Today, we review one of PlusSound’s new flagship IEMs, the PlusSound Sonora, which costs $2,999 USD.
Disclaimer: PlusSound provided the Sonora free of charge for this review. PlusSound is not a site advertiser and is not affiliated with Headfonia.
PlusSound
PlusSound is a Los Angeles-based American company that specializes in aftermarket cables. It has entered the portable amplifier and IEM markets. Since its debut in early 2012, PlusSound has gained a lot of respect and interest from the community for its outstanding products. Ordering from PlusSound is pretty neat and easy. You can go to their website, select the type of cable you want, and customize the materials, terminations, and even the Y-splitter and chin-slider.
We have covered many different PlusSound products in the past. To learn more, follow this link.
PlusSound Sonora
PlusSound recently announced its new flagship-level IEMs, the Sonora and Volta. Although PlusSound is an aftermarket cable company in its heart, it’s unsurprising that they have released a universal IEM. They’ve done that before with a handful of models, and we have even reviewed them in the past, such as the Allegro as below:
As all the flagship tribrids have been, the PlusSound Sonora is a sophisticated universal IEM. It contains two 10mm dynamic drivers (for Low and Sub Low frequencies), Four Balanced Armatures (for Mid-Low, Mid, and Mid-High frequencies), and Two Electrostatic Drivers (for High and Super High frequencies). The total driver count is 8, so that’s quite a configuration with a 6-way crossover network.
All of the internals are placed inside a 3D-printed acoustic chamber. The Allegro’s internal wiring uses PlusSound’s Copper XS wires (Type 6 UP-OCC). The actual cable is CopperXL, with colour-matched finishings specific to Sonora.
Aside from the inside of the shells, the external design is also very impressive. The Sonora’s shells are made from anodized aluminium, with a 7-axis CNC machinery. There’s a gold wave pattern faceplate and burgundy trapezoid pattern body. It looks very luxurious, without a doubt.
Package and the Leather Case
The PlusSound Sonora comes with the same packaging they use when delivering their special cables. It arrives in a black and gold-coloured box. Inside, you’ll see a plexiglass window that informs you that the IEM was designed and handmade in LA, California.
You’ll see a red PlusSound leather case, which I’ve mentioned in the Silver+ cable review. This case has terrific quality and design, and you can get it separately from PlusSound, basically for whatever audiophile-type need. The case is still on our Best Accessories page. This is genuine leather with a smooth surface, great touching experience, and nice zipper quality. Inside is made from soft material, and you also have a wheel to wrap around your IEMs (removable). You have a polyester pocket to store SD cards, etc.
Under the soft storage compartment, you can find ear tips and a PS sticker. There are three types of tips here. Standard silicone tips, Comply foams, and Symbio W Hybrid tips. A good selection overall.
Build Quality and Design
The construction of the Sonora, thanks to the fully aluminium material and CNC process, is exceptional. The standout feature of the design is that the aluminium is remarkably sturdy and solid, yet the IEM remains lightweight. Thus, you enjoy both a robust build and lightweight shells combined. Overall, it boasts a worthy design and construction, which is to be expected given the price. Design is always subjective, but I found the new Sonora appealing with its attractive gold-coloured faceplate, red body, and sharp angles. Undoubtedly, it presents a very special and premium aesthetic from PlusSound.
In terms of the cable, PS utilise custom hardware for connectors and plugs; in this instance, the cable boasts exceptional quality. It is expertly braided with remarkable consistency. The hardware is remarkably good. The 2-pin connectors must be aligned with the logos facing inwards, as the screws need to be outward, which is contrary to the approach of many other manufacturers.
The 4.4m plug is the highlight of the cable, as it fits snugly into any 4.4 output. The quality and finish are excellent. Furthermore, no visible heat shrink from plastic or any other flexible material exists. Instead, the 2-pin connectors and the plug are finished with aluminium rings, giving the cable a sharp and clean appearance. The Y-split and chin slider on the cable are also shiny red and made of aluminium. Overall, the cable excels in both build quality and design.
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Page 3: Technical Performance, Comparisons
