TRI Audio i4

TRI I4 Review

Disclosure
I believe it is my duty to disclose to readers whether the item I am reviewing is bought, loaned or given to me to review. Where I say nothing relating to whether or not the item is a review unit, it is because I paid for the item which I am reviewing.
In the case of the I4, I was given a review unit (at a nominal price) by TRI on the understanding that I would be free to give my honest opinion of the I4.

All opinions are my own with no influence as I avoid reading other reviews of the same item before I have written my review. I make an effort to ensure that I give the reader factual information.

Intro
The TRI I4 is the first In Ear Monitor (IEM) made under the brand name, TRI, a sub-brand of the KBEAR brand. The later models are the TRI I3, the TRI Starlight and the TRI Starsea.

As with all TRI IEMs, thus far, the I4 is a hybrid, a two-driver hybrid to be precise with one Knowles Balanced Armature (BA) driver and a Composite Dynamic Driver (DD). The price is currently hovering at the 70 USD mark.

Form, Fit and Function
The TI I4 comes with a black two strand cable which has angled MMCX on one end and on the other end the I4 cable has an angled 3.5 singled ended plug. They also come with a velvety pouch, and a selection of tips. There are two colour variants for the heart-shaped outer aluminium casing of the IEM, a mid metallic blue and a bronze/brown colour, which was my choice. The casing is small in size, feels, they come with two pin-hole vents and a TRI logo which appears to have been laid on the shells. They sound marble-like just as the TRI I3s do when the ear pieces hit each other, I love the sound of marbles, but I try to avoid my precious IEMs getting damaged in any way I can, so it is a rare event. They are much smaller than the I3s with the size more olive-like than “ear potatoes” size but the similarity in feel between the I4 and the I3 is clearly noticeable but the similarities are not limited to look and feel.

For me, and I would imagine for most, the small shells fit incredibly well with the effect that the isolation is good. Despite one vent being placed directly underneath (when fitted) each ear piece, I heard very little sound intrusion either with my music playing, I heard a bit of sound from outside with the sound off but it is quite good, probably cutting out 70% to 75% of external sound, obviously much more with music playing. I cannot comment on how they fare in the wind.

My setup for this review
I paired them with Samsung galaxy note 10 plus and Fiio M11, as my source, and for amplification variably, a Samsung dongle, Fiio BTR5 and the Littlebear B4X "pseudo tube" dac/amp, mostly balanced 2.5mm on high gain. I also used the Fiio music player app, but primarily the PowerAmp v.3 music player app plus YouTube music app, Amazon, Idagio (for classical music) and Soundcloud streaming app.

My test variation from stock
I initially used the stock cable and tips but I felt I could get more out of the TRI I4, so I opted to use the cable from the Tin Audio, T2 plus and the Misodiko silicone sheathed foam tips. My view is that if TRI had introduced the I4 today, they would not have chosen the stock cable.

I have to say at this point that I3s are so very easy to drive, and although as stated above, I did some cable and tip rolling, I did not feel the need to listen at high volume.

The sound
In short if you do not want to read the whole review: The I4s are very good baby I3s, with an analogue like the I3s. Unlike the I3s the I4s have tube-like sound. Quite detailed in highs, mids and bass. The similarity in the analogue sound signature between the I4s and the I3s is noticeable, especially in that mature bass, so well implemented. The differences are that the I4 laced across all frequencies with a “sprightly tone”, which sounds similar to the distortion (but not discordant distortion) a tube amp adds to music. These are clearly unique despite their similarity with the I3s. Another stand out feature for me is the imaging and stage at this price.

Bass
To understand the tuning of the bass, think of the bass of I3s laced with a fizzy tube sound. In essence for me the I4s bass is big bass, rich and full, done right. The mid-bass tuning is measured with a healthy dose of sub-bass without loss of detail. For me even though the bass is fast, it does not have the feel of fast bass which sounds thin and lack the fullness or body you would want, for example, in a good orchestral piece or other instrumental rendition. When I first heard the I4s I immediately recognised the pedigree the I3s inherited. This is rich, mature bass, that hits hard when required to but does not seek to knock you over with every not….just mature! Unlike the Starlights and Starseas, the bass bias is unapologetically obvious and ever-present, this makes them a fun set.

Henrik Freischlader - I Loved Another Woman:

Listening to this track shows the dynamic range of these IEMs. Whilst you get a good and powerful bass impact, it is just so well rounded bass, so that you do not feel assaulted. These IEMs give you such a good dynamic range, that you hear as much detail in the bass at the same time you hear details in the triangle and the guitar high notes, all at the same time and distinctly audible.

You also get great stage and imaging, and instrument separation which puts these IEMs way beyond their price range.

Kyama - Long After You Are Gone:

Mids
The BA delivers mid treble beautifully, although not forward, you get a good amount of the emphasis to enjoy vocals, guitars, piano and saxophones with feeling you have to alter the volume or even use the equaliser to alter any track due to recessed mids. Yes, in comparison to the I3s, the mids are not as lush, but the BA mids in the I4s stand proudly on their own and give me plenty of joy.

Nicolas Cole - Snap:

The track starts with a smooth piece which is effectively the refrain. Your ears are then massaged by a saxophone gently coming all calmly underpinned by a steady and drum rhythm and sprinkling of high hats , cymbals and other percussive instruments. The I4s bubbly spriteliness just handles this track so beautifully, as it does many tracks.

Earl Klugh - Calypso Getaway:

Ed Sheeran - Andrea Bocelli - Perfect Symphony:

High Treble
You would have thought like its sibling, the I3s, the I4s would hold back on the highs but although, not focused on the highs, it does not hold anything back. Of course the tuning does not go as far as to make these V shaped. This is definitely U-shaped and gives you such clarity, nothing at all is lost. What sets these apart is the I4s keep that bubbly laced tones right through the frequencies, so you get a certain additional sparkle at the top

Tim Bowman - Soul Dreams:

This track gives us a further example of the dynamic range of the I4s. This track holds a steady bass rhythm as its backbone, and then the instruments are a huge range giving you a great sensation. The I4s again take the full range in their stride and the highs are so fulfilling, not too high yet missing nothing at all. Good pop and fizz, crackle and tingle.

Frederic Chopin - Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No.2:

Conclusion
The I4s do not have the planar mids of the I3s, nor do they have the ESTs the Starlights have or the new TRI BA found in the Starseas. Nonetheless, do not let the £50 or $68 price fol you. The tuning is so well done, that you hear details in the treble that go well beyond the price range, while delivering mature bass, full and detailed. The dynamics are superb and so is the stage, as one headfier said, it is almost holographic. All the time infusing the fizz of a tube amplifier in your ears.

Another fellow headfier said to me, he can imagine, “a little old man” sitting somewhere in the TRI offices, carefully poring and pondering over every detail of the tuning of TRI IEMs. Apologies, if you are that person (the tuner of TRI IEMs) and you are neither male nor old. This just denotes an experienced, patient and efficient person doing a job with dedication. I am sure for the headfier (who said that) made his statement as an indication of our appreciation of your work. To come up with four superbly tuned IEMs, each with distinction in what they do, yet uniquely differ from each other, is remarkable and worthy of praise indeed.

Enjoy your music!

Links
AliExpress:
￡51.77 21%OFF | TRI I4 1BA+1DD Hybrid in Ear Earphone Running Sport Technology HIFI earplug with 3.5mm MMCX Earbud
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtaqpTJ

Also available on Amazon.

Tri i4 Review ❤

Knowles ba shines, Bio composite dd is a step up from other dd

V-shaped signature with thick bass, good clarity and a treble sparkle

Bass extends deep with good slam and medium texture

Soundstage has good depth and height

Smooth midrange slightly lacking body

with good imaging and bright detailed treble

Sub bass goes way up with inner vent blocked by ear

Treble that just manages to avoid siblances or harshness

Awesome build quality and shell

Didn’t love the cable and preferred after market tips

Occ copper cable improves iem in a pleasant way

Recommend in this price range , better than the excellent kb04

Intro:

The Tri i4 is Tri audio's freshman effort into the audio scene, and boy are they trying to make a statement. From impressive accessories and build quality to official Knowles drivers, the company is really looking to go all out. This iem features a single Knowles BA driver, and a 10mm Biocellulose dynamic driver with an all metal shell and mmcx removable cable connectors.



Accessories:

First, let's talk about the accessories. Tri Audio features impressive packaging and accessories for its price tag. The box looks and feels much more premium than offerings from TRN and KZ, and includes a small suede-esque carrying pouch, two different sets of silicone tips (each with small, medium, and large sizings), and a pair of foam tips. Tri really made an effort to feel more upscale, and it definitely works. You wouldn't expect packaging like this for what you're paying.



Build Quality:

The good continues here with the build quality. The full metal housing for the iem makes it feel hefty and durable, but not so much that it causes any discomfort. I got my pair in blue, and it looks absolutely stunning in real life. The fit and finish on the shell is pretty much flawless on my pair, and you really get the sense that a lot of care was put into making these feel like they were premium.



Fit and Comfort:

For my ears, the fit and comfort was superb. I could get good insertion depth and though the iems feel hefty and quality, there was no apparent strain on my ears from my long listening sessions with it. Of course the fit is always subjective but I think Tri went with a very safe universal mold, and I believe it should fit most people's ears. I found that the isolation was pretty good, even in loud environments such as coffee shops.



Sound Quality:

Bass: The bass here is pretty well extended, clear and fast. It doesn't intrude into the midrange and doesn't overpower the rest of sound signature. However, I did find the bass to be a bit anemic so if you're a bass head, you should probably steer clear of this iem. I will say that the bass it does have is quality. While I would've liked more bass, it isn't a deal breaker and makes for a cleaner sound signature overall in my opinion.

Mids: I have my biggest gripe with the mids. They feel a little too recessed for my liking. Though the mid presence isn't to my liking, there is plenty of detail and clarity. I reckon most people won't have as big of an issue than I do with it though, and though more mid presence would've definitely tickled my fancy more, I don't find it to be too egregious as to ruin the whole musical experience that these iem's provide.

Highs: The highs are well extended with plenty of air and space. Again, the highs are clean and detailed. I'm starting to sound like a broken record but there's a common theme with these earphones. The overall imaging and soundstage of these iems are a little compressed and closed in, but it doesn't feel congested or too in your face. The image does seem farther away with a more holographic feel to it.

Overall: I would describe the sound signature as polite, clean, fast, and slightly V-shaped. Truly an interesting combination for an iem, especially for a company's first rodeo with in ears.

Conclusion:

If you're looking for a clean, fast, and more relaxed sound signature, the Tri i4 might be for you. With excellent accessories, build quality, and a unique sound signature not seen in most iems in this price range, the Tri i4 is definitely worth the price tag. It's a fantastic first effort from company Tri Audio. I will say that there is definitely room for improvement in tuning for the next offering from Tri Audio, though I like the direction the company is moving. This is definitely a company to keep your eyes on!