Softears RSV-MKII IEMs Review – Modernity Touches Absolute
Softears RSV-MKII is a $699 USD pair of In-Ear IEMs Monitoring Earphones with 5 Balanced Armature Drivers at the heart, Four tubes, Four-Way Crossover and Seven Acoustic Components to help it deliver a truly unique experience with an all-BA setup. Today we review the Softears RSV-MKII and also compare it with other IEMS in the same price range, including Letshuoer Mystic 8 (989 USD), Thieaudio Origin (849 USD) and CampFire Moon Rover (1199 USD).
Introduction
Softears is a popular company for music lovers, they’ve been growing and I always wanted to hear some of their earphones, so today is a really happy day for me, working on reviewing the RSV MK2, as we can explore some fierce competition for the Chifi we usually review.
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Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4gWbUqZ
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3ATQN6n
Build Quality – Design
Softears went all-in when designing the RSV, and the MK II we review today is a refinement over the original, with vastly improved bass response and impact. This is all achieved with the help of the Passive Driver design, CNC Precision Machining for the faceplate of the shells and the Anti-Slip Lip design.
Embedded with the IEMS, Softears bundles the Premium stock cable, which is a 4.4mm balanced cable with a 6N7 cryogenically treated oxygen-free copper construction. Softears is one of the companies that develop IEMs, so we can firsthand hear their LRC thing network, featuring 4 Tubes, 4-Way crossovers and 7 Precision components. When reading the official website, I noticed a really long sonic tube, which is inherently sure to have an impact on aligning the phase of all those Ba Drivers.
Speaking of the tubes, to avoid the usual tiny and metallic low-end character of BA, SoftEars has two separate sonic tubes that deliver the bass to your ears, and together with a refined crossover they managed to evenly distribute the bass and create a satisfying sound even for those who yearn for a bit more than pure neutrality. To expand a bit more on this, RSV-MKII features a Knowles CI series 22955 balanced armature, the largest BA model with a long stroke, and although those drivers were first introduced in 1982 and feature the classic E-Type armature, with a central guiding pin, this legendary driver was chosen to boost and handle the low-end reproduction of the RSV MK 2.
For the midrange, Softears uses an improved ED driver, a classic also introduced quite a bit earlier, in 1988, using an E-Type armature, and it was chosen thanks to its ideal size and efficiency allowing for a clear midrange reproduction and voiding. For the treble, you will enjoy the SWFK Composite high-frequency driver, offering clarity and crispness. To equalize the air pressure, RSV-MKII uses the same patented passive unit as their RS10 Flagship, a dal Pressure Relief System.
You can replace the cable, as the IEMs use a universal 0.78mm connector, and the cable can easily be adapted to a 3.5mm single ended source, or you can even put the Softears RSV-MKII on a TWS Bluetooth connector pair like FiiO TWS5 2025. Inside the package you will also find the way to connect those IEMS to your ears, either using UC Eartips, soft and comfortable, with a sticky design, or Type-V Eartips with a balanced design for sound quality, and which are a more reference option for music lovers.
For the geeky technical spec lover, RSV MKII comes with a SPL of 122 dB, an impedance of 7 OHMs, and a THD lower than 1% at 1 kHz. The IEM shell is made of medical-grade resin, while a CNC aluminum alloy and foreign carbon fiber faceplate. For the custom variant you can get the RSV-MKII in any color and faceplate you may desire.
Fit – Subjective Usage
SoftEars RSVMKII feels really nice inside of my ears, and the unique eartips that the company uses are sticky but far more comfortable than what I usually seen included with IEMs. Cable is standard length, flexible and does not conduct microphonic noise at all. Cable quality is far above average, it is braided nicely and has the neat SoftEars branding on it.
IEM shells are lightweight, medium in size and fitting is medium-deep, those go quite a bit inside of your ears and your head. This being said, they are some of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve worn recently, and RSV MKII offers around 20 dB of passive noise isolation, feeling relatively open while the air pressure equalizing mechanism works wonders to allow them to not feel like void or driver flex is happening while you’re wearing them. Overall, RSV MKII is extra comfy, shells look sharp, and the Softears branding is absolutely lovely.
Sound Quality
Pairings – To test the new Softears RSV-MKII, I have paired them with a selection of sources, including Rose Technics RT-5000, Dethonray Clarinet, iBasso DX340, Lotoo PAW GT2, FiiO K15, FiiO QX13, and Cayn RU9. Most portable dongle DAC AMPs are more than enough to drive the RSV MKII, but they are not particularly sensitive to source noise and hissing despite the relatively low impedance. You will usually not have to worry about the source, they work well with most dongle DAC and portable DAc AMPs.
Overall Signature – SoftEars RSV-MKII is a really unique pair of IEMS, although they are not priced high, they have an exceptional transparency, they allow songs to have unique textures, signatures, natural voicing but above everything, a really transparent character, you hear most music as it was intended and RSV-2 applies very little coloration to what the song is supposed to sound like. Bass drivers are capable of delivering a thunderous low-end when the song calls for it, but the signature is generally transparent and natural.
Bass – Starting from the low-end, SoftEars really gave RSV-MKII a thunderous bass, extension down to 20 Hz, with a full, impactful bass that delivers a thunderous presence and kick, impact and amount. Bass can keep up with volume and song tuning, so despite the natural midrange, somehow RSV-MKII sounds best with modern music, recent pop, EDM, Dubstep and electronic music. There’s such a full, lush, colorful bass that it brings life to all music styles, gives body and presence and volume, all perfect for EDM. In fact, quite interesting, but RSV-MK2 has an exceptional speed control, since the bass is delivered by a full-BA setup, you can expect to hear a fast and technical bass when the song calls for it.
Midrange – Midrange is characterized by full transparency, no bounds, and a high resolution. If there is any specific coloration, RSV-MKII has a uniquely calming, slightly velure – matte effect it applies to music, it gives music a feathery, dampened sound, it has resolution without having glare, extension without aliasing and grain. This being said, there’s a specific texture and calming tonality it has in the midrange. Direct and forward instruments are pushed forward clearly, and especially in EDM and electronic music you hear that as a welcome effect, special effects travel right in front of you, happening in your face, with a vivid, colorful tonality.
Treble – At the top end, the name of the company starts to make sense, Softears is a great name considering that the treble of RSV-MKII is on the soft, smooth, refined end of things. It doesn’t lack extension and can easily reach 18 kHz, but the tonality, presentation is velvety – silky, soft, refined, it allows you to hear the cymbal crashes and drums, but they play in a 2nd plane, behind voices and other instruments, always present, but always dampened and waxy / velvety. This allows me to enjoy EDM, Dubstep and most electronic music styles really well, and works well for basically all music styles, unless you want a sharper, more aggro sound. You can call the RSV-MKII laid-back and relaxed, but that’s not an insult when this is the intended signature they present.
Dynamics And Textures – RSV MK2 renders a natural texture, and the more I kept thinking of the best way to describe this texture, the more the word natural seems like the best fit. Dynamics and micro dynamics are very good, but textures are exceptional, because each driver products a slightly different texture level, they each fit their frequency ranges really well, so bass is a thick, heavy texture with bold and more chugg texturization, midrange is natural, slightly smooth, but detailed, and it reveals dynamics exceptionally well, while treble is on the smoother side, relaxed, with a less intrusive texture.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – RSV MKII has a natural loudness saturation gradient, best experience can be had from the quietest volume levels up to almost maximum you can bear to stand. The THD does njot grow a lot with a higher volume level, but you will miss out on the refined, velvety sound they can offer if you push them too loud. This being said, regardless of the volume level, RSV-MKII nevers gets too aggressive, they stay relaxed and clean,
Soundstage – Softers gave really long tubes to RSV-MKII and this creates a natural – large soundstage, with a natural instrument separation. Staging is mostly focused on defining a couple of essential layers, and each song will have a forward lead instrument / lead voicing playing in the same forward space as the bass guitar / bass effects. The treble is always pushed in the background, and playing somewhere behind everything else, while background instruments paint the staging, wider and more holographic at lower volumes, and more direct, more forward at higher volumes. Lateral separation and imaging is far above most of the competition, and this is combined with how RSV-MKII brings special effects and certain synths to travel across the soundscape in a vivid fashion.
Comparisons
SoftEars RSV-MKII vs Campfire Moon Rover (699 USD vs 1199 USD) – Moon rover is a more geometric IEM o the shell, with an ergonomic shape inside, and the fit feels similar to the RSV-MKII, although RSV-MKII has a slightly larger shell, but a considerably better balanced cable. Both have a similar passive noise isolation, but Moon rover is harder to drive and less sensitive to the source quality. Both IEMs have a strong resolution, but RSV-MKII sounds more bombastic, with a deeper, more punchy and more thunderous bass, a more relaxed treble that sounds silkier, is more refined and laid-back, and a more natural voicing. RSV-MKII is uniquely enjoyable, and although they have a similar resolution, Moon rover projects music more laterally and in the depth plane, but with less instrument separation. RSv-MKII is more refined and smoother, laid-back and can render pop, EDM, Electronic more fun, while Moon rover handles acoustic styles a bit better and sounds more happy, giving RSV-MKII a uniquely emotional sound.
SoftEars RSV-MKII vs Thieaudio Origin (699 USD vs 849 USD) – Origin comes with a thicker, heavier cable, but it gets so heavy that it is slightly more prone to handling noise. Shells of the origin are a bit more compact, but heavier too, and they have a medium – shallow fit which is less secure than the fit of the RSV-MKII, and Origin does not come with the high-end sticky eartips that RSV-MKII comes with. Both IEMs look good, but RSV-MKII looks more high-end while Origin has the custom look. Sonically, Origin is a basshead pair of IEMS, but when I put them side by side, the sound is similar in many ways, origin has maybe a bit more bass, less treble and a more relaxed midrange, but when I try to see how RSV-MKII differs, they sound more refined, more revealing, more relaxed, but also have a less edgy sound, RSV MII is more mature, silky, reveals without the brashness and grain of the Origin. And I remember calling Origin fairly smooth, so you know that soft ears deliver on the soft ears promise. ThieAudio Origin has a slightly better passive noise isolation.
SoftEars RSV-MKII vs Letshuoer Mystic 8 (699 USD vs 989 USD) – Mystic 8 is quite an excellent IEM, but it has larger shells, heavier shells, a more shallow fit, and a thinner cable that is slightly more sensitive to handling noise. By comparison, RSV-MKII is more natural in both fitting and it comes with a slightly better cable and better transport case too, and better eartips. Both have a crisp artwork on the IEM shell, but when it comes to the sound, Mystic 8 is a highly resolving and revealing IEM with a more neutral, brighter, sharper sound that reveals far more energy in the treble, less energy in the bass and a colder, more neutral midrange. RSV-MKII sounds more relaxed, silkier, more velvety, they present a much heavier bass, more low-end punch and kick, a thunderous depth, and a more holographic soundstage with a stronger imaging. Mystic 8 is great if you prefer a more neutral sound, if bass fatigues you or if you want a more aggro sound to begin with, but RSV-MKII will have more bass and sound better if you enjoy a lot of commercial music, EDM, Dubstep, electronic and Pop. Mystic 8 has a slightly stronger passive noise isolation.
Value and Conclusion
Although this is the first pair of earphones I am reviewing from SoftEars, they fight really well in the high-end price category, offering one of the most ergonomic and comfortable cables, IEM shell designs, and above everything transparency, refinement and resolution reigns supreme, a signature that is usually found for much pricier IEMs, so value is all the way through the roof with RSV-MKII.
At the end of the day, Softears is not a misleading name, but the sound is not exactly soft, and there’s enough bass, impact, thunder and punch to keep you engaged, and while electronic music is one of the strengths for RSV-MKII, they are an excellent generalist pair of IEMs that work well with all sources, all music, all volume levels and are a must hear pair for all music lovers, and a fully recommended purchase today in our Audiophile-Heaven Review.
PROs
- Sharp and cool, modern design
- High-end cable that is flexible, but reliable and which does not conduct microphonic noise
- Excellent comfort, with a medium-deep fit
- Transparent and resolute sound that reveals micro details really well
- Natural voicing that allows each song to sound the way it is intended to
- Nice transport case included in the package
- Really easy to drive and not very sensitive to source noise
Cons
- Lack of coloration makes them immediately natural, but it can take a while to truly appreciate them and their refinement
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4gWbUqZ
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3ATQN6n
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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