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!
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!