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TRN IM2
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Disclaimer:
I bought the TRN IM2 from Aliexpress at my own expense.
Specifications:
- Driver: 1 Balanced Armature Driver + 1 Dynamic Driver
- Sensitivity: 92dB
- Cable: 2 pin detachable cable
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Impedence: 18Ω
Accessories:
In addition to the IEM, it comes with:
- Detachable 3.5 mm stock cable (detachable cables are rare at this sub $20 USD pricing)
- Multiple silicone tips
Build/comfort:
The TRN IM2 is very well fitting, ergonomic and comfortable. The resin shell looks and feels like a semi custom shell, and it's very rare to see such good quality shells at this sub $20 USD price range. I can wear it for hours with no discomfort.
Stock tips and cables are quite adequate, most folks should have a good fit and use for it OOTB.
I did not note any driver flex.
Isolation:
Isolation is very good, I estimate it can give about 20 - 25 dB isolation with a good fitting eartip. I have tested it on the subway and buses and it manages to block out most of the noise. In addition, due to the TRN IM2's elevated bass (which is the first frequency to be lost in noisy environments), it manages to offset the usual loss of bass frequencies in traffic.
Sound:
I tested the TRN IM2 with a Desktop -> Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 and Ziku HK-X9. The TRN IM2 is easily drivable and I didn't hear any big changes in sound quality by using a dedicated DAC/AMP.
I didn't have any hiss with this IEM on laptops/PC/smartphones.
The TRN IM2 is V shaped, and is towards the darkish side for tuning, with elevated bass and treble. Unfortunately, I did find the mids too recessed (see details below). It has very good technicalities (imaging, instrument separation, clarity and details) for the price. I found the timbre of the TRN IM2 to be rather artificial for acoustic instruments, so those that are particular about timbre and/or those who listen to jazz, classical or acoustic genres may want to consider another IEM. I know a lot of audiophiles and even reviewers are not too picky about the area of timbre (majority of reviewers neglect to mention timbre in their reviews), so this is just a small area of nitpicking, considering it is such a cheap IEM.
But otherwise, for music genres incorporating synthetic instruments or genres like rock, pop and EDM, it fares very very well.
Bass:
The TRN IM2 has good subbass extension and quantity and is suitable for bassheads. Despite increased bass quantities in the tuning, the bass doesn't really overshadow the other frequencies, unlike some other budget IEMs at the same price range that have so much bass quantity that that's the only frequency that is heard. I did notice a slight midbass bleed, but some folks may like it for the added warmth. Bass quality is not the most detailed or fastest, but very servicable for most music genres.
Mids:
Very recessed in lower mids. Note weight/density is towards the thin side. The upper mids are slightly brighter than lower mids, hence female voices sound more forward than male ones. Personally, I think the mids are the weakest aspect of the TRN IM2, as in some music tracks I'm familiar with, large chunks of the mids are "missing" from the music due to the overly V shaped tuning.
I saw some reviews saying that the TRN IM2 would be suitable for stage/studio monitoring, I use my IEMs weekly for this purpose and personally I would disagree, as I feel not hearing the mids during monitoring is not ideal in a band setting. The TRN IM2 has all the other ingredients to be a successful stage/studio monitor (such as good isolation and good techicals) but unless one can EQ the mids up and decrease the bass on the fly during monitoring, it would be difficult to hear instruments/vocals at the lower mids area.
Treble:
Treble has a slight lower treble boost, but it has no fatigue/harshness/sibilance. Very good for listening for long sessions and having a relaxing listen.
Soundstage:
Average in width. May feel a tinge congested with very busy tracks with complex instrumentation/multiple riffs going on simultaneously.
Conclusion:
I think the TRN IM2 does a lot well, especially in the areas of technicalities, excellent build and isolation. It does have weaknesses in the area of timbre and having overly recessed mids, but nothing much that one can fault at its cheap pricing. For a fun sounding V shaped signature with good techincals for general music listening, the TRN IM2 aces most areas, and I haven't seen such great price to performance ratio at the < $20 USD price bracket, other than the popular **** (which also falls short in the area of artificial timbre) and the venerable Sony MH755 (which has a non detachable super microphonic cable).
The TRN IM2 would make a very good introductory IEM or gift for people new to the IEM/CHIFI circuit, but I'm pretty sure for experienced audiophiles, they would already own something more expensive that is an upgrade over the TRN IM2, and it may end up superfluous to their collection. If TRN can come up with a successor that has better timbre and less recessed mids, but keeping its current good points, I think it would be the next big hypetrain!!
Thanks for reading and enjoy the music!
I bought the TRN IM2 from Aliexpress at my own expense.
Specifications:
- Driver: 1 Balanced Armature Driver + 1 Dynamic Driver
- Sensitivity: 92dB
- Cable: 2 pin detachable cable
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Impedence: 18Ω
Accessories:
In addition to the IEM, it comes with:
- Detachable 3.5 mm stock cable (detachable cables are rare at this sub $20 USD pricing)
- Multiple silicone tips
Build/comfort:
The TRN IM2 is very well fitting, ergonomic and comfortable. The resin shell looks and feels like a semi custom shell, and it's very rare to see such good quality shells at this sub $20 USD price range. I can wear it for hours with no discomfort.
Stock tips and cables are quite adequate, most folks should have a good fit and use for it OOTB.
I did not note any driver flex.
Isolation:
Isolation is very good, I estimate it can give about 20 - 25 dB isolation with a good fitting eartip. I have tested it on the subway and buses and it manages to block out most of the noise. In addition, due to the TRN IM2's elevated bass (which is the first frequency to be lost in noisy environments), it manages to offset the usual loss of bass frequencies in traffic.
Sound:
I tested the TRN IM2 with a Desktop -> Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 and Ziku HK-X9. The TRN IM2 is easily drivable and I didn't hear any big changes in sound quality by using a dedicated DAC/AMP.
I didn't have any hiss with this IEM on laptops/PC/smartphones.
The TRN IM2 is V shaped, and is towards the darkish side for tuning, with elevated bass and treble. Unfortunately, I did find the mids too recessed (see details below). It has very good technicalities (imaging, instrument separation, clarity and details) for the price. I found the timbre of the TRN IM2 to be rather artificial for acoustic instruments, so those that are particular about timbre and/or those who listen to jazz, classical or acoustic genres may want to consider another IEM. I know a lot of audiophiles and even reviewers are not too picky about the area of timbre (majority of reviewers neglect to mention timbre in their reviews), so this is just a small area of nitpicking, considering it is such a cheap IEM.
But otherwise, for music genres incorporating synthetic instruments or genres like rock, pop and EDM, it fares very very well.
Bass:
The TRN IM2 has good subbass extension and quantity and is suitable for bassheads. Despite increased bass quantities in the tuning, the bass doesn't really overshadow the other frequencies, unlike some other budget IEMs at the same price range that have so much bass quantity that that's the only frequency that is heard. I did notice a slight midbass bleed, but some folks may like it for the added warmth. Bass quality is not the most detailed or fastest, but very servicable for most music genres.
Mids:
Very recessed in lower mids. Note weight/density is towards the thin side. The upper mids are slightly brighter than lower mids, hence female voices sound more forward than male ones. Personally, I think the mids are the weakest aspect of the TRN IM2, as in some music tracks I'm familiar with, large chunks of the mids are "missing" from the music due to the overly V shaped tuning.
I saw some reviews saying that the TRN IM2 would be suitable for stage/studio monitoring, I use my IEMs weekly for this purpose and personally I would disagree, as I feel not hearing the mids during monitoring is not ideal in a band setting. The TRN IM2 has all the other ingredients to be a successful stage/studio monitor (such as good isolation and good techicals) but unless one can EQ the mids up and decrease the bass on the fly during monitoring, it would be difficult to hear instruments/vocals at the lower mids area.
Treble:
Treble has a slight lower treble boost, but it has no fatigue/harshness/sibilance. Very good for listening for long sessions and having a relaxing listen.
Soundstage:
Average in width. May feel a tinge congested with very busy tracks with complex instrumentation/multiple riffs going on simultaneously.
Conclusion:
I think the TRN IM2 does a lot well, especially in the areas of technicalities, excellent build and isolation. It does have weaknesses in the area of timbre and having overly recessed mids, but nothing much that one can fault at its cheap pricing. For a fun sounding V shaped signature with good techincals for general music listening, the TRN IM2 aces most areas, and I haven't seen such great price to performance ratio at the < $20 USD price bracket, other than the popular **** (which also falls short in the area of artificial timbre) and the venerable Sony MH755 (which has a non detachable super microphonic cable).
The TRN IM2 would make a very good introductory IEM or gift for people new to the IEM/CHIFI circuit, but I'm pretty sure for experienced audiophiles, they would already own something more expensive that is an upgrade over the TRN IM2, and it may end up superfluous to their collection. If TRN can come up with a successor that has better timbre and less recessed mids, but keeping its current good points, I think it would be the next big hypetrain!!
Thanks for reading and enjoy the music!
I've had the TRN IM2 in-ear monitors for a whopping one full day now and I thought I would provide my thoughts. I bought these using my own money on AliExress's 11.11 sale for $16.76 (free shipping). The extremely reasonable price should be taken into account when providing my impressions on these IEMs.
1. Build and quality: no complaints. These could be have been $30 and I still would not have any complaints. The plastic shells are well finished and completely smooth. I went with the blue color over the black because I thought the opalescent plate with the "TRN" logo looked better in blue.They feel quite solid and even though there's not much metal, this actually makes them quite lightweight and comfortable. The included cable is black, 4-core I believe, with a straight 3.5mm plug at the end, which I prefer over the L-plugs. The ear loops are coated in a clear plastic to give them shape, which detracts a little from the look overall but this is a minor complaint.
2. Comfort: no issues for me. The fact that they aren't trying to cram 28 drivers into the housings mean that they are quite compact and shallow. The shape is pretty typical for Chi-Fi IEMs, which has a bit of a faux-CIEM look. The stock eartips are silicone (multiple sizes included) and pretty comfortable, providing a decent seal. I might even use these on stage (I play bass in a local church band) because...
3. Sound: as a bassist, I don't really care for accuracy when monitoring. I really just need to hear myself in the context of the band. People have characterized these as V-shaped but to be honest, it is less V-shaped than I expected. The bass is quite round and warm, not too exaggerated, with good mid-bass. I think these will work great for bassists. The highs are well controlled, not harsh sounding. Listening to the opening of "Billie Jean," the shaker and snare hits are easy to hear but not shrill. Good separation can be heard on this track too between the vocals and the electric guitar and trumpet parts. The detail in the high-end is good enough for a pair of IEMs that cost less than <$20 but temper your expectations. I find the detail and separation to be a little better on my CCA C10 IEMs but those cost almost double and have more BA drivers to work with. There are only 2 drivers at work here in the TRN IM2 but they are tuned well.
Conclusion: great value for a 1DD+1BA, comfortable, well-built, and handsome (in my opinion at least) IEM.
1. Build and quality: no complaints. These could be have been $30 and I still would not have any complaints. The plastic shells are well finished and completely smooth. I went with the blue color over the black because I thought the opalescent plate with the "TRN" logo looked better in blue.They feel quite solid and even though there's not much metal, this actually makes them quite lightweight and comfortable. The included cable is black, 4-core I believe, with a straight 3.5mm plug at the end, which I prefer over the L-plugs. The ear loops are coated in a clear plastic to give them shape, which detracts a little from the look overall but this is a minor complaint.
2. Comfort: no issues for me. The fact that they aren't trying to cram 28 drivers into the housings mean that they are quite compact and shallow. The shape is pretty typical for Chi-Fi IEMs, which has a bit of a faux-CIEM look. The stock eartips are silicone (multiple sizes included) and pretty comfortable, providing a decent seal. I might even use these on stage (I play bass in a local church band) because...
3. Sound: as a bassist, I don't really care for accuracy when monitoring. I really just need to hear myself in the context of the band. People have characterized these as V-shaped but to be honest, it is less V-shaped than I expected. The bass is quite round and warm, not too exaggerated, with good mid-bass. I think these will work great for bassists. The highs are well controlled, not harsh sounding. Listening to the opening of "Billie Jean," the shaker and snare hits are easy to hear but not shrill. Good separation can be heard on this track too between the vocals and the electric guitar and trumpet parts. The detail in the high-end is good enough for a pair of IEMs that cost less than <$20 but temper your expectations. I find the detail and separation to be a little better on my CCA C10 IEMs but those cost almost double and have more BA drivers to work with. There are only 2 drivers at work here in the TRN IM2 but they are tuned well.
Conclusion: great value for a 1DD+1BA, comfortable, well-built, and handsome (in my opinion at least) IEM.
Attachments
audiophilefan
Finally, a pro confirming that these could indeed be used for monitoring. Thanks for the concise review!
ericlikeseatin
Haha, I wouldn't call myself a pro by any stretch! But yep, no problem using these to monitor on stage. And the best part is if i step on them by accident, I'm only out $17.
audiophilefan
They're built really well. I think they'd hold up with "accidental" stepping. It will be very hard to trample them. 
Let me change my review style for a bit and get right down to business.
These IEMs sound boombastic! Bass is definitely emphasized. And as the tuner KopiOkaya confirmed, they are bassier than what he actually intended. Apparently, management decided on a bassier tuning than recommended for the final production unit. The result? A signature that leans towards darkness and warmth BUT...this is the right kind of darkness. This is the right kind of bassy. They remind me of my late KZ ZS3 (gave them away). They have less bass than the ZS3. Bass here is tighter and faster but still a touch boomy. Overall, a well-controlled yet powerful bass. It complements the rest of the spectrum quite well.
Mids are suprisingly not recessed even if the IM-series are intended to be v-shaped. They sound quite natural and warm, without the shoutiness and sharpness usually found in most KZs, especially at higher than average volumes. The KZ ZSN, to my ears, is probably the best-tuned KZ, one that leans towards neutrality albeit some brightness. But if you want to get a little loud with them, vocals could still be piercing. No problems here so far. And to add, guitars sound magnificent even at higher volumes. They really excel in guitar-driven music...yes, including rock! They have enough attack and speed to handle even metal and progressive rock.
Highs are not dominant. If anything, you could say that they're dialed down to be inoffensive. People who are used to brighter signatures will find them lacking in sparkle. My references are the Shure SRH440 and Grado SR80e, both generally considered to be on the bright side of life. Haha! But do I find them lacking? Not really. They manage to still be detailed albeit the warmer signature. I don't miss any detail. They're just not tuned to be as micro-detail emphasized as the Shures or the Grados. Can you monitor with these? You tell me. I never had to do any studio monitoring in my life. But they're definitely not tuned flat to have the "studio monitor" tuning that I also prefer (Shure).
They can handle multiple genres surprisingly well - pop ballads, instrumentals, jazz, blues, rock (even the more complex ones like prog), and even audiophile vocal recordings. Please note that I don't listen to classical music so take my comment with a grain of salt. They're really enjoyable for movies too. Gave them the Dolby Atmos samples test and the soundstage is decidedly wider than KZ. Imaging is also more precise and effortless.
What strikes me the most is design and build quality. As I stated on my initial impressions, I would believe anyone who'd tell me that they're $50 to $100 dollars. They are a looker! I don't think my old and trusty phone camera give them much justice. You need to see them in person.
Are they comfortable? Yes! Do they isolate well? Super Yes! Why the "super"? They are the best isolating IEMs I have ever worn. I think it's mainly because of the design. They're marginally slimmer than the ZSNs and they conform to the inner ear really really well (two "reallys" right there).
In conclusion, are they a KZ killer? No, not really. It is still a matter of preference. Generally though, I'd say that they sound more refined and mature. They sound less "metallic" and artificial. They sound more natural. They nailed the dark tuning and still maintain detail. A little less bass would make them more suitable for actual monitoring. The Extra Bass could be a blessing in disguise. That sounds Sony-ish. But hey, for $20 dollars, color me impressed! I hope some of you might say, "I am too!"
Happy listening!
Oh yes, pictures... Here you go! I know they're beautiful but no, you don't get the 4.4 balanced cable in the box. That's another $10 dollars if you want to.
Happy listening (this time it's for real, haha)!
These IEMs sound boombastic! Bass is definitely emphasized. And as the tuner KopiOkaya confirmed, they are bassier than what he actually intended. Apparently, management decided on a bassier tuning than recommended for the final production unit. The result? A signature that leans towards darkness and warmth BUT...this is the right kind of darkness. This is the right kind of bassy. They remind me of my late KZ ZS3 (gave them away). They have less bass than the ZS3. Bass here is tighter and faster but still a touch boomy. Overall, a well-controlled yet powerful bass. It complements the rest of the spectrum quite well.
Mids are suprisingly not recessed even if the IM-series are intended to be v-shaped. They sound quite natural and warm, without the shoutiness and sharpness usually found in most KZs, especially at higher than average volumes. The KZ ZSN, to my ears, is probably the best-tuned KZ, one that leans towards neutrality albeit some brightness. But if you want to get a little loud with them, vocals could still be piercing. No problems here so far. And to add, guitars sound magnificent even at higher volumes. They really excel in guitar-driven music...yes, including rock! They have enough attack and speed to handle even metal and progressive rock.
Highs are not dominant. If anything, you could say that they're dialed down to be inoffensive. People who are used to brighter signatures will find them lacking in sparkle. My references are the Shure SRH440 and Grado SR80e, both generally considered to be on the bright side of life. Haha! But do I find them lacking? Not really. They manage to still be detailed albeit the warmer signature. I don't miss any detail. They're just not tuned to be as micro-detail emphasized as the Shures or the Grados. Can you monitor with these? You tell me. I never had to do any studio monitoring in my life. But they're definitely not tuned flat to have the "studio monitor" tuning that I also prefer (Shure).
They can handle multiple genres surprisingly well - pop ballads, instrumentals, jazz, blues, rock (even the more complex ones like prog), and even audiophile vocal recordings. Please note that I don't listen to classical music so take my comment with a grain of salt. They're really enjoyable for movies too. Gave them the Dolby Atmos samples test and the soundstage is decidedly wider than KZ. Imaging is also more precise and effortless.
What strikes me the most is design and build quality. As I stated on my initial impressions, I would believe anyone who'd tell me that they're $50 to $100 dollars. They are a looker! I don't think my old and trusty phone camera give them much justice. You need to see them in person.
Are they comfortable? Yes! Do they isolate well? Super Yes! Why the "super"? They are the best isolating IEMs I have ever worn. I think it's mainly because of the design. They're marginally slimmer than the ZSNs and they conform to the inner ear really really well (two "reallys" right there).
In conclusion, are they a KZ killer? No, not really. It is still a matter of preference. Generally though, I'd say that they sound more refined and mature. They sound less "metallic" and artificial. They sound more natural. They nailed the dark tuning and still maintain detail. A little less bass would make them more suitable for actual monitoring. The Extra Bass could be a blessing in disguise. That sounds Sony-ish. But hey, for $20 dollars, color me impressed! I hope some of you might say, "I am too!"
Happy listening!
Oh yes, pictures... Here you go! I know they're beautiful but no, you don't get the 4.4 balanced cable in the box. That's another $10 dollars if you want to.
Happy listening (this time it's for real, haha)!
Comments
Hernan
New Head-Fier
In my opinion and after some days trying these in ear, they are good at this price point. Well made, good sounds in general... A little bit harsh with highs and lows being better as normal flat sound... This pair seem to be like V shape sound signature. They are good in general... Better than expected for 19 bucks.
I won't recommend these for monitoring nor clasical music.
Last and not least, soundstage is decent and instrument separation would be better... My comparison point are the Soundmagic e80.
I won't recommend these for monitoring nor clasical music.
Last and not least, soundstage is decent and instrument separation would be better... My comparison point are the Soundmagic e80.
This in-ear are good, but they have a considerable lack definition in the mid range. My references are SoundMagic E80. Even SoundMagic are more expensive, there are big difference in midrange music like Eric Clapton - Change the word and any unplugged version.
Now, talking about Rock, they are GREAT!