to its respective application.
Inakustik manufactures and assembles all cables by hand at its factory in Germany, and that craftsmanship is immediately apparent. From the moment I opened the boxes, the fit and finish conveyed a reassuring sense of quality. The RCA and XLR interconnects feature beautifully machined metal connectors, with the Inakustik logo neatly etched into their sides.
The speaker cables are available with either spade or banana connectors; for this review, I am using the banana-plug configuration. Departing from the conventional red-and-black markings, Inakustik uses white and black to identify the positive and negative connections, respectively.
The Micro AIR range is also designed to reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference, including that associated with Wi-Fi signals, helping to protect signal integrity. High-purity oxygen-free copper (OFC) is used throughout the range, chosen for its conductivity and mechanical resilience.
LS-404 Micro AIR Speaker Cables Features
Micro Air technology
Air dielectric
Concentric copper conductor design
8-fold multicore architecture
NF-404 Micro AIR | RCA & XLR cables Features
Micro AIR Technology: Air-dielectric reduced capacitance
Guided Copper Construction: Minimises noise and preserves fine details.
Symmetrical Signal Path: Effective protection against EMC and Wi-Fi interference.
Sound Quality and Performance
Since the In-akustik Micro AIR cables arrived, I have spent many hours listening to music, streaming high-resolution recordings from Qobuz and exploring my own collection stored on NAS drives. These extended sessions have been thoroughly enjoyable, reinforcing what I value most about a well-balanced hi-fi system: the opportunity to rediscover familiar recordings and appreciate the improvements each carefully chosen upgrade can bring.
Introducing the Micro AIR cables has been a pleasant surprise. In my system, I hear greater detail in the upper frequencies, accompanied by a greater sense of air and space around instruments. The soundstage feels open and expansive, allowing individual performances to emerge with superb clarity.
One recording that particularly impressed me was Symphonic, by Café del Mundo and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. I first discovered the album on Qobuz and enjoyed it so much that I purchased the 24-bit/96 kHz version. Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, it brings together the German flamenco guitar duo and the orchestra in a performance that sounds sublime through my system with the Inakustik cables in place.
The opening track, “Dance of Joy (Symphonic),” conveys the grandeur and scale of a full orchestra while preserving the character and beautiful sound of the flamenco guitars. The guitars are reproduced with excellent definition, their expressive playing remaining clearly articulated within the richness of the orchestral arrangement.
What strikes me most is the breadth of the presentation. Subtle details extend well to the left and right, creating a soundstage that seems to reach beyond the physical dimensions of my listening room. The speakers effectively disappear, and the room’s boundaries become less apparent, leaving an immersive performance with a convincing sense of space and scale.
Track four, “Homenaje a Paco”, is a fast-paced piece featuring stunning orchestral passages and brass sections that sound glorious through my system. The acoustic guitars complement the percussion beautifully, with percussive strikes adding further energy and rhythmic drive. The In-akustik Micro Air cables reveal an impressive level of detail, allowing me to hear these intricate musical layers clearly through my ProAc speakers.
This is such a beautiful-sounding album, and I have really enjoyed listening to it; I'm seriously tempted to pick up the vinyl version too. The high-resolution 24-bit 96kHz is a must-purchase.
Next, I turned to Depeche Mode’s outstanding Violator, originally released in 1990, and listened to the reissue pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl. This edition sounds superb, with my Denon turntable and Dynavector cartridge extracting a wealth of information from the grooves. With the Inakustik Micro AIR cables in place, that detail comes through with impressive resolution and clarity.
The ProAc speakers project a broad, expansive soundstage into the room. As with the high-resolution recordings, I hear greater detail in the upper frequencies, alongside a pleasing sense of air around instruments and clearer separation within the mix. Together, these qualities give the presentation a convincing sense of space and scale.
“Enjoy the Silence,” on side two, is a particular highlight. It remains a beautifully crafted piece from one of electronic music’s most influential bands. It provides an engaging opportunity to appreciate the clarity and spaciousness I hear with the Micro AIR cables in my system.
I have listened to a wide range of music with the In-akustik Micro Air cables, and the tracks discussed above represent only a small selection of my review and test material. Throughout my listening, these cables have left a lasting impression, bringing out the qualities that make music so engaging and making every session a real pleasure.
Conclusions and Final Thoughts
The In-akustik Micro AIR cables have impressed me with the level of performance they bring to my system. Positioned within the company’s mid-priced range, they deliver a degree of refinement that exceeds my expectations. Their ability to reveal fine detail and present an open, expansive soundstage makes listening both engaging and rewarding. In my system, they contribute to a polished, articulate presentation that allows the music to shine. I urge anyone looking to upgrade their cables to make sure the Micro Air series are on their list.
The Speaker Shack awards the Inakustik Micro Air cables with an Outstanding award and stamp of approval.
Price at time of review:
In-akustik NF-404 Micro AIR XLR cables at 1M £660
In-akustik NF-404 Micro AIR RCA cables at 1M £630
In-akustik LS-404 Micro AIR Speaker Cables 2 x 3M cables £1,185
Web - https://www.in-akustik.com/
Web - https://karma-av.co.uk/
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