This product is available to pre-order with an ETA of late November.
Leonidas Z, a silent guardian born of legacy, stands watch as the Chronicle unfolds.
He appears with poise and composure. In his silence, courage dwells. In his vigil, the legend lives on.
Within the Chronicles of Legends, every chapter carries a name and the character it represents, written into EFFECT AUDIO’s history through craft and sound. Among them, Leonidas has long been loved by audiophiles for a balance of refinement and authority that made him an icon of the series.
With Leonidas Z, that legacy moves forward. Built from the noble metals that shape our greatest works — silver, gold, and palladium — it is designed with a structure that delivers scale and precision in equal measure. Where Centurion II achieves its summit with Platinum-Silver Alloy, Leonidas Z channels a vision of scale and refinement through Palladium-Silver Alloy, a creation placed just beneath the flagship in EA’s pantheon. Now, this guardian is reborn. Carrying the legacy of his line yet speaking with new presence, Leonidas Z stands as a true reawakening of the legend.
At the heart of Leonidas Z lies UP-OCC Pure Silver with Central Solid-Core, a continuous conductor design that eliminates the gaps found in traditional multi-stranded builds. This ensures purer signal flow, lower resistance, and greater stability across the frequency range, forming the foundation of why this cable can so profoundly influence sound. The result is uncompromising clarity and speed, with added air and definition.
Layered onto this core is UP-OCC Gold-Plated Silver, enriching the mid and upper-midrange with warmth, body, and a natural sweetness in vocals. Completing the composition is UP-OCC Palladium-Silver Alloy, which refines the upper treble with remarkable finesse, expands imaging precision, and opens up the soundstage. It is especially effective in awakening overly warm IEMs, yet versatile enough to avoid pushing them over the edge. Together, these elements give Leonidas Z not only sparkle but also stronger bass pressure, more natural decay, and a balanced, resolving tonality that marries technicality with musicality.
Leonidas Z blend is woven into a 24AWG architecture, available in both 4-wire and 8-wire configurations, offering audiophiles the choice between portability and absolute scale, while always preserving the same spirit of refinement. The adoption of this larger 24AWG gauge enhances signal transmission with superior efficiency and stability, providing a sound that carries greater bass pressure, wider dynamic range, and a commanding presence shaped distinctly as its own within the Chronicles of Legends.
A Faithful Recreation - Master Edition
Leonidas Z Master Edition traces its roots back to the original Leonidas, which have long been cherished by many audiophiles, to enhance an IEM's performance without altering its signature. Staying true to this legacy, it was crafted to elevate technical performance while preserving the IEM's natural tonality. Its meticulous construction unveils micro-details with striking precision, allowing your IEMs to breathe with clarity and control.
The cable features UP-OCC Pure Silver delivers clarity and speed, while UP-OCC Gold-Plated Silver adds richness to the mids and treble. Together, they create a well-balanced presentation that is both revealing and smooth.
Compared to its predecessor, Master Edition introduces a darker background and a higher resolution. The soundstage expands both horizontally and vertically, with textures rendered in greater organization and clarity.
As a mark of distinction, the Leonidas Z Master Edition features a rare material: UP-OCC Palladium-Plated Silver. No longer in production and now preserved solely within EFFECT AUDIO'S reserve, this legendary material is used exclusively in our most prestigious and limited creations, underscoring the rarity and elevated status of the Master Edition.
Dual-Plated 4.4 Termination
Featured with Palladium-Plated and Gold-Plated Copper 4.4mm termination, which is previously reserved for the CENTURION II, Leonidas Z Master Edition completes its signal path with precision and intent. This final touch ensures optimal conductivity and tonal integrity, perfectly attuned to its refined tuning signature.
"The Y-split of Leonidas Z has a perfect balance where the cold hardness of the metal contrasts to the warm softness of the leather. The metal symbolizes the guardian's clarity and resolve, while the hand-finished and burnished leather carries forward the legacy of Leonidas. Every piece of hardware is a work of art that merges the coldness and warmth, the hardness and softness, the precision and emotion, a timeless tribute to the harmony between design and sound."
A Nod to Nostalgia
Reimagined with reverence, the leather-wrapped hardware pays tribute to traditional craftsmanship. Its softness is a counterpoint to the structure it anchors. A warm interplay of gold and deep brown colours defines its tone, quietly balancing refinement and strength. Crafted with precision and finished in laser engraving, it carries the aura of an heirloom.
Handcrafted Calfskin Leather Carrying Case
Meticulously crafted from the same calfskin leather as the hardware, the carrying case hints at time-honored design. A discreet Master Edition engraving at the base marks its dignified stature within the Chronicles of Legends. This case is unpretentious in elegance, practical for daily use, and timeless in character.
