ThieAudio Legacy 9 VS Softears Studio 4

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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ThieAudio Legacy 9 and Softears Studio 4 use 1DD+8BA and 4BA driver setups respectively. ThieAudio Legacy 9 costs $550 while Softears Studio 4 costs $450. ThieAudio Legacy 9 is $100 more expensive. Softears Studio 4 holds a decisive 2.1-point edge in reviewer scores (5.3 vs 7.4). Softears Studio 4 has better bass with a 0.5-point edge, Softears Studio 4 has significantly better mids with a 2.3-point edge, Softears Studio 4 has significantly better treble with a 1-point edge and Softears Studio 4 has significantly better imaging with a 1-point edge.

Insights

Metric ThieAudio Legacy 9 Softears Studio 4
Bass 6 6.5
Mids 5 7.3
Treble 6 7
Details 5 5
Soundstage 5.3 8
Imaging 4 5
Dynamics 5 5
Tonality 5.6 7.5
Technicalities 5.4 7.1

ThieAudio Legacy 9 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Crin Precogvision

Average Reviewer Score:

5.3

Mixed to Negative


Softears Studio 4 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Precogvision
Jays Audio
Super* Review Tim Tuned Jaytiss Gizaudio Axel

Average Reviewer Score:

7.4

Generally Favorable


ThieAudio Legacy 9 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Softears Studio 4 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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ThieAudio Legacy 9 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

4.9

Gaming Grade

C

Softears Studio 4 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7

Gaming Grade

A-

ThieAudio Legacy 9 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B-
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

C+
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass B
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids C+
Decent midrange performance - balanced but unremarkable. Adequate clarity for most genres without notable flaws.
Treble B
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics C+
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Details C+
Decent detail retrieval. Handles most textures adequately though micro-details and ambient cues could be more pronounced.
Imaging C-
Average imaging - reasonable localization but lacks specificity. Instruments have general positions but lack pinpoint accuracy.
Gaming C
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Softears Studio 4 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass B+
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble A-
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics C+
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
Details C+
Decent detail retrieval. Handles most textures adequately though micro-details and ambient cues could be more pronounced.
Imaging C+
Decent positional accuracy. Good left/right placement with acceptable center image, though depth positioning is approximate.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

ThieAudio Legacy 9 Reviews

Crin 5.5 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
B Tech
Bass a little too slow and sluggish with minor quirks in the midrange-treble transition.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel
- Crin
Precogvision 5.1 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
C Tech
Solid bass and sparkly, well-extended treble. Could use more work in the detail and imaging department.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
- Precogvision
Bass: B Mids: C+ Treble: B Dynamics: C+ Details: C+ Imaging: C-

Softears Studio 4 Reviews

Super* Review 8* * score normalized
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Price: $449

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Tim Tuned 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Just great all around, balance with amazingly clean midrange

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A+ Mids: S Treble: S
Jaytiss 8 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Something magical about this set, but it's not the Bass.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A+ Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+
Gizaudio Axel 8 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A Tech
A benchmark for tonality and timbre. Neutral, accurate sound with great bass, tonal accuracy, forward vocals, and natural timbre. Excellent isolation. Unvented design and BA bass may not suit everyone.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A+ Tech
Best all rounder under $500. "Correct" and neutral tuning. Perfect vocals, not as forward like RSV but zero faults. Slight Improvement over RSV in-terms of seapration and stage size/treble is same/not as warm.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Precogvision 5 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
C+ Tech
Sounds plasticky and smoothed; inoffensive to the point of being offensive.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
- Precogvision
Bass: C+ Mids: C+ Treble: C+ Dynamics: C+ Details: C+ Imaging: C+

ThieAudio Legacy 9 User Reviews

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Softears Studio 4 User Reviews

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