Nihal reviews the PLUSSOUND SONORA SE, a new special edition high-end hybrid dual 10mm dynamic, quad BA, and dual EST driver IEM. It is currently
Disclaimer: I received this sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links. I thank the team at PLUSSOUND for giving me this opportunity.
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This article follows our scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
I always knew PLUSSOUND as a cable-first brand. That was the mental box I had them in until last year, when I saw our Headfonics reviews of the VOLTA and the SONORA. That was my first real “oh, they do IEMs too” moment. And it was not just a one-off either.
Most impressions around their IEMs have been largely positive, with only a few small caveats here and there, which is honestly a good place to be for a brand that people still mostly associate with cables.
For the last few months, PLUSSOUND has been quietly revisiting its lineup. We now have special editions of both the VOLTA and the SONORA, and their flagship Allegro has also moved into a second generation.
The Allegro II impressions we published were powerful, and together these releases make it clear that PLUSSOUND is not just dabbling in the IEM space. They are establishing a solid presence and gradually earning credibility.
Coming back to the SONORA SE, this refresh brings changes to both the outside and inside. In this review, I will break down how the tuning and technical performance stack up and whether the “special edition” tag feels meaningful in day-to-day listening.
I will also compare it against a couple of heavy hitters like tour award-winning Alpha Omega Omega and the Softears Enigma to see where the SONORA SE really lands when it is put in front of established flagship names.
Features
PLUSSOUND is not playing the “throw more drivers at it” game here. SONORA SE packs a modest count of eight drivers per side in a clean tri-hybrid layout, and the way the set is organized feels intentional rather than flashy.
You get two 10mm dynamic drivers for the low end, four balanced armatures covering the mid-lows through the mid-highs, and two electrostatic drivers handling the top end.
The low frequencies are built around a dual dynamic setup in an isobaric arrangement, which is useful for reducing phase distortion and cutting down unwanted resonances.
Tying everything together is a new 6-way crossover network, plus a 3D-printed acoustic chamber to help organize airflow and driver interaction.
On paper, it is a serious design. The real question is how coherent it sounds once music starts, which will be answered soon.
Design
SONORA SE looks like PLUSSOUND went a bit wild with machining, in a good way. It is anodized aluminum, but it does not have that generic “CNC block” vibe.
There are sharp little facets, tiny steps, and clean edges all over the shell. You notice the cuts first, then you notice how consistent the finishing is. Nothing feels sloppy. It looks complex, yet purposeful.
The faceplate is the part that hooks you. It has this fan-like pattern, like a sunburst carved into metal, with ridges that run outward and then fade into flatter panels. It is not busy in a messy way. It is structured.
The PLUSSOUND logo sits inside a small circle near the center, stamped cleanly and not screaming for attention. The color is a deep wine red, slightly satin, which adds a layer of sophistication.
The inner side is a different texture altogether. It is finished in black and has a grainy, geometric pattern that gives it grip and hides fingerprints. I find this combination of wine red and black a lot better than Sonora’s hot red and copper color scheme.
What surprised me was the size. Photos of square block-designed shells make it look chunky, but in person, it is average, and it is genuinely lightweight. The nozzle is metal and smaller than I expected, and you can see multiple outlet holes lined up for the sound tubes.
PLUSSOUND also says the shells are cryo-treated to help with scratches and drops, and whether or not you buy the science, it does feel tough.
The vent is a bit different here, placed on the side where the 2-pin sockets are, and it runs like a thin slit rather than the usual small holes we typically see. SONORA SE uses standard 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.
Comfort & Isolation
Looking at pictures of PLUSSOUND IEMs, I’d always imagine those chunky metal shells would feel heavy and awkward in your ears, as if they’d dig in and make you regret long sessions. Thankfully, the SONORA SE is the opposite of what I expected.
In real life, they feel closer to premium resin shells than metal ones. Once they’re in, you barely notice they’re there. No downward tug, no pressure ridge, no “I should take these out for a bit” reminder twenty minutes later. The faceplates are big, no doubt, but they do not sit close to the ears.
The ergonomics are easy to live with: smooth, rounded curves with zero sharp edges, nothing jabbing into your concha or creating pressure points. No hot spots, no fatigue building up. These are genuinely built for marathon listening without your ears complaining.
The stock cable joins the disappearing act. It is supple, non-microphonic, and light on the ears, and the whole setup is completely fuss-free. No tugging, no adjustments needed mid-song.
The nozzle is on the smaller side, so swapping ear tips is easy, as pretty much anything fits without drama. Insertion is shallow and never feels forced or too deep into the canals.
On the move, they lock in securely with a flush fit, and thanks to the flat faceplate design, there’s no protrusion or that annoying “about to pop out” sensation.
Isolation is solid, as the outside world drops a few dB the moment the seal clicks in. There is no driver flex when you pop those shells in or during use.
All in all, the SONORA SE is one of the easiest, most ear-friendly high-end IEMs I’ve worn. Just slip them in and forget about them while you enjoy the music.
Ear Tips
You get three types of ear tips with the SONORA SE: PLUSSOUND Silicone, Comply foam, and PLUSSOUND Hybrid tips, each in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
Both the silicone and hybrid tips fit the SONORA SE well and seal easily. I did not spend any time with the foam tips, simply because I do not really gel with foam tips.
In my ears, the stock silicone tips turned out to be the best of the bunch. The large size was locked in a secure seal and gave me a stable, reliable fit with almost no fiddling required.
The hybrid tips seal nicely and spread out well in the ear canal, but they feel a touch too soft and squishy for my taste. I kept wanting a bit more firmness and structure.
Overall, they could not match my usual favorites like the Divinus Velvet or Azla SednaEarfit Light, which feel more consistent and better shaped for me.
The nozzles on the SONORA SE are fairly small in length and average in width, so tips with smaller stems slide on without issue and sit comfortably.
I also prefer wider-bore tips in general. They usually open the soundstage and keep things from feeling too closed-in.
After trying a few different pairs, I settled on the Nostalgia XWB ear tips. They delivered the perfect mix of seal, all-day comfort, and the open, airy presentation I wanted from the SONORA SE.
These ear tips have slightly shorter stems, which pair well with the smaller nozzles.
Stock Cable
PLUSSOUND doesn’t treat the SONORA SE’s stock cable like an afterthought. It comes bundled with a limited Silver-Plated Copper XL cable, and it feels like a proper PLUSSOUND piece that just happens to ship in the box.
On paper, it is a simple 2-wire layout, but it is built chunky. The cable uses two 18 AWG UP-OCC conductors, each made up of 36 strand groups. In photos, it may look beefy, but in hand, it’s surprisingly soft and flexible.
The real win is how comfy it is to live with. Yeah, it’s chunky, but it stays super supple, bends easily without a fight, and does not spring back when coiled.
Weight is kept in check, so it does not tug on the shells. It just drapes nicely around the ear with almost no pressure or stiffness.
The pearl-grey sleeve has a subtle texture that catches the light but never looks flashy. The hardware matches that “built for use” vibe.
The split is a large cylindrical barrel that looks oversized at first glance, but it is light in practice and has a patterned scheme etched into the surface to break up the matte black finish.
The default 4.4mm termination is the familiar PLUSSOUND style, with a clean barrel, solid strain relief, and enough grip that you can pull it out confidently without pinching the cable.
Up top, the 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors are compact and tidy, with neat metal housings and a snug, reassuring fit.
All in all, it’s one of those stock cables that makes you stop thinking about upgrades and just enjoy the music. It fits the premium feel of the IEM perfectly.
Packaging & Accessories
The SONORA SE packaging is surprisingly compact. It looks small enough that, for a second, I genuinely thought PLUSSOUND was going to keep it basic. Just the IEMs, one cable, and maybe a couple of tips.
The outer sleeve is a muted grey box with “SONORA Special Edition” on top and a simple outline of the shell printed in the middle. But slide it open, and you quickly realize they didn’t cut corners. They just packed everything way smarter.
When you slide open the box, you don’t find any foam to throw off. The inner sides of the box carry a subtle gold trim. A zippered hard case is nestled right in the middle, and it instantly screams, “This is something special.”
This carry case packs everything inside. Once you open the carry case, you find an organizer tray that holds the IEM and cable.
The top tier has shaped cutouts that cradle the IEMs; underneath, there’s a channel so you can loop the cable without kinks. You can pull the whole tray out and set it on a desk to have a tiny staging platform.
Inside this case, you can find the rest of the accessories: multiple tip sets in separate pouches, a snap-button cable strap, and a soft drawstring leather pouch in a wine tone that matches the Sonora vibe. There is also a dark metal ear tip tray, which is one of a kind and a first for me.
In the end, it is pretty much everything you would expect from a flagship release, just arranged in a smaller footprint without wasted space or show-off layers you’ll never use again.
Carry Case
The main carry case is the kind you pick up once and instantly trust. It’s got this matte black finish with a soft, leather feel that’s premium and far from slick, slippery nonsense. A big PLUSSOUND logo is just embossed quietly on top – simple, nothing flashy.
The case itself strikes a great balance: the outer shell is firm and rigid enough to handle getting knocked around in a backpack without letting anything inside get squished, yet it stays light overall.
Inside, a soft fabric liner gives the cable and IEMs a comfortable home. This case is not pocketable, though. This is more of a “throw it in your bag” case than a “carry in jeans” case, and that is perfectly fine for a flagship set.
Space inside is generous. You can store the SONORA SE comfortably, and there is enough room that you could even fit a second IEM if you really wanted to. It is roomy in a practical way, not oversized. There’s a small pocket on the inside of the top lid that would be more useful if it were stretchier.
The included leather carry pouch is a nice extra. It is made of soft leather in a deep wine color that matches the SONORA SE’s look.
It is spacious enough to store the cable easily and keeps it from tangling. I would not recommend tossing the IEMs in there with the cable, but as a cable pouch, it is a genuinely useful add-on.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
