The Legend Returns: Oriolus Traillii Ultra IEM System
It is here, and I am a little bit in shock.
This is unexpected and definitely not a small or minimal upgrade compared to the legendary original product. It goes far beyond that.
Actually, I only ordered the Oriolus Traillii Ultra IEM System as a demo because a handful of very loyal customers really wanted to hear it once. And of course, we always try to fulfill customer wishes whenever possible.
This new product is, to put it mildly, a surprise for me. And I say that after many years during which there hasn’t been much that can still surprise me.
By the way, it is also the first time that a system consisting of in-ear monitors and a matching amplifier makes 100% sense to me. The devices simply belong together.
But first things first: Let’s take a closer look at the "system" I’m talking about here...
The Traillii Ultra System consists, as already mentioned, of IEMs and a proprietary amplifier.
The in-ears (IEMs) feature red acrylic shells with black carbon faceplates and a golden Oriolus logo, and are excellently crafted. The transparent housings allow a view of the installed drivers.
For today’s flagship IEM standards, the Traillii Ultra IEMs have a moderate size and fit comfortably in the ear.
The copper cable connected via a proprietary connector is quite thick but pleasantly flexible and does not interfere when worn.
On the top of the amplifier, there are various inputs for audio signals from external sources such as DAPs, stereo amplifiers, CD players, streamers, etc., which are accepted via RCA or 3.5mm or 4.4mm jack plugs.
There is also a USB-C port for charging the battery-powered amplifier.
The bottom houses the proprietary connectors for the IEMs as well as your power switch and the dip switches for the (fine) adjustment of the sound characteristics.
Bass (LF), mids (MF), and treble (HF) can each be adjusted in 3 levels, with the lowest setting representing the neutral position.
Describing the exact sound character of the system is therefore not so simple, as the sound is adjustable. And in this case, it’s not just nuances. No, the entire sound image of the system can be significantly changed.
These extensive sound adjustment options alone make the system something very special. I would say there is nothing comparable on the market, at least not yet.
Before I go into details, I want to mention that no matter which sound setting is chosen, the sound quality is always at the highest possible level.
Companion Devices
- Hiby RS8 MKII DAP
- Satin Audio Zeus 2 Eternal Shielded Interconnect Cable
To properly "feed" the Traillii Ultra System with music, I use the excellent Hiby RS8 MKII DAP, which is connected via Balanced Pre-Out 4.4mm. 😁
And to make sure nothing is lost on the way to the amplifier, I use a specially made, top-quality Satin Audio Zeus 2 Eternal interconnect cable – of course with additional shielding! 🤩🙌
Now, not much can go wrong, so let’s get started with the enjoyable music listening.
Soundcheck
I already described my surprise about this new product at the beginning, and it probably didn’t take long before an incredulous expression appeared on my face: 😱
What on earth is this???
What is offered here doesn’t sound like the original Traillii nor like any other IEM. Actually, it sounds more like a very, very good large open-back headphone!
Even in the "neutral position" of the dip switches, the system sounds incredibly airy, spacious, and relaxed.
When you "play" a bit with the dip switches on the amplifier, the spatiality and intensity drastically increase depending on the setting, and the whole thing sounds really big and powerful. Wow! 😍🙏
Customizable
If you like it as neutral as possible and prefer the absolute reference tuning, no problem. Just leave all switches in the zero position.
If you want the ultimate resolution and detail, switch the High Frequency (HF) switch to the highest level. This brings details and treble to an unprecedented level without adding any harshness.
The same applies to music lovers who like vocals to be far in the foreground: turn the mid (MF) switch all the way up, and the vocals clearly stand out from the ensemble.
You probably guessed it: you can also turn the bass all the way up. And while the highest setting here doesn’t turn the system into an ultimate bass monster like the PMG Audio APX ME, the lower frequencies gain tremendous weight and impact. Even bass-heavy music like hip-hop is really fun with this!
In total, there are 3³ different combinations (that is 27) available, offering an unprecedented number of ways to tailor the sound to your personal taste, the music, or your mood.
Conclusion
The Oriolus Traillii Ultra IEM System easily outperforms its predecessor, the original Traillii, and is also as flexible as no other IEM product on the market.
No matter which setting you choose, the quality remains at an exceptional level overall!
It almost pains me to admit this, but this is probably the only in-ear system on the market that comes close to my beloved RAAL Immanis headphone. You could almost call it the "Mini-Immanis".
But maybe I just have rose-colored glasses on right now because I simply enjoy the music with the Traillii Ultra System and have a lot of fun trying out different tuning combinations!
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*Finally, I want to point out that, as always, the impressions of the tested product are my own and may differ from those of other people – tastes are simply different.
Other exciting blogs on the topic
The R2R Legend Returns – Hiby RS8 MKII
Satin Audio Zeus II – Customer Review
On Olympus – Satin Audio Zeus II Eternal