When it comes to earphone lineups that I always keep an eye on, Oriolus’s “Oriole” family is definitely one of them. Unlike many brands, Oriolus keeps its product lines clear and straightforward—two distinct branches: one for balanced, all‑rounder listening and the other for vocal‑focused, musical richness. Each line has its own consistent identity, with well‑defined positioning in terms of price and sound signature, making it easy for audiophiles to choose without hesitation. As for the vocal‑focused branch, I’ve been a long‑time user of the Chinensis myself. Over the years, I’ve tried many other earphones, but none have left as lasting an impression as the Chinensis did with its unmistakable dedication to vocal texture and pop music appeal. It wasn’t until recently, when I came across the vibrant orange Szalayi II at a physical store, that I realised this 5,000‑yuan price tier product line had finally been updated after four years.
The Szalayi II inherits the Oriole family’s strengths of comfortable fit and lightweight design. Its resin universal‑fit shell is noticeably lighter than most competitors, making it virtually unnoticeable when worn—so much so that it stays secure even during running or exercise. The shell shape is well proportioned, comparable in size to other multi‑driver IEMs, and its ergonomic design ensures fatigue‑free wear even over extended periods. It is particularly well suited for daily commutes or casual outings. In terms of styling, the Szalayi II embraces a bold, expressive aesthetic—vivid and eye‑catching, without relying on excessive embellishments. Its striking colour alone is enough to turn heads. For audiophiles who enjoy standing out and pursuing a fashionable look, the Szalayi II offers a design that aligns perfectly with that sensibility.
The stock cable features a silver‑grey finish that contrasts nicely with the earphone shell. It uses the current mainstream 4.4mm balanced plug and 2‑pin connectors, meeting the everyday needs of most IEM users. After trying a few aftermarket cables, I found that the Szalayi II’s stock cable essentially does not need upgrading. It employs a dual‑shielding construction, delivering solid technical performance—its resolution and sound purity are comparable to aftermarket cables priced around 1,000 to 2,000 RMB. More importantly, its copper‑based conductor is well matched to the earphone’s tuning; swapping to a silver‑based cable would actually diminish the earphone’s characteristic richness, while other copper cables tend to make the sound either too thick or less smooth. Few cables I’ve tried match the Szalayi II as well as the stock one does.
In terms of other accessories, the Szalayi II comes with a cleaning brush and three types of eartips in total, with six pairs: one pair of double‑flange tips, two pairs of foam tips, and three pairs of silicone tips—enough for users who don’t already have their own preferred eartips. It also includes a cable clip. Although I’ve noticed that few audiophiles use cable clips these days, the stock cable is relatively thick and carries some weight, so I’d recommend keeping the clip—you might find it useful after all.
For the Szalayi II, an IEM built around vocal character, Oriolus’s official description is refreshingly straightforward: “Fiery Character.” In practice, it indeed delivers exactly that at first listen—dense, enveloping richness with a tuning that leans towards the lower midrange, placing a strong emphasis on overall atmosphere and the emotional expression of vocals throughout musical playback.
Among the three frequency ranges, the midrange is the standout highlight of the Szalayi II. Its midrange follows a distinctly warm, rich, and smooth character, adding noticeable colouration on top of a solid foundation of thickness. The imaging is presented with a soft, silky surface texture—so much so that even when playing rock, metal, or other similarly aggressive genres, the sound rarely feels harsh or grating. Where it truly excels, however, is with pop vocals. The Szalayi II conveys the emotional intent of the singer at first listen, particularly with slower, more vocal‑centric tracks. Building on its faithful reproduction of the raw emotion embedded in the melody, the earphone’s refined midrange smoothness further enhances the expressive atmosphere of the performance itself. For example, when listening to ballads like Your Eyes or Just Like Your Tenderness, Tsai Chin’s mellow, gentle timbre, combined with her warm vocal delivery, gives the song’s narrative a vivid, cinematic quality—making it easier for the listener to connect with the emotional core of the music.
Of course, its stylistic strengths are not limited to that. Unlike some past earphones that pushed their tuning to excessive extremes, the Szalayi II is “partial” in its midrange tuning without being “extreme.” It still allows listeners to clearly perceive the fundamental characteristics and vocal techniques of different singers, while keeping instrumental timbre within a reasonable range. Instruments like guitars and violins maintain distinct sonic signatures without overlapping or interfering with each other, ensuring a relatively high degree of versatility across various music genres beyond pop vocals. Moreover, earphones with this type of tuning are generally very forgiving of lower‑quality sources—even when paired with a Bluetooth dongle DAC for low‑bitrate streaming, they still deliver a highly comfortable and fatigue‑free listening experience.
The bass is another strong suit of the Szalayi II. With prominent bass quantity and considerable depth, it establishes a solid, weighty foundation for the overall sound. The resulting atmospheric rendering is warm and energetic, highly compatible with the arrangements of most pop‑oriented music. Drum hits deliver ample impact with comfortable decay and release, along with appropriate reverb. Bass guitar plucks sound deep and resonant, elevating the melodic and rhythmic presence in genres like jazz or tango, further enhancing the emotional intensity of the music. Take the well‑known Mandarin pop track Rosemary, which shares a similar stylistic vibe, as an example: the Szalayi II faithfully reproduces the underlying melodic framework of the original—the drums are steady, the bass is relaxed and unhurried, and the strings are smooth and lingering. Combined with the richly textured vocals, it vividly brings to life the track’s intimate, laid‑back atmosphere.
Underpinning the Szalayi II’s vocal‑rich, atmospheric character is a solid technical foundation that stands among the best in its price bracket. The earphone adopts a 1‑dynamic + 1‑planar + 1‑balanced armature driver architecture with a three‑way crossover, with its most notable technical strengths being a well‑defined spatial presentation and dense sonic body. The abundant level of detail allows it to comfortably handle high‑quality recordings across a wide range of pop and pop‑adjacent genres. Even when playing classical or other more serious music that may not fully align with its natural strengths, the Szalayi II still shapes imaging with impressive roundness and solidity, presenting a well‑defined physicality in its sound framework. For the pop arrangements that most listeners are familiar with—whether it’s instrumental accompaniment captured through recording or various electronic and synthesized elements—the Szalayi II delivers an immersive, almost tangible presence in playback. At least in this regard, I personally feel it holds its own against similarly priced “spec‑driven” earphones.
In terms of soundstage size, the Szalayi II is not the largest in its class, but its width and depth are sufficient to accommodate small to mid‑sized stages. The arrangement of different elements is well ordered, presenting a relatively clear layered structure, and even live recordings are reproduced without feeling cramped. Compared to some higher‑tier earphones, the Szalayi II’s relatively weaker areas are transient response and fine detail handling—particularly in fast‑paced ensemble pieces, where it may come across as slightly sluggish, and in the subtle variations of instrumental timbre, it may not sound as “precise.” However, given its stylistic positioning, these are not necessarily flaws; after all, for those seeking a more balanced and technically demanding sound, the Crassiorstris might be the better choice.
For daily pairing, the Szalayi II has an impedance of 15Ω and a sensitivity of 110dB, making it relatively easy to drive compared to similar products. However, to fully realise its technical potential, we recommend pairing it with at least mid‑to‑high‑end source devices. For users who primarily stream music from their phones, a Bluetooth or wired DAC/Amp around the 2,000 RMB price point would be a good start. Personally, I quite like Oriolus’s own new 1795MKII—it offers ample information and excellent density, and more importantly, its analogue‑leaning, atmospheric tuning makes it an excellent match for the Szalayi II. This combination delivers a rich, full‑bodied tonality with a dense, enveloping atmosphere, making it particularly adept at interpreting pop music of various styles. When listening to classic Cantopop tracks, for example, it brings out a palpable sense of nostalgia with great emotional resonance. Vocals from male singers like Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung are rendered with vivid texture—delivering that deep, wistful quality of “Give me a cup of water to forget my love,” a musical experience rarely found in other pairings at this level.
For audiophiles who prefer listening to local music on a dedicated DAP, the ONIX XM5 is an excellent choice based on my experience. Its technical performance comfortably places it in the top tier of the 5,000‑yuan price bracket, with a solid, fatigue‑resistant sonic foundation and strong vocal presence as one of its standout strengths. When paired with the Szalayi II, this combination fully leverages the strengths of both in pop vocal music, while also allowing the technical capabilities to reveal the full musical content of high‑quality recordings. Detail retrieval is further enhanced, the background is clean and transparent, and the overall listening experience is smooth and pleasant. Compared to lower‑to‑mid‑tier Bluetooth DAC/amps, this pairing better showcases the Szalayi II’s potential.
In recent years, within the sub‑10,000‑yuan price bracket—especially in the mid‑tier segment—it’s rare to find earphones with genuinely poor technical performance. However, when it comes to personality and character, most earphones tend to fall into a “have it all” kind of approach. The Szalayi II, however, left me with a different impression. Over the years, Oriolus has consistently followed a “small but refined” product strategy, but with each new generation, they bring a fresh perspective on tuning within a specific stylistic framework. Issues that were occasionally criticised in the past—such as the “creamy” or “warm and congested” tendencies of the Chinensis—are now gone with the Szalayi II. It strikes a well‑balanced compromise between vocal‑rich tuning and technical performance, no longer relying solely on labels to define its position. Instead, through a more competitive acoustic design and more mature tuning, it has evolved into exactly what today’s listeners who favour a vocal‑oriented sound are looking for.
Source: Taozi Ai Yinyue La
