The SoftEars Cerberus In Ear Monitor is one of two flagships that were initially released. Compared to the all-BA Softears RS10 In Ear Monitor, The Cerberus features a hybrid triple crossover, consisting of electrostatic, balanced armature and dynamic drivers for high, mid and low frequencies respectively.
The name Cerberus was chosen in reference to the three-headed dog in Greek mythology, representing great power and potential, which is also a fitting description for this high-end earphone. The aesthetic design of Cerberus and its final touch is the bench‐ mark for recent custom in-ear monitors. Both craftsmanship and aesthetics are the pinnacle of what is capable with in-ear designs.
The strength of electrostatic speakers is renowned for their per‐ formance in high frequencies. Although its technical performance outclasses other transducers in the treble, it is also known for poor performance in the lows.
Balanced armature receivers are widely used in high-end in-ear monitors due to ease of use and high configurability. However, to achieve great extension in the lows and highs, they require large volume, create high manufacturing costs and introduce various design challenges.
Dynamic speakers, the most traditional type of transducer, is the most capable in reproducing a rich bass texture.
Cerberus brings the strengths of all types together, linking 2 electrostatic, 4 balanced armature and 1 dynamic driver in an accu‐ rate and elegant design that offers superior audio performance.
DUAL ELECTROSTATIC DRIVER
Cerberus uses dual miniature electrostatic drivers for the reproduction of higher frequencies. 2 micro-drivers are amped by an integrated specifi‐ cally designed transformer that provides the voltage at 75-fold of the analog signal, which makes it possible to power the speakers.
BA DRIVERS EXCLUSIVE TO CERBERUS
Our deep roots in the manufacturing scene allow us to source and develop drivers that specifically match our demands. The quadruple driver package for the Cerberus was designed to deliver a rich and full midrange tailor-made for the design of the Cerberus.
PROPRIETARY DYNAMIC DRIVER
Our roots in developing drivers allowed us to create a perfect match to go with the midrange and treble. This 10mm dynamic driver with carbon fiber and paper dome has great linear extension, high sensitivity and fast attack. We made sure that this driver delivers bass qualities that cannot be rivaled by BA drivers.
PASSIVE DRIVER
One of the major creative designs in Softears’ lineup is the implementation of passive units. These drivers vibrate passively in respect to the other BA units to counteract air pressure. This reduces ear fatigue and improves bass texture. Of course these passive drivers are not included in the model’s driver count.
