The NMD Murk cable isn’t for detail chasers or neutral purists. This is a cable for people who want their music to feel emotional, lush, and intimate. It elevates the mood of the listening experience — almost like putting a soft analog filter over your digital music. It’s especially good for vocal lovers, acoustic genres, lo-fi, or anyone who listens for tone and texture over sparkle and speed. It’s not cheap, and it won’t suit every IEM, but with the right pairing? It’s like hearing your favorite album on vinyl for the first time.
NMD Audio Murk Review
NMD AUDIO was kind enough to send me the Murk cable to review. I am not affiliated with NMD AUDIO, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘NMD Audio Murk review’ are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape & depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase, checkout GEEK MART or NMD AUDIO for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated link).
THE NEVER-ENDING DISCUSSION…
So, there’s always this big debate goin’ on — “Can a cable really change the sound of your IEMs?” And honestly, it’s kinda complicated. Some folks say nah, it’s all just snake oil, that cables don’t make a difference unless you got faulty ones. But others — especially people who’ve spent real time A/B testing — they swear up and down that a good cable can change the tone, the feel, the texture of the sound. Not like night and day, but in small, meaningful ways.
Thing is, when you think about it, cables ain’t just pieces of wire. Different materials — like pure copper, silver, graphene, hybrids, and even the insulation and geometry — they can affect resistance, capacitance, and stuff like that, which in turn, might subtly shape the signal that goes into your ears. That’s especially true with sensitive IEMs — where even tiny changes feel noticeable.
SPECIFICATION
Material: Graphene Plated 5N OCC Silver
Accessories Material: Black Anodized Premium Accessories
Connector: Gold-Plated OFC
Termination: 10u Alloy-Plated & Gold-Plated OFC
Strands: 4 strands, each strand conductor 24 AWG
Structure: Thich Wire Core in Opposing Twist Configuration
Length: 1.2 m
MATERIALS USED
Aight, so this cable’s built with some serious stuff. Like, it ain’t your basic silver-plated copper or cheap DIY kinda wire. The NMD Murk uses 5N Graphene-Plated OCC Silver — which already sounds like something from the future, right? But yeah, that combo’s wild. You’re gettin’ ultra high purity silver, but then they plate it with graphene, which is this crazy carbon material known for being super light, super strong, and real conductive. It’s like, the idea is to preserve signal purity but also add stability and maybe even a little tonal tweak, like smoother transitions and lower distortion.
Then the connectors — they’re not just regular metal pins, these are gold-plated OFC (oxygen-free copper). Gold don’t corrode, and it gives you that reliable, clean connection — especially nice if you’re always plugging and unplugging. Plus, it kinda looks luxe too, not gonna lie.
Now the termination is where it gets extra spicy. They went with 10u alloy-plated + gold-plated OFC termination, and if you don’t know what that means — basically it’s like layering materials for better conductivity and durability. The “10u” part refers to 10 microns of plating thickness, which is kinda high-end. That much gold plus alloy over copper means you’re getting strong signal flow, better resistance to wear, and overall a more stable connection across your setup.
BUILD QUALITY
The Murk cable is visually striking and feels premium right out of the box. It’s got a thick, rounded braid that’s tight and consistent — no kinks or uneven sections. The sheathing is smooth, non-rubbery, and soft against the skin, making it super comfortable even during long sessions.
The hardware — connectors, y-split, chin slider, and plug — are metallic and anodized in a matte finish (usually dark-themed, matching the “Murk” vibe). The quick memory shape near the earhooks holds perfectly without feeling stiff. There’s zero microphonics, which is a big deal when you’re listening on the go or just vibing in quiet environments.
SOUND PROFILE
Alright, this is where the Murk gets real interesting. It ain’t a “transparent” or “neutral” cable. It got flavor. It adds its own touch to your IEMs, and honestly, that’s what I like about it.
The lows get a bit more body — not bloated or anything, but just rounder, fuller. Kicks sound thicker, sub-bass got a bit more meat to it, which is nice if your IEMs lean a little thin down there. It don’t boost bass like an EQ, but it gives it more texture and presence. You feel it more.
The mids are where Murk shines. Vocals pop out, they feel warm, human — like someone’s actually singing next to you. It adds this slight thickness to instruments too, makes acoustic guitars and pianos feel more analog. It don’t push the mids too forward, but it kinda wraps them in this cozy blanket of tone.
Now, treble’s the part that gets it’s perfect place to shine on. Some air and sparkle are audible, but it never feels bright. Just soft on the ears. You can listen for hours and your ears won’t scream. It’s perfect for bright IEMs or recordings that are too sharp. If you like crispy detail or airy stage though, you might miss that little bit of sparkle. But for me, I’ll take that hint of warmth.
When it comes to sound stage and separation, I must say that the Murk shows its potential in the separation section. As this cable can deliver a nice, detailed midrange, which is not dialed out by the lower region, and has an airy treble area, the separation feels very spacious and natural. That creates a good vibe of a stage that is open and a bit wide at the same time.
REAL WORLD TESTING
Alright, so I tested the NMD Murk with a few of my go-to IEMs, just to see how it reacts with different tuning. And honestly? This cable got its own voice, so yeah, it definitely changes the way each IEM sounds.
SIMGOT SUPERMIX 4
So this one’s already got good technicals — nice stage, decent detail. With the Murk, it becomes fuller, more smooth in the mids. The edges are kinda softened, like, it rounds out the top end a bit but doesn’t smoothen out the sparkle. Vocals sit nicer, more emotional. Bass gets a touch deeper too, not like a subwoofer or anything, but definitely more satisfying. Not clinical, just very listenable.
AFUL PERFORMER 5
This one… oof, sweet combo. The Performer 5 is kinda V-shaped with solid resolution, but sometimes the upper mids can get a little sharp. Murk fixes that right away — smooths out the shoutiness and gives the bass more body. Vocals become warmer, instruments more rounded. It’s like the cable makes everything sound “expensive,” if that makes sense. Great synergy here, probably my favorite pairing.
AFUL MagicOne
Okay, this one shocked me. The MagicOne got that clean BA tonality, though not disturbing at all. And with the Murk? It turns super lush. Like, the mids come alive, vocals sound way more natural, and it adds this soft weight to the sound that the MagicOne really needed sometimes. Treble stays clean but not sharp. Honestly, it feels like you upgraded the IEM just with the cable. Wild.
HIDIZS MP145
So this one’s more musical, big planar driver, loads of detail and sometimes a bit sharp in the highs (especially with the silver nozzle!). Murk totally balances that. It tames the treble just enough to make it smoother without killing all the air. Bass becomes fuller, mids more fluid, and overall it’s just easier to listen to for longer sessions. And this super soundstage beast shines flawlessly with the Murk.
IKKO OH10S
Now, this was a bit too much musical that I can’t take them away from my ears. Like, OH10 already got boosted lows and smooth treble, and with Murk, it starts to feel like I found those good ol’ days of vinyl listening sessions. Not unnatural, but you never lose clarity, especially in the upper mids. It’s good if you like chill, laid-back sound. Too much of a good thing, you know?
VERDICT
Now, will a cable turn your $100 earphones into a $1,000 setup? Nah, let’s be real. But can it warm up a cold-sounding IEM, or smooth out harsh highs, or maybe even open up the stage a little? Yeah, sometimes it really can. It’s more about synergy than specs. And if you consider the price, the NMD Murk isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a cable that just “gets outta the way,” this ain’t it. This thing got character. It’s like adding a bit of vinyl warmth into your IEMs — you feel the music more. It’s smooth, emotional, and super comfortable to listen to.
And if you’ve already dropped big on IEMs and want to bring out more emotion in your sound, Murk’s definitely worth checkin’ out.
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