I'm no stranger to high-end IEM cables; in addition to the Yatono, I own the First Times (both shielded and non), the Orpheus shielding, and the Ode to Laura. What distinguishes that Yatono 8w is the supreme technical performance, with a clean and uncolored tuning, at a competitive price point.
The detail, imaging, soundstage are all extraordinarily impressive and within striking distance of the Orpheus (soundstage, in particular, is where the Orpheus still has a little bit of an edge). It bests the other aforementioned cables in that regard. As for the tuning, while the FT cables add a bit of warmth, the Orpheus adds even more, and the OTL provides a very interesting coloration, the Yatono is clean and pure, with some added low/sub bass, and without being bright. It's unquestionably my favorite cable for a reference-tuned IEM like the Ronin.
The only drawback of the Yatono is the ergonomics. It's thick, it's a little heavy, it's certainly not as comfy as the PWA cables. It is what it is. But it's really not too bad. You forget about it once you've adjusted it accordingly, and when you're listening to how phenomenal everything sounds through it.
