Zikman Arno Elegance – Hybrid Copper & Gold-Plated Silver Cable

Zikman Arno Elegance is the flagship evolution of Arno, created for listeners who seek not only outstanding sonic performance but also a deeper connection to aesthetics, handcraft, and rare artisanal techniques. At its core remains a hybrid construction of high-purity copper and gold-plated silver, arranged in an 8-wire 4+4 architecture. Copper provides body, density, and a natural tonal foundation, while gold-plated silver adds transparency, smoothness, and a subtle golden glow to the upper frequencies. Each conductor is built in a litz-type structure using ultra-fine 0.05 mm strands, reducing resistance, minimizing micro-vibrations, and preserving the natural dynamics of the musical signal.

As with the standard Arno, Arno Elegance includes an exclusive option from our custom division: resistance variance minimization across all conductors. While resistance is measured and controlled in every Zikman cable, this advanced matching is enabled by default and free of charge for both Arno and Arno Elegance. Precise alignment of electrical parameters ensures a stable soundstage, improved channel coherence, and a cohesive, balanced presentation — even in complex musical arrangements.

What truly sets Arno Elegance apart is its unique Kumihimo braiding, a technique that cannot be replicated by industrial methods. Each cable is woven entirely by hand by a skilled artisan using a specially developed Marudai loom, custom-adapted for our conductors. Up to fifteen hours are devoted to a single cable, with constant attention paid to tension, strand placement, entry angles, and layer uniformity. For decades, engineers have attempted to automate this form of braiding, yet Kumihimo remains an art accessible only to human hands. In the world of audiophile cables, it is accessible only to our team. Years of experimentation, proprietary tools, calibrated weights, tension meters, and a refined Marudai design have allowed us to achieve a distinctive aesthetic — one where the cable looks and feels like a true piece of high-class handcrafted work.

Arno Elegance effortlessly reveals complex arrangements, creating a wide and airy soundstage with precise imaging while maintaining high resolution without sharpness. The sound remains natural and textured: upper mids are smooth and even, treble is clean without excessive brightness, and bass is controlled, articulate, and well structured. It performs exceptionally well with multi-driver hybrid and BA IEMs, enhancing instrument separation and emphasizing natural timbre. Importantly, the cable does not alter the earphones’ inherent character—it uncovers their depth, expressiveness, and spatial potential, allowing the listener to hear what was originally intended but often obscured by stock cables.

Despite its complex construction, Arno Elegance retains excellent flexibility and remains resistant to microphonic noise. The Kumihimo braid distributes tension evenly throughout the structure, ensuring comfort in daily use, preventing kinks, and allowing the cable to behave naturally in both portable and stationary systems.

Premium AECO hardware remains an integral part of the flagship design. The gold-plated tellurium copper plug — featuring a 10-micron gold layer, one of the thickest in the industry — ensures clean contact, long-term durability, and a smooth, rich tonal character. Gold in the connector further reinforces the Arno signature, adding subtle smoothness and density to the presentation. The plug is not merely a structural component but a meaningful sonic element that completes the signal architecture. For those seeking additional individuality, a custom option is available: pure gold inlays of the “ZI” letters on the splitter and the Zikman emblem on the plug.

Each Arno Elegance cable is hand-assembled, individually inspected, and supplied with a unique Zikman ID — a serial identifier confirming personal craftsmanship, precise resistance measurements, and its place within the highest tier of the Zikman lineup.

Arno Elegance delivers music as a cohesive, deep, and expressive whole. It highlights micro-dynamics, expands the soundstage, and presents music with richness and natural flow while maintaining structure and control across the entire frequency range. Designed for long, focused listening sessions, it creates a sense of system completeness — where every element contributes to clarity, stability, and emotional depth of sound.