Compared to Campfire Audio Astrolith (Review link)
The major difference I’d consider between these two would be the vocals. The vocals of Astrolith are relatively a tad colored (but still within the neutral spectrum). But the even bigger difference is the texture – Astrolith provides an extremely well-polished, buttery-smooth vocal texture, giving a glossy feel to the mid-range. Astrolith’s vocals also contain much more moisture.
On the other hand, Durandal’s vocals are relatively drier since Astrolith is highly moist and glossy. With less butter, Durandal’s vocals better depict the texture gain and bring out better transparency. The overall vocal thickness and body are similar but the lower-mids are slightly denser on Astrolith.
Both IEMs have a slight whisp on the upper-vocal range where the sibilance happens, and Astrolith has a sharper edge than Durandal (though still within the non-fatiguing range). The lower mids are better on Astrolith as they have higher density and are fuller in body, yet Durandal shows better execution as the mid-range approaches the upper mids, having better sibilance and timbre control.
Durandal also has noticeably better transparency and extra airiness, offering a more breezy, open-ended feel towards the upper soundstage. The bass is quite similar between these two, in both characteristics and quantity. They both have a warm-toned bass with similar ultra-low extension. The trebles are slightly more technical and sharper on Astrolith while Durandal shows equivalent treble performance but silkier and smoother in approach.
Compared to Eminent Ears Ruby (Review coming soon!)
Durandal’s advantage/difference over Ruby is the quieter, purer background / backtone. This applies across the entire frequency range, which is a big advantage for Durandal. This leads Durandal to have a noticeably cleaner bass, vocal, and treble atmosphere. Sure, both have a calm, pitch-black color but Durandal’s is cleaner, quieter, and darker. Also, Durandal’s bass dynamics are livelier, making the bass sound a bit more realistic or “breathing in life”. Durandal also creates an airier atmosphere for the vocal range.
However, Ruby has a just as strong weapon to fight back against Durandal. As we start tuning into the bass, Ruby starts to show its dominance. Ruby’s ultra-low extension and bass punch are better, providing a more masculine, fully immersive extension and color for the bass. The bass rumbles are clearer and stronger, and also more plentiful in quantity. Alongside, while the staging atmosphere may be quieter on Durandal, Ruby’s bass timbre is more solemn, as well as deeper – in both color and bass extension. The trebles are crispier and more prominent in presentation, making it a strong charming point for those who enjoy biting into prominent treble strikes and snares but also in a comfortable manner.
For the vocals, it’s rather a matter of preference/taste. Ruby’s vocals are slightly creamier and sweeter in tone, while Durandal has more liveliness and this “breathing in life” feeling thanks to its more three-dimensional presentation. The vocals sound overall more fancy and airier. However, for those who want linear, more “phasing-natural” vocals, Ruby will serve you better as Durandal highlights more 3D effects to the sound (although never unnatural or overdone). If you enjoy the extra richness and spatialness brought by a carefully tailored tuning, Durandal would fit you better.
Luxury-Radiating Earphones – With Quality.
Nostalgia Audio Durandal is packed with delicate and careful details inside and out, both the appearance/concept and sound. As elaborated earlier, Durandal’s sound features multiple unique identities or charming points that could’ve easily thrown off as odd, unnatural, or just simply boring, yet Durandal’s special ‘theme tone’, extremely even yet dynamic bass grooves and reinterpretation of its own spatial headroom are more than enough to show that Nostalgia Audio has poured effort to show what they’re capable of performance-wise, as well as the passion they wanted to show through a product.
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