In-Ear Fidelity

ThieAudio Oracle: Unboxing

Table of Contents

Introduction

Most of you would already be familiar with the ThieAudio brand: Linsoul’s entry into the headphone and IEM game starting with the Phantom planar headphone, and then branching out into the Legacy and Voyager series of IEMs.

In case you aren’t aware, I’ve actually reviewed the whole ThieAudio IEM lineup prior to their newest releases, the links for which are listed below:

In general ThieAudio isn’t inconsistent per se, but it would be accurate to say that they’re been rather hit-or-miss when it comes to performance under IEF metrics. Sure, when they hit they hit it big (Monarch and Clairvoyance being the prime examples) and when they miss they aren’t completely stumbling, but so far it’s been rather 50/50 on whether or not I’d like ThieAudio’s newest release, whatever it may be.

Seeking to recapture the proverbial lightning in the bottle that was the original tribrid twins, ThieAudio now releases a new pair of tribrid twins just slightly cheaper than their predecessors: the $530 Excalibur and the $540 Oracle. And given that they’ve recycled almost everything from the shell shape, cable, and even faceplate… it’s hard to tell which is which anymore.

Regardless, IEF is here to answer the burning question you’re all asking: how good is the Oracle actually?

Product page: https://www.linsoul.com/products/thieaudio-oracle

MSRP: $540

Driver configuration: 2EST + 2BA + 1DD

This Oracle was kindly provided by Linsoul.

Non-audio opinions

My unboxing posts are pretty much the only times I’ll ever talk about build quality, accessories and the like. I’m not really the person to ask about these things as I don’t really care about them that much.

Accessories

  • Hard case
  • Tips
  • 2.5mm balanced to 4.4mm balanced adapter
  • 2.5mm balanced to 3.5mm SE adapter

Cable: 4-wire configuration in a twist braid. Very soft, pliable and superb skinfeel (one of my favourite stock cables, I think), though somewhat tacky to the touch.

Connection: flush 2-pin. C’mon, it’s 2020 2021; if you’re going with 2-pin, make it either recessed or extruded. Flush is a thing of the past.

Build: pretty standard resin/plastic build with a metal nozzle. No obvious seams. Just like newer Monarchs and Clairvoyances, the nozzle now has a lip for better tip security.

Fit: pseudo-custom. Nothing out of the ordinary for my ears.

Isolation: above average, suitable for public transportation (though just barely).

Initial impressions

  • … I think the Oracle just made the Clairvoyance obsolete.
  • I don’t think the Oracle is strictly better than the Clairvoyance and similar problems still exist between the two, but in general the $200 premium (almost 40%) of the Clairvoyance over the Oracle is really hard to justify.
  • The Oracle is a bit less resolving… but not by much. Notable differences would be the extra bloom in the bass and slightly more blunted notes, but makes up for it with snappier treble and a slightly more pleasant tonality, at least in my opinion.
  • For the ~$500 market the Oracle positions itself as the IEM to beat. Probably the closest off the top of my head would be the recent Softears RSV, but even that’s $200 extra with arguably worse treble.
  • All that’s really left now is for ThieAudio to tighten up their QC. Don’t disappoint me now.

Measurements

Versus Clairvoyance

All data has been uploaded to the Graph Comparison Tool.

Support me on Patreon to get access to tentative ranks, the exclusive “Clubhouse” Discord server and/or access to the Premium Graph Comparison Tool! My usual thanks to all my current supporters and shoutouts to my big money boys:

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25 thoughts on “ThieAudio Oracle: Unboxing”

  1. You like it more than the Sony M7? Well that decision just got harder. May as well wait to hear about the Excalibur too. It never ends lol.

  2. Man.
    Next thing you know they have a B2 rival at $300 and a Aria/Starfield rival at $100.

    This is turning insane.

  3. wondering where to go from Blessing 2 and Fiio FH5. Need snap AND rumble instead of switching between the two. Looking forward to the full review of the new twins. Will probably pick up the one with better bass.

      1. I have considered the monarch, but I want to see some reviews of the Excalibur. If it’s just a cheaper monarch, well, I’ll have to go for that!

        1. i have a custom monarch with a 20 ohm adapter and boy the bass shakes my head like no other iem. it has been my go to for at home listening

  4. Next year: Legacy 6 just completely outclassed the B2s at $250.

    Interested to know if Crin will cover the Dunu EST 112 sooner or later, I bought these 2 weeks ago and should be getting them soon. Reviews so far have been positive minus a few caveats, most notably the slightly wonky upper midrange and peaky treble.

    1. Yes, est112 has treble harshness which is track dependent. I am eq’ing mine using MSEB. Overall temp +5, bass ext. +5, sibilance lf -10, hf -10. This made the sound warmer and smoothed out the treble harshness and sibilance. Possible also that burn-in made a difference cause I am really liking it now. In fairness, est112 has excellent resolution, bass, soundstage. I am struggling whether I will buy the Oracle.

  5. Would be good to compare this and the Excalibur to Dunu SA6 in their full reviews. Just bought mine and hopefully my purchase was a mistake.

    1. I’m in a similar boat. I’m currently waiting to receive my SA6 from hifigo.

      But in my case the Oracle would have costed quite more, due to customs fees and also, having ears on the smaller side, I’m slightly worried about the Oracle’s fit as the shell looks considerably larger than the SA6’s.

      In any case, I will still probably be following the reviews of the Oracle and hopefully see some comparisons to the SA6.

          1. UK. Well, Linsoul said 2-3 weeks for until they ship it and then 7-15 days for shipping.

          1. I had an email this morning saying shipping could take up to 7 business days from today. I’m fine with waiting but yeah, could be second week of June.

        1. thanks i got the same email. let me know if yours gets shipped early! they shipped the orders from the day before mine several days ago. i was hoping mine would go out the next day but i guess thats not how they do it. thanks

  6. It’s incredibly frustrating how the text colors of multiple IEMs on your graphs are nearly the same color, and you have to squint and get out Photoshop’s color picker to tell which is which… How about obvious colors?

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