thaslaya

100+ Head-Fier
Red vs Blue
Pros: + Big, deep bass
+ Forward vocals
+ Lightweight and comfortable
+ Price
+ Attractive design
Cons: - Can sound shouty on certain tracks
- Stock cable
- Nozzle size may cause fit issues
- Needs amplification for higher volume levels
- Build quality a bit lacking
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thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Best in class/buy it now
☆☆☆☆ - Highly recommended
☆☆☆ - Sound for thee, not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:
This product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Gear used:
● LG v30+
● Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
● Hiby FC4
● Ifi hipdac 3
● Kiwi Ears Allegro
● Truthear x Crinacle Zero

Source:
Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.
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Introduction:
Back in 2022 the Truthear x Crinacle Zero burst on to the scene and made quite a splash. It was not Crinacle's first collaboration but it remains one of his most popular to date. The Zero received generally favorable reviews and nestled in to a nice little spot in the ~$50 budget tier. Then in 2023 Truthear and Crinacle got together again to release the retuned Zero:Red. Again, the hype train barreled through the audiophile community and the RED has been well received garnering favorable reviews. At the time of this review, the Zero is listed for $49.99 on Amazon and the Red is $54.99. Below I will break down these two very similar models and highlight their differences. This will serve as a dual review for both the original Zero (hereafter refered to as Zero:Blue or BLUE) and the Zero:Red. The star rating and pros/cons listed in this review are specific to the Zero:Blue. For continuity purposes, the Red is on the left and Blue on the right for all comparison photos.
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Build, fit, ergonomics:
The Blue and Red obviously share a lot of similarities. Both feature dual dynamic drivers. The shell shape and size are almost identical although the Blue is just slightly larger. The shells are made of resin but are hollow. This makes them lightweight but they also feel a bit cheap. The nozzles are long and wide and they are identical on both models. Those with small ears may have fit issues though I personally found them to provide good seal and comfort. The overall packaging and accessories are basically the same as well. The stock cable is thin, feels cheap, and tends to tangle easily. It's the same cable that comes with the Truthear Hexa and I didn't really like it then either. I prefer a thicker more robust cable but the stock cable is serviceable and some will surely like it. The included tips consist of 6 pairs of silicone with 2 various bore sizes and 1 pair of foam. I really liked using the stock tips with both Zeroes. They provide a good seal and are comfortable for long sessions. There's also a small carrying pouch included (again, same as with the Hexa) that I don't really like. Sure it's small and pocketable but provides little protection and again feels a bit cheap.
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Sound impressions:
I would describe the tuning of the Red as warm/neutral with bass boost and the Blue a bit more v-shaped with a little more elevated treble. The soundstage is average for the price bracket and basically identical on both. Detail retrieval, imaging, and instrument separation are also average and about what you'd expect to find at this price point. Both Zeroes veer more towards musicality rather than technical performance.They lack the high level of technicalities of something like the Simgot EA500LM but are also not nearly as bright.

●Lows - Both models sport a deep sub bass extension. The bass on Red is more balanced and cleaner sounding. Using the included adapter brings out a bigger bass response and fullness approching basshead levels although it doesnt quite get there. However, if you purchase a higher impedance adapter, say 200 ohms, and you have a good enough amplifier then the sub bass can get BIG (as seen in the graph below). The Blue has more midbass presence and punch which makes it sound overall fuller and more robust although I can hear a bit of bleed into the midrange at times.
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Credit to HBB for the measurements.

●Mid - Vocals are slightly more forward on the Red. The Blue have more energy in the upper mids/lower treble region which means they can be shouty with certain tracks. I feel that the mids on both models are well placed and are a highlight of the tuning. The timbre is organic and both male and female vocalists sound great. Guitars and other instruments also have good presence and are well represented.

●Highs - The best word I have to describe the treble in the Red is "blunted". Claps and hi-hats lack a definitive edge and crispness. I actually like that quality as it aligns with my prefered warmer tuning preference. However, I do wish the treble and amount of air were extended just a bit futher. The Blue have more energy in the lower mids and contain just a hunt of sibilance at times with snares and such. The highs on both roll off just a bit early and, because of this, the treble loses shimmer, sparkle, and air.
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Summary:
Red vs. Blue. Which one is better? Well just like everything else in this hobby, that answer is highly subjective. Both models are similar shape, size, come with almost identical accessories, and the difference in price is only about $5. The answer isn't so much which model is better but which tuning is preferential. The Blue has a bigger default bass impact and fullness and there is a slight elevation in the upper mids/lower treble. The Red has a more warm/neutral tuning with a small sub bass boost and relaxed treble. The inclusion of the 10 ohm impedance adapter is what ultimately pushes me to recommend the Red over Blue. Using the impedance adapter adds tuning variety; adding extra bass is quick and easy. Even the Red's stock tuning is closer to my preference and is better suited for long listening sessions. Ultimately both models offer great value in the sub $50 price bracket. I think Truthear and Crinacle have created two great products that many would be glad to own.
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Hablmet

New Head-Fier
Truthear Zero: A Complicated Position
Pros: Light, interesting shell design.
Good overall bass impact and texture, especially for the price.
Takes relatively well to EQ.
Stock cable is pretty light and isn't bad for this price range.
Cons: Harman IE is just a bad target for an IEM like this.
Upper mids/treble far too shouty, requires EQ for a lot of genres to sound palatable.
Mids smothered by the bass+treble combo, EQ mandatory to let them breathe.
Crossover recess is not that easy to EQ out and you can sometimes feel that recess too!
Staging and imaging is slightly below average, instrument separation suffers as well.
Zero:Red is just a better buy at five bucks more.
Introduction
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Truthear probably does not need any introduction. Starting off with a bang with the Zero, then the Hexa and then the Hola, neither of these IEMs can be outright called bad or a poor start, as all three sold quite well and with the advent of the Red, it seems that so far, Truthear is on a winning streak. But how does the old Zero now fare in the current market? If you've seen the star rating, in my opinion, it's lost a bit of that luster it needed to last.
This unit was passed down to me. Packaging will be as such absent from this review, as half of it is missing. Ah, the woes of being poor.

Look, build and comfort
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Truthear Zero with the Letshuoer DZ4 cable and puck case.
I cannot deny that the Zeros look quite appealing. That color-alterating resin is always wonderful to look at, and the shells are overall quite light, with a slightly recessed 2-pin connector that might be polarizing, depending on opinion. I unfortunately had to swap the hefty but otherwise excellent DZ4 cable for the Tripowin Zonie, as the connectors on that one were too stubby and were prone to popping out. The shells are quite large and my already slightly smaller-than-average ears had to get used to the feeling of these sizable fellas. There is a bigger problem, however; the nozzle is quite wide and that restricts not only some of my tips being used, but also long-term comfort. On the other hand, the tips that fit on the nozzle ensured a very good seal and fit security (my usual test is vacuuming with an industrial Kärcher at the same time, and these passed the test quite well). For those with smaller ear canals, these might be problematic (and anything else with larger nozzles, such as the Blessing series). Overall, I cannot complain about the looks, but the fit is more polarizing.

Sources used
The usual stuff on my end. For those familiar with my reviews, my usual equipment is my interface (M-Audio AIR 192|4), the FiiO BTR5 2021 and my phone (Poco X3). I tried plugging them into the Moondrop Click for a bit and just stopped as that felt like a very compromised listen. An Abigail dongle or Apple dongle would be far more fitting in this case. All sources needed very little effort to get the Zeros to a high listening level; more so than my previous Tripowin Leás. There were no issues with hiss on any source involved. As this does not fit great into most other sections and would disappear in the Comfort section, my testing involved the KBear 07 tips being used, alongside the stock tips. The 07 tips provided a better grip and fit security for my ears. Your mileage may vary.

Sound performance:
Bass

The bass is absolutely the stand-out performer on the Zero, thanks to the dual dynamic driver setup, with one serving for sub-bass frequencies only. The stock bass performance is quite solid and a great performer in the range; there is plenty of impact, a decent slam and texture is also overall decent. That is not to say that the bass quality is flawless, however; I found the crossover point at ~170Hz to be noticeable in listens and an EQ point placed there resolved that tiny issue. For a typical basshead, this is surprisingly quality bass. Budget sets keep getting better.
Bass rating: 80/100
Mids

This is where it falls apart a bit. As I have mentioned in the quick bullet points at the top of the page, they are kind of drowned out. This is a little unfortunate, as I am a big fan of vocals and this set does them quite an injustice with its stock tuning. Even something more instrumentally-focused such as Battle Tapes kind of sucked listening to, which is a big shame. Vocals feel a bit grating, and overall are not pleasant to listen to, there is no reserved feeling, only aggression. This sort of brings me into the treble...
Mids rating: 50/100
Treble

I hate Harman treble in general. That probably would've been better to state at the start, but given my star rating, I felt it wouldn't have been hard to figure that out. There is, however, a good point about this treble before I go off tearing it a new one, and that is that electric guitars with these mids and treble feel genuinely striking, aggressive and kinda rad to listen to. That's my only good point about the treble. It is simply a bit too overboosted and needs to be about 5dB lower for my tastes. Truthear and Crinacle seem to have agreed with that, as the Red has quite more tame treble, at least on squigs. One other thing to note is that the treble has no grain, which would've been a complete death knell to the stock treble performance otherwise.
Treble rating: 40/100

Imaging and staging

As with many budget sets, staging and imaging is not great. I feel that with these, the Tripowin Leás were slightly better, as the staging felt decent on those even at the $27-odd bucks they used to cost. Imaging is decent, but that is mostly due to the fact the stage is already set so small, that vague imaging would have been quite annoying.
Imaging and staging rating: 50/100
Instrument separation

Just like with the Leá, the instrument separation lacks a certain degree to sound good. Busy passages can get smoothed over, which is a little disappointing, but not to be unexpected in this price range.
Instrument separation rating: 45/100

Versus: Letshuoer DZ4 and Tripowin Leá

A little bit of a weird comparison, given that the latter is impossible to acquire and I have recently lost one of them! However, I have had a couple moments with the DZ4 of my brother's, and let me tell you, does that completely stomp on the Zero in most qualities. It is a polarizing set from what I have been led to believe, but the DZ4 has superior treble and mids, and considerably better technical performance as well, for about $25-30 more. It is definitely a set to consider if you're doing EQ often and wanna add just a tiny bit of a thump to your signature the DZ4 otherwise lacks. The comfort is also way, way better.

The Leá is a bit more interesting as it was nearly half the price during its release. I would say that tuning-wise, the Zero wins out on the bass, whereas the Leá wins out on mids and treble (where it is still slightly hot and might need a slight tempering-down). Technical performance is actually kind of neck-and-neck, though Leá has slightly better staging. It is also way easier to fit into your ears.

Overall rating and conclusion
It is difficult to say the Zero is worth getting in the current market. If you feel that Harman IE is a thing you wanna try out, I think this is one of the few sets in the range that does that reliably, given my reservations to this target. The bass is also quite nice, but there is one massive problem: The Red exists. At five bucks more, you're getting the same body, but with superior sound performance. I'd say at that point you might as well cop the Red. If you don't like this price range at all and maybe you're welcoming towards some EQ..the DZ4 is also here to stay for a while. I'm not disappointed with the listen at all, especially after EQ, which the Zero takes surprisingly well to. You can temper the treble by a large enough margin where the mids have a chance to breathe and perform with a decent amount of effort.
Overall rating: 60 (without EQ)
The keep rating is a new thing I am adding to my reviews. Simply put, on a scale from 1-10, how much is it worth it to keep this set? Under 6, I would not suggest to keep most sets unless they appeal to someone in a certain funky way.
Keep rating: 5.5/10
The Zeros still have potential, but the Reds just blow them out the water in many aspects nowadays.

In conclusion, Zero alright, Red better. Quite a competitive price range, this.
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Des99

New Head-Fier
Fun and affordable but niche
Pros: Fun tuning
Accessories
Bass
Energetic upper midrange
Treble
Affordable
Cons: Slightly shouty
Recessed lower midrange
Separation
Details
Bulky
Background
  • I’m super new to this hobby, previously/currently I own: KZ ZS10 Pro, Intime Sora Light 2019, Moondrop Quarks, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, Truthear Hexa
  • Borrowed Truthear Zero from a friend for 1 week.
  • Listens to J-POP 99.99% of the time, but with a fair amount of different genres like rock, pop, classical, soundtracks, relaxed/slower-paced.
  • Have demo-ed a fair selection of IEMs
  • This is purely my impression of the Truthear Zero, please only take it with a grain of salt.



Source(s)
  • Truthear Shio
    • Adds some warmth and body to vocals, making them sound a little fuller.
    • Tames a bit of treble, making them sound less peaky.

Ear tips
  • SpinFit CP145
    • Adds some air and energy to the treble.
    • Opens up the soundstage slightly, making them a little wider.

Packaging
  • Comes with a decent amount of accessories
    • IEM.
    • Soft pouch.
    • Wide selection of eartips.
      • 3 pairs of narrow bore silicone tips (S, M, L)
      • 3 pairs of wide bore silicon tips (S, M, L)
      • 1 pair of memory foam tips
    • Cable is alright, tangles a bit sometimes.

Build Quality
  • Lightweight.
  • Bulky body.
  • Plasticky.
  • Pretty blue/purple-ish face plate.

Fit
  • Fairly large nozzle.
  • Fit is honestly not bad for me, fits quite well, but do note that the shell and nozzle are quite large.



Tonality
  • Tuned to Harman target
  • Fun tonality
    • Plenty of bass and aggressive upper midrange

Bass
  • Highlight of this IEM, very well done.
  • Well separated and controlled, props to the 1 DD that is dedicated to bass.
  • Has more mid bass slam compared to sub bass rumble.
  • A little one-dimensional, lacking in depth, but decent enough for $50.
  • However, the quantity is a bit too much for me.

Mids
  • Lower mids are recessed, this is fine if the track is not busy.
    • When tracks are really busy, some male vocals and certain instruments just get overshadowed and left in the background.
  • Upper mids are elevated, female vocals are really forward and energetic, to the point of slightly shouty to me.

Treble
  • Treble is alright, but not outstanding.
  • Not much sibilance or peakiness.
  • Details are a little underwhelming.



Technicalities

Detail Retrieval
  • Resolution is slightly underwhelming even in this price range.

Soundstage
  • Soundstage is slightly on the narrow side but it’s acceptable for the price


Imaging
  • Imaging and accuracy is surprisingly quite good.
  • Gaming
    • Apex Legends: Sound of footsteps and gunfire can be pinpointed in terms of direction, but have a little problem in pinpointing the exact location.
  • Overall, it should be good enough but I would not get this specifically for gaming.

Separation
  • Sounds congested, especially for busier tracks, sound just gets blended together, and not in a good way.

Verdict
  • If you want a really fun IEM that is tuned to Harman Target, you can consider demo-ing this before making a decision to purchase.

Thanks for reading!
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Cessnas172
Cessnas172
If you can find a 75ohm impedance adapter it changes the sound in a great way
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kmmbd

500+ Head-Fier
The Hype and the Aftermath
Pros: Build and accessory pack
– Comfortable fit
– Proper “subwoofer” driver configuration
– Sub-bass response is unique, with more focus on the density of notes than impact
– Good layering
Cons: Sub-bass has softened impact, might be an issue for those expecting robust bass
– Truthear Zero has thin, lifeless lower-midrange
– Scooped mid-bass region hurts impact of snare hits and thins out baritone vocals
– Dark, grainy treble
– Upper-mid shout may sound more pronounced due to lack of treble presence
– Middling technical performance
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INTRODUCTION

Reviewer collaborations are all the rage now. At the beginning, it was more of a novelty than a marketing shtick. At present, it’s rarer to not see a “tuned by X influencer” tag instead.

Truthear is a relatively new brand, but they chose to collaborate with Crinacle for their very first mainstream offering. Crin has been tuning IEMs for a while, and some of them have been quite popular e.g. the Blessing2 Dusk. Truthear Zero is the latest in the line of Crinacle-tuned IEMs and has a rather unique dual-driver setup where one driver acts as a true “woofer”.

Does the novel driver setup and Crinacle’s signature tuning manage to elevate the Zero above the rest of the competition? Or is another flavor-of-the-week that will soon have the spotlight stolen? Let’s find out.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. ShenzhenAudio was kind enough to send me the Truthear X Crinacle Zero for evaluation.
This review originally appeared on
Audioreviews.

Source used: Questyle CMA-400i
Price, while reviewed: $50.

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The packaging of the Truthear Zero has the trendy “waifu” cover art. In fact, the unit I received also came with an acrylic replica of the pictured character, named “Virgo”.

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Otaku-fanservice aside, we also get 6 pairs of silicone eartips (2 types), 1 pair of foam tips, and a nice carrying case. The stock cable is good for the price, though the memory hook is stiff. The carrying case looks and feels nice, but offers little protection.

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BUILD QUALITY

The entire shell is made out of resin with a glittery faceplate. I quite like the hue of blue on the Truthear Zero.

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There is one vent near the 2-pin connector, which are recessed thankfully. Crossover circuit can also be seen near the connectors. While the build is generally good, the shells are smudge prone and slippery. So keep a cleaning cloth handy.

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

The Truthear Zero are very comfortable due to their pseudo-custom shape, and they offer good isolation.

SOURCE AND EARTIPS

The IEMs were tested with stock cable and eartips. Questyle CMA-400i was used as a source. The Truthear Zero is fairly easy to drive with any budget dongle.

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DRIVER SETUP

Truthear Zero uses two dynamic drivers in an asymmetric orientation: one near the nozzle (tweeter) and the woofer is closer to the center of the shell.

The larger 10mm “woofer” uses an LCP diaphragm with a PU suspension. The smaller “tweeter” clocks in at 7.8mm, and while the diaphragm and suspension material remains same, the voice coil is changed to a lighter CCAW material.

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The crossover circuit acts almost as a low-pass filter with the low-frequencies being solely handled by the woofer, and the tweeter having no response in sub-bass frequencies.

ONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

Truthear Zero has a near-Harman 2019-esque frequency response. This essentially means a “clean boost” of sub-bass from 200Hz downwards, and an aggressive rise to the upper-mids from the low-mid region.

Also, this leads to a strange hollowness in the mid-bass region, something “mid-bass bad” crowd will probably try to pass off as a positive, but it is not often the case.

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Speaking of bass, the Truthear Zero has a detached sounding sub-bass akin to a 2.1 speaker setup. This is perhaps the intended tuning decision. Sub-bass has good density and dominates the scene in many electronic and live tracks. However, there is a softness to the sub-bass that makes it sound more polite than one would expect. Sub-bass rumble is not the strongest either.

Mid-bass is utterly devoid of body and slam. The bass is thus solely defined by the sub-bass emphasis near 50Hz. As a result of mid-bass hollowness and a near 12dB rise in the upper-mids, midrange is dominated by the upper-registers.

Snare hits lack body, baritone vocals sound thin, soaring male vocals get screechy and strained. Female vocals in bass-light tracks veer towards shoutiness.

Add to that the dark treble, which lacks sparkle and extension. As a result upper-mids gain further focus. Needless to say that this kind of tuning did not work well with my metal/rock focused library, and the occasional acoustic tracks and singer/songwriter pieces were marred by the shoutiness in the upper-mids.

Staging is average, imaging is mostly left and right. Not a technical tour-de-force in those regards. Layering is surprisingly good though, probably one of the strengths here. Overall resolution is middling.

Microdynamics are good, while macrodynamic punch is lacking due to the lack of mid-bass and dark mid and upper-treble.

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs Final E3000

Final E3000 has a more physical, impactful bass. They have superior male vocals in comparison but female vocals are noticeably more laid back than the Truthear Zero.

E3000 also has better treble definition and extension, wider staging and far superior imaging. The areas where the Truthear Zero trounce the E3000 are: build, vocal clarity, and far simpler amplification needs. E3000 need a good source to shine, which adds to the cost.

vs BLON BL-05S

Compared to the Truthear Zero, BL-05S lack bass impact and rumble. Bass is in fact the weakest aspect of the BL-05S.

Things get very different as we move upward the frequencies, with the BL-05S being far more resolving in treble and mids. Imaging and separation are superior on the BLON as well.

One caveat of the BL-05S is that they need cable and tip change, whereas Truthear Zero is good to go in stock form. If you need a more technically accomplished pair under $50, BL-05S will be a better pick.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Truthear Zero aces the frequency response graph game. If you primarily base your purchase decisions on a pair of IEMs hitting a specific target, the Truthear Zero will be right up your alley. Also, those preferring Harman-ish tuning should be happy with the tuning here.

Unfortunately for me, most rock, metal, and pop songs sound odd and lack the body and density I expect, especially if the vocalist is male. The Zero fare better in instrumentals and female vocal based tracks, but there are better options in this price range if those are your priorities.

In the end, the driver configuration is the most interesting aspect of the Truthear Zero, and there is nothing wrong with that. They just do not stand out enough in terms of technicalities, and the shouty vocals followed by dark treble doesn’t make things better.

I hope Truthear reigns down the upper-mids and focuses on refining the treble on the next release, and if a dose of mid-bass is added with that – color me interested.
Lien028
Lien028
I purchased these recently, and these IEMs give me a conflicting feeling. The sound signature (i.e. Harman 2019) is one that I prefer and I'm amazed at the sound quality I get for just 50$. Now I'm interested in the Truthear Nova which (allegedly) has the same tuning as the Moondrop Variations, an IEM that's 5x its price.

asifur

100+ Head-Fier
Truthear ZERO: Almost there!
Pros: + Good Build
+ Comfortable fit
+ Good staging & Imaging
+ Good tuning
+ Good bass performance for a $50 IEM
+ Great pairing with most dongles and portable players
Cons: - The sub-bass seems a bit overdone and impacts the overall bass experience
- Recessed midrange
Truthear Zero: Almost There!

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Summary:

Launched in July'2022, The Truthear Zero is yet another IEM launched with Crinacle collaboration. ZERO comes with a unique configuration of 2DDs of 10mm + 7.8mm whereby the 2nd DD is used for sub-bass only. Truthear promises this to be a great performer and from our impressions we can validate this to be a great value for money.

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Disclaimer: @shenzhenaudio had sent me a review unit for my impressions & views. The opinions below are based on my experiences with the unit and my own. I have tried to be as comprehensive as I could be - to give a complete picture to the audience.



Introduction:


Let's quickly dive into what the Truthear ZERO has to offer. In pursuit of better sound for the price, the ZERO features 2 dynamic drivers, 1 of which which is dedicatedly used for sub-bass response only giving the overall sub-woofer feel.

The TRUTHEAR ZERO is priced at $49.99

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Design & Build:

The Truthear ZERO comes with a Plastic shell which is very light and has a comfortable fit on most ears. I have tried it through long audio sessions and it fared very well throughout.

It is described as the following on the website:

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Specifications:


The TRUTHEAR ZERO comes at $49.99 price tag and is exclusively available through @shenzhenaudio .
The specifications are as below:

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...hragm-in-ear-headphone?variant=43010057634035

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The Box & Accessories:
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The Accessories:

The Truthear ZERO package now includes…
  • Truthear ZERO Earphones
  • Replacement Eartips
  • Earphone Cable
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NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....
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Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP & Dongles:
@Questyle CMA15 Desktop DAC/AMP, M15 Dongle
Portable Players / Sources : Lotoo Paw Gold Touch, A&K SP1000M
Streaming Source: QOBUZ

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Ear Tips:

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I've tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips such as: @Final Audio E series red & black ones, JVC Spiral dots, Spiral Dots+, @SpinFit Eartip CP500, CP155. Out of all of these I have found the CP500 to be the best fit for my ears in terms of overall fit, isolation & comfort.

Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...



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THRUTHEAR ZERO Sound Impressions in Short:

The BASS:


Th bass is where both dynamic drivers come into play. The 7.8mm dynamic driver is dedicated to sub-bass only thereby creating a sense of depth and a sub-woofer like response. I would say that is quite enjoyable and really praiseworthy coming from an IEM at $50 range. However, in some cases it just makes the mid-bass rumble too soft owing to the prominence of the sub-bass. In tracks like: "Fools Paradise (LP Version) – Donna Lewis" and "Chocolate Chip Trip - Tool" you can feel the sub-woofer like impact in the bass.

The MIDS:

The midrange is a bit recessed on the ZERO. However, there is good amount of muscle and texture and the instruments sound very lively and enjoyable. Vocals seem good and both male and female vocals come with ample amount of details and feel very real. Transients are also good. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy", "A dog named Freedom – Kinky Friedman" and "Ruby Tuesday – Franco Battiato" though the midrange is enjoyable, but you feel a bit left out and long for more.

The TREBLE:

The treble feels quite engaging without being fatiguing or offensive. The treble performance is quite laid back which can be realized from tracks like “Chocolate Chip Trip – Tool”.

The SOUNDSTAGE:

The Staging capabilities of the ZERO is the quite good and above average for price range and better than many $50 range also. It comes with the right amount of width, height, depth and is well defined and just as much as the track requires. Tracks like: “The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “She Don’t know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound amazing & enjoyable. This is amongst the strongest trait of this IEM.

Separation & Imaging:

Imaging is quite spot on and location of each instrument can be felt quite clearly on the ZERO. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through. However, the separation is something you feel could be better.

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Conclusion:

The Truthear ZERO is yet another good and successful collaboration in an IEM and the sub-woofer like feel is quite unique.
Its recommendable to people who appreciate good tuning and look for a laid-back treble presentation.

captainhook88

New Head-Fier
Innovative & smooth budget IEMs
Pros: Good sub bass
Smooth sound (treble sensitive people won’t have a problem with these)
Innovative driver configuration
Budget friendly
Lots of accessories
Cons: Stock cable could be better
Large nozzle could be a problem for some people
Not the best technical performer (even though this is not really the price bracket to look for such IEMs)
Truthear Zero X Crinacle Review

The Truthear Zero's are a relatively recent collaboration between Truthear and Crinacle. As far as I know, they seem to be a rather new brand.

DSCF5546.jpg


PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES


Packaging features a “waifu” cover and there are lots of accessories for this price range. Specifically, there are two types of eartips with three sizes (seems like a standard S – M – L sizing), one pair of foam eartips (looks like a Medium), a storage pouch (soft leather like case, no hard case, so not that much protection) for the IEMs and a thin basic cable. For the asking price of 49.99 EUR, I can say that this is an overall nice package, although I have replaced the stock cable as I don’t like very thin basic cables.

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BUILD, COMFORT, FIT & ISOLATION

The IEMs shell is made of a resin shell and has a glittery blue face plate. It has a recessed 2 pin connector (standard replacement 2 pin cables work). They are also quite light. They are intended to be worn cable-up (as IEMs usually do). One thing to watch out though is the nozzle size. I measured it at around 6mm, which, even though it is smaller than the Blessing 2’s nozzle, it is still quite big and could cause comfort issues for people with small ear canals. However, I did not experience any discomfort (having said that I mainly use S sized tips, which is an interesting point). In this case, I prefer the Spinfit 145 in S to the stock tips (comfort and fit wise), but your mileage may vary. With the stock tips in your correct size, I would rate the isolation average.

DSCF5535.jpg

SOURCE

I tested the IEMs with their stock cable and stock tips (small bore size) attached to a Qudelix 5K, as well as directly attached to my Macbook Pro M1. I also tested them with a 6.3mm adapter with my Marantz HD-DAC1 (headphone amplifier). Finally, they have also been tested on the Apple Dongle with my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

DRIVERS

The IEMs have a rather unique dual dynamic driver configuration : one dynamic driver (10mm diaphragm) is acting as a dedicated « woofer » to handle the sub-bass while the main driver is acting as a “tweeter” (7.8mm diaphragm) is handling the rest of the frequency range. There is a cross over circuit to make this work.

DSCF5536.jpg

TONALITIY / TECHNICALITIES

Looking at the graphs (also printed on the back of the box, which is quite nice), we can see that it has a frequency response very close to the Harman (2019) target, i. e. boosted bass from 200Hz to lower frequencies, recessed lower mid-range followed by a rise from 1kHz to the upper-mids.

On the bass side, there is a slight roll-off, but the sub-bass extension is great (for IEMs at this price bracket very good!). I also can really feel the impact in the sub-bass region. I would say that the sub-bass is excellent at this price bracket and is one of the highlights of these IEMs (next to the very good price).

As the IEMs are adhering very closely to the Harman Target, vocals tend to overpower midrange instrumentation. Female vocals are more prominent than male vocals, but I did not notice any sibilance in that regard – they are smooth and treble sensitive people should be able to use them without any issues. In this context, I have to say that the Zero’s seem to lack some sparkle in the range above 10 kHz. The detail retrieval is however good for this price bracket and I also didn't notice any metallic timbre.

Regarding sound stage, I would say it is around average, as is imaging.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

With the standard Apple dongle on my iPhone 11 Pro Max, I was able to get it to a good volume level only at around 70% of the maximum level, which is a bit higher than I was expecting. On my Macbook Pro M1, I get to an acceptable volume level at around 40% of the maximum volume. No issues also on my Qudelix 5K and Marantz HD-Dac1, as expected. Sound quality was, for my ears, the same on all devices, although I read that some reports that they would scale with better sources. In my opinion, if you reach an acceptable volume on your source, you should be good to go:wink:.

CONCLUSION

The Truthear Zero are very good IEMs at this price bracket. I would recommend them to anyone on a budget who likes “fun” IEMs with a very good sub-bass. I would say they handle Pop, EDM and Rock very well, but are not limited to these genres. They are also nice for people wanting to experience a dedicated woofer, which is quite unique. As these IEMs follow the Harman Target, they should please most people (that’s the point of it, isn’t it?). I would however not recommend them to people looking for the best technical performance, but I guess that would be another target audience. Overall it is definitely a recommendation !

Disclosure: This unit was not sent over to review, I have purchased it with my own money, but would gladly review other IEMs if requested to do so.
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ywheng89

100+ Head-Fier
Truthear Zero X Crinacle Review
Pros: Fun rumble from the sub bass
Safe and non offensive sound
Interesting approach by having a dedicated woofer crossover with main driver
Cons: Might be too safe sounding for some
Not for anyone that's going after technical performance (not really a cons but rather a different target audience)
Truthear Zero X Crinacle Review

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General Information (Build/Packaging/Comfort)
Truthear Zero is a collaboration between Truthear and Crinacle. It is a dual dynamic driver config where one dynamic driver is acting as a dedicated woofer handling mainly the sub bass while the main driver handles the rest of the frequency range.

Zero has got a very beautiful faceplate, It’s 3D printed and the unit is very light and I don't feel the weight on me when I'm wearing them. One thing that bothers me is that the nozzle size is rather big and it might cause some discomfort if you are not using the right ear tips. The stock eartips work fine for me, S size, but i personally prefer using Spinfit’s CP145 for more comfort.

Packaging is quite good for the price, it has got two types of eartips with various sizes, a storage pouch for the IEM, and basic cables, overall justifiable by the asking price.

IXirNA7Ucqsp9mNVZgbrnTMRog9FQZmEcOCN23CXDalwcFWkeje5DH2oH4USUIQAfE9Ov8j3sqhtPezX3ovBVs9ILQTVkZWlb0vuenakzYQkNMtVFSrpaBcM7S3LBk0DK7y_u6V0GgOPBD_ZY0fyuPS63_sgT1qa7tH15_T5Cw_KXzTGkc0kj7pg2Q


Source
Macbook Air M2 Tidal/Apple Music -> iFi iDSD Nano Black Lable -> Truthear Zero
Macbook Air M2 Tidal/Apple Music -> Truthear Zero (Straight from MBA’s audio jack)
Tempotec V6 (Tidal/Apple Music/Offline Musics) -> Truthear Zero

lrAbFP6pFA3WfJDvxRxSnftlJgpBWPqbA82ze73L5Ij1BpMxT_wvUF01ev-KPjpVCgyDqoAq4P0TE_muQTMI0beuKuBjzWSfj3qRK-eCRCx3rk2zrFbQZfQ6LlHBURkg56CUEyhXreC-lnH2bCVim80z2fRSKGO5QD5fIj_ehPFUn98l671OoxSnWA


Sound
I’m sure most of you guys are aware that Zero is closely following the Harman curve in terms of tuning, but with a twist, that is including a dedicated woofer crossed over with the main driver. Well, in a layman’s term, the dedicated woofer will be handling the sub-bass while the main will cover the mid bass all the way to treble.

How does it sound then? My experience with Zero is fairly positive, while i’m not a basshead, i do enjoy the rumble from the sub bass and it is so much fun, as for the rest of the freq, they are what you would have already expected from a Harman’s tuning. Rather safe and non offensive. Smooth and easy to listen to. While the sub bass is the main highlight of Zero, the mid bass at times lacks a little impact especially on kick drums, but they’re not that bad.

Timbre sounds alright/natural to my ears while the note weight is average across the freq range except for the lower end where it bears a lot more impact.

The vocal positioning is slightly recessed on the male but female’s vocal is a little bit more forward but not harsh, both male and female vocal has got similar texture to it and they’re not bad or exceptionally good. The midrange is generally clean and good, but i’d prefer if it has got a little bit more texture to it, the piano to me lacks a little weight to it in my opinion, but that’s just me, i let my spouse tried it (non-audiophile) and she likes it and doesn’t have anything to complain about, but me as a reviewer of course i have to highlight the pros and cons :)

The treble response is smooth and non sibilant, a very safe approach and I'm sure even the treble sensitive guys/girls will be able to handle it. While it’s good to have a safe approach, it also kills off some air which is evident on some busy tracks where everything will sound a little like “mashed” with each other. This is just me nitpicking, it is a 50$ IEM and of course something's got to give. Detail retrieval is good enough for the price. Definitely not for critical listening.

Soundstage is slightly out of the head but lacking a little height and depth to my ears. Imaging is average, instruments can be picked up easily but of course it struggles a little on busy tracks.

Driveability
Zero is easy to drive and it can even be driven by an Apple Dongle and have decent volume output from it. However, it does scale up with better sources. To my ears, they don't sound that different when amping it.

Comparison (Dunu Titan S)
  • Bass is definitely not the strong point of Titan S, lacking in terms of quantity, but compensated with quality bass (fast and tight)
  • Vocal is more prominent on the Titan S but also having a little more energy on the upper mids, this might be a little problematic for some people who are sensitive at this range
  • In term of treble, Titan S has got a bit more energy and air but nowhere near offensive sounding or harsh
  • Detail retrieval on Titan S is slightly better
  • Soundstage and Imaging is slightly better on the Titan S as well
  • I made it sound like Titan S is a better choice, isn't it? It is not, well, i’d say Titan S is focusing more on technical performance while Zero is more on fun, to me, the target audience is different.

Final Thoughts
I don’t have any problem recommending Zero if you’re looking for some fun and to experience having a “dedicated” woofer handling the sub bass which does produce a very very fun rumble when the track calls for it. However, if you are mainly looking for technical performance, you may skip this set, Zero is not for you. As for me, i am not someone who is fixated on a certain target curve, as long as it sounds good to my ears, i like them, as simple as that. I listen to music and I'm not trying to analyse every piece of information from the track.

*As always, quick shoutout to @shenzhenaudio for sending over this unit in exchange for the review.
Head over to their store to grab the unit if you are interested
Truthear Zero X Crinacle

zenki

500+ Head-Fier
Close to 0
Pros: - Cable
- Fit
- Bass
Cons: - Mids
- Treble
TL;DR
Get OLA instead.

Package
IEM, Tips, 0.78mm cable, pouch, etc2x.

Build
Cheap plastic.

Cable
Thin cable but pretty long which is handy.

First thought/What to expect
Just another chi-fi.

SOUND
Bass
Quality wise it's quite good but the quantity may be a bit too much in some tracks but ok in others.
Bass got speed though which is good.

Mids
Men vocals are alright but female vocals are not. Especially female vocals with high pitch. They just sound muted, lack of excitement. Same thing with instruments. Electric guitars sound blunted, violins, trumpet same thing. This thing just lacks energy because there's just too much smoothing. So there's no peaky/shouty issues.

Treble
Weak. Cymbals lacks 'zing', extension. When many instruments are playing simultaneously, they just sound off due to the lack of energy. Nuff said.

Techs
Not worth wasting time.

Itsy Bitsy Tips
Plenty of cheap tips.

FR
Later or never.

Comparison
Not gonna bother.

Closing thought
Everything above, including female vocals range are lacking energy. They sound off.

Verdict
Skip.
C
Carpet
A little objectivity helps. Not every tuning will match your preference.
Z
zenki
I don't really care about tuning as long as it doesn't give problems.
BigGearHunter
BigGearHunter
I respect you going against the grain and plainly stating your opinion. We should have more of that.

Headphones and Coffee

Previously known as Wretched Stare
I like it
Pros: Great controlled Bass, decent Mids and polite Treble. Good accessories and packaging
Cons: Treble lacks energy and is a little grainy
20220822_150531.jpg

A thank you to Shenzhen Audio for the review unit, as you well know my reviews are my own opinions and thoughts

The Zero can be purchased from Shenzhen Audio at their website below.
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...s-pu-lcp-composite-diaphragm-in-ear-headphone

Equipment mostly used: ifi Gryphon, ifi Go Bar, TRI TK-2, Beam 3 pro, TempoTec V6, Hidizs AP80 pro X, Surfans F35 and SMSL sp200 and Aune X1s .. Files FLAC, ALAC, DSD and CD

The packaging is so cute and well done. Inside the Zero has a good number of tips and the cable and case are excellent quality considering the price. I got the cute Virgo stand as well that looks great with my backlight.
The build is light but well-made and, in my ears, it was comfy.
Configuration: 10mm+7.8mm Dynamic Driver
Diaphragm material: PU + LCP composite diaphragm
THD: THD@1KHz≤1%
Sensitivity: 117.5dB/Vrms (@1KHz)
Impedance: 10Ω±15% (@1kHz)
Frequency Response: 20Hz-39500Hz (IEC61094,Free Field)
Cable: Oxygen-free silver-plated


Sound:
Bass: is powerful with both impact and control, it surprisingly hits hard but never is overpowered or muddy, still this isn't a Bass head IEM but it has an enjoyable rumble that decays fast. Mid-Bass has a good speed and punch although it's a little recessed.
Mids: are silky smooth and have a warmth to the lower mids, they sound natural to me and upper mids have a mild brightness not too bad on my equipment.
Treble: Is relaxed and could use a little more energy but is decent. Treble sensitive will like the tuning.

Soundstage: Is above average and doesn't sound unnatural, its placement is good, and details are accurate, it's by far not the most impressive feature but it's good for this kind of signature and works.

Conclusion: Any cons aside this is good for the cost, and I found it a fun sounding IEM good for rock music and a little pop, it also worked well with jazz too. The Zero is a very pretty IEM that is targeted towards the Harman curve listener. while bass is good it's not the Bass canon just a good, tuned budget offering with character and style.
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s to

New Head-Fier
Bassy, Strained, Average
Pros: Decent sound weight, Good tuning, Average treble extension, Fun bass, Light weight
Cons: Average detail, Subpar imaging, Strained treble, Bulky fit
I bought this new from Shenzhen Audio. Had a nifty $5 coupon so I got the stand.

PXL_20220820_181132197.jpg


This is my own personal opinion, and my conclusion is the Truthear Zero is at least worth the $50. I wouldn't recommend it when there's killer options at $20 and killer options at $80. However; it looks fly as hell. My friend noted it turns from blue to purple. Sparkly.

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The bass is okay; doesn't feel super clean, but it's not outright grimy. I like more sub bass, or at least to have it be less masked by 80hz. The weight is good.

The mids are prominent; from 1000-4000, it's highlighted, emphasized. Still, pretty smooth. Bass and mids; well done in my opinion.

The treble is where it goes awry tuning wise, 5k-8k there's a finger too much. I feel this imparts a grainy, digital feeling to vocals and mids. This heel is what makes me consider the tuning average to good, rather than masterclass.

I'd call the Zero V-shaped.

The detailling is average on the Zero. Even poor at times to me. To the point where the clean bass tuning can feel muddy.

The imaging is average. The soundstage feels out of ear, but only on the sides of your head. Unremarkable.

On music, EDM plays well; the thumping basslines and glaring synths etc. work well with the Zero. Tending to lack vocals helps as well.

On vocal songs, Tenor and above sound great, emphasized. Baritone and below... Washed out and thinned a bit.

Classical music and orchestral does surprisingly okay. The Zero's imaging leaves much to be wanted.

The Truthear Zero shines by not doing much bad; but I wish it could be a little more exceptional. And so 3 stars.

Other notes:
The cable is comfortable and feels well made. Nice that it's recessed 2pin. Tangles like a mother****er.
The Zero is quite pretty.
The Zero makes my ears ache after an hour. Gapey little thing.
I don't feel the bass is particularly separated; the 2 driver thing, makes for good tuning, I can't detect any magic.

PXL_20220820_140735346.jpg

I ran the Zero off of my laptop naked, and also off of the Qudelix 5k. It doesn't feel really sensitive.
The print job on the stand is average.
I actually really like the case; I found that you have to use 2 hands to open and close it, and the way to easily use the buttons is to have a finger under one clasp and your thumb over the other.
The foam tips died day 1 when I tried to remove them.

Select comparisons: Zero is better than the Chu. Consequently, it's better than Tanya, MDR-EX15, Moondrop Spaceship.

The er2se smokes the Zero. The mdr-as800ap sounds better to me. The ssr is more technical, but potentially less pleasingly tuned. I hated the Ola but I think it had more detail.

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gael
gael
Nice pics =)

nymz

Reviewer at nymzreviews
Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Harman living picture
Pros: Bass
Good for Harman lovers
Price
Cons: Mid-bass scoop
Treble feels grainy
Upper-mids are harsh and offset
1659745880331.jpg


Disclaimer: This unit was provided by Shenzhenaudio for free in exchange for a written review. No incentives of any kind were given and the review you are about to read are my own thoughts and opinions. Thanks once again to Shenzhenaudio for the opportunity and support.



Driver Setup: 2 Dynamic Drivers - 10mm (woofer) + 7.8mm (mids to highs)
Price: $50
Purchase link and info: Shenzhenaudio

Included in the box:
  • Zero
  • Standard 2pin black cable with a 3.5mm termination;
  • 6 Pair of silicone tips;
  • 1 Pair of foam tips;
  • A carrying pouch (PU leather);
  • Documentation and warranty card.

Comfort, fit and isolation: Nozzles are long and thick so fit, comfort and isolation might get tricky for those with shorter canals like me. Very lightweight shells.
Source used: Topping E30 + L30 stack
Tips used: Stock silicone - narrow
Test playlist with some of the songs used: Tidal




Sound characteristics

graph - 2022-08-04T192924.080.png

If the title of this review hasn't been specific enough yet, the Truthear x Crinacle Zero (Zero) is a Harman Target doppelganger, meaning it follows the (in)famous Harman curve very closely for its tuning.

Translating that into an actual analysis and easy going words, you will find an almost V-Shaped signature, only not touching it due to the usual clean and drier bass, neutral mid-range or just slightly north of it.

Zero, being a deadringer to Harman, is no exception. According to the Crinacle, the idea is to take a shot on a harman target but including a twist: having a dedicated woofer crossed over at around 100hz. This generated a lot of hype but also doubt, so I will try to simplify it for you the best that I can in the following paragraph to hopefully answer some of the questions that have been brought to me.

Think of a 2 way channel system with a subwoofer. The bigger drivers handle lower frequencies better, adding impact, texture and authority, but being incapable of having the needed speed required for higher frequencies. The usual smaller drivers have the opposite effect and some systems even include tweeters for ultra high frequencies to achieve better results. In this particular case of the Zero, by using two different drivers, the bigger one is allocated exclusively to the bass region, not overcharging it with the usual full range stress, which also leads into the fabled dynamic drivers fallacy of not extending far enough in the upper regions. The second driver, being smaller, can take the rest of the spectrum by itself without sweating as much and reaching better volumes at higher frequencies. In short and on paper: better bass and treble extension.

1659745880340 v2.jpg

Now, from the paper to the ears, it worked. The Zero has a very good bass impact for the price range - one of the best in my opinion, - which approves of the formula. Addressing another elephant in the room, the sub-bass roll-off, I can see why it was done and I commend it, trying to emphasys this bass impact and let’s be honest here, there’s not much music below 30hz anyway, let alone perceive such roll-off other than in sine sweeps (Big Boi - Kill Jill). Final verdict is that the sub-bass passes with flying colors in my library with some nice rumble.

Now, it wouldn’t be me without nickpicking it and bringing up my usual not-so-likable distaste for the harman target: the mid-bass is very dry and feels scooped out at times on kick drums and bass guitars, namely the lower mids (Ghost-Note - Shrill Tones).

Given the mid-bass, it’s easy to perceive how clean and on the thinner side of the spectrum the mid-range is found. Being a mid-centrist, I have to appreciate its transparency, but sometimes I just feel they could use a touch more of note weight (Yiruma - River Flows In You). I still have to disclose that these are more personal nitpicks than actual complaints, as the mid-range is very good for the bracket and I have a wild guess most will like it.

Now, my main problem with the Harman target reaches up on us once we climb up in the frequency range: the upper mid-range and the treble. Zero is no exception and the usual forward but harsh female vocals of the Harman Target show its claws. I was doing a random shuffle on Tidal when Miley Cirus - Malibu kicked in and from the first second she sang I could feel the sense of sandpaper and off timbre in her voice. This sense moves along up the treble region (David Carroll - Hell’s Bells) where I think people who enjoy more energetic signatures will like the Zero, but to me and my library I can’t fully commend it, as it has some more energy than I can take, leading into a volume dial down. To note that other than this, I didn’t find any type of piercing peaks that are the oh-so-usual around this price bracket.

The only two subjects left in the working bench would be the male vocals and treble extension. Well, regarding the latter I have nothing to point other than the lack of air sometimes which comes more obvious on busy passages. Male vocals fall into the more subdued side of things, sometimes meshing with the background (Woodkid - Run Boy Run) and lacking emphasis.

Closing up my thoughts with a word regarding technicalities, I would say that the Zero falls along the same guidelines of the best contenders for the sub-50 category.




Comparisons

To keep this section short, I have chosen three solid contenders for the price bracket that I had on hand and probably my three favorites for different reasons, with the honorable mention going to CCA CRA but that needs PEQ in my opinion, so I have to leave it out of this comparison.

Moondrop Chu

graph - 2022-08-06T002951.100.png
Being almost siamese twins after the 400hz section, there’s not much to be said about these two other than bass differences and minor technicalities. The bass on the Zero is much more impactful and feels more average DD like, where the Chu’s bass is soft and pillowy in comparison but with a slightly warmer touch. The hair on the tech side goes also in favor of Zero with the Chu costing less than half. Overall I think I would pick Zero over Chu due to the bass dynamics.

CCA CRA+ and Tripowin Mele


graph - 2022-08-06T003604.208.png

These are two different beasts when compared to the Zero, given their warm signature vs its drier presentation. The CCA CRA+ comes out as more technical and airy than the Zero and, despite not being perfect, suiting my library better. The Mele is even warmer than the CRA+, and feeling mudier due to the drop in the air region, but having my favorite mids and vocals of the three.

Overall, I would pick both Mele and CRA+ over Zero.




The verdict

1659745880348 v2.jpg

Despite my personal nitpicks, I have to still get around my brain and remember that we are talking about the sub-50 dollars bracket and recognize how far we have come in the last few months.

In my opinion it is just as fair to give the recognition to the Truthears Zero as much as I gave to other market sets, despite not being my cup of Tea. I feel that people who actively love Harman Target or sets like the Moondrop Chu can’t go wrong with the Zero, and for those this gets a recommendation at 50 dollars.

I wanna go on a tangent and also say that it’s a “cheap” way to find out if this target is to your likings before delving into something like the Moondrop Variations blind. Yes, you heard that right but please read it again with a giant bag of salt and keeping in mind technical differences and driver setups. But if Zero overall tuning is to your liking, Variations will just get better than that.

As a last word about Crinacle’s objective, I think the tuning speaks for itself and it’s nice to see some new inside the hood experimentation in the budget segments rather than the usual setups found on any shell. Kudos to that.

Value ranking: 4.5/5. Personal rank: C.



Thanks for reading!
Last edited:
iron2k
iron2k
Thanks for your review. I'm not sure if I should get the Zero, I like bass and I already have the Mele but it doesn't fit my bass taste, does the Zero have better/more bass punch???
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nymz
nymz
@iron2k I'm not sure I got your question right. Would you love more bass, less bass or just the same but better quality? Anyway, feel free to PM me for a chat in case I miss your answers!

corgifall

1000+ Head-Fier
Fun Sounding First Attempt
Pros: Bass impact, fun signature, price
Cons: Lacks treble detail, Not an all rounder.
1.jpg

I always feel new companies entering the IEM game have an extremely hard time without good support from the community in advance. Truthear has the backing from Crinacle who helped tune their first IEM, the Zero. I think having a first IEM that is a collab is a safe bet for new companies. Plus there is a higher chance that the IEM will be tuned well. I always like trying out new stuff and I was asked to check out the Zero a bit before Crin announced it so I was interested to see what the Zero might sound like coming out of nowhere.

Quick shoutout to @shenzhenaudio for sending the Zero to review. While I always appreciate the chance to test and review products sent in from manufacturers or dealers, it never affects the rating of my reviews.

The Zero can be picked up from @shenzhenaudio at their website below.

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/truthear-zero-earphone-dual-dynamic-drivers-pu-lcp-composite-diaphragm-in-ear-headphone

Onto the review of the Truthear Zero! My personal preference is a hybrid/tribrid IEM where I get good hitting bass and have a detailed treble with decent mids. When it comes to an over ear headphone I prefer a spacious sound with a deep low end, the mids to be more forward and the highs to be a little bright with some sparkle. I listen to a lot of genres but I hover in the classic rock, blues and edm music with some rap here and there.

Gear Used​

IPhone 12 pro with headphone adapter, Lotto PAW S1, AUNE BU2 and SMSL SU-9 feeding the SP400 amp.

Looks and fit​

The shell is on the larger size but it reminds me of the universal 64 audio shells a little size and shape wise. It has a beautiful faceplace which is a blue and black swirl with some glitter in there. The color changes from a blue to a purple at certains angles depending on lighting which I really like. The comfort was pretty good and if I can fit spinfit tips on an IEM, I’ll almost always go with those. With the CP360 on the Zero, I had very good comfort for long sessions. I think most people will find these comfortable with the stock tips.
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Isolation and sound leakage​

The Zero has a vent at the top near the connector so it does let some sound in but it’s very minimal. Not as good as a sealed unit but still alright. At louder volumes it doesn’t really leak sound from the vents which is nice so I can easily recommend these for plane trips or in quieter areas. Still might have to lower the volume a tad depending on the situation.

Packaging and accessories​

Inside the box we get a little cardboard box with a drawing of the mascot on it as well as all the standard warranty and user guide cards inside of it. Under that we get the IEMs, a leather-ish case that has the cable inside and under that a bunch of different tips. I think for a simple $50 IEM, this is a good set of accessories and I rather liked the presentation here.
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Sound(overall)​

These final impressions were done off the SMSL SU-9 connected to the SMSL SP400. These impressions are what the Zero sounded like to my ears. This was also using the CP360 eartips from Spinfit. Things like ear tip selection and DAC/amp selection will produce different results and impressions vs what my ears hear on my specific gear.

The tuning goes for a bass/upper mid focus. The 10mm DD driver is the star of the show here IMO and the bass hits fairly hard without sounding muddy or bloated. It has a very good bass overall. It is able to produce slam and impact at a slightly different level than I’m used to. I’ve been lucky to hear quite a few different hybrid designs in the past but the bass just hits very differently on the Zero. It sounds fast and clear but it rumbles and slams harder compared to other hybrids. The bass isn’t bass cannon territory however. While it does rumble really well, the decay in the bass is too fast for me to call it a bass head IEM like some other IEMs I’ve tried in the past. The mids are fairly neutral sounding up till the upper mids. Instruments sound calm at first but things like guitars can get a little harsh and the same goes for vocals. I find most vocals fine but it can get a little too sharp at times on some female vocal tracks. It’s still fairy manageable compared to other IEMs in this price bracket. The treble is a little lacking overall which was somewhat a bummer. When compared to other IEMs in this price range, it’s still completely acceptable to me. It just sounds tame and slightly metallic at times. As a person who really likes drums, things like snare hits or cymbals just lacked some detail and energy overall. Overall detail retrieval is about average but the upper mid focus helps offset some of the loss the treble has too so it gets a pass from me. The Zero sounds like a “fun” tuning to me overall so I would say this is perfect for those not hunting a detail heavy/treble intensive IEM under $100.

Soundstage/Imaging​

Soundstage is about average in both width and depth. I didn’t find anything unique going on here and don’t have much to say because of it. I think imaging is acceptable, I wasn’t able to pick out as much in the background but I have no issues with it at this price.

Sensitivity/Drivability​

The Zero didn’t require a lot of power to get to a volume I like. I think any dongle will provide enough power to run the Zero to high volumes. It is somewhat sensitive but I didn’t notice any hiss using it single ended or balanced with any amps I had on hand.

Stock cable​

The stock cable is a black glossy rubber braided cable that is on the simple/cheaper side. I think it works perfectly fine but it does get tangled when I pull it out of a portable case with the way I wrap my iems for storage. I personally prefer a thicker cable but I plan to leave the stock cable on the Zero and use it as is. I didn’t cable roll other than to check hiss via balanced.

IEM comparisons​


Moondrop Aria(Snow Edition)​

The Aria has a warmer neutral “safe” tuning. I think the bass hits better on the Zero but the Snow Aria has a more relaxed and thicker bass. The Mids are more balanced on the Snow Aria which lacks a little of the upper mid spike the Zero has. Vocals do come in better on the Snow Aria. The treble is more detailed on the Aria but both lack some upper energy and while the Aria is better in terms of balance, I very much like the Zero over the Snow Edition Aria.
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CCA CRA+(with Chu mention)​

So while both the Moondrop Chu and CCA CRA+ are extremely well tuned sub $50 IEMs, I like the CRA+ over the Chu by leaps and bounds due to the bass. As such, I’ll be doing this comparison against the CRA+. The CRA+ is a V shaped bass head IEM to me but both the Zero and CRA+ handle their bass very differently. The CRA+ sounds very “bassy” with a longer decay which makes the bass sound more full. I personally like the bass on the Zero over the CRA+ but both sound good down low. The mids are a little more detailed on the Zero and I found vocals sounded more controlled on the Zero. The CRA+ slaps you around with alot of treble and it's more intense than the Zero. The treble is more lively on the CRA+ and makes for a better perceived detailed IEM but I’m not usually into brighter treble so I like the Zero over the CRA+. Both are good options and I have a hard time picking between the two.
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Amping Combinations​


Aune BU2​

The BU2 is a brighter source IMO and this was probably my favorite source gear for the Zero. It keeps the bass quality but it adds a little extra energy to the treble that I think the Zero needs help with. It still felt brighter in the upper mids and I felt the mids sounded the same as the desktop gear I did my impressions on. I think the staging was slightly wider on the BU2 but depth stayed the same. I would say stick with something brighter to help the Zero shine a little.
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Lotoo PAW S1​

A warmer source like the PAW S1 is normally my preferred dongle but I found the Zero lacked a little too much energy for my tastes. The bass stays strong and the mids are the same but the S1 lowers the upper mids a little which made the Zero sound neutral and lacking energy. Since I found the treble weak, the S1 didn’t do anything to help the Zero. I found the Zero had a bigger stage on the S1 and it overall had a thicker sound that I ended up not being a fan of.
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SMSL SU-9/SP400​

The sound impressions are always based on this SMSL stack. The Zero doesn’t need a full size desktop setup to sound good and I honestly didn’t notice any scaling going up from the low end to the high end. I believe the best sound I was able to get from the Zero came off the desktop stack but I was equally happy from the Paw S1 dongle.

Overall thoughts​

Is this the new king for the sub $100 range? For me personally, it's a no since the standard Aria still exists. I really like the standard Aria and it remains my favorite sub $100 IEM recommendation but I had a lot of fun with the Zero. The bass on the Zero hits just right for my tastes and I think this is a very good first attempt for Truthear. As such, I can easily recommend the Truthear Zero! Especially for the price. I really enjoyed both the looks and sound of the Zero and I’m gonna keep a close eye on this new company to see what they come up with next. A shoutout goes to @crinacle as well for helping them tune this as well. Thanks for reading!!
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Zenbun
Zenbun
Do you know of any iems with only DDs and without vents?
Also, are these sibilant at all? For reference, the Kato are sibilant for me and they also have that 8k peak.
corgifall
corgifall
The heartfield acoustic deer is a sealed DD IEM. The vent helps with the bass I think. I personally don’t have issues with sibilance on the Kato but I would say these get just a tiny bit bright in the upper mids. At least to my ears.
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