Thieaudio Legacy 2

Greetings!

Today we're looking at the Legacy 2 from ThieAudio.

ThieAudio is Linsoul Audio's in-house brand. Created in 2019, it quickly gained steam as a reliable brand producing competitive, high performance earphones. Their lineup has expanded greatly since their arrival on the scene, and include three main product types; tribrids, hybrids, and BA-only earphones. Of course they also offer a variety of accessories. The Legacy 2 we're checking out today is a 99 USD 1+1 hybrid utilizing a Knowles ED29689 balanced armature and 10mm beryllium coated dynamic driver.

I've been using it consistently over the last 6 months and feel it is one of the best products available at its price thanks to it s premium build, affordable price, and versatile, well-tuned signature.


What I Hear

Tips: The Legacy 2 comes with wide and medium bore tips of decent quality, the latter of which I feel best pair with the Legacy 2. The smaller bore helps highlight the sub-bass bias and warms up the signature a touch, though this comes at the expense of a some upper end energy. Alternate, higher quality tips I can suggest in place of the stock medium bode set are those from Moondrop, or Sony Hybrids if Moondrop's silicone is too stiff for you.

Treble is lean and crisp with good extension and a ~7k peak that gives the presentation plenty of energy and shimmer. Notes are well controlled and free of splash with a tight, defined feel. Refinement is high with next to no grain or rough edges present. The thinness permits plenty of space and air, and helps to highlight the exceptional detail and clarity on board. I'd be completely happy with this type of presentation on an earphone that is more neutral leaning and analytic, let alone on a mild v-shape like the Legacy 2. Good stuff here.

Dipping into the mids the Legacy 2 follows the recent trend of bumping the upper midrange. Personally I quite enjoy this style of tune since it keeps vocals prominent and clear regardless of how bassy or treble heavy a track is. Luckily I found the rise subtle enough so as to avoid causing fatigue, though the more sensitive of you out there will surely enjoy tossing buzzwords like shouty at the Legacy 2. Another benefit of this presentation is attack enabling percussive and other rhythmic instruments definitively and confidently carry a track. Complaints? I personally personally a thicker, warmer presentation for female vocalists. Works great for deeper voices though.

The Legacy 2's low end is sub-bass biased which makes sense given the lean presentation on hand. Extension is overall quite good, though it drops off suddenly leaving some passages falling flat when they should be providing a hefty, visceral feel. Texturing is impressive with grungy, dirty notes being properly represented. Those used to or seeking the Harman target might find the Legacy 2's low end lacking or anemic since the mid-bass bloat and warmth Harman seekers love is missing. Speed and control is again impressive with the dynamic driver used easily handling speedy, complicated passages without distortion or muddying.

The Legacy 2's soundstage is simply put, awesome. While depth is fairly average, width is seriously impressive with sounds careening convincingly off into the distance. I love using these for gaming since they provide a much more convincing sense of scale than most other earphones. Imaging backs this up with extremely tight, nuanced channel-to-channel movement that puts more conventionally tuned products to shame. Track layering is pretty average thanks to the moderate depth present, though the same cannot be said for instrument separation. The lean, highly detailed presentation leaves plenty of room for individual instruments to play, enabling the listener to pick apart individual track elements and follow them with ease.


Compared To A Peer (volumes matched with a Dayton iMM-6)

TinHiFi T5 (129.00 USD): Bass quantity and presentation between the two is similar with the T5 providing a slightly more linear move through sub- to upper-bass regions. The Legacy 2's bass quality is superior to my ears as it produces more texture and is a bit more controlled and nimble when it comes to rapid note repetition. They're similarly visceral though with deep providing a solid rumble. Heading into the midrange both earphones lift around 3k allowing vocals to stand out. The Legacy 2's vocal presentation isn't quite as forward but is a touch warmer. Both are quite detailed with the Legacy 2 doing a better job of nullifying sibilant tracks. Timbre quality is also firmly in the Legacy 2's camp, though it's still a bit brighter than is completely natural. Treble is where the two take a sharp detour. After the 3k rise, the Legacy 2 takes a smooth dip down to 8k, where a small 10k peak adds back some sparkle. The T5 on the other hand has strong peaks around 5k and 7k that give it plenty of sizzle and sparkle. At times it can sound harsh and cause fatigue where the Legacy 2 remains energetic but non-fatiguing. Detail and clarity are superior with the T5, but not by much. Both have immersive sound stages, with the T5 coming across wider and deeper. Technical competency goes to the Legacy 2 though, with better defined and more precise channel-to-channel movement and improved instrument separation. I found the T5 to match the Legacy 2 with how well they layered tracks, however.

Overall, I really enjoy them both but if I had to pick one it would be the Legacy 2. The additional sub-bass bias it provides, combined with it's lean, crisp mids and bright, but not fatiguing upper ranges make it a great listen with pretty much everything, and along the lines of the sort of signature I prefer. I find the T5 more comfortable and enjoy the extra energy it brings to the table, but it lacks the versatility as a result of being more fatiguing. Still one of my personal favourites though.


In The Ear The Legacy 2's shells feature the same, low profile, custom-like shape that has become exceptionally common over the years. The acrylic design is wonderfully put together, free of seams or sloppy mould lines, with a gorgeous blue, abalone-like inlay making up the face plate. The receptacles for the 0.78mm 2-pin cable sit flush with the body of the earphone and provide some protection from lateral movement. Up near the 2-pin ports are two small vents, one surrounded by a brass coloured ring. As expected, they're flawlessly integrated. While the lips on the nozzles are not overly prominent, they work well enough to hold more 3rd party tips securely. I haven't had any slip off and get stuck in my ear.... yet.

The 4 strand braided cable is also excellent. While the braiding is quite loose, something I'm not generally a fan off, the sheath itself is slightly stiff and feels plenty resistant to cuts and nicks. The compact straight jack is polished aluminum with a small but relatively effective strain relief. The aluminum y-split is featureless and really only there to hind the strands to splitting as they lead to each earpiece. While there is no strain relief here, you do get a useful rubber chin cinch. Leading up to the colour coded 2-pin plugs (clear for left, red for right) are preformed ear guides that effectively keep the cable behind your ear. This cable is light, looks good, displays limited microphonics, and is quite tangle resistant. It's a great inclusion.

Comfort is also a win for the Legacy 2. The shell is reasonably small, extremely light, and with outstanding ergonomics nearly disappears in the ear. The protrusion out back that hooks into the cavum is subtle but works well in keeping the Legacy 2 stable during movement.


In The Box The Legacy 2 arrives in a fairly plain matte black cardboard box. On the front of the exterior sheath in silver foil writing is the ThieAudio brand name, while on the back you find their website and Made in China. Slipping the sheath off reveals identical branding on the lid. Lifting off the lid reveals the earpieces with cable attached set within a dense foam insert taking up the top half of the interior. The remaining space and contains a very slim cardboard box containing the manual and other documentation. Beneath is a gorgeous faux-leather carrying case containing the remaining accessories. In all you get:

• Legacy 2 earphones
• Braided 0.78mm 2-pin cable
• Carrying case
• Wide bore single flange tips (s/m/l)
• Medium bore single flange tips (s/m/l)
• Velcro cable tie

Overall a solid, low-frills unboxing experience. The wide bore tips use a tough, durable feeling silicone that reminds me quite a lot of the those FiiO includes with a number of their products. The medium bore tips are exceptionally common and are included with countless other earphones. They're serviceable. The case is the real highlight, similar in design to those provided with TinHiFi's nicer models, like the T4. The dark blue faux-leather pattern looks stellar, and there is plenty of room inside for the earphones and spare tips. The magnetically restrained flap seals the deal.


Final Thoughts Is this the best product available at 100 bucks? For some, yes. For others, no. That's the beauty of variety being present in this hobby. There should always be something to satisfy the infinitely varied listeners out there, contrary to what the Harman curve lovers and measurement freaks want the hobby to devolve into. For my tastes, the Legacy 2 has no auditory equal at this price range. I adore it. It also doesn't hurt that they look gorgeous, are built well, are extremely comfortable, and come with a solid suite of accessories. If you follow my reviews and tend to have similar tastes, get the Legacy 2. You won't be disappointed. If you tend to dislike what I enjoy, you know what to avoid.

Thanks for reading.

- B9

Disclaimer A big thank you to Lillian with Linsoul for reaching out to see if I would be interested in covering the Legacy 2, and for sending a copy for review. And for her unlimited patience. The subjective thoughts within this review are my own and do not represent Linsoul, ThieAudio, or any other entity. At the time of writing the Legacy 2 was retailing for 99 USD. You can order yours here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/ThieAudio-legacy-2

Specifications

• Drivers: Knowles 29689 + 10mm Beryllium-Plated
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
• Sensitivity: 108dB
• Impedance: 32ohms

Gear Used For Testing Huawei P40, DDHiFi TC35 Pro (Mountain), Earstudio HUD100, Earmen TR-Amp, Asus FX53V, TEAC HA-501


Some Test Tunes

Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Slipknot – Vol 3 (The Subliminal Verses)
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid
King Crimson – Lark's Tongues in Aspic
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy
Steely Dan – The Royal Scam
Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dreams

As always, my review is also available in Spanish on my blog and on YouTube in case anyone who "habla español" wants to check it out. Links in my signature.



The Thieaudio Legacy 2 have been kindly donated by Linsoul in exchange for this review. They have not requested anything specific, however, as I always point out, even though my review will be as sincere and unbiased as possible, it is always good to consider the fact that these IEMs have not cost me anything.

As usual, I will refrain from leaving purchase links (even though they are non-affiliate) on external websites but feel free to check out the version on my blog for a link to the Legacy 2 on Linsoul.

Intro…

To be honest, I hadn’t really been keeping up with the Thieaudio product line. I mean, I know Thieaudio, as it is a brand that is mentioned quite a lot in the IEM world and has uite a fame for some of their higher end models, but I really didn’t know much about their price models or price points. I remember the Legacy 3 interesting me at one point but I never actually got to hear it.

After spending time with the Legacy 2 to form my opinion on it, without even knowing its price, I decided to check it out on Linsoul. I was surprised to find that there are also various other models, such as the Legacy 3 I mentioned, along with the 4, 5 and even 9. I thought that maybe the Legacy 2 was an older model but some quick investigation showed that it is actually newer than the other models in the series, so I was somewhat confused by the naming scheme. However, after a bit more reading, I realized that the model number matches the driver count, which now makes sense to me.

The Legacy 2, as I just mentioned, has 2 drivers in each side, a proprietary 10mm beryllium dynamic driver along with a Knowles ED29689 balanced armature, a driver that has been used on some other very well regarded IEMs.

I must say that I was actually surprised to find that the Legacy 2 sells for $89 (less than 80€), as I actually thought the price would be higher. It is slightly above the sub 50€ bracket that I mention in many of my reviews, IEMs that I consider very budget orientated, but at its price it is still a very economical IEM in the scheme of things.



Presentation…

The Legacy 2 arrives in a largish black box covered by a black cardboard sleeve. The sleeve is all black and simply says Thieaudio on the front. Sliding the box out from inside the sleeve surprisingly reveals a box that is identical to the sleeve, simply black with Thieaudio on the lid.

Inside the box we find the IEMs with their 2 Pin cable attached, along with a selection of silicone tips, a rather nice blue (imitation) leather case with magnetic closure and the usual QC card, warranty card and even an instruction manual.

I have absolutely no complaints about the contents included for the price, it is much more than is included with many other models at similar (or more expensive) price points and there is nothing really missing.



Build and aesthetics…

Thieaudio uses a semi transparent blue shell for the Legacy 2, with a faceplate that has a kind of resin marble effect. I must say that I actually like the look. It is colorful enough to be different from so many other brands but at the same time is not overpowering nor does it stand out too much.

The IEMs themselves are very lightweight and are shaped in a way that I find very comfortable. I have been using the stock tips with them and I have been able to listen for hours without any issues in regards to comfort. There is no filter on the outside of the end of the nozzle, which actually has two smaller openings, to which the drivers are routed via their tubes.

The included cable is also pretty nice. It is a 4 core braided cable, with silver coloured connectors and split, which does have a few loose weaves here and there but nothing to complain about. The chin slider is transparent plastic rather than matching metal but it works as it is supposed to and does not seem out of place.

As far as build and aesthetics, I find that they are a nice set of IEMs that seem well built and are certainly comfortable for long sessions, even if this is something that is obviously a very personal thing.



Sound…

Now, where to start with the sound… My quick description of the sound would be pleasant, not overpowering, just generally a comfortable tuning. There is really nothing that jumps out at me in a bad way from the Legacy 2, although there is nothing that really jumps out at me in a great way either.

I suppose the word mediocre would come to mind but I think that mediocre is more negative than positive and I really don’t think that there is anything really negative about the Legacy 2, it is just not exciting. I have been using these IEMs daily for a week and at no moment did I ever feel that they were doing anything wrong, but I didn’t get any “wow!” moments either.

In the subbass regions, there is quite a bit of extension down to the lower regions, without the lowest notes seeming to roll off but there isn’t any boost either. I didn’t find that songs with deep sub bass came across as powerful in those regions, but they didn’t really come across as lacking either. The usual “Chameleon” work out proved to have enough sound to appreciate the subbass but didn’t really rumble like it does on other sets.

Moving into the mid and higher bass areas, again, presence is correct and bass is as present as it needs to be without being overdone. As you all know (unless this is the first review of mine you read), I am not a bass head, so take that as you will, but I found the bass to be nicely balanced as far as tuning. When I looked at a graph after listening for a few days, I was surprised to find that the bass actually shows to be more elevated than I would have guessed. It is higher than my usual preference in the bass region but it did not give me that impression.

I think that the main reason for it not giving me that impression is that the bass is rather smooth, without really standing out. Listening to “Black Muse” by Prince, I can really say that there is any lack of bass presence but once again, it doesn’t really stand out like it does on sets with more exciting bass response (even sets that actually have less bass as far as tuning). As a bass player, I automatically pay attention to bass lines even when I don’t want to, but the Legacy 2 doesn’t make me do that. The bass just doesn’t seem to stand out, but when I actually make an effort to listen to it, there really isn’t anything wrong, it just forms part of the overall music (which is what it should do, but usually doesn’t in my case because I am always unconsciously paying attention to it).

Moving into the mids, I feel I am going to start being repetitive. I listen to a lot of acoustic and vocal music and the mids sound fine but again, not exciting. Listening to “Strange Fruit” by Dominique Fils-Aimé, again her vocals were fine, no harshness, nothing particularly missing or added, but it did not come across as it does on so many IEMs with particularly good mids. Again, I need to stress that it does not do a bad job of the mids at all, in fact it doesn’t make a bad job of any of the frequencies, it just doesn’t excel at them.

Up in the higher regions, this is the area that I usually find most faults on economic IEMs and again, I can’t really fault them. They are clean, they are not harsh, there is no sibilance, there are no weird boosts. Yes, they could extend a little further but I really can’t complain that they roll off too early, or lack air, or any of that. Again, they just don’t stand out.

As far as soundstage and placement of images in that stage, well, the width is typical for an IEM. It is again not bad but is nothing out of the ordinary. The placement of images is decent although not amazing, but I think that this is more due to the fact that everything is sort of coherently balanced, there are no real background details that stand out. It does not give the impression of being a very detailed set of IEMs but if you actually look for a specific detail that you know should be there, it usually is, it just doesn’t amaze with details.



Conclusion…

I may have given the impression that the Legacy 2 are not good IEMs but that is a long way from being true. They are good IEMs, there really isn’t anything bad about them, but they are just an overall safe and coherent presentation of music.

I really don’t think anyone could say that they hate the Legacy 2 (well, this is the internet, I’m sure plenty of people can) because there really isn’t anything to hate about them. I think that they are a set of IEMs that you could literally buy for anyone without knowing their preferences and they would be a safe bet.

My conclusion is that the Legacy 2 is a good set of IEMs that is a safe bet, something that doesn’t really excel in anything particular but doesn’t really fall behind in anything particular either. If there is something specific you want from a set of IEMs, then I think that there will always be an option that will be better at that specific task but the Legacy 2 is an all rounder that will just do its job without complaint.

www.achoreviews.com

www.youtube.com/achoreviews

Firstly I would like to thank Linsoul for this sample to review.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings

Gear Used:
iBasso DX200 / JDS Labs Element II > Legacy 2



Tech Specs:
Sensitivity (1KHz): 108dB
Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
Impedance (1KHz): 32Ω
Driver: Knowles 29689 + 10mm Beryllium
Noise Isolation: 26dB
Earphone connector: 0.78 2pin
Plug: 3.5mm
Cable: 1.2m

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:

The Legacy 2 packing isn’t quite as over the top as the Legacy 4, but you do get a nice black box with the brand name in silver on the front, slide this outer sleeve off and you have a 2-part box that reveals the IEM’s inside. The IEM’s are held in place in a foam insert, whilst there is a separate compartment for the case which holds the spare eartips. I really like the simplicity of the packaging and boldness of the branding.

The build quality is in my opinion stunning for the price, the housings of the IEM’s are beautifully finished and really stand out, they look like they should cost a lot more than they do. The cable also reinforces this, it feels the same as the one that comes with the Legacy 4, it is braided and silver plated with great comfort and strain relief.

Accessory wise you get a velcro cable wrap, a blue leather carry case and 6 pairs of tips (S, M and L in two different types of silicone tip). This is a good selection of tips and should allow most to get a good fit with them.

Comfort and Isolation:

The Legacy 2 are really comfortable to wear, once you settle on the right tips they lock in to place and fit securely for long listening sessions without discomfort. These are one of the few universal models that just fit right the first time I put them in, the cable helps here having pre-moulded soft memory wire which is always my preference over stiff memory wire.

Isolation is good, I’d say the spec of -26dB is pretty accurate and they provide more than enough isolation for regular daily use including public transport commuting. They are vented but this doesn’t seem to affect the isolation much it seems.



Sound:

Lows: The single 10mm beryllium driver is doing a great job down low, with plenty of sub-bass presence and mid bass punch you never miss a beat, however they are controlled and only slightly boosted overall. These are not a bass heavy IEM, although I’d say they are mildly u-shaped, the bass doesn’t stand out as the main focus but provides a really solid foundation for the overall sound. These are punchy and articulate, they have a powerful delivery but one that doesn’t ruin the overall balance.

Midrange: There is good texture to the midrange, it is clean and quite natural sounding without noticeable bleed from the low end. Both male and female vocals cut through the mix with good presence and detail retrieval, they are not pushed back in the mix. Electric guitars have power, acoustic have body and warmth, these are very versatile and the midrange is faithfully reproduced without fatigue yet with a level of detail that is uncommon at the price point, I keep forgetting these are sub $100. Subtle details are easily heard with the Legacy 2, they also manage to stay well sparated and clean even when the mix gets busy.

Treble: The presence and clarity up top rounds off a brilliant performance from the Legacy 2, they are never dull or dark sounding with loads of energy and sparkle, luckily they do steer clear of being sibilant or peaky though. Even treble sensitive listeners should enjoy these a lot as they portray the treble in a realistic way without sounding metallic or forced. There is good air and extension too, not rolling off too early and giving some sense of air. They are however a little more on the energetic side of sound and definitely favour more engaging music than laid back genres.

Soundstaging and Instrument Separation:

The soundstage on the Legacy 2 is not huge, it is above average though and you do get a fair amount of out-of-head moments with the right recordings. The spatial accuracy is very good, and you can pinpoint everything in the recording.

Instrument separation is very good, these remain well separated no matter how busy the recording gets.



Conclusion:

Thieaudio have got one of the most complete and refined sub-$100 IEM’s I have heard here, they have excellent extension from lows to highs, there is great body and impact to the bass whilst always remaining controlled. The midrange is exceptionally clean for the price and the treble is precise and has good presence. These do very well when it comes to complex mixes too, but overall are just an engaging and enjoyable listen with good tonality and balance, I cannot fault them for the price.

Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (Good tonality and an engaging yet balanced sound signature)

THIEAUDIO LEGACY 2: Decent sound, Killer looks!


Legacy 2 is a budget offering Beryllium DD + BA Hybrid In-Ear Monitor from THIEAUDIO! at just 99$ this looks like a great deal!

Technical specifications:

Driver: 10mm Beryllium Dynamic Driver + Knowles ED-29689
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 108dB
Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz

Packaging and Accessories:

The unboxing experience is really good for the price, it is packed well, the IEMs look great and comes with a really nice faux leather carrying case! and a selection of different eartips

Accessories list:
1 pair x Thieaudio Legacy 2 In-Ear Monitors
1 x .78mm 2-Pin Detachable Cable
3 pairs x White Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
3 pairs x Black Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
1 pc x Leather Case

Design , Build quality & Comfort:

The legacy 2 got custom IEM design with hand painted faceplate that looks gorgeous! it has got outstanding build quality for the price and it fits pretty well too!

Sound Quality:

BASS: (6.5/10)

The bass is dense and got nice weight to it, but it is pretty rolled of and not the fastest out there! it lacks texture and resolution but the quantinty is ample and doesn't sound half bad.

MIDS: (6.5/10)

Mids are recessed but it's done well. it's not harsh, but the lack of resolution is noticeable. however the tonality is nice! so it is pretty enjoyable to listen to, but the lack of micro details and the resolution cripples it a bit!

TREBLE: (7.5/10)

The treble is smooth, slightly rolled off. but it is pleasant to listen. not fatiguing at all, however the lack of texture is still noticeable.

SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:

The soundstage is okay but not really good. it lacks depth. but the imaging I find really good for the price!


CONCLUSION:

If aesthetic plays a huge role to you and you want something in a budget that sounds okay but looks really good, this might be a great option! but if you want the most detailed and crispy sound, this might not be the best option for you!

Introduction :

Thieaudio already has their own reputation in IEM market.Their Thieaudio Monarch and Legacy 4 was really great for the price.Now they've launched Thieaudio Legacy 2 which is their entry level Beryllium Dynamic Driver IEM priced at $99.Where "Moondrop Aria" already called the best IEM under $100.Now Let's find out can it take the crown from Aria or not ?



Unboxing :

Legacy 2 comes in black box.Inside box you'll get the IEM itself,a 4 core 3.5mm 2pin Cable,2 sets of Eartips and a carrig case.





At first let's talk about the cable.1st of all I'll say this a very good cable for price at least.It's a 4 core 3.5mm 2 pin silver plated cable.I think this is the same cable from their "Legacy 4" which cost around$200.And it's a good thing.But it feels little bit softer than the Legacy 4 ones.But overall it's a pretty good cable nothing to complain.


Legacy 2 brings a dark neavy blue colored carrying case.Which is made by fake leather.But it's feels really premium in hand and practical too.The IEM fits easily inside it and makes easy to carrying the IEM.


There Are 2 Pairs Of Stock Eartips comes with box.Black and White.Byt there was no foam tips.They are decent.Pretty soft and comfortable.In my testing period I used the white one.But after market Eartips will be better for better sound though.


4.8 Out Of 5


Build And Degisin :

Thieaudio Legacy 2 comes with a very beautiful design.It's plastic made IEM glossy blue wave degisin.Which looks exilent.The shell is darker but I really love the transparency.If you look properly you can see the drivers inside it.And honestly it's look freaking good.but the nozzle is little small so could be issue for some people.But for me no complain here.



4.5 Out Of 5


Fit And Comfort :

The Fit Of The IEM Is Really Really Good.I've already mentioned that it's plastic build.Which is shining here.Because of the plastic build it's very light weight.The fit and isolation was really good.The IEM fits in ear properly and reduce the outside noise magically.For long session it is really nice.You can easily wear it for 3-4 hours.Nothing to complain about here.

4.8 Out Of 5


Specs :

*Sensitivity (1KHz): 108dB
*Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
*Impedance (1KHz): 32Ω
*Driver: Knowles 29689 + 10mm Beryllium
*Noise Isolation: 26dB

Pretty Easy To Drive.But with Better Amplification it scales up



Sound :

Now let's talk about the most awaited and obviously important part.The sound.So how is the sound ? I'll say,crispy sounding Mids and impactful Bass with smooth and energetic Treble.


My Sound Source :

*iBasso DX160

*Normal Phone Jack

*Tidal And My Offline Music Library (flac)

*Audio Player : UAPP

Bass :

At 1st Legacy 2 is a Bassy IEM.The quantity of bass is a lot.There is a lot of bass going on.The Sub-Bass is boosted than the Mid-Bass.The Sub-Bass is fast,attacky and little bit dynamic(Beryllium Driver of course).There is enough kick in Sub-Bass.Drums,Bass Guitar sounds slam well.But the bass isn't well controlled.Lacks of depth and texture.On the other hand
Mid-Bass feels little bit muddy.Mid bass lacks details and texture.And the separation bettween Mid-Bass and Sub-Bass wasn't good at all.In busy tracks like "I am hated" from "Slipnot" the instruments feels overlays to each other.Thieaudio focused on the quantity over the quality.Bass feels boomyier side.If the Bass Was little bit more deeper more textured and separated.It could be really enjoyable and fun.But it's not.Though it have a good impact.


3.5 Out Of 5


Mids :

The Mids Legacy 2 is Neutral.The mid is crispy and smooth.With no harshness,free of sibilance.It Sounds realistic.It's open and airy.Vocals feels more bodied more snappy with good texture and resulation.But there is lacks of emotions.Sounds of Piano and violin feels nice.Ear-pleasing Mids overall.

4 Out Of 5


Soundstage & Imagination :

Legacy 2 offers a wider Soundstage.Wider than average.But Soundstage wasn't too deep.Lacks of height.The imagination was good.You can feel from where the instruments comes.But the separation issue eat this advantage.The depth could be better.Overall Soundstage is good.

3.8 Out Of 5

Treble :

Maybe This The Best Part Of Legacy 2.Cause the Treble is really good,fun and energetic.Treble is smooth and energetic.Which makes a songs more enjoyable and impactful.There is no peak in the Treble section.So no fatigueing issue.Which is helpful for long periods of usage.But there is also lacks of texture and detail.

4 Out Of 5

Compared With Moondrop Aria :

I'm not going to deep in comparison.
Just basic facts.Aria costs $75 where legacy 2 is $99.But in term of sound,Aria doesn't offer high intensity Bass like legacy 2.Aria offers much better depth and separation in Bass.Which is more fun to listen.Both IEM have good mids.But Aria offers more details and texture.Piano,Violin,Acoustic guitar sounds better on Aria.But Aria feels slidely less width in the soundstage.However depth and height is better on Aria.Legacy 2 wider but flatter.In Treble section I've nothing to say.Both of the perform well enough.Nothing to complain here.


Conclusion :

Thieaudio Legacy 2 comes in a very competitive price range.But the isn't impressive though.There is Moondrop Aria cost less money with better sound quality.So it's hard to recommend Legacy 2 over Aria for me.If the separation and details was little bit better then could be something really good.But Again there is Aria.Which Is The $100 King.Soon I'll cover a review on Aria.

Thanks For Reading

Introduction
Thieaudio is a Chinese company which is owned by well known online retailer Linsoul. They have been release some of the class leading IEMs recently, which are well know by our audio community. In today’s review, I’m checking out their’s latest model from legacy series, which is also the most affordable IEMs form their lineup, the Legacy 2. It is priced at $99USD ($89USD 08/09/21) and configured 1DD+1BA.




Disclaimer
I would like to thanks Lillian from Linsoul audio for given this opportunity, and the review will be based on my honest opinion through the music I listen to.


Package & Accessories
The Legacy 2 come with a moderate sizes box with a minimalistic black color finish, there is the brand name located at the the front cover. After the box opened, there is the IEMs itself sited in the foam with the cable pre connected. The carry case is underneath it with a manual and QC check card contain on top of it, which contain the ear tips.






Accessories list:
1 pair x Thieaudio Legacy 2 In-Ear Monitors
1 pcs x 0.78 2-Pin Detachable Cable
3 pairs x White Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
3 pairs x Black Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
1 pcs x Leather Case



The accessories it come with the Legacy 2 is pretty good consider its price. The leather carry case included is well made, and it finished in dark blue color with a branded logo sported. There is the fluffy material inside to provide a better protection.





The Legacy 2 come with two different type of ear tips in 3 different sizes to provide the best fits and the sound. The ear tips included have great build quality as well.



The Legacy 2 come with the silver 4 core braided OOC cable, it has 3.5 mm straight connector in metal shell finished. It features the 0.78mm 2 pin connector with the color indicator to show left and right. The Y-splitter are in metal shell finished, whereas the 2 pin connector are in metal shells which. There are cable slider in transparent plastic finished. It is overall well build and well behaved cable.




Design & Build & Comfort
The Legacy 2 has semi-custom shells design. The shells are in blue color with great transparency levels. The shell is made by the medical grade resin, which is printed by 3D printer. It come with the hand painted faceplate which has a swirling pearl finished. There are Thieaudio branded logo located at the left earpieces, at the rear side of the shells, there is the model name and series number printed in white front. The are two vents on the top of the shell that are close to the 2-Pin female connector.





The Legacy 2 has solid and outstanding build quality. The shell are well rounded, with out any gap and sharp edges. The Legacy 2 has resin filled in at the nozzle part to around 1/3 of the IEM for holding the components. The BA drivers in side are perfectly placed at the place, while the wire inside are well organized. It has two sound bores and holes for each of drivers, the nozzle are perfectly drilled and divided into two holes. The 2 pin female connectors are tight, and do not have sign of wear and tear after I swapped few times of cable.





The fits on the Legacy 2 is outstanding, thanks to its semi-custom shell design. The nozzle has moderate length, so it can fit pretty stable in the ears. The isolation is slight above average, and thanks to the vents there are no pressure build up after a long listening.





Technical specifications:
Driver: Closed-back 10mm Beryllium Dynamic Driver + Knowles ED-29689
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 108dB
Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz


Sound

Paring
I pair up with the stock cable and white tips, as the it provides a sharper sound midrange and clearer bass compare to the black ear tips. I run through my music library on the Fiio M11 and Topping E30.




Overall tonality
The Legacy 2 has fairly close to neutral tonality, with a moderate amount of sub bass boost, it is presented in a smooth yet engaging manner.

Bass
The bass is a tad warmer than the neutral. It has moderate levels of sub bass extension with moderate decay speed, which is more pronounced than mid bass. The bass has good amount of impact and punch with fair amount of rumble. On the other hand, the bass has good level of speed and control, while the detail retrieval and clarity are really well. It is overall quite fast and well controlled bass.

Mids
The midrange is fairly close to neutral, with fair amount of warmth. There is a warm yet smooth presentation. The lower midrange has fair amount of bodies, it is presented in the smooth yet engaging manner with reduce lushness. The upper midrange is well pronounced, it has lively yet soothing presentation, with moderate levels of transparency. The detail retrieval and clarity are well done.

Treble
The treble has moderate brightness and it is presented in a smooth manner. The lower treble has moderate of energy presented in the fatiguing free manner. The upper treble are slightly roll off, but it still remains fair amount of crispness and sparkle on the top end. The detail retrieval and clarity are average.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage width is above average, whereas the depth is average.
The imaging is average.





Comparison
Moondrop Aria ($79)

Bass
The bass on both are tad warmer than the neutral. The Aria provide a fuller and also slightly warmer bass with more rumble but less extension. The bass on the Aria provide slightly heavier weight and additional lusher, while the L2 has clear presentation with less bodies. The L2 provide better sense of impact and slam, where the Aria is generally slower in presentation. The detail retrieval and clarity is tad better on L2.

Mids
The midrange on both are fairly neutral, but the Aria is slightly warmer, where the is L2 relatively linear. The lower midrange on the L2 provide a slightly warmer presentation with lusher tone carry from the mid bass. The upper midrange on both has fairly similar tone and both have great levels of control. The Aria has relatively more spacious and sharper presentation, where the L2 is generally smoother and fuller in comparison. The detail retrieval and clarity is on par.

Treble
The treble on both are fairly smooth and roll off early. The lower treble has slightly more energy and sound sharper on the Aria, on the other hand, the L2 has relatively fuller and smoother tone. The upper treble on both has fair amount of airiness and sparkle, but the Aria on the upper hand has better sense of spaciousness. The detail retrieval and clarity is tad better on Aria.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage is wider on Aria, depth is comparable
The imaging on both are great.


NF audio NM2 ($99USD)

Bass
There are more sub bass and slightly more mid bass quantity on the NM2, the extension are on par. The bass on the NM2 provide a warmer tonality compare to relatively neutral and lighter L2. There are slightly better sense of punch and slam on the NM2, where the L2 on the other hand is better in term of speed. Both have good levels of control, but the NM2 has tighter presentation. The detail retrieval and clarity are on par.

Mids
The midrange is mostly neutral on the L2, where the NM2 has slightly warmer tone and owing a more V shape tonality. The lower midrange has slightly more bodies and additional depth on the NM2, where the L2 is generally linear in presentation. The upper midrange on both are emphasis, the NM2 has more vividly and forwarded presentation, where the L2 has relatively smoother and more fullness in its presentation. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on NM2.

Treble
The treble has brighter tonality on the NM2, where the L2 is generally more laid back. The lower treble has more energy and sharpness on the NM2, on the other hand, the L2 is smoother. The upper treble has better sense of airiness and spaciousness on the NM2. The detail retrieval and clarity slight better on NM2.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage is wider and tad deeper on the NM2.
The imaging is better on NM2.


Shanling ME80 ($99SUSD)

Bass
There are more sub bass and mid bass quantity on the ME80, and they both extend well. The bass on the ME80 provide a warmer tonality compare to relatively neutral and lighter L2. There are slightly better sense of punch and slam on the ME80, where the L2 on the other hand is better in term if speed and control, and it has tighter presentation. The detail retrieval and clarity are on par.

Mids
The midrange is mostly neutral on the L2, where the ME80 show slightly warmer tone and owing a more V shape tonality. The lower midrange has slightly more bodies and additional depth on the ME80, where the L2 is generally linear in presentation. The upper midrange on both are emphasis, the ME80 has more vividly but edgier presentation, where the L2 has relatively smoother and more fullness in its presentation. The detail retrieval and clarity is slightly better on ME80.


Treble
The treble has brighter tonality on the ME80, where the L2 is generally more laid back. The lower treble sound more edgy and sharp on the ME80, on the other hand, the L2 is smoother with better sense of control. The upper treble has better sense of airiness and spaciousness on the ME80. The detail retrieval and clarity slight better on ME80.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage is wider on ME80, depth is on par.
The imaging is better on L2.




Conclusion
The Thieaudio Legacy 2 has a outstanding build quality and beautiful design especially for its price. The tonality on the Legacy 2 is definitely one of the best in the price range, that offer a well tuned neutral profile with a smooth yet engaging presentation. The Legacy 2 is a no brainer in sub $100USD catalogue. Thank you for reading, Happy Listening as always!!

Thieaudio official website: https://www.thieaudio.com/
Thieaudio Legacy 2 product page: https://www.linsoul.com/products/thieaudio-legacy-2

Every now and then an IEM comes to the review desk that peaks my interest but then fizzles out. Then there are some that are fascinating and keep me coming back. Is theThieAudio Legacy 2 one of those fascinating IEM or just another one that peaked my interest and fizzled away?

Disclaimer: Linsoul provided the ThieAudio Legacy 2 for review and only asked for an honest review. I wasn't influenced, directed or paid for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Purchase:

ThieAudio Legacy 2:
https://www.linsoul.com/products/thieaudio-legacy-2

ePro Regular EP01 tips: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SWHBSBX/

Unboxing: The unboxing of the ThieAudio Legacy 2 is visually appealing and adequately stocked. You start with a black outer sleeve with the name ThieAudio in silver on the front and website information on the back.


Removing the sleeve you find a matching black box that also has ThieAudio in silver and a barcode sticker on the back.

Removing the lid the Legacy 2 are revealed in a foam block and a small black envelope with more ThieAudio silver branding contains the paperwork.


Underneath the envelope you find a small cutout that contains the blue carry case.


Inside the carry case you will locate two versions of silicone tips, black (cone shape) and clear (olive shape).

Overall, the Legacy 2 unboxing makes you feel like you are getting a quality IEM for the price.

Build/Design:




The ThieAudio Legacy 2 is a custom universal that is the ever popular norm with IEM builds. ThieAudio offers one faceplate and shell color scheme, blue. I really enjoy the look of the Legacy 2 finding it to be visually pleasing. I like the faceplates glossy blue wave design. The shell is a darker but transparent blue that matches very well. Even though the shells are lightweight they don't feel cheap. The nozzle is a little short and could be an issue for some. The wing also could cause some fit issues as well.


The cable is exceptional and I love it. The cable connects with 2 pin and terminates in 3.5mm. The cable is well controlled as there isn't any tangling or twisting. The ear hooks have enough tension to form around the ear and hold the Legacy 2 in place. The cable is lightweight but not cheap feeling. No need to swap cables, good job ThieAudio.
On a side note, the carry case is a lovely blue faux leather. It is well built and seems durable. There is a magnet holding the flap shut tightly and there is plenty of room inside to hold the Legacy 2 with the cable attached.
Overall, I find the build and design to be on par for the price and I am content with the Legacy 2.

Fit/Comfort: The Legacy 2 fit my ears just fine. I have no complaints about comfort and can wear them for hours. I did find it somewhat interesting that I had to use the small stock tips as the medium was just a touch too large. I don't think too many will have an issue with fit and comfort with the Legacy 2 unless the short nozzle and wing don't mesh with your ear design, which is always a possibility.

Tip Selection: So yeah tip selection does make a difference with the ThieAudio Legacy 2. I don't have any major complaints with the stock tips as I find them sound adequate. But there is a slight difference between the black and the clear silicone tips. The black cone shaped tips introduce a touch of sibilance and harshness in the upper mids and treble. The clear olive shape tips with their slightly wider bore smooth out the sibilance and harshness a touch and introduce a little more air and extension. I found swapping to the ePro Regular EP01 wide bore tips that there was a more balanced and cohesive sound throughout the upper mids and treble with additional air and space in the soundstage, all the while maintaining bass and mids presence.

Sound Impressions: (All sound impressions were done with the ePro Regular EP01 tips.)

Bass: The ThieAudio Legacy 2 has what I consider a fun bass. There is a good amount of slam and impact but not a lot of refinement. This is not to say that details aren't resolved good but it kinda is saying that. The Legacy 2 focuses more on the quantity rather then the quality. There is good extension into the sub bass region and the mid bass has a nice amount as well even though it is sloped behind the sub bass. The upper bass is somewhat thinner but not hollowed out. There is a solid amount of detail retrieval and the resolution is adequate. With the Legacy 2 you won't be missing anything important in the mix. I actually rather enjoy the Legacy 2 bass to be completely honest.

Mids: The mids of the Legacy 2 from ThieAudio are better then I anticipated. I thought that they would be recessed and hollow but they aren't. Now that doesn't mean that they are forward and present. Instead they are mostly even and cohesive. Vocals present with good presence whether it be a male or female. Instruments have balance when playing the entire octave range. Instruments are placed a little ahead of vocals but not in an annoying way that overpower the vocalists. The Legacy 2 is one of the better V-shaped IEM in this price range. There is a good amount of details that are retrieved and like the bass they aren't resolved the best but for sure are not the worst. One minor complaint is the tendency to show off some sibilance and harshness at times. Overall, I find the mids of the Legacy 2 to be pleasant.

Treble: Non-fatiguing but still energetic enough is how I would describe the Legacy 2. There is early roll-off with the treble and that helps the Legacy 2 to have a laid-back leaning treble. Extension is adequate and air is okay but I do wish that the roll-off wasn't as steep so that just a little more was added into the presentation. Just like the mids and bass, the detail retrieval is good but resolution isn't the best for the price.
One small complaint is the tendency to show off some sibilance and harshness at times. I do enjoy the treble of the Legacy 2 even if it is a touch too nonchalant for my preference.

Soundstage/Imaging: ThieAudio Legacy 2 has a smaller soundstage then most but it isn't intimate. There isn't a lot of space for movement and placement but the Legacy 2 does an okay job working within the space. On busier tracks or heavy, thick tracks it will become congested and confused. For the most part it is an alright imaging IEM but not the best at the price. If there is one area of the Legacy 2 that I don't enjoy as much but I can live with; that would be the soundstage and imaging.

Detail Retrieval/Resolution: As mentioned throughout randomly, detail retrieval is good, you won't miss any major details but the small, minute stuff maybe overlooked. Resolution is adequate but not stellar, especially when it comes to percussion instruments. I find that cymbals can be very splashy and have a sheen a lot of times. This is another area that I can tolerate on the Legacy 2 but am not fully content.

Tone/Timbre: Having the Balanced Armature driver for the mids and treble can introduce some metallic timbre for sure but it was more noticeable on the stock tips then with the ePro EP01 tips. After swapping tips I found that for the most part the BA timbre disappeared. ThieAudio Legacy 2 isn't a tonally accurate IEM but it isn't an offensive sounding IEM either. I am content with the tone and timbre of the Legacy 2 even if it isn't the most natural or accurate.

Pairings:

SoundBlasterX G6: This is an interesting pairing that I quite enjoy. The G6 and L2 present a fun, engaging, non-fatiguing sound that has enough details to keep me happy and my toes tapping. Is it the most resolving pairing no but it isn't offending or ear bleed inducing so I can recommend it.

Sony NW-A105: The slight warm approach that the NW-A105 provides adds a nice body to the vocals and the BA timbre is not even noticeable. I really like this pairing and recommend it.

NextDrive Spectra X: Similar to the sound of the NW-A105 but with a tad more overall body and the slight increase of stage width, depth and layering; the Spectra X is my favorite pairing for the Legacy 2.

Veclan Eletronics Odyssey HD: The Odyssey HD and Legacy pairing is like a mini Spectra X but with a little less body and a touch more airiness. Yeah I like this pairing a lot as well.

Comparisons:

SeeAudio Yume:


The SeeAudio Yume is more tonally accurate and realistic in tone and timbre. The SeeAudio Yume has a slight advantage in detail retrieval but is significantly better at resolving. Soundstage is wider, deeper and more layered on the Yume. Overall, the Yume is a step-up in every regard but the Legacy 2 is a mini version that tries really hard to be an accurate copy cat but falls slightly short.

Moondrop Aria:




The Moondrop Aria is significantly brighter and more airy. The Aria has hollowed out upper mids and lower treble region that gives a glare and sheen on some tracks. The Aria has an advantage with detail resolution but detail retrieval is similar to Legacy 2. The stage width is wider on the Aria but depth and layer are similar to the Legacy 2.

Tin Hifi T5:

The Tin Hifi T5 has a little added mid bass presence, more forward mids and better extended treble. The T5 has significantly better detail retrieval and resolution, the treble is more controlled and airy, the soundstage has more width, depth and layering. This isn't a close comparison as the Tin Hifi T5 is better in all aspects except being laid-back like the Legacy 2.

Blon A8 Prometheus:

The Blon A8 Prometheus has a significant boost in mid bass presence, shouty upper mids and brighter treble. Detail retrieval and resolution goes to the A8 but it is so close to call that the differences are subtle at best and non-existent at most. The A8 has a wider, deeper stage with slightly better layering. The Legacy 2 is more natural and accurate with tone and timbre.

Conclusion: The ThieAudio Legacy 2 is fascinating to me because I like it but I don't like it. There is something about the Legacy 2 that keeps me listening but at the same it makes me want to listen to a different IEM. There is nothing wrong with the sound or the technical abilities of the Legacy 2 but at the same time it just doesn't move me. The inability of the Legacy 2 to engage the listener is what is holding it back for me. The ThieAudio Legacy 2 is like the student in school that has all the talent and knowledge but no social skills; the Legacy 2 can do it well but doesn't do anything to make you notice that it did it well. I'll take the SeeAudio Yume, Tin Hifi T5,T3,T2, Moondrop SSR or Jade Audio EA1 instead. BUT if those aren't available I will take the Legacy 2. The Legacy 2 is a solid IEM that I can recommend but I really don't want to recommend as there are other IEM available that give a more enjoyable sonic presentation.
Discord: https://discord.gg/kuHQQRS5qB
YouTube reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMj7xJ1SDxGqqxZ5l3g_jg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LG7Kqp_7f/?igshid=1pj7fm78gz0h2
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkDbs @TalkDbs
Website: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/

DBS Tech Talk research and review process:

Audio Terms and Definitions: https://www.stereophile.com/reference/50/index.html

Recommended Gear:
Meze Empyrean: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-empyrean
Hifiman Ananda: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/290
Sennheiser HD600: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/best-audio-headphones-high-end-stereo-hifi-hd-600
Sennheiser HD660s: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/hd-660-s
Meze 99 Classic: https://mezeaudio.com/collections/all/products/meze-99-classics-walnut-gold-wood-headphones
MrSpeakers Ether C (non flow version) https://danclarkaudio.com/
(similar to https://drop.com/buy/drop-mrspeakers-ether-cx-closed-headphones
Meze Rai Penta: https://mezeaudio.com/collections/all/products/rai-penta
Meze Rai Solo: https://mezeaudio.com/products/rai-solo
ADV. M5-12D: https://www.adv-sound.com/collections/pro-audio/products/m5-12d-universal
Tin Hifi T3: https://www.linsoul.com/collections/tin-hifi/products/tinhifi-t3
Tin Hifi T2+: https://www.linsoul.com/collections/tin-hifi/products/tinhifi-t2-plus
Tin Hfi T5: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tin-hifi-t5
Moondrop SSR: https://www.moondroplab.com/ssr
Monoprice Monolith THX AAA 788: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24459
Mytek Liberty: https://mytekdigital.com/hifi/products/liberty-dac/
Soekris DAC1421: https://soekris.modhouseaudio.com/soekris-audiophile-line/dac-1421
Tor Audio Roger: https://toraudio.com/main.html#
Massdrop THX AAA 789:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier
Grace Design SDAC-B: https://drop.com/buy/drop-grace-design-standard-dac-balanced
Geshelli Labs Enog 2 Pro: https://geshelli.com/shop/ols/products/enog2-pro-dac-metal-case
Geshelli Labs J2: https://geshelli.com/jnog
Geshelli Labs Archel 2: https://geshelli.com/shop/ols/produ...tal-case-b5ca9a41-69ed-4786-98b2-18f72ae911bf
Geshelli Labs Erish: https://geshelli.com/shop/ols/products/erish-balanced

Music recommendations:
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/5bbf80ce-33f3-4222-a1fc-6539a95415d6 (in order of playlist)
Tingvall Trio “Beat” - piano tonality
Sinne Eeg “We’ve Just Begun” - multiple layer soundstage
Molly Johnson “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” - female vocal tone
Leslie Odom Jr. “Under Pressure” - male vocal tone
Eric Clapton “Change the World” - soundstage, layering and placement
Yo Yo Ma “Ecstasy of Gold” - acoustic instrument timbre
Adam Baldych “Spem in Alium” - acoustic instrument timbre
Pain of Salvation “Stress” - percussion balance
Michael Buble “When I Fall in Love” - orchestral dynamics
Patricia Barber “Code Cool” - sibilance check
Christian Scott “New New Orleans” - shouty upper mids
Tool “Chocolate Chip Trip” - imaging
Hans Zimmer “Why So Serious” - sub bass extension
Marcus Miller “No Limit” - bass control
Dave Holland Quartet “Conference Of The Birds”- bass check
Ilhan Eshkeri “47 Ronin”- orchestra and bass dynamics
Hans Zimmer :2049” - sub bass extension
Cher: Believe - sibilance
Stanley Clarke - Passenger 57 main title - percussion, bass, separation and placement
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra - The Pine of the Appian Way - soundstage, imaging and separation
Houston Person - You are my Sunshine - tone and timbre

TONALITY: 8/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8/10
CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN: 8.2/10
SOUND VALUE: 8/10


INTRO

THIEAUDIO LEGACY series seems well-received among audiophiles and this sure trigger my curiosity. It's all about DD and BA hybrid here, using either Sonion or Knowles or both with different DD models.
Hybrid earphones flood the audio market nowadays, for the better (Seeaudio, Dunu, Oriolus...) and the worst (KZ, TRN, Audiosense...), so let's see in this review if the cheapest Legacy model is worth your interest and your money!


PACKAGING, CONSTRUCTION&DESIGN

The boxing is nicely presented, it feels premium for a 100$ IEM and includes nice quality accessories. The false leather magnetic protective case is very beautiful. You got 6 pairs of silicone ear tips, which is a minimum. The 4cores silver-plated 2pin cable is of good quality too.



The construction is all molded resin plastic, it's light and sturdy. Smooth and slide in they ears naturally. The nozzle is a bit short and thick, as well, it has 2 tubing hole without mesh, so be aware dust can enter freely in there. If i have to nitpick a drawback about design, it would be the 2pin connector of the iem which are on the top of a curve and doesn't have a bump nor is deeply embedded. This means it can be tricky to connect your 2pin cable for this reason as well as for it's very thigh 0.78mm connection. As well, you cant push fully the 2pin in the body, which is quite concerning...if a water drop goes there, it can perhaps damage the IEM.



CRITICAL SOUND IMPRESSIONS
(gear used: SMSL SU-9+SH-9, Audirect BEAM 2, Xduoo X20, Zishan Z4)

TONALITY is neutral to L shape with a slight mid-bass boost, lean mids and smoothened treble. Bass is warm, mids and treble are dryish-brightish. Tonal balance is cohesive and liquid, in the sense that DD bass driver bleed-embrace lower mid-range naturally.

DYNAMIC attack is fast and tamed in impact, it isn't very weighty apart bass part wich have soft slam boost.

BASS is notably slower than mid and treble in attack, the definition is warm-hollow, and attack lack bite-snap and sustain control. The extension is rolled off a bit and lacks natural flexibility. The hit has good weight and density, but not a lot of texture and resolution edge. It's neither too lean or too bassy, just a bit punchy and dry with hollow separation from mids.

MIDS are lean, borderline recessed, with intimate presence and excellent transparency. The resolution is very good, crisp yet smooth, free of sibilance or problematic harshness. The tone is very realistic and life-like with subtle texturing. Female vocal sounds more open, bodied, and present than colder sounding male vocal. Attack has more snap than lead impact and is overall light in weight. For example, piano notes feel they are shot at you instead of ''falling'' in front of you. Instruments don't sound bigger than life here and can feel a bit distant or cold in presence.

TREBLE is fast and snappy, delivers effortless micro-details, and has a delicate extension that avoids aggressivity in dynamic attack balance. It's not the sharpest BA treble due to an ''organic brightness''. In a very busy and fast track using bright instruments like electric guitar and splash cymbals, the highs can go a bit hot and shouty but with enough articulation to don't fall into a complete inaccuracy disaster. What the highs lack is extension up to 20khz, air, and sparkle-decay. The attack sustain-release is so fast that you don't have any natural resonance that would benefit instruments like acoustic guitar or harpsichord. While the lack of sparkle is inherent to all multi-BA IEM, the lack of air is more frequent with dual DD-BA hybrid like this Legacy 2 or, to a less extent, the IKKO OH10.

TECHNICALITIES are a mixed bag here, due to different performance from DD and BA. The Beryllium plated dynamic driver has a looser slower transient response that inflicts on its sloppier attack-sustain, the resolution is inferior too, it's thick and not very transparent and detailed. The flexibility of the low end is rather poor too. Mids and treble have fast attacks, accuracy is OK not mind-blowing. Resolution is sharpish but not crisp in definition and benefits more macro-resolution than micro-definition that feels a bit fuzzy.

SOUNDSTAGE isn't very wide nor deep, but intimate and a bit in your head.

IMAGING is quite good, yet compressed a bit in spatial size. It has a great amount of richly presented transparent sound layers you can dig in but not precisely spot the instrument placement which lack a bit of sharp definition.

SUBJECTIVE APPRECIATION

Everybody has their own musicality conception, for example, Etymotic fans tend to prefer DF tuning approach while Moondrop fans would favor the Harman tuning approach. Some need lot of resolution, other lot of bass and warmth.
While open-minded about tonal balance, i tend to prefer IEM with the weighty dynamic and very extended bass response with a slight sub-bass boost that does not hollow (or swallow) kick drum presence and dynamic. I'm very sensitive to overall timbre too, especially in the mid-range section, I like my female vocal full-bodied and open.
The LEGACY 2 is a bit too serious-sounding to trigger any emotionality in me. I feel it lacks bass extension, weight, and articulation. I really enjoy them for music like classical, but even this genre isn't sounding very lively in dynamic and a bit compressed in layering-imaging. For electronic or any beat-driven music, the Legacy 2 are plain boring even if the attack can go very fast, I feel distant from the music due to the lack of openness that surrounds you, immerse you in a holographic enough musicality.
Why then do I give a good score? Because they have well-balanced tonality and above-average technicalities. To some extent, the L2 reminds me of the SeeAudio YUME, but less extended in both ends and a bit more rough sounding. For half the price of the YUME, they sound 80% as good, so they sure represent good value for those that can enjoy this type of Harman-neutral tuning. Safe, mature and revealing listen can be the holy grail for some!

COMPARISONS

VS WHIZZHER HE01 (70$)

The First thought that comes to my mind when I go Legacy 2 to HE01 is: oh, that sounds so more musical and dynamic but I can't see through the sounds layers!

The HE01 is more lively weighty and vivid in the attack. It's less neutral and boring, but less refined and transparent. Tonality is lusher more aggressive W shape, less lean, and smoothed in attack pressure. BASS is weightier, more textured, and bodied with a similar rolled-off extension but more rumble impact. Vocals are more natural and bodied, brighter in texture too. Treble is thicker, crunchier, less detailed, and informative than T2.
We have more salt and butter with the HE01, it's guilty yummy food while the L2 is hit or miss vegan burger, due to its greasy bass and ultra-healthy (not enough salty?) mids-treble.

VS HISENIOR T2U (80-120$)

One would think a dual BA will struggle to compete with a hybrid DD-BA but here it's the L2 that struggles to follow the fast-paced technicalities to the excellent T2U.
Everything is cleaner, more transparent, and better balanced with the T2U. Sure the bass doesn't extend as low and isn't as boosted in sub-bass presence so the slam isn't as weighty but has faster punch, doesn't bleed on mids like the L2, as well, it's more nuanced in texture and well defined in presence. Bass tone is more realistic and less organic-liquid than L2.
Mids are similar in timbre-tone, but more open, textured, and well-layered while leaner, more hollow in resolution and more compressed with the L2. Vocal are more intimate and recessed with L2 too.
TREBLE is less extended, airy, and delicate with the L2, the attack has less edge and snap to it and can't deal as effortlessly with busy music as the more talented T2U. We have way more micro-details with the T2U, yet, it doesn't feel out of place like the one that L2 extract in upper highs, so the treble is fuller in response, better balanced and more accurate in attack and articulated in resolution.
IMAGING is where the T2U put to complete shame the L2, both in clean layering and instrument placement, it makes the L2 feel like a compressed spatiality with blurry instrument placement.

All in all, the Thieaudio L2 can't compete with the T2U due to both inferior tonality and technicalities.

CONCLUSION

At 100$, the THIEAUDIO LEGACY 2 would represent a good value for those who search for a smoothly bright neutral sounding with slight bass boost IEM. While it isn't a master of lush immersive musicality, the L2 sure offers superior technicalities for its price with its crisp resolution and fast attack....and that even if a single BA have inherent limit to deal with the whole mids and treble section.

I do think Thieaudio is an earphones company with tremendous potential as well as a mature approach to tuning, but I wish they find a better balance between tonality and technicalities for their other offering because the L2 isn't for everyone due to a lack of versatility to its tonal balance. Perhaps it's better to directly go to Legacy 3 model which costs 20$ more for an extra BA and a different DD with perhaps a better bass response.


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PS: I wanna thanks DD-Audio for sending me this review sample on my demand. As well as giving me full liberty of opinion (i hope!). Go give a look at their nice ALI store and you can find the LEGACY 2 here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002897743443.html

More reviews can be found on my website here: https://nobsaudiophile.com/

Thieaudio Legacy 2 : Budget IEM?



Disclaimer:

This unit was supplied to me by @Linsoul Audio for the purpose of an honest review. Everything mentioned in this review are purely my own based on my experiences with the IEM.



Introduction:

The Thieaudio Legacy 2 is Linsoul's attempt to enter into the entry level IEM zone with their successful well known brand Thieaudio. According to Linsoul "The Legacy series capitalizes on Thieaudio’s engineering capabilities to merge the latest driver innovations, creating a lineup of the ultimate high-performance hybrid in-ear monitors. Geared towards the discerning audiophile and music enthusiast, the Legacy series re-envisions the qualities that make up high-fidelity audio to present a unique combination of enjoyable tuning that also excels in technical performance."
Thieaudio Legacy 2 is priced at $99



Specifications:

Specifications are as below:
https://www.linsoul.com/products/thieaudio-legacy-2

• Sensitivity (1KHz): 108dB
• Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
• Impedance (1KHz): 32Ω
• Driver: Knowles 29689 + 10mm Beryllium
• Noise Isolation: 26dB
• Earphone connector: 0.78 2pin
• Plug: 3.5mm
• Cable: 1.2m

Package:

Following items are found in the package:

• IEM x1
• Leather bag x 1
• Original eartips x 6 pairs
• Stock cable x 1
• User manual

Design & Build Quality:


The Thieaudio Legacy 2 comes with blue resin shell. very light and nice looking. lower part of the shells are semi-transparent and the drivers inside can be seen somewhat. It is quite comfortable and has a good fit in the ears. it is also ideal for longer listening sessions being lightweight and comfortable. The shell houses the New Proprietary Closed-back 10mm Beryllium Dynamic Driver & Knowles ED29689 Balanced Armature drivers. It is also said to have very good tuning. However, to me good performance is based on the quality of sound that hits my ears.



The Stock Cable:

The cable that comes with it appears to be nice with good weaving and sound-wise it seemed quite good also.



Amp-ing Requirements:

I have found that this IEM cannot perform well without any amp-ing at all while being directly connected to devices such as: iPad, iPhone, etc..
Hence , a good DAC/AMP is quite necessary and one can say as mandatory also.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....

Items used for this review:

DAC/AMP: IFI Micro IDSD Black Label Signature
DAP/Source : @Shanling M6 PRO (21) & Q1, Laptop & iPad
Streaming Source: QOBUZ
Ear Tips: Final E Series Black ear tips




Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews... I would like to thank @Otto Motor for his contribution here.





Let's now talk about the quality of Sound....

The BASS:

While the intensity of the Bass is quite good, it's not really the kind of bass that is enjoyable. The sub-bass lacks details and there is lack of depth in the bass responses also. In tracks like: "Anna R. Chie (Remastered) - Konstantin Wecker" and "My Queen Is Ada Eastman - Sons Of Kemet" you can feel the attack of the Drums but then... that's about it - there's much lack of further detailed nuances & transients. Not the kind of bass that is enjoyable at least to my ears.

The MIDS:

Midrange is not recessed despite the V shape in the tuning of this IEM.
The Mids seem to have good amount of details throughout - However it lacks muscle & texture in the midrange.
This may be due to the BA based sound in the midrange. Guitar plucks were not followed by enough transients in tracks like: "Porch Swing - Trace Bundy" and "Rickover's Dream - Michael hedges"

The Treble:

The Treble seemed smooth and inoffensive. Has enough details and coherence that is expected from the price range. But, just like the mids it lacked in terms of texture. While the Cymbals sounded good however some part of the upper treble region seemed a bit rolled off and boring. Tracks like: "Chocolate Chip Trip - TOOL" did not sound as good.

The SOUNDSTAGE:

Soundstage seemed quite wide for the price bracket. But it lacks in height & depth.

Imaging & Timbre:

Sense of direction is quite good and the sound is quite natural hence I would say that this IEM has good imaging for the price.
There is scope to improve when it comes to timbre compared to other IEMs in the [price bracket.

Comparisons :

Thieaudio Legacy 2 vs Moondrop Aria :

The Moondrop Aria though has a Single Dynamic driver architecture - becomes a direct competitor of the Legacy 2 in terms of price coming at slightly lower price of $79.

Build & Comfort:
Though both IEMs have very different materials in their shells - they are both lightweight and comfortable, Nothing to complain - both at par.

Bass:
The Aria does not come with the high intensity of bass like Legacy 2. However, it makes up for it through details and depth - which are missing on the Legacy2.
Overall I preferred the Aria bass performance as it has much better details and depth in the bass.

Mids:
Both IEMs come with good details in the mids but the Aria again has the edge due to better texture and transients from instruments such as guitar, violin, banjo, etc..


Treble:
Not much to say about treble here either. I think both are at par in terms of treble.

Soundstage & Timbre:
Though the Aria seemed to have slightly less width in the soundstage, it makes up for it with better depth & height. The legacy2 though having wider soundtage sounds flatter.



Conclusion :
The legacy 2 comes at a very competitive price range of $99 and at a time when the Moondrop Aria is being called the best performer below $100 range.
Though, It may not be as good as the Aria - it may appeal to people who want a better tuning and non-fatiguing treble.

This unit was sent to me for review by Linsoul. As usual, what follows are my honest thoughts and opinions to the best of my ability.

I have to say, I’m very impressed with the strides Thieaudio has made with their presentation. The Legacy 2 arrives in a clean, black cardboard box. Inside you’ll find two types of silicone tips, a 0.78mm cable, and a compact carrying case. The L2 itself is nicely constructed and sports one of the more visually appealing faceplates that I’ve seen in its price bracket. For fit and comfort, the L2 is eminently easy on the ears and lightweight. You’ll hear zero complaints from me on any of these fronts. But readers already know I'm not too picky about this stuff and, of course, the actual sound is another matter which I’ll delve into below.




I was accidentally sent two units, so here they are measured above. The measurements were taken off an IEC-711 coupler; there is a resonance peak at 8kHz, so everything after that point should not be considered necessarily accurate. If you'd like to compare the Legacy 2 to other IEMs that I have graphed, please see here.

The L2 has a warm, balanced sound signature. You can see from the graph that the L2’s bass shelf extends up to 600hZ. Surprisingly, however, I don’t find it a particularly bassy IEM. To the contrary, the bass on the L2 is rather mellow and sounds like it’s lacking a good deal in the slam department. This is a complaint that I’ve cited about Thieaudio’s dynamic drivers in the past, and I can’t help but feel that the new beryllium driver being used is nothing out of the ordinary either. Most of that extended bass shelf’s effect, then, seems to be attributable to the midrange’s warmth. It’s a pleasant enough midrange with a more relaxed pinna compensation and smooth transition into the lower-treble. Nonetheless, I disagree with this choice of tuning. And not because I think it’s a bad tuning stand alone - far from it - but rather because it’s perpetuating a vicious cycle with the L2’s technicalities.

Indeed, technicalities are where I can't help but feel that the L2 is heavily lacking. Coherency isn't bad here, but it's mainly because the midrange and treble notes are blunted to the point of which they're matching the dynamic driver. Sheer note definition is definitely not the L2's strong point. Something else that sticks out like a sore thumb about the L2 is its dynamic range. It sounds like there's excessive dampening and it struggles to produce sound. It reminds me of when I'm trying to accelerate on my 90's Honda Civic onto the freeway, especially going uphill. A bit nerve-racking because everyone else is zipping by me and I'm pushing the pedal to the metal and can barely keep up.



Speaking of which, that’s a good segue. Sure, the L2 will get the job done adequately and, credit where credit is due, I have to say this is a good IEM. But it's not much else. There are a lot of other IEMs in this price bracket that trade blows with the L2 and, if you’re asking me, surpass it for less. I'll patiently keep awaiting the day that Thieaudio manages to put out an IEM that makes me go “wow”. This is just an IEM to go for if you want a really safe pick and don't know what you like.

The Legacy 2 is available for purchase here.

INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER:​

The Thieaudio Legacy 2 (L2) is an in-ear monitor (IEM) advertised as using a “proprietary closed-back 10mm beryllium dynamic driver” and a “Knowles ED29689 Balanced Armature (BA).” The L2 is available at Linsoul for $99. I received the L2 from Linsoul in exchange for a fair and objective review.

SOURCES:​

I have used the Thieaudio L2 with the following sources:

• Hidizs S9
• Qudelix 5K
• Audirect Atom 2
• JDS Labs The Element

I have tested these headphones with local FLAC and Spotify Premium. Visit my last.fm page to get an idea of what I listen to.

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:​

The Thieaudio L2 comes in a black rectangular cardboard box with a black slipcover. The Thieaudio logo is embossed in silver on the front of the slipcover as well as the top lid of the box. In addition to the IEMs, the package includes a detachable 2-pin cable, a blue synthetic leather carry case, six conventional black silicone eartips (S, M, L), and 6 clear silicone eartips with black cores (S, M, L). The two-tone eartips are shorter and wider than the black eartips. The L2 also includes a quality control pass chit, a user manual written in English and Chinese, and a warranty card. The lid of the carry case is exterior embossed with the Thieaudio logo and has a magnetic fastener.

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN:​

The Thieaudio L2 has translucent blue acrylic shells with pearlescent faceplates. The internal components are faintly visible through the shells. The shells have a pseudo-custom fit. The Thieaudio logo is set into the left faceplate in silver, while the right faceplate is unmarked. “Legacy 2” and the unit serial number are printed in white on the inner face of the shell. The IEMs are otherwise unmarked. The seam between the shell body and faceplate is invisible to the naked eye but can be faintly felt. The nozzles have two separate sound tubes and lack a nozzle cover. The nozzles have a lip for securing eartips. There are two circular vents just below the 2-pin connector, one with a metal rim, one without.
The included 2-pin cable is attractive and substantial. The right 2-pin connector is distinguished only by a red base. The Thieaudio logo is printed on the jack hardware. There is strain relief above the straight 3.5mm jack but none at the Y-split. The cable has pre-formed clear plastic earguides without memory wire. There is a chin adjustment slider, and the cable resists tangling. The cable is moderately microphonic.

COMFORT, FIT, AND ISOLATION:​

The Thieaudio L2 is intended to be worn cable-up. The earpieces have a shallow-to-moderate insertion depth. The L2 is extremely comfortable. I did not experience driver flex with the L2. Isolation is above average.

MEASUREMENTS:​

Measurements of the Thieaudio L2 can be found on my expanding squig.link database:
Thieaudio Legacy 2 — Squiglink by Bedrock Reviews
My measurements are conducted with a Dayton iMM-6 microphone using a vinyl tubing coupler and a calibrated USB sound interface. The measurements use a compensation file derived from relating my raw measurements to published measurements from Crinacle and Antdroid. There is a resonant peak at 8k. Measurements above 10 kHz are not reliable.

SOUND:​

The Thieaudio L2 has a Harman-ish tuning, meaning an emphasis on sub-bass over mid-bass, a healthy but not overbearing amount of pinna gain, and a downward-sloping frequency response from 1–3 kHz down through the treble. The L2’s frequency response is very similar to that of the SeeAudio Yume. The biggest difference between the two IEMs is in the lower treble, which the Yume has more of. Like the Yume, the L2 is close to what I would call my ideal IEM tuning.
The L2’s bass is impactful, with excellent sub-bass extension and an organic-sounding transient response. The bass is cleanly articulated but one-dimensional, with limited texture.
The L2 has a clear, even midrange. The L2’s lower midrange presentation is noteworthy for avoiding the sense of clinical coolness found on many Harman-ish budget IEMs. There is a sense of midrange warmth with the L2 not found with the Moondrop Aria. The L2’s upper midrange, while elevated, drops off faster than many other Harman-inspired IEMs, avoiding any harshness in the presence region. Male and female vocals are roughly even in their emphasis, and male vocals have an equal richness to them as female vocals. Male and female vocal intelligibility are both excellent. The L2 has a natural timbre and avoids BA plasticity.
The L2’s treble presentation is exceptionally smooth and is weighted most towards the mid-treble. There is a pronounced dip in the lower treble which avoids the tinsel-like quality to cymbal hits exhibited by the SeeAudio Yume. The L2 is lacking in air and does not have the most spacious soundstage in its price bracket. Instrument separation is very good nonetheless.
Out of the box, the L2’s detail retrieval is a step behind what I would expect from a $100 IEM across the board, though I have found this is largely tip-dependent. With SednaEarfitLight eartips I felt the L2 was only slightly inferior to the $80 Aria in terms of resolution. I recommend using the L2 with the widest bore tip available. Overall, I prefer the L2’s tonality to the Aria’s.

ELEMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING:​

The Thieaudio L2 can be readily driven with modest sources. I did not notice hiss with any of my sources.

CLOSING WORDS:​

The Thieaudio L2 has superb tonality and is a great option at the $100 price point, especially for IEM newcomers.
The Thieaudio L2 can be purchased below:
Linsoul Thieaudio Legacy 2 2 Beryllium DD + BA Hybrid In-Ear Monitor — Linsoul Audio
If you enjoyed this review, please consider checking out my blog: https://medium.com/bedrock-reviews