TL;DR Unique midcentric tuning with versatile tuning switches and slight metallic timbre
The Volume S is the long-awaited update to the Volume series of IEMs by Softears and one that I’ve been anticipating for a while. This 2DD + 2BA hybrid has piqued my interest and I want to share my impressions with you all!
I quite liked the unboxing experience of the Volume S. The highlight is the inclusion of their UC eartips, Softears’ own liquid silicone eartips. Having only tried a couple of liquid silicone eartips, the UC eartips are pretty good with a comfortable shape that fits the Volume S’s low impedance sound profile.
One of the things that I didn’t like about the Volume S is the shell material. I’ve never been a fan of HeyGears’ shells as they feel cheap and weird. They remind me of those rubbery materials that break apart after a couple of years. Thankfully, the fit is really good and comfortable. I didn’t like the cable as much as it’s microphonic, but it’s very comfortable and not tangle-prone.
Since the Volume S actually has 2 varying tuning modes, I want to talk about low impedance first and then high impedance. The low impedance mode has a very rich and warm tone with a vocal emphasis and a rolled off treble. High impedance on the other hand has a leaner and brighter sound signature with extra vocal emphasis. The one aspect that bothered me with the Volume S was the inconsistent timbre that affects the midrange the worst. I didn’t have much problem with the bass region, despite not really being the most tactile bass. However, the upper mids to treble contrasts the smoother low end with an odd metallic timbre that’s neither resolving nor detailed. The emphasis on this IEM is on the vocals with the high impedance presenting the vocals in the most focused manner with the low impedance, but the timbre makes my enjoyment a little inconsistent.
FULL REVIEW COMING SOON!
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