I Got the Softears Volume S from Softears, and to be honest, I didn’t expect it would impress me this much. These days many IEMs try to be “technical monsters” or “detail kings,” but very few try to touch your heart or give that musical satisfaction. But the Volume S does something different… something special. It brings a feeling, a charm, a warm touch that is becoming rare in modern tunings.
When I first put it in my ears, I literally paused for a second like “wow, this sound has soul.”
Disclaimer
I got the Softears Volume S sent over by Softears for review, just to be clear. Everything I’m saying here is just my own thoughts, nobody told me what to say or anything like that. They didn’t pay me either, just sent the unit, that’s all.
Quick note tho: I’m the type who’s all about that warm, analog kinda sound. You know, where the music feels thick and cozy, bass and mids got a little extra oomph to ’em. I love when stuff sounds full and kinda soft around the edges, like vinyl. Natural, chilled out, not all sharp and clinical. That’s the kinda sound that really pulls me in, makes me just sit back and lose track of time. So yeah, just keep that in mind, that’s the sorta thing I’m basing this review on.
If you’re thinking about grabbing one, you can check it out at Softears.
Gears Used
- Dac Dongle: ddHifi tc44c, tc44pro e2, Fosi audio Ds1,
- Phone: LG V60, LG V50
- Desktop Dac & Amp: Fiio K13, Earman ST-Amp, Fosi K7
- DAP: Hiby RS2, Echo Mini Snowsky, Hiby R5 Saber, F.Audio FA5
Build & Design : Beautiful, Solid, and Comfortable
The design is simply beautiful. The forged carbon faceplate looks premium and artistic, giving the IEM a modern luxury vibe. The shell is lightweight but feels solid, and the fit… man, the fit is great. It just locks inside the ear with no awkward pressure points.
I have used it for long gaming sessions and long listening nights, and I didn’t feel any fatigue on the ears at all.
Only downside maybe is the stock cable looks nice, soft, but a bit microphonic. When it touches clothes, you can hear some small noise sometimes. Not a big problem, but worth mentioning anyway.
Overall Sound Signature : Musical & Natural
The Volume S leans towards the musical, warm-natural, and emotional side. It doesn’t try to attack you with extreme sharpness or unnatural brightness. Instead, it gives body, depth, and realism that you kind of miss in many IEM now.
When I listen to it, I feel like the sound is not inside my head… it’s around me, flowing naturally like small river.
Bass : Thick, Punchy, and Mature
The bass is one of the highlights for me.
It has thickness, punch, and texture, but never becomes boomy or messy. It hits with authority but stays controlled, which i really appreciate.
The mid-bass has this warm body that makes drums feel real and satisfying. Sub-bass also rumbles nicely when the track needs it, but Softears didn’t overdo it. It’s musical bass, not basshead bass, and thats the main point.
Even in heavy tracks or EDM, it keeps its composure like a gentleman.
Vocals : The Real Star of the Show
Honestly, this IEM is for vocal lovers.
Male Vocals
Male vocals on Volume S are deep, muscular, and rich.
There’s a chestiness, a maturity, like the singer is standing close and singing with emotion.
This is the kind of male vocal performance you hardly find nowadays. It’s thick but not muddy, powerful but still smooth enough to enjoy for long time.
Female Vocals
Female vocals here have that energetic and airy touch, but they never shout or pierce your ears.
They rise beautifully, glide smoothly, and carry a gentle sparkle on top.
The balance between warmth and air is honestly perfect for my taste.
There’s a charm in the vocals… a sweetness… like the IEM adds a little bit magic to the voice.
Treble: Sparkle Without Pain
Treble has a very nice sparkle. Not dull, not too sharp just the correct amount to make the music lively.
Cymbals sound crisp, details come out easily, and there is enough air in the upper frequencies to open the stage.
But most importantly: it is not fatiguing at all.
You can listen for hours without any kind of stress.
Soundstage: One of the Best at This Price
The soundstage blew me away honestly. For this price, I didn’t expect such width and depth.
It feels big, open, and holographic.
Left-right width is excellent, but the depth is what really shocked me instruments feel layered in front of you, not stuck in your head like many budget ones.
If someone asks me “what is the best part of Volume S?”
I will say:
Soundstage + Vocals + Musicality.
Imaging & Instrument Experience
Imaging is razor sharp.
Every element has its own space: guitars, drums, vocals, background pads all separated cleanly but still glued together musically.
Instruments feel organic and real, not artificial or forced.
Acoustic guitar plucks, piano notes, violin strings everything feels natural and full-bodied.
There’s a satisfying realism here, very enjoyable honestly.
Gaming Performance : Surprisingly Excellent
I used this IEM in gaming too, and the performance is honestly top class.
I played:
• CS2
• Valorant
• Battlefield 6
• ARC Raiders
And man… you hear everything tiny footsteps, distant reloading sounds, grenade pins, explosions…
The directional accuracy is spot on.
Sometimes I felt like I was hearing enemies earlier than usual.
This IEM is not just for music it is a beast for competitive FPS too.
Comparison: Volume S vs Older Softears Volume
I used the older Volume for a long time, so here’s a clear comparison:
Softears Volume S (New)
• More all-rounder
• Better bass quantity and body
• Smoother female vocals
• No sudden peak with bright sources
• Fuller, richer midrange
• Larger and deeper stage
• More natural timbre
Softears Volume (Old)
• Faster bass but less quantity
• Can sound thin with certain tracks
• Slight peak in female vocals (bright vocals can get shouty)
• Good treble sparkle
• More female-vocal-focused tuning
If you want smoothness + bass + stage + natural timbre → Volume S
If you want brighter treble + female vocal focus → Volume
But overall, Volume S is the superior all-rounder in my honest opinion.
Final Verdict – The IEM With Soul
The Softears Volume S is not just a technical upgrade it is an emotional upgrade.
Warm, musical, thick bass… addictive vocals… perfect sparkle… incredible soundstage…
This IEM feels alive.
It’s the kind of IEM you put in your ears and forget time passing.
It doesn’t try to impress you with fake brightness or boosted clarity.
Instead, it impresses you slowly, gently, by sounding right… by sounding musical.
For me, Volume S became a daily driver.
It checks every box I want from an IEM comfort, musicality, stage, vocals, gaming, everything.
A true all-rounder with a beautiful heart.
Happy Listening
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