Reviews by WanAudio
The STM is another budget hybrid IEM (1BA + 1DD) from TRN that includes interchangeable nozzle to suit your preferred sound signature, meaning that it is highly customizable to suit the user’s need. TRN products have been good, from my past experiences with the TRN IM1, TRN V20 and TRN M10, as the V20 is my favourite of all that I own, would this be my next favourite budget IEM in general? Let’s find out!
Thanks to IZ POP us sending me this review unit for me to review, and of course I am not paid and the review that I am presenting is a total honest opinion from me after a week of usage.
Tested on
Samsung S20+ > JCALLY TYPE C Pro DAC > XU09 Hifi Headphone Amplifier > TRN STM
Packaging
The packaging is very similar to past TRN offerings, it includes the cable, the units, tips and some papers. The tips they provided are 2 different kinds of tips, wide and narrow bores, but for my testing and my preference on which fits better, I conducted the tests in the wide bore tips.
Build Quality
It is extremely lightweight, it feels good in the hand but not great. It does not feel hollow, but a very light solid plastic is how I would describe it. The design on them is pretty nice, I do like the pattern on the face plate, it is loud but subtle at the same time which is very interesting. The cable is okay, definitely better than other brands’ similarly priced offerings. I think for some people first impression with the units would think that it is a cheap product.
But how is the sound?
Song tested:
Marie Plassard - Ivre
Angele – Tu me regardes
The Alan Parsons Project – La Sagrada Familia
Yanni – Thirst For Life
Pink Floyd – Dogs
The Temptations – Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone
Gold filter (Balanced)
Bass
The bass is definitely present and has a very nice impact overall, emphasis on the word “nice”, I would say that it is not too rumbly but with the mixture of other frequencies, it is sufficient. It does not overpower the other frequencies. Drums and bass guitars sound thick enough for my taste, which is very enjoyable. With this filter, it maybe not a basshead preference but you can definitely survive with this.
Mids
Vocals are a bit behind if you listened very very closely but not too behind that the bass covering them up. The tonality is pretty good for its price. Female voices sound pretty natural and more forward than the male voice (comparatively). Piano sounds pretty good, every keypresses can be felt Guitars riffs are also pretty sweet, is what I would describe it. I can hear the picking on the guitar pretty clearly which is always nice to listen to, as it creates a more realistic signature.
Treble
The treble has a touch sparkle, definitely not too dark sounding, and also not the most detailed sound I have heard but for the price, it sounds very much better than the asking price. Sibilant is not present throughout my testing, which contributes to a non-ear fatiguing experience. Treble-sensitive people need not to worry about this issue. Cymbal strikes don’t sound thin, which combining with the other drum sounds, it is very enjoyable
Red Filter (Low frequency emphasis)
Bass
The bass is noticeably increased from the gold filter. The rumbling effect is greatly improved too, causes the slight addition on the overall warmer tone overall. Drum kicks have better impact overall.
Mids
To my ears the positioning of the male and female vocals don’t really differ much from the gold filter, even though the bass has been increased. The mids are still presented well and forward overall.
Treble
I would say the amount of treble are almost the same but because the increase of the bass “recesses” the other frequencies slightly, but even that the details can still be heard clearly.
Blue Filter (High frequency emphasis)
Bass
The bass amount is slightly decreased than the red filter, almost similar with the gold filter when it comes to bass.
Mids
The vocals are more forward than the last two types of filters. It almost feels more in front of my face when the singer sings, which I do enjoy.
Treble
The treble definitely sounds louder but a touch thinner than the rest of the filters. More micro details can be heard. Basically, when I listen to this filter, I pay more attention on the details rather than the overall harmony because the details really stand out this one. The highs are a a little harsh for me, sometimes it results to slight sibilant and piercing but that only happen on a prone sibilant tracks in very high volume, and could make the user ear-fatigue, but in normal volume it is okay.
Overall
Soundstage
It is not intimate that’s for sure, I’d say wide enough for that 3D surround feel.
Instrument Separation & Imaging
Pretty good, as most of TRN products, I can pin point where the instruments are. Imaging is also pretty good
CONCLUSION
I think it is one of the best budget TRN product to date, even though the build quality is not the strong point. It is overall a relaxed and enjoyable sound. Would I recommend it, yes definitely! Not a lot of other choices that provides you with different tuning filters for the price, so if you want to experience that, then the TRN STM is the way to go!
Huge thanks again for IZ POP us that provided this review unit for me to review!
Links here to purchase them:
https://www.amazon.com/Earphones-Dr...hild=1&keywords=TRN+STM&qid=1603418932&sr=8-2
Attachments
Tested on Samsung S20+ with Baseus L54 Type C converter
Accessories
The accessories that came with this is typical CCA and KZ type of accessories, cable + eartips + typical paperwork, but the C10 Pro comes with a silver cable rather than KZ brown cable which I prefer. The KZ brown cable gets old for me now. This CCA silver cable is relatively softer and overall a bit more nicer feeling than the KZ brown cable. It is a 4 core Silver Type C connector (similar to the connector that comes with newer KZ products) which fits better and more stable than the older 2 pin connectors. The tip pre-installed is the normal rounded ear tips and extra S, M and L starline tips. I am okay with the pre-installed tips but I upgraded to Spinfit CP-145 tips just because that fits my ear better.
Build Quality
The C10 pro feels lighter than the previous C10, which feels a tad cheaper than the C10, but overall still feels well made. The finishing of the metal face-plate is on the sharper side, but not as sharp that it will cut you, it just feels a bit sharp-ey. The surface of the plate has a slightly textured brush metal finish, which is fine for me. The colours that I’ve received is the black and gold and it looks phenomenal in my opinion, even though it does look a bit like KZ ZS10 Pro’s faceplate, which is understandable due to CCA is a sister/brother company of KZ. The cable is again, feels softer than the KZ normal brown cable, which is nice. Not a big fan of the Y-splitter design but that would just be nit-picking, and also it comes with a 3.5mm L-plug connector.
Comfort
The CCA C10 Pro has a very safe shape that fits all ears. It is not too thick and doesn’t protrude out the ear a lot. The nozzle is long enough to isolate most of the sound. The ear hook is also pretty okay. It does get tangled sometimes but for most of the time, the cable unwrap easily. Overall it is a very pleasing fit, and it will stay on the ear just fine.
Bass
The bass is more on the punchier side to my ears, just nice to provide some bass to the music, and it is not too overpowering, overall it is a very pleasant. The bass is very much well controlled and it shows up pretty solid whenever the music demands. I won’t say this is a basshead pair, but it definitely will satisfy them. Comparing to CCA C10, the C10 is a touch warmer and smooth overall.
Mid
The mids are pretty tasteful, it does not sound thin at all, the vocals are a touch recessed on some tracks like Enter Sandman by Metallica, the male vocal just sounds a bit behind the melody. The mid bass bleed into the lower mids a bit, creating a touch of warmth on especially male vocals. Female vocals sounds pretty good in this set, more forward than the male vocals, almost as the same level with the instruments, but is not too congested, the difference between instruments and vocals are still very much present, thanks to the help of the 4 BA. In testing both of this out, the difference that is the most obvious to me is the vocal positioning, the vocal here is more forward than the C10. But don’t get me wrong, the C10’s vocal is still pretty clear, but the C10 Pro just improves that a bit more.
Treble
The sound does has a shimmer on top and detail retrieval is pretty good. Cymbals sounds pretty tasteful in Easy Lover by Philip Bailey feat. Phil Colins. The high note by Colins and the cymbals are pretty distinguishable. It does have slight harshness but not as harsh as KZ, specifically KZ ZSN PRO. In Chained To The Rhythm by Katy Perry, her high notes rarely reach sibilant territory and does not sound thin at all, the cymbals playing does not get overrun by the bass instruments. Overall the treble is energetic and also pretty well controlled with even with 80 – 90% volume ear fatigue rarely occur for me, but it is still consider a “bright” IEM, but done better. Comparing with CCA C10, the detail retrieval is almost similar, both has very good micro detail retrieval and aren’t sibilant.
Soundstage
Soundstage is similar with the C10, wider than ZSN PRO definitely. It feels like you’re inside a relatively decent room, this causes a pretty good instrument separation. Would I say this is analytical sounding? Not really due to its present V-shaped tuning, but not substantially much as it is still okay for music mixing. Overall the C10 Pro does not feel claustrophobic that’s for sure. Instrument separation is very good on this, again thanks to the multi-driver setup, the depth is adequate and the width is good. Heavy tracks in Alan Parson’s Eve in the Sky album still performs pretty good.
Conclusion
Is this an upgrade from CCA C10? Well, it is but I won’t say it is a substantial upgrade. Imagine this as a slightly brighter C10. But for people who wants to try a multi-driver setup I would say this is a very good start. Overall it is a pretty clear, energetic, coloured IEM with excellent detail retrieval.
Accessories
The accessories that came with this is typical CCA and KZ type of accessories, cable + eartips + typical paperwork, but the C10 Pro comes with a silver cable rather than KZ brown cable which I prefer. The KZ brown cable gets old for me now. This CCA silver cable is relatively softer and overall a bit more nicer feeling than the KZ brown cable. It is a 4 core Silver Type C connector (similar to the connector that comes with newer KZ products) which fits better and more stable than the older 2 pin connectors. The tip pre-installed is the normal rounded ear tips and extra S, M and L starline tips. I am okay with the pre-installed tips but I upgraded to Spinfit CP-145 tips just because that fits my ear better.
Build Quality
The C10 pro feels lighter than the previous C10, which feels a tad cheaper than the C10, but overall still feels well made. The finishing of the metal face-plate is on the sharper side, but not as sharp that it will cut you, it just feels a bit sharp-ey. The surface of the plate has a slightly textured brush metal finish, which is fine for me. The colours that I’ve received is the black and gold and it looks phenomenal in my opinion, even though it does look a bit like KZ ZS10 Pro’s faceplate, which is understandable due to CCA is a sister/brother company of KZ. The cable is again, feels softer than the KZ normal brown cable, which is nice. Not a big fan of the Y-splitter design but that would just be nit-picking, and also it comes with a 3.5mm L-plug connector.
Comfort
The CCA C10 Pro has a very safe shape that fits all ears. It is not too thick and doesn’t protrude out the ear a lot. The nozzle is long enough to isolate most of the sound. The ear hook is also pretty okay. It does get tangled sometimes but for most of the time, the cable unwrap easily. Overall it is a very pleasing fit, and it will stay on the ear just fine.
Bass
The bass is more on the punchier side to my ears, just nice to provide some bass to the music, and it is not too overpowering, overall it is a very pleasant. The bass is very much well controlled and it shows up pretty solid whenever the music demands. I won’t say this is a basshead pair, but it definitely will satisfy them. Comparing to CCA C10, the C10 is a touch warmer and smooth overall.
Mid
The mids are pretty tasteful, it does not sound thin at all, the vocals are a touch recessed on some tracks like Enter Sandman by Metallica, the male vocal just sounds a bit behind the melody. The mid bass bleed into the lower mids a bit, creating a touch of warmth on especially male vocals. Female vocals sounds pretty good in this set, more forward than the male vocals, almost as the same level with the instruments, but is not too congested, the difference between instruments and vocals are still very much present, thanks to the help of the 4 BA. In testing both of this out, the difference that is the most obvious to me is the vocal positioning, the vocal here is more forward than the C10. But don’t get me wrong, the C10’s vocal is still pretty clear, but the C10 Pro just improves that a bit more.
Treble
The sound does has a shimmer on top and detail retrieval is pretty good. Cymbals sounds pretty tasteful in Easy Lover by Philip Bailey feat. Phil Colins. The high note by Colins and the cymbals are pretty distinguishable. It does have slight harshness but not as harsh as KZ, specifically KZ ZSN PRO. In Chained To The Rhythm by Katy Perry, her high notes rarely reach sibilant territory and does not sound thin at all, the cymbals playing does not get overrun by the bass instruments. Overall the treble is energetic and also pretty well controlled with even with 80 – 90% volume ear fatigue rarely occur for me, but it is still consider a “bright” IEM, but done better. Comparing with CCA C10, the detail retrieval is almost similar, both has very good micro detail retrieval and aren’t sibilant.
Soundstage
Soundstage is similar with the C10, wider than ZSN PRO definitely. It feels like you’re inside a relatively decent room, this causes a pretty good instrument separation. Would I say this is analytical sounding? Not really due to its present V-shaped tuning, but not substantially much as it is still okay for music mixing. Overall the C10 Pro does not feel claustrophobic that’s for sure. Instrument separation is very good on this, again thanks to the multi-driver setup, the depth is adequate and the width is good. Heavy tracks in Alan Parson’s Eve in the Sky album still performs pretty good.
Conclusion
Is this an upgrade from CCA C10? Well, it is but I won’t say it is a substantial upgrade. Imagine this as a slightly brighter C10. But for people who wants to try a multi-driver setup I would say this is a very good start. Overall it is a pretty clear, energetic, coloured IEM with excellent detail retrieval.
