Trying the Volume even from the phone, the sound quality remains high still. No hiss, and requiring two volume clicks more (difference of about 10-15%) than most IEMs to drive to normal listening loudness. As mentioned, the Volume is special due to its separation. Even when fed with less than optimal source quality, the instruments are well-separated still, as good as the recording mixing and signal received/transmitted. Combined with its dark quiet stable background, and clear mids, it makes for a very resolving sound. Very good technically. And I dare say one of the best in terms of separation and layering ability, competent and capable of beating even the multi-fold more expensive higher-end models in this department. There is something magical introduced in the crossover of the Volume, it's a special hybrid model due to its talent or latent ability to separate instruments and frequency regions each to their lanes, and at once joining them together in a harmonious and neat manner. Well done, it's applausable how much care, serious attention and research Softears have put into to culminate this sound. From the driver positioning, internals arrangement, material selection, and total assembly. Punches way above its weight. Praiseworthy
Some minuses to my ears (highly sujective and preferential) though, are Volume's midrange timbre, which due to its leaner lower-mids, sound slightly more on the colder side. The upper-mids relative to other frequencies sound the most prominent, and forward. Which contrasts the lower-mids further. Albeit the added power and weight from the DD bass manage to tilt and balance the sound slightly, giving the notes a solid needed foundation. Bass sounded exceptional too for its quality, very good at its rendition from attack to decay. Displaying exceptional control and dynamics allowing each bass notes to float blend and spread well along with its stage and midrange notes without causing hindrance. It has good average amount, and overall quite natural sounding and -ly positioned. But the quality to reiterate, is exceptionally high. Just that the amount isn't for EDM bass-heads, more for bassist and drummers. It doesn't sound too warm in the lower-mids too, so cello and other wooden bassy instruments may lack that wood-like organicity or weightiness
The treble too never sounds harsh to my ears. It's not too far-extended as well though. But it provides the necessary brightness to the whole presentation sans excess. It has a good downward-sloping trend after peaking in the lower to mid treble. Still the peak is no higher relative to its upper-mids
A treasured emerald gem
Great packaging, and an incredible value
