IDEA & DESIGN
Ergonomic studies have undoubtedly been the cornerstone of the design for Nair, as well as for all other Gaudio in-ear monitor models.
However, our design efforts extended beyond simply ensuring unmatched comfort; we also aimed to create a design with a strong personality — one that stands out and inherently conveys the exceptional quality synonymous with Gaudio’s approach.
The source of inspiration was twofold: on one hand, we drew from the lines, curves, and contours characteristic of contemporary luxury sports car design.
On the other hand, we found ourselves once again captivated by our beloved mountains; their rugged spires, sculpted over millennia by wind and other atmospheric forces, provide a powerful source of inspiration.
We exclusively use premium materials selected for their exceptional mechanical properties.
This selection has enabled us to craft high-end earphones with unmatched tonal qualities—thanks to the durability of the chassis—while also ensuring remarkable resilience.
Tödi’s style, in particular, features bold lines accentuated by red metallic textures, which perfectly combine sophistication and elegance.
The “glass effect” body finish, applied by hand, adds an additional touch of refinement to our flagship.
MECHANICS & MATERIALS
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THE COVER Tödi’s lid is crafted from a single block of 6061 aluminum alloy, meticulously hollowed and machined with a precision CNC milling machine. |
THE BODY In the case of Tödi, the body is made up of a resin structure printed in 3D and then carefully finished by hand, in which the nozzle does not constitute a separate element but rather an integral part of the body itself, thus creating a unique piece with unparalleled structural rigidity. This detail is then treated by hand with a very high-quality lacquer produced in Germany that has hypoallergenic properties. |
THE FINISH The finish of Tödi features a special Titanium-loaded anodization treatment: a unique process developed in Switzerland for the watchmaking and luxury goods industries, making it twice as durable as standard processes. In this version, it is further customized with a vibrant new shade of intense red and a “silky touch” feel. |
PRECISION & ELEGANCE ASSEMBLED BY HAND
The “human element” is an essential – indispensable – ingredient when striving for absolute quality, and at Gaudio, we are fully aware of this undeniable truth: only care, experience, and a genuinely artisanal approach can ensure a state-of-the-art creation. This is why our earphones are meticulously assembled by hand in our laboratories in Switzerland, with painstaking attention to detail.
A creation like Tödi, in particular, requires obsessive care and a meticulous assembly process. It goes through a conformity check for each driver and their coupling, their installation in the bodies, preliminary acoustic checks, and, if necessary, a re-matching (the aim is to obtain a perfectly identical pair from an acoustic point of view).
Only at this stage is it possible to close the frames and carry out further acoustic verification measurements. Everything is completed with a cleaning process, carried out by hand using a compressed air “micro-pump” and a soft cloth, concluding with packaging and shipping to the end customer.
IMMERSIVE SOUND TUNING
Tödi’s acoustic tuning represents the sum of Gaudio’s experience and know-how. It aims for a “premium” result, the absolute top: it is exquisitely high-end.
It embodies our conception of a “wide” sound, calibrated to evoke intense emotions and provide a totally immersive experience, similar to the one experienced at a live concert.
A performance that could be described by citing rich, extended, but always precise and articulated low frequencies, perfectly integrated with an open, clear, fluid, vibrant, and extremely natural midrange.
All of this is complemented by a detailed, airy, and fragrant high register, which is impressive in terms of both finesse and clarity.
However, this would not be enough to account for Tödi’s incredible dynamic capabilities, much less the amount of microdetails it is able to extract from each musical track: a truly high-resolution listening experience.
In general, our main goal is to always seek absolute correctness in tonal balance through the entire audible range, both in relation to voices and musical instruments.
We combine this target with a quest for maximum transparency and high-fidelity, meaning our in-ear monitors’ ability to bring out every minute detail contained in your favorite music.
This philosophy translates in a lengthy calibration and optimization process, aimed at getting the most out of each individual driver while seamlessly integrating them all together: the result is a fluid, cohesive, and coherent sound emission.
A significant advantage of the Gaudio sound quality is its ability to recreate a spacious and airy acoustic scene, where every single instrument is positioned stably and realistically within the virtual stage.
RECOMMENDED FOR
Tödi and the other Gaudio creations are dedicated to all those who are looking for an uncompromising in-ear monitor with high-end performance.
Tödi, in particular, was conceived with music lovers in mind who wish to enjoy — at any time and wherever they are — a literally stellar level of reproduction.
Tödi is the portable equivalent of a high-end stereo system expertly positioned in a dedicated and acoustically treated room.
ENTHUSIASTS
Audiophiles
Music lovers
Demanding listeners who do not want to disturb others at home or in the office
SPECIFICATIONS
Tödi’s electroacoustic configuration is quite original; it is the result of Gaudio’s creativity and deserves a brief description, but without delving too much into technicalities.
We chose to use two small dynamic drivers in a “push-push” configuration to reproduce almost the entire audio spectrum in an “almost full range” setup.
This choice made it possible to double the effective area of the diaphragm and, therefore, its ability to move air: it is like having a single large driver but with the speed and detail typical of smaller ones, along with the added benefit of halving distortions.
Another reason behind this choice, aimed at covering almost the entire frequency response, was the quest for maximum emission coherence: the typical tonal changes that occur when using different types of speakers combined together are avoided.
The tuning of the double dynamic drivers’ mid-range was achieved by developing a specific damped resonance chamber placed externally to the drivers themselves (this is our EARC technology).
This innovation allowed us to enhance certain mid frequencies while simultaneously reducing reflections and unwanted peaks.
To complete Tödi’s electroacoustic configuration, we have selected a double-balanced armature driver configured for the “upper treble.”
This driver extends the high-frequency response of the double dynamic drivers, pleasantly “opening” the sound and providing a sense of even greater detail throughout the entire range that transitions from the medium-highs to the very top end.
ACCESSORIES
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New Gaudio case – designed by our team of designers – features a double internal net for storing earphones and accessories, protecting them from bumps and scratches. It is made of finely crafted black leatherette, which accentuates the Gaudio logo by placing it in relief at the upper part of the case. |
High-quality detachable cable made of high-purity 6N-OCC copper conductors, featuring gold-plated 2-pin connectors on the earphone side. It is supplied with a set of interchangeable gold-plated connectors (4.4mm, 2.5mm, and 3.5mm) to meet all connection needs on the source side. Assembled by hand. |
Set of Symbio eartips made of high-quality, soft silicone, available in 5 pairs of different sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL). These eartips offer exceptional grip and are capable of adapting to and adhering perfectly to all ear canal sizes. Tödi’s tuning was performed using Symbio silicone eartips; however, it is also possible to use other types to achieve different tonal characterizations and a “comfortable feel.” Additionally, 3 pairs of slow-expansion foam eartips in S, M, and L sizes are included. |
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An exclusive welcome brochure for Tödi, hand-signed by the artisan who crafted the earphones and featuring the progressive serial number of the limited edition. |
Hand-signed Warranty certificate. |
Cleaning tool to remove wax residue. |
👉🏻 The tuning on Todi is fairly balanced with a slight mid bass focus over sub bass, and somewhat relaxed lower mids that gain energy as they rise into the upper mids and highs.
I don’t find any particular range to be over, or, under represented to any detrimental degree.
👉🏻 Recorded sources are quite transparent. Poorly recorded source files will be laid bare, while, well recorded source files will bend Todi’s tuning to their will.
👉🏻 Listening to a sub bass test track (Bass Test 20Hz by Boosted Bass, or, Mo’ Better Bass by Techmaster P.E.B.) the sub bass is capable of going very deep with nice rumble or boom. Not as low as some bass focused IEM’s, but Todi is no slouch.
Listening to Cherish the Day by Sade;
The opening couple minutes of this track start with a steady rhythmic
kick drum beat with impact and thump, at about the 1:30 mark the bass guitar drops in deep and low. Todi maintains clean clear definition between sub and mid bass, while Sade’s sultry voice floats overhead with clarity and natural tonality.
Nicely confirming that the 2 full range, 6mm dynamic drivers are capable of moving enough air to offer strong sub bass presence, yet agile enough to deliver impactful mid bass and tonally correct vocals.
👉🏻 Lower mids are recessed, but the bass stays in its place and doesn’t overshadow. Lower mids detail and clarity is good, just not elevated or forward.
Energy builds into the upper mids and vocals, giving them a more elevated and prominent presentation. No harshness or sibilance.
👉🏻 Highs are crisp and clear with excellent micro detail retrieval. Very good air and sparkle.
Listening to Poncho Sanchez Medley #2 by Poncho Sanchez, there is a flute solo just past the 3:00 minute mark that lasts more than a minute. The high notes reach well into the upper frequencies and Todi handles it like a champ. Crisp, clear, and accurate with no hint of sibilance or harshness.
👉🏻 Head stage is very good.
Very wide left to right, just outside the head.
Top to bottom height also very good, especially on tracks that pull the sub bass low and also have good treble presence.
Front to rear depth is just average.
I find the stage head filling, but intimate.
Imaging and layering are very good left to right and top to bottom.
Instrument placement is easy and accurate.
Summary:
I spent a considerable amount of time listening to recorded tracks of individual instruments, listening for tonality and timbre, and I found Todi to be extremely accurate.
This was one area where higher resolving source devices had a slight disadvantage. They had a tendency to thin the tonality of the upper ranges on some tracks. Bit of a nitpick, but it is why I choose a warmer source device with Todi.
Todi is very much an audiophile tuning.
It doesn’t cater specifically to serious bass heads, treble heads, or mid centric aficionados.
It does offer a quality musical presentation throughout all the ranges that will, in my humble opinion, satisfy a wide swath of music enthusiasts.
At $1500 usd it is not an inexpensive offering, but the build quality, technical design, and quality sound presentation, establish it as a worthy contender in this price bracket.
I really do enjoy it. It’s a perfect fit for my hand, and bulky in a way that isn’t too slim or awkward. There aren’t really any options for redirecting the audio towards left or right. And the menus are serviceable. But it works well enough for what I bought it for. And is well enough in the output of its quality that I can overlook some of those issues.
Really wish they made more DAPs like this. A solid square that feels easy to navigate with one hand.
I received this from Musicteck at a discount to review. My thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.
This is a fun device, which depending on your level of input can go from enthusiast to pro device, entirely based on your desire to substitute out the op amps.
Aroma has stated they will be releasing more op amps for this device in the future, and recommend only using Aroma products here.
The op amps to change out is a fun project, but not intuitive or easy off the bat. I would guess the average person would take 10-15 minutes to do it. It is a little tricky to do, and wouldn’t recommend for the average non-tinkering person.
The stock OP Amp has strong dynamics for both the bass punch and has good highs and extensions.
I feel that this is one of the most clear and clean usb-c only devices out there on the market. The novelty again revolves around the multiple tones to play with. The build quality (aerospace aluminum) and design is fantastic. It sounds and looks great. The build quality is fantastic, and it feel premium. I feel it has a strong overall performance and is worth it for the price sonically. It also is ideal for those who want a small dongle that is beautiful and compact with an impressive mature design.
After trying both ops amps, I feel the installed ones (HD OP amp) are a tiny bit better with better vocals and air, while the other opp amp has a little more bass.
Granted, this is only after a few hours on the 2nd op amp. I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface on untapping this Amp.
Ideal for iPads and smartphones with USB-C out, particularly due to its small footprint!
The device is as described. What I was looking for was an open sound stage. I really wasn't disappointed, and was even served beyond my expectations. This IEM is far superior to the price I paid. They advertised bass that was a little recessed, but I don't find it so. The female vocals are excellent, and the midrange is up to scratch (I listen to a lot of acoustic guitar). In short, this IEM is well worth the IEMs I paid almost 3 times the price for. I recommend it.
Preamble:
I spent a lot of time with the Triton source, tip, and cable rolling.
I’m not going to go into detail on every source, tip, and cable I rolled, but, offer the following as a general overview of my experience.
👉🏻 Source device sensitive. Warmer sources enhance the sub bass focus of the tuning.
More resolving sources tighten up the bass a bit and adds some definition between sub and mid bass.
👉🏻 Responds accurately to the recorded source. Bass heavy tracks fill the head stage with powerful bass, but, while the bass remains prominent, it eases off to very respectable levels on non bass heavy tracks.
👉🏻 Ear tips do as expected. Wide bore open up the mids, vocals and highs. Head stage opens up a bit.
Narrow bore tips, specifically the included Final E Series tips, favour the bass region and the sub bass is the star of the show.
👉🏻 The included Monarch cable pairs very well with Triton.
But if you find the sub bass focus to be a bit too much (it can be overpowering on bass heavy tracks) I found swapping on a silver plated copper cable gave the mid bass more impact and presence, and, lifted the mids and highs.
Sound:
Bass is the obvious focus of the Triton and for this evaluation I have Triton set up as Empire Ears intended, stock cable and stock ear tips.
I also choose a warmer source device to maximize the bass experience.
The bass is sub predominant and it fully fills the head space.
Mid bass lacks impact on most tracks and is easily over shadowed on sub bass heavy tracks.
Mids, vocals, and highs have very good presence, but they don’t present elevated or forward.
Vocalists for example sound like they are mid stage and pushing forward from there, rather than front of stage and elevated.
Mids have good detail retrieval, but not exceptional.
Highs are clear and bright, but again, not often elevated or overly airy and sparkly. Micro detail retrieval is limited.
The head stage is wide and tall with good depth as well, which gives it a decent holographic presentation.
The tamed presence of the mids and highs does limit imaging and layering.
Instrument placement is not overly precise.
Summary:
It took me some time to come to grips with what I believe Empire Ears was trying to achieve.
A true bass head IEM. No apologies.
Compared to other bass prominent IEM’s I’m familiar with like the Theiaudio Hype 10, 64Audio Volur, and even Triton’s older sibling the Legend EVO.
All of these iEMs have very strong bass presence, but they are configured and tuned to also have a strong mids and highs presence to balance things out.
These are all outstanding IEM’s, but, when you hear a bass heavy track and you crank up the volume for that extra bass boost, the mids and highs can at times become over energetic along with.
With Triton, on bass heavy tracks, you can crank it up to near brain mashing levels without the upper end becoming overbearing.
If EE’s plan was to have a true bass focused IEM with enough mids and highs to work well with a broad range of genre, I’d say they nailed it.
I find Triton works well with most of my library, the exceptions being symphonic and acoustic. Still good, but not the best fit.
Classic rock, blues, pop, rap, certain jazz and even most country sounds very good.
Electronic really shines.
At $1800 usd the Triton is a significant investment.
I typically prefer a more balanced “audiophile” tuning. But I do love my bass as well.
I can listen to Triton for multi hour sessions and enjoy every minute of it.
Triton is definitely for bass enthusiasts.
IS A VERY GOOD CABLE ESPECIALLY ON TH BASS, AS I WAS LOOKING FOR. NOT VERY DETAILED SO NOT GOOD FOR MY VIKING Ragnar or cipur 622b
