T-PEOS RASIEL

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The T-PEOS RASIEL

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jonyoo

500+ Head-Fier
I received this one a while ago making this review a bit overdue but always had it on my mind.
I will try to keep this review short and to the point.
 
I have reviewed 10+ T-Peos in the past and to be honest, at first I felt it was going to be like all the other T-Peos in-ears. Not to say that they were bad in anyway, but they had a sound about them that made them sound T-Peos. However, my experience with the 'Rasiel' was surprisingly different.
 
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Brand
To clarify some of the things on the box, TGD is the brand they will be released under in Korea as they are domestic partners only here in South Korea. T-Peos is original manufacturer of this product and will be released in to the overseas market as a T-Peos product.
 
To give a brief background of T-Peos, they are a well-known South Korean in-ear brand first notorious for their line of affordable products that maximize in cost effectiveness and second in their superb quality of high-end multi-driver hybrid flagship series that competes with top-tier brands all over the world.
 
On multiple occasions, I've had the honor being able to meet several T-Peos staff as well as the CEO in person in Korea and they were such kind people who showed passion. I am excited to see what products they will release in the future.
 
Features
Here are the specifications:
Connector : 3.5mm 4 pole 24k gold plated L-type plug
Driver : Single dynamic 10mm driver
Sensitivity : 110 +/- 2dB
Power : 3mW / 20mW
Impedance : 8ohm +/- 15%
Frequency Range : 20Hz ~ 15kHz
Weight : 8g
 
other specs:
- one button remote
- mic
- 1.2m twisted cable
- chrome alloy housing
- alloy reinforcement where the cable splits
 
Accessories include:
- 3 pairs of silicone tips (s, m , l size)
- Comply t-400 medium size one pair
- cable clip (written on the box but didn't receive with the reviewed product)
- fabric pouch (written on the box but didn't receive with the reviewed product)
 
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Design
There are a couple things appreciated about the design of this particular product apart from the other T-Peos products I had experience with in the past. First, I really like the twisted cable that increases durability and minimizes tangle. The cable is then reinforced by an alloy piece where the cable splits to left and right. Second, despite the housing being 100% metal, it is very light and sturdy in the ears. Also, I want to acknowledge the housing design. It is round and organic in a 'tear drop' shape which is a design seen in other top tier brands.
 
One thing I would like to recommend is putting the cable over the ears which will cut 99% of the cable noise especially if you're exercising or walking around with these on.
 
Sound
When observing the package, I noticed it said "Powerful Bass" on the side of the box as one of the key features of the Rasiel. And indeed it does have powerful bass! This is the first thing I noticed with the first song I tested. The deep rumble keeps the rhythm alive and enjoyable whether you're listening to hiphop, edm or jazz. The mids are smooth and express every melody in such a fluid way. The treble lets off a good amount of sparkle to increase clarity without causing any unbearable sharp sounds. This all comes together with an impressing soundstage and imaging where you can vision the direction where certain sounds are coming from. The overall sound is quite warm like a "tube vacuum" sound would be.
 
TGDRasiel_009.jpg
 
Conclusion
I would like to finish off by saying that T-Peos has done something here with attempting to give an in-ear "tube sound" qualities and it seems they've pulled it off. Considering it's price point (approx. $40 USD), the Rasiel is an excellent product for today's popular up-beat music trend and the also the occasional retreat to sit-back and relax with acoustic or jazz tunes.

Peter West

New Head-Fier
Pros: Inexpensive, Surprisingly comfortable. No-twist cord. Fun "tube" sound. No need for external amplifiers. "Killing sound".
Cons: Fun "tube" sound, Loads of bass can overwhelm detail. Affects male and female singers differently.
Okay this review keeps getting delayed and I apologize. I often type my reviews as I listen to whatever device is under review. This usually works for me but I have a problem with the TGD (the Korean brand name for what we know as T-Peos) Rasiel "Killing Sound" earphones. I like the sound so much that I get lost in the music and I stop typing. This is not a good thing when you're offering a review.
 
So much for being objective. I like these inexpensive, pretty, comfortable earphones with their "vacuum tube" sound.
 
BTW as part of the normal disclosure T-Peos reached out to me and asked if I'd do a review of the Rasiel earphones. There was no incentive offered nor asked for and as previous reviews show I won't hesitate in giving my honest opinion. In a previous life I was a news reporter, community newspaper editor and group editor of a bunch of Canadian national magazines I had a pretty tough reputation for honest reporting and it's a tradition I bring to my reviews of audio equipment.
 
In my reviews I rarely talk about packaging, accessories or highly technical information which I leave to others. My reviews focus on two things really. Did I enjoy my experience with the unit in question and is it worth the price?
 
Again for background I tend to compare audio components as a way to determine if I like what I am hearing. I've had other earphones from T-Peos (D-202N and Baguette earphones both of which I liked...a lot). I also have Shure 535s and Dunu Titan 1s and I'll be using all of these in the review. In addition my reference units are Audeze LCD-Xs and a bunch of lesser headphones (Sennheiser Momentum on ear - which are terrific; Sennheiser 590s and modified 439s and Fostex T50RPs all of which won't be considered in this review.
 
Also I normally drag out a bunch of DACs and amps (Fostex HP-8ac; Aune 1Xs, and a bunch of very serviceable Fiios along with a Picollo amp., Aune B1 and again a bunch of Fiios. Reviews around here can take nearly a hundred hours of listening if I get something that is really challenging.
 
THERE'S NO CHALLENGE HERE
 
But there's no challenge here when it comes to the Rasiel earphones. If you're looking for something that's fun to listen to and is as comfortable as old socks then the Rasiel's are for you.
 
There are some serious audio issues but we'll come to that soon enough.
 
Here's what's great about the Rasiels. These are one of the very few in-ear earphones that I can leave in for hours and hours at a time and this with the standard rubber tip. Some of the other in-ears needed changes to their tips to be comfortable and even then after an hour or so my ears were happy to have a break. Not the Rasiels. In my ears they rest perfectly. There's something to be said about earphones that are actually comfortable right out of the box. (It took me weeks to get used to the Sennheiser on-ear headphones. Painful break-in but worth the effort.)
 
But not all is perfect in Rasiel heaven. When the earbuds are pushed into the audio canal they create a seal and a near-perfect seal causes the huge boost in the bass. It's a lot like hitting the bass boos on my Fiio E10K. It's boom, boom, boom in my head. When listening to Bob Marley and Whalers this isn't such a bad thing but  listening to Shelby Lynne's 10 Rocks which starts with a piano rumbling away in the bass register the Rasiels sound pretty muddy and unbalanced when compared to the Titan 1s. Shelby wouldn't be happy.
 
You'd almost think you were listening to different cuts of the same song as each earphone has its own signature sound but the Raisels take this a step beyond.
 
On the Titan's Shelby's voice is blended with the bass line and the backup singers are as sharp as diamonds.
 
On the Rasiels it's a very different mix. Shelby Lynne has a barroom lower-register voice and the Rasiels give it their advertised "tube sound and in this case that's not a good thing.
 
For fun I listened with the Shure 535s and the bass rumbles along as Shelby's voice rises above. The backup singers aren't as sharp. It's a different sound and one likely more accurate to what the audio engineer created.
 
Let's go back to Rasiels: The base is way more rumbly and not as tight but Shelby is still just above the fray and the backup singers are sharp. They're not as sharp as on the Titans but sharper than the Shures.
 
Next up (I've using my Astell and Kern AK-100 II as my source with random songs being auto selected) Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac in the Ttian's sound anemic when compared to the weighted sound of the Rasiels. Which brings us to our next topic...the tube sound.
 
THE TUBE SOUND
 
We're got a Korean guy in our Toastmaster club (I've been a member for over 20 years. Highly recommended.) and he's very new to Canada. I wouldn't call English is second language yet but he's trying very hard and his efforts to speak the Queen's English is one of the bravest thing I've ever witnessed but sometimes he just murders the meaning of the words.
 
So when it comes to T-Peo's marketing department I think we have to read between the lines sometimes. Their tagline about the Rasiel "killing sound" might have better been written as "killer sound" but we get the point don't we?
 
Same for the next line "Filled with the Sound of Vacuum tube". I know what they mean and where T-Peos is coming from is the bass and treble boost that colours the sound and can change the way the mix was meant to sound. For example, Dwight Yoakum's voice in his song Wild Ride through the Rasiels is push back so far as to sound like there's a faint echo. In the Baguettes Dwight's voice is much more prominent. It's still got an echo but it's not being overwhelmed by the bass. 
 
I was so confused by what I was hearing I got out the Momentums which immediately calmed down the sound.
 
If you read the other reviews on the Rasiels (and I always do as some of these guys know more than I'll ever learn about audio) and you'll see that the audio signature of the Rasiels is described as being a "W". That's to say the bass is boosted. There's a boost in the lower mid-range frequencies and a lesser boost in the treble top end.
 
So what you get with Rasiels is a simulated "tube sound" which emphasizes the bass and lower mid range, then scoops out the middle and adds a kick to the top end.
 
This audio signature works for a lot of music. Bob Marly and Whalers sound great. You can follow the bassline like a road map. It's that prominent. Tom Waits's gravelly voice never sounded better. Because Simon and Garfinkel sing in higher registers the Rasiels like them too. Just about any acoustic guitar sounds amazing. Jesse Cook just sizzles in the Rasiels. Jazz as played by Miles Davis is very cool. Kinda tube like if you know what I mean :)
 
Joni Mitchell makes the cut as her voice is pitched in the higher registers that the Rasiels emphasiz while on the other hand Heart's Ann Wilson's voice is a little lost in the group's mega hit Alone. 
 
You can (and should) do your own testing and remember your mileage may vary.
 
SO AVOID THE TUBE SOUND?
 
It depends. What the Rasiels have is character. I like characters in my life and I like earphones and headphones with character. Sometimes the character can overwhelm the experience and that's not a good thing but character on its own isn't necessarily something to run away from.
 
For most of type of music I listen to the Rasiels reproduce the sounds beautifully even dramatically if you will. And if you don't go around comparing every phrases from one earphone to another you're not likely to notice the Rasiels when they miss reproducing the sound in the way the audio engineer set it up.
 
One reviewer said he knew the sound was "wrong" but it was "super fun" and I agree totally.
 
Some earphones and headphones which approach studio quality or the even higher demands of the audiophile aren't that interesting to listen to for hours. Sure they're accurate as an arrow but after an hour or two I find myself longing for a little colour in my music. And try wearing the LCD-Xs for hours at a time. They weigh a ton and while the pads are comfortable it's a lot of weight and eventually I have to take them off. (I know: Poor me!)
 
I also like how extremely comfortable the Rasiels are for in-ear earphones. This is a big plus.
 
Same too for their non-twist cord. I've got earphones that have cords that immediately tie themselves into knots every time you put them down. Not fun.
 
Also the cord is non-microphonic. In other words it doesn'tt transmit rubbing sounds when worn. I've got a set of old Sennheisers that you can't take for a walk as the cords make so much noise when they rub against clothing as to make listening an unpleasant experience.
 
Most reviewers think the chromium plated brass looks good and I agree.
 
WHAT ABOUT PRICE?
 
Oh did I mention price? While there is no published price yet that I know of the other reviewers are saying they're going to retail for $40 US (likely $60 Cdn). $40 is the cost of a decent lunch these days so this is a no-brainer. Fun, comfortable, pretty with a few accessories (small selection of rubber and foam tips) what's not to like? Well the weighted sound may not be for everyone but I like it.
 
Finally, and this was a surprise, the Rasiels don't need an external amplifier to sound good. In fact I found external amps tended to overdrive the sound when using the Rasiels. The AK-100 II into the Class-A Aune 1 amp and using the Titan's is superb and the same can be said using Momentums. The Rasiels however still repress the frequencies where Ann Wilson lives and the amp only emphasizes this effect. The Momentums and Titans bring Ann's voice back in front.
 
Remember if you're not comparing every song most times you're not going to notice a little shifting of frequency response. What's really nice is switching out the external amp and hearing no real advantage. My LCD-Xs really respond to the Aune B1 amp and sound way better thanks to its colouring and overall boost. But the Rasiels don't resond in the same manner. That's not to say some amplification isn't welcome. My Cypher Labs Picallo amp added a little more fullness to the overall sound regardless of which headphone I was using including the Rasiels but if you weren't comparing you'd not know how little you were missing.
 
SO WHO ARE THESE FOR?
 
The Rasiel earphones work great with DAPs, smart phones and the like and they don't need an external amp to sound great. They're comfortable, pretty and cheap (I'm tempted to make a smart remark here but the Internet being what it is I'll pass.) so what's not to like? Audiophiles may not like them but for the rest of us with $40 or so they make a great purchase and you too will get that real "killing sound" of "Vacuum tube" .
 
Beautiful :)

nmatheis

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Good build quality. Budget-friendly price.
Cons: Needs EQ. Ponderous bass. Non-ergonomic earpieces.

INTRODUCTION

My first exposure to T-PEOS was back when the Altone 200 IEM was released. I pre-ordered it based on @H20Fidelity's impressions. It was my first hybrid IEM, and I really liked it for its killer combination of punchy bass, clarity, ergonomics, and price. Although I don't listen to them much anymore, Altone 200 are one IEM I'll keep in my collection if nothing more than for sentimental reasons. When T-PEOS released the follow-up to the Altone 200, the Altone 150, 250 and 350 lineup, I was able to extensively audition the lineup and provided impressions. The newer Altone lineup saw a break from the punchy, clear sound of the Altone 200. Instead, we got a more consumer-oriented sound with copious bass. With a bit of EQ to tone down the bass the Altone 250 sounded pretty damn good, but for me EQ was a necessity. Even with EQ, I wasn't a big fan of the Altone 150 and 350. Beyond the overly rambunctious sound, the new Altone lineup wasn't very ergonomic with overly large connectors and super springy cables. For my tastes, T-PEOS was clearly headed down the wrong path, and I tried to make that clear in my Altone 250 review and impressions of the entire lineup. With my love for the Altone 200, I wanted to see T-PEOS succeed in recreating the magic. 
 
That's all fine and good Nikolaus, but we aren't talking about the Altone lineup here, are we? No, we're not. I just wanted to make my history with T-PEOS clear. And when I (as with a few others in the Head-Fi community) was recently approached by James Park to evaluate their new Rasiel IEM, I wanted to see where T-PEOS was at right here, right now. Would Rasiel really be "vacuum tube sound" as the ad copy suggested? Would it be balanced and smooth, or would it fall into the the trap of consumer-friendly bass-heavy sound? The Pros and Cons provide a high-level answer. Read on if you're interested in diving a bit further down into the details...
 
Rasiel Website: LINK.
 
 

DISCLAIMER

T-PEOS sent me a pair of T-PEOS Rasiel in exchange for my unbiased review. I hope my feedback is useful for my fellow Head-Fi members as well as for T-PEOS. 
 
 


ABOUT ME
I'm a 44 year old father who listens to a lot of electronic and metal, although I do listen to a wide variety of music. I'm primarily a portable audio enthusiast and have been in the game since the venerable Shure E2C was first released. Bought one, plugged it into one of my many MD players, and have been hooked ever since. I do enjoy listening at home and am becoming increasingly interested in building up a nice desktop setup. As with a lot of people my age, my hearing isn't perfect but I've be listening for a long time and feel confident in assessing audio gear.


 
 

SPECIFICATIONS 

  1. Driver : Dynamic driver 10mm​

  2. Sensitivity : 110 ±2dB​

  3. Power : 3mW / 20mW​

  4. Impedance : 8Ω ± 15%​

  5. Frequency Range : 20Hz ~ 15kHz​

  6. Weight: 8g​



 

 

PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES



IMG_0245.jpg

As usual, I'm not going to spend much time on describing the packaging and accessories. It's about what you'd expect at this price point. 
 
Inside the box, you get the IEM plus S, M, L silicon tips and a pair of M Comply tips. 
 
Despite the accessories list claims to the contrary, there was no fabric pouch or shirt clip in the box. Odd...
 
 

BUILD & ERGONOMICS

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In the photo collage above, you can see Raisel's teardrop-shaped metal earpieces, mic / remote unit, y-splitter, 3.5mm L-plug, and bits and pieces of the cable.
 
Some thoughts on the design and build quality:
  1. The metal earpieces are quite solid but aren't the most ergonomic. I struggle to acheive a secure fit with silicon tips. Using Comply solves this. This holds true when wearing down or up.
  2. The vent holes are directly adjacent to the strain reliefs. Isolation is okay but not great. If worn down, wind noise isn't an issue. Worn up, the vent holes are quite exposed and Rasiel are more susceptible to wind noise.
  3. The mic / remote module is a simple and functional one button unit. I rarely listen out of my phone, so this isn't something I'd use anyway.
  4. The y-splitter separates the upper non-braided cables from the braided cable below. Unfortunately, there's no cinch.
  5. The 3.5mm jack is a smartphone-friendly L-Plug.
  6. The cable feels solid and isn't prone to microphonic or tangling.
  7. All branding is TGD and not T-PEOS.
 
 
Here's how they'll look, assuming your ears are similar to mine...
 
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SOUND

The basic sound signature of Rasiel is v-shaped, with strong, ponderous bass and elevated upper mids / lower treble. Beyond the sheer abundance, bass speed is ponderous and bass texture is flat. Lower mids suffer from bass bleed. The slow, elevated bass and lower mids lead to a wooly sound. The midrange proper is sucked out. Vocals aren't going to pop here. Upper mids / lower treble are emphasized, so you'll still be able to hear those high notes and cymbals over the copious bass. Not exactly what I go for in an IEM. Definitely more of a consumer-friendly sound.
 
So what to do? EQ...
 
Shelf down the bass, drop the lower mids a bit, and bring up the mids proper a bit. That sounds better, but now the upper mids / lower treble are a bit out of balance. Drop those down a touch, and we've got a relatively balanced sound signature. While its definitely better, I'm not blown away. The bass is still slower than I'd like and lacks texture. Oh well, at least the mids aren't sucked out anymore.
 
I'm not going to go into a deep dive comparing with other IEM I have in this price range. Suffice it to say that I recently received a few other budget-friendly IEM from Alpha & Delta, Rhapsodio, and Vsonic and find myself reaching for the others over Rasiel.
 
 
 

SUMMARY

I went into this review process hoping that T-PEOS would surprise me with a more balanced budget-friendly IEM. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Instead, I found a well-built IEM that didn't fit me well sonically or ergonomically. Looking over other reviews, I'd say I wasn't alone in my thoughts on the overall sound but do seem to be an edge case when it comes to fit since others were able to achieve a good fit with less work than I did. I'd love to be able to recommend Rasiel for a sports IEM because the sound signature seems made for that, however the heavy metal shells and so-so isolation make that a hard recommendation for me to make. In the end, I'd recommend these for those looking for a consumer-friendly sound, durability, and a bit of flash. Unfortunately, that leaves out a lot of the Head-Fi crowd. Oh well, here's hoping T-PEOS takes the critical commentary and suggestions seriously and gives us more IEM like the instant classic Altone 200. C'mon T-PEOS, we know you can do it! 
 
Thanks again to T-PEOS for providing me with a review sample.

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