A sub-brand of the legendary Letshuoer, Twistura started its journey in 2024. After releasing some good IEMs like D-Major, D-Minor, Beta Flagship, etc., they took their first step in the crowded sub-$200 IEM market. They develop a 10mm dynamic driver, and the diaphragm is made from pressed natural wood fiber. And that's where the name 'WoodNote' comes from. The whole idea of this driver is to get that natural, organic sound people associate with wooden instruments, but in a durable CNC aluminum shell. Let's find out whether this wood-fiber thing is real or just marketing hype!
Twistura WoodNote Review
The funny thing about Twistura WoodNote is that I was not impressed with my first listen as the stock ‘vocal’ nozzle was attached that time! I don’t like forward vocals and spicy mids. So, I turn to the ‘standard’ nozzle, and the story is totally different. Got lost into the music with its warm-natural tone. Even with a budget DAP like Snowsky Echo Mini, the experience was expensive. I tried almost all of my sources with this IEM and got a good vibe every time. Especially with the balanced sources and also with warm-neutral sources. But an overly warm source like the iFi Hip DAC 2 is not a good idea to pair with!
It has a bit of a fit issue if you have large ears. But don’t worry, there’s a solution for that. And I will talk about it later in this review. Overall I love the WoodNote. For the last three weeks, it has become my daily driver. And I must say, the ‘wood-fiber’ thing actually has some truth to it.
DISCLAIMER
[Twistura] was kind enough to send me the WoodNote to review. I am not affiliated with Twistura, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘Twistura WoodNote review’ are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase, checkout [Twistura] for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated link).
GEAR USED
● DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, Hiby RS2, Hiby R4, Snowsky Echo Mini, F.Audio M20.
● DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, Fosi Audio GR40, Hiby FD5, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with MUSES 8820 OP-Amp), Muse 6 double, Cayin RU6, Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20, Hiby FC05, Hiby FD03, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
● Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5.
● Files: Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.
AUDIO TESTING PREFERENCES
I desperately love the music from the 60s to the 90s era. Music was alive then. The genre I love most is ROCK ‘N ROLL. Though Jazz, Blues, Metal, Disco, and Pop are also my favorite genres. I have a collection of albums with high dynamic range recording. Most of the time, I test audio gear with those albums to understand the sonic capability of the specific gear. If you have a Tidal subscription, you may click here to get the playlist.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
● Driver: 10mm dual magnetic dual cavity DD (wood diaphragm dome composite diaphragm)
● Frequency response: 8Hz – 21kHz
● Impedance: 18Ω
● Sensitivity: 108 dB
● Cable: Oxygen-free copper & alloy copper & silver copper alloy & graphene copper mixed stranded
● Pin Type: 2pin, 0.78mm
● Cable Length: 1.2m
● Plug Type: 3.5mm & 4.4mm (interchangeable)
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
● Twistura WoodNote IEMs
● Stock cable
● 3.5mm & 4.4mm plugs
● 3 sizes (S/M/L) 4 types of silicon tips
● 3 pairs tuning nozzles
● PU leather carrying case
● User Manual
UNBOXING EXPERIENCE
It’s a great joy to unbox the Twistura WoodNote. With the price tag of $160, I’ve got the goodies I expected in this budget range. They include everything inside the box, from a premium-looking carrying pouch to different types of ear tips. I must praise the stock cable. It’s really a good one, and the interchangeable plug option makes it more versatile. I have the easy option to use this IEM with single-ended DAC amps and balanced ones side by side, just by swapping the plug. As easy as this!
And the inclusion of four different types of ear tips in different sizes is also a very good move, along with three different tuning nozzles that are not dummy but really change the tune. You’ve got everything packed in the box to enjoy your music straight away. No extra expense needed.
BUILD & DESIGN
‘Solid build’—that’s what I will say about the build quality of the IEMs, along with the stock accessories. The IEMs are made of aluminum alloy and feel sturdy. But that black plastic part on the faceplate makes the whole ‘awesome’ look a bit ‘yuck!’ The tuning nozzles are also made of metal; those are stainless steel. They screwed very well with the IEMs.
The stock cable is a very well-built one. Oxygen-free copper & alloy copper & silver copper alloy & graphene copper mixed strands inside and a plastic cover outside make it a robust cable for daily wear & tear class. The stock ear tips are also of good quality and made of soft silicone. The PU leather carrier is very stylish, though not pocketable, but it’s transportable and tough.
FIT & COMFORT
The main challenge is the length of the nozzle. It’s comparatively short in size, and for that reason, a proper seal & fit may be a tough thing for people with large ears. I also face it, even with regular-sized ears. Without the proper fit, you won’t have the utmost comfort for long listening sessions, and the sound won’t come out right. Ear tip rolling is the key to success! Another problem is the ear hook of the stock cable; it’s really stiff and does not properly sit over your ears. A hair dryer can help you adjust this.
The stock ear tips are capable of a good fit (if you have ‘good-sized’ ears), and you have several choices, from wide bore to narrow bore. I find the translucent, soft silicone tips the best in the arsenal. They are really comfortable for marathon sessions!
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
Keep in mind that the WoodNote comes with three different tuning nozzles, and each of them has a different sound profile. I love the ‘standard’ one, as it is the most ‘balanced ‘ sounding nozzle. Among the other two, the ‘vocal’ nozzle makes the midrange a bit crispy with forward vocals, and the ‘instrument’ nozzles are for upper-mid to treble emphasizing. My review is based on a ‘standard’ nozzle, which has a dramatic warm lower end with balanced mids and well-extended treble.
Here is the frequency graph (Standard Nozzle):
And here is the frequency graph (All Nozzles):
Let’s dive deep…
SUB-BASS
The Twistura WoodNote delivers a very deep sub-bass, which is so satisfying to hear. It has an adequate quantity, but with good quality to make the whole music enjoyable. It has a good extension and rumble without overwhelming the midsection. The wood fiber keeps the low-end controlled, adding depth and weight to it without making it boomy or loose. The sub-bass is more about texture and atmosphere than raw power, and for that, dedicated bass heads may find it a bit polite. It’s there when the track calls for it, but never tries to steal the show. It works fantastically with genres like jazz or classical and even with classic rock!
MID-BASS
The star of the show is the mid-bass section. This is where WoodNote shows its true character. It is the classical definition of ‘punch’ and has good warmth with a nice rounded impact. And for that, drums and bass guitars feel so alive. Kick drums shine with good weight, and basslines have that growling texture that makes the listening experience so enjoyable. It has natural decay, and the notes have presence without dragging into the next bit. This warmth adds a lot of musicality to the mid-bass presentation. But the drawback is it’s not the fastest or tightest mid-bass in this price point. It’s more into feel and flow than absolute precision.
VOCALS
WoodNote delivers vocals with a neutral and lifelike quality. It’s a bit forward and has a clear presentation. Though the ‘vocal’ nozzle tends to deliver vocals in a bit of a forward manner, which I don’t like. So I stick with the ‘standard’ nozzle.
MALE
The lower midrange on WoodNote is kind of warm, and that’s a plus point for the male vocals. It presented with good body and depth, with a rich, textured quality that conveys emotion beautifully. You will hear every rasp and nuance without any highlighting. Authority and presence—that’s what the warmth gives male vocals. But it has some downsides, especially for that extra warmth. Some chesty voices like Leonard Cohen or Barry White sound overly thick at times, though it never crosses into muddiness.
FEMALE
It shines on the WoodNote, really shines. Without any stridency, the female vocals sound open, airy, and sweet. The reproduction is incredibly real and has a delicate, breathy quality. Here, Twistura tuned the upper midrange in a manner that is capable of presenting the female vocals with a good presence and clarity while avoiding the shouty peak that you face in many IEMs. Even with bright recordings, you will get smooth, fatigue-free listening. Sibilance is virtually nonexistent. Though the ‘vocal’ nozzle makes it a bit spicy!
INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION
This IEM does a respectable job when it comes to instrument separation. In moderately complex tracks, it’s easy to find out different instruments like the piano, bass, guitars, and drums without much effort. The soundstage has enough space to let all the elements breathe with good space between each other. The warm tuning prevents the instruments from blending into a wall of sound. But the compromise is that, in really dense passages like a full orchestral climax or complex prog metal, the separation does start to blur a bit. You lose some of the pinpoint definition you’d get from hybrid set-ups, though it’s not a congestion issue.
TREBLE
Treble is smooth, extended, and remarkably non-fatiguing on the WoodNote. It gives cymbals and hi-hats a natural shimmer without any metallic harshness due to its pleasing airiness. It reproduces the atmospheric details of the track in a manner that they will never grab your attention in a distracting way; rather, you will enjoy the true details. The treble is detailed enough to satisfy a music lover but smooth enough for all-day listening. Keep in mind that it’s not the most extended or airy treble out there, but it has an excellent balance between detail and listenability. Treble-heads may find it too safe!
SOUNDSTAGE
It’s average here. I heard a lot of single DD IEMs with a bigger soundstage than that of WoodNote. It is wider than it is deep, though the lateral spread and front-to-back layering are decent. The presentation feels open and airy rather than congested because the instruments are placed with enough space between them. You’ll get a convincing sense of space in live recordings. As I said before, this is not the most holographic stage I’ve heard; the depth is good but not exceptional, and I must say the height is just average. But the good thing is the imaging; it’s accurate enough that you can point to where sounds are coming from, but it’s not razor sharp.
TECHNICALITIES
Dynamics: I must say, WoodNote’s dynamic performance is good for a single-driver headphone. It copes with quiet to loud level changes with ease. The dual magnet system also gives the IEM the ‘oomph’ needed to give crescendos a sense of impact. With classical music, the crescendos sound good. Not reference-grade by any means, but the dynamics do make the music come alive.
Speed: Transient response is good but not exceptional. The wood-fiber driver’s natural decay characteristic makes it a very musical IEM. Notes start and stop cleanly enough for most music genres. Though for extremely fast passages with a lot of intricacy, there’s a slight softening of the attack. But for rock, pop, jazz, etc., it’s a perfect pair of earphones.
Analytics (Detail Retrieval): Detail retrieval is just ‘good.’ There’s an excellent amount of micro-details to be heard- the breathing of the singer, the feel of the guitar string, but they’re presented in a very musical way. WoodNote’s focus is on the big picture and the music’s emotional flow rather than dissecting every last detail. Detail retrieval-wise, it’s good enough for most users, but for those who want to dissect every last recording flaw, it’s a tad lacking.
SOURCES
It’s an easy-to-drive IEM with its 18Ω impedance and 108dB sensitivity. A basic dongle can easily drive them to good volumes without breaking a sweat. But be sure that they do scale with better sources. With a neutral source like the Dunu DTC 480, the WoodNote’s natural warmth balances out the source’s slight U-shaped signature, resulting in excellent transparency. And with a warmer source like the Muse M6 double, the pairing becomes lush and analog-sounding. The IEM worked very well with almost everything from cheap dongles to desktop rigs. Though they scaled up very well with mid-range portable DAC/amps like Cayin RU6, RU7, iBasso 04 Pro, 04 Ultra, to desktop style xDuooXD-05 Plus or Fosi Audio GR40.
CABLE & TIP ROLLING
First thing is the cable. The stock cable is really an excellent one with a 2-core hybrid using OFC, alloy copper, silver-copper alloy, and graphene copper strands wrapped in a transparent sheath. And moreover, it has interchangeable connectors that make it versatile in user case scenarios. So, you don’t need to pay extra for an aftermarket cable.
Now let’s talk about the ear tips. Due to the nozzle being comparatively short, the tip rolling is very critical here! If you have large ears and the fit is challenging, you may use some long-nozzle tips like the e-Pro horn tips. I find it fits really well. And if you are someone seeking a bit of spicy treble presentation, then Tangzu Tansachi Nobel can be your good partner.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What is impressive about the Twistura WoodNote is that they went their own way with the wood-fiber diaphragm instead of copying what everyone else is doing, and the result is an IEM with a unique, natural, and deeply musical character. From build quality to the accessory pack, this is one of the best in this price range. Moreover, the included tuning nozzles will give you real, usable customization options. This is really fantastic for an audiophile or audio enthusiast who is seeking a complete package of audio solutions.
And if you are into high-speed bass, holographic soundstage, and analytical kinds of presentations, then it may not soothe your audio needs. But a lover of warm musical tunes with the customization option for spicy midrange & treble may take this IEM seriously.
WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.
You are welcome to read other reviews by SONIC MANTRA.
