Softears Volume S Review – Best of Both Worlds

Sound –

Testing Methodology: Measured using Arta via IEC 711 coupler to Startech external sound card. 7-9KHz peaks may be artefacts/emphasised due to my measurement setup, less so with a deep fit. Measurements besides channel balance are volume-matched at 1KHz. Fit depth normalised to my best abilities to reduce coupler resonance. Still, due to these factors, my measurements may not accurately reflect the earphones or measurements taken by others. I gave the Volume S 100hrs burn-in to ensure maximum performance prior to subjective breakdown.

Tonality –

Moondrop and Softears both have a lengthy legacy of producing balanced, refined IEMs based on the Harman curve with fairly subtle tweaks between models and generations. With that said, a little goes a long way here and in turn, each has achieved its own character and following. The Volume has always been positioned as one of the more fun IEMs from the brand and the S follows suit but serves as a foil rather than a direct successor.

Where the Volume was slightly W-shaped and revealing, the Volume S is subtly L-shaped and relaxed with a higher emphasis on coherence. It is still an IEM that I would consider to be very well-balanced and naturally voiced; exemplifying the latter more than most IEMs from either brand to my ears on account of its reduced overall intensity.

The Volume S is sure to be a crowd-pleaser as previous attempts at creating a warmer, more laid-back sound have often been achieved with an increase in bass quantity. The Volume S rather lightly tones down the top half of the frequency range which enables it to be more relaxed whilst upholding a more natural bass presence and voicing.

Tuning Switch

A large marketing point for this IEM is the tuning switch on the side of the IEMs. Indeed, it comes with two flavours of sound out of the box. Reviews have been quick to note that the high impedance mode is rather undesirable and unfortunately, I have found this to be true in my experience with this IEM. Where the low impedance mode is balanced and undoubtedly will be a crowd pleaser, the high impedance mode is strained, thin and unnatural.

In essence, frequencies above 1kHz are increased by a few dB, more so as the frequency becomes higher. This creates a thin, treble-dominant sound with an overly laid-back bass. I wouldn’t imagine many would prefer this sound signature, there are a plethora of better options available that offer a brighter sound executed in a more natural fashion such as Softears own Volume or the Moondrop Blessing 3. I used the low impedance mode with the standard silicone tips for the following analysis.

Bass –

Sitting just at the front, bass has a medium boost and a slightly emboldened tuning. Besides the elevation and a touch of upper bass rise, the low end is natural and well-mannered. The tuning reminds more of Moondrop’s DD models like the KATO as opposed to their hybrids. This means you get a bit more parity between sub and mid-bass which I find is subjectively more natural and balanced sounding. Indeed, the Volume S offers a winning balance between sub-bass slam and mid-bass texture. Notes are mildly warm and full but never to the extent that the timbre feels off or bloated. I’ve found some of Softear’s older hybrids and Moondrop’s IEMs have struggled with extension and sub-bass performance.

Due to the passive woofer or not, the Volume S excels with regards to dynamics and sub-bass resolution. There’s a visceral, palpable yet tight and focused slam at the very bottom and rumble is controlled and defined. Bass notes uphold good separation and responsiveness above despite the medium enhancement. These qualities permit the Volume S to prove standout texture within the price range. Stepping up to a pricier IEM and you can feel the step up in resolving power, specifically note definition is higher. However, amongst its peers, the Volume S is hard to beat, and the tuning itself is appealing regardless of price.  

Mids –

The midrange is tuned in very typical Moondrop/Softears fashion which is to say very well. There’s a small plateau through the lower midrange that maintains bass-to-midrange separation before a progressive climb to 3kHz emphasis. It is apparent that this has been implemented mostly to reduce bass bleed. The tone is lightly warm, and notes are a little more full-bodied than most IEMs from the brand but the upper midrange does have a more neutral voicing above. I would still classify the midrange as balanced, slightly vocal forward and coherent. The Volume before it had a bit more contrast here due to its larger bass boost necessitating a larger pinna gain. This, in tandem with its less present mid and upper bass, is responsible for its more revealing voicing.

What Softears has produced with the Volume S is a slightly more natural and organic sound without pushing too far into these descriptors. It will be a much friendlier experience coming from non-Harman IEMs that often sport less aggressive upper-midrange emphases. It does so whilst retaining the same beloved voicing and openness. The Volume S is a relatively articulate IEM too, retaining the lower-treble emphasis of its predecessor. It’s a touch breathy at times but for the most part, is well controlled with no notable sibilance issues. Resolving power and layering are good performers, aided by great separation that draws focus to small details. The Volume S is a healthy performer in the midrange technically and especially tonally. For my individual preference,s it is some of the best from the company yet.  

Highs –

This is perhaps where the Volume S is most similar to the Volume in that it has a slightly more aggressive and crisp treble response. Relative to that model, treble has been toned down a touch and in turn, doesn’t come across as quite as isolated and sharpened as before which many will enjoy. It retains a sharp transient response producing defined foreground details and enhanced crispness and clarity. Whilst the overall brightness level is lower than its predecessor and alternatives such as the Blessing 3, it offers similar fine detail retrieval set to a slightly more natural note body and texture. The Volume S also enhances the level of extension on display relative to its predecessor.

It isn’t a huge jump in resolving power but there is a bit more air and headroom on display in addition to slightly better retrieval of background details. Despite this, the background is still on the dark and clean over bright and airy side. Overall, the Volume S offers a more refined treble than before with a similar voicing and a mild but noticeable jump in resolution. It still won’t usurp TOTL models as sparkle and micro detail are touched upon but aren’t fully fleshed out; such is incredibly rare at this asking price. The call to fame is surely the tuning which is well-metered overall and the tasteful quantity on display. Both combine to make the Volume S a very appealing and versatile package even if better technical ability is available.  

Soundstage –

Despite the more laid-back top-end and relatively sound extension, the Volume S presents a more intimate soundstage that extends just beyond the head. It is well-rounded between width and depth, but the focus is surely on the precision of its imaging as opposed to raw dimensions. Vocals occupy a strong centre image with defined, delineated lateral layers. Directional cues are very sharp, and localization feels accurate and well-defined. There isn’t exceptional distance portrayal and therefore, the stage doesn’t achieve an especially holographic or multi-dimensional feel. It is coherent, tight-knit and organized. Separation is good throughout especially through the midrange. No small details are lost or over-shadowed. There is some space palpable between each note that aids this impression.

Drivability –

The Volume S touts a 9.8 Ohm impedance and a 124dB sensitivity in low impedance mode (mode 2) and a 31.2 Ohm impedance with a 114dB sensitivity in high impedance mode (mode 1). Given the broad impression of the IEM’s high impedance mode, I will assess the Volume S in its default low impedance configuration.

Output Impedance Sensitivity

Despite Softears marketing a favourable impedance curve, it isn’t flat, with a notable rise at higher frequencies. This means for high impedance sources over around 1.5 Ohms, the Volume S will sound notably brighter and thinner. Subjectively, they sound best from a low impedance source of 1 ohm and below, which will provide the most balanced sound.

Driving Power

The benefit of the passive driver is surely represented by the IEMs efficiency which is quite good and tolerant of lower-powered sources. Of course, a powerful desktop stack will provide more bass power and control. However, switching to a portable dongle-style source and bass remained dynamic, extended and defined. I was very impressed by how easy the Volume S is to drive.

Suggested Pair Ups

Given the balanced and relatively forgiving tuning of the Volume S, it is very tolerant of different source pairings. I would suggest that warmer sources are the worst pairing given it is already a slightly warm leaning IEM but given that its colouration is only mild, warm sources can still be enjoyed. Cool and neutral sources are both a good match for the Volume S and it is tolerant of bright sources too. The Volume S is efficient and upholds excellent bass performance with low-powered sources. As such, dedicated amplification and large DAPs aren’t required. However, do note the output impedance as the higher it rises, the brighter the IEMs become.

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