IINVICTOR is a Singapore brand by Intricon Pte. Ltd with decades of experience in design, development, and manufacturing of Professional Audio Devices and Accessories (PADA), providing high end communication solutions to the military, public security, aviation, and professional audio industries. In 2020, they decided to channel their experience and expertise into producing high performance solutions for consumers. Their first product is Soturi, which is a Finnish word for “warrior”. It retails in Singapore at S$138 (promo code available at the end of this post). Manual is not included in the package and can be downloaded at their website here.
Unboxing and Features
The designing the Soturi, the IINVICTOR team has a few clear objectives:
- The headset must be effective in communicating the game’s little sound details and nuances.
- It must strike a right balance between clarity, spatial depth and frequency spectrum, yet cater for diverse sound preferences of users.
- Users may use it for music, work meetings and online lessons, applications that conflict on acoustic requirements.
- Cost: a quality product that is affordable for every person.
From what I have experienced on the SOTURI, I would say they have done a rather excellent job in meeting all of the above. Here is what I like about the Soturi.
Comfort
The headset with over-ear cushion is comfortable to wear. It looks heavy, but is actually very lightweight and its clamping force is just nice too. The outer headband is plastic with leather patterns, while the inner headband has padding. One comment though: the earcups do not pivot horizontally, so depends on your head shape, you might not get a good seal. For me, the earcups do not seal all around my ears.. Ironically, it is due to this “imperfect fit” that allows my ears to breathe.
Digital and Analog Audio Options
The Soturi headset has a non-detachable braided cable which terminates with a 3.5mm TRRF connector. You can use it directly on any analog input on your PC or audio device. Or you can plug it to the Transporter DSP USB Soundcard with in-line control to adjust audio volume, mic volume, mic mute, and audio modes. The digital USB also works on smartphones, just get a separate USB-C converter and you can use it for phone calls or video recording. It’s generous of IINVICTOR to wrap the cable with braid as it increases durability.
I find that the audio imaging is slightly better when playing audio over the Soturi DSP USB cable compared to direct 3.5mm source. There are 3 audio modes – Blue is for balanced audio, Green is for clarity, and Red is for bass. What I heard: blue is the default tuning which I use for my subsequent analysis, green boosts the midrange and makes vocals more mid-forward, while the red increases the spatial imaging with boosted treble clarity.
The in-line control provides convenience in adjusting audio and mic volumes. The mic boosts the upper midrange of the voice, so I do not sound muddy and chesty. However, I find that when I use a better audio interface, I can get better mic quality with improved high-fidelity closer to a condenser mic. For gaming and calls, I think the Soturi mic is good as it makes my voice sound a little pushier to get attention. If you want to do podcasting, then the mic might not sound as high-fidelity.
Free Headphone Stand and Carrying Bag
It is unheard of for a headphone brand to include a stand in the package, so I am impressed that the Soturi comes with it. Honestly, it does not cost much, and I could probably get one from Shopee for less than S$10. But it’s the thoughtfulness of the design team.
Same for the carrying bag. It’s just a small part of the manufacturing cost but it goes a long way to ensure the headset is protected during transportation.
Audio Quality
The audio tuning elevates the clarity and treble details. In addition, the stereo imaging is also tweaked to offer more spatial feel. These are important for gaming, but also useful for telecommuting. I have been using them for my daily office calls and the audio clarity and spatial imaging helps me listen to the conversations for hours without fatigue.
The bass and midrange presentation is a little less prominent, so overall sound signature is geared towards the treble spatial clarity. It also depends on the type of music you listen to. If it’s already treble-boosted, then the Soturi might be a tad too hot.
- Bass – 7.2/10. Neutral bass
- Midrange – 7/10. Clean midrange
- Treble – 8/10. Detailed spatial presentation without unplesant peaks
Verdict
The IINVICTOR Soturi is truly an all-rounder: for gaming, for work, for studies, and for music. For S$138, it delivers an excellent balance of features to be used for various purposes and on different devices. While there are headsets below S$100, the small premium you pay for Soturi gets you more versatility, better build, great style, and spatial sound imaging. Distributed by City Music Singapore, enjoy additional 10% off using promo code “soturixChesterT” during check-out. Enjoy free shipping for orders above S$100.
