TRI Meteor

The Tri Meteor have been loaned to me as part of a European tour that has been organized by KBear. As with the TK-2 that I recently reviewed, I was not actually part of the tour but Cqtek, from Hiendportable.com, very kindly spoke with the organizers who allowed him to send the Meteor (and the TK-2) to me while they are here in Spain.

I am obviously very grateful to Cqtek and the organizers for this opportunity. They have not requested anything from me (I haven’t even had any contact with the organizers), therefore I will include the links that Cqtek included in his review (which, as usual, I have not yet read yet, except for the first paragraph to see the links) in the version published on my blog.

This means that I will do my best to be as honest and impartial as possible but you you should always consider the fact that it has not cost me anything to try out these IEMs.

Here you can find the review by Cqtek: https://hiendportable.com/tri-meteor-english-review/



Intro…

I have not tried a set of Tri IEMs before and I really didn’t know what to expect. Reading the first paragraph of Cqteks review, I found out that these are a hybrid set of IEMs, featuring a DD and a BA, and that the cable that came with them is actually the Grace-S cable. That is the limit of what I know about these IEMs going into the review.

Well, that and the price of them, after a quick search online, seeming to come in around 100 to 120€, with the cable costing almost the same.

I am glad that his review mentioned that it was and aftermarket cable, as I obviously didn’t get to open them, so I couldn’t know what was included. My first thought was “wow, this is the cable they include??”.

I also want to mention that I have only spent a week with both the TK-2 and the Meteor IEMs, it has also turned out to be quite a busy week, spending quite a bit of time with the TK-2, so I have not spent quite as much time with them as I would usually like to. I still got plenty of time to listen to them but haven’t really had much time to do any direct comparisons with other models or play around with more sources.

My review is based exclusively on using them with the Gryphon and the Go Blu. I didn’t even test them with the TK-2 as I didn’t feel that using a set of unknown IEMs with an unknown source would be the most productive use of time as far as creating a review.



Presentation…

As I said, I didn’t get to open these so I can’t vouch that everything included is actually what is included with a retail set, but I believe it is, with the addition of the Grace-S cable.

The IEMs were shipped to me inside a semi rigid case with the Tri logo, with the Grace-S cable attached. I think that this case (and obviously the cable) are the only things that are not included in the usual package, due to there being another case inside the actual box.

The box is rather large and the contents are fairly impressive for a set of 100€ IEMs. Inside the box there are 5 sets of coloured silicone tips, plus another 3 sets in a bag, a brown (faux) leather carrying case, a single ended cable, a microfiber cloth and a little brush for cleaning purposes.

I didn’t actually use anything that was inside the box (I stuck with the Grace-S cable and my own tips), but the contents are certainly enough to not have any complaints at this price.



Build and aesthetics…

Let's start with the cable. It’s a rather chunky one. It is good looking and uses good hardware, however, it is heavy and is on the thick side for my personal tastes. I like well built cables but I mentioned in the S12 review that the included (balanced) cable was a little big for me, this one is much bigger. Therefore, I have no complaints about the cable from a functional or build point of view, but it is not a cable I would choose personally.

The IEMs are quite a generic shape, reminding me of things like Thieaudio, although maybe a little bigger. I have no issues as far as comfort, although the nozzle is a little chunky, but the right tips (I ended up using the Crystal’s) help with a slightly deeper fit and while they are not the most comfortable IEMs I have ever worn, they are not bad and I can wear them for extended periods.

As far as build, they seem to be well built and don’t have any glaring issues that jump out at me. The aesthetics are also quite pleasant, with a black tinted, transparent shell, and a black faceplate sporting the logo in silver along with some silver swirls.

I can’t say there is anything that makes me very passionate about them, good or bad, so I have no complaints.



Sound…

The first thing that stood out to me about the Meteor is the smoothness of their sound. They have a warmish tone to them without actually sounding dark or too blunt, something that I do find with a lot of IEMs with a low end focus.

Before getting to the usual sound categories, let's take a quick look at the graph in comparison to my personal preference…



(all measurements of IEMs are available on [achoreviews.squig.link)

Now it’s not difficult to see that the low end is quite a bit above my usual preferences in this zone, all the way from the subbass up through the midbass. If I was to just look at the graph of these IEMs, I would probably immediately think “no thanks” and move on. However, even though the low end is boosted, it doesn’t come across as the center of attention and it is kept very clean and articulate.

The subbass extends low and with authority, giving “Chameleon” all the bass it needs, but it still sounds articulate. While the low end rumble is no doubt there, it doesn’t overpower the rest of the bass frequencies.

In fact, the remaining bass frequencies, in other words the midbass, is also rather boosted, but as with the subbass, it still manages to not take over the whole sound signature. The dynamic driver does a very good job of keeping things clean and coherent. Listening to “I Fink U Freaky”, expected the bottom end to take the rest of the frequencies hostage with such a bass boost but it is not the case. Even with “When the party’s over”, the parts where the bass comes in strong, Billie’s vocals are still clear in the mix.

Moving into the mids, I was surprised that they keep a clarity that I really didn’t expect. Now, clarity shouldn’t be confused with “detailed”, as I feel that the mids are not really that detailed, in fact, I feel that the whole sound is general is rather smooth, throughout the whole range.

Vocals have a smoothness to them that, while not as detailed as I enjoy from many other sets, make for a very pleasurable listen. From “I Concentrate on You” to “Strange Fruit”, female vocals have a nice warmth and body to them, without becoming dull. Male vocals are just as smooth, although listening to “Hallelujah” and “These Bones”, they did give me an impression of taking just a step backwards in comparison to female vocals, but still, they are very pleasurable.

The higher ranges continue with the smoothness, without any specific sharp peaks or even sibilance, proven by the usual “Code Cool” test. The extension is maybe not the greatest but I feel that the general sound signature also adds to the sensation of roll off in this regard.

As I mentioned a moment ago, details are not the strong point of the Meteor, they don’t present you with tiny nuances, especially with regards to background details, but that really doesn’t seem to be the vibe they are going for anyway.

Soundstage does seem to be on the higher side of average, not exactly huge but still more than the majority of IEMs, with image placement that is very well done. Maybe this gives a sensation of being better due to the fact that I am not searching for the placement of all the tiny details, just the larger images in general. “La Luna” is a very pleasurable experience with the Meteor.



Conclusion…

The Meteor are quite far from my preferred tuning for a set of IEMs, yet they are a very pleasurable set of IEMs. I found that I was very happy to listen to a lot of my preferred music genres while doing other things, they didn’t make me focus on the music and dissect it, they made me enjoy listening to music as I went about my day to day.

They actually remind me quite a bit of a set of Sony speakers that I have had for a long time and have given me many hours of joy (although they have not been out of storage for quite some time now). They are not something I turn to when I want to “experience” the music, they are miles behind other speakers that I use, but they are something that always brings a smile to my face when they just fill the room with great BGM.

The Meteor have left me with a similar sensation, they are not a set of IEMs that I would usually turn to but I have not found myself not enjoying the music at any time while using them.

As always, this review is also available in Spanish both on www.achoreviews.com and on www.youtube.com/achoreviews

Introduction

As I mentioned in my previous article about the TRI TK-2, the following review is the result of a European Tour, organised by Wendy Li from KBEAR (Thank you very much!). This time the products to be reviewed are the TRI Meteor IEMS and the TRI Grace-S cable, in its 4.4mm balanced version. The Meteor is a hybrid IEM consisting of a 10mm dynamic driver with beryllium-plated diaphragm and a Knowles ED-29689 BA driver. The Grace-S cable has two strands of 6 silver-plated monocrystalline copper cores and 4 pure silver-plated copper cores. In total they form 630 wires. There is not much more to say in this introduction, so let's move on to my opinion of the set.



Specifications

• Driver Type: 1 x 10mm dynamic driver with beryllium-plated diaphragm and 1 x Knowles ED-29689 BA driver.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 105 ± 3dB SPL/mw.
• Impedance: 12 ± 2Ω
• Jack Connector: 3.5mm SE
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm
• Cable length: 1.2m
• Cartridge material: Egger resin.
• Cable Material: 5N OFC
• Weight per capsule: 4g.

Packaging

The TRI Meteor comes in a large silver-grey box. On its upper side is an X-pattern, on its upper left corner is the brand logo and on the lower left, the model name. Both inscriptions are printed in a striking silver ink. On the back are the specifications in several languages, including English. After opening the lid you can see the capsules and 5 pairs of silicone tips in various colours and sizes, all inside a dense black foam mould. Underneath is another level with more accessories, also placed in a mould. The summary of all the contents is as follows:

• The two TRI Meteor capsules.
• 5 pairs of coloured silicone tips in different sizes.
• 3 pairs of black silicone tips in 3 sizes.
• A brown leather carrying case.
• A mini cleaning brush.
• Instruction manual.
• Cleaning cloth.
• 5N OFC 3.5mm cable.

The box is really big for the product, oversized for its contents. Except for the size, there are few complaints about the accessories, maybe I miss some foam tips and maybe the cable is too simple for the level of the capsules.



Construction and Design

According to the specifications, the capsule is made of Egger resin, with a semi-custom shape, a translucent inner body and an outer face with a flowing silver glitter pattern on a black base. The TRI logo also stands out on this side in silver. The 2Pin 0.78mm connection plate is embedded in the edge. Next to it there are two holes, one of which has a gold-plated metal tube. The inner side has the classic shape with a protrusion on the rim, for a better fit to our ear morphology. The mouthpiece is also custom shaped, and has two internal channels leading to each driver. Inside, apart from the drivers, you can see a printed circuit board with connections and some components.
The cable is simple, 4 black strands wound in a fairly standard design.
The capsules have a beautiful design and a splendid finish. The flowing silver pattern enhances the beauty and gives it a superior premium touch. The cable is not up to the mark in this respect and the whole is a bit lame. It is clear that the Grace-S cable is the perfect match for this product.
The Grace-S cable has two silver strands wound together. The connector is 4.4mm balanced and its sleeve is cylindrical with two distinct halves, one with a carbon pattern and one smooth, bluish-grey in colour. The splitter piece has a conical/beveled shape and is metallic, as is the pin, which is a rectangular piece with two holes through which the cable passes. Because these holes are larger than the cable, the cable adjustment function is in between. The sleeve of the 2Pin 0.78mm connectors is made of the same material and colour as the other half of the metal connector. The over-ear shape is achieved with a semi-rigid transparent plastic sleeve. The cable is thick, has a relative memory effect, a weight increased by its metallic parts, which together stretch the capsules once in place.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

The fit is the usual in this type of capsules, it fits very well and it adapts perfectly to my ears. The insertion is superficial, perhaps it could be medium in some morphology, but the width of the channel could avoid this fact. The Grace-S cable is a bit stiff, especially in its over-ear arch and limits the remarkable comfort of the capsules and their low weight.



Sound

Profile

When I tested the TRI Meteors connected to the TRI TK-2 I experienced a slightly more extreme U-profile, much more attractive and powerful than I first thought. After measuring the frequency response, I realised that the graph did not correspond to what I was hearing. As I noted in the TK-2 review, this DAC/AMP modifies the Meteor's frequency response in a way that amplifies the bass, mid-high and treble, making the profile a more fun and extreme U-profile. Everything becomes more balanced by using sources with an impedance closer to 1Ω.
With the intention of discussing the most common version of the Meteors, I will describe their sound using low impedance sources. Also, because their sound is more technical and with a more controlled bass.



Bass

The low end demonstrated by the Meteors connected to the TK-2 is plentiful and noticeable. But somewhat more uncontrolled and rubbery. Using a more neutral source, control returns to the bass. I also feel that the Grace-S cable offers a more technical, accurate and open performance in this area. The zone, focused on the sub-bass, is deep, physically throbbing, sensory, but does not lose its good virtue of punch and weighty feel on every hit. Its texture is pleasant, detailed, with a roughness that is not too accentuated, but perceptible and absorbent. The increased level of cleanliness in the area is also attributable to the wire. The definition and resolution of the whole is high and the bass is quite precise, concise, relatively fast and tight, with good recovery and a short, controlled decay. The mid-bass appears without fear, its extension is careful and respectful of the mids, allowing a transition without intrusion, thanks to the focused tuning at the lower audible end.



Mids

Again, I think the Grace-S cable marries very well with the Meteors, adding technical virtues to the midrange. Without being a technical/analytical set, the Meteors offer a sense of cleanliness and clarity in this range, but without losing musicality, or a sense of openness. It's not a blatantly wide sound, but there is a level of separation to allow the mids to breathe and a good level of transparency and definition in their detail.
The male vocals are somewhere between a fleshier, fuller presentation and a leaner one. On first impression they seem fuller and more exuberant, but their level does not match the sensation of the lower zone. As such, they remain at a more undefined, neutral distance, slightly soft, of equal texture and without very pronounced nuances. In short, they are clean and complacent. The female voices come closer to the listener and receive a slightly more emphasised treatment, not only in presence, but also in other aspects. In this way, they no longer feel so thin, but neither are they the protagonists in the overall sound.
The instrumentation persists in the same idea: if the fundamental is part of the first half, its response will be similar to the male voices. If it belongs to the second half, its prominence will be higher, thanks to the relative elevation of the bell gain. Yes, the high-mids have emphasis, but it is not a polarised tuning in this sense. There is a good conjunction and balance, which avoids the details or nuances being more prominent than the main parts. As a consequence, the mids have sparkle and liveliness, but without losing smoothness and harmony. The central range shines without being particularly prominent and, finally, it is more resolute, defined and clear, rather than full or superior.
The tuning is pleasant and musical, I am easily inclined towards this tuning, I like the tone and timbre of their sound. I even compare these IEMS with the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk and I prefer the tuning of the Meteor, because it is more in line with my preferences, although without going into other technical comparisons between the two.



Treble

The treble response has a curve that also suits my taste, at least up to 10kHz. They do not have a high emphasis, but neither do they fall too much into a control zone, which makes them decay too much. Thus, there is a good compromise between presence, extension and naturalness. Nothing seems forced in the upper zone, nor unnatural. The development is just right, with a full flare, without building up an exaggerated or exasperating brightness. The top notes have a dynamic vivacity and just the right amount of bite. Their sparkle is measured, palpable, but pleasant. The decay is not excessive so as not to be cutting, thus respecting the naturalness of the final result. The limitation appears in the upper half. The extension of the BA is not so high and is somewhat cut off in the air area. As a consequence, you lose the echo of the final flares and a cleaner feeling in the treble, as well as a higher precision and resolution, which affects the finest details and smallest nuances. Despite this, the high end is musical and free from annoying sibilance, making it very musical, effective and suitable for long listening, without having to do without a good level of detail. In this respect, the Grace-S cable and the selection of a matching source improve the performance of this range. The pairing with the new Earmen Colibri is appropriate for increasing the perception of cleanliness and resolution. While the connection with the S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII + iFi ZEN CAN combo offers a more natural, pleasant sound without losing transparency or nuances.



Soundstage, Separation

I still think that much of my opinion of the TRI Meteor in this section is augmented by the use of the Grace-S cable. The Grace-S cable itself costs about the same as the IEMS, so the whole thing plays in a higher league. And, while I'm sceptical about the use of these accessories, I have to say that I find the staging or separation of the set to be significantly greater than with the standard cable. The notes have a greater weight, and are fixed in the image in a more perennial way, something that gives it more personality, as well as more marked nuances. It is true that the micro detail is not at a high level, but in my test tracks to analyse this section, the Meteor+Grace-S come close to a set with a very good resolution. The separation is realistic, neither a gap between notes, nor absolute darkness, but there is a natural representation in these respects. The recreation of the scene has a remarkable width and good depth, with a somewhat lower height. The sense of envelopment is not as evident and the image appears more frontal than three-dimensional, with no sensation outside the head. As I say, the result is more pleasing than spectacular, but the music is stereo, so it is natural.



Conclusion

The TRI Meteors have a winning tuning, which easily suits my preferences. They have a powerful, sub-bass-focused bottom end, a soft, but well represented treble, not to mention a pleasant and musical midrange. The band integration improves the sound and the combination with the TRI Grace-S cable enhances the virtues and polishes some of the shortcomings. Perhaps the set is a bit expensive, although you can always buy a cable in time. But without a doubt, the IEMS has a high quality/sound/presentation/price ratio, which makes it an easy choice without the possibility of error.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• TRI TK-2.
• S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII + iFi ZEN CAN.
• Hidizs AP80 PRO-X.
• HiBy R3 Pro.
• Earmen Colibri.
• xDuoo Link2 BAL.
• Burson Audio Playmate.

Ratings

• Construction and Design: 89
• Adjustment/Ergonomics: 90
• Accessories: 90
• Bass: 88
• Mids: 80
• Treble: 85
• Separation: 85
• Soundstage: 83
• Quality/Price: 92

You can read the full review in Spanish here:

https://hiendportable.com/2022/05/01/tri-meteor-review/

[Full Disclaimer: KBEAR / TRI supplied the Meteor, TK-2, and Grace-S cable free of charge as part of their European Review Tour. I am under no obligation to provide a positive review. If anything in here is merde, I will call it out. Thanks to WendyLi for organizing this tour.]



I am a car guy at heart. I love them all. Classic American muscle cars. German cars. British cars. French cars. Japanese cars. Yes, Italian cars, of course. That new Chinese EV staged to compete with the Tesla looks pretty hot. So does newcomer Alpha Motor Corp with their retro ACE and SAGA lineup. But let's wind back to the 90's, a special period for hot hatches and 4 cylinder 2-door sports cars. Who doesn't like a 90's era Acura Integra, Nissan 240sx, old Honda CRX, or the bit newer Honda S2000?

That's how I'd describe the current state of ChiFi in the $50 and less category. KBEAR's own ST1 earbuds sound amazing for the lowly sum of about 10 bucks. Those little barrel shaped wonders are seriously good. KZ's rival sub-brand CCA has been trying for a scorched earth campaign, with its magnetostatic hybrid NRA serving as the opening salvo, and being supported now by the incredible single dynamic-driver CRA - both of these $25 and $15, respectively. I think that the CRA is the new Mazda Miata facing down high priced sports cars with turbo V6s and V8 engines.

Whether or not ChiFi offerings in the $75-125 range are worth their premium over these hopped up tuners is a serious chin-scratcher of a problem to both IEM collectors and single purchase IEM buyers looking to get the most sound quality for the least amount of money. Sales of Moondrop's $99 Starfield were instantly cannibalized by the $79 Aria, which, per countless reviews, has nearly identical sound quality and tuning for a sweet 20% discount.

In the same way you couldn't throw a stone without hitting a sport compact in the late 90s, it's safe to say that in the 2020's that audiophiles are spoiled for choice with a glut of very good IEM from $100-200. That glut is now competing against sets that are maybe 80-95% of the same sound quality for fractions of the price. These are golden years for the IEM market, much like 2011's peak was for DSLR camera sales with a breadth of models and accessories available to choose from in terms of tips, cables, and an endless supply of amplifiers with varying features and nearly identical sound quality. I fear the market's facing a contraction in late 2022 and 2023. Enjoy it while it lasts.

This glut of good-but-cheap, and great-and-still-cheap IEM is the sonic landscape prior to impact as TRI's Meteor silently flares through a darkened atmosphere, streaming in from outer space and leaving a dazzling trail of sparks and shimmers. But where has the Meteor flown over? Paris, City of Light, where millions of people might see them in all their grandeur, imaginations ignited, clamoring for more? Or have they flown over rural Brittany, where a few dairy cows and some kids noticed while trying to scramble back inside of their bedrooms after a midnight bike ride to places they shouldn't have been? Let's find out - but first, back to the cars.



I'm old enough to remember when Lexus launched it's first product, the LS 400 sedan. To highlight the impressive engineering and refinement that had gone into its development, Lexus made an impressive and expensive TV ad campaign that showed the car accelerating to 150 mph on a rolling road with a pyramid of full champagne glasses stacked on the hood. Despite full acceleration from a judicious smash on the go pedal, not a single glass lost its footing under the strain of the Lexus' mighty engine, potentially threatening that ominous layer of black paint. Lexus has held on to that same reputation since its 1989 introduction for exemplary engineering and, shall we say, restrained styling. Many automotive journalists panned and decried the looks of the LS 400, but Lexus buyers quickly warmed up to the new brand for it's Toyota reliability and Mercedes beating luxury interior, all delivered in an unassuming exterior package that didn't scream midlife crisis.

That's what these TRI Meteors are to the world of ChiFi right now. A nice Lexus. All of this talk on the news tonight is about Ukraine and the specter of World War III, unrest over vaccine mandates, and supply chain shortages that are not just holding up TVs, but impacting medicine, clothing, and food supplies. With so much pain in the world, it's not too much to ask for a small personal luxury - to indulge a real need to make time and room for mental well being to reflect on what's going on in the world, where we're at in it, and to give ourselves a little break. I can't take every little thing so seriously every waking minute of the day. Let's point the hood of this Trixus generally towards Paris and chase that sparkling trail in the sky, if only for the duration of a few tracks.



For starters I need a slow, deep groove. I want to hear the question in the music. Why. Why is this happening? The appropriately titled Transitions is an instrumental groove track from the Beastie Boys that quietly fades in with a whah-whah pedal on the guitar, like those news announcers on television, in a loop, all asking questions without answers, over and over.

Mashing down on the throttle, we're swiftly up to freeway speeds on a wet two-lane road on a gray rainy day. The seats are perfect. The cabin temperature is perfect. Flicks on the steering wheel directly inform a competent chassis that inspires confidence that I don't otherwise have in the rest of my day.

TRI's engineers had the idea to stuff two full range drivers into a single IEM. It's a curious choice but one that worked out well. They even carved out separately channeled sound tubes to beam straight into your earsouls, but left the main part of the shell open so it's not too heavy. Since the drivers are sealed into the sound tube, there is no excess weight and no penalty for the buildup of standing waves or odd harmonics before exiting the nozzle. The specifications indicate the presence of a cross-over and I suppose it's true because I don't hear the bottom end dynamic driver working as hard as it does in the hybrid CCA NRA, also a dual driver setup that gets most of it's sound from the dynamic, plus a treble spike from the MST unit. No, no, the Meteor is as smooth as silk, and the mids are just thick enough without stepping on the rest of the frequency curve but remain detailed, pleasant, and very well tuned.

I've had old school Etymotic in the past, and the Knowles 29689 needs little introduction and is a competent performer on its own, now serving duty in KBEARs well regarded Neon. But what about this 10mm beryllium dynamic? The opening plucks on the bass come in deep, textured, and warm. This engine has some pep. About 30 seconds into the track, a small errant noise from the percussionist is clearly audible from the snare and hi-hat, waiting to kick it down a gear and find some curves.

After setting the mood, the snare on this track cracks out like gunfire. Listen to that sweet double bass line, the drums, the insane guitar work. Just beautiful. The Knowles unit is crisp and detailed across the range with its usual neutral presentation. But that bass! The kick drum is bang on, the cymbals bright but not splashy, and nothing is out of place. After the crack of the drums comes a scream of distortion that opens up like a darkly paved highway - smooth, fast, and mysterious. I'm lucky to have the occasion to think for a minute. Thoughts are shutting down while the back beat clocks away, then opens up to reveal space for the toms and cymbal to dance around. The sound stage on the Meteor is very good. It's neither artificially wide nor is it too narrow, which I find most good IEMs to be roughly the same in this department relative to over-the-ear headphones, but the Meteor is perhaps a bit wider than average depending on the amplifier, and perfectly average on something like my FiiO BTR3K.

I don't really need gas, but lets pull over for an ocean view and a quick walk around our new ride.

When I saw the specifications on the Meteor I was afraid they'd be too mids centric and potentially a bit dark. Naturally, upon receiving them I immediately plugged in a balanced XHINS SPC wire and stole the wide bore/shallow tips that I use on my GK10 to open up the treble. And I wasn't at all disappointed. After getting a couple hours of first impressions I read the spoilers in the other reviews below, so I didn't bother testing the stock cable. The Meteors are a seductive presentation of Harman tuning and V shaped fans will need to retrain their hearing a bit. But it's for the better, I promise.

The shells have a premium feel and the face plates are tastefully executed in black resin with silver metallic swirls, and a chromed TRI triden logo seemingly floating beneath the clear acrylic. My only nitpick is the flush 2 pin connector, whose holes are easily mistaken for the two adjacent venting holes on first look. Like when you overfill the tank and gas runs down the side of a new car. Rookie mistake, but you can't help but wonder if the fuel input valve is working against you.
The tips aren't very deep and the fins on the interior of the shell prevent them from being pushed very far into the ear canal. My work around on other IEMs has been to use these large wide bore tips that require less depth to get a good seal, and this has worked fine. I suspect foam tips would work equally well but fear they'd cut too much of that sweet treble.

Pulling back onto the road, I decide to change the pace a bit - some of those worries now fading in the rear view mirror.



Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes are promising additions to the modern jazz scene with an unnatural command of the guitar and drum kit, respectively, each with enough natural talent that I hope will sustain a life long career. Yussef's mathematical use of the hi-hat, rim taps, and crisp bass kicks made me an instant fan when I first heard him on this same album last year. The bass is comes in full here, which led me to experiment with tips.

Swapping the wide bores for white KZ starlines nearly doubled the bass volume. Tuning went from neutral with a slight bit of air to warm with no air. The hi-hat was pushed back, and the bass overpowers the rest of the track. Mids? Listen out for the rim taps - almost no change. Tom's vocals still smooth on both pairs of tips. Nope, I gotta go back.... ahh that's better. Still a strong groove with plenty of detail and nice bottom end.

Pit Stop: Comparison to HZSOUND Heart Mirror with TRI's Grace-S cable

Ok, so the Meteor's have got some game. What about something a bit more bright-neutral, like the Heart Mirror? Eager to see if there was a difference between my inexpensive XINHS SPC 2.5mm balanced cable and the luxurious 2 core Grace-S, I plugged it into the Hearts, found the Pentacon input on the TK-2 and restarted the same track. Compared to the Meteors, the Heart's bass is under better control and is a bit crispier on the top end, but the details are about the same. Those same white KZ starline tips that cut the treble on the Meteor work in the Hearts favor to tame the top end and put back some warmth on the bass.

If the Meteor's are a Lexus, I'd describe the Heart Mirror as an early R32 Skyline GT-R. That factor prepped racing car from 1989 won 29 races over its first four racing seasons in the Japanese Touring Car Championship. But it's not exactly something you want to drive around every day. I feel the same about the Hearts. They're fast, purpose built, and very inexpensive as racing cars go. But there's no luxury in there. Every artifact and flaw on a recording shows up, just like hitting small stones on public roadways in a car built for the track. I love them for listening to classical music where their treble extension can be put to work. Back in the Lexus - ermm, I mean the Meteors - I'm coddled by leather seats and climate control, and I can comfortably slip back into a relaxed pose without any appreciable loss of detail.

Some tight curves are coming up. There's a steep drop past a thin guardrail but there's no one else around. The thrill of getting the back-end to break loose under acceleration before being caught again by the traction control is too good. A small straight opens up - lets find out what this engine and the brakes can do, even though this car is rolling heavy.

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This bottom end doesn't stop impressing me. It's full and gives the impression of being confronted by a wall of sound, but there's still enough texture there to reward more critical listening. The crunch of the main riff is guttural. Chris' vocals come howling in when I spot myself in a brief reflection off the side window while checking the mirrors, looking California and feeling Minnesota. Turning up the volume, the Meteors lay this track down heavy, and Kim Thayil's guitar phrasing is right there just off-center in the right channel, intertwining around the vocals, pushing the track forward between the chorus.

The dual driver thing just works for me. Single dynamic driver IEMs are like steering a powerful car on wet pavement. You can accelerate and decelerate, or you can steer - doing both is really over taxing what the tires are able to do. Trying to EQ a single dynamic doesn't bring much joy on strongly tuned phone because you run out of tire. Small adjustments here are there work, like on the Hearts. But they still sound a bit thin on the bass end even after warming them up. More drivers == wider tires and more grip, but this too comes with it's own trade-offs. For those IEMs stuffed with 4 or more drivers per side, tweaking around on the EQ has better results because there is more room in the crossovers and frequency response of each driver to absorb adjustments. The Meteors respond well to EQ, owing primarily to the quality of the Knowles unit. But they didn't need it. The dual driver setup sounds like a single driver but with better dynamics. I think this is the most coherent multi-driver IEM I've heard to date.

Briefly, about amplifiers. Along with the Meteor came the TK-2, which is an impressive amplifier at a good price. With my balanced cables, the Meteors allllmost have too much bass gain on the TK-2 for heavy rock and orchestra. It's right on the limit, and a swap to narrow bore tips or foams resulted in similar results to earlier reviews. My E1DA PowerDAC and BTR3K leaned them out just enough on the bottom end that I didn't experience any bloat, veiled treble, or congestion. Soundstage is widest with the TK-2, imaging is about the same between TK-2 and PowerDAC. These need some power to sound their best. Powered straight off my phone or laptop was good, smooth, and still very coherent as before but missing the deepest and highest frequencies. The more power there is, the better too is the bass quality.

As I'm getting older, I'm okay with not passing other cars at every opportunity. I don't need to race between stop lights or pretend roundabouts are a public skid-pad to measure G-forces. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy a nice drive in something with plenty of pep. I don't need affirmation from horsepower numbers, nor do I wish to tolerate unpleasantly hard and bolstered seats. Finding a little bit of luxury for $100 to kick back with is a great thing before we have to re-focus on these trying times.

Disclaimer:

• Keephifi sent over this unit to me in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that the following observations and findings will be away from bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Source/s Used:

• Hidizs AP80
• Zishan U1 USB DAC (AKM Variant)
• Not-By-VE Avani Realtek Dongle
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (WM1811 DAC)
• Non-HiFi smartphone (realme 5i)
• Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 4 days.

IEM and configuration: Stock medium eartips, stock cable, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume, both high and low gain.
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Sound signature:

• U-shaped sound signature that leans slightly on the warmer side. Deep lows, slightly recessed mids, slightly elevated highs.

Bass:

• Bass is elevated but in a controlled presentation. It is thumpy as you can slightly feel it below like a subwoofer, with a subbass dominance over midbass. Decay is average and slightly leans at the quicker side of decay. The texture is also average. Overall, the lows are thumpy, controlled, and can accommodate bassy tracks such as EDM, Rock, and Metal tracks.

Mids:

• The mids are recessed and relaxed for the most part, which has some midbass bleed presence that can make the voices sound veiled at times. This situation is lessened when paired with a fairly powerful source. Lower mids sounded slightly thin than what I expected, but not too thin like it is coming from a brighter pair of IEM despite having that midbass bleed. Upper mids are slightly elevated with average clarity and air, doing a good job avoiding any peaks or sibilance.

Treble:

• The treble is slightly elevated but not as elevated compared to the lows. It is presented in a smooth manner with average level of extension and air. Most of my co-hobbyists and I myself find that the treble on the meteor lacks a bit of air, but at the same time it will not offend those ears who are sensitive to brightness or elevated treble presence. Detail retrieval is just average and can accommodate most nuances on most tracks. As a result, the TRI Meteor offers a fatigue-free listening experience.

Soundstage, imaging, and separation:

• The soundstage is average with good levels of expansion. It is wide but slightly lacks depth on my tests. Separation is also average with some instances of congestion on very busy tracks. Imaging is accurate enough and can pinpoint voices and instruments fairly well. Overall, the technicalities are good enough, but may not be competitive enough for its asking price.

Pros:

• The “best” u-shaped sounding IEM under 100usd I have experienced so far (subjective)
• Fatigue-free, smooth sound
• Enticing packaging and presentation
• Very good set of accessories
• Thumpy, controlled lows
• Clear enough mids
• Fatigue free highs without any instances of being rolled off
• One of the best IEMs under 100usd that offers a great fit and isolation
• Scaled and benefits well from a fairly powerful source.

Cons:

• Packaging too big for an IEM, should've been a bit smaller and can still fit everything that is included inside (subjective)
• Veiled mids when not paired with a fairly powerful source
• Treble lacks air
• Technical performance is slightly below average for its asking price.

The TRI Meteor is an IEM that offers a smooth, non-fatiguing sound that will please most people. Not to mention that its fit is also excellent in terms of comfort and isolation. However, in the audiophile, or at least the Audio enthusiast perspective, this IEM is one of those IEMs that performs really well on its tonality but is a bit behind on the technicalities for its asking price. It isn't worse or anything, far from it actually. But it still needs some improvement on that aspect to be able to be rightfully justified for its price. The TRI Meteor will be one of my recommendations if you're looking for a fatigue-free sound with very good tonality but don't care too much about the technical performance side of things.


Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos:

The TK2, Meteor and GRACE-S were part of a European Tour and handed back to TRI at the end. I have no affiliation with TRI/KBEAR and am not obliged to be positive about their products.

Equipment used:
Oneplus 6 running Neutron Player
TRI TK2
TRI Meteor
Balanced cables:TRI 8w silver, KBEAR Through 4w SPC and GRACE-S hybrid SPC cables. I used my own selection of tips.

Music Artists:
Mike Lindup
Kylie Minogue
Perfume
Pogo
Todd Terje
Ministry of Sound
Level 42
Tame Impala
Childish Gambino
My Bloody Valentine
The Cardigans

-TRI METEOR REVIEW-

TONE: 8.2 / 10
TECHNICITIES: 7.8 / 10
CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN: 8.5 / 10
SOUND BENEFIT: 8/10


Today I'm going to review IEM Hybrid, the TRI Meteor.
These use a 10mm beryllium plated dynamic driver and Knowles 29689 balanced armature driver. The two are connected by acoustic tubes.

TRI is a Chinese audio company affiliated with Kbear, the parent company. With TRI, Kbear attempts to offer more sophisticated IEM models, at least using transducers and acoustic technologies more atypical than the Kbear line of products. Being a big fan of their TRI I3pro model, which uses a DD driver for the bass, a planar for the midrange and a balanced armature for the highs, I was very curious how the Meteors would sound… .especially that it is. new enough that TRI uses acoustic tubes to connect and properly separate (?) the rendering of audio spectra from their drivers. So, does this benefit their tone, their technicality, or both? Let's see in this review which is still without frills or frafra.

CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN
Thick, medical grade resin plastic shell that appears to be molded in one piece and very, very strong. End cap with two holes at the end. 2pin connection flush with the shell, so do not bend your cable this could result in a kink in the pins! The appearance is very pretty, the back plate having beautiful decorative patterns. Visually, they do not reflect their price. The cable included either, which is very good, 8-wire braided cable 5N OFC (copper). The accessories are generous, good silicone tips, a leather case, all this in a neat presentation. We are spoiled for $ 100!

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

(with audio source: TRI TK2 (excellent), XDUOO X20 + XDUOO XD05 + (very good), FIIO KA3 (also pleasant))

When I first listened to Meteor, I found the sound very inviting and carnal. I felt at home there or rather like around a fire with friends, it was warm and caring, it warmed my heart and body. Around a fire yes, but with big cushions everywhere for lazily lounging around, stretching out with your eyes closed and letting yourself be lulled by the comfort of its crackling and colorful warmth ...

It seemed to me that no one could find this tone distasteful, except listeners who are severely clinical in their appreciation of music.

TRI has not opted for highlighting the technicalities of the two types of transducers implemented, and this is what could disconcert some: the fact that the Meteors sound like an IEM with a single dynamic transducer and not a dynamic hybrid with balanced frame. In my opinion, this is a sign of successful tuning when it manages to make different types of drivers cohesive both in their sonic timbres and in their attack speeds. Because let's not forget, a balanced armature projects sounds faster and linearly, so to slow it down, you have to use damping filters without too much veiling its resolution and diffusing its amplitude impact.

The resulting tone is fleshy, organic, syrupy, with a fluffy veil that embraces the relief of its dynamic with balanced and generous curves. A signature between the U and the Harman target (balanced with rounded midrange), while balancing weight and the desire for organic cohesion.

The bass is heavy with an assertive roundness and an assertive stance, it's dense and vibrant, it fills the depths with opaque cottony air. But it doesn't have a realistic extension, it’s a slapstick guilty pleasure full of juice, it’s physical, playful, colorful. The texture is polished there, the double bass sounds out of tune, but we take to the game appreciated this warm and analog tone. Nothing is perfect with these basses, yet they charm me. Even their hug with the mediums is forgiven, it's about musical eroticism here, the caress of a cottony tone towards a satin tone. It makes you poet, as in an impressionist painting that conveys the sensations of a landscape with more truth than an HD photo.

The mids are full, put forward mostly in body and presence, nicely polished and rounded at the top of their spectrum so no 3khz sibilance, it's wadded, warm, and distilled between lows and highs. The attack is all in weight, without much resonance or clean air between the instruments. The male and female vocals are well rendered, without recoil, with fullness and natural timbre, very addicting and quite impressive if you take into account that they are managed by a balanced transducer!
Their presence does not have much breadth, nor a well-defined separation, it is organic throughout but lacks bite for a very precise and demarcated attack. The violin has more emphasis in the harmonic bass, giving it mellow body and tone but lacking in nuance, texture and range of impact. The electric guitar is more disastrous, diffuse and both shouty and tamed at the same time, if you add several at the same time it becomes big nonsense. For the piano, it goes well, due to the weight of the notes falling, but there is no resonance so there is no realism.

The treble, where are they? Have been looking for them! But yet… .from 3khz to 10khz they are present, only veiled, padded, gentle what. It seems that the peaks that could make the attack and the textures more energetic are all polished, the sibilance area has a dip, the bite area of electric guitar and violin too. Just a little boost extracting a minimal number of sparkling micro-details helps us find our way into that darkened resolution. Nevertheless, a fullness of tone is very pleasant, the snare drums have body, it is more round than sharp in the impact, with a nice heaviness. The problem with muted highs in the attack and edge is that it will make the articulation muffled in the dynamic articulation amplitude gradient, awkwardly mixing the contours of the different instruments, rock with a lot of electric guitars become a swamp that cannot be listened to. Yep, the versatility of the Meteors is concentrated in slow or uncomplicated musical compositions, don't try to listen to metal, jazz-rock or fast fusion, or even symphonic music like Alfred Schnittke, the dreamy Arvo Part or Erik Minimalist satie would be more appropriate!

TECHNICITIES

The soundstage is quite wide but lacks depth, it's more of a thick wall of sound, without much transparency. The separation of the instruments lacks air, silence, cleanliness and seems mushy and imprecise unless you have 3 instruments in the landscape: a kick, a vocal, a simplistic percussion. The attack is clumsy, the bass slow and inflexible. The swayed driver also seems reduced in speed and assertiveness in attack. Technically, the Meteor does not impress, it is tonally that it charms the listener.

COMPARISONS

VS FIIO JH3 (1DD + 2BA- $ 60)

The JH3s have a lot more emphasis on the highs, their bass is less meaty and round, the tone is drier with a thinner midrange tone. The Meteors are more organic in their cohesion, we do not feel this artificial heterogeneity of the JH3, the mids and highs are less screaming and sandy. On the other hand, the JH3 offers a higher resolution, a little more transparency, an attack with more bite allowing a more articulate rendering when there is a multitude of sounds and instruments in a composition. The Meteors are more immersive and less distant than the JH3 in spatial rendering, it goes towards us in bundle without knocking us out.
Although technically the JH3s may seem superior, the rendering is brutal, lacking in polish, peakless balance, so I conclude that overall the TRI Meteor are highly more enjoyable musically.

VS THIEAUDIO LEGACY 2 (1DD + 1BA Knowles-99 $)

Here is a very similar IEM Hybrid in the drivers, but not so much in the final rendering. The L2s are more neutral and analytical, bass flatter and drier, without much impact or density compared to the Meteor, but more textured. The cohesion is less liquid between the drivers and a small difference in timbre between the DD and BA annoys the informed listener. The midrange is noticeably thinner, clinical, and offers better transparency and resolution which is hardly noticeable musically. The highs are less slender, have a bit more air, but cut short in the extension. The whole has more roundness with the Meteors, a more natural tone and a more assertive and lively bass.
If you are looking for monitors, the Legacy 2 would be more suitable, but for a full, fun and musical tone the Meteors are more accessible.


CONCLUSION

I like these TRI METEOR, except when I start to fall into severely analytical listening where I literally hit their wall with opaque, juicy sound, and without aggressive roughness. Tone is very well balanced, like I said, these EMPs don't sound like hybrids but a big single dynamic transducer. The vocals are very round and pleasant, for both the tenor vocalist and the soprano singer, although the latter will lack a boost in her highs. This is good for preventing ear problems!
Despite limited technicalities in their performance, the Meteors are very good intras that will appeal to lovers of slow and bassy music, from jazz to soul, rap and r & b, their muffled, round sound and well densified in timbre is a treat of musicality. and a refreshing approach in the line of hybrid IEM often artificial or aggressive in their rendering.

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PS: I would like to thank TRI and KEEPHIFI for sending these earphones at the end of the critical test. As always, my critical independence is untouchable and stubborn in its integrity. I didn't get any money for this review, I don't have an official affiliate, and this review doesn't promote a product - it judges it harshly.

You can get the TRI Meteor for $ 99 usd (no postage) here:
https://keephifi.com/de/products/tri-meteor

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for more no gimmick honnest review as well as my best IEM ranking list, give a look to my audio blog here:
https://nobsaudiophile.com/

Tri Meteor

The hybrid game is in full swing. Hybrid IEMs are a dime a dozen but ultimately what matters is tuning for such IEMs. The Meteor uses a 2 way crossover design with a combination of a 10mm Beryllium plated dynamic and a Knowles ED-29689 full range BA for its sound, encased in a egger resin medium sized semi-custom universal shell finished in .78mm 2 pin connectors. The design is certainly nothing new, but the question is how well does the Meteor fare at the asking price?

Accessories include
A nice square brown colored clam shell case, two sets of silicones, the earphones themselves, a cleaning brush tool, a lint free cloth and a 5N OFC 8 cored copper cable in a black color motif.

Not too many all-back earphones with all back 8 cored cable so I give props to Tri for how they look.

Goth folks should take interest. If black is your color, these should be right up your alley. What is interesting about this package, while it is fairly standard for such IEMs the box the Meteor comes in is way too large for what was included. In fact, Tri could have included the entirety of the pack in a box 1/3rd the size. A minor complaint but with a box this big you figure you're getting a whole bunch of extras. As far as thrown in accessories you can’t expect much for your Ben Franklin and I would put the accessories level as standard and nothing that stands out.

As a cable aficionado and a bit of critique on included cables with earphones in general. The Meteor comes with a good looking 8 cored all back, certainly good enough 5N OFC copper cable in single ended. It is ok by industry standards, especially for a $100 earphone but I noticed right away the included cable does not enhance the sound of the Meteor on the same token does not really take away anything from the Meteor. You can certainly get a good idea of how the Meteor sounds but I noticed just about anything I tried aftermarket cable wise makes the Meteor sound better. This just means you will have to experiment with what you got to maximize the sonics on the Meteor.

I threw on the KBEAR version of the 8-core graphene cable and I could tell right away the stock cable was limiting what the Meteor can do. Stock cable makes the meteor sound a touch dull in comparison. KBEAR limpid pure silver cable makes another big difference in how the Meteor sounds. I will base my review on the included cable and will post what the upgraded cables do for the Meteor toward the bottom of the read.

Standarly disclaimers; the Tri meteors was provided by KB Ear for the purpose of a review. I would like to thank WendiLi of KB EAR for the review sample. You can purchase a Meteor for you on their aliexpress page here. The sample was burned in for a week straight and is now ready for evaluation using my IBasso DX300Max, Fiio M15, Shanling M6 pro, M5s, M3s, Ibasso DX160, Sony ZX300, Acmee MF02S, IBasso PB3 and IFI black label for amping.

Sound.
The Meteor is a harmon balanced tuning with a moderately enhanced bass emphasis. Folks that have heard a Tri earphone in the past should not be surprised with the tuning angle of the Meteor. Its balancing is exemplary of hybrid designs. For the most part it's a safe well-designed tuning and the advantage of a 10mm Beryllium plated dynamic is that the bass end will have some better definition and speed vs your standard dynamics. Also utilizing a full range Knowles ED 29689 for the bulk of the sonic production on the Meteor. The BA covers the mids to the upper trebles. While the sound here is well balanced and sounds complete, I can tell even without knowing it is using a single BA that the sound is being taxed a bit. Full range BAs that I have experienced have no issue with the mids bands and in fact is where it has the best articulation and sound performance, but the treble end is another story. They are supposed to be able to cover the upper registers just fine and when listening to your favorites casually, there is plenty of treble, but these full range BAs seem to struggle a touch covering the upper treble bands with greater extension. This being said, the Meteor for the most part throws out a satisfying well balanced sound production from bass to the trebles.

The trebles
Trebles here does not have much in the way of separation as it is driven from the same driver that does the mids. Overall due to the Meteor adhering to a basic harmon curve the trebles play safe. Has a good fundamental lower treble presence for its tuning. Lacks a bit of micro details and air, again this is to be expected from a full range BA. Treble however has decent extension and good presence but seems to have a drop off past 16khz. This limits the air perception of the Meteor treble ability. If you're not analyzing the sound, it does have a complete treble but here is where use of a 2nd BA just for trebles has an advantage over a full range BA that is taking care of two regions of sound. Treble plays more of a supporting role here and does not stand out with an undue spike or emphasis which is actually a good way to have cohesion of the regions not to mention sounding complete.

Its main emphasis is in the lower trebles with a gradual de-emphasis toward the upper trebles. Standard treble tuning here and not one to fatigue. If anything, the trebles come off just slightly reserved. You can’t expect a highly resolving treble from a full range single BA but for what it has, treble has good tonal character but one with a slightly shorter decay and a touch dry. Which makes some treble notes lacking in range in finesse. This is the reason why I would have liked Tri to use a more resolving SPC type or silver-based cable. Which would have helped to highlight the treble region a bit more in the way the sound is perceived. Overall trebles are good for what the driver here can do. It's satisfactory and is balanced well enough showing decent extension. It is not as nuanced and refined as higher end IEMs using dedicated BAs for the region but that is to be expected. I do equate the lack of upper treble ability to the driver being used here or more the limitation of what it can do more so that the excellent tuning on the Meteor. .

Mids
Mids is where the Meteor shines. It sounds just ever so slightly mid forward and that is certainly not a bad thing. It has roughly 10dbs of upper mid pinna gain which portrays good clarity and detail for the mid bands. Its tonal qualities are closer to neutral vs leaning bright or warm for tonality. Mids presents with a moderate note weight and is not a heavy sounding earphone. Its technicalities are average in stage, imaging, detail, sound separation with BA timbre. Overall, the mid bands have good clarity and are slightly on the smooth listen. The Meteor is not a thin sounding earphone but it's not thick or full-bodied sound either. Its presentation and technical limitations again here is about as good as you're going to get, given the drivers being used. It's got good fundamental balancing here and does nothing wrong but does not really excel here either. Kinda like a medium porridge of presence and ability. It does lack that final resolving and technical ability of higher end IEMs that utilize more drivers with more crossovers. However, for utilizing a single BA and a dynamic it has accurate tonality, images well and has all parts of the sound that makes the Meteor sound complete. The Meteor for an intro level enthusiast will be all that and then some. Or if you're just looking for a great sounding cheaper hybrid that has a proper tuning and ability. The Meteor fits the bill.

The Meteor has good layered detail showing the strengths of the BA implementation to hear your music as it was intended with a tonal quality that does nothing to offend. It is a solid sounding IEM and shows versatility due to its balancing, however it also does nothing to really separate itself from the numerous other harmon tuned IEMs in the market and other top tier earphones being sold at the price range. Ultimately, I do consider the Meteor one of the better options for hybrids at the price, so it will come down to if you're looking for a good isolating, good looking easy to drive hybrid vs an all BA or a single dynamic set.

The $100 segment has so many great performing earphones. I suppose doing a safe tuning is never a negative at the same time I would have liked to see Tri taking a stab at a statement piece for the $100. Something substantial that sets itself apart from other offerings. As they are, the Meteor is hovering in the greater segment for top earphones but is not exactly special for hybrids at the price. To be fair I don't know if there is such a thing as a special sounding hybrid at the price. The good news there is that you can certainly do much worse than the Meteor.

The Bass
Bass end of the Meteor uses a 10mm Beryllium coated dynamic driver that handles all the low notes. To be honest if Tri put in a standard dynamic and tuned it to be the bass dynamic for the Meteor I don’t know if I would have been able to tell the difference. The bass is certainly punchy and has good presence with decent speed, solid impact and good definition but does not stand out to me as being something special or has enough differences from a standard dynamic to really let me know I am hearing something different. Its bass is moderately emphasized and has good extension for bass with zero roll off toward sub 20hz. It does just enough for bass fans to be satisfied yet it does nothing that really lets me know I am hearing some standout bass. I suppose the limitation here again is the price segment and you can’t expect a super high-end dynamic being used for bass purposes.

The bass end is moderate in every way. Moderate decay as well is the presence and speed of the dynamic here. It's not particularly speedy but not slow and sloppy either. Sub bass shows good reach and rumble, it has good presence and has good texture for the price point. The cohesion between the bass dynamic and the full range BA here is actually done well. You can certainly make out that the Meteor has two types of drivers being used but I have heard worse cohesion from much higher end earphones. The dual crossover design here does a good job mixing the mids and highs to the bass. The bass keeps up with the tighter speedier BA sound for the most part and even for speedy more complex music the bass does a decent job at keeping its pace and rhythm. Bass is good here and I really don’t have much of a complaint for the bass dynamic. It has a well-defined bass end but at the same time I have heard better bass at this price range. Bass definition is what you would expect for a capable hybrid but much like the rest of the sound tuning and ability it does nothing to offend, or does it sound lacking in any way.

In the end
The Meteor is a solid offering at the price range. Its balancing is ideal in all 3 ranges to get into your music and in that regard, it is a success. The $100 range has so many really good sounding earphones that even great sounding earphones are now average and that is where I find the Meteor. It certainly does nothing wrong and plays it safe in its tuning. Given the drivers being used it does a great job of optimizing each driver to full potential but in doing so I can hear the limitations of what the Meteor can do at the same time. These will be great earphones for an introduction to proper sound for anyone dipping their toes into the hobby. It has good clarity and well-balanced fundamental technicalities for its sound signature, comfortable to use with decent passive isolation. The black color is edgy and certainly a good looking easy to use earphone. The Meteor really does a whole lot right and for that it is a solid offering and is arguably tuned better than earphones much more expensive. Thanks for taking the time to read. Happy listening always.

Bonuses. Cable matchups.
The best cable matchup for the Meter is none other than Tris own Grace S
So happens to be yet another TRi product and one that cost almost as much as the earphones themselves. Yes folks no way am I gonna recommend a cable that cost as much as the earphones themselves but hey if you are the type to eek out every bit of what you can out of an earphone that is what the Grace S will do for you. You want to raise the level of the Meteor? As the saying goes you gotta pay to play. In the scheme of things, the Tri grace S you can read my review on here.

With Grace S, bought here
Meteor gets better body to its sonics including some better dynamics compared to the stock cables. Fuller thicker notes and a natural expansion of stage in all dimensions. Throws out the best for both male and female vocals using this pairing. A grander sounding Meteor is what the Grace S does and while the Grace S does not enhance the treble region like a pure silver cable does, its overall clarity is also a standout using the Grace S and going from the stock cable to the Grace S is easily noticeable. Grace S also gives the Meteor its best bass ability. If you want the best bass performance and fullness the Grace S while it cost a lot is worth a boot. Preferably balanced out from your sources.

With KB EAR Wide Graphene cables. Bought here
This pairing is interesting. I initially thought this was the best paring as it does expand the sound and enhances its technical level but at the same time I will give the nod to the Grace S for a more fuller sound experience for the Meteor. The Graphene cable here does thicken sound as well but not to the degree of the Grace S. For folks that want the widest sounding Meteor the Graphene 8 cored wide cable is the way to go. Its treble end is once again not as highlighted as the pure 8 cored Limpid but does not smooth out the treble end either. It is a tossup between the grace S and the Graphene as far as technical enhancing ability goes with the Grace S throwing out a bit more fullness and has the best weighty sound while the graphene enhances the width of stage and highlights the details of the Meteor sound presentation. Good match especially when these cables are on sale.

Wtih KBEAR 8 core pure silver limpid pro cables. Bought here
Bang for buck cables are what these pure silver cables are about. If you want the best detailed Meteor possible these are the cables to hook up the Meteor with. This cable gets my vote for best value out of the KBEAR line up and for good reason. While staging is not a wide as the Graphene cable. It is similar to the Grace S. The limpid pro cable does not thicken the sound like the previous two cables does. The Limpid pro is all about detail retrieval. It helps project
Better perceived detail and helps with micro detailing of the Meteor. Enhances stage perception and highlights the treble emphasis and tightens the bass end a touch. Clean, clear and extended is what these cables are all about. If you plan on getting a Meteor just put in an order of these Limid cables with your Meteor and call it good. Great synergy with the Meteor especially if you own a more full bodied musical source, a pure silver cable like the Limpid pro synergizes extremely well with the Meteor and makes them sound a bit more higher end vs its stock configuration. Worth taking a look.

INTRODUCTION:



TRI has been around the audio community. And this is my first encounter with their products. I have not been giving attention to them till now, but I frequently see their logo, the crown-like or Poseidon trident looking logo in audio pages on Facebook. Their line-ups that I’ve heard are the TRI i3, i3 pro, starsea, starshine, and the TK2 dap that I have been wishing I have something premium like that.



And today, we are going to talk about the METEOR.



DISCLAIMER:



This unit was provided as a tour unit by Keephifi. A co-reviewer facilitated the tour. Thanks to Hurley Altoveros.



My opinions here are completely my own. I am NOT in any way influenced of any form of incentive. This is purely my honest, subjective impressions and experience with the gear on hand. I cannot stress more that you should take this as a grain of salt for we have different perception to sound and what we hear. I always try my best to stick with the stock accessories that comes with the gear by default. You are free to try other methods such as tip rolling or cable rolling. Below are worth noting before concluding on what I say here:

• DAP (digital audio player, be it phone, laptop, mobile, or stationary setup)
• DAC or dongle or any external amp
• Tips
• Cables
• Source of audio file be it offline FLACS or streaming service like Deezer, Apple music, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and the likes..

My reviews are more on how music sound on our ears. The technical stuff like frequency graphs and the physics behind the tech and drivers used, I leave to other reviewers.







SPECIFICATIONS:



Configuration: 1 x 10mm Berylium-plated DD + 1 x Knowles ED-29689 BA

Impedance: 12ohms

Sensitivity: 105db

Freq response: 20hz-40khz



PACKAGING:

Meteor comes with a rather medium-large box. Rich in thickness and to be honest, compared to what is inside, it is a waste of space. The packaging is quite nice. The layout and the way the contents are arrange is quite appealing. I appreciate the gesture to give a good unboxing experience. It’s just a bit bulky for me.



Once you slide the inner box and open the magnetic flip, the IEM greets you together with 5 pairs of silicon tips. The stiff ones. Again I will assume they are bass tips. Usually there are only 3 pairs of silicon tips but there are in-between sizes. They might be XS, S, M, ML, and L. the M sized tip was used for this review.



Below this first layer, you will find a lipstick-like box, on it written is Accessories and you will find a cleaning cloth, and another set of black ear tips. Softer ones which I will assume are wide bored and vocal tips.



Together with this lower layer is a very nice looking, brown leather pouch.



A cleaning brush/tool is also included together with a warranty paper work.

Inside the pouch you will find the cable. All black in color, very soft, loosely braided, configuration is 2-pin. The cable is very commendable. Cable is 8-core 5N oxygen free copper cable.



PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES:

Meteor is a decent looking IEM. Black in color, with some icy design. To be honest it doesn’t look like a meteor to me but it is really nice to look at. I have a co-reviewer who bought this just for the looks primarily. It is light in weight and I think the material is made of resin. It doesn’t have a metal nozzle. It has a vent hole near the 2-pin terminal. The base part is smoky translucent and you can have a peek of the tech inside. Again, I’m digging this smoky design which is becoming popular among IEMs.



Now unto its sound…





LOWS:



The lows are the star of the show here. It reminded me of the rich and lush bass of Seeaudio’s Bravery. Lows have a relaxed nature rather than punchy and thumpy. Bass heads might be fulfilled here depends on their threshold. Very impressive extension. Sub bass is very gratifying along with the mid bass. If I’m going to be nitpicky, I think the focus here is somewhere between sub bass and mid bass.



Conclusively, the lows are very commendable. Making this pair very enjoyable to listen to. Not bloated in any way, and minimal bleed to the mids.



MIDS:



The mids are well presented. At first I thought the mids are just right in the middle but as I listened on, mids are just a bit shy and recessed. As a mid-centric guy, Meteor didn’t disappoint on mids. It is just my personal preference that I like my mids forward. Mids still have the details and nuances but they are not the focus here. Vocals are quite nice here but I must compare it to Bravery which has a more engaging vocal presentation.



Conclusively, mids are still desirable even for mid-centrics. Guitars, pianos, percussions, toms, snares has good reproduction. It sits well somewhere in the middle to be heard and appreciated.



TREBLES:



Trebles is safe here but can use some air. A lot of micro details sits in the treble and a roll off is quite noticeable here. It did not bother me in any way though. In fact, trebles here makes Meteor non-fatiguing for long listening hours. I can’t help but compare this one to Bravery which has a better treble extension.



Occasionally I encounter a bit of sibilance, or just because I am treble sensitive. Hold the line by TOTO is one example that gave shouty cymbal strikes. I think it is safe to say that rock is not the best genre for Meteor. This is highly subjective which I will leave for you to judge.



Conclusively, trebles of Meteor have a tendency to be shouty in rock tracks. Yet this is very subjective. Some co-reviewers say that it is a character of a Knowles BA driver.





FIT & ISOLATION



I have no complains here in fitting, seal and isolation. Meteor is on par with some IEMs designed for musicians that I’ve tried. It offers exceptional fit and seal. Isolation is superb too. It blocks outside noise nicely thus very enjoyable to use even on loud environments.

SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:



Stage is average. Nothing worth noting yet nothing to complain. If I have to compare with Bravery, it is a bit wider.



Imaging on the other hand, is very acceptable. It pin points position of instruments quite nicely and accurate.





COMPARISONS:



Meteor has been compared to Bravery by some consumers and reviewers in the audio community. And I would like to contribute my thoughts on this. Let me present this in a bullet type layout. Please do note, this is purely my personal take.

• Lows are both great on Meteor and Bravery
• Bravery has more engaging vocals
• Mids are almost similar
• Bravery have better treble extension
• Bravery have better resolution
• Meteor have better fit and seal
• Meteor have a better practical asking price
• Bravery has premium inclusions (Azla tips, Hakugei cable)
• Meteor has a wider sound stage
• Both are tonality focused rather than being a technical set

SOURCES AND GEARS:

• LG V30 hifi dac (high impedance mode)
• Hiby Music player
• UAPP app (USB Audio Player Pro)
• Tidal Masters subscription
• And some offline FLACS

Here are some tracks I usually listen to when reviewing:



That’s the way of the World by EWF

Africa by TOTO

The Girl in the Other Room by Diana Kral

Balmorhea album All is wild, All is Silent

Sila by Sud

Smooth Escape by D’Sound

Never too Much by Luther Vandross

P.Y.T by Michael Jackson

Ain’t no Sunshine by Eva Cassidy

Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC

Another one bites the Dust by Queen

Good times bad times by Edie Brickell

Alice in Wonderland by Bill Evans

Ain’t it Fun by Paramore

Redefine by Incubus

Far Away by Nickelback

Lovesong by Adele

Lingus by Snarky Puppy

Harvest for the World by Vanessa Williams

Love Bites by Def Leppard

No Such Thing by John Mayer

As by Stevie Wonder

Whip Appeal by Babyface

Ain’t Nobody by Chaka Khan

Futures by Prep



And many more… I always listen to High resolution format, being the least quality 16bit/44khz FLACS be it offline or online.



VERDICT:



Meteor, is a very fun sounding set. But just for fun and music enjoyment. Its technicalities fall short for me. Don’t get me wrong, details are still very desirable on Meteor. I am being nitpicky now. Being a musician, I always look for the technical side of an IEM. A large part of my music listening is related to my profession so being technical comes with the territory.



In comparison with Bravery, Meteor really comes close. If Bravery is a bit pricey for you, the Meteor is a great alternative. But not a replacement. Heck, Bravery is out of my budget and I would pick Meteor for its asking price.



If you are looking for an enjoyable set, Meteor offers a practical price and for the tonality and tuning it offers, it is a strong recommendation from me. Rich lows, decent mids, and non-fatiguing trebles.



For technical purposes like mixing, studying vocal and instrument harmonies and the likes, Meteor falls a bit short. Nonetheless, Meteor has a strong potential in the ever-evolving sea of chi fi products coming out now. It had me convinced, that it is noteworthy.



Meteor seems appealing to your taste? Here are the purchase links:



https://keephifi.com/products/tri-meteor

Hello , I'm Ah Hui aka Mr Wong. I'm a K-pop fan and audiophile from Malaysia.

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Hillaudio MY lending me this review unit and giving me the opportunity to review the TRI Meteor
This is my first time reviewing a TRI product .I am very excited as I have always wanted to try out different brands that I have yet to try. it driver configuration is 1 beryllium plated composite diaphragm and 1 Knowles 29689 BA driver .
It's retails RM 499 from Hillaudio MY store US$109 from Kbear aliexpress .









accessories :











design IEM :


PACKAGING :
premium packaging .Inside consists of the IEM , accessories include a earphone pouch , operating manual and few eartips .

Comfort: Comfort is great. It fits securely in my ears and I dont feel any sort of fatigue after long hours .Isolation decent .

Design :
Beautiful faceplate design it's special for me .

PRO:
Smooth sounding , layered sub bass , sweet vocal present .

CONS:
Feel fatigue when listening long time session .need feed some power to scale .

BASS: sub bass layered ,mid-bass is punchy , I can feel the sub bass is layered present , mid-bass is punchy .

MIDS :
sweet vocal presentation When i listen to girls group songs .i feel the vocal of girls member is sweeter on the songs.I feel happy because I like the sweeter vocal present .However i feel fatigue when listen long hour .How about male vocal ? male vocal also crisp and good present without mid-bass bleeding .Tested with sabia angel .

HIGH : treble feels well extended without sibilant .you can hear the well-extended treble and without sibilant . Overall, I truly enjoyed the treble performance here .

SOUNDSTAGE : it is wide and deep , I can feel the sense of space and the wide soundstage .it's more space on background

IMAGING : i can pinpoint the instrument and the singer on stage .It has good stereo positioning. you can mention the singer on your right ears and the instrument between your left and right ears .

Details : detail retrieval here is about decent When I listen to some tracks, I can pick up on the micro-details .

overall I can recommend you if you like smooth harman-ish sounding earphone .BUT it's wants feed some power because the beryllium drive

Disclaimer : tested by TRI TK2 amp with L size eartips

interesting to buy ? (non-affiliate link )
shopee MY :
https://shopee.com.my/TRI-Meteor-Hy...diophile-In-ear-Monitor-i.6548893.10565115925

kbear official store :
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001030551238.html.

TRI Meteor Review - Does it enter the hybrid market with a bang?



Intro

TRI is no stranger to the audio community. They are also KBEAR’s sister brand. They’ve had several popular models namely the TRI L3 and also TRI Starsea. Meteor is a hybrid IEM which consists of a beryllium plated dynamic driver and a balanced armature.


Packaging

The unboxing experience is very good. The design looks premium in my opinion. Wide range of tips bundled. A solid carrying case. Pretty good unboxing experience so far. At least matching with the asking price.

Build and Comfort

Build quality of Meteor feels average, resin based, but the faceplate is very beautiful no doubt about it. The fit is good and i don’t have any sort of discomfort throughout my listening session.






Source

Foobar2k -> RHA DACAMP L1 Lineout Cayin C5 -> TRI Meteor
Apple’s Type C Dongle -> TRI Meteor
Tidal MQA -> Audirect Beam 3 Pro - Tri Meteor


Sound

Balanced sounding and fairly natural timbre to my ears. No signs of BA timbre to be heard here. Soundstage is a little narrow in my opinion. Slightly warm tonality and I wished for a little bit more on the top end region to give Meteor a little bit more energy and dynamism.



Bass

• Bass is very accurate and fast, very very good response to fast track.
• No bass bleed
• Good amount of thump and rumble, or rather accurate if i were to put it
• Not an IEM that a basshead should be looking at
• In my opinion, this is the right amount and quality bass that we’re getting
• This is not to say that the bass quantity is lacking at all
• Bass is tight and have a good texture to it

Mids

• I would say the mids are just okay, smooth but doesn’t stand out
• Vocal for both male and female has got a good texture to it. Doesn’t sound thin nor veiled
• Despite the mids doesn’t stand out, I do think that the bass and the mids kinda complement each other very well, in terms of the transitioning.

Treble

• Treble is smooth and non fatiguing
• Non sibilant
• Due to its smooth nature, there’s a slight roll off on the upper treble region
• Technicality is quite good for its price point
• Despite the roll off that i mentioned earlier, it is nowhere near dark, so no worries about that

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is rather intimate to me,slightly out of head but still small
• Imaging is very good as the instruments can be pinpointed easily
• Doesn’t get congested during busy track, layering is very good

Driveability

• Easy to drive and you will get acceptable volume level even off smartphone, but of course not to its best performance
• Benefit from better source/dac/amp
• -Amping does open up the sound more, more controlled bass and slightly better soundstage

Comparison (IKKO OH1s)

• I know it’s not fair to compare both of them due to the price point, however they both shares the same config, so i will share my experience on what are the pros and cons between them
• Detail and technicality wise, OH1s is on another different level, highly resolving and superb imaging and also very detailed
• Better suited for critical listening
• TRI Meteor is more suited towards a laid back and long listening session as OH1s can be a little fatiguing after some time due to it highly resolving nature (Personal preference of course)
• Bass response on the Meteor has got more texture and quantity, It is slightly lean on the OH1s or what we would refer to as audiophile’s bass.
• A very easy recommendation if you like highly resolving IEM (OH1s), if you prefer a more laid back approach (Meteor)

Final Thoughts

Well, based on my preference, it is very easy to like the Meteor due to its tuning.
Fairly detailed at this price point and also suitable for various genres of music, I'd say it's very versatile. The highs left me longing for more, if the highs are slightly boosted, I believe it will be a very very competitive model, not that it isn’t right now.

I personally think that the hybrid market is very competitive, if the price of Meteor can be slightly lowered, I believe it will pretty much trump the competition in terms of pricing.

*A big thanks to TRI for offering a discount for my unit in exchange for this review. However, I am free to express my thoughts and opinions and not restricted to any obligations.

If you guys are interested, head over to TRI’s store to grab this unit! There’s a Christmas sale happening currently in the store. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.
TRI’s Store

Preface：
I got this Meteor from @WendyLi ’ colleague who is in charge of domestic market, for some advice. But I would say that Meteor is already so good, and my advice turned to my review.

I am not a professional reviewer, at least not now, or at least not review IEMs in English. I have been writing reviews in Chinese for a while, maybe my review will not be as good as you guys used to read, but I will try my best. My words will be what exactly I want to express, concise and fair.

1.Unboxing

Gray box with a simple design. you can tell the name of the IEMs: Meteor.



Open it, you can see the same design as Starshine, with 5 pairs of kbear 07 eartips. By the looking of Meteor, I know Meteor belongs to Star series, all Stars are resin shell while i series are Metal.



There are two layers here, the inside one are case and Accessories. I mentioned the case when I was reviewing the i3 pri, I personally like the case very much. Good looking and useful.



That are all they peovide with Meteor, 8 pairs of tips could satisfy most users. A case and a cleaning cloth and a blush for cleaning, the cable is black OFC cable with a 3.5mm single end plug.

2. Configuration
Units: DD ＋ BA
Cable： OFC
Interface：2PIN 0.78mm
Plug: 3.5mm single
FR: 20~20khz

this is what I all know.



3. Sound
(My favorite part is the sound. In fact, for me, the most important part of a earphone is the sound and the price, the decisive factors in whether I buy it or not.)

Overall
balanced and neutral sound, clean and peaceful, with a little bit of moist. This kind of sound has never been heard in the previous TRI.

Soundstage
The soundstageis is not large, a little smaller than starsea, but in terms of my sense of hearing, I am a person who has no requirements for big soundstage, so I tentatively define it as a shortcoming, which is definitely not a pro.

Imaging
The positions of imaging have been well adjusted, so Meteor handle most songs easily. The density of imaging is just right what I want, perfect. Better than starsea. I will explian the reason later.

Timbre
If you have read my review before, you may know that the timbre is the first thing I will pay attention to. Because as long as you choose the units and the shell, then something will never change, not matter what kind of the taste it will be, the timbre will not change.

I like the way how Meteor deal with two kind of units. The DD and BA have something different, but they just fit each other so well, better than i3 pro IMO. To be honest, I think the highs is not perfect, as long as you tried i3 pro, you may find what I said.

But Meteor has done a wonderful job, as we all know, beryllium - plated DD always has a neutral timbre, with a high speed. The speed make the lows a little cold and tight like BA, then DD provide a few sub-bass with a little moist, the sub-bass is the soul of the sound, if there is not enough sub-bass, then the sound will be dry. As for the timbre of ED 29689, no need to say, too familiar. As long as you recall.

Lows
Just the right amount to me, but not enough to most people. A high responding speed and a good cohesion, Meteor control its lows well from bleeding, and if you accept the DD, you maybe find the amount maybe not enough, but so right.

Meteor is not selling at lows, but the lows will not bring a bad experience to you, that is so called right amount IMO. The lows has a very good texture and a sense of precision in some way.

Mids
To be honest, I don’t talk too much about the mids. It is so typical ED 29689. Neutral timbre, right position, good resolution and a good sense of density. The mids and the bass fit well as I have said before. And the bass add a little taste to the mids.

Highs
ED-29689 is not that good at highs as its mids, so the highs will not attract you at the first time, actually Meteor is lack of the sense of highs or the amount of highs.

Why the sense of highs? Because the mids. Luckily the BA is a good one, they are linear and smooth, not moist but not dry.

Analysis
Just a casual talk, about the sound and why I like it.

ED 29689 is so common that most of us know how it sound, The BA really has so many advantages, such as the timbre and mids. But just a single BA for mids and highs, the soundstage can’t be big and the imaging will not be as thick as expected.

Then a DD for bass, so the matching problem is the biggest problem, the better they fit, the more technical Meteor will be. So they turned to the beryllium-plated DD with a wonderful performance, we all know beryllium, actually pure-beryllium IEMs are all not tasty or moist in some way, not like Utopia. So beryllium-plated DD is the perfect.

Judging from the sound, some one may say why no more bass here. Come on, more bass means less sense of highs. So they limited the bass, from bleeding.

Luckily, because the limit of bass, the bass has a little sense of precision, with a little sense of moist. And the sense of precision and moist is the key why I like Meteor.



4. More
I don’t have any problem wearing most of the IEMs, so I am very comfortable when I wear Meteor. One thing I have to say is the driver flex. Meteor does not have driver flex. Starsea has such problems. TRI is really solving the problem.

The texture of Meteor is also very good. The workmanship is excellent, the cover is decorated with silver foil, and the starlight is decorated with gold foil. Moreover, the appearance and volume of Meteor are the best in the star series in my eyes.

However, Meteor also has disadvantages, that is, the texture of cable is not as good as starsea, maybe because the cost of cable. In theory, at the same cost, you can have a better-looking cable. This cable may be for sound, because with the original line, the Meteor is already good enough.

5. Conclusion
At last, Let’s talk about TRI. In fact, after Meteor came out, my favorite TRI product is Meteor. I think this sound is very healthy. This is why I review it. If I don’t Like, I don’t have to review it. Among all the previous products of TRI, my favorite is i4. Although I have starlight, this is the truth. What I like is the sound, not the price.

As for whether Meteor is worth buying or not, I am actually very conservative. From an objective point of view, it is very good in many ways.

In another word, TRI wants to release a good IEMs with a reasonable price and good sales, They have to be as excellent as they used to be, or more excellent than they used to be.