Soundz NOVA Review – Stratospheric

Comparisons –

Soft Ears RSV ($730): The RSV provides a similar frequency balance and is slightly higher contrast but has a more natural voicing throughout. It has superior sub-bass extension with more pressure and slam. This is followed by a cleaner mid-bass, making it more tonally neutral. The RSV has a bit more separation here as a result. The NOVA has similar speed and is no less articulate nor detailed in the mid-bass. It has a slightly fuller note structure that gives it a more powerful voicing. The midrange is a touch forward on both, the RSV upholding better balance overall. It has a more natural voicing and much higher linearity, sounding more consistent between tracks and delivering a more accurate timbre.

It is a touch on the leaner side, the NOVA swinging in the opposite direction, delivering more full-bodied notes. The NOVA has a dryness the RSV does not suffer from and overall puts more of a spotlight on vocals. Up top, the RSV has a more prominent yet even lower-treble and a darker background. The NOVA has slightly better fine detail retrieval in the foreground at the cost of sounding a bit thinner, it has noticeably more headroom and better background detail retrieval and sparkle. The NOVA has a wider stage, the RSV a bit more depth. The RSV has sharper localization while the NOVA is more holographic.

Fir Audio VxV ($999): The VxV is a cleaner and more separated sound with a similar frequency balance. It also has a deep-bass emphasis but a little more warmth through the mid-bass too. The VxV extends better with its hybrid setup, delivering more slam and rumble alongside a more textured, natural decay with thicker notes. The NOVA is just as weighted but has quicker decay and a cleaner tone. It has better separation and higher note definition at the cost of dynamics. The midrange is a touch forward on both. The VxV has a more typical midrange tuning, both are tonally neutral, but the VxV does sound a bit more natural with less boxiness and contrast.

The NOVA sounds fuller and more powerful while the VxV is more delicate, with a leaner note weight, better layering and greater extension. Both earphones have a similar top-end tuning. The tubeless tweeters on the VxV deliver equally strong extension and sparkle too. The NOVA does have a slightly faster, cleaner transient response. Its lower-treble is slightly more detail dense and textured in turn. The VxV has higher note definition with a sharper attack. The NOVA has more air while the VxV has more sparkle and energy, redeeming slightly more micro-detail.Both have similar stage dimensions and positioning, the VxV has slightly sharper localization and layering, the NOVA is airier and more holographic.

Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 ($1099): The Andromeda has a similar kind of voicing but assumes a warmer tonality and more articulate top-end. Its bass extends better, providing more rumble and slam at the very bottom. The Andro has a warmer voicing with more mid-bass focus, being punchier and more impactful. However, it isn’t as separated and clean as the NOVA, which provides slightly higher definition and detail retrieval. The midrange voicing is fairly similar on both, the Andro is slightly more linear within though is equally coloured altogether. It has a warmer tone as it has more upper-bass, as the midrange is more even with less of a 3k dip, it doesn’t have the same strain in the upper-mids. In turn, the voicing sounds a bit more natural.

The Andro has higher note definition as its treble is brighter, lifting articulation. While I didn’t find it sibilant, the NOVA does come across as a cleaner, smoother performer whilst retaining clarity and power. The Andro has a brighter top-end in general, both in the lower-treble and middle-treble. It is considerably more detail forward and slightly more detailed than the NOVA in the foreground. It does over-sharpen the image more, meaning it is less textured and isn’t as clean or separated. Both have heaps of air, the NOVA, with its cleaner background, sounds more layered and expansive. Both have holographic imaging, the Andro has more overt sparkle and depth, the NOVA has a wider stage and a cleaner background, sounding a bit more multi-dimensional in turn.

Avara EST-6 ($1100): A very close competitor with a similar driver setup and asking price. The EST-6 has a much more even and linear voicing but also isn’t as engaging as a result. Both have similar bass extension, but the NOVA has noticeably more bass and a more powerful voicing with greater sub-bass emphasis. In turn, it has higher note weight and dynamics. The EST-6 is a smoother, more even-handed performer with a hint of mid-bass emphasis aiding punch. The EST-6 has better separation and slightly higher detail retrieval, the NOVA has thicker notes and better impact and slam properties. The EST-6 has a much cleaner and clearer midrange performance. It epitomizes a refined and natural voicing.

The NOVA has more body, and its vocals are bigger. However, it is also boxier and more coloured. The EST-6 has a neutral tone and superb coherence. It sounds more natural, consistent and layered. The EST-6 has a similar lower-treble tuning, both are crisp, wicked clean and well-separated with strong fine detail retrieval. The EST-6 has a hair more fine detail retrieval in the foreground, but the NOVE does provide noticeably better headroom and air above. The EST-6 does have a nice sparkle at the very top but prioritises cleanliness over background detail retrieval. The NOVA sounds more expansive in turn and more holographic. The EST-6 has sharper imaging and much more defined layering.

MMR Gae Bolg ($1199): The Gae Bolg has a more even-handed and coherent voicing. Both extend similarly through the sub-bass, the NOVA has slightly more deep-bass, the Gae Bolg a bit more warmth in the mid and upper-bass. The Gae Bolg sounds less weighted and slightly punchier while the NOVA is a touch more dynamic. Both are similarly well-defined and detailed; the NOVA has a bit more separation. The Gae Bolg has a more typical midrange tuning and a slightly more natural voicing. It sounds cleaner and more separated with higher note definition. As it has more separation in its lower-mids, the tone isn’t much warmer either. The NOVA has more body and a bit more boxiness. The Gae Bolg sounds more articulate and has higher vocal clarity.

It doesn’t have any of the dryness or strain affecting the NOVA but never succumbs to brightness or thinness either. The Gae Bolg has a small 5k peak and tapers off smoothly thereafter into a black background. Both have a similar detail retrieval and treble presentation in the foreground. The NOVA has a bit more crispness, the Gae Bolg slightly more body. The Gae Bolg has a hair more definition and separation but the NOVA extends better above, delivering more background and micro-detail. Neither are bright, but the NOVA provides the impression of greater treble presence due to this. The Gae Bolg has more depth and a more multi-dimensional image. It has much more organized layering and localization in particular. The NOVA, meanwhile, is airier, wider and more holographic.

Lime Ears Aether R (1100 EUR): The Aether R also provides a coloured voicing with a warmer skew. Its bass extends a little better with even a hint of pressure and a nice slam at the very bottom. However, it is far more mid-bass focused in terms of tuning, contributing to a punchier, fuller and warmer presentation with noticeably worse separation. The NOVA sounds more powerful and dynamic despite not extending as well due to its more sub-bass forward tuning. It offers a cleaner and more separated mid-bass with more texture. The midrange is also energetic and vivid on the Aether R, but has a different voicing. It is a higher contrast sound with less lower-mid boxiness, meaning it isn’t too dry or boxy. The Aether R has better separation and definition in the midrange, at the cost of a little truncation around the upper-mids.

he NOVA has more substantial, full-bodied notes, its voicing is slightly less natural but neither irked me during listening. The NOVA does have a hair more resolution here, resolving layers and fine details slightly better. The treble tuning is surprisingly similar on both, the Aether R benefits from a sharper BA note attack, giving it higher note definition. Fine detail retrieval is a hair better on the Aether R and it separates better in the lower-treble. The NOVA has better extension and more headroom, it is airier while the Aether R has a cleaner, more focused detail presentation.  The NOVA has a noticeably wider stage while the Aether R has more depth. Imaging is more multi-dimensional on the NOVA.

Verdict –

Soundz are new to the game but it’s easy to see the staff have experience in the field through the refinement of their products. The fit and finish of their customs is no less impressive than the big names and they come with a great set of accessories on top. The NOVA in particular is a very musical earphone with unique immersive qualities. Chiefly, this will be an excellent choice for those wanting an airy, open and refined top-end. It does so with zero fatigue. In addition, the powerful bass voicing means few would be left wanting for weight and impact. This leads me to my criticisms, mostly with regards to the midrange. While it is resolving and has no glaring faults, the overall voicing is simply a little off. This stems from its overly sculpted nature, which is in good judgement, but seems unnecessary given that gymnastics could have been avoided entirely should Soundz have tuned this earphone with a more typical 3kHz emphasis. Nevertheless, if you don’t mind a drier vocal presentation, the NOVA is a well-considered, versatile and technically impressive performer. It has no glaring weaknesses, but some idiosyncrasies that will limit mass appeal.

The NOVA can be purchased from Soundz Custom for 990 EUR at the time of review. I am not affiliated with Soundz and receive no earnings from purchases through this link.

Track List –

Billie Eilish – dont smile at me

Bob Seger – Night Moves

Courtney Barnett – Rae Street

Cream – Wheels of Fire

Dire Straits – Communique

Dirty Loops – Next To You

Eagles – Hotel California

Elton John – Honky Chateau

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

H.E.R – I Used To Know Her

Jasen – BYE

John Mayer – Continuum

Kanye West – Ye

Missy Higgins – The Sound of White

Radiohead – OK Computer

TALA – ain’t leavin` without you

The Beatles – Abbey Road

The weeknd – After Hours

Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride