Softears Volume S VS Ziigaat Odyssey

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Softears Volume S follows the 2022 Volume and steps into a fiercely competitive ~$320 bracket with a seriously premium kit: a gorgeous leather case, modular screw-on terminations, both standard and Ultra Clear eartips, IM booties, and tiny screwdrivers for the on-board potentiometer. The stealthy black resin shells with exposed carbon-fiber faceplates feel solid and fit well thanks to slim nozzles; just note there’s no nozzle mesh. The big caveat is the cloth-sheathed stock cable—ergonomically nice but with heavy microphonics. Two tunings are selectable: low-impedance (≈10Ω) and high-impedance (≈31Ω). The low-impedance mode is the keeper; it’s easy to drive yet sensitive to source output impedance, so a dongle under 1Ω is recommended to avoid unintentionally shifting the tonality.

In low-impedance mode the signature is neutral-natural, a flatter, more mid-centric take on “new-meta.” Bass offers quality over quantity: textured, punchy, and responsive without tipping into basshead territory. The mids are the star—clean, warm-tinged lower mids give male vocals body while female vocals sit forward without shout, keeping timbre natural. Treble is smooth, airy, and non-fatiguing, avoiding metallic glare while preserving sparkle. Technical performance is confidently above average for the price: imaging & stage feel wide and well-layered, with good separation and resolution that rewards attentive listening without forcing it.

Positionally, think “Kato upgrade”: smoother treble, better bass texture, and a refinement that many will prefer. Versus spicier rivals like DaVinci, Project Meta, Dusk DSP, or Mega 5 EST, the Volume S sounds more controlled and “correct,” trading some slam and upper-air fireworks for coherence and timbre. It won’t thrill bass lovers, treble heads, or detail chasers seeking a spotlighted presentation; everyone else gets a superb all-rounder that feels benchmark-worthy—the HD600/650 vibe for IEMs. Verdict: you should buy this if a do-it-all, neutral-natural tuning is the goal; just mind your source impedance and consider swapping the cable to kill the microphonics.

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Ziigaat Odyssey comes in at $230 with a four-driver hybrid (1DD + 3 BAs) that’s very easy to drive. Build is the usual Ziigaat: full 3D-printed resin shells with metal nozzles and filters; sturdy and comfortable for average-to-larger ears, while tiny ears get a technical pass. The weak spot is the accessories: a basic cable (3.5mm or 4.4 option), one set of soft silicone tips plus foams, and a leatherette case that feels flimsy—underwhelming at this price. Aesthetics score well with a sparkly faceplate that the “Council of Ladies” mostly favors, even if it doesn’t always trigger compliments.

Sonically, Odyssey aims for warm-neutral with a tasteful bass boost. Sub-bass texture can run a touch soft, but mid-bass punch is addicting, giving kick drums and bass guitars real drive without boom. Lower mids are warm and slightly veiled in a pleasant, retro-leaning way; female vocals sit a bit back yet remain clean. Treble is safe but present—enough sparkle and clarity to balance the bass without sting, though true treble-heads may want more air. Technicals are solid for the bracket: good resolution, excellent separation, precise imaging, and an average-sized but convincing stage. With a 15–30Ω adapter, the FR tilts more V-shaped (more bass/upper-mids/treble), a fun twist for occasional variety.

Against peers, Odyssey is the relaxed, safer listen: warmer and less contrasty than EPZ P50 (brighter, more vocal-forward) and Kiwi Ears K4 (more V-shaped excitement), and a middle ground between AFUL Explorer (darker, bassier) and AFUL Performer 5+2 (airier, more resolving with stronger female vocals). Not the pick for bass-heads, treble-heads, or libraries packed with K-/J-pop divas, but a killer one-and-done all-rounder for mixed libraries that value warmth, balance, and zero fatigue. Despite the skimpy pack-ins, the tuning and performance earn a spot in “this is brilliant.”

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Single-DD + 3BA hybrid with a clean, confident look: thick shell, metal nozzle that grips tips well, visible rear vent, and the preferable flat 2-pin connector. The standard Ziigaat case feels premium if a bit unexciting. Sonically, Odyssey lands a balanced, tastefully energetic tuning—ample bass for most listeners, elevated upper mids for presence, and a smooth, clean upper-treble. Out of the box it sounds immediately right and counts among the better-tuned sub-$300 IEMs. The catch: macro/micro detail and imaging are good, not mind-blowing, keeping overall technical performance at “appropriate for the price.”

Within Ziigaat’s lineup, Arcadia skews darker with less treble reach, Xeno/Ceno feels a bit treble-shy, and Dinko is the more V-shaped, poppier pick with extra sub-bass. Explorer overlaps in tonality but Odyssey adds more upper-mids energy and refinement—albeit at a higher price. Among peers, AFUL’s P7 brings the stronger technicals and a slightly more neutral sheen, K4 trades blows, and “Quattro” may edge tuning purity. As an all-rounder, though, Odyssey hits a sweet spot: rich mids, fun but controlled bass, convincing note weight, and a natural stage, even if the far-upper air can temper ultimate sparkle.

Verdict: a fantastic mid-tier set with high price-to-performance, gorgeous faceplates, and a crowd-pleasing tonality; accessories are a bit underwhelming, and the top-end “air” won’t wow technicality chasers. Scored around 8.8/10 and easily recommended as a safe, musical choice—especially when discounts bring the sticker down.

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The Softears Volume S delivers a fantastic hybrid sound in its low impedance mode, characterized as a warm neutral tuning with a lush note weight, good bass punch without bloat, and a slight upper-midrange emphasis that makes vocals pop. This signature translates exceptionally well across both music listening and competitive gaming, offering great separation, layering, and phenomenal imaging for precise positional awareness. While engaging and non-fatiguing, gunfire and intense effects in games like Apex Legends can sometimes feel on the verge of shouty or slightly occlusive during chaotic, high-level scenarios, lacking that last bit of air and resolution in the upper mids.

Gaming performance shines across multiple titles. The Volume S provides outstanding depth perception and accurate imaging for Apex Legends slides and light footsteps, excels in Valorant with its separation and verticality, handles the chaos of Call of Duty exceptionally well, and proves to be a top recommendation for Fragpunk due to its loud, precise, and easily trackable footsteps. The smaller resin chassis offers great comfort and ergonomics, especially for those struggling with fit, though it doesn't feel quite as premium as some metal competitors in its price range.

Significant drawbacks include the utterly dismissed high impedance mode tuning, deemed "absolute garbage" and a headache for gaming, and the fragile tuning mechanism itself, prone to easy damage. The included shoelace-style cable is functional with a removable termination but not a favorite, and the unboxing experience, while decent with a pleather case, extra termination, and two sets of silicone tips, is fairly typical for the price. Ultimately, the Softears Volume S stands as a killer all-around IEM when locked into its excellent low impedance mode, highly recommended for its crossover appeal despite the useless tuning switch and build quibbles.

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Ziigaat’s 2024 lineup lands three distinct flavors: the R (1DD+4BA), Arcadia (1DD+2BA), and Odyssey (1DD+3BA)—all sharing the same case, tips, and cable, but with very different tunings and striking faceplates. Pricing lives in the approachable range (roughly $200–$250), and the shells are well-built 3D-printed resin. The Odyssey’s nozzle appears slightly wider than the R’s, and its cloudy pink/silver faceplate looks clean and premium without the flashiness of Arcadia’s green/yellow sparkle.

For competitive play, title-by-title differences matter. In Valorant, Arcadia’s extra warmth and bass impact feel immersive but a touch boomy/bloomy under heavy ability spam—solid, around a B. The R and Odyssey perform on par with high marks; the R’s 1–3 kHz lift sharpens clarity and verticality, while Odyssey is more neutral and less bright. In Apex Legends, Arcadia struggles as bass bloom masks micro-cues (B–/C+). Odyssey delivers great separation/layering with slightly softer overhead cues (B+/B), and handles gunfire more comfortably than the R. In CS2, Odyssey takes the lead for its imaging, depth perception, and non-fatiguing balance; in Warzone, the order shifts to R > Arcadia > Odyssey, with Arcadia’s warmth helping vertical reads and impact.

As a music set, the Odyssey is a standout: potent, tight bass with clean transients, balanced mids that aren’t smothered, and a clean, non-sibilant treble that avoids fatigue while letting micro-detail through. It lands as a favorite in its price bracket—an easy recommendation for listeners who want a neutral-leaning all-rounder that still punches hard, splits cues well, and won’t scorch ears with gunfire or treble glare.

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The Softears Volume S emerges as a standout vocal specialist under $500, often described as a "mini studio 4“ due to similar frequency graphs. However, it trades some treble detail for superior scaling and a heightened focus on the mid-range, particularly vocals, while adding a touch more mid-bass oomph. This treble reduction allows the music to breathe, creating a more immersive and musical experience that pulls the listener deeper into the sound compared to the Studio 4, without sacrificing a sense of space or leaving the bass and treble feeling inadequate. Though not bass-heavy or treble-head oriented, the low-end provides enough thump and the highs enough air to avoid sounding lean or dark, resulting in a presentation that's slightly less technical and balanced than the Studio 4 but excels in vocal delivery and engagement.

A key feature is the tuning switch which boosts upper mids and treble while lowering the bass, effectively transforming the sound into a cleaner, more technical version of Harman 2019, even surpassing the Studio 4 in detail retrieval in this mode. However, this boosted configuration can sound shouty, lean, and overly clinical for many preferences, lacking the thickness of the stock tuning and scaling less effectively at higher volumes. The stock tuning, preferred for its vocal prowess, truly comes alive with increased volume. The included clear tips are recommended for a slight treble lift and comfort, and the bundled USBC adapter adds a subtle amount of sub-bass rumble, though the low-end remains clean and controlled, reminiscent of leaner sets like the Pilgrim, not providing heavy slam.

While the Studio 4 remains a solid, well-balanced all-rounder, especially on sale around $350, and alternatives like the EM10 (more detailed), Supermix 4 (better value), the Volume S carves its niche with exceptional vocal performance at higher volumes using the stock tuning. Its main drawbacks involve the confusing switch design (requiring opposite positions on each earpiece for the same tuning with no clear indicators) and the pricing debate; using non-branded drivers suggests a more appropriate price point would be $200-$250 rather than $300. Despite these quirks and marketing claims about the passive radiator's role (its actual impact being debatable), the Volume S delivers a great sounding, flexible IEM offering distinct sonic profiles based on volume level and switch position.

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Ziigaat Odyssey lands as a mid-range focused set with a slight treble lift that really scales with volume. At relaxed levels it’s clean, calm, and easygoing; turn it up and the presentation becomes wide, airy, and immersive with a surprisingly punchy, rumbly low end for its graph. The new topology DD hits a sweet balance—neither sluggish nor hyper-snappy—delivering well-balanced bass that serves the tuning, even if ultimate slam/texture trails sets like Hype 4 or Xenns Tea Pros. Tip rolling toward slightly brighter tips adds a touch of treble energy and liveliness without pushing fatigue.

The star here is the midrange: instruments layer neatly with comfortable separation, and vocals sit clean and natural—not shouty, not veiled—though they can feel a bit too relaxed at mid volume. Treble is smooth yet detailed, revealing cymbal micro-info and air without harshness, and it’s noticeably cleaner than Explorer while avoiding metallic timbre. Technicals are solid for the price—a step up from Explorer and just behind “contet” in raw resolving power—yet more natural in timbre and notably more musical when driven louder. The tuning flatters slow rock, acoustic, indie, alternative, and ballads, where the Odyssey’s “turn-it-up” character shines.

For alternatives: those wanting warmer, bassier impact for hip-hop, rock, or metal may prefer Kiwi Ears K4, HBB Arcadia, or the Deuce for true bass-head needs. For mid-volume all-rounders with more instant engagement and technical pop, consider Supermix 4, Nova, Quintet, or Chopin; for airier, brighter takes with sweeter female vocals, look at Cadenza 4 or CKLVX. As a package, Odyssey feels like a future classic—gorgeous plating, a cable that could use an upgrade, and a uniquely immersive, high-volume experience that invites shutting out the world and sinking into the music.

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The Softears Volume S delivers a distinctly colored sound signature with significant boosts in two key areas: the bass and the upper mid-range. Its bass profile is uniquely elevated up to around 300Hz, resulting in a physical, heavy, yet well-defined low end that impresses with substantial note weight and attack, appealing even to bass enthusiasts. Vocals cut through clearly due to the upper mid-range boost, but this tuning comes with a trade-off: a noticeable sense of hollowness and a narrower soundstage that can feel congested on certain tracks, creating a love-hate relationship with its presentation.

The treble offers a safe, natural, and polite character, providing adequate detail without excessive brightness or roll-off, though it may lack sparkle for some listeners. Technically, the Volume S performs at a level comparable to the Moondrop Blessing 3, excelling particularly in the incisive attack and substantial weight behind each note. When compared to competitors, the Volume S edges out the Tea Pro in bass quality, separation, and natural timbre, though the Tea Pro offers a wider stage. Against the Blessing 3, the Volume S trades openness and cleanliness for a more fun, bass-forward and impactful experience. It also presents a more balanced signature than the brighter, more treble-focused Kiwi Ears Astral.

Ultimately earning an A-minus rating, the Volume S is highly recommended for those seeking exceptional bass quality and a fun, colored tuning. However, it might not suit listeners prioritizing a wide soundstage, a neutral signature, or a bright, sparkly treble with forward micro-details; these listeners are advised to audition first.

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Ziigaat Odyssey takes the new Meta tuning and gives it a more V-shaped, exciting twist. It keeps the beautiful mid-range intact while adding extra energy to both bass and treble, landing closer in spirit to Moondrop x Crinacle Dust (DSP) and Kiwi Ears K4—but with more swagger. It’s not as strictly on-target as those sets, yet the result is more engaging and solves the “too safe, sometimes boring” side effect of many Meta-tuned IEMs.

Beyond tuning, Odyssey brings real upgrades in technical performance for the price. Bass dynamics are punchier and more well-defined than K4, and treble nuances come through with greater clarity while preserving that natural vocal center. At $229, it undercuts many competitors and still feels like a step up—an easy pick for listeners who want Meta’s mid clarity with extra excitement and better slam without sacrificing coherence or comfort.

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The Softears Volume S at $320 sets a new tonal benchmark for IEMs in its price range. It arrives in solid packaging featuring a zippered carry case (a bit large but functional), protective earpiece pockets that might feel overkill for some, and two excellent sets of ear tips – including Softears' own highly-regarded Ultra Clear tips. Build quality is generally fantastic, highlighted by a resin shell, a comfortable paracord-style cable with a low-profile, user-swappable termination system, and recessed 2-pin connectors. While the aesthetics might feel a bit old-school to some, the fit is comfortable and stable due to its semi-custom shape and longer nozzle, making it secure enough for sleeping. A small screwdriver-adjustable tuning switch offers a secondary, brighter Harmon-like sound signature, though the default tuning is preferred.

The default sound signature is a warm-tilted neutral, delivering exceptional natural timbre and tasteful bass boost. This bass stands out for its exceptional physicality – punchy and impactful without being overbearing – alongside articulate sub-bass that’s easy to follow. Combined with well-defined transients, particularly in the upper-midrange, it creates a satisfyingly rich and dense presentation. While spatial effects and imaging are competent but not standout, the overall tonality and bass quality are remarkably refined. Comparisons show it offers a better tonal balance and bass control than the bassier Dunu DaVinci, significantly more body and richness than the brighter, thinner Moondrop Blessing 3, and trades blows with the Moondrop Dusk – the Volume S providing superior density and mid-bass presence versus the Dusk's more open, spacious presentation.

Ultimately, the Softears Volume S earns a full five-star rating. It might not be the absolute most technically dazzling IEM, but its fantastic tonal balance, unique bass physicality, and overall refinement make it a compelling choice. For $320, it delivers a sound signature that feels just right – rich, satisfying, and universally appealing – challenging more expensive offerings and establishing itself as a top contender in its class.

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The Softears Volume S offers a dramatic transformation through its impedance switch, requiring a tiny screwdriver to toggle between low (9.8 ohm) and high (31.2 ohm) modes. The low impedance mode is described as painfully clinical, bland, and annoyingly sterile across all tested amplifiers. It’s reminiscent of the disliked original Volume model, lacking any enjoyable tuning despite EQ attempts. This mode only suits listeners craving absolute neutrality, offering little musical engagement.

Switching to the high impedance mode completely revolutionizes the experience. It becomes relaxed, unoffensive, and remarkably smooth, with notes possessing a lingering, church-like resonance that adds emotional depth. This mode presents music with a spacious, uplifting quality and a subtle chest-felt pressure during resonant passages. However, it demands quality amplification to shine and benefits from tip-rolling; the included sticky liquid silicone tips enhance the signature, though alternatives like Azla SednaEarfit can tweak the response. Comfort and build are excellent, though the fabric cable exhibits some microphonics.

Priced around $300, the Volume S earns a cautious recommendation primarily for its stellar high-impedance performance. It requires tinkering with tips and sources to reach its potential and faces stiff competition in its price bracket. While not an outright class leader, it’s a significant upgrade over the original Volume. The package includes a luxurious case, multiple tips, and a branded USB-C adapter, reflecting Softears' typical attention to detail. Just keep it locked in high-impedance mode.