Nostalgia Audio Durandal Review — Headfonics

Today, Marcus reviews the Nostalgia Audio Durandal, a new high-end tribrid universal IEM with a 9.2mm dynamic, 2 bone conduction, and 4 BA driver configuration. It is currently priced at $2419.

Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank the team at Nostalgia Audio for their support.

Click here to read more about Nostalgia Audio products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.

This article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read here in more detail.

Hong Kong’s Nostalgia Audio has been building a bit of a profile for high-end IEMs over the last year or two. I was extremely impressed by their limited-edition Tesseract from 2023, as was Josh with their previous Camelot tribrid IEM from the year before.

In both reviews, it’s not just the performance of the IEM that impressed but also the exquisite attention to detail in how they pitched and branded both from the packaging to the accessories and the themes behind the IEMs. 

In some ways, Nostalgia Audio gets it. They understand that if you pay a lot of money, you expect something that ‘wows’ from the very moment you see the box. 

The $2419 high-end Durandal is no exception. From its intricate shell design to properly themed packaging and extensive accessories, this tribrid multi-driver universal IEM delivers a rich and weighty sound signature that leans towards enjoyable listening over exacting neutrality.

How does the Durandal compare to the Tesseract and close competitors such as the SWEEAR SR11 or Noble Audio’s similarly bone-conductor-equipped Onyx? I found out in my full review below.

Features

The Nostalgia Audio Durandal is a tribrid multi-driver universal IEM featuring a mix of dynamic, BA, and bone-conduction drivers.

Each side has 7 drivers with a 4-way crossover split between a custom-designed 9.2mm dynamic driver complete with a stainless steel front chamber for the lows, 4 BA drivers for the mids and highs, and a layer of 2 Sonion dual-diaphragm bone conduction drivers applied to the mids and low-end frequency response.

The Durandal is rated at 15Ω impedance with a rated SPL of 115 dB/mW, making it a fairly easy monitor to drive. However, in practice, good quality amplification with excellent dynamic range will enhance its performance. 

There is also some in-house technology shared with the Durandal using the same SFD or Spiral Flow Device technology from the Tesseract.

SFD is a ridged helical formation that produces a spiral soundwave flow to maximize midrange resolution and vocal performances and prevent losses from the acoustical properties of curved tubes. 

Design

The Durandal aesthetics are very striking. This is a blend of blue and silver with a titanium nozzle tip, topped with an intricate blend of metals for the rim and faceplate.

At the center of the plate is a medieval longsword, which represents the historical Durandal (Excalibur in French), surrounded by a lattice-like weave and housed under a polished flat glass.

It is incredibly intricate and stylish, one of the more studied examples of good face plate work on an IEM, bested only by 3D-like creations I find favor with such as custom designs from the likes of JH Audio. 

Of course, Nostalgia Audio has a track record in producing unique plate designs with the Tesseract’s anodized aluminum plate and a 3-way angular grid pattern with UV reactive patterning underneath. So, should I be surprised they have not tried something cool with the Durandal? Probably not.

The form factor is slightly above average in size, though the short nozzle prevents it from becoming too unwieldy. The more striking aspect is the dense feel in the hand, almost like it was a silicone-filled shell, though from close inspection, that seems not to be the case.

I suspect it has more to do with the weight of the metals from the plates, the resin thickness, and the titanium infusion on the tip that creates that denser feel. 

Comfort & Isolation

In the ear, the Durandal is very comfortable with excellent levels of passive isolation for a hybrid vented shell.

The shell contouring is not heavily accented, but resin tends to be more forgiving of ear concha and canal shapes, so there is very little in terms of leakage.

Pressure in the canal varies a bit depending on the tips used with the firmer stock Symbio W versions, creating more pressure, and the transparent silicone alternatives isolate less but are slightly more comfortable in the ear.

The short nozzle length also brings the shells in a bit closer to the canal entry, so they do not noticeably protrude out of my ears during use.

What is slightly concerning is the level of flex from its dynamic driver, which is quite noticeable on insertion. It sort of reminds me of the Empire Ears Odin flex, only a little louder in the ‘pop’ sound from the flex.

Ear Tips

You get 6 tips in two varieties with the Durandal. The first is a hybrid silicone and foam ‘Royal Blue’ W collaboration with Symbio, which is my preferred option given its more rigid structure,  providing a secure fit and good isolation.

It also thickens the sound signature a bit and enhances the bass response, which some users might prefer.

The second set of tips is an XWB single flange, wide bore translucent silicone variant, which is surprisingly competitive for passive isolation and slightly more comfortable in my ear than the Symbio W tips.

The sound signature is a little more balanced with a bit of bass weight taken off compared to the Symbio tip performance.

Stock Cable

It should come as no surprise that such a strikingly designed IEM also comes with an equally attractive-looking stock cable.

The Durandal cable is technically a 3rd party collaboration with Hong Kong’s Vortex Cables and is officially called the “Hruodland” cable. It is not sold separately as far as I am aware, though many of Vortex’s in-house technologies are found in the Hruodland cable.

The Hruodland has a fairly beefy Ultra Twins Pair of dual 21.3AWG 4N OCC silver and silver-plated 5N LC-OFC copper shielding in a Litz Type 9 geometry.

The insulation is ‘air-injected’ with polyethylene accounting for 75% and air for 25%, with a further damping layer to reduce external microphonics. 

The external twisted jacket is a customized nylon wrap with a matching mix of blue, black, and what looks to be light red or pink flecks. It’s finished with 2-pin connector barrels and a matching slimline balanced 4.4mm barrel on the other end.

The splitter is Vortex’s signature design, resembling a thick modernistic V-shaped and built from a solid, if slightly sharp-cornered, aluminum with an attractive carbon fiber finish on the rear side.

The cable has a nice balance to it. It’s not too heavy or rigid, but can be memory-retentive during use. Given the strong passive isolation of the shells, you might pick up on some microphonics from the jacket below the splitter. I find that a fairly common phenomenon with cables that use fabric jackets.

Packaging & Accessories

I still rate the Tesseract packaging as the most elaborate and well-thought-out unboxing experience to date from almost any IEM maker. The Durandal unboxing experience is perhaps not as ambitious, but it’s still excellent in my book in terms of theme and included accessories. 

The outer box is heavily branded with the legacy of the Durandal Sword and its bearer, Roland, a legendary knight and officer of the former Roman emperor Charlemagne. 

Inside, everything is carefully segregated and protected via an attractive, removable leather board on top and somewhat less legendary black foam underneath. 

Accessories include a themed warranty card and metal puck case, a cool-looking commemorative ancient coin and necklace, a branded leather organizer strap, and some standard soft mesh pouches to house the IEM shells. The tips are protected in a 

My one criticism here is the metal puck case, which is very old school IMHO. I would have preferred a rigid leather finish, which would reduce a lot of weight and provide for a more fitting theme with the other leather aspects of the theme, such as the organizer strap and top lid. 

That being said, the inside of the puck case is finished with a nice soft silicone layer, which should prevent any unnecessary accidents to the driver shells when carrying it around. 

Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.

Click on page 3 below for my selected comparisons.

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