Intuaura Purple VS QoA Martini

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Intuaura Purple brings a polished, pricey package: lush purple shells, a comfy fit, and a cable that looks the part—even if the accessories feel recycled from cheaper siblings. The kicker is the optional DSP dongle (~$65) that re-voices the set; without it, the Purple already sounds clean, punchy, and engaging, with strong clarity and respectable stage. Snap the DSP on and the tuning shifts toward flatter, smoother treble and tidier FR, but soundstage shrinks a notch and the presentation loses some air. It’s a dramatic EQ-by-hardware move—effective, yes, but it turns one IEM into two different takes, which raises the question: which tuning is “the” Purple?

As a pure IEM at $650, Purple holds up: comfortable, easy to enjoy across sources, and free of obvious sibilance when left stock. Compared to lower-priced models that seem to need their DSP to shine, this one doesn’t; the dongle just complicates the decision with a second signature riding shotgun. Verdict: a confident 8/10 for the IEM itself—good build, enjoyable tonality, solid technicals—tempered by the mental tax of the bolt-on DSP path. Buy for the purple “puppy”; don’t let the extra “Honda Civic” in the box talk you into second-guessing what already works.

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QoA Martini fits right into the cocktail-themed lineup as a 1DD + 4BA hybrid at $599, presented in packaging that feels like unboxing a classic wine bottle and a pair of shells that shimmer like a deep blue, purple and pink galaxy. The included 4.4mm OCC copper cable, AZLA Crystal tips set and neat carrying case underline a sense of refinement and attention to detail, while the multiple vent holes and ergonomic shell aim for a comfortable, stable fit. Overall, the visual and tactile experience already suggests a premium and slightly playful character before any music starts.

On the sonic side, the Martini focuses on a strong yet controlled sub-bass shelf of around 8 dB that dives deep below the jawline, delivering thick, full-bodied impact that stays clean and never turns boomy thanks to a quick decay and restrained mid-bass. The midrange comes across crisp, clear and slightly airy-loose, with vocals that are light and bright yet still intimate, revealing breathing and grain textures without smearing or sounding messy. Instruments in the upper mids are layered bright and crisp with just enough mid-bass body to avoid thinness, so the balance between vocals and instruments feels natural and complementary rather than pushed forward or recessed.

In the treble, the large 3 kHz peak followed by dips and rises through the lower and mid-treble create a bright, cool and airy top end with rich detail, extended yet delicate upper treble and no harshness or sibilance, giving the sense of hearing glasses clink in a spacious room. Soundstage projects with a more distant, mastering-style spread rather than simply a bigger room, and compared to a similarly priced hybrid like the Emerald, Martini trades some warmth and density for greater openness, detail retrieval and sense of space. Altogether it captures the martini vibe of strong but controlled bass, spacious mids and crisp, refreshing treble, earning a solid 8.5/10 with even more potential hinted at by a future cable upgrade.