Total Score: 6.13/10

Enjoyment Score: 6/10

Price: $319

PROS:

• Unique warm mid-centric tuning
• Rich note weight
• Lush but well-textured bass
• Inoffensive treble
• Large but comfortable fit
• Tuning switches that actually make a significant difference
• Good accessory inclusions

CONS:

• Odd, inconsistent timbre
• Shout-prone (especially on high impedance)
• Resolution is poor for the price
• Sound can be too intimate at times
• Cheap build quality
• Microphonic cable
• No labels on the tuning switch

WHO THIS UNIT IS FOR:

• People who like a warm, lush but vocal centric sound
• People who enjoy a snug and comfortable fit
• People who like an intimate sound

WHO THIS UNIT IS FOR:

• People who want a resolving IEM 
• People who want an IEM with consistent timbre
• People who want a more premium build and more practically designed tuning switch

GENRES:

• Live Recordings
• R&B
• Soul

SHORT REVIEW:

An IEM I swear I know I would’ve fallen in love with based on people’s comments and the graph and one that stands out for being one of the few properly midcentric IEMs in the lower midrange price bracket. The accessories are great and the fit is comfortable. Unfortunately, inconsistent timbre that makes it hard to enjoy listening to anything outside of bass-centric tracks and its rather cheap build with annoying to navigate tuning switch puts this IEM as a “what could have been” in my books. RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS

FULL REVIEW

What I love about audio gears is just how small factors can greatly affect one’s listening experience. For the most part, the environment, preferences and the physical construction of the devices make up how we enjoy these audio gears. So when you see something that ticks all the boxes for a gear you like, you’d be intrigued by instinct. 

But what happens if this gear doesn’t strike you the way you thought it would? How does that change the way you perceive your own preferences in audio? 

TURN UP THE VOLUME

This is not my first run in with Softears, believe it or not. A while back, I got to review their highly underrated Studio 4. 

All BA and one of the smoothest sounding IEM I’ve ever heard, ruined by the simple fact of unvented BAs. I still love it, I just can’t love it as much as I want to. 

A few weeks back, I saw people talking about a new Softears IEM. I thought to myself “this sounds interesting, let’s look into it”. And I saw impressions and, most importantly, graphs of the IEM. I was astounded. That looked like THE perfect graph for my tastes. And when I finally got the time and chance to review this $319 2DD + 2BA hybrid, I wanted to make the most out of the IEM. So, how was it? Let’s start with the unboxing

UNBOXING

I loved the unboxing experience of the Volume S despite its simplicity. The illustration of the Volume S up front compliments the overall theme really well and I wish more companies had this cohesion with their unboxing

Here’s a full list of the accessories:

• IEMs
• Modular cable
• Tuning tool
• Eartips
• Pleather pouch

There are technically two highlights to the packaging of this IEM. The inclusion of the Softears UC liquid silicone eartips and that weird tuning tool. 

The UC liquid silicone eartips are, as far as I’m concerned, one of the better liquid silicone eartips I’ve tried so far. They feel really good and their shape honestly hugs my earlobes really really well. I’d personally buy a set if it wasn’t for the fact that I feel icky with liquid silicone eartips after a while and they’re essentially foam eartips waiting to decompose after a while. Mind you, I haven’t had a pair of normal silicone eartips break on me besides the one time I accidentally ripped one, but I’ve gone through countless foam and, soon enough, liquid silicone eartips. Maybe one day I’ll put the UC to the test. 

Next is that tuning tool. What the heck is this? What is it for? Why does it look like this? Well, let’s move to the build & fit section for that. 

BUILD & FIT

The first thing that stood out to me about the Volume S is that freaky tuning switch. Granted, this is not my first time seeing a tuning switch like this. The Tanchjim 4U is another set that has a really weird tuning switch implementation that I really am not a big fan of. This thing is confusing and occasionally inconsistent with how the position of the switch is. The only real way to know what mode you’re in is if you etch an indicator somehow because Softears did not want to indicate what tuning mode you’re in. Bummer, but that’s probably one of the few nitpicks I have with this thing physically. This made it very difficult for me to know what tuning mode I’m in compared to other IEMs with tuning switches. But hey, at least this one actually does something!

Moving unto the actual build itself, the Volume S sports faceplate that looks pretty cool, albeit basic and akin to an IEM that I did not like very much. If you remember to Shozy x AAW Hibiki, they have a bit of similarity in terms of aesthetics. I’d argue that the Volume S does look a little better with the silver border, but it’s not really something that I’d fawn my eyes over. What worries me is another similarity both IEMs have, particularly with the inner shell material. Softears worked with HeyGears, the same medical-grade resin manufacturer that created the shell for the likes of the Truthear Hola and Hexa. I did not like that material and I do not like how the Softears Volume S feels. This resin feels so cheap and rubbery that I’m scared that over time, it’ll melt like what happened to the Shozy Hibiki MK2 that I tried back in the day. 

Internally, the Volume S is a bit more interesting with a 2DD + 2BA setup with a lot of tech put into the drivers. Specifically, a special message from the engineer talking about something called the “bus impedance” 

This along with the addition of their active + passive dynamic driver combo with a combination of a wool based diaphragm makes the Volume S one of the most unique IEMs I’ve tried internally. They also used their own “ED” series of Balanced Armatures that were molded based on famous BA sets like the ER4-B and AKG K3003

I’m not techy enough to judge their tech, but as someone who’s interested in the advancement of audio tech, it’s nice to see companies like Softears continuing to push innovation when other companies have stagnated and just copies tech that already exist. 

As for the comfort of the IEM, Softears have made a very comfortable IEM. Full stop, it’s just a legitimately comfortable IEM with almost 0 pressure points even after hours of wear. I’d akin this to the recently reviewed Mega5EST and I really loved how that thing fit. The only thing I wish was improved is in terms of the seal. However, I do feel like it’s because of another factor;

The cable is not bad, but not good. It’s a full paracord construction, which means microphonics for days. However, this is one of the better paracord cables I’ve tried as it’s very soft, supple and comfortable on the skin. I never thought I’d say something like that about a full paracord cable, but it’s just damn comfortable. That is, until you begin to get interference from your shirt or even the wind and you start to realize why cables are better off with PVC outer layer. 

SOUND

NOTE: Because the Softears Volume S has tuning switches, I will be talking about the low impedance tuning first and compare it to the high impedance tuning in its own section

Sound Signature:

The Volume S features warm neutral sound signature with emphasis in the upper midrange, rolled off but grainy treble and a thick midrange presentation. While I do love how rich the tone of the Volume S is, the timbre is so inconsistent and makes it a little difficult to find a genre that really fits the sound as vocal-centric genre can sound great but also a bit grainy and more complex genres can sound a bit slow and sloppy. 

Drivability:

Due to the low and high impedance tuning modes, the Volume S can either be a relatively easy to drive IEM or a surprisingly hard to drive one. On high impedance, the Volume S has an impedance of 32ohms and sensitivity of 114dB and on low impedance has 9.8 ohms and 124dB of sensitivity. This means that, depending on your mode, your amplification requirements will also change. The fundamental factor of the Volume S, however, is that you need a clean amp due to how inconsistent the timbre is. 

Volume Scaling:

As much as I want to crank the volume up on the Volume S, depending on your HRTF, you might not be able to enjoy this thing on higher volumes. Thankfully, low impedance mode allows for the Volume S to sound good even in lower listening volumes. High impedance doesn’t really give you a choice since you have to crank the volume up, but it’s brighter tuning might end up making the difference negligible. 

Listening Experience:

Oh boy, here we go. On first listen, I was seriously disappointed with the Volume S. I was expecting Simgot levels of vocal presence, clarity and energy. Heck, I was even expecting this to be the vocal reference that I’d base all vocal-centric IEMs from. Unfortunately, despite looking like it has a flawless tuning, the listening experience was flawned. 

I found this as I popped some Nina Live and listened to Love Moves in Mysterious Ways. The way the vocals were presented were just… Inconsistent. It would sound smooth and lush, then suddenly grainy and edgy. I tried more tracks, this time a bit more complex thinking that this is an IEM. I threw in some Necry Talkie and… Nope, still nothing. I thought to myself, “did I mess up the settings somehow? Am I in the wrong mode?”

Nah, it really just sounded like this. And that bummed me. I thought this was going to be THE vocal-centric IEM to beat. But so far, it’s just disappointed me. So I shared my thoughts with my friends and they said that the Volume S isn’t really an IEM for complex, fast tracks nor brighter, sharper mixed tracks. They suggested Lea Salonga’s “The Journey So Far”. And that’s when it hit me. Live albums with a more organic tone are where the Softears Volume S excels at. Which is both sad and interesting because this kind of tuning almost guarantees that it would sound great in most genres. This album then moved me into Samara Joy’s Linger Awhile and just like that, I found where the Volume S sounded good. 

But that was the dilemma that I had with this set. As someone who enjoyed sets that specialized into certain genres more than it generalized, I was familiar with this kind of sound. Sounds great with this genre, not so much with this. So what makes Volume S different? Well, it’s such a distinct tone that is interesting but also unusual to my usual tastes. I expect warmer IEMs to sound smooth and consistent and brighter IEMs to be analytical. But the Volume S combined both into this weird Frankenstein Monster that, depending on how you like your vocals, will sound weird or fantastic. I know my friend thought this was great with volume and specific genres like this, but I couldn’t find myself to really enjoy this. Add to the fact that this IEM isn’t that well extended and for a treblehead like me, you kinda see why I wasn’t as big of a fan of this set

Its technical ability could also come into play here as the resolution, separation and layering just feels lackluster for the price. But its this same intimacy that makes it such a treat to listen to specific vocal-centric genres that don’t want to force you into a listening session, but instead eases you into the feeling. I really loved that about the Volume S, despite me largely disliking the set at first. 

Even now, after a good week after having this set, the Volume S is still a set to get used to. But I can recognize that this is a set for those people who enjoy the warmth and lushness with a tinge of edge and sharpness in the tone. 

TUNING SWITCH

Softears isn’t the first nor will they be the last to implement the screw style tuning switch, but they are the first I’ve seen stated the impedance differences as a feature. KZ has done this with their “all up” switch option. 

How this affects the Volume S is, interestingly, the high impedance being the brighter out of the two. The low impedance acts as the “stock” tuning with a more balanced overall tone while the high impedance cranks the treble and makes the overall sound “lean”. 

Normally, tuning switches don’t have a massive impact on the sound. But the way Softears implemented the switches on the Volume S greatly affects the volume. I went from 36 volume to 46 volume on my Fosi K7 switching between low impedance and high impedance respectively. 

As for the sound, qualities of the low impedance is largely kept, including the plasticky timbre and inconsistent sound. However, pushing the treble this much did end up making the sound a bit more consistent as the treble emphasis is clear and snappy and the warmth is almost completely gone, making the IEM an analytical IEM from a midcentric IEM. 

I personally prefer the high impedance, as you might expect from a treblehead. But this level of treble also masks the plasticky timbre by making everything sound sharp and snappy without the warmth and lushness of the low impedance mode.  

COMPARISON

vs Hisenior Mega5EST

On my Mega5EST review, I put my comparison against the Volume S pretty late. But I want to highlight the differences between a specialized sound and a generalist sound first. This is because, between the two, my cards were on the Volume S to be the IEM that I would love the most. However, the differences in their performance and tonal qualities easily proved just why the Mega5EST is a highly sought after IEM. Clean, consistent and best of all, versatile. The Volume S is none of those as the mid-centric tuning paired with its plasticky timbre make it a set that’s perfect on very specific vocal tracks. I don’t hate the Volume S, but it made me appreciate the Mega5EST, a tuning-style that I previously disliked for being too safe. Their technical ability is also night and day with the Mega5EST being a far more technically capable IEM than the Volume S in almost every single regard

vs Rose Technics QT9 MK3

From one specialized set to another, the QT9 MK3 is an IEM that is a vocal and technical powerhouse and not much else. The main difference is that the Volume S has a low impedance for balanced lovers while the QT9 MK3 will force you into the Volume S’s high impedance regardless of treble sensitivity. The main benefit here is that the QT9 MK3 is more coherent due to the amount of treble emphasis. Both sets have a metallic timbre, but the QT9 MK3’s leaner tone hones into that sound. The Volume S is the better set for treble sensitives, despite the seemingly weaker technical ability

vs Intuaura Vew Splendor II

These two sets have a lot in common for how different their driver and tuning philosophies are. The Splendor II is a lean, mean but genuinely engaging set that is either let down or strenghted by the inclusion of the DSP. The unfortunate thing about the Spelndor II is the fact that its non DSP mode has a lot to be desired, which puts the Volume S ahead in terms of source pairing. However, the Splendor II has a far more lively and versatile sound than the Volume S. The Splendor II also has a cleaner separation, but similar levels of refinement due to the occasionally edgy treble of the Splendor II

vs Simgot EA1000 (in general)

The original midcentric vocal beast that, til this day, breaks down potential neutral bright IEMs under $500. The Volume S, expectedly, performs worse than the EA1000 in almost every single aspect minus offensiveness due to the aggressive treble presentation of the EA1000. However, timbre, technicalities and even specializing in a midcentric tone are all better on the EA1000. The main difference when it comes to their tuning is that the tuning switch of the Volume S actually works while the EA1000 could have honestly gone without it and it would still be the same IEM. Gold nozzle is pretty close with the Volume S, though!

vs AFUL Performer 5+2

I wanted to avoid this comparison because they’re fundamentally differently tuned IEMs with different philosophies. However, I wanted to highlight their similarities in timbre as the P5+2 has that distinctive “AFUL” treble that I’ve taken issue with since their first international release. And yet, I would take the P5+2 if you were to make me pick between the two because of just how much more consistent the P5+2 is compared to the Volume S. In this case, I also found the treble edginess to fit the P5+2 more than the Volume S and the technical ability of the former is just leaps and bounds cleaner than the latter. 

Conclusion:

This is a love-hate IEM for me. I wanted to love it from how people described it, but listening impressions told a different story. It’s a perfectly imperfect set with a focused midcentric sound but incoherent and messy tonality. Is it the music I listen to? Is it the sources? I’ve changed everything but my opinion stands. 

Does that mean that the Volume S is a bad IEM? Absolutely not. So many people rave and hype about this IEM. Whether it’d be because of other biases or pure preference, it’s important to understand people’s preference and why people like what they do. There are many factors and I, as a reviewer, need to highlight these things. Just because I don’t like the Volume S doesn’t mean I think you shouldn’t get it. It’s a warm, vocal centric set with decent detail without sounding offensive. You get a warm and a bright tuning option and the fit is phenomenal. There’s lots to love about the Volume S, but not a lot from me.

Thank you for reading my review on the Volume S. Have a nice listen!

NON-AFFILIATE LINK: https://hifigo.com/products/softears-volumes