Overview

Softears is a Chinese audio manufacturer founded in 2017, operating its own production and acoustic R&D facility in Chengdu, Sichuan. The Turii was the company’s flagship single dynamic driver in-ear monitor, first unveiled at CanJam 2019 and commercially released around 2020 at a launch price of 1,399 USD. The product is discontinued as of 2025 and is no longer listed by major US retailers or the official Softears store, having been succeeded by the Twilight (930 USD) in the company’s current lineup.

Scientific Validity

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The manufacturer specifies a frequency response range of 20 Hz–20 kHz (IEC60318-4) and THD below 0.1% at 1 kHz (94 dB SPL) [1]. Third-party frequency response measurement from Crinacle [2], conducted on an IEC60318-4 / 711 coupler rig, shows a mildly V-shaped profile: approximately 3–5 dB of sub-bass elevation, a mild 1–2 kHz recession, and a moderate upper-frequency boost. The estimated deviation from the Harman In-Ear 2019 target is approximately 3–4 dB standard deviation, placing frequency response in the problematic range. The manufacturer’s THD specification of less than 0.1% at 1 kHz indicates good distortion performance, but no independent third-party numeric verification exists, which limits confidence in this figure. Passive sound isolation is consistently characterized as poor across sources [3]; the seven-vent housing design produces near-open-back acoustic behavior, indicating isolation that is likely at or below the worst end of normal IEM performance. With frequency response deviation at a high level and passive isolation at near-open-back levels, two key measured performance axes are problematic, only partially mitigated by the unverified good-level THD specification.

Technology Level

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The Turii is an in-house design developed and produced at Softears’ own Chengdu facility. The most technically distinctive features are the external/decoupled neodymium magnet circuit (1.6 T) — a topology adapted from concepts used in larger transducers and uncommon at IEM scale — and a precision-machined brass inner cavity with seven independently positioned venting apertures for resonance management and air pressure tuning. This combination represents substantive accumulated acoustic engineering know-how that would require time for competitors to replicate. Neither feature carries patent protection. The DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) diaphragm and PEEK suspension, while executed to a competent standard, are materials now widely adopted throughout the premium IEM market and no longer represent a cutting-edge differentiator. The product’s entirely passive mechanical design with no digital signal processing, software, or firmware component represents a limitation in the current technology landscape. No acoustic technology advancement was introduced in the subsequent Turii Ti variant.

Cost-Performance

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This site evaluates based solely on functionality and measured performance values, without considering driver types or configurations.

The Softears Turii is priced at 1,399 USD. The Truthear HOLA [4], a passive wired IEM with 3.5mm single-ended output and a detachable 2-pin 0.78mm connector, is available at 19.99 USD and demonstrates equivalent-or-better performance:

• Frequency response deviation from Harman In-Ear 2019 target: HOLA approximately 2.31 dB STD (Crinacle [5]) vs. Turii approximately 3–4 dB STD estimated (Crinacle [2]) — HOLA better (provisional: Turii numeric STD is estimated from graphical data, not a directly published figure)
• THD: HOLA ≤0.1% at 1 kHz (manufacturer specification [4]) vs. Turii <0.1% at 1 kHz (manufacturer specification [1]) — equivalent (provisional: no independent third-party numeric THD for either product)
• Passive sound isolation: HOLA conventional sealed IEM design vs. Turii seven-vent near-open-back behavior [3] — HOLA better (qualitative comparison; no numeric dB data available for either)

CP = 19.99 USD ÷ 1,399 USD = 0.0143 → 0.0

Reliability & Support

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The Softears Turii carries a one-year warranty from date of invoice, covering manufacturing defects and excluding physical damage, cosmetic wear, and accidental damage — below the industry-typical two-year duration. The original Turii model has a documented, product-specific structural weakness: the heavy resin shell exerts sustained mechanical stress on the 2-pin connector socket, causing the earpiece to separate from the cable during normal use. This was confirmed by authorized retail staff as a common failure mode in the Turii and represents an inherent design flaw in the core housing structure rather than isolated manufacturing variation. The product was discontinued in 2025; post-warranty repair support is undocumented and practically unavailable, with no stated parts supply or service duration. The dealer-based distribution network covering more than 20 regions provides a baseline level of in-warranty infrastructure but is a neutral factor relative to industry norms.

Rationality of Design Philosophy

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The Turii is built around a “natural” sound character philosophy using a single dynamic driver — a conventional high-end IEM approach that is neither rigorously measurement-focused nor reliant on techniques with known measurement deficiencies. However, two significant aspects of the design reflect irrational cost allocation. First, a substantial portion of the product’s price premium is directed at visual aesthetics: the distinctive twisted housing form was developed in collaboration with an external industrial designer primarily for visual distinctiveness, requiring complex CNC machining serving a primarily cosmetic purpose, while the PVD coating provides no acoustic function. Second, the only successor variant — the Turii Ti — raised the price by approximately 80%, from 1,399 USD to 2,499 USD, while leaving the driver and acoustic architecture entirely unchanged. The price increment consists entirely of a titanium shell, a sterling silver cable, and artificial scarcity from a global production limit of 88 units, none of which provide demonstrable measured acoustic improvement. This cost escalation without corresponding measured performance gains is inconsistent with rational product development. The external magnet circuit and seven-vent brass cavity represent genuine acoustic engineering effort with physically plausible performance rationale, and the dedicated IEM form factor is justified as purpose-built listening equipment.

Advice

The Softears Turii is a discontinued product with no active retail availability and no post-warranty support. Its measured frequency response shows moderate-to-high deviation from neutral, and passive isolation reaches near-open-back levels due to the seven-vent housing design, restricting practical use to low-ambient-noise environments. Current-generation passive IEMs at under 20 USD demonstrate better-measured frequency response compliance and superior passive isolation while providing equivalent user-facing functionality. Prospective buyers considering a used unit should account for the documented 2-pin connector structural weakness — confirmed as a common failure mode in the original model — and the complete absence of post-purchase manufacturer support. There is no objective case based on measured performance for selecting this product over available current-market alternatives.

References

[1] Softears - Turii Official Product Page - https://www.softears.net/products/turii/ - accessed 2026-05-29

[2] Crinacle / In-Ear Fidelity - Softears Turii FR Graph - https://crinacle.com/graphs/iems/softears-turii/ - accessed 2026-05-29; IEC60318-4 / 711 rig

[3] Klaus Eulenbach - Softears Turii Review - https://www.klauseulenbach.de/2021/03/05/softears-turii/ - accessed 2026-05-29; IEC60318-4, Chord Hugo 2, REW psycho-acoustic smoothing

[4] Truthear - HOLA Official Product Page - https://truthear.com/products/hola - accessed 2026-05-29

[5] Crinacle / In-Ear Fidelity - Truthear HOLA FR Graph - https://crinacle.com/graphs/iems/truthear-hola/ - accessed 2026-05-29; IEC60318-4 / 711 rig

(2026.5.31)