𝐓𝐑𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝟏 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐭
|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||
Amidst all the recent releases of tuning switches on budget sets, TRN is back once again with an entry around the $20 range. The ST1 Pro is equipped by a trusty dynamic driver, a balanced armature driver, and 3 tuning switches on each earpiece.
TRN is no stranger in this budget segment for a long time now but I feel has been on the sidelines up until recently. After my review of the MT1 Max, I found myself to be optimistic in TRN’s comeback to the spotlight of the endless sea of budget IEMs.
|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||
- I don’t fancy confusing lingo, therefore, the reviews will be simple without too much confusing terminology.
- I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the brands I review and do not give out preview privileges.
- This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.
- My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.
- I don’t do rankings or tier lists as they can get outdated immediately as a reviewer can change their thoughts of a product to a certain extent. If you do want a recommendation then feel free to reach out so I can help out
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𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼
Linsoul Audio 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
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| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |
Most of you are familiar with this kind of packaging, especially those who are well-versed and informed in the budget segment of this hobby of ours.
It comes in a small white box with a render of the IEM earpieces along with a couple of text and branding all around the box. Nothing noteworthy to highlight as I assume most of you are familiar with this already.
| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |
Opening the box will unravel the ST1 Pro earpieces encased in foam with all of the included accessories underneath along with paperwork. It comes with 3 pairs of normal-bore eartips, Stock QDC cable, a tuning pick, and a single pair of TRN’s very own T-Tips.
𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:
Paperwork
ST1 Pro Earpieces(Green)
Stock 4-core SPC QDC L-shaped cable
3 sets of normal-bore ear tips(S/M/L)
1 pair of TRN T-Tips
Tuning pick/Sim ejector tool
Pretty bland inclusions take account that the ST1 Pro comes in at around $20. The quality of cable is pretty cheap, it tangles, and overall feeling doesn’t give off confidence but it is serviceable. The inclusion of their T-tips is a pretty nice addition despite only including one size as I find myself liking them.
| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |
They are primarily built with this transparent plastic for the most part with a segment in the faceplate that seems to be also plastic with a different coating similar to the recent MT1 Max. The circular part of the faceplate also acts as a vent with more holes compared to the MT1 Max. Two smaller vents are located on the inner side of the IEM. The nozzle is also plastic with very small ridges to help the ear tip stay in place also seen from the MT1 Max.
TRN offers the ST1 Pro in three color variants with green, white/clear, and smokey black, all of which have this transparent motif. The shape of it is universal, with no extreme protrusions/wings that may bother few people.
The design of the ST1 Pro is very similar with the MT1 Max and other TRN products. They look quite alright and I find the green variant to actually be quite beautiful. They are also equipped with both a dynamic driver and a balanced armature driver on each ear pierce
| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |
Seeing as this has a huge vent outwards, sound from outside can easily disrupt your use case of the ST1 Pro without going for more volume. They do also leak a little bit of sound in return so using this on public transport is not preferred but can do well in a pinch.
| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |
Sporting a more rounded and universal fit, the ST1 Pro sits nice and comfortably in my ears. The open-back nature of it helps with pressure management and the
occlusion effect is experienced less on this set.
** 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗥𝗡 𝗧-𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 | 𝗭𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝟭 **
| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |
Efficient, and has a really low noise floor. It can be easily run with a modern smartphone but as always a cleaner dedicated device is recommended.
|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||
TRN provided 4 official tuning configurations for the ST1 Pro. I’ve tried all four and picked which combination suits my taste which will then be the basis of the rest of the review. The provided configurations are straight-up the same as with the MT1 Pro as both have the same amount of switches on board.
𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥
As the name suggests, it is the most balanced in the choices of configurations. It has a nice mix of warmth and rumble but not too muddy sounding. Unlike the MT1 Max, I do find this the best sounding configuration with the Xtra-bass coming close second.
𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘦(𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘦-𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥)
Sounds more open and clearer. Lessened overall note weight, and mid bass hits are much less but are still present. Bass guitars can sound a bit behind on this configuration and sibilance and harshness are much more obvious.
𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘴(𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘴-𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥)
Makes the mid bass the star of the show. Better execution of the similar config on the MT1 Max. With the BA doing the lifting of the higher frequencies, it doesn’t sound as muffled as with the MT1 Max. Good for those wanting a bass oriented sound, it still does overshadow other frequencies but not to the point of sounding really dark.
𝘟𝘵𝘳𝘢-𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘴
Increases the amount of both sub bass and mid bass with excellent execution. Doesn’t change the overall sound as much. Makes the sound really thick. The warmth this setting brings is similar to that of the MT1 Max but I’d pick the Balanced setting more in this scenario probably due to the introduction of a balanced armature driver.
** 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 ‘ 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 ‘ 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 **
| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |
Ample in amount and good in quality. There is a nice balance of both sub bass and mid bass in the ST1 Pro. The sub bass rumbles really well and has good texture whilst the mid bass hits are full, fast in attack and doesn’t bleed to the midrange.
| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |
Vocals have nice air and are full sounding. Sibilance is still present but is tolerable. Instruments sound energetic and shouty-ness isn’t a major issue. Crashing cymbals though can sound splashy at times.
| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |
Quite an improvement from the MT1 Max, better air and extension but is still average in terms of details. Harshness is still an issue on higher volumes, but suggest listening to this with a lower volume.
I have an inkling of a thought that it does have a plastic-y timbre, but I can’t conclude on that as I haven’t noticed it consistently during testing.
| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |
Staging is taller than wide but still has enough perceived space. Layering is decent as it can get congested along with imaging during busier passages. One can use the Treble-Enhanced mode to make the sound more clearer and analytical if need be and the Xtra-bass mode can be quiet and experience for immersion like watching movies or playing role-playing games.
|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||
The TRN ST1 Pro is for all intents and purposes a more polished MT1 Max. I recommend buying this instead of its little sibling since the difference in price isn’t that big. Hence why all of the comparisons I stated on this review are quite abundant against the MT1 Max.
You can get a slightly better albeit still cheap feeling cable, a green color variant, and a more polished sound performance. Overall great output from TRN for an offering for the $20 price range.
