I/O Audio Sogno - A Promising Second Act

 

General/Packaging/Build/Comfort
I/O Audio, a relatively new entrant in the audiophile market, has quickly made a name for itself with its second flagship model, the Sogno. Priced at $399, this 2DD+6BA configuration demonstrates the brand's commitment to delivering high-quality audio at an attractive price point. The Sogno arrives in a luxurious package that befits its flagship status. The IEMs are housed in a premium faux leather case, while accessories like the cable and ear tips are neatly organised.The included cable, a high-purity OFC SPC with interchangeable plugs (2.5, 3.5, and 4.4mm), adds to the premium experience. In terms of comfort, the Sogno's shell is neither too big or small based on my experience, it will probably suit everyone, the secure fit and excellent seal make it comfortable for extended listening sessions. The inclusion of multiple ear tip options, including wide bore, narrow bore, and foam, ensures a personalised fit for most users.

The Sogno's design is both elegant and functional, with a smooth finish and a visually appealing faceplate. The overall build quality is exceptional, reflecting I/O Audio's dedication to crafting premium products.

Gears used for this review

• DITA Navigator

• Fiio KA15

• I/O Audio Sogno Stock Cable and Eartips

• Fiio M23

• Letshuoer EJ07 Stock Cable and Eartips

Foreword

My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far

Sound
The Sogno's tonality leans towards a neutral-warm character, offering a balanced sound signature that avoids any harsh or overly bright elements. Despite featuring six balanced armatures, the IEM's timbre is remarkably natural and free from any noticeable BA coloration. While there might be a subtle hint of BA timbre detectable upon close inspection, it's largely imperceptible during casual listening. The tuning of the Sogno is slightly U-shaped, emphasising the sub-bass frequencies for a more impactful and engaging listening experience. The mid-bass region is also well-represented, providing a satisfying foundation for various musical genres.

Bass

• The sub bass is rumbly and has good extension, but i wouldn’t say it is anywhere near basshead kind of rumble, it does rumble when the track calls for it

• Mid bass has good body and it doesn’t sound thin, double bass pedal doesn’t sound bloated or lacking in terms of texture, Slipknot’s People = Shit, during the fast drumming, every hit can be heard clearly

• Bass from the Sogno is tight and clean transition between the sub and mid bass is quite balanced without sounding incoherent

• I personally find the tuning of bass is done right to my preference,somewhere between fun and audiophile but not venturing into the basshead category, but i do yearn for a little bit more in terms of bass quantity

Mids

• The mid range has plenty of details and they don’t sound recessed at all

• Vocal doesn’t sound recessed nor too forward, just right to my ears

• Male vocal in my opinion sounds quite full and well textured, possibly due to the implementation of dual DD and also the warmer sound signature, female vocal on the other hand also has very good energy level to it, even when you crank the volume higher, it doesn’t sound “shouty”

• The upper mids are generally quite safe sounding, but again, it depends on your tolerance and sensitivity, and most importantly, the fit

Treble

• Now, the treble, is also another strong point of the Sogno, it has plenty of energy and air, yet it is not harsh sounding

• It is smooth overall with no hints of sibilant even when you crank the volume up

• Detail retrieval is very good and actually for the asking price, i personally think that it is punching above its price point

Soundstage/Imaging

• The Sogno’s soundstage is not that “big” sounding, a good width and height perception, separation is also top class

• Imaging is very good,the instruments can be pinpointed easily in busy track like Slipknot’s Duality

• The technicalities of Sogno is very good overall 

Driveability

• The Sogno is not hard to drive and it does sound decently loud even from weaker source like Apple’s Lightning Dongle, what i want to stress is that, sounding loud is not equivalent to driving power

• My observation is that it doesn’t really benefit much from power, just slight changes in terms of sound from the various source that i have test, possibly due to it having fairly low impedance and high sensitivity

Comparison (Letshuoer’s EJ07M)

• Switching over to the EJ07M for the purpose of comparison,i would say the tonality between the EJ07M and Sogno is vastly different

• Priced at 669$ for the EJ07M vs Sogno at 400$, in terms of value, Sogno definitely have a lot to offer at the asking price

• The tonality of the EJ07M is leaning towards warmish and deeper sub bass extension/rumble compared to Sogno

• In terms of bass, the sub bass does have a bit more quantity and extends quite deep compared to Sogno, but the mid bass is slightly less punchy compared to the Sogno

• Mids are fairly clean sounding, the male vocal especially, can be a little thin at times, female vocal however is very sweet and full of energy

• Treble is quite smooth with plenty of details due to the inclusion of EST drivers, it is quite airy and contributed to a big soundstage

• Technicalities i would say the EJ07M performs at probably around 20-30% better than the Sogno, which is to be expected since it is costing more, but given the asking price of Sogno, i personally think Sogno is very impressive

• Shell size, the Sogno is slightly larger than the EJ07M

Final Thoughts

Having tested the Sogno for several weeks. It is safe to say that it offers a very good and high price performance ratio. For a mid ranger, it does almost everything right, of course there are some cons if I were to nitpick. The Sogno has been my daily driver since i received them, i have even put it up for comparison with some of the more expensive models from Letshuoer, and the Sogno definitely isn’t too far from and costs way less. This is definitely an outstanding release from I/O and I am definitely looking forward to their upcoming releases. It deserves a 5 out of 5 stars, another 5 stars from me for I/O Audio.  Highly recommended! 

*The Sogno is sent over by ShenzhenAudio for the purpose of this review. I thank them for the support and opportunity as always

Head over to the official store if you are interested in getting one, it is currently being priced at 399$

I/O Audio Sogno - Non affiliated Link