Thieaudio Origin VS Softears RSV MK II

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

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Thieaudio Origin and Softears RSV MK II use 1DD+4BA+2EST+1BC and 5BA driver setups respectively. Thieaudio Origin costs $849 while Softears RSV MK II costs $700. Thieaudio Origin is $149 more expensive. Softears RSV MK II holds a clear 0.5-point edge in reviewer scores (7.8 vs 8.4). Thieaudio Origin has better bass with a 0.9-point edge, Softears RSV MK II has slightly better mids with a 0.3-point edge, Softears RSV MK II has significantly better treble with a 1.4-point edge and Thieaudio Origin has better dynamics with a 0.8-point edge.

Insights

Metric Thieaudio Origin Softears RSV MK II
Bass 9 8.1
Mids 8 8.3
Treble 6.5 7.9
Details 7.8 7.9
Soundstage 8 8.2
Imaging 7.8 8
Dynamics 9 8.3
Tonality 8.1 8.6
Technicalities 7 8

Thieaudio Origin Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Super* Review
Fresh Reviews Tim Tuned
Z-Reviews Jays Audio Jaytiss IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

7.8

Strongly Favorable


Softears RSV MK II Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Super* Review Jays Audio IEMRanking AI
Jaytiss

Average Reviewer Score:

8.4

Very Positive


Thieaudio Origin User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Softears RSV MK II User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Thieaudio Origin 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-

Softears RSV MK II Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7.7

Gaming Grade

A

Thieaudio Origin Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass S
World-class bass performance. Perfectly balanced between visceral impact, texture, and depth with zero bleed into mids.
Mids A+
Superb midrange that's rich and resolving. Exceptional transparency and micro-details with perfect vocal/instrument balance.
Treble B+
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics S
Reference-class dynamics: perfect micro/macro contrast with lightning transients. Utterly realistic reproduction of musical energy.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Softears RSV MK II Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

S-
  • Highly polished technical execution. Excellent frequency synergy creates an immersive experience. Enhances musical content.

Average Technical Grade

A+
  • Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
Bass A+
Excellent bass response - powerful yet controlled. Deep extension with authoritative slam while maintaining clarity.
Mids A+
Superb midrange that's rich and resolving. Exceptional transparency and micro-details with perfect vocal/instrument balance.
Treble A
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics A+
Superb dynamic range - powerful yet nuanced. Exceptional transient response with lifelike impact and subtle volume gradations.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
Details A
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging A+
Exceptional imaging with holographic precision. Creates a palpable sense of physical placement with perfect positional stability.
Gaming A
Clear spatial presentation handles directional cues effectively. Distinguishes key gameplay sounds while maintaining decent immersion. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Thieaudio Origin Reviews

Z-Reviews 8.5 * score normalized
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Price: $849

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Jays Audio 8.5 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A+ Tech
Best bassy set under $1K. Bassy/thicker meta tuning. You can actually feel the reverb and vibration from the bone conduction drivers, great control and low-end texture. Mids and treble are also well extended with no major issues, although it can get sharp at times with the snares/electronic stuff ie, past 3:30 on Time by Hikaru Utada.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Jaytiss 8.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
C+ Tech
Great set, has a lot of positives and is amazing on bass tracks.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A+ Treble: C+ Dynamics: S Soundstage: A+
Fresh Reviews 7* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
Tim Tuned 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Mega bass additiveness Bass too much

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: S Mids: A+ Treble: A+
Super* Review 6* * score normalized
Interesting sound. It becomes it's own thing. Fit is not great.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
IEMRanking AI 8.5 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A+ Tech

The Thieaudio Origin delivers a bass-forward signature with a substantial 12dB sub-bass boost that provides visceral rumble and slam, particularly effective for electronic or hip-hop genres. Despite this emphasis, the neutral midrange avoids bloat, preserving vocal clarity and instrument separation, while the electrostatic drivers contribute a smooth, airy treble free from harshness or sibilance. Its technical performance is strong, offering a wide, holographic stage and precise imaging, though micro-detail retrieval falls slightly short of some competitors in its price tier.

Comfort is divisive due to the large shells, which may cause fatigue or fit issues for those with smaller ears, necessitating careful tip selection for optimal seal. The package includes a high-quality modular cable with swappable terminations (3.5mm/4.4mm) and a distinctive round Alcantara case, though the included ear tips may not suit all users.

Buy Thieaudio Origin on Linsoul (affiliate)

- IEMRanking AI

Softears RSV MK II Reviews

Jaytiss

2025-09-03
Jaytiss 9.4 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
So Softears didn't forget how to tune. Tactful Basshead

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A+ Treble: A+ Dynamics: S Soundstage: S-
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Price: $699

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Super* Review

2025-09-09
Super* Review 8* * score normalized
A 5-BA successor that lands at $700, claims “re-engineered” BA bass, and feels like a welcome throwback to when high-end Chi-Fi wasn’t four figures. Build and fit are excellent with a rock-solid seal; the thick cable behaves well but annoyingly ships 4.4-only with a 3.5 mm pigtail. Tonally it’s essentially neutral up top with a big low-end shelf—treble is clean and non-fatiguing, imaging competent, and the bass is unusually physical for all-BA, though it can be inconsistent (and a bit tubby on bass-heavy mixes) versus a good DD. Net: a supremely competent, do-everything all-rounder that trades “wow” factor for balance—I prefer it over Dunu SA6 Mk II, see Symphonym Meteor and Moondrop S8 as taste-based alternatives, and I land at a solid 4/5.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review

Softears RSV MK II brings back the all-BA ethos at $700 with five armatures and a promise of “re-engineered BA bass.” Build and accessories feel premium (sleek shells, plush case), while the cable choice is quirky—4.4 mm only with a 3.5 mm pigtail. Fit is outstandingly secure and custom-like but on the larger side with a longer nozzle, so comfort depends on ear size. Softears’ Ultra Clear tips work well; the new metal-ring variant adds little beyond novelty.

On the graph, bass looks like gigabass, yet in ear it settles into a warm, weighty foundation without steamrolling the mids. The midrange follows a “new-meta neutral” tilt—fuller than Harman with forward upper-mids—while treble lands clean and sparkly without fatigue. Imaging is tidy rather than cavernous; separation and delineation are convincing, with the top end executed better than the bottom. BA bass here is among the more physical and satisfying of its kind, though tactility can be track-dependent and turn a bit tubby on very bass-heavy mixes.

Against peers, Symphonium Meteor sounds warmer and more “special” but less all-round; DUNU SA6 MK2 is more colored with janglier treble and the least convincing bass; 7th Acoustics Supernova trades warmth for vivid, bright-tilted imaging; Softears Studio 4 is lighter on bass and airier; and the old Moondrop S8 stays the lively, vocal-centric counterpoint. Net take: a supremely competent, character-light all-rounder that favors bass weight over panoramic staging. Verdict: 4/5 stars—a welcome throwback done right, and notably cheaper than the original RSV launch price.

Jays Audio

2025-08-28
Jays Audio 8 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A+ Tech
Bassy dynamic all-rounder with great low-end texture that slams hard with good note-weight/body. Slight Hype 4 upgrade. Treble is smooth, and vocals are well-tuned. Overall unboxing/accesories are great... just no ESTs at its price, I'd wait for sale.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio

Softears RSV MK2 shifts from the OG’s vocal-centric tilt into a bass-forward all-rounder. The sub-bass and mid-bass hit with real slam and weight, giving drums and bass guitars a satisfying, dynamic punch. Upper mids (3–6 kHz) are tamed to avoid shout, while a gentle 1–2 kHz rise keeps vocals open and natural—slightly less pushed than the original but still clear. Treble is smooth with decent air; not super sparkly and there’s no EST “sauce,” but it stays clean and non-fatiguing.

As a package, MK2’s standout is the low-end texture—thunderous yet controlled—making it one of the more engaging bassy sets under four figures. Technical performance is solid for the tier, though some rivals at lower prices bring more raw detail and EST extension. Build and accessories get a tasteful, modern refresh. For best balance, the stock tips work well; bass-boosting or treble-opening tips can shift it toward a more V-shape at the expense of overall smoothness.

On genre fit, MK2 shines with hip-hop, pop, EDM, and R&B, where its punch and warmth bring rhythms to life; for orchestral or leaner acoustic picks, the bass can edge forward depending on the mix. It scales to mid–high volumes nicely (around the 70–80 dB zone) without turning sharp. Compared with the OG RSV—now likely affected by a silent retune in recent units—the MK2 is the safer buy: less shout, more authority down low, and a broader all-rounder appeal. Recommended, especially if found below full MSRP, for listeners craving tasteful bass with natural mids and relaxed, smooth treble.

IEMRanking AI

2025-08-28
IEMRanking AI 8 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A Tech

The Softears RSV MK II refines the original RSV with an all-5BA design and a 4-way crossover, targeting a stable “reference sound” while improving driver control and airflow management. It’s easy to drive at 122 dB/Vrms, 7 Ω, and the build mixes medical-grade resin with CNC-milled aluminum and forged carbon for a robust, low-resonance shell; MSRP is $699.

On paper, the tuning remains neutral with a bass lift: dual Knowles CI22955 woofers aim to give BA-bass more texture and weight, an improved ED driver anchors clean mids, and a SWFK unit handles upper treble for a smoother, less fatiguing top end. Softears’ LRC network and dual pressure-relief approach target consistent FR and reduced ear pressure, which should aid long listening sessions and imaging stability.

Subjectively, this positions the RSV MK II as a coherent, midrange-centric set with tight, controlled low-end rather than maximal slam, and a smooth treble that trades sparkle for fatigue-free listening. Soundstage is moderately wide with tidy imaging; technicalities are competitive for the class but won’t chase ultra-etched detail specialists. Given the tuning goals and efficient drive requirements, value will appeal most to listeners prioritizing tonal accuracy and midrange timbre over sheer sub-bass impact or treble air.

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- IEMRanking AI
Bass: A+ Mids: S- Treble: A Dynamics: A Soundstage: A Details: A Imaging: A+
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Price: $699

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Thieaudio Origin User Reviews

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Softears RSV MK II User Reviews

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