DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.
The Twistura D-Major can be gotten here:
https://www.linsoul.com/products/twistura-d-major (no affiliate links).
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver configuration: 10 mm beryllium-plated PU composite diaphragm dynamic driver
- Frequency response: 15 Hz - 37 kHz
- Impedance: 22 Ω
- Sensitivity: 108 dB
- Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; OFC copper silver-plated cable; 3.5 mm termination. Also can be used with included USB-C DSP cable
- Tested at: $49 USD (non-mic version); $50 USD (mic version)
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)
- Analogue cable
- DSP USB-C cable
- Tuning nozzles (3 pairs)
- Carrying pouch
For a $50 USD set, the accessories are quite stellar. I've definitely seen pricier IEMs with a more inferior accessory line-up.
While we do not have any foam tips, there are 2 variants of silicone tips. The narrow-bore ones boost bass with some soundstage compression, whereas the wide-bore ones increase air and treble, and open up the staging.
The stock cable is a Litz-braided OFC copper silver-plated cable. It only comes in a 3.5 mm termination, and is rather thin and tangly. Surprisingly, microphonics are negligible, with a chin cinch to secure the IEM during usage. When placing an order, one can opt for a mic version of this cable for a dollar more.
We have 3 pairs of tuning nozzles, and a DSP USB-C cable. These items influence and change the sonics, and we will read more about them below.
Lastly, we have a leatherette carrying pouch. While it isn't rigid to withstand compressive forces, this pouch can at least prevent scratches on the mirror-like body of the IEM.
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 D-Major is fashioned from electroplated zinc-alloy. Indeed, the build is very solid, and easily belies its sub-$50 USD price tag. The faceplate and inner part of the shell contains black resin. While the mirror-like finish is elegant, it may be a potential scratch or fingerprint magnet though, so do baby these puppies.
Comfort is good, despite the weird-looking design. There are no poky parts that stab the ear, and the D-Major can be worn for longer sessions without discomfort.
Being a heavily vented IEM, isolation is below average. However, this helps with airflow, and I didn't detect any driver flex on my pair.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the D-Major 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 moderately easy to drive with both the DSP USB-C cable and stock analogue cable, and heavy amplification requirements are not needed.
INTERNALS/TUNING NOZZLES/DSP CABLE
The D-Major's engine is a 10 mm beryllium-plated PU composite diaphragm dynamic driver. It is advertised to hit 1 Tesla in flux, and this dynamic driver is housed within a dual-chamber with 2 magnets.
The past few months have promoted the tuning nozzle craze, and the D-Major unsurprisingly packs 3 pairs of tuning nozzles, which translate to the following tonalities:
Graph of the Twistura D-Major via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.
All 3 tuning nozzles confer neutral bright tunings which lie on the leaner side.
The blue nozzles furnish the thinnest and brightest sonics, but most users might find them shouty in the upper mids, due to an overzealous 15 dB ear gain! This causes vocals to sound artificially nasal but we have the best clarity and resolution on this setup. The blue nozzles push a lot of micro-details and technical junkies and trebleheads will enjoy this configuration for sure.
At the other extreme, the red nozzles are the most sedate in the upper midrange. But having said that, they still hit around 11 dB ear gain, and fall at the edge of shouty territory (this is more apparent at louder volumes as per the Fletcher Munson curve). Nevertheless, the red nozzles are more palatable to our treble-sensitive and anti-pinna gain gang, and the note weight is a bit thicker and bassier too, though we lose some technical prowess with these red nozzles.
The black nozzles are a midpoint between the above 2 nozzles in sonics and technicalities, but will likely still be shouty for the pinna gain detractors, with 13 dB ear rise noted on these nozzles.
Thankfully, for those who are afraid of excessive upper mids, the included DSP USB-C cable tames the upper mids and lower treble. It also thickens note weight across all tuning nozzles. Hence, with the DSP in play, the D-Major isn't as aggressive, and is more laid-back and relaxed, with rounded vocals and less sharp edges to notes. The DSP cable is a suitable option for folks that want something lusher, but we do lose some micro-detailing and resolution compared to the analogue cable.
However, DSP cables are a love-it or hate-it thing. Some purists might 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 also cap bitrate playback.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
The following impressions are done with the red nozzle in use. This confers a neutral bright tuning, with note weight on the leaner side. However, it is still the thickest in note weight (and least shouty) of the 3 nozzles on offer.
With these red nozzles, the D-Major has
bass just slightly north of neutral, with a sub-bass focus. Sub-bass extension and depth isn't the deepest however, and we only have a tickle of rumble. This IEM will hence not be for bassheads. Bass quality is happily quite solid, with above average texturing and nimble speed, with minimal mid-bass bleed.
The
midrange is relatively neutral and transparent, with no big bad bass to encroach here. As alluded to above, the red nozzles push the least ear gain at the upper mids - at about 11 dB - but even so, vocals are still forwards and at the edge, especially at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve). At low to moderate playback, this region is mostly tolerable.
The D-Major has moderate
treble extension with the red nozzles (more so with the black and blue nozzles). Sibilance may be present on occasions, but there is good clarity and resolution on tap.
Timbre is quite natural with the red nozzles, in keeping with its single DD roots. Timbre may be nasal and metallic with the blue nozzles though.
On the red nozzle configuration, the D-Major has good
technical chops, espousing relatively accurate imaging and superior micro-detailing, with above average soundstage. On the black and blue nozzles, technicalities improve, as described above, but we run into harshness in the upper midrange, so those nozzles are double-edged swords.
COMPARISONS
The Twistura D-Major will be compared against other budget single DD types. All-BAs, hybrids, and planars are omitted, as they have their own pros and cons due to the different transducer types.
The following impressions are done with the red nozzles installed.
KEFINE Delci
The Delci is a U-shaped set with thicker note weight and greater sub-bass frequencies. It also has a way tamer upper midrange than the D-Major, so we do not run into shoutiness with the Delci.
The Delci has a wider soundstage, but loses in imaging and micro-detailing. The Delci has no tunability.
Simgot EA500LM
The EA500LM likewise has 3 tuning nozzles to confer slight variations in tuning, amongst a selection of bright Harmanish tones. There is no DSP cable however, so versatility goes to the D-Major.
The EA500LM has an upper mids hump as per the Simgot house sound, but this is still less pronounced than the D-Major's, with more sub-bass available with the EA500LM.
The EA500LM has a more metallic timbre, but has a bigger soundstage. Imaging is better on the D-Major, with micro-detailing about on par.
CONCLUSIONS
The Twistura D-Major is a sub-$50 single DD with good price-to-performance ratio. Its calling card is its versatility, with 3 tuning nozzles that provide a spectrum of lean neutral bright tunings. With the excellent technicalities showcased, this IEM would be a match made in heaven for trebleheads or technical junkies that yearn for something analytical.
Admittedly, some of the tuning nozzles may be overly zealous in the upper midrange - this translates to shouty vocals - and note weight is on the willowy side. Our pinna-gain or treble-sensitive friends will probably need to consider alternatives. Thankfully, the red nozzles tame the ear gain the most, and this area just lies at the fence with these nozzles installed.
Alternatively, there is a DSP cable that thickens note weight and attenuates the upper midrange, though purists might scoff at being stuck with a particular DSP cable, due to them limiting aftermarket cable pairing, source choice or even capping bitrate playback.
Bassheads will also need to look elsewhere, as this IEM isn't the most robust in sub-bass extension and heft, but the D-Major cedes bass quantity for quality. With the red nozzles in play, timbral accuracy is legitimate, and this set is also easily driven, with solid build, comfortable ergonomics and a generous array of accessories provided.
In a nutshell, the D-Major is a budget transducer for trebleheads that prefer a more svelte tone, with a good sprinkling of technicalities and versatility. For the sub-$50 USD asking price, it isn't a bad set (except for bassheads and the treble-sensitive), and is quite competitive in the current shark infested budget CHIFI landscape.
