IO Audio‘s journey continues with their second earphones, the SOGNO. These are very similar, in aesthetical terms, to the previously-launched VOLARE. You can sense a theme here with the names – in both cases it’s Italian words, and in the case of the latest model the name means “dream”. The IO Audio SOGNO are quite different from the previous model, however, despite the superficial similarities.
Disclaimer: I got a free unit for the purpose of this review from Shenzhen Audio. They sell the SOGNO for $399. Additional information at Shenzen Audio’s website.
Packaging & Accessories
Much like their higher-end predecessors, the SOGNO feature a rich packaging with an extensive set of accessories. The thick cardboard box contains the earphones with the detachable cable, a hard carrying case (which is the same as the VOLARE’s and, just like in that case, contains padding which is a bit difficult to remove), a drawstring pouch, a set of three cable terminations (3.5 mm unbalanced, 4.4 and 2.5 mm balanced), and five sets of eartips in three different sizes, each of which in its own plastic box with the type indicated on it. Overall it’s a super-rich set of accessories which gives you plenty of flexibility and configurability.
Design & Comfort
The shape of the IO Audio SOGNO’s shells is the classic IEM, which is an almost-triangular shape and is coloured black with glitter-like speckles embedded in it. The faceplate has this tree-like shape which starts from the bottom and opens going up; it is silver in colour which makes it stand out against the darker background. It looks very organic and, at the same time, very modern.
As a small touch that elevates the overall design, there is an “I” on the left earpiece and a corresponding “I” on the cable on the left hand side, and the same is found on the right hand side with an “O”.
The shells themselves are made of black plastic with what appears like silvery glitter, which gives them a rather unique appearance. The nozzle is integral to the shells and does not feature a grille, which is normally employed to avoid dirt and dust from entering the earphones.
In terms of comfort, the SOGNO are definitely comfortable: as I am writing these words I have been wearing the earphones for more than one hour and I am only now starting to feel their presence in my ears. The shells are on the bigger side, though, so people with smaller ears will probably find them to be less comfortable.
Passive isolation is substantial, as most sounds from around me are blocked out whether I am in the quiet of my home or in a busy café, even when listening at a low volume.
The cable has four cores of medium thickness, which are braided between the jack connector and the Y-split and then twisted in pairs until the 2-pin connectors, with shrink tube applied to the section that goes on the ear. There is also a chin slider. The cable is soft and malleable and, despite its size, it is relatively lightweight. The jack itself is replaceable, as there is an ingenious system that allows you to unscrew the four-arms plastic bit and remove the jack itself, so that you can connect a different one; you can choose between 2.5 mm balanced, 3.5 mm single-ended and 4.4 mm balanced. There is also a small red elastic band which helps immediately identify the right hand side earpiece.
Sound & Specs
I tested the IO Audio SOGNO using various sources, including a Hidizs AP80 PRO-X.
IO Audio SOGNO |
| Frequency response | 10 – 30,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 12.89 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 126.5 dB |
The IO Audio SOGNO uses eight drivers per channel: two coaxial dynamic drivers (10 mm and 6 mm) plus six balanced armatures (four full-range plus two tweeters). Interestingly enough, the 6 mm dynamic driver is used for high frequencies alongside the balanced armatures, which is a very unusual setup as normally companies use either dynamic drivers or balanced armatures and rarely both for a given area. The balanced armatures are custom-made to IO Audio’s specifications.
The soundstage is quite wide, with instruments appearing at both ends of the spectrum and in a relatively large space which extends both in width and depth. Imaging is accurate, too, with instruments placed across the whole gamut of positions from left to right, and with a clear central placement when needed. Instrument separation is convincing, as even at low volume and with intricate tracks it is easy to identify and separate all the various instruments from the mix.
Bass is relatively reserved, just a tad below what I would describe as “neutral”. It does offer good depth, although the fact that it is quite reserved in general applies to the lowest notes too, which in turn makes them less audible overall. One great thing about bass on the SOGNO is that it sounds always very nimble, in the sense that it is very fast with quick transients that also offer some physicality. This makes it quite fun to listen to, even with tracks that normally benefit from added bass emphasis like Perturbator’s Death Squad. The level of detail is high, thanks to the aforementioned speed.
Midrange is definitely the star of the show and is always front and centre. It sits in front of both bass and treble, with added emphasis on the upper region. This added emphasis makes the sound bright at times, and it adds a tinge of colour that puts the spotlight on female voices and instruments such as violins, electric guitars, trumpets and so on – basically, high-pitched instruments. As a result, it can sometimes sound a bit shouty and too “in your face”, and I feel like there is something missing in the lower section to provide a bit of warmth and “weight”. Again, speed is remarkable and drums shine thanks to it. One thing that really stands out in the midrange area, though it applies more broadly to the whole frequency range, is the level of detail, which is very very high.
The emphasis we found in the upper midrange area continues in the treble range, which is quite prominent in the lower area and then progressively goes down on a relatively gentle slope. Still, it is never aggressive and it remains very much enjoyable even when you are sensitive to treble like me. Detail is fantastic: whatever you listen to, it feels like there is always a good depth to cymbals, thanks to the fact that there are lots of details being presented – everything sounds well-rounded. It is also very easy to hear these details, even when you listen at very low volume.
Final Thoughts
IO Audio has crafted a great pair of earphones with the SOGNO. They’re comfortable, they offer fantastic passive isolation, and most importantly they sound great. The interesting approach of using two coaxial dynamic drivers, one of which is used for treble, together with a more traditional setup of multiple balanced armatures gives its results with a very high level of detail throughout the whole spectrum and awesome technical ability. The tuning is almost neutral, too, with some added brightness which works well in most genres.
The SOGNO continue much in the same vein as the VOLARE, with an overall similar tuning and a high-end sound that works with basically anything and everything. At $399, the SOGNO are very good value and I do recommend them if you want a neutral-ish, slightly bright earphone with great detail and great technicalities – not to mention an enviable accessory set!
