Jomo Audio Nautilus

Jomo Audio Nautilus

Intro about the brand :
Jomo Audio is a Singapore local company founded by a broadcast engineer who worked in the field with extensive hands-on experience of video & audio mixing and signal broadcasting. In partnership with the experts from the hearing-aid business, by the inspiration from the Japanese word of "Takumi" or Craftsmanship Spirit, Jomo Audio crafts monitors that sound wonderful in ear and look splendid in hand.

Point of contact :
Joseph Mou is a treat to deal with and extremely hospitable in terms of responsiveness etc.

Disclaimer:
This review reflects my personal and subjective listening experience with the mentioned audio gear product. I would like to thank Jomo Audio, Joseph Mou and Audio Geek Brotherhood of Audiophiles for organizing this review tour in my country and allowing me to share my thoughts on the product. This review is not influenced in any form and I have not been compensated. Before I start, I would like to mention that most of my impressions of the gear are based on the sources and test tracks mentioned, so your mileage may vary.

Sources: Earmen Angel, Cayin RU7

Price $800

Design - see it to believe it

The Nautilus features a stunning gold-plated brass shell, adorned with natural mother-of-pearl inlays, exuding elegance and sophistication. Its compact size ensures a comfortable and secure fit for a wide range of ear shapes and sizes, making it ideal for prolonged listening sessions.

From Jomo Website - The Nautilus draws its design inspiration from the steampunk aesthetic, heavily influenced by the illustrations in the novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

Specifications (Nautilus IEM):
* CNC Gold-plated Brass Shell with Natural Mother-of-pearl Inlay
* 1 Custom 10mm Nanodiamond Coated DLC Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
* 1 Custom 6mm Planar Driver Units
* 2 Sonion Bone Conduction Driver Unit
* 3-Channels C.S.U. (CrossSync Uniphase) Crossover Network
* 3D printed AC-Squared (Asymmetrical Co-axial Acoustic Chamber) Internal Structure
* 0.78mm Brass Gold-plated 2-pin Sockets
* Frequency Response Range: 20Hz ~ 45KHz
* Impedance: 11 ohms @ 1Khz 0.5Vrms
Specifications of cable
* 4 strands of selected premium 21 AWG OCC Copper Wire
* High-precision CNC-machined solid metal components
* Gold-plated OFC high-end 4.4mm plug

My subjective take on Jomo Audio Nautilus

The Jomo Audio Nautilus is an incredibly detailed, mannered and technically well-executed in-ear monitor (IEM) that showcases highly detailed sound signature.

Mids

The upper mids on the Nautilus have a bright tonal quality that immediately stands out, particularly in high-pitched female vocals. This brightness lends an energetic and lively character to the sound. While the upper mids are not recessed, they do have a slightly thinner presentation, especially with stock tips and cables. However, with some tip and cable rolling, this can be addressed effectively. Tip rolling adds a touch of warmth, while cable rolling (notably with something like the EA Lionheart) enhances the note weight, smoothness, and airiness, significantly improving the overall tonal balance.

For female vocals, the Nautilus truly shines, offering a clean and textured delivery. While the thinner upper mids might not suit all tracks, in songs like Diana Krall’s “Desperado,” the Nautilus delivers a honey-like sweetness that’s absolutely captivating. Male vocals are forward and maintain a natural presence, adding to the overall versatility of the set.

Bass

The bass on the Nautilus is well-done, offering a performance akin to Jomo Audio skyline, sub bass is deep with impact and rumble you’d expect from BCD, the bass is presented with excellent texture and depth. It complements the clean mids and treble without overwhelming the overall sound signature. While it may not be the star of the show, the bass is certainly more than competent and works seamlessly within the Nautilus’s tuning.

Treble

The treble response on the Nautilus is another area where it excels. It is clean, airy, and detailed, making the overall sound signature feel spacious and open. However, with the stock cable, the upper mids and treble can come across as thin or hollow. Switching to a premium cable like the EA Lionheart transforms the Nautilus, adding smoothness and enhancing the airiness in the treble, making it a much more enjoyable listening experience.

Tonality and Technicalities

One of the standout features of the Nautilus is its clean and lively sound across the frequency spectrum. The resolution and technical prowess of the Nautilus set it apart from other IEMs in its class. For instance, while the Oriolus Twilight might have slightly better tonality and could be more comfortable for extended listening sessions, the Nautilus wins when it comes to clarity, technicalities, and treble response. Its ability to present a clean and natural sound with excellent resolution is one of its key strengths.

Conclusion

The Jomo Audio Nautilus is a meticulously designed IEM that excels in delivering a clean, lively, and natural sound. Its textured and sweet presentation of female vocals, combined with its technical capabilities, makes it a standout choice. While some tuning adjustments via tip and cable rolling are necessary to bring out its best, the payoff is well worth it. The Nautilus may not have the most relaxed tonality like the Twilight, but for those seeking resolution, clarity, and an engaging listening experience, it is hard to beat.

This is my first ever Jomo Audio IEM. I’ve certainly gawked at them on Musicteck and across the internet but I never pulled the trigger. I suppose I was thinking they might tune their sets like other Eastern manufacturers that place such emphasis on treble perfection. Well, when I saw Nautilus I had to take the plunge. To me, it’s absolutely gorgeous. I grabbed one from Andrew at Musicteck where the buying experience is always easy peasy.



Needless to say, they didn’t disappoint out of the box. Every bit as amazing in person. They have a nice little weight to them but not too much to make them uncomfortable. Fit is fabulous. It reminds me a bit of what I wish IER Z1R fit like.

I popped them in my ear with the peerless Dongle Luxury and Precision W2 Ultra. My fears about a bass-lite set were immediately put to rest. These suckers bring the slam and bring the rumble! I had the excellent Thieaudio Origin with me throughout my time with Nautilus and while Nautilus doesn’t bring quite the thunder but….it’s really pretty close! The Timbre, texture without a hint of bloat. This is TOTL bass response guys.

Moving onto the mids…I’m in love with the sweetness of the vocals this IEM produces. Male and Female are as close to perfect as I’ve heard in the hobby, There is a massive amount of detail here as well and while the upper mids are energetic, they don’t bother me and i have some hyper upper mids sensitivity (Couldn’t listen to Odin for more than 30 minutes). Staging and Imagine are also TOTL to my ear. I can’t tell you how many friends that have had to hear me say over and over “I can’t believe this set doesn’t cost 3 grand. People that think AirPods are the pinnacle. :0)

Going with my new soundstage test song (The Beat Hotel by Allan Taylor) Nautilus gives the feel of being in a large cathedral. The whole spectrum provides this enormous wide and TALL sound with extremely accurate imaging. Can it really be $800?


Let’s talk about the highs. The treble response here is Elysian-like. Reminds me very much of Annihilator ‘23. I’m no treble-head. I love my sparkle and I love my air and I love my micro details. But i like them within and overall warm of neutral spectrum. Nautilus and Annihilator ‘23 are the only two sets to weave a frequency curve masterfully for my likes. I haven’t heard once sibilant note. I haven’t felt any harshness at all. Just clean, gorgeous highs.



As I’ve said I have the Thieaudio Origin and also the Penon Voltage with me.


Origin: Is my favorite Thieaudio set. It’s borderline a bass head iem but with outstanding little ballerina-like treble notes. The bounce around like like a little fairy flying by your ear. It doesn’t quite have the same mids level as Nautilus, but it does have even bigger and deeper bass….by a hair or two. I found that the Nautilus fits better for longer sessions. And build quality goes to the Nautilus as well. I’ve had the Nautilus for several weeks now and there isn’t a scratch on it. I’ve been careful but not that careful.

Penon Voltage: I definitely see what all the great reviews are about. This IEM does some really great things but surprisingly, in a very different way from Nautilus. Vocals are more forward on the Nautilus but I don’t feel like they sound scooped. Voltage has great timbre in the mids and bass, though the bass doesn’t come with nearly the physicality of Nautilus. Don’t get me wrong, Voltage does have high quality bass, just not thunderous like the Jomo set. Treble is well extended and you can play around with the switches to get things just right for you. I recommend the bass switch on and the treble switch off. But I like to hear with both on with a copper cable. It’s another gorgeous IEM.




Nautilus is a keeper, even for a guy that keeps nothing. Always chasing the next amazing thing. This set sounds incredible with everything I threw at it.

Luxury and Precision w2 ULTRA
IBASSO DC ELITE
Onix Miracle
Hiby FD5 Cyberpunk (thing is awesome!)

I can’t rec the Jomo Nautilus any higher. You get TOTL performance for $800. It’s as if Jomo gave us all at $2200 coupon for Christmas or something. I’m pumped to try more of their lineup!

Bravo Jomo! Keep em coming!