Trifecta First Impressions 24hrs
Fit/Feel
The IEMs themselves look much better than they photograph and are the most comfortable universal I’ve ever used. These IEMs (not attached to a cable) could fly off a desk with a moderate breeze and are very light.
The cable is reminiscent of STAX ear speaker cables, however they are light, have zero microphonics and are excellent from an ergonomics point of view. I do not have complaints here.
Sound
These are unapologetically American tuned (warm, rich, bass first) and sounds as if they were developed before the forums existed. This IEM is a love letter to bass heads. The sound grows in dynamics from bottom to top, the bass lines shape the soundstage. This is different to other IEMs, where bass notes would be independent of soundstage and dynamics. This IEM is the best ‘enjoyment’ set I’ve used for this reason, it isn’t looking to monitor or ‘perfectly reproduce’ the music. Instead, the focus is on Trifecta taking liberty with presentation and orienting a ‘bass first’ priority (perhaps more midbass than sub bass). For instance, when a bass string is plucked, you can feel the stage and power grow upward but also outward. With Trifecta, I was able to hear flutters of bass lines I wasn't able to before. This presentation you’d find on older hifi systems of the 80s, eg JBL sound systems.
- density
- bass oriented, emphasis on mid bass
- headphone sized dynamics
Some may find the bass too much, but to those who’ve experienced such systems, will understand the romantic nature of this sound signature. In addition, the 3DD’s working together give the impression the sound is being reproduced from a larger gear like a headphone. In comparison to XE6, the Trifecta bass is more layered, textured and powerful. XE6’s advantage lies in detail extraction in the upper registers thanks to the EST.
The mids and treble are nothing special in comparison to the bass, they are tuned to complement the bass as this is the main focus. The mids are pulled back slightly with a warmer coloration. There isn’t any perceptible upper mid glare or forwardness I’ve found on other sets such as Odin. Treble doesn’t extend or reveal details as well as XE6, as CFA wants you to focus on bass forward dynamics. Trifecta is not as warm/thick as XE6 but is in the warmer spectrum to my ears. If you found XE6 scratched the bass itch, but you could do with less warmth and desired a more layered/complex bass texture with DD coherency throughout the range, Trifecta may be for you. I love both sets and they complement each other perfectly.
In summary, I would recommend Trifecta for those who want headphone sized dynamics with warmer tuning and an emphasis on the bass. It’s remarkable how much density can be produced from the 3DD arrangement. Ken Ball paid no attention to the current trends in the headfi space, instead he looked to the past and chose to resurrect an overlooked sonic presentation. I have a feeling Trifecta will be remembered as a future classic, defined by explosive dynamics, immense texture, perfect DD coherency and a powerful bass line. Trifecta is a case where presentation is a priority over technicality and it works very well. Hat's off @KB!
One of the best posts I've read on HF for a while, congrats!
a close 2nd hehe. 
but what are people's thoughts, if its a "no" I will look elsewhere.
