Sound Impressions: Bass / The Level of Control
Allegro II has a mild w-shaped sound signature with gently more elevated upper frequencies – keeping all three frequency ranges adequately elevated. First we’ll talk about the bass. The bass is tactile, tight, and reference-like. It has that dynamic elasticity which is an iconic trait of a dynamic driver. Allegro II brings out plentiful low-end rumble and extension, though lows are incredibly well-controlled and evened out, which makes these bass stand out from other IEMs. The bass emphasis and energy are thoroughly leveled across the low-range, almost like a flat response. But, of course, Allegro II has no business of actually being flat.
Lows are so consistent and evenly distributed from ultra lows to sub-bass, creating that wide-spread sound field and vastness that are usually found in flat IEMs. Yet Allegro II does that while keeping the sound highly dynamic and bassy, which makes them special. There’s that assertive bass tone and heavy-slamming weight. The sub-bass quantity is similar to those that are v-shaped but not “V” shaped (or, in other words, not basshead bassy).
Despite the rich details that DD and BCD drivers would bring out, many brands nonetheless decide to utilize BA drivers for woofers to make meticulous adjustments, often for consistent bass flow, even if that means they’re making sacrifices in bass details. Allegro II’s bass achieves that level of cutting-edge control without giving up those details. The strikes and decays are clean and orderly.
Sound Impressions: Mids / Textural Finesse
Although Allegro II has a well-balanced sound that doesn’t tip off heavily on a specific frequency range, the main charms are certainly more focused on mids and highs. The ‘single-driver party’ is going strong and sound such as Faith Audio Labs E1000 or Metalure Sola, though another reason why multi-drivers became popular is because they are capable of making the upper frequencies a lot richer and layered – making the sound feel more “sensational”. Allegro II goes full force on expressing that multi-driver, hybrid characteristics, and that becomes deliberate starting from the vocals. Mids are adequately pulled closer, and introduces incredible resolution and technicality. Pouring in with a lot of micro-details and layering, Allegro II makes the vocals incredibly enjoyable to listen to.
In many cases, highlighting this much separation, or making each drivers stand out this much, would easily make the sound disorganized. However, this is where Allegro II differs, as these deliberate separations all comes together harmonically. Single-driver IEMs desire organic phasing and one continuous texture, whereas Allegro II takes almost the opposite route and enjoys the different textures and layering that multiple drivers could bring. Yet the transitions stay stable enough that the sound doesn’t feel patched together.
Another part I’d praise highly of Allegro II is that the mids don’t sound fatiguing despite the deliberate clarity they bring. Vocals are packed with details and have plenty of crispness, yet the texture itself has enough body and smoothness to keep the upper mids from getting dry or sharp. Allegro II sure sounds analytical, but not in the sense of stripping the music down for inspection. It’s more about hearing a lot happening at once while the music still flows naturally.
Sound Impressions: Highs / Separation
Highs continue the rich technicality that Allegro II starts showing from the mids. Trebles have a firm, clear attack with plentiful details, though they don’t get brittle or easily tip into sibilance. There’s enough upper-end presence to keep the sound crisp and refreshing, and Allegro II goes quite deep into the smaller texture details that make it suitable for critical listening. Despite having such an analytical approach, the trebles don’t feel like they’re poking out separately from the rest of the sound.
Separation is one of the strongest parts of Allegro II. Lows, mids, and highs are clearly divided in layering and position, yet they come together incredibly well as one presentation. This is where the multi-driver character becomes quite enjoyable; there’s plenty happening across different layers and frequencies, but the sound doesn’t get messy or feel like each driver is doing its own thing. Vocals are adequately pulled closer, with instruments spreading and layering behind them in clear distances. The imaging is highly accurate and clear, giving plenty of information on where each sound is placed. There’s also a lot of fun in listening into these differences in distancing, following how each layer sits closer or farther away throughout the music.
Soundstage is grand and solemn, with excellent depth and especially strong up-down extension. The left-right openness is also plenty wide and shows the level of expansion I’d expect from a flagship IEM, though the vertical layering is even more impressive. There’s a clear contrast between sounds placed higher and lower in the stage, creating a strong sense of distance and three-dimensional layering. Allegro II doesn’t rely on sheer size alone to make the stage impressive. The accuracy, clarity, and separation within that space are what make the headroom feel particularly technical and well organized.
Next Page: Summit-Fi IEM Comparisons (Campfire Audio Andromeda 10 Gold / Nostalgia Audio Pendragon) & Verdicts