Recently, two new IEMs have caught my attention in the audio scene. One is AME's Mousa, which has an incredibly dense full-frequency sound and a captivating listening experience, though it comes with a hefty price tag of $4,500. The other is JOMO's Nautilus, which delivers a thick and immersive atmosphere without feeling heavy. Its appearance also surprised me; I initially thought it must be in the same league as JOMO’s GT600. However, the price is set at only $800, making it quite an appealing option.

 

Amidst the trend of resin shells with oil painting patterns and shimmering particles, the "steampunk" aesthetic of the Nautilus feels refreshing. I haven't seen this style applied to earphones before, but JOMO has done an excellent job bringing it to life. If I didn't know the price, I’d probably assume it was part of a flagship series.

 

The fit is quite comfortable, with a substantial inner curvature that allows a deeper fit. Although the surface is smooth, it doesn’t slip out of the ear canal easily. It’s also a relief for those with OCD, as the connector port is flat, and the custom cable is also flat-pin, making it look very aesthetically pleasing.

 

When I think of the Nautilus, I can’t help but recall the ultra-flagship GT600 I reviewed before. Despite the vast price difference, the Nautilus carries forward the same rich, powerful sound atmosphere that the GT600 offered, with robust and resilient bass. However, the Nautilus has a stiffer mid-to-high frequency response, making it sound more vibrant, possibly due to its unique driver configuration. This IEM uses a combination of a 6mm planar driver, a 10mm dynamic driver, and two Sonions bone conduction drivers—an industry-first. The 10mm DLC diaphragm dynamic driver handles full-range frequencies, while the 6mm planar driver enhances the mids and highs, which could explain the Nautilus' distinct high-frequency rigidity. The two bone conduction drivers are used to provide greater texture and detail in the mid-range. When listening to vocals from artists like JJ Lin or A-Mei, the Nautilus can reproduce the brightness in their voices with remarkable clarity. I think the bone conduction units contribute to a sense of resonance that emphasizes sibilance detail, low-frequency reverberation, and lip movement.

 

There's no denying that this IEM is still targeted at the pop genre, perfectly suitable for Chinese, Western, and Japanese pop music. Different IEMs have their own unique approach to bass; for instance, the CP74E emphasizes density and texture, adding a hint of overtones and warmth. The GT600 prioritizes large dynamics and deep sub-bass (similar to DUNU’s VULKAN), whereas the Nautilus, in my opinion, focuses on creating a "stage-like" bass. The spread-out vibrations in the low frequencies are much more pronounced than typical IEMs. On first listen, you might mistakenly think the bass is overemphasized, but it’s not muddy and doesn’t affect the independence of the mids and highs at all. The last time I had a similar experience with an IEM was with the Campfire Audio Solaris, though the Nautilus feels even more spirited, with deeper sub-bass and more pronounced overtones, making for a very engaging experience.

 

While the Nautilus is great for pop and live music, for classical genres, I feel the soundstage proportion isn't as "open." Compared to multi-driver IEMs like the CP622B or AME Gaia, the Nautilus may lack the depth and spatial presence due to its limited number of drivers. Coupled with its warm bass-heavy tuning, it might not excel at delivering an airy, expansive soundstage. However, you can mitigate this by switching to wide-bore eartips to reduce low-frequency resonance and expand the sense of space. But if you’re buying this solely for pop vocals, you can ignore this part.

The mid-to-high frequencies of the Nautilus differ slightly from the bass in style. You can’t treat its mid-highs as if they're coming from a single dynamic driver; it’s closer to a hybrid sound, with more pronounced resonance and detail compared to typical BA-driven mids and highs. However, the transient response in the mid-highs isn’t particularly fast, as it's not aiming for a purely "technical" mid-high. For instance, the mids feature a balanced level of detail and sibilance, but without any harshness. The vocal texture is bright and clear without being overly sweet, which makes it enjoyable to listen to over time. If you stick to a “normal listening volume,” the mids may feel slightly forward. Yes, despite the strong energy in both high and low frequencies, the mids don’t feel recessed, so it’s not a V-shaped sound signature. However, the forward mids can make the soundstage feel a bit shallow. If the dynamic range feels too strong, you can lower the volume a bit for a more cohesive scene.

 

Even with such a powerful bass response, the high frequencies are still clear and unaffected. The highs and upper highs of the Nautilus aren’t weaker in “loudness” or “catchiness” compared to the bass, though their aggressive nature is slightly toned down. The highs aren’t overly darkened but allow the planar driver’s nature to shine. The details are vivid, and instrumentals sound bright, but not dry or stiff. They have a slightly relaxed feel with added resonance, perfectly balancing the low-frequency reverberations.

 

This IEM is perfect for enthusiasts who enjoy a “strong contrast” listening experience. It has a hint of American tuning, but with clear and outstanding mid-high frequencies. Moreover, you could even treat it as a collectible flagship because of its unique appearance. Now, I may understand why JOMO priced this IEM at a relatively low price. Compared to the Alpha Ti and GT600, you won’t feel a huge difference in quality or frequency balance, and you can still enjoy JOMO’s signature tuning style at an affordable price. No doubt, this is one of JOMO’s most “value-for-money” IEMs.

 

source:  https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/1xry2ftlsO53Rdq8HJmYFw