The Softears Twilight emerges as a remarkable entry in the realm of high-end single-dynamic driver in-ear monitors. With its 10mm DLC dome dynamic driver, it marks a notable presence in the audiophile community. The Twilight stands out with its unique twisted ear shell design and aviation-grade aluminum alloy shells, combining aesthetic appeal with durability. This IEM is particularly notable for its warm sound signature and cohesive tonality, making it a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking a blend of comfort, build quality, and sonic excellence.

Box, Cable and Softears Twilight

The Softears Twilight comes packaged in a meticulously designed box that reflects its premium nature. The outer box is a black cardboard case, elegant in its simplicity. It prominently features the Softears logo at the top, adding a touch of sophistication to the packaging. The Twilight name is featured on one side of the package. And the line “Twist Your Ears” is waiting for me at the next panel while I unbox it.

The Softears Twilight comes with a cable that is well-crafted to complement its high-end design and audio performance. The cable features nice braiding and strong insulation, indicating a focus on both durability and aesthetics. This ensures that the cable not only looks good but is also built to last. Furthermore, the memory wire area behind the ear is very flexible, adding to the overall comfort of wearing the IEMs. This flexibility is crucial for ensuring the cable conforms comfortably to the shape of the user’s ears, enhancing the wearing experience without causing discomfort during prolonged use. The careful construction of the cable aligns with the premium quality expected from high-end IEMs like the Softears Twilight.

The Softears Twilight is a premium in-ear monitor (IEM) with a distinct manufacturing and design language. The Twilight has an unique and weird appearance due to its unusual shape, which is identical to Softears’ previous single dynamic model, Turii. This design is not just for show; it has been meticulously developed to improve the entire acoustic experience.

The Twilight features a precisely crafted 10mm ultra-high-performance dynamic driver. Each pair of earbuds is created and coupled separately, demonstrating the production process’s attention to detail and quality control. The driver makes use of cutting-edge materials and technology to ensure outstanding sound reproduction. The Twilight is also made of highly carved anodized aluminum alloy, which not only adds to its aesthetic appeal but also to its durability and lightness. This combination results in a device that is both visually appealing and functionally outstanding, giving a premium listening experience.

Softears Twilight Sound

During my review of the Softears Twilight, I focused on evaluating its performance. The IEM demonstrated a robust ability to render various genres of music with clarity and precision. Each track played through them felt engaging, with instruments and vocals distinctly separated, providing an enjoyable listening session. The comfort and fit of the Twilight is also notable, contributing to a prolonged and pleasant audio experience. Overall, Softears Twilight left a strong impression on me, not just for its technical capabilities but for the sheer enjoyment it brought to my music listening sessions.

In my detailed analysis of the Softears Twilight, focusing specifically on aspects like timbre, soundstage, speed, tonality, resolution, and coherence, the IEMs showed exceptional performance. The timbre is natural and lifelike, capturing the essence of various instruments with accuracy. The soundstage impressed me greatly; it is expansive, with clear height, width, and depth, making the listening experience highly immersive. There is a clear indication of the speed of the drivers in the fact that they responded quickly to difficult passages, which ensured clarity and precision in tracks that moved quickly.

Tonality is another area where Softears Twilight excelled, offering a balanced and rich sound that remained true to the recordings. The resolution is remarkable, allowing for the detection of subtle nuances and details in the music. Coherence across the spectrum is maintained, with no part of the frequency range overshadowing the others. This harmonious blend resulted in an engaging and satisfying listening experience, showcasing Twilight’s technical prowess and musicality.

Bass

The bass quality genuinely impressed me. It exhibited impressive control, with both good detail and speed, contributing to a well-balanced and engaging listening experience. There is a pleasant warmth and thickness to the bass that adds a delightful depth to the music without overwhelming other frequencies. The texture and focus of the bass were remarkable, enhancing the overall tactility and immersion. Compared to other iems, Softears Twilight’s bass is more neutral, lacking the strong underlying fundamental of kick drum notes present in some, but this neutrality contributed to its precise and accurate sound reproduction. Overall, the bass in Twilight managed to be both impactful and refined, complementing a wide range of musical genres.

Midrange

In my experience with the Softears Twilight, the midrange performance is exceptional, a standout aspect of these earphones. It exemplified the technical prowess of Twilight, displaying a remarkable timbre that added a level of realism and musicality to the audio. The midrange is warm and has a moderate bass boost that extends into the upper bass and lower midrange, creating a rich and full sound without muddying the overall clarity. This warmth in the midrange does not compromise the distinctness of vocals or instruments, which remained clear and well-defined. The balance in the midrange allows for a listening experience that is both engaging and pleasing, suitable for a wide variety of music genres.

Treble

The treble quality is notably impressive. It presented a smooth, controlled sound that added a natural and refined quality to the music. The treble is neither too sharp nor too subdued, striking a balance that is often hard to find. There is an ample amount of air and detail, which brings out the nuances in various tracks without becoming overwhelming or harsh. This smoothness in the treble, coupled with its excellent control, stood out distinctly, enhancing the overall listening experience. The treble tuning, while safe, does not compromise on its qualities, providing a well-balanced and neutral sound in the lower treble and a warmer feel in the upper treble, contributing to the Twilight’s versatile and enjoyable sound profile depending on the insertion depth of its eartips.

Pros:

• Impressive Sound Quality: The Twilight delivers a rich, balanced sound with remarkable clarity in the midrange, showcasing its ability to accurately reproduce vocals and instruments.
• Comfortable Fit: Despite its considerable size, the Twilight provides a comfortable fit in the ear, making it suitable for extended listening sessions without causing discomfort.
• Build Quality: The Twilight’s build and design are of high quality, offering a premium feel that justifies its price point.
• Smooth Treble: The treble in the Twilight is smooth and well-controlled, contributing to a detailed and natural listening experience without any harshness.
• Warm and Detailed Bass: It offers a warm yet detailed bass that is pronounced but not overpowering, adding depth to the overall sound profile.

Cons:

• Lack of Treble Sparkle: The smooth treble might lack a bit of sparkle, which some listeners may desire for added liveliness in the sound.
• Below Average Passive Isolation: The Twilight’s passive noise isolation is not the best, which might be a drawback in noisy environments.
• Price: Its higher price point may put it out of reach for some audiophiles, particularly those seeking more budget-friendly options like the Simgot EM6L or Simgot EA1000.

Comparisons

vs 64 Audio Duo

I find it interesting to compare the differences between the 64 Audio Duo and Softears Twilight. The 64 Audio Duo, with its dual-driver setup, provides a sound that is rich in detail and expansive in soundstage. This creates an immersive experience where music seems to unfold in a three-dimensional space around me. The bass is precise and well-controlled, offering a solid foundation without overwhelming the mix. In contrast, the Softears Twilight, with its single dynamic driver, offers warmth and engagement in its sound signature, especially noticeable in the midrange. The midrange clarity is exceptional, bringing vocals and acoustic instruments to life with a natural and authentic timbre.

The Duo’s treble is airier and more detailed, adding a sense of openness, while Twilight’s smoother treble profile makes for a more forgiving listening experience, especially over longer periods. Both IEMs excel in build quality and comfort, but the Twilight stands out for its comfortable fit, ideal for extended wear. The Duo’s unique design also ensures comfort, although it may require some acclimatization. Ultimately, the choice between them hinges on personal sound preferences and comfort, with the Duo excelling in detailed soundstage and the Twilight in warm, engaging midrange.

vs Effect Audio x Elysian Acoustic Labs Gaea

Exploring the Effect Audio x Elysian Acoustic Labs IEMs and the Softears Twilight reveals a stark contrast in their sound profiles and design intentions. The Effect Audio x Elysian Acoustic Labs collaboration stands out for its dynamic and highly detailed sound, offering an analytical listening experience that meticulously dissects each musical layer. This results in an immersive soundstage where each instrument is distinctly and precisely placed, providing a detailed and exhilarating auditory journey.

In contrast, the Softears Twilight, which uses a single dynamic driver, produces a warmer, more cohesive sound signature. Its strength lies in the midrange, where it brings vocals and instruments to life with a rich, emotional depth, offering an engaging musical experience. While it may not match the expansive soundstage of the Effect Audio x Elysian Acoustic Labs Gaea, Twilight compensates with a more intimate and personal listening experience. Both IEMs boast exceptional build quality and design, but they cater to different auditory preferences: the Effect Audio x Elysian Gaea is ideal for analytical listening, while the Softears Twilight suits those seeking a warmer, more emotionally resonant sound.

vs Meze Audio Advar

The dark tonality in ‘Twilight’ comes with strong and clear mid-bass, to the extent that it even reflects the tension of bass guitar strings. It has very high resolution, crystal-like clear treble strikes (Advar is slightly better here), and average 3D imaging. The only issue, which gets better with time, is the angle of attachment. It’s easy to drive. In ‘Advar,’ the bass is more controlled and doesn’t drown in my reference track (Marilyn Manzur – Farewelling). The commonly accepted low-frequency deficiency in it is resolved with the L gain setting on the iBasso DX320. Additionally, I hear that it surpasses ‘Twilight’ in critical listening and brass instruments. However, it is never ‘Twilight’ in terms of 3D imaging. Not sharing the same pitch black background. Comparing them with a single track, I find both good, but ‘Advar’ is a quarter notch better.”

Softears Twilight Review Conclusions

The Softears Twilight is undoubtedly stellar in its performance. It excels with its warm, engaging sound profile that enhances the listening experience, particularly in the midrange frequencies. The moderate bass boost extending into the upper bass and lower midrange regions adds depth and richness to the audio without compromising on clarity and coherency. Its lightweight and premium build quality, coupled with excellent tonality and control, makes the Twilight an outstanding choice for those who value a warm, engaging listening experience with a focus on midrange clarity. It stands as a testament to the prowess of single-dynamic driver technology in delivering high-quality audio.