Soratune YI01

Jadedgem

New Head-Fier
Soratune YIO1- Gaming Meets Music
Pros: Great Midbass punch
Creamy high end
Perfect for gaming
Cons: Thin, Flimsy cable
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Soratune YIO1 In-ear monitors review

I am an audiophile from sunny South Africa. Soratune is a sub brand of Kinera and I was really looking forward to test out their product. The YIO1 is not just marketed as an earphone for music but also as a gaming in-ear monitor and as I don’t get a lot gaming monitors this was a very welcome mail call when I received the YIO1 IN South Africa after about 2-3 weeks. The sales lady is really nice to deal with and is a real asset for the company. I have no doubt that being a sub brand of such a well-known brand as Kinera that the aftersales service will also be top notch. The YIO1 was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion and I will aim to be as objective as possible and listen not just from an audiophile perspective but also as a gamer and music lover.

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Unboxing

The YIO1 sells for R1938 in my country and the packaging reflects the price. I can describe the packaging as a lot the same as ARTTI products are packaged with a white cardboard cover with the earphone picture on the front and specs on the back. When you slide the cover off there is two parts you have to part and in the bottom one you will find the sponge that houses the earphone shells. Underneath that is a very cool denim/canvas type case and your two packs of ear tips. Also, the usual instructions and quality control card is to be found here. The packaging is very sturdy and I don’t think that there is a chance that it would get damaged in the post unless the delivery guys play football with it.

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Specs

Brand: Soratune

Model: YI01

Driver Unit: Double dynamic coil

Impedance: 9Ω(@1kHz)

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): ≤1%(@1kHz)

Sensitivity: 101 dB/mw(@1kHz)

Frequency Response: 20-20kHz

Cable Specification: 1.2m silver plated wire 0.78mm Double Pin

Plug: 3.5mm without Microphone\Type-C with Microphone

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Connectivity

The YIO1 comes in a 3.5mm and Usb-C termination and my unit came in 3.5mm which gives you more versality with all the things you can connect it to. I connected it for gaming to my desktop pc via the Fosi Audio SK01 headphone amplifier and also straight to my Oppo A78 phone for mobile gaming. For music I had a listen on my Hiby M300 Dap and various Dac/amps like Fosi Audio DS1 which is used the most as well as the EPZ TP50 and the phenomenal TP35. Also, I used the YIO1 straight from the 3.5mm from my old faithful LG V30.

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Look & Build

If you have read some of my previous reviews then you will know that I really like metal shells so when I opened the box and saw metal shells, I was immediately curious about the design. The shells feel solid but not heavy at all and makes for a great sturdy but light and unfatiguing fit. Mine is the black version and I like it better than the silver. The design mimics an Italian harpsichord and I think it does look really fantastic. There is even a silver grill on the top plate which I like. As a lover of thick and heavy cables I did not like the cable as it to thin and flimsy for me. The connection parts of the cable look sturdy and the silverplated wire will not subtract to add to the sound. The tips are the type of silicon ones with the narrow bass orientated nozzles. I used the white ones the most during my evaluation. The case I really like and I am so glad most companies are moving away form the pleather material and I am seeing more and more cases like this. The denim/canvas material really rocks and feels very sturdy. The Soratune logo in green gives it a nice finished look.

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Sound

I had the previous Saturday planned as the day I would write my review as I normally take the day to take all my notes and summarize them all into a review as it usually takes me about half a day. So early in the morning and as I do not read other reviews of the product I am reviewing as to not influence my objectivity I just had a quick look at the specs and holy hell I missed one big piece of information and that is that the YIO1 is not just a music earphone but also a gaming earphone and I panicked because the whole week I was just evaluating the YIO1 as a music earphone. I decided to give it a quick test and opened StarCraft 2 on my desktop pc and connected the YIO1 via the Fosi Audio Sk01 to my Dac. Needless to say, my review did not get finished the Saturday and I ended up playing the whole Saturday and Sunday. I can honestly say that in the gaming department the sound is pretty immersive and crystal clear. I also played some call of duty on my phone and the sound was very immersive as I could make out footsteps very clearly and the separation of all the aspects was pretty evident throughout my gameplay.

I found that while gaming the bass was elevated enough to recreate real explosions and the bombs went off with conviction. The voices were very clear and because the highs are also boosted the explosions and gunfire did not drown them out. These are also very comfortable for long hours of gaming or music listening as the fit is extremely good in my ears and I did not even notice they were there.

While evaluating the music side of the YIO1 I knew that the earphone was made for modern music and I started with some Electronic Dance music and I selected some Mark Dekoda and a song called Rave Harder Techno Bass and man from the start the mid bass slam was there. After listening to many EDM songs I quickly came to the conclusion that the YIO1 is mid bass focused and the mid bass was very controlled with lots of tight impact and slam. Another great song for mid bass is Dark Eternal Night by Dream Theater as those drums are absolutely sublime.

If you want to test the sub bass on an earphone a perfect track to test with is a song form the Dark Knights soundtrack by Hanz Zimmer called Why so serious. I got a big fright at 3:20 when that real earth quick type sub bass kicks in. So, the sub bass is definitely there but it is not emphasized at all and you would have to call on tracks I mentioned to hear it. Moving away from EDM music and on London Grammer- Hey Now the sub bass shined through just as beautiful as the vocals. It sounded just perfect with nothing bleeding into each other and everything came together in perfect harmony.

I wanted to explore this nice bass further so I added an Effect Audio Signature Series ii 4.4mm balanced cable and some Penon Liqueur Black tips and if you do buy the YIO1 I highly recommend you order these tips from Penon. On Are you Ready by Bad Ninja the bass was very controlled and tight and the extra power exercised just the right amount of control to push/pull the driver back and forth as to create bass head approved levels of bass. I try in every review to use the accompanied tips throughout the review but I do believe that the Penon tips is a well-deserved upgrade.

I was worried about that peak in the higher midrange frequency above 2KHz but somehow it just worked. As the audiophile in me wanted to test this YIO1 with some audiophile music and the perfect album for that is definitely Warm Your Heart by Aaron Neville. Such a great group of artists and produced by Linda Ronstadt who also sings 4 times. Also, artists like Rita Coolidge. Ry Cooder, Bob Seger and Dr. John makes this one of the albums I think every audiophile should own or listen to at least once. To sweeten the experience a bit and to calm the bass a bit down I remembered I had some E-PRO audio wide bore tips that was sent to me for review and oh boy on the song It feels like rain I got goosebumps. The goosebumps came from a very low-pitched male voice that echoes in the background and is like this food grater sound if I can call it that as its difficult to describe. The realism was spot on and every instrument sounded like it should. You feel every note and because the wide bore ear tips calm the bass a bit and everything else shines a bit more. The cymbals and saxophone became more forward in such a good way that you could really feel the emotion put into the music by the artists. I heard some of the most beautiful male vocals in my life on That’s the way she loves.

There was no sibilance I could pick on any music I played and the highs was this velvety smooth almost warm tone. The instrument separation actually surprised me seeing as though this a dual earphone. There a lot of instruments used and sometimes on earphones things can get really messy when the instrument separation is not good. On Angola Bound the drums is so well separated from everything else its scary. Every stroke on the piano can be felt and as I am typing this, I can almost feel those fast fingers over the piano and want to airplay along.

I don’t know what came over me or if I was possessed by some ghost of the eighties but before I could realize I found myself foot tapping to some Modern Talking- Geronimo’s Cadillac and believe it or not these YIO1 even makes Modern Talking sound good. This led to me digging out a lot of corny songs like Come on Eileen, Ghostbusters, The Look by Roxette (I know my audiophile friends will not forgive me) and had such an enjoying listening experience. So, I do believe that the YIO1 is the perfect earphone for when you are in a casual listening or party mood.

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Conclusion

I found the YIO1 a very capable earphone for music and gaming. Who should buy it? If you are a gamer and music lover and to combine the two into one earphone then the YIO1 is definitely for you. For the price I feel you can’t go wrong.

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enveedee

New Head-Fier
FIRST SHOT DIDN'T MISS!
Pros: -Rumbly, clean, sub-bass
- Clean tuning suitable for gaming and listening to music
- Technicality, especially imaging which is really good for its price
-Design is handsome
-Tuned for a gamer in mind
Cons: - Timbre of vocals tends to be thin (nitpick!)
- Comfort on the ears could be better
- Very basic IEM accessories
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SORATUNE YI01

This IEM was provided by Soratune for me to review.

This review is subjective and written as objectively as possible.
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**PREFERENCES** & **SETUP**


My sound preference is V-shaped, classic V-shaped, mild V-shaped, U-shaped, anything that has bass in it, I tend to like it.

I prioritize timbre and coherence over technicality overall.

My daily setup is:

- Astell&Kern SE200
- Beyerdynamic Xelento with Midas cable
- Custom IEM "NVD"
- Variety of eartips

My favorite genres are:

- Hip hop
- Orchestra/Scoring
- K-pop
- Nu rock
- Fast-paced genres

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**INTRODUCTION**

SORATUNE
, a brand from China, is relatively new to the current ChiFi world, but Soratune is actually a sub-brand of a more well-known brand, Letshuoer.

This IEM has actually been out for a while, but I've only recently been able to write a complete review of it.

So, will an IEM from a brand with a less popular name fail? And what about the gaming tag? LET'S SEE!

*This IEM was reviewed using the stock cable and white eartips (wide).*

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**ACCESSORIES**

The box for the IEM can be summed up in one word: BASIC.

It's a very simple white box that looks like those from other brands, such as ARTTI (which is also a sub-brand of LETSHUOER).

The contents:

- 1x Soratune YI01 IEM driver
- 1x Type-C cable
- 1x Set of white eartips
- 1x Set of black eartips
- 1x Case
- 1x Manual book
- 1x QC pass

In short, the accessories are basic.
Nothing special here.

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**CONFIGURATION**

The Soratune YI01 is equipped with dual dynamic drivers, 8mm + 10mm.

With an impedance of 9 ohms and a sensitivity of 101dB/mW, this IEM requires more power but is not too difficult to drive.

You can use a regular dongle.

But the one I am reviewing is the Type-C model.

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**FITTING**

The YI01 fits well in the ear, but for an IEM that is "supposed" to be suitable for gaming, I personally think it could have been more comfortable.

Rolling the tips could improve that. I recommend wide-bore eartips for a more spacious feel.

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**SOUND IMPRESSIONS**

**BASS:**


The bass is the type that tends to be bigger in the sub-bass than in the mid-bass, and there's a clean sensation here that doesn't interfere with the vocals at all and is superbly textured with fast decay. If you are confused about the term texture, it's the type of bass where you can clearly hear the resonating sound but it doesn't feel overwhelming.

If you ask me if it's enough for bassheads, I would say no.

But it's enough for most people who just want bass for certain songs.

**BASS (Gaming version):**

From the gaming perspective, the bass is boosted and made clean. What does that mean? It means you can hear the sound of footsteps without it mixing with the sound of explosions.

Because the footsteps and explosions are in the bass area to lower midrange range, I think the tuning was intentionally made clean with minimal note weight, so the articulation of the explosions and footsteps is more distinct.

**MIDRANGE:**

In terms of vocals, this IEM tends to be thinner than weighty or full-bodied.

For male vocals with a bass or baritone/heavy tone, there's a lack of a chesty or wet sound; they sound dry, in fact. Josh Groban's vocals in "You Raise Me Up" feel a bit less deep.

However, the articulation of the pronunciation is very good; I could hear the lyrics very easily.

Female vocals feel a bit more forward and more lively.

Although the characteristics are more or less the same, the sweet spot is achieved with female vocals and harmonies sound sweeter.

The pinna gain is also lower, so it's suitable for you if you tend to listen at higher volumes (within reason).

**MIDRANGE (Gaming version):**
Like the bass, the lower midrange has less weight, which means that the mix of footsteps and explosions is very distinct and never overwhelming.

**TREBLE:**

The treble is safe.

Tuned safely, but "smooth" is not the right word here.

I hear the energy, the bite, and the sparkle from the treble, but it's tuned in such a way as not to be painful to the ears when listening at high volumes.

I think they do tuned it so a gamer can play it longer, with reasonably higher volume in mind.

Also, there's a sense of airiness here that gives the soundstage a bit more height.

**TREBLE (Gaming version):**

From the gaming perspective, safe treble like this means you don't need to worry about the sound of your own shots.

There's no piercing sensation, and it's not too loud, so the sound detail on the battlefield becomes more distinct and easier to track those minuscule detail of the battlefield.

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**TECHNICALITIES**

**SOUNDSTAGE:**


To be honest, the soundstage is average at best. It's not narrow, but it's not anything to write home about.

But the airy and spacious effect gives the feel of a real FPS battlefield.

**IMAGING:**

The IEM's imaging is pretty impressive.

You can hear left, right, front, and back, and even more: sounds that move from left to right are accurate without any "blind" spots.

What do I mean by accurate? I mean you could close your eyes and still point to the exact direction where the sound is coming from.

In comparison, an IEM with poor imaging has less distinct directionality; you know the sound is coming from the right/left but you can't tell precisely.

Playing PUBG or other competitive FPS games is a lot of fun with this IEM because there is a sense of being more immersed due to clean tuning that doesn't interfere with different sound frequencies.

**TIMBRE:**

The timbre is still a bit lacking in true-to-life quality due to lack of weight in the lower midrange and bass frequencies.

But personally, I think that's a minor issue that can be sacrificed for a better FPS gaming experience.

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**CONCLUSION**

The Soratune YI01 is a serious first attempt from this brand. While it might not be their first IEM, it shows that they are taking their place in the ChiFi universe more seriously.

In terms of tonality, it may not quite match my usual preferences.
But personally, I highly recommend this IEM for your gaming needs.

It's unusual to find a "gaming" IEM that's also pleasant to listen to.

Thanks for reading. This was a somewhat unique review. I tried to look at it from the perspective of both an audiophile and a gamer, who often judge "gaming IEMs" unfairly.

In my opinion, the sound is very pleasant!
See you!
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Asta GunaReview

New Head-Fier
Soratune YI01 - Fresh Brand, Great Tune
Pros: + Great balanced set
+ Dynamic driver always give natural timbre
+ Pretty clean, non aggressive midrange
+ Easy to drive
+ Well controlled bass with nice punch
+ Solid construction with nice design
+ Great clarity
Cons: - Vocals a bit recessed, so people who like forward midrange will find it lacking
- With this kind of midrange some will find it a bit dry
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Soratune is a relatively new brand in the Chi-Fi market, and for your information, they are sister of the well-known Chi-Fi brand Letshouer, which has a reputation for providing great products. Currently they have released two IEMs: the entry-level one Bi01 and the higher model Yi01, which I'm discussing now and has positive reception.

This IEM uses dual dynamic coils. We all know how this type of driver tends to provide excellent bass, natural timbre, and clean sound. Before diving deeper, let's first look at the non-sound aspects, starting with the Packaging and accessories:

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The IEM offers clean and minimalist packaging, medium in size, with everything well organized. Inside, you’ll find:
- The IEMs
- Cable
- 6 pairs of eartips
- Case
- Some instruction papers & warranty

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While there are no additional frills, all the accessories meet basic needs. The IEM cable uses silver-plated materials and offers a choice of mic/non-mic types, with termination options of Type-C or 3.5mm jack plug. I choose the non-mic version with a 3.5mm jack because I prefer using IEMs solely for music and I'm not a fan of Type-C, as I like pairing with a DAC or my LG V60 phone jack to fully elevate their potential "matter of taste and preference". The cable material is quite good; it’s not a thick braided type, but slim and soft, also it less prone to tangling too.

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Build, Design, Fit

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The build quality of the IEM feels solid, made from lightweight but sturdy CNC aluminum alloy. The design of the Yi01 is quite attractive, reminding me of the Tanchjim 4U and Tri Draco, with its rabbit-like shape. This design provides a snug fit and great isolation. The choice of a slim, comfortable cable also adds to the overall comfort.

Pairing & The Sound

This IEM has a 9ohms and a sensitivity of 101 dB/mW that make fairly easy to drive.. also for me The Yi01 is not particularly picky about source pairing, My LG V60 does the job, but better sources will surely enhance the sound even more. I’m pairing it with the iBasso DC07 and using Divinus Velvet eartips for testing..

My initial impression straight from the box is that this IEM has quite clean sound, with balanced sound across all aspects.

Bass

The low-end here is fun, with a great thump and nice rumble. The sub-bass has texture and a satisfying rumble for hip-hop, R&B, and even K-pop, making it very enjoyable. The mid-bass, while not overly hard hitting one, but still offer great puncy and a natural decay—not too slow nor too fast—so it performs well across many genres, except for metal, which requires quicker decay.

Midrange

For me, the midrange of Yi01 is its standout feature. It's quite balanced, with the low-mid offering nice weight without being too thick, which could lead to congestion (if it doesn't get done properly).. The upper midrange has great control, avoiding shoutiness or harshness while still providing clarity for high-pitched female vocals. This midrange type suits a variety of vocal types, and for those sensitive to sibilance, this IEM is relatively safe. There’s a hint or peaks on certain tracks, but compared to other models in a similar price range, i can say one of cleanest.

Treble

Treble isn’t the crispiest but offers good clarity to the overall aspect. The sound of guitar strings is enjoyable, and cymbal strikes remain fairly clear and has natural timbre without metalic or artificial sound. But don’t expect it will satisfy trebleheads, but for those who appreciate clarity without piercing treble, this IEM deliver it to you.

The Technical aspects hold their own as well. The soundstage offers a surprising amount of immersion, making it great for listening to live performances or recordings. The 3D imaging is accurate, so the “gaming” label isn't a gimmick. I tested it with some game such as Apex Legends, and it performed very well, allowing me to pinpoint enemy footsteps easily. The resolution is decent, but don’t expect the level of detail you’d get from more analytical or highend level set. But, for the asking price, it’s pretty good..

Some Comparison

Vs Tri Draco ($59)

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These two has same 2DD configuration. In my opinion, the sound signature is pretty similar, with more puncy and depth bass in the Soratune.. The midrange of both is one of the cleanest in their class, but in terms of note weight I think Soratune stands out here.. but for upper-mid or female vocals, Draco feels more open. The treble both of them is safe and balanced, with the soundstage being slightly wider in Draco because it's has large vent or open-back.. However, in terms of detail and imaging, I think Soratune a bit excels for me.

Vs Letshouer DZ4 ($89)

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In my opinion, the tuning is quite different. DZ4 is more warm and laid-back, while Soratune is more balanced or neutral. The bass here, I think DZ4 has the edge in the sub-bass with more texture, while the midbass in Soratune feels punchier. The midrange here depends on preference; if you like thick low-mid, then DZ4 better choice. For upper-mid, I think Soratune feels more open, especially for female vocals in J-pop songs.. The treble in DZ4 is more laid-back, making it warmer and leaning towards dark sounding, while Soratune still sounds crisp and airy in the treble, although it's not for trebleheads level either... In terms of technicalities, both are equally good, with imaging dan separation being better in Soratune if both use the stock cable..

Vs Ziigat Cinno ($99)

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it's quite interesting to compare both, as Cinno is one of my favorite IEMs with a neutral and very laid-back sound signature.. The bass here The Cinno has a type of bass that is quite fast with good rumble quality.. The midbass, I think Soratune takes the place with it's punchiness. For the midrange, to be honest, I quite like Cinno; it has more body and pretty sweet too. However, its drawback is that high female vocals feel less open compared to Soratune. The treble in Cinno if you like a more laid-back sound, has treble that is so safe that trebleheads will find it a bit dark.. while Soratune still sounds brighter or better clarity.. In terms of technicalities, if you like a grand, atmospheric soundstage Cinno will give it to you.. Soratune is more open with an airy soundstage, and both almost have the same quality in imaging..

Conclusion

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I say it's good start from Soratune, among many IEMs currently available, I think the Yi01 could be a strong contender especially if you're looking for a neutral sound or something balanced across frequencies, from good bass performance to nice clarity in the treble. If you're a treblehead or perhaps basshead, this might not blow you away, but for someone who appreciates a neutral or balanced set, this could be your top pick...

If you like to purchase, consider link below (non affiliate)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF52931X

https://www.aliexpress.us/i/3256807579712423.html
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
New Experienced Challenger
Pros: - basics done right (tuning, build, fit)
- airy and spacious stage
Cons: - not the most resolving for the price
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Soratune is a new brand that looks and feels experienced already

cost at around $70 for me it got all the basics covered like
- build : made of aluminium, unique faceplate with precision cut and smooth surface
- fit : basically no complain just feels right and i could wear them for hours without complain
- tuning :
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man… that’s nice… i would categorize this as mild U

bass is deep, textured and well controlled, simply good….

mid is tuned nicely striking good balance for male and female, and as you see this pinna gain is definitely much less compared to harman, so it’s anti-shout if you’re sensitive to harman but will feel laid back of you’re pro harman, personally i prefer this kind of more laid back mid yet still retain the ear gain tuning, i can still feel the vocal energy but never shouty

treble here is airy and well extended sometimes i feel “airy” here feels kind of “physical” also, not only about frequency, almost feels like open back sensation (maybe due to the vent)

technical is decent for the price but not class leading
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in my technical scale above i’d put it between chu 2 and artti t10 (leaning a bit more to t10)

not the most resolving, feels a bit soft in transient attack but the soundstage definitely feels wide and open with good imaging as well

so as one of the debut product i will say i’m excited to know what more can soratune offer because this YI01 is simply a great contender for the price!!
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