Reviews by chinmie
Disclaimer: Tronsmart offered these unit for me to test and review. Everything i write here is my subjective honest opinion about the unit.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Apollo Air+, Tronsmart Onyx Apex, Airpods Pro, Sony WF1000-XM3
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-onyx-prime-dual-driver-wireless-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
The case material is solid and nice to the touch, and the lid has a nice satisfying “clap” sound to it when I close it. Also, a nice touch is that the lid would hold itself open with friction when fully open. I also have no problem getting the earpieces in and out of the case.
The battery indicator is using the same method to the Apollo Airs and Bold, which is blinking white when above 20%, and red when below it to indicate when to charge. Personally, I prefer the Onyx Apex’s indicator, but that is a really small niggle. The case is also the largest when compared to the rest of the Onyx/Apollo family, mostly to accommodate the added ear hooks. Despite the size however, I do prefer this one compared to the Apollo Air when putting it in my pocket, because of the slightly thinner form of the case. Also, even though it is a touch larger than the Onyx Apex, the case is a bit lighter.
There’s no automatic pairing here when we open the lid, same as the Onyx Apex, so you must pick them up from the case to initiate pairing. I personally like this method more, but some other might prefer it differently.
The case doesn’t support wireless charging, so we can only charge with the USB-C connection.
The earpieces themselves is the same material and finish used on the Onyx Apex and Apollo Air TWS, which is glossy plastic.
Provided inside the box are standard 3 pairs of eartips, 3 pairs of ear hooks, USB-C cable, and manuals.
The Onyx Prime is only available in black
Size comparison (left to right: Onyx Apex, Onyx Prime, Sony XM3):
Fit:
By design of the eartips provided, this Onyx Prime should be using deeper insertion, but the fact that there are ear hooks that could prevent deeper insertion means the other way, so it is a bit confusing for me personally. I also find that even the largest sized tips provided a bit small for me, so I opted to use an aftermarket eartips (Spinfit CP360) on my Onyx Prime.
The ear hooks seems to do nothing for me, but removing it altogether would also problematic because of the sharp plastic grooves would be exposed. I personally have no problem using it without the ear hooks, but for the safer side, I would go to the smallest size.
Bear in mind that fitting scenario above is strictly my personal situation and might not reflect on everyone the same way.
Battery life:
The battery life is around 7 hours of playtime, that’s average on today’s standard, so no problem there for me.
Apps:
Now, this is where I think the whole potential of the Onyx Prime is held back, at least in my personal experience testing it this couple of days. Some of the nagging problems are:
The EQ problem is still there on the Pixel 2 though, so i think it's the app's problem and i sure hope Tronsmart will update their app to fix it (and tone down the bass from all of the preset!).
All of this is really frustrating, especially as I know that this Onyx Prime has good raw driver capabilities and can definitely take great EQ-ing, as I genuinely found some nice sound out of it. But the fact that getting that setting is like feeling my way in the dark with random outcomes, and also the possibility that I can lose my EQ preset unwillingly and have to revert to the “Default” preset (which is honestly really bad), makes me really sad.
So, unless there’s a fix for this from future update (which is also a frustrating process for me), this TWS feels like running a race but stopping short before the finish line…
I don’t know if this app problems is exclusive to my experience, so do enlighten and help me to fix this problem, as I truly want this TWS to work out to its full potential.
For your info I tried this using multiple different phones at my home (Samsung Note 10, Note 8), and both have the same frustrating outcome.
Isolation, ANC/ Ambient mode:
Passive isolation: Passively, it performs well. I think this is the best in term of passive noise blocking compared to the other Onyx/Apollo
No ANC/ Ambient mode on the Onyx Prime
Sound characteristic:
In the default EQ presets, it is mostly hard V shape with too much bass and killing the true potential of the crisp treble from the added BA driver…
The only bass light preset would be the “Hi-fi” but it also has a problem, which is some hollow/ missing frequency somewhere in the mids, making the soundstage disjointed between the left and right channel.
I found my ideal setting by using the “Rock” setting which has the most forward mids, and then cutting the bass frequency quite a bit to make the treble pops. In this setting, it is one of my most preferred TWS in terms of sound, because driver capabilities-wise, this is the best Tronsmart TWS compared to the other Onyx/Apollo line, especially when talking about the treble resolve.
Bass:
Just like the other Tronsmart Onyx/ Apollo TWS, this Onyx Prime has no problem outputting ample amount of bass. Sadly, the EQ presets seems to be doing the bass too much…just like the other Tronsmart lines. I really wish that they would tone down the bass significantly and just use some more well-known target curve, like Harman, etc (especially with the added “made for audiophiles” tagline for this Onyx Prime)
Mids:
Most of the preset have low amount of mids, making it sounded distant. The only preset that shows the true potential of this TWS is the “Rock” preset, which clearly shows that the Onyx Prime can indeed have a good mids
Treble:
This is where the Onyx Prime sets itself apart from the other Onyx and Apollo line. The extra crispness and sparkle of the treble is simply can’t be achieved by the other Onyx/Apollos.
Soundstage:
With the "default" EQ (and most of the other ones), the bass blurred the depth of sound, making it more flat, especially compared to the Apollo Bold and Air, which also have big amount of bass, but doing it in a more fun way and not masking the depth of the soundstage. When tuned right, the Onyx Prime is more similar to hybrid/ all BA stage monitor IEMs in depth and spread: positioning the listener not too far back in rows, and more close to intimate in staging.
Conclusion:
I really do want this to be the perfect Tronsmart TWS in terms of sound…that makes me more frustrated to see the state of the app (EQ, updating process, and app connection). If Tronsmart can fix this App problem and give the Onyx Prime true EQing capability, this TWS can seriously crush the other competitors, as I do rate this highly among my collections in terms of sound. I hope the fix would come soon.
With the default EQ, i would give this a 3 in rating, but after my luckily saved EQ tuning (which made me afraid to try updating it again, because it would definitely forces me to reset to default if the update process fails), i give this a 4
If the app is fixed and the EQ section is spotless, I would give this TWS a solid 5 stars.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Apollo Air+, Tronsmart Onyx Apex, Airpods Pro, Sony WF1000-XM3
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-onyx-prime-dual-driver-wireless-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
The case material is solid and nice to the touch, and the lid has a nice satisfying “clap” sound to it when I close it. Also, a nice touch is that the lid would hold itself open with friction when fully open. I also have no problem getting the earpieces in and out of the case.
The battery indicator is using the same method to the Apollo Airs and Bold, which is blinking white when above 20%, and red when below it to indicate when to charge. Personally, I prefer the Onyx Apex’s indicator, but that is a really small niggle. The case is also the largest when compared to the rest of the Onyx/Apollo family, mostly to accommodate the added ear hooks. Despite the size however, I do prefer this one compared to the Apollo Air when putting it in my pocket, because of the slightly thinner form of the case. Also, even though it is a touch larger than the Onyx Apex, the case is a bit lighter.
There’s no automatic pairing here when we open the lid, same as the Onyx Apex, so you must pick them up from the case to initiate pairing. I personally like this method more, but some other might prefer it differently.
The case doesn’t support wireless charging, so we can only charge with the USB-C connection.
The earpieces themselves is the same material and finish used on the Onyx Apex and Apollo Air TWS, which is glossy plastic.
Provided inside the box are standard 3 pairs of eartips, 3 pairs of ear hooks, USB-C cable, and manuals.
The Onyx Prime is only available in black
Size comparison (left to right: Onyx Apex, Onyx Prime, Sony XM3):
Fit:
By design of the eartips provided, this Onyx Prime should be using deeper insertion, but the fact that there are ear hooks that could prevent deeper insertion means the other way, so it is a bit confusing for me personally. I also find that even the largest sized tips provided a bit small for me, so I opted to use an aftermarket eartips (Spinfit CP360) on my Onyx Prime.
The ear hooks seems to do nothing for me, but removing it altogether would also problematic because of the sharp plastic grooves would be exposed. I personally have no problem using it without the ear hooks, but for the safer side, I would go to the smallest size.
Bear in mind that fitting scenario above is strictly my personal situation and might not reflect on everyone the same way.
Battery life:
The battery life is around 7 hours of playtime, that’s average on today’s standard, so no problem there for me.
Apps:
Now, this is where I think the whole potential of the Onyx Prime is held back, at least in my personal experience testing it this couple of days. Some of the nagging problems are:
- I can’t seem to update my unit. Even after the installation process, it would always display “update failed” message, and after that the TWS unit would not be able to pair again to my phones, forcing me to do full factory reset on them to fix that problem. I'm using Samsung Note 10 and Note 8, both have the same problem
- Every time I connect the unit to the App, it would ask to “pair” again (adding another “LE” name on the Bluetooth list). After that I can control the frustrating EQ (more on that later), change button presses, initiate game mode, and also update firmware, which as you read above, seems to fail every time for me.
- The kicker is, after I disconnect the TWS from the App (or putting it on the case again, for instance), the TWS won’t be able to connect again to that phone, with the only solution is to delete pairing and pair again. This makes using the app a hassle.
- Now...the biggest gripe for me: the EQ setting is all over the place… changing the preset would often shift the center-balance to the left or right, depending on which earpiece is acting as the master at the time of pairing, and pressing the save button would sometimes suddenly change the sound from what you set it before. It seems that different starting preset would differ in sound completely to our adjustment... for instance you take two preset: the “Hi-fi” and “Rock”, and you adjust both of them to the same EQ form (let’s say flat EQ), both would ended up with really different sound. That is not how EQ supposed to work.
- Also when you save preset, it would only registered on the designated master unit at the time of pairing…so let say when pairing initially to your phone that the left unit is the master (easily tell by which one is blinking red-blue), when you save an EQ preset it would only sound like that the next time if you also use the left again as the master.. if for some reason you pair them again using the right unit, then the EQ preset would be different...and good luck trying to replicate the same EQ setting on both the TWS earpiece with that temperamental EQ setting…
The EQ problem is still there on the Pixel 2 though, so i think it's the app's problem and i sure hope Tronsmart will update their app to fix it (and tone down the bass from all of the preset!).
All of this is really frustrating, especially as I know that this Onyx Prime has good raw driver capabilities and can definitely take great EQ-ing, as I genuinely found some nice sound out of it. But the fact that getting that setting is like feeling my way in the dark with random outcomes, and also the possibility that I can lose my EQ preset unwillingly and have to revert to the “Default” preset (which is honestly really bad), makes me really sad.
So, unless there’s a fix for this from future update (which is also a frustrating process for me), this TWS feels like running a race but stopping short before the finish line…
I don’t know if this app problems is exclusive to my experience, so do enlighten and help me to fix this problem, as I truly want this TWS to work out to its full potential.
For your info I tried this using multiple different phones at my home (Samsung Note 10, Note 8), and both have the same frustrating outcome.
Isolation, ANC/ Ambient mode:
Passive isolation: Passively, it performs well. I think this is the best in term of passive noise blocking compared to the other Onyx/Apollo
No ANC/ Ambient mode on the Onyx Prime
Sound characteristic:
In the default EQ presets, it is mostly hard V shape with too much bass and killing the true potential of the crisp treble from the added BA driver…
The only bass light preset would be the “Hi-fi” but it also has a problem, which is some hollow/ missing frequency somewhere in the mids, making the soundstage disjointed between the left and right channel.
I found my ideal setting by using the “Rock” setting which has the most forward mids, and then cutting the bass frequency quite a bit to make the treble pops. In this setting, it is one of my most preferred TWS in terms of sound, because driver capabilities-wise, this is the best Tronsmart TWS compared to the other Onyx/Apollo line, especially when talking about the treble resolve.
Bass:
Just like the other Tronsmart Onyx/ Apollo TWS, this Onyx Prime has no problem outputting ample amount of bass. Sadly, the EQ presets seems to be doing the bass too much…just like the other Tronsmart lines. I really wish that they would tone down the bass significantly and just use some more well-known target curve, like Harman, etc (especially with the added “made for audiophiles” tagline for this Onyx Prime)
Mids:
Most of the preset have low amount of mids, making it sounded distant. The only preset that shows the true potential of this TWS is the “Rock” preset, which clearly shows that the Onyx Prime can indeed have a good mids
Treble:
This is where the Onyx Prime sets itself apart from the other Onyx and Apollo line. The extra crispness and sparkle of the treble is simply can’t be achieved by the other Onyx/Apollos.
Soundstage:
With the "default" EQ (and most of the other ones), the bass blurred the depth of sound, making it more flat, especially compared to the Apollo Bold and Air, which also have big amount of bass, but doing it in a more fun way and not masking the depth of the soundstage. When tuned right, the Onyx Prime is more similar to hybrid/ all BA stage monitor IEMs in depth and spread: positioning the listener not too far back in rows, and more close to intimate in staging.
Conclusion:
I really do want this to be the perfect Tronsmart TWS in terms of sound…that makes me more frustrated to see the state of the app (EQ, updating process, and app connection). If Tronsmart can fix this App problem and give the Onyx Prime true EQing capability, this TWS can seriously crush the other competitors, as I do rate this highly among my collections in terms of sound. I hope the fix would come soon.
With the default EQ, i would give this a 3 in rating, but after my luckily saved EQ tuning (which made me afraid to try updating it again, because it would definitely forces me to reset to default if the update process fails), i give this a 4
If the app is fixed and the EQ section is spotless, I would give this TWS a solid 5 stars.
chinmie
my unit is currently at version 1.2.5, and it always fail to update to the 1.2.6 version. may I ask what device/phone did you use to update it? also did it have problems reconnecting to the app like mine?
paulwasabii
Yes, mine did update to 1.2.6. Ironically I had just received my Pixel 6 Pro which does have some Bluetooth bugs, but works very well with Onyx Prime. Mine also does not have a problem reconnecting, I usually just select it on the top left menu as it saves a shortcut to it. Still get the searching screen for a few seconds but then it connects.
chinmie
i also just updated my Prime to 1.2.6 using my old Google Pixel 2, after email correspondence with a Tronsmart representative that informed me that she didn't have update/reconnecting problem like me. That encouraged me to try again with different device, and it worked.. also no reconnecting problem with the pixel, so i think that problem are specific to my Samsung Note 10 and Note 8. The EQ quirks are still there though.
I will update my review to add this information
I will update my review to add this information
Disclaimer: Tronsmart offered these unit for me to test and review. Everything i write here is my subjective honest opinion about the unit.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone and laptop
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-splash-1-waterproof-bluetooth-speaker
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box:
Built and accessories:
The Splash 1 has a rugged feel to it without looking all bulky. It’s all plastic with small rubber feet, rubber flaps covering the USB-C and line in ports, and a small lanyard that can fit for carrying it around the neck if you prefer. USB-C and line in AUX cable are included in the package.
The on/off button and the input mode button on the side is tactile and nicely readable. The Play/pause and track skip/volume buttons on the top is clear to read or differentiate by touch.
There’s also an RGB LED strip that can be turn on/off to add more flair, and also visibility when using it at night.
You can chain two units of Splash 1 together using bluetooth. I only have one unit at the moment, so i can't test this feature.
It measures at 11 cm diameter × 5 cm height, and weight at 200 gr
The Tronsmart Studio is only available in black
Battery life:
I haven’t done a battery test myself, but according to the spec sheet, The Tronsmart Splash 1 can last for a whole day of 24 hours! That would be enough for some trekking days of moderate listening sessions.
Apps:
As of now there’s no app support for the Splash 1, so what you get out of the box is what you have. Hopefully Tronsmart would decide to add app capability for it in the future.
Sound characteristic:
The Splash 1 has two sound signature: with the SoundPulse off, it has a more forward mids and more focused sound, while with the SoundPulse turned on it has a more V-shaped sound signature and more spread out and more “surround” kind of soundstage, although off course not a true surround effect.
Compared to the bigger Tronsmart Studio that I also reviewed, when set to the same volume level, the Studio has a more spread out stereo sound while the Splash 1 has a more focused and intimate stereo sound spread, which is understandable especially because of the bigger size of the Tronsmart Studio and the more physically spread out its speaker placement compared to the more compact and smaller Splash 1. Sound volume is also about half the output of the ridiculously loud Tronsmart Studio, which is true to their specifications (15 Watt of the Splash 1 compared to the 30 Watt of the Studio 1).
The good thing is, just as the Tronsmart Studio, the Splash 1 can also able to be pushed to the maximum volume without distorting.
Size comparison to the Tronsmart Studio:
Conclusion:
If you are in need of a small and light bluetooth speaker for outdoor activities, this Splash 1 is definitely can be an option to consider. The overall package of performance that you get for the price is pretty good, and that IPX7 rating would be great and an added peace of mind when taking this speaker for your outdoor activities
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone and laptop
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-splash-1-waterproof-bluetooth-speaker
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box:
Built and accessories:
The Splash 1 has a rugged feel to it without looking all bulky. It’s all plastic with small rubber feet, rubber flaps covering the USB-C and line in ports, and a small lanyard that can fit for carrying it around the neck if you prefer. USB-C and line in AUX cable are included in the package.
The on/off button and the input mode button on the side is tactile and nicely readable. The Play/pause and track skip/volume buttons on the top is clear to read or differentiate by touch.
There’s also an RGB LED strip that can be turn on/off to add more flair, and also visibility when using it at night.
You can chain two units of Splash 1 together using bluetooth. I only have one unit at the moment, so i can't test this feature.
It measures at 11 cm diameter × 5 cm height, and weight at 200 gr
The Tronsmart Studio is only available in black
Battery life:
I haven’t done a battery test myself, but according to the spec sheet, The Tronsmart Splash 1 can last for a whole day of 24 hours! That would be enough for some trekking days of moderate listening sessions.
Apps:
As of now there’s no app support for the Splash 1, so what you get out of the box is what you have. Hopefully Tronsmart would decide to add app capability for it in the future.
Sound characteristic:
The Splash 1 has two sound signature: with the SoundPulse off, it has a more forward mids and more focused sound, while with the SoundPulse turned on it has a more V-shaped sound signature and more spread out and more “surround” kind of soundstage, although off course not a true surround effect.
Compared to the bigger Tronsmart Studio that I also reviewed, when set to the same volume level, the Studio has a more spread out stereo sound while the Splash 1 has a more focused and intimate stereo sound spread, which is understandable especially because of the bigger size of the Tronsmart Studio and the more physically spread out its speaker placement compared to the more compact and smaller Splash 1. Sound volume is also about half the output of the ridiculously loud Tronsmart Studio, which is true to their specifications (15 Watt of the Splash 1 compared to the 30 Watt of the Studio 1).
The good thing is, just as the Tronsmart Studio, the Splash 1 can also able to be pushed to the maximum volume without distorting.
Size comparison to the Tronsmart Studio:
Conclusion:
If you are in need of a small and light bluetooth speaker for outdoor activities, this Splash 1 is definitely can be an option to consider. The overall package of performance that you get for the price is pretty good, and that IPX7 rating would be great and an added peace of mind when taking this speaker for your outdoor activities
Disclaimer: Tronsmart offered these unit for me to test and review. Everything i write here is my subjective honest opinion about the unit.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Onyx Ace, Vivo TWS Neo, Airpods Pro
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-battle-gaming-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
The Tronsmart Battle has a different case form and material compared to their older releases. This time around they are using round form factor that has a “Pokemon Ball” kind of vibe to it. Other TWS that I know of that’s using similar clear plastic material are Edifier GM6 and Lenovo LP80.
The difference the Battle has compared to that other two is the opening mechanism. This one uses sliding to the side instead of the regular opening lid that other TWS uses. It might require some time to get use to, but after a while even opening them with one hand is easy enough.
Also that rotating lid, along with the overall roundness of the case, almost give it a fidget toy feel when holding it as i kind of want to twiddle it.
There’s a RGB LED strip underneath of the case that would glow when opened, but it’s just cosmetics only (albeit a pretty looking one), as the real battery indicator is a single small red LED near the buds itself. It’s would glow solid red when the battery of the case is full, and would blink when it’s time to charge the case.
It would automatically turn on and pair as soon as the lid is opened.
The case itself doesn’t support wireless charging, so we can only charge with the USB-C connection.
The earpiece itself is comfortably small, compared to my older Tronsmart Onyx Ace and Vivo TWS Neo. It’s similar in size to my Airpods Pro.
Of course as this is open Earbud styled TWS, there’s no eartips provided in the box.
The Onyx Apex is only available in black
Size comparison (left to right: AirPods Pro, Battle, Onyx Ace, TWS Neo):
Fit:
The fit is typical to other stemmed open earbuds. The shorter stems do contribute for it to be slightly more comfortable than my other earbud styled TWS.
I usually put some earbud foams or silicon sleeves on my open TWS, so this one is no different. Putting some kind of silicon or foam sleeves would not only help with a more secure fit, but also can help increase the bass response on these type of TWS, though sadly on some TWS, once you put the sleeves on sometimes it would not fit on the case and charge.
Luckily on this Tronsmart Battle, it would still fit and charge inside the case with sleeves on.
Battery life:
Battery life is average for this type of TWS. I usually get around 4 to 5 hours of moderate listening volume.
Apps:
At this moment, the Tronsmart Battle doesn’t have any apps support, so what you have out of the box is what you get. Thankfully the button layout, stock sound, and connection performance are good out of the box, but i do hope Tronsmart would add an app support for this in the future.
There’s no APTX codec support on the Battle, and also when i paired it with my android phones, it would only connect using SBC. It might bother some people, though to be honest i don’t hear any glaring difference between different codecs anyway.
Passive isolation: Basically no isolation whatsoever on this kind of open TWS form, which is kinda the whole thing..as usually people would get this kind of TWS form when they want that non-isolation type of feeling.
Sound characteristic:
In summary, it is a balanced overall sound that have a hint of sub-bass to it (especially if using it with silicon or foam sleeves), with a wide and spread out sense of soundstage, even compared to the other similar open TWS in my collection.
I think among my open buds TWS this one is the widest in soundstsage and the most suited for gaming and watching movies
Bass:
Without sleeves on, the bass can be quite thin for some people, but with sleeves on, it can go down and reach subbass, though the overall quantity is still not in the basshead category. Bass attacks are fast and lean.
Mids:
Mids here is more of the lean type and less intimate. It gives more sense of space in the center stage and make the overall soundstage seems wider than usual. It might be intentional tuning, as this is a TWS that is geared more for playing games, and i think this kind of tuning is really suited for that gaming purposes and also for watching movies.
Treble:
It has a bright and cold sounding treble, giving it a more precise “ping” and sparkle to the overall sound.
Soundstage:
Given the overall tuning, it can give the impression that the soundstage spread and reached even slightly behind the ears. I really like it when listening to live recording and classical music.
Conclusion:
Other than the lack of APTX compared to its competition that might bother some potential buyer, i really like this Tronsmart Battle as a whole package. The cool looking case, small earpieces, and great button operation (which typical to Tronsmart TWS product that I have)
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Onyx Ace, Vivo TWS Neo, Airpods Pro
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-battle-gaming-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
The Tronsmart Battle has a different case form and material compared to their older releases. This time around they are using round form factor that has a “Pokemon Ball” kind of vibe to it. Other TWS that I know of that’s using similar clear plastic material are Edifier GM6 and Lenovo LP80.
The difference the Battle has compared to that other two is the opening mechanism. This one uses sliding to the side instead of the regular opening lid that other TWS uses. It might require some time to get use to, but after a while even opening them with one hand is easy enough.
Also that rotating lid, along with the overall roundness of the case, almost give it a fidget toy feel when holding it as i kind of want to twiddle it.
There’s a RGB LED strip underneath of the case that would glow when opened, but it’s just cosmetics only (albeit a pretty looking one), as the real battery indicator is a single small red LED near the buds itself. It’s would glow solid red when the battery of the case is full, and would blink when it’s time to charge the case.
It would automatically turn on and pair as soon as the lid is opened.
The case itself doesn’t support wireless charging, so we can only charge with the USB-C connection.
The earpiece itself is comfortably small, compared to my older Tronsmart Onyx Ace and Vivo TWS Neo. It’s similar in size to my Airpods Pro.
Of course as this is open Earbud styled TWS, there’s no eartips provided in the box.
The Onyx Apex is only available in black
Size comparison (left to right: AirPods Pro, Battle, Onyx Ace, TWS Neo):
Fit:
The fit is typical to other stemmed open earbuds. The shorter stems do contribute for it to be slightly more comfortable than my other earbud styled TWS.
I usually put some earbud foams or silicon sleeves on my open TWS, so this one is no different. Putting some kind of silicon or foam sleeves would not only help with a more secure fit, but also can help increase the bass response on these type of TWS, though sadly on some TWS, once you put the sleeves on sometimes it would not fit on the case and charge.
Luckily on this Tronsmart Battle, it would still fit and charge inside the case with sleeves on.
Battery life:
Battery life is average for this type of TWS. I usually get around 4 to 5 hours of moderate listening volume.
Apps:
At this moment, the Tronsmart Battle doesn’t have any apps support, so what you have out of the box is what you get. Thankfully the button layout, stock sound, and connection performance are good out of the box, but i do hope Tronsmart would add an app support for this in the future.
There’s no APTX codec support on the Battle, and also when i paired it with my android phones, it would only connect using SBC. It might bother some people, though to be honest i don’t hear any glaring difference between different codecs anyway.
Passive isolation: Basically no isolation whatsoever on this kind of open TWS form, which is kinda the whole thing..as usually people would get this kind of TWS form when they want that non-isolation type of feeling.
Sound characteristic:
In summary, it is a balanced overall sound that have a hint of sub-bass to it (especially if using it with silicon or foam sleeves), with a wide and spread out sense of soundstage, even compared to the other similar open TWS in my collection.
I think among my open buds TWS this one is the widest in soundstsage and the most suited for gaming and watching movies
Bass:
Without sleeves on, the bass can be quite thin for some people, but with sleeves on, it can go down and reach subbass, though the overall quantity is still not in the basshead category. Bass attacks are fast and lean.
Mids:
Mids here is more of the lean type and less intimate. It gives more sense of space in the center stage and make the overall soundstage seems wider than usual. It might be intentional tuning, as this is a TWS that is geared more for playing games, and i think this kind of tuning is really suited for that gaming purposes and also for watching movies.
Treble:
It has a bright and cold sounding treble, giving it a more precise “ping” and sparkle to the overall sound.
Soundstage:
Given the overall tuning, it can give the impression that the soundstage spread and reached even slightly behind the ears. I really like it when listening to live recording and classical music.
Conclusion:
Other than the lack of APTX compared to its competition that might bother some potential buyer, i really like this Tronsmart Battle as a whole package. The cool looking case, small earpieces, and great button operation (which typical to Tronsmart TWS product that I have)
Disclaimer: Tronsmart offered these unit for me to test and review. Everything i write here is my subjective honest opinion about the unit.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone and laptop
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-studio-bluetooth-speaker
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Built and accessories:
It has an all metal (aluminium) chassis, the front and back grill are also all metal, with big rubber buttons on top, and a thick rubber base to prevent it from sliding around.
On the back there’s USB C port for charging, a 3,5mm line in jack (both these cables are also included in the box), and lastly a micro SD slot if you prefer using it stand-alone.
The buttons are tactile enough, a bit effort to push but not too hard. My only gripe in this category is that the buttons are all black, with no distinct marking or lights, making it hard to see them, especially indoors. I must memorize the positions of that 6 buttons before i can using it comfortably. A clear marking on the buttons (maybe on future products) would be much better.
It measures at (L) 21 cm x (W) 7 cm x (H) 6,5 cm, and weight at 800 gr
The Tronsmart Studio is only available in black
Battery life:
The Tronsmart Studio can last for more than 15 hours at a decent normal listening level, that’s quite something, though i haven’t have any other bluetooth speakers as a comparison, but the Studio’s battery is definitely more than enough for my daily use.
Apps:
The Studio does supported by the app, providing the means to have future updates, changing the EQ preset, toggle between the source of input (Bluetooth, Line in, or Micro SD file), and activating the Broadcast mode, which is essentially chain-linking several Tronsmart Studio speakers to play simultaneously. I can’t test this feature because i only have access to one unit at this time of writing the review
The only gripe that i have with the app is that it doesn’t save the last preset i was using, seems to always revert back to the “Default” setting. A bit of a hassle, because i prefer using the “Hifi” setting, so i have to go back to app each time to select it. Hopefully this problem would get solved in future software update.
App screenshot:
Sound characteristic:
It has a typical small speaker sound: decent amount of bass, mid-bass and mid focused sound, and relaxed treble. As the size suggest, you won't get deep sub-bass extension on this. I can surprisingly drive the volume to uncomfortably loud level with this, and because of the metal build, it it would take insane volume before it would distort.
To put it into perspective, with my phone set to max volume, I usually listen to this speaker with 4 or 5 notches of it’s volume...and the maximum volume notch is 16... and trust me, that’s reeeeallly loud!
Conclusion:
Honestly, I’m more of an earphone/headphone person, and I rarely use speaker system for listening at home other than in my car and in my recording studio for monitoring.
But using this portable speaker for this couple of weeks is refreshing, as i can set it in my room and play some ambient background music while i’m working at my computer. This Tronsmart Studio surprisingly deliver good performance and feature in a solidly build form at a nice entry point
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone and laptop
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-studio-bluetooth-speaker
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Built and accessories:
It has an all metal (aluminium) chassis, the front and back grill are also all metal, with big rubber buttons on top, and a thick rubber base to prevent it from sliding around.
On the back there’s USB C port for charging, a 3,5mm line in jack (both these cables are also included in the box), and lastly a micro SD slot if you prefer using it stand-alone.
The buttons are tactile enough, a bit effort to push but not too hard. My only gripe in this category is that the buttons are all black, with no distinct marking or lights, making it hard to see them, especially indoors. I must memorize the positions of that 6 buttons before i can using it comfortably. A clear marking on the buttons (maybe on future products) would be much better.
It measures at (L) 21 cm x (W) 7 cm x (H) 6,5 cm, and weight at 800 gr
The Tronsmart Studio is only available in black
Battery life:
The Tronsmart Studio can last for more than 15 hours at a decent normal listening level, that’s quite something, though i haven’t have any other bluetooth speakers as a comparison, but the Studio’s battery is definitely more than enough for my daily use.
Apps:
The Studio does supported by the app, providing the means to have future updates, changing the EQ preset, toggle between the source of input (Bluetooth, Line in, or Micro SD file), and activating the Broadcast mode, which is essentially chain-linking several Tronsmart Studio speakers to play simultaneously. I can’t test this feature because i only have access to one unit at this time of writing the review
The only gripe that i have with the app is that it doesn’t save the last preset i was using, seems to always revert back to the “Default” setting. A bit of a hassle, because i prefer using the “Hifi” setting, so i have to go back to app each time to select it. Hopefully this problem would get solved in future software update.
App screenshot:
Sound characteristic:
It has a typical small speaker sound: decent amount of bass, mid-bass and mid focused sound, and relaxed treble. As the size suggest, you won't get deep sub-bass extension on this. I can surprisingly drive the volume to uncomfortably loud level with this, and because of the metal build, it it would take insane volume before it would distort.
To put it into perspective, with my phone set to max volume, I usually listen to this speaker with 4 or 5 notches of it’s volume...and the maximum volume notch is 16... and trust me, that’s reeeeallly loud!
Conclusion:
Honestly, I’m more of an earphone/headphone person, and I rarely use speaker system for listening at home other than in my car and in my recording studio for monitoring.
But using this portable speaker for this couple of weeks is refreshing, as i can set it in my room and play some ambient background music while i’m working at my computer. This Tronsmart Studio surprisingly deliver good performance and feature in a solidly build form at a nice entry point
Disclaimer: Tronsmart offered these unit for me to test and review. Everything i write here is my subjective honest opinion about the unit.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Apollo Air+, Airpods Pro
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/...noise-cancelling-true-wireless-stereo-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
This time Tronsmart uses a cheaper material plastic for the case compared to their Apollo line, or even compared to the older Onyx Free for that matter. Understandable because of the cheaper price point, but worth mentioning, because it still is more expensive than the Onyx Free. The plastic seems softer to the touch and more prone to scratches compared to the Apollo cases, and also feels less polished because some rough edges around the lid.
Also the lid won’t hold itself open. Not really a big deal for me, but something worth mentioning.
I like the battery indicator system better here compared to the confusing Apollos. Here it just uses the traditional four LEDs that gives us info about how much battery left on the case.
There’s no automatic pairing here when we open the lid, so you must pick them up from the case to initiate pairing. I personally like this method more, but some other might prefer it differently.
The case itself doesn’t support wireless charging, so we can only charge with the USB-C connection.
Thankfully, the earpieces themselves feels quite nicely build and have the same quality feel and material to the Apollo Airs. It uses the same glossy finish and similarly responsive buttons. It also adopts the oval nozzle shape like the Apollo Airs, but with the difference of the height of the eartips used: while the Apollo Air are using regular, taller IEM tips, the Onyx Apex are using the shorter and stubbier eartips, similar in height to the Airpods Pro
Provided inside the box are standard 3 pairs of eartips, USB-C cable, and manuals.
The Onyx Apex is only available in black
Size comparison (left to right: AirPods Pro, Onyx Apex, Apollo Air):
Fit:
It uses a shallower fit compared to the Apollo Air, partly because of the more bulbous body, and also because the shorter eartips. I don’t have any problems with fit and comfort, though the Apollo Air is better on this regard for me, because even if i move my jaws it rarely (if ever) break seal, while i sometimes must adjust with the Onyx Apex. Also I can wear the Apollo Air longer as the Onyx Apex makes my inner ears warmer and sweat more after long use while i have less occasions with the Apollo Air. I personally settle using the eartips from the Apollo Air on my Onyx Apex.
Bear in mind that this is strictly my personal situation and might not reflect on everyone the same way.
Onyx Apex eartip vs Apollo Air's:
Battery life:
The battery life is more or less similar to the Apollo Air, so adequate, but compared to the other BT 5.2 competitor it might seem mediocre
Based on my personal test playing Spotify non-stop at my regular listening volume, i got around 5 hours until the battery shows 10% left with ANC on, and around 6 hours with ANC off (until it shows 10% battery left).
Apps:
At this moment, the Onyx Apex doesn’t have any apps support, so what you have out of the box is what you get. Thankfully the button layout, stock sound, and connection performance are good out of the box, but i do hope Tronsmart add app support for this in the future.
Isolation, ANC/ Ambient mode:
Passive isolation: Passively, it performs well, it blocks more than the Airpods Pro, though to the Apollo Air blocks a bit more because of the deeper fit style.
ANC: ANC wise, it’s adequate and usable, but the Apollo Air performs better here as it reduces more noise than the Apex.
Ambient mode: The ambient mode on the Onyx Apex is loud, as it seems to let everything in and even boost them a bit more, similar to what hearing aid would do. Static noise like AC or fan noise would be elevated, but the good thing is that every conversation would be more audible. I like it better than the Apollo Air’s Ambient mode, which seems to be harder to hear conversations even with ambient mode on.
Sound characteristic:
In summary, it has similar rumbly bass as the Apollo Air, but with a more forward mids, crisper treble, and more intimate soundstage.
Bass:
It’s really similar in bass performance compared to the Apollo Air: subbass really hit deep, but seems a bit faster compared to the mellower and relaxed Apollo Air
Unlike the Apollo Bold and Apollo Air/Air+ however, there seems to be no changes in bass quantity when the ANC/ Ambient mode engaged.
Mids:
Mids here is slightly more “in your face” compared to the warm and relaxed nature of the Apollo Air.
Treble:
The Onyx Apex has more treble, making it a bit more engaging compared to the more laid back treble of the Apollo Air. Both are good and works in the similar sound quality, so it’s just a matter of preference: more dynamic ( Onyx Apex) or more relaxed and longer listening (Apollo Air)
Soundstage:
It has more intimate soundstage when compared to the Apollo Air because of the more forward center stage/ mids. The tradeoff is that the Air seems to have deeper and more 3D soundstage, like listening from several rows back at the concert, while the Onyx Apex is more intimate, like standing closer to the stage.
Conclusion:
Still another solid performer from Tronsmart. It retains similar performance to the more expensive Apollo Airs, with the sacrifice in slightly cheaper feel case and the lack of app support.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Apollo Air+, Airpods Pro
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/...noise-cancelling-true-wireless-stereo-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box:
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
This time Tronsmart uses a cheaper material plastic for the case compared to their Apollo line, or even compared to the older Onyx Free for that matter. Understandable because of the cheaper price point, but worth mentioning, because it still is more expensive than the Onyx Free. The plastic seems softer to the touch and more prone to scratches compared to the Apollo cases, and also feels less polished because some rough edges around the lid.
Also the lid won’t hold itself open. Not really a big deal for me, but something worth mentioning.
I like the battery indicator system better here compared to the confusing Apollos. Here it just uses the traditional four LEDs that gives us info about how much battery left on the case.
There’s no automatic pairing here when we open the lid, so you must pick them up from the case to initiate pairing. I personally like this method more, but some other might prefer it differently.
The case itself doesn’t support wireless charging, so we can only charge with the USB-C connection.
Thankfully, the earpieces themselves feels quite nicely build and have the same quality feel and material to the Apollo Airs. It uses the same glossy finish and similarly responsive buttons. It also adopts the oval nozzle shape like the Apollo Airs, but with the difference of the height of the eartips used: while the Apollo Air are using regular, taller IEM tips, the Onyx Apex are using the shorter and stubbier eartips, similar in height to the Airpods Pro
Provided inside the box are standard 3 pairs of eartips, USB-C cable, and manuals.
The Onyx Apex is only available in black
Size comparison (left to right: AirPods Pro, Onyx Apex, Apollo Air):
Fit:
It uses a shallower fit compared to the Apollo Air, partly because of the more bulbous body, and also because the shorter eartips. I don’t have any problems with fit and comfort, though the Apollo Air is better on this regard for me, because even if i move my jaws it rarely (if ever) break seal, while i sometimes must adjust with the Onyx Apex. Also I can wear the Apollo Air longer as the Onyx Apex makes my inner ears warmer and sweat more after long use while i have less occasions with the Apollo Air. I personally settle using the eartips from the Apollo Air on my Onyx Apex.
Bear in mind that this is strictly my personal situation and might not reflect on everyone the same way.
Onyx Apex eartip vs Apollo Air's:
Battery life:
The battery life is more or less similar to the Apollo Air, so adequate, but compared to the other BT 5.2 competitor it might seem mediocre
Based on my personal test playing Spotify non-stop at my regular listening volume, i got around 5 hours until the battery shows 10% left with ANC on, and around 6 hours with ANC off (until it shows 10% battery left).
Apps:
At this moment, the Onyx Apex doesn’t have any apps support, so what you have out of the box is what you get. Thankfully the button layout, stock sound, and connection performance are good out of the box, but i do hope Tronsmart add app support for this in the future.
Isolation, ANC/ Ambient mode:
Passive isolation: Passively, it performs well, it blocks more than the Airpods Pro, though to the Apollo Air blocks a bit more because of the deeper fit style.
ANC: ANC wise, it’s adequate and usable, but the Apollo Air performs better here as it reduces more noise than the Apex.
Ambient mode: The ambient mode on the Onyx Apex is loud, as it seems to let everything in and even boost them a bit more, similar to what hearing aid would do. Static noise like AC or fan noise would be elevated, but the good thing is that every conversation would be more audible. I like it better than the Apollo Air’s Ambient mode, which seems to be harder to hear conversations even with ambient mode on.
Sound characteristic:
In summary, it has similar rumbly bass as the Apollo Air, but with a more forward mids, crisper treble, and more intimate soundstage.
Bass:
It’s really similar in bass performance compared to the Apollo Air: subbass really hit deep, but seems a bit faster compared to the mellower and relaxed Apollo Air
Unlike the Apollo Bold and Apollo Air/Air+ however, there seems to be no changes in bass quantity when the ANC/ Ambient mode engaged.
Mids:
Mids here is slightly more “in your face” compared to the warm and relaxed nature of the Apollo Air.
Treble:
The Onyx Apex has more treble, making it a bit more engaging compared to the more laid back treble of the Apollo Air. Both are good and works in the similar sound quality, so it’s just a matter of preference: more dynamic ( Onyx Apex) or more relaxed and longer listening (Apollo Air)
Soundstage:
It has more intimate soundstage when compared to the Apollo Air because of the more forward center stage/ mids. The tradeoff is that the Air seems to have deeper and more 3D soundstage, like listening from several rows back at the concert, while the Onyx Apex is more intimate, like standing closer to the stage.
Conclusion:
Still another solid performer from Tronsmart. It retains similar performance to the more expensive Apollo Airs, with the sacrifice in slightly cheaper feel case and the lack of app support.
Disclaimer: Tronsmart offered these unit for me to test and review. Everything i write here is my subjective honest opinion about the unit.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Apollo Bold, Sony WF1000 XM3, AirPods Pro.
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-apollo-air-truewireless-stereo-plus-hybrid-anc-earbuds
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/...s-truewireless-stereo-plus-hybrid-anc-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box (Apollo Air) :
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
The case is really light, even compared to my other TWS that have small footprint. Also it is the lightest compared to my other Tronsmart TWS case.
I like the satin matte finish on the case, because it would be more resistant to scratches. Because the very light plastic however, it does feel a bit flimsy when picked up, though i have no problems with the build quality overall.
Also the lid won’t hold itself open. Not really a big deal for me, but something worth mentioning.
Battery indicator on the case would blink blue when battery is above 10% and blinks red when under 10%.
When opened a blue/red light indicator inside would flash to notify pairing mode as it would pair immediately when the case is opened.
There’s a pairing button near the USB C charging port.
The earpieces themselves feels quite nicely build. It uses a glossy plastic instead of matte one like the case. buttons are responsive. It also adopts the oval nozzle shape like the Apollo Bold
Provided inside the box are standard 3 pairs of eartips, USB-C cable, and manuals.
Apollo Air+ Version
Almost identical to the Apollo Air, but with extra added features like:
Box size comparison vs Apollo Air:
The Air+ can fit and charge on the Air's case (and vise versa):
Proximity sensor:
Both of the Air and Air+ are available in black and white color for purchase.
Size comparison (left to right: AirPods Pro, Apollo Air, Apollo Bold, WF1000-XM3):
Fit:
This is one of those really rare cases for me (more so in TWS world) that an earphone could fit in my ears using all of the eartips. I usually wear L size eartips on almost all of my IEMs and TWSs, but with this one I can easily fit and made seal even with the S size. Maybe because of the combination of the slightly elongated body and angle of the nozzle. I did ended up using the stock M size tips as the happy middle ground, also because it’s more flushed in my ears compared when using L size.
Bear in mind that this is strictly my personal situation and might not reflect on everyone the same way.
Battery life:
If there’s a gripe that i have with this TWS, then it’s the battery life.
Based on my personal test playing Spotify non-stop at my regular listening volume, i got around 4 hours until the battery shows 10% left with ANC on, and around 6 hours with ANC off (until it shows 10% battery left). It does has similar battery life to the AirPods Pro, but compared to the Sony WF1000-XM3 and the Apollo Bold, these two definitely have a longer playtime.
This might be fine a few years ago, but this is one of the shorter battery among my ANC TWS, and middle of the road with ANC off, considering the Bold can go much longer...also adding the fact that nowadays there are TWS that can break more than 10 hours of single charge playtime.
Apps:
just like the Apollo Bold, you can tune the EQ preset, toggle ANC/ambient mode, see the battery level, change the button configurations, and also update the firmware when available.
Tronsmart Apollo series are some of the most flexible and complete when it comes to button configurations among all TWS that i have/tried.
I like the fact that it also has the same level of button configuration like the Bold, as it can have hold, touch and hold, 1-3x tapping, and either left and right can be configured differently. Other TWS sometimes forced button pairings (for example, if single tap on the left is for previous track, you must use single tap on the right for next track).
The Air and Air+ has 8 EQ presets compared to the Bold’s 5 preset. I personally prefer the “Rock” (and sometimes the “Default” when i want a more V-shaped presentation) setting on the Air, and the “Jazz” or “Pop” on the Bold.
Apollo Bold Presets:
Apollo Air/Air+ presets:
I really wish that Tronsmart would just give us a user adjustable EQ instead, as that would raise the overall value of their TWS by quite a lot…but one can only hope.
Isolation, ANC/ Ambient mode:
Passive isolation: the Air/Air+ has a quite good passive isolation. To my ears, it blocks more noise than the Bold
ANC: The Air/Air+ muffles out the higher frequency and human chatter a bit more than the Bold, while the Bold would have a sparkly high hiss on the upper frequency, but overall i would rate them both at similar level for high frequency cancelation. The Sony WF1000-XM3 and AirPods Pro performs a bit better than both of them on this regard.
For lower frequency cancelation like hum and engine noises, the Bold and Air/Air+ is similar, while the WF1000-XM3 and AirPods Pro performing a bit better
Ambient mode: The way they pass through sound via their ambient microphone are somewhat similar to their signature sound: the Air/Air+ focuses on the mids more (like speeches and conversations) and soften out the hiss and higher frequency sound, while the Bold would have a thinner mids sound and lets through more microphone hiss. Also the Air/Air+ would make the human speech sound more honky (like cupping the hands in front of the mouth forming a funnel) and more boosted on the mid high, while the Bold presents human speech more evenly (albeit in a thinner overall sound).
The Sony WF1000-XM3 ambient sound is better than both of them because of the more realistic human voice sound, less mic hiss, also much more control over the ambient level and the added option to focus on human voice.
Airpods Pro is also better and more natural sounding in ambient mode.
Sound characteristic:
To put it simply, with the “Rock” EQ preset, it sounds really similar to the AirPods Pro, with added bass quantity and warmth, and a slightly wider stereo spread. mids and treble characteristic is similar.
It has a warm “analog” and non-fatiguing sound to it, with intimate mids, thumping bass when called on, and warm relaxing treble.
In comparison, the Bold can deliver more detail and resolution compared to the Air/Air+, but this one is better and comfortable for longer listening sessions.
Note: every sound comparison below would be based on the Apollo Air/Air+ on "Rock" setting, the Apollo Bold on "Jazz" setting, and no EQ changes to the AirPods Pro.
Bass:
The Bold has deeper sub bass reach (and volume) compared to the Air/Air+. the Air/Air+ has good thump, but has a more focused frequency on the upper bass/ low mids thump compared to sub bass rumble.
The Air/Air+ have slightly bigger and warmer bass compared to the AirPods Pro.
Like the Apollo Bold, the Air/Air+ also shares the same problem, that is the bass would be boosted when ANC/Ambient mode is engaged. I really hope they would fix this somehow with firmware update.
Mids:
I like the mids on this, especially compared to the older Apollo Bold. While the Bold has a distant and thin mids presentation, the Air/Air+ is more forward and thicker, giving vocals more weight to them. In ANC/Ambient mode on, the mid bass would leaked a bit and color up the lower mids, depending on the songs/material played.
The Air/Air+ also have a slightly thicker mids compared to the AirPods Pro, but not by much.
Treble:
The Bold has a more sparkly top end and more resolving treble, while the Air/Air+ is more relaxed and muted (really similar to the AirPods Pro). Cymbals would sound softer, though acoustic guitar would still have their top end bite, and vocal “s” would still come through nicely. overall this smooth treble presentation is good if you’re looking for longer listening session.
Soundstage:
It has more intimate soundstage when compared to the Apollo Bold because of the more forward center stage/ mids. The Bold would sound more engulfing and eerily close to full over-ear headphones in presentation, while the Air/Air+ is more like traditional monitor IEMs.
if i have to choose, i would prefer the Air/Air+ more for music, and the Bold more for movies, although to be fair they both still do a good job at both situation.
Conclusion:
I like these TWS. Aside for the mediocre battery life, for the price, the Air/Air+ provides a good performing ANC and ambient mode, a very solid BT signal/range performance, nice button tweakability, and a warm analog sounding character that can be non-fatiguing for long listening session. It performs in similar level to the older Apollo Bold in ANC/Ambient mode, and personally i prefer the Air/Air+ in sound signature compared to the Bold and AirPods Air.
Which one do i recommend more? Well it all depends on the difference of features: do you need wireless charging and proximity sensors? If not, then you can go with the slightly cheaper Air as they have the same sound and features other than the two mentioned above.
Gears used for testing:
Spotify from my Android phone
Other TWS used for comparison: Tronsmart Apollo Bold, Sony WF1000 XM3, AirPods Pro.
I won’t be covering informations/specifications that’s already available on the website, so feel free to go to this link for more info.
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-apollo-air-truewireless-stereo-plus-hybrid-anc-earbuds
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/...s-truewireless-stereo-plus-hybrid-anc-earbuds
I will be covering things/ info that are not readily available on the spec page, also some personal thoughts and opinions after using it personally for a few days.
What you get in the box (Apollo Air) :
Back of the box info:
Built and accessories:
The case is really light, even compared to my other TWS that have small footprint. Also it is the lightest compared to my other Tronsmart TWS case.
I like the satin matte finish on the case, because it would be more resistant to scratches. Because the very light plastic however, it does feel a bit flimsy when picked up, though i have no problems with the build quality overall.
Also the lid won’t hold itself open. Not really a big deal for me, but something worth mentioning.
Battery indicator on the case would blink blue when battery is above 10% and blinks red when under 10%.
When opened a blue/red light indicator inside would flash to notify pairing mode as it would pair immediately when the case is opened.
There’s a pairing button near the USB C charging port.
The earpieces themselves feels quite nicely build. It uses a glossy plastic instead of matte one like the case. buttons are responsive. It also adopts the oval nozzle shape like the Apollo Bold
Provided inside the box are standard 3 pairs of eartips, USB-C cable, and manuals.
Apollo Air+ Version
Almost identical to the Apollo Air, but with extra added features like:
- Wireless charging
- More extra sets of eartips (6 pairs compared to the Air's 3 pairs)
- Proximity sensors for auto pause/play when removed from the ears
- Extra carrying pouch
Box size comparison vs Apollo Air:
The Air+ can fit and charge on the Air's case (and vise versa):
Proximity sensor:
Both of the Air and Air+ are available in black and white color for purchase.
Size comparison (left to right: AirPods Pro, Apollo Air, Apollo Bold, WF1000-XM3):
Fit:
This is one of those really rare cases for me (more so in TWS world) that an earphone could fit in my ears using all of the eartips. I usually wear L size eartips on almost all of my IEMs and TWSs, but with this one I can easily fit and made seal even with the S size. Maybe because of the combination of the slightly elongated body and angle of the nozzle. I did ended up using the stock M size tips as the happy middle ground, also because it’s more flushed in my ears compared when using L size.
Bear in mind that this is strictly my personal situation and might not reflect on everyone the same way.
Battery life:
If there’s a gripe that i have with this TWS, then it’s the battery life.
Based on my personal test playing Spotify non-stop at my regular listening volume, i got around 4 hours until the battery shows 10% left with ANC on, and around 6 hours with ANC off (until it shows 10% battery left). It does has similar battery life to the AirPods Pro, but compared to the Sony WF1000-XM3 and the Apollo Bold, these two definitely have a longer playtime.
This might be fine a few years ago, but this is one of the shorter battery among my ANC TWS, and middle of the road with ANC off, considering the Bold can go much longer...also adding the fact that nowadays there are TWS that can break more than 10 hours of single charge playtime.
Apps:
just like the Apollo Bold, you can tune the EQ preset, toggle ANC/ambient mode, see the battery level, change the button configurations, and also update the firmware when available.
Tronsmart Apollo series are some of the most flexible and complete when it comes to button configurations among all TWS that i have/tried.
I like the fact that it also has the same level of button configuration like the Bold, as it can have hold, touch and hold, 1-3x tapping, and either left and right can be configured differently. Other TWS sometimes forced button pairings (for example, if single tap on the left is for previous track, you must use single tap on the right for next track).
The Air and Air+ has 8 EQ presets compared to the Bold’s 5 preset. I personally prefer the “Rock” (and sometimes the “Default” when i want a more V-shaped presentation) setting on the Air, and the “Jazz” or “Pop” on the Bold.
Apollo Bold Presets:
Apollo Air/Air+ presets:
I really wish that Tronsmart would just give us a user adjustable EQ instead, as that would raise the overall value of their TWS by quite a lot…but one can only hope.
Isolation, ANC/ Ambient mode:
Passive isolation: the Air/Air+ has a quite good passive isolation. To my ears, it blocks more noise than the Bold
ANC: The Air/Air+ muffles out the higher frequency and human chatter a bit more than the Bold, while the Bold would have a sparkly high hiss on the upper frequency, but overall i would rate them both at similar level for high frequency cancelation. The Sony WF1000-XM3 and AirPods Pro performs a bit better than both of them on this regard.
For lower frequency cancelation like hum and engine noises, the Bold and Air/Air+ is similar, while the WF1000-XM3 and AirPods Pro performing a bit better
Ambient mode: The way they pass through sound via their ambient microphone are somewhat similar to their signature sound: the Air/Air+ focuses on the mids more (like speeches and conversations) and soften out the hiss and higher frequency sound, while the Bold would have a thinner mids sound and lets through more microphone hiss. Also the Air/Air+ would make the human speech sound more honky (like cupping the hands in front of the mouth forming a funnel) and more boosted on the mid high, while the Bold presents human speech more evenly (albeit in a thinner overall sound).
The Sony WF1000-XM3 ambient sound is better than both of them because of the more realistic human voice sound, less mic hiss, also much more control over the ambient level and the added option to focus on human voice.
Airpods Pro is also better and more natural sounding in ambient mode.
Sound characteristic:
To put it simply, with the “Rock” EQ preset, it sounds really similar to the AirPods Pro, with added bass quantity and warmth, and a slightly wider stereo spread. mids and treble characteristic is similar.
It has a warm “analog” and non-fatiguing sound to it, with intimate mids, thumping bass when called on, and warm relaxing treble.
In comparison, the Bold can deliver more detail and resolution compared to the Air/Air+, but this one is better and comfortable for longer listening sessions.
Note: every sound comparison below would be based on the Apollo Air/Air+ on "Rock" setting, the Apollo Bold on "Jazz" setting, and no EQ changes to the AirPods Pro.
Bass:
The Bold has deeper sub bass reach (and volume) compared to the Air/Air+. the Air/Air+ has good thump, but has a more focused frequency on the upper bass/ low mids thump compared to sub bass rumble.
The Air/Air+ have slightly bigger and warmer bass compared to the AirPods Pro.
Like the Apollo Bold, the Air/Air+ also shares the same problem, that is the bass would be boosted when ANC/Ambient mode is engaged. I really hope they would fix this somehow with firmware update.
Mids:
I like the mids on this, especially compared to the older Apollo Bold. While the Bold has a distant and thin mids presentation, the Air/Air+ is more forward and thicker, giving vocals more weight to them. In ANC/Ambient mode on, the mid bass would leaked a bit and color up the lower mids, depending on the songs/material played.
The Air/Air+ also have a slightly thicker mids compared to the AirPods Pro, but not by much.
Treble:
The Bold has a more sparkly top end and more resolving treble, while the Air/Air+ is more relaxed and muted (really similar to the AirPods Pro). Cymbals would sound softer, though acoustic guitar would still have their top end bite, and vocal “s” would still come through nicely. overall this smooth treble presentation is good if you’re looking for longer listening session.
Soundstage:
It has more intimate soundstage when compared to the Apollo Bold because of the more forward center stage/ mids. The Bold would sound more engulfing and eerily close to full over-ear headphones in presentation, while the Air/Air+ is more like traditional monitor IEMs.
if i have to choose, i would prefer the Air/Air+ more for music, and the Bold more for movies, although to be fair they both still do a good job at both situation.
Conclusion:
I like these TWS. Aside for the mediocre battery life, for the price, the Air/Air+ provides a good performing ANC and ambient mode, a very solid BT signal/range performance, nice button tweakability, and a warm analog sounding character that can be non-fatiguing for long listening session. It performs in similar level to the older Apollo Bold in ANC/Ambient mode, and personally i prefer the Air/Air+ in sound signature compared to the Bold and AirPods Air.
Which one do i recommend more? Well it all depends on the difference of features: do you need wireless charging and proximity sensors? If not, then you can go with the slightly cheaper Air as they have the same sound and features other than the two mentioned above.
Disclaimer: I rarely do reviews, if ever. I usually prefer to write my impressions on the forum thread and talk about it there instead, but Yaoyaotiger from Aliexpress send me this at a discount, so it's fitting for me to write a review to honor their good gesture
Gears used for testing:
Centrance Bluedac
IFI Hip Dac
Fiio BTR5
Audio Technica AT PHA55BT
all running Spotify (and also Tidal) from my Android phone
Built and accesories:
The build quality is pretty much the same as the older Tape: Solid.
I used only the stock cable, and Symbio peel eartips, so no comment on the included stock tips.
Fit:
For me personally, i don't have any problem with fitting this on my ears. i can see that some people would have a problem because of the sharp edges, but i just want to point out that as I don't have that problem, the experience would not be the same for everyone.
Isolation:
good
Sound characteristic:
This is the point that's so polarizing for people who have heard it. It's either you like it or you don't sort of a deal.. but funnily enough i seem to end up quite in the middle on this matter. The signature of the Tape Pro can be described as nasal and honky on the mids, V-shaped tuning, and sounded like someone run this IEM through a compression effect or an overdriven amp.
For my ears that compression makes the dynamics of the sound seems flatten out, making it a more safe and controlled listen, but at the same time, a less exciting experience.
There's an option to change the bass response by swapping the bass port filter.. only the bass response would be altered slightly, while the mids and treble area would stay the same.
Changing the filter, however, is a really bothersome task, especially if I'm using the included tool on the box. I find that it's easier to change it using a regular small screwdriver instead.
Bass:
On standard filter (black), the bass is boosted with a good extension, with warm and compressed sounding bass region. The bass filter (red), does indeed increases the bass slightly more, but not in the area that i would prefer. it makes the sound more wooly, boomy and blurred compared to the already compressed sounding black filter. I personally don't see myself using the red filter in any scenario whatsoever. Red Filter mode reminded me of the old Tape sound, which is more scooped on the mids because of the larger bass response.
Mids:
The mids have a nasal and honky tone to it, because of the sharp boost of the upper treble region. It does make the sound seems more analytical, but to me that's more of the illusion of the tuning, not from the resolving capabilities of the driver itself. Compared the older Tape though, to me this Tape Pro is an Improvement on the mids. It's now have a louder and more forward mids. I can listen to the Tape Pro in relatively louder volume, while i can only listen to the old Tape in low to moderate volume.
Treble:
It's quite extended and lively, but (like the rest of the frequency) sounded compressed. It might sound lively, but cymbals would sound splashy and not crisp/ sparkly on the real top end. From memory, i'd say this part is more or less the same as the older Tape.
Soundstage:
The soundstage is wide, but not much depth
Conclusion:
I have sold my old Shuoer Tape, because while it has some special sound to it, i ended up not using it much, or even at all. The Scenarios that i would use the old Tape was so small because i have other IEMs that i think can perform better at that scenario.
This Tape Pro definitely an improvement, as it addresses the problem that i saw on the older Tape... but at this rate and time , i just think it's still not good enough for me.
There are lots of newer IEMs that I either enjoy more or can be a substitute to this Tape Pro on the lower priced bracket, as well as IEMs that just surpassed it entirely on the higher price range. that makes this IEM sits in limbo for me personally.
Don't get me wrong, i don't say the Tape Pro bad, not at all, it's even quite good..but just maybe not good enough for me
What's in the package:
Close up shot of the IEM (Symbio Peel Tips attached):
Gears used for testing:
Centrance Bluedac
IFI Hip Dac
Fiio BTR5
Audio Technica AT PHA55BT
all running Spotify (and also Tidal) from my Android phone
Built and accesories:
The build quality is pretty much the same as the older Tape: Solid.
I used only the stock cable, and Symbio peel eartips, so no comment on the included stock tips.
Fit:
For me personally, i don't have any problem with fitting this on my ears. i can see that some people would have a problem because of the sharp edges, but i just want to point out that as I don't have that problem, the experience would not be the same for everyone.
Isolation:
good
Sound characteristic:
This is the point that's so polarizing for people who have heard it. It's either you like it or you don't sort of a deal.. but funnily enough i seem to end up quite in the middle on this matter. The signature of the Tape Pro can be described as nasal and honky on the mids, V-shaped tuning, and sounded like someone run this IEM through a compression effect or an overdriven amp.
For my ears that compression makes the dynamics of the sound seems flatten out, making it a more safe and controlled listen, but at the same time, a less exciting experience.
There's an option to change the bass response by swapping the bass port filter.. only the bass response would be altered slightly, while the mids and treble area would stay the same.
Changing the filter, however, is a really bothersome task, especially if I'm using the included tool on the box. I find that it's easier to change it using a regular small screwdriver instead.
Bass:
On standard filter (black), the bass is boosted with a good extension, with warm and compressed sounding bass region. The bass filter (red), does indeed increases the bass slightly more, but not in the area that i would prefer. it makes the sound more wooly, boomy and blurred compared to the already compressed sounding black filter. I personally don't see myself using the red filter in any scenario whatsoever. Red Filter mode reminded me of the old Tape sound, which is more scooped on the mids because of the larger bass response.
Mids:
The mids have a nasal and honky tone to it, because of the sharp boost of the upper treble region. It does make the sound seems more analytical, but to me that's more of the illusion of the tuning, not from the resolving capabilities of the driver itself. Compared the older Tape though, to me this Tape Pro is an Improvement on the mids. It's now have a louder and more forward mids. I can listen to the Tape Pro in relatively louder volume, while i can only listen to the old Tape in low to moderate volume.
Treble:
It's quite extended and lively, but (like the rest of the frequency) sounded compressed. It might sound lively, but cymbals would sound splashy and not crisp/ sparkly on the real top end. From memory, i'd say this part is more or less the same as the older Tape.
Soundstage:
The soundstage is wide, but not much depth
Conclusion:
I have sold my old Shuoer Tape, because while it has some special sound to it, i ended up not using it much, or even at all. The Scenarios that i would use the old Tape was so small because i have other IEMs that i think can perform better at that scenario.
This Tape Pro definitely an improvement, as it addresses the problem that i saw on the older Tape... but at this rate and time , i just think it's still not good enough for me.
There are lots of newer IEMs that I either enjoy more or can be a substitute to this Tape Pro on the lower priced bracket, as well as IEMs that just surpassed it entirely on the higher price range. that makes this IEM sits in limbo for me personally.
Don't get me wrong, i don't say the Tape Pro bad, not at all, it's even quite good..but just maybe not good enough for me
What's in the package:
Close up shot of the IEM (Symbio Peel Tips attached):
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
i agree with you in so much said. OOTB, the highs are very distant and muted. No fun. Eventually, they do open up and are extended and present. The timbre and tone are not as good as the MT300, but they are less harsh than the NM2+. I just think at the end of the day, imaging is very average, stage is very average, and when you put it all together, they are quite average for the tech and price. I enjoy listening to them with certain DAP's, silver plated copper cable, and spiral dot tips.
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
I was being way too nice 3 years ago. Recently broke these out again, and the tonality sucks, the highs are stunted, and the midrange is asleep. CRAP! Letshuoer actually skipped an upgrade to this IEM and shot straight to mid-fi priced ESTs.
chinmie
Yep, especially when compared to today's standard. The Tape Pro has a weird tuning to begin with. I do still have it though, and (don't kill me for this 
) i still would use it to listen to sparse folk/country music that don't have cymbals and distorted guitars on them.
) i still would use it to listen to sparse folk/country music that don't have cymbals and distorted guitars on them.
Disclaimer: I rarely do reviews, if ever. I usually prefer to write my impressions on the forum thread and talk about it there instead, but Yaoyaotiger from Aliexpress send me this at a discount, so it's fitting for me to write a review to honor their good gesture
Gears used for testing:
Centrance Bluedac
IFI Hip Dac
Fiio BTR5
Audio Technica AT PHA55BT
all running Spotify (and also Tidal) from my Android phone
Built and accesories:
Nicely built, a bit heavy, but in a positive way for me personally.
I used only the stock cable, and Symbio peel eartips, so no comment on the included stock tips.
I'm one of the few who actually have no problem with the stock cables. it's light and pliable..it just works. The only improvement i can do to the cable would be removing the ear guide tubes
Fit:
Comfortable. i can get a nice seal, but the body of the IEM doesn't "hug" all the surface area of my ears, so it wiggles and floats a bit. I doubt it would fall off though, so i'd say it's quite stable on my ears
Isolation:
Average
Sound characteristic:
Like i mentioned earlier: this IEM sounds expensive. Meaning it's tuned in mature way. The price of this IEM would reveal itself on it's overall resolution quality, which shows that it is a budget IEM after all.
Bass:
This is a more subbass focused IEM, especially when compared to it's midbass heavy BL-03. It does provide rumble.
Mids:
The mids is thinner sounding and lower in volume compared to the BL-03. The result is the overall sound is less engaging, but clearer in definition and separation on the mid area.
Treble:
The treble has more sparkle and bite compared to the BL-03. It might sounded harsh and brittle to some people, though me personally am not bothered by it
Soundstage:
It has a more spread out stereo imaging compared to the (again) the BL-03. it also has more depth on the soundstage than the BL-03
Conclusion:
I personally like this IEM. It reminded me of the sound of ZS10 Pro that i used to have, but in a more coherent presentation. Does it surpass the older BL-03 in sound quality? no..not really.. it plays on the same level of SQ, and to me it compliments the BL-03 really well because of the different presentation/ tuning. I think i would keep this and replace my ZSX as my daily bluetooth IEM. I recommend this for the price
What's in the package:
Close up shot of the IEM (Symbio Peel Tips attached):
Gears used for testing:
Centrance Bluedac
IFI Hip Dac
Fiio BTR5
Audio Technica AT PHA55BT
all running Spotify (and also Tidal) from my Android phone
Built and accesories:
Nicely built, a bit heavy, but in a positive way for me personally.
I used only the stock cable, and Symbio peel eartips, so no comment on the included stock tips.
I'm one of the few who actually have no problem with the stock cables. it's light and pliable..it just works. The only improvement i can do to the cable would be removing the ear guide tubes
Fit:
Comfortable. i can get a nice seal, but the body of the IEM doesn't "hug" all the surface area of my ears, so it wiggles and floats a bit. I doubt it would fall off though, so i'd say it's quite stable on my ears
Isolation:
Average
Sound characteristic:
Like i mentioned earlier: this IEM sounds expensive. Meaning it's tuned in mature way. The price of this IEM would reveal itself on it's overall resolution quality, which shows that it is a budget IEM after all.
Bass:
This is a more subbass focused IEM, especially when compared to it's midbass heavy BL-03. It does provide rumble.
Mids:
The mids is thinner sounding and lower in volume compared to the BL-03. The result is the overall sound is less engaging, but clearer in definition and separation on the mid area.
Treble:
The treble has more sparkle and bite compared to the BL-03. It might sounded harsh and brittle to some people, though me personally am not bothered by it
Soundstage:
It has a more spread out stereo imaging compared to the (again) the BL-03. it also has more depth on the soundstage than the BL-03
Conclusion:
I personally like this IEM. It reminded me of the sound of ZS10 Pro that i used to have, but in a more coherent presentation. Does it surpass the older BL-03 in sound quality? no..not really.. it plays on the same level of SQ, and to me it compliments the BL-03 really well because of the different presentation/ tuning. I think i would keep this and replace my ZSX as my daily bluetooth IEM. I recommend this for the price
What's in the package:
Close up shot of the IEM (Symbio Peel Tips attached):
1clearhead
Short, but very nice write up! 
Disclaimer: I rarely do reviews, if ever. I usually prefer to write my impressions on the forum thread and talk about it there instead, but Yaoyaotiger from Aliexpress send me this at a discount, so it's fitting for me to write a review to honor their good gesture
Gears used for testing:
Centrance Bluedac
IFI Hip Dac
Fiio BTR5
Audio Technica AT PHA55BT
all running Spotify (and also Tidal) from my Android phone
Built and accesories:
The unit have nice heft to it, made from all metal except the switch. no complaints on the cable, it looks good and easy to handle.
I used only the stock cable, and Symbio peel eartips, so no comment on the included stock tips.
Fit:
Really comfortable
Isolation:
Good
Sound characteristic:
If i can describe this LZ A7 in a short sentence, it would be "natural and transparent sounding, versatile, and a potential end-game for some people.
This IEM is REALLY GOOD...it has the versatility from that 10 possible combinations from the switch and nozzles, yet still provides the same natural and transparent characteristic across all of that combinations.
All of the combinations don't sound gimmicky. all of them have slight variation on sound that can alter the mood when listening, but at the same time all of the tuning still display the inherent quality of the overall driver design/ tuning.
Some of my personal favorite tunings are:
-Gold-monitor (best general setting for me)
-Red-monitor (most neutral "studio monitor" sounding)
-Silver-pop (best V-shaped setting).
Bass:
Bass extends down deep. it's subbass tilted, with clear and non-bloated midbass section. speed of attack is good, with neither dry or too bloomy on the presentation. Different nozzles and switch positions would give varying amount of bass volume, but the overall characteristic of the bass remains the same to my ears
Mids:
This is what most affected by the nozzles/ switch combinations, ranging from fat to thin mids depending on the switch position (also changes the volume of the mids slightly), while the nozzles would play on the upper mids region, giving the overall range from warm and flat mids (red nozzle) up to the boosted and nasal sounding mids (silver nozzle)
Treble:
Different nozzles doesn't affect the extension of the treble, but do make the lower treble sharper sounding (silver nozzle) up the more flat and warm treble sound (red nozzle). Again, because of the manipulation of the mids region from the combinations, the treble region would appear boosted or cut in volume depending on the combinations used
Soundstage:
Though it present the sound in a more intimate way, the way it displays sound separation and the spatial information like reverbs, depth of the stage, and stereo spread are clear and defined. I was drawn to listen to every nuance and small details of the songs with more focus
Conclusion:
Like i mentioned earlier, one can potentially be happy with only this IEM on their collection. it really provides a wide range of sound from straight up fun V-shaped sound up to the more "studio monitoring" sound, and all with the same level of greatness...really worth more above it's price
as i said on the title of this review: I'm definitely keeping this!
What's in the package (mine's missing the switching tool!):
Close up shot of the IEM (Symbio Peel Tips attached):
Gears used for testing:
Centrance Bluedac
IFI Hip Dac
Fiio BTR5
Audio Technica AT PHA55BT
all running Spotify (and also Tidal) from my Android phone
Built and accesories:
The unit have nice heft to it, made from all metal except the switch. no complaints on the cable, it looks good and easy to handle.
I used only the stock cable, and Symbio peel eartips, so no comment on the included stock tips.
Fit:
Really comfortable
Isolation:
Good
Sound characteristic:
If i can describe this LZ A7 in a short sentence, it would be "natural and transparent sounding, versatile, and a potential end-game for some people.
This IEM is REALLY GOOD...it has the versatility from that 10 possible combinations from the switch and nozzles, yet still provides the same natural and transparent characteristic across all of that combinations.
All of the combinations don't sound gimmicky. all of them have slight variation on sound that can alter the mood when listening, but at the same time all of the tuning still display the inherent quality of the overall driver design/ tuning.
Some of my personal favorite tunings are:
-Gold-monitor (best general setting for me)
-Red-monitor (most neutral "studio monitor" sounding)
-Silver-pop (best V-shaped setting).
Bass:
Bass extends down deep. it's subbass tilted, with clear and non-bloated midbass section. speed of attack is good, with neither dry or too bloomy on the presentation. Different nozzles and switch positions would give varying amount of bass volume, but the overall characteristic of the bass remains the same to my ears
Mids:
This is what most affected by the nozzles/ switch combinations, ranging from fat to thin mids depending on the switch position (also changes the volume of the mids slightly), while the nozzles would play on the upper mids region, giving the overall range from warm and flat mids (red nozzle) up to the boosted and nasal sounding mids (silver nozzle)
Treble:
Different nozzles doesn't affect the extension of the treble, but do make the lower treble sharper sounding (silver nozzle) up the more flat and warm treble sound (red nozzle). Again, because of the manipulation of the mids region from the combinations, the treble region would appear boosted or cut in volume depending on the combinations used
Soundstage:
Though it present the sound in a more intimate way, the way it displays sound separation and the spatial information like reverbs, depth of the stage, and stereo spread are clear and defined. I was drawn to listen to every nuance and small details of the songs with more focus
Conclusion:
Like i mentioned earlier, one can potentially be happy with only this IEM on their collection. it really provides a wide range of sound from straight up fun V-shaped sound up to the more "studio monitoring" sound, and all with the same level of greatness...really worth more above it's price
as i said on the title of this review: I'm definitely keeping this!
What's in the package (mine's missing the switching tool!):
Close up shot of the IEM (Symbio Peel Tips attached):
RikudouGoku
@Dionietzscheus You can use a sim card ejector that you get with your smartphone.
chinmie
@Dionietzscheus maybe LZ considered us both to be able to move the toggle with our mind power 
but yes, like @RikudouGoku mentioned, any sim ejector tool can work just as well
but yes, like @RikudouGoku mentioned, any sim ejector tool can work just as well
