INTUAURA Splendor II IEM

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.

The Intuaura Splendor II can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/intuaura-splendorii (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 10 mm composite alloy diaphragm dynamic driver
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Impedance: 18 Ω
• Sensitivity: 125 dB/Vmrs
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; copper cable; 3.5 mm or 4.4mm termination available. Also can be used with included USB-C Phantasm DAC/AMP cable
• Tested at: $259 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:

- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Eartip plastic tray
- Analogue cable
- DSP USB-C Phantasm cable
- Pouch
- Carrying case
- Spare nozzle filters
- Cleaning cloth

For a midFI set, the accessory spread is luxurious. Perhaps other than the omission of a modular cable or foam tips, Intuaura has the audiophile covered in most aspects.




2 variant of silicone tips are included - the wide-bore ones boost treble and increase soundstage, whereas the narrow-bore tips enhance bass, but with some compromise of soundstage. Additionally, the eartips come in their own cool plastic insert tray!




The stock analogue copper cable comes in a 3.5 mm (single-ended) or 4.4 mm (balanced) configuration. This cable is well-braided, though it has slight tangling. Microphonics are acceptable and there is a chin cinch for added grip.

Intuaura has also provided a small soft pouch and a semi-rigid carrying case. The latter is quite crush proof, with soft internals and webbing to cushion and carry the contents respectively.





We also have a cleaning cloth with a waifu, and spare nozzle filters, which are highly useful in the case of damage, debris or condensation.




Lastly, we have the all-important USB-C DSP dongle cable, which is actually one of the intended tunings when used with the Splendor II, to shape the tonality. Intuaura has termed their inhouse DSP technology as "Phantasm", and we will read more about it below.

The rest of this review was done with the stock DSP/analogue cable and stock narrow-bore silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT

The Splendor II is fashioned from resin, with hand-painted faceplates featuring gold, blue and black sparkles. It is quite a looker. The shells are light with no poky parts on the inner aspects, and ergonomics are top-notch.

Isolation is below average in view of its vented acoustics. Thankfully, I did not find any driver flex on my pair.




INTERNALS

The Splendor II's engine is a 10 mm composite alloy diaphragm dynamic driver, incorporating CNC high-permeability N52 magnets.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Splendor II with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is extremely easy to drive with both the DSP USB-C cable and stock analogue cable, and no amplification is needed.

However, this is a double-edged sword, as the IEM hisses with sources with a poor noise floor control on both cables.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Intuaura Splendor II with stock analogue cable, via IEC711 coupler. The 8 kHz region is a coupler artefact peak.

With the stock analogue cable, the Splendor II sports a bright and aggressive V-shaped tonality, and it sounds like something old-school of yesteryear's CHIFI tuning; in today's era of Harmanish measurebator approved graphs, we hardly encounter such sonics actually!

This IEM is focused in the mid-bass, with a big and fun thump on bassy tracks heard. The bass amounts are just a level or 2 shy of true basshead levels, and the sub-bass has a nice rumble and extension. Bass has good texturing and nimble speed, though the copious bass inevitably results in some mid-bass bleed.

The lower midrange is recessed as per the V-shaped tonality and does sound a wee bit thin. The upper mids are a bone of contention too, hitting almost 12 dB in ear gain. This results in a shouty soundscape - especially for female vocals - and sadly, the midrange is tonally flawed with the stock analogue cable.

The treble continues on from the upper mids peak, and there is another rise around the 5 kHz region, which furnishes good clarity. Upper treble extension tails off thereafter. Sibilance is minimal and we have good resolution on tap. Cymbals and high-hats are not too splashy and are actually well controlled.

Timbre is relatively natural. When it comes to technicalities, the Splendor II has great micro-detailing and accurate imaging, though soundstage is bang average. Transients are snappy.

Thankfully, for detractors of the overzealous upper midrange, we have another tuning option with the Phantasm DSP DAC/AMP dongle. With this DSP dongle in play, the Splendor II sounds U-shaped, with a taming of the bass and upper mids. These regions are hence not so in-your-face, and the Splendor II sounds more chill and laid-back. Female vocals are sedate and not piercing now. However, we lose the big bassy fun, and micro-detailing and resolution takes a back seat compared with when the analogue cable was used.

It has to be said, some consumers may feel hamstrung to have to use a DSP dongle to get their ideal tuning, and these DSP dongles do limit source matching, cable-rolling and might cap bitrate playback. EQ is a potential option for those sensitive to this IEM's pinna gain glare, though once again, purists may not want to utilize EQ, resulting in the above tonal flaws with the stock analogue cable being deal-breakers.


COMPARISONS

The Splendor II will be compared against other $200ish USD single DDs. Hybrids, planars and pure BAs are left out of the comparisons, as the different transducer types have their own pros and cons.

The analogue cable will be used for these comparisons.


DUNU Falcon Ultra

The Falcon Ultra has 2 tuning nozzles to also bestow 2 tuning options - one is laid-back and relaxed tonally, while the other nozzle gives a more standard Harmanish tone.

On the Harman nozzle, the Falcon Ultra has an upper mids boost, but this is way more controlled than the Splendor II's 12 dB pinna gain with the analogue cable. It is hence not as fatiguing or shouty as the Splendor II.

The Falcon Ultra's soundstage is a hair wider, though imaging is slightly better on the Splendor II.


Simgot EA1000

The EA1000 is actually not a pure single DD - it has an added passive radiator to give some bass heft - but it mostly functions as one, and is also one of the bona fide DD gatekeepers at $200ish. Thus, it would be remiss to not do a comparison against this benchmark, as some readers will surely ask for this comparison.

The EA1000 has 3 tuning nozzles to confer bright Harmanish tones. The EA1000 however, is not as boosted in the upper mids with all 3 nozzles, though it has less bass quantity. The EA1000 may be a tinge shouty to some consumers, but the Splendor II is actually worse in this arena, and the EA1000 has a tighter and more controlled bass.

The EA1000 has a slightly more expansive soundstage and better micro-detailing, though it loses to the Splendor II in imaging.




CONCLUSIONS

The Intuaura Splendor II is a beautiful but imperfect beast. While it has ingredients that should in theory promise success - namely, excellent resolution and imaging, natural timbre, princely accessories, solid ergonomics and easy drivability - tonal flaws are a blemish in its book. In stock tuning with the analogue cable, the Splendor II suffers from a feverish 12 dB ear gain, which contributes to shoutiness with female vocals, in addition to some mid-bass bleed and an overly depressed lower midrange.

Thankfully, the included DSP USB-C dongle alleviates the bass bleed and peakish upper mids, but we lose some resolution. I would have wished for something of a mid-point between the stock analogue cable and Phantasm DSP cable in terms of tonality and technicalities, but alas, we are stuck with either extreme. The 2 cables also have hiss noted on some sources, though the Splendor II is one of the easiest IEMs to drive.

In the big scheme of things, with big-boy benchmarks at the $200ish single DD pool - stellar luminaries like the Simgot EA1000 and DUNU Falcon Ultra are beckoning! - the Splendor II, while not an outright fail, falls behind in certain departments and comes across as quite forgettable.

​

Disclaimer​

I received INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 from ConceptKart. But they didn't pay or influence me to write anything good or bad about this IEM. All thoughts and opinions are mine. I am not using affiliated links to stay away from any bias.

About Intuaura ​

Intuaura is a relatively unknown brand in the audiophile world. I was surprised to learn about the brand before it came to my doorstep. By talking to a few of my friends I get to know that these are selling well in local markets (China) but somehow they stayed an underdog in the rest of the world.


I feel they need recognition in the mainstream market because the quality they provide in their products is simply excellent and class-leading. I hope the awareness of this brand populates the market, creating very strong competition to other chi-fi brands. And you know what they say “Competetetion is always best for the customers.”. I genuinely feel this company provides value like AFUL with almost neck-on-neck competition-wise.

A few Information about this IEM​

HeyGears worked with Mr. Xie Yu, a leading supplier, to develop a premium dynamic coil unit for the Splendor IEM. The same shell sound cavity is used in the Splendor in-ear monitor. Elevated by Mr. Tang's radical tuning approach, Splendor delivers fast and powerful bass for clear instruments and vocals. The balanced, slightly pop-oriented sound adjustment ensures a dynamic sound experience without loss of clarity or muddiness. Splendor uses A. W.C.T. Acoustic Tuning technology with a unique sound cavity absorption system that absorbs harmonic peaks for precise tuning strategies that provide a textured, comfortable sound experience. This results in realistic, detailed sound reproduction that improves overall audio quality.


DC impedance: 18.5Ω(土5%)


Sensitivity: 125dB/Vrms @ 1kHz(3dB)


Total harmonic distortion: <0.05% @1kHz

Pairing​

This IEM is very easy to power. (Needs 14/100 volume in Dawn Pro to produce music around 75db.).


It is not that source-dependent. Of course, you can tell the difference if you upgrade to a better source but it is not that massive. It sounds good with every source I have, it changes the tonality ever so slightly with the sources.


I found out this IEM can work with anything over 2Vrms, and flat sources are preferable since warm sources tend to recess the mids, which certainly changes the character of the sound.

General Tonality of this IEM​

I hardly praise the tonality of any IEM I get. Also, I criticised respected IEMs in the hobby just because they didn’t sound good to me. I always feel the need to EQ every IEM I review to get to my sweet spot. There are only three IEMs where I didn’t feel the need to do an EQ after listening to it for the first 30 minutes. (Those IEMs are ThieAudio Monarch MKII, Moded Tripowin Olina & this IEM ).

Subjective Review​

The General tonality of this IEM is bass-boosted neutral. It’s unlike something like Blessing 2 Dusk where there is a bass shelf but doesn’t pronounce itself because of the absence of Slam and Punch. It pushes air and packs slam in the bass region.

Bass​

The sub-bass goes deep and there were no points where I felt the subbass was lower in quality or quantity. It was full and extended way down to 20hz. The feeling of getting a good sub-bass with an ample amount of air and extension is very rare for me in this hobby due to the ear anatomy I have.


The midbass is very linearly laid after the subbass shelf. It doesn’t jump out of the frequency range. What it means is, the attack is not sudden and it takes time to extract the low end of the song and the fallout of the beats is perfect too. Why I like the low-end attack and fall-off like this in all of my audio devices is simple, it just makes recording more organic and analogue. Superfast attacks might be good for electronic dance music but from Rock to Pop the fast nature kills the authority of the stage.

Midrange​

Mids are perfect too. It might sound a little recessed if you’re coming from vocal-centric IEMs but generally, the mids on most tracks are very neutral tonally. I enjoyed all of my vocal-centric tracks with it. The male voices are not forward to the point that only vocal lovers can love it. But they are full of details and weight. I wouldn’t say it is very lush but it is nowhere thin.


Female voices are handled amazingly too. It's like they knew where to give certain peaks to give it a shimmering feeling without being shouty even a single bit. Full of resolution and easy to listen to. The voices flow like water under sunlight, hints of shine and sparkle and fluid with dynamics.

Treble​

The treble is the most attractive thing about INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2. So beautifully done, that it feels like a very expensive IEM. I know this comment is a bit problematic since many audiophiles believe there is not anything sonically that would dictate the price of equipment. I am not one of them, I always feel there are certain deltas in the higher-priced audio products that are always differentiable between higher-end and lower-end products. And this IEM screams expensive in the treble region.


The details and micro-contrasts are excellent even though there is no sibilance in the frequency response. Certain peaks in the FR keep the treble from getting boring and tasteless & dark. From lower registers to upper registers everything sounds cohesive and well put out.

The special thing ​

There is a dip in the treble from 4khz to 6/6.5khz. This dip does a lot of things to the overall sound. It takes away the forwardness of the ringing frequencies from the sound. It smooths out the sharp & shrill aspects of the songs that are full of bad treble.


But the best thing it does can be listened to after 8K. The SPL feels so smooth and gentle with amazing extension that it is impossible to guess that this could be done with a single DD.

Now as usual let's talk about the timber of this Set​

Timber​

I am satisfied with the timber reproduction of INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2. Due to pretty brave choices in tuning the IEM, it provides better timber than I expected.

Drums​

They sound fine. The low-end is there with its authority projecting the confidence to show off the drum hits. The drum body is very present. The upper registers are present too. The only gripe I had with this instrument was lower treble recession. This recession makes the drums super smooth so they sound good but not extremely original. I know some people will like this tuning very well because, for long listening sessions, this is perfect. But I am sure the lower treble extension can greatly help to portray drums better.


On the other hand, Cymbals & High Hats felt wonderful. Full of air and details with plenty of extension. I can listen to solos for hours at a stretch.


Song 1: Caravan - John Wasson


Song 2: Bohemian Rhapsody

Violin ​

The violin sounds mellow in this IEM. It lacks the upper registers of the instrument which gives it a sharp bite. On the other hand, it makes violin so smooth that I can listen to it for hours and hours without fatigue which is very important to me since I listen to music almost 10-12 hours a day. The violin might feel low in resolution but it’s just the perception of the treble that makes the sound soft. I would’ve liked a bit more lower treble to enjoy the violin to the fullest.


Song 1 : 1982 Festival Overture, Op.49


Song 2: Four Seasons “The Summer ” by Avi Avital

Guitars​

Acoustic guitar sounds very good. The strings from E to E produce very pleasing timber. It's a bit smoother than the original timber but the tonality is more full and I can enjoy the guitar for a long time. It surely lacks a bit of bite and attack/incisiveness if you look for that in acoustic guitar recording.


Classical Guitars sound astonishing. The timber is super realistic and there is a hint of analogue nature in the sound. From the lower registers to the upper registers, everything sounded super clean and realistic.


Electric guitars sound very pleasing. I have one thing about rock guitars they should sound smooth. Since they don’t have fixed timber & it is mostly impossible to get the tone that the artist intended, I just enjoy electric guitars without having criticism in mind. Super smooth and detailed, so much so that I listened to a few albums back to back without having any breaks.


1st Song: Layla (Acoustic Live)


2nd Song: Ghiribizzi, MS 43: No. 41 in C Major


3rd Song: Hotel California

Wind Instruments ​

Wind instruments sound exceptional for the price. Remember I mentioned the certain peaks in the treble, this tuning works like magic to wind instruments. Enormous amount of air to offer, rich in details, and Absolutely Zero Fatigue. Listening to wind instruments is bliss with this IEM. Your eyes might get wet in a few songs, it feels that emotional and soul-touching.


Song 1: Kal Ho Na Ho - Flute Cover by Varum Kumar


Song 2: Feeling Good (Harmonica Cover) - Amanda Ventura

The cello/Bass ​

Nothing to write home about here. They sound OK, nothing is there to complain. I would’ve liked a bit of separation from the rest of the FR (A slight elevation could’ve helped a lot) range but since it is the nature of the tuning there is nothing that could’ve been done here.


Song 1: 2 Cellos - Game of Thrones


Song 2: The phantom of opera - Prague Cello Quartet

The vocals ​

Male vocals sound good on this IEM. Doesn’t sound nasal, occupies meatiness and sounds wet to a certain degree. I enjoyed listening to male vocals with them but here too, I would’ve liked a bit of forwardness since most IEMs I use have forward vocals so my brain is burnt in that way.


Female vocals sound phenomenal with this set. The upper registers are pronounced but never got hot ever so slightly. The air and details are there. It is a bliss to listen to female vocals with this set. With the right songs, you can just close your eyes and levitate to another dimension, which was not possible earlier in this price point.


Song 1: Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen


Song 2: Suzume (This song sounded so good with this set I listened to it on repeat at least 10 times)

Piano ​

The piano sounds good. The treble extension is there. Trailing edges are well preserved. The lower treble recession helped to cut down harshness. Overall it was a very pleasing and detailed experience.


Songs 1 : Intersteller Sountracks


Songs 2: SUCCESSION Soundtracks


So one thing you might’ve noticed is that this IEM provides a very soothing and inoffensive signature to begin with. With a generous bass boost, it also makes the low-quality recording sound palatable. I am thoroughly impressed by this IEM’s timber and wholeheartedly recommend this.

Genre Specific Synergy​

Hip Hop​

INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 is very good with Hip-Hop. The low end of this IEM really brings out the fun and engaging element of the genre. The sub-bass makes thi genre sound large (not sounding like audio coming from tiny drivers). The soundstage and resolution are just the added sauce to the whole experience.


Song 1 : Secrets - Talha Anjum


This song sounds lush. The low-end hits hard and sounded analogue. The vocals are full and warm. Treble is well extended with loads of detail to offer.


Song 2: Tadipar - MC Stan


INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 sounds detailed. The treble is full of details. Imaging is very good too. The vocals are full and textured. Subbass feels full, the attack goes deep.

Modern Pop​

INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 fits perfectly for the Modern Pop genre. The bass has greatly accepted the genre and makes it enjoyable. On the other hand the treble compliments the songs too, since audio engineers by choice make the treble of modern songs peaky to handle dark mainstream IEMs.


Song 1: As it was


The low-end hits hard. The drums sound pretty nice. The stage feels big. The vocals are a bit recessed to my liking, Treble sparkliness is there and resolution is up to the mark.


Song 2: Die for you


The spacious presentation of INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 greatly suits the song. Vocals sound ever so slightly recessed and the treble is full of details.

Rock ​

For rock, this IEM is very good too. The lower treble of this genre is famous for being sharp for most artists. I am happy to admit that, I listened to this genre for more than 5 hours a day for the last 7 days and there is not even a single time I complained about its synergy with the genre.


I would highly recommend INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 for the rock genre.

Blues ​

The blues sound very good with this too. The main advantage is the lower treble recession which makes the elevated treble in some genres palatable. The bass it had made the genre feel analog and real. Mids are perfectly suited too. The upper treble extension fills the sound with air and inciveness. And everything sounded inoffensive to the fullest.

Orchestra/Western Classical​

Although the soundstage & timber suits the IEM for orchestra and Western Classical music the lower treble kept me wanting a bit more. Not that it is lacking in any sense, just that if feels incomplete in the slightest. The details are good and the resolution is up to the mark. Trailing edges and air is present with immaculate quality.

Technicalities​

Soundstage​

The soundstage of this IEM is above average. IEMs generally are not very good at producing soundstage since the ear anatomy and HRTF is a bit tricky to handle. But I never felt that I could use a bit more soundstage.


It is large enough to feel spacious and not large to the extent that if won’t feel distant from you. The way it handles the soundstage is above average for the price point it offers.


The best thing about the soundstage is that it doesn’t squeeze the sphere. It wraps around the head in a circle.


Song 1: Cornfield Chase - Hans Zimmer


Song 2: Can You Hear The Music - Ludwig

Imaging ​

The imaging is pretty average. It localizes the instruments precisely enough. It might not feel snappy enough for everyone out there. Pans and swipes are palatable to the point that it doesn't feel two-dimensional.


I wouldn’t call the imaging to be holographically accurate.


Song 1 : Letter - Yoshi Horikawa


Song 2: Bubbles - Yoshi Horikawa

Conclusion ​

In one word, this INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 screams “LUXURY”. From tonality to aesthetics, from technicality to the wire, everything feels luxurious. This IEM is very capable and worth every penny you spend on it. Just have one thing in mind if you have a very dark-sounding library, this IEM might not be the jam for you.


Sometimes few companies amaze you so much that you question the hypemans in the community. Why it is so underrated is still beyond my imagination. I hope this company and IEM get the recognition they deserve. It's a very huge recommendation from my side.

Ratings​

Value = 5/5
Tonality = A
Technicality = A-

Comparison with Aful Performer 5​

It is better than P5 in almost every way. Bass is more punchier and slam is better in Performer 5. Rest the quantity is better in Splendor 2, the mids are better, treble is better. P5’s soundstage is a lot more squeezed and 2D than Splendor 2. The resolution is one step better in this IEM. The imaging is on par if not worse than P5.


I would choose INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 any day over Performer 5.

Comparison with EA1000 Fermat​

Technically they both are comparable. The bass is more rumbly on the fermat at the same time it is more textured. The only problem I faced with Fermat is the lower treble, sometimes it gets so hot, that I just stop listening to them. Although it might be up to your taste I don’t like the Fermat to be something extraordinary at that price point.


I would choose INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 over Fermat blindly, mostly because of my library.

Non-Affiliated Links​

Click to buy INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 in India


Click to buy INTUAURA SPLENDOR 2 GLOBALLY