TRN H1

INTRODUCTION/DISCLAIMER:

The TRN H1 is an in-ear monitor with a single 6mm graphene-diaphragm dynamic driver that retails between $7-12 at the time of this review. I purchased the H1 from the Nicehck Audio Store on AliExpress for $1 with the expectation of a fair and objective review.

SOURCES

I have used the TRN H1 with the following sources:

Hidizs AP60II > TRN H1

Windows 10 PC > JDS Labs The Element > TRN H1

Windows 10 PC > Hidizs AP60II > TRN H1

Pixel 3 > Fiio BTR1K > TRN H1

Pixel 3 > Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle > TRN H1

I have tested these headphones with local FLAC, Spotify Premium, and Youtube Music.

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The TRN H1 comes in a small square white box. The box has the TRN logo on the front and gives the manufacturer’s contact information on the back. Inside the box are the IEMs, 3 sets of oblong silicone eartips (S, M, L), a user manual, a QC pass chit, and a warranty card. The H1 does not come with a carry bag or case.

BUILD QUALITY / DESIGN

The TRN H1 has a saucer-shaped two-tone black housing with very short nozzles. The inner section is glossy black plastic, and the outer section is matte black metal. There is no branding on the IEM housings, but “L” and “R” are inlaid above the cable entry points. Each earpiece has a rectangular vent on the curved outer lip of the inner housing face and a smaller two circular vent closer to the nozzle. I did not experience any driver flex while using the H1s. The nozzle has a lip for securing eartips.

The H1 has a fixed 4-core braided cable with a straight 3.5mm jack. The TRN logo is printed on the jack housing. The cable does not have pre-formed ear-guides or memory wire. There is no chin-adjustment choker, but the outer housing faces are magnetized so that the IEMs can be secured to each other. The cable is not particularly tangle-prone.

COMFORT / FIT / ISOLATION

The TRN H1 is intended to be worn cable-down only. Comfort is great but isolation is below average. The H1 takes proprietary oblong silicone eartips but can accommodate soft and flexible third-party eartips that can conform to the nozzle shape. I had to use the largest included ear tips to get a good seal.

SOUND

The TRN H1 has a conventional V-shaped tuning.

Sub-bass extension is very good. Kick drum hits have a visceral impact. Mid-bass is moderately elevated without overwhelming the sub-bass but does bleed heavily into the lower mids. There is slightly more slam than rumble. Bass attack and decay are slightly faster than the average dynamic driver. Bass texture is very dynamic.

The lower mids are recessed and perhaps overly warm because of the mid-bass bleed. Male vocals, especially harsh heavy metal vocals, are buried under electric guitars in the elevated upper midrange. The upper midrange is detailed without going overboard with presence. There is a hint of sibilance on female vocals.

Treble is splashy, slightly harsh, especially in the lower treble, and a tad grainy. Treble is lacking in both air and sparkle. Resolution is unremarkable.

Imaging is spot-on. Instrument separation is exceptional for a sub-$10 IEM. Soundstage is larger than average for the price point and compares well with more expensive IEMs.

MEASUREMENTS

My measurements were conducted with a Dayton iMM-6 microphone using a vinyl tubing coupler and a calibrated USB sound interface at a resonance point between 7.5 and 8k. The measurements are presented with 1/24th smoothing and without compensation. Measurements above 10k are not reliable.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING

With a sensitivity of 98dB and an impedance of 32ohms, the H1 needs a moderately powerful source to be driven to adequate volumes. The H1 does not hiss.

COMPARISONS

TRN H1 [$9] vs EZAudio D4 (modded) [$11]
Note: The EZAudio D4 has a neutral-bright sound signature out of the box, but I have modded my pair using micropore tape over the bass vents to have more bass than the stock configuration.

The EZAudio D4 has slightly more prominent sub-bass and a slightly larger mid-bass hump. The H1 has more textured bass. The D4’s bass is better articulated and does not bleed into the lower midrange. Even though the D4’s lower midrange is slightly more recessed, it is clearer because the mid-bass hump eases off earlier. The D4 has a more slightly more aggressive upper midrange, with more detail but more sibilance as well. The D4 has more elevated and energetic treble. The D4 is airier and has more realistic transients. The H1’s has slightly better instrument separation and a larger soundstage. Imaging is even between the two. The sensitivity of the two earphones is very similar. Neither benefit from dedicated amplification beyond delivering adequate volume. The H1 is more comfortable and sits more securely. The D4 comes with a soft zippered case.

CLOSING WORDS

The TRN H1 is a respectable entry in the sub-$10 space, with authoritative and textured bass, good build quality, great instrument separation, and an expansive soundstage. They would make excellent sleeping IEMs thanks to the low profile housings.

INTRO
8 € for an in-ear with graphene diaphragm? TRN makes it possible with their new H1. But can the H1 compete with the star under 10 € (EZAUDIO D4)? We will see.

HANDLING
The H1 is somewhat similar to the NICEHCK EP35 in design, but it is much more ergonomic, safer and more comfortable to wear, as the nozzle extends further into the ear and the design is oval rather than round.
The cables are not removable, but in themselves the classic TRN cable (4 cores), which we know from many other models. Do what it should, but for a long time I have been looking for an L-connector at TRN.

The micro/3-key remote works perfectly and also guarantees good speech intelligibility.
The isolation is not the best in terms of shielding, but it is better on the outside. Some also don't like to be completely isolated from the outside world, especially in traffic. Depending on your point of view, this can be positive or a little more negative.

SOUND
From the sound aspect, the H1 performs very well, but is only slightly above the 10 € mark in comparison. In other words, it performs exactly as much as it has to in order to fully meet expectations (in terms of price), but not more. Like a good horse.

The bass is a bit sluggish and so it seems a bit bloated in the midbass. This is a pity, because especially in a V-signature the bass should be more precise at best and have a faster decay to stay away from the mids, which already have to fight for recognition. Nevertheless, it has a pleasant punch and can also generate enough pressure in the lower range to make hip-hop or electro fans happy. It is usually in the foreground of the signature and thus influences the general sound without disfiguring it.

In contrast to the EZAUDIO D4, the V signature is somewhat stronger. This means that voices move more into the background and the H1 as a whole also lacks some clarity. In addition there is the participation of the mid-bass, which gives the mids a bit too much warmth. If you have a more potent DAC at hand, you can bring the mids more to the front and also provide more clarity, as the bass then acts more snappy and doesn't push so much into the mids.
All in all warm and soft, the mids meander through the thicket of sound, without sibilants or rich attacks.

The highs are peak-free, not the brightest, but also not too dark. The extension doesn't lead to a new world view, but you don't have the feeling to miss too much. They bring enough airiness and lightness with them and don't hide in the background. As I said, nothing earth-shattering, but pleasant to listen to for a long time.

The stage is average and fortunately not too intimate, what you could expect. Nevertheless, most of it takes place in your head. Resolution and transparency are also within a reasonable range.

OUTRO
The TRN H1 is once again a shining example that good sound quality does not always have to be expensive. With the H1 TRN has an in-ear below 10 € in its portfolio which performs very well for its price, similar to the EZAUDIO D4, although this one has a lot more to offer. At least the H1 can be an inexpensive alternative/replacement to the mostly worse mobile phone in-ears. Good all-rounders with warm sound, soft tuning, comfortable, not tiring and simply very solid. An external DAC can still get a lot out of this, but it remains to be questioned whether you want to invest in a DAC at this price, if you don't already have one. On my LG D6+ (extra built-in DAC for Hi-Res music, which can also handle up to 600 Ohm) the H1 sounds better and tidier than on my standard laptop sound card. If you have 5€ more in your pocket, you should take the V20 if you want to stay with TRN. However, the seat is not for everyone and so is the way of wearing it over the ear, but the sound is cleaner and more balanced.

BUY HERE: NICEHCK

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