TRN TA1

Ta1

bright detail not harsh or fatiguing

Energetic W shape sound with mid focus

Excellent lows, fun bass

Nice punch and above avgerage low end but

sub bass roll off slightly at around 40hz

Very clean and clear mids

Great ba treble , extension and sparkle

Vocals are good

Efficient , doesn’t need amp but scales well with one. Bass hits harder with amp and soundstage opens up

Best paired with warm source or clean neutral power not cold

Great stock cable

Plenty of details

Good soundstage and imaging

Excellent for price , one of best low cost hybrids available. My new favorite low cost hybrid

Great for edm , fun to listen to. Works well with most genres

Beautiful shell and build quality, good fit

Real knowles ba for 30$

Overall fun sound



Bass rolls off towards sub bass, could use more sub bass

Sight coherency issue at times

Rare congestion issue

Rare sibilance like once a blue moon

These cons are all tip and fit dependent, the deeper insertion and fit the more these were non existant.

first of all i would like to thank HiFiGo for providing me with this IEM
disclaimer : this item is provided from HiFiGo for me to review but this whole review is entirely my opinion and not altered in any way at all.

shipping :
would be great if shipping have more protection (bubble wrap) and use another express expedition if possible in the future

the IEM :
superb build quality, no driver flex at all, comfortable for my ears even with provided generic eartips, the cable somehow looked like one comes with the iBasso AM05 but the TA1 cable is only 3.5mm

for the tonality and technical review of this IEM, i use Final Type E black eartips, stock cable, and Astel n Kern PEE51 Dongle DAC.
TONALITY :

"w shaped" tuning

BASS :
a bit bassy (focusing on mid bass and upper bass) but surely not a bass canon model, bass is punchy, speedy enough for metal genre use. IMO, somehow the bass is making you crave more rumble around the sub-bass area.

MIDS :
kinda forward mids, intimate vocal representation, very good with jpop genre music and anime ost
if i have to nitpick the midrange area, the vocal is somehow sounding a bit "nassaly" like just a little bit (and again im comparing the vocal with my daily driver HD600 so its kinda not fair)

TREBLE :
a bit smooth treble but still airy enough to not making the sound dull, the treble is sparkly without sounding metalic thanks to the knowles driver use on this iem

TECHNICAL :

Detail Retrieval:
it can show some detail but not many micro detail like say more premium and expensive model, but for the price bracket around $50 is decent.

Soundstage :
not the largest soundstage ive heard but have symmetrical width and depth also works great for gaming (FPS)

Imaging :
seems OK, not the most "holographical" imaging but
still decent especially this thing only cost around $38

Positioning and Separation :

for music : decent, not the most razor sharp pinpoint positioning and separation but you can still hear which instrument is playing or which vocalist is singing
for gaming : works well for FPS gaming, i can hear which way the footsteps come from without any problem and the bass is NOT overpowering or covering the footsteps

Timbre :
seems decent enough, pretty usable for me, the balanced armature not sounding metalic at all but not the most organic sounding ive ever heard

Coherent :
the dynamic driver and balanced armature is coherent enough to be usable for my ears, especially if i have to compare it with another model, its not as bad like kz hybrid (zsx / zs10pro)

*my only cons is a bit stretched and nitpicking since this is clearly a budget model, but a bit more detail retrieval and larger soundstage, and a bit deeper sub-bass would be nice to hear

overall in my opinion this is a decent model for someone who likes a bit more bass, having a forward intimate midrange and smooth treble.
just in case youre interested, you can get this item here : TRN TA1 on HiFiGo

would give this a 4.5 stars since the iem is exceptionally well built and fun sounding without getting too bassy or too sharp on the treble.

you can also find this review in Indonesian on YouTube : littlenezt near the future since im still recovering from covid.

After being utterly surprised with how good the TRN MT1 was for $8usd, I have decided to try out more IEM offerings from TRN. After a (not so long) search, I found the TRN TA1…

TRN TA1 is a 2-driver hybrid IEM with 1DD for bass + 1 Knowles BA driver for its mids and highs. It retails for $29usd and its box comes with 3 different types of tips(white silicon, black silicon, and foam), an MMCX 3.5mm cable, and the IEM itself.

I will be using Final E tips for this review as I find the stock tips to be slightly too sibilant and harsh for my liking. YMMV.

With that out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using Final E tips and stock cables.

PROS

:​

• The tuning here is vocal and treble-focused. I would describe the sounds signature here as bright W-shaped.
• The bass here is punchy, thick, and has a bit of sub-bass rumble, nothing overwhelming. It is more on the conservative side of things, with its bass never overwhelming or overtaking any of the other frequencies. It is mostly placed slightly behind the vocals and treble. No bass bleed into the mids.
• The midrange here is very vocal-focused. Vocals will always be placed in front of the mix. The midrange here is more upper midrange focused, with crystal clear and crisp vocal presentation that is emphasized and pushed forward. Vocals, especially female vocals, SHINE with the TA1. I would describe the vocals here as detailed, clear, crisp, forward, and intimate. You could pick up on tiny nuances and details from the singer's voice that you might not have picked up before in the past. Vocals presentation is seriously crispy and clear here. In return, however, you are sometimes presented with harshness and sibilance.
• Timbre here is good for a BA. Nothing to complain about.
• Treble here is bright, airy, and detailed. Sometimes you do get sibilance and harshness, but at the most part, it is pretty enjoyable and unfatiguing, with its airy presentation and detailed highs. I find the treble here really well-executed, especially in this price range.
• The soundstage is average. I would describe the soundstage here as like being in a small bedroom. It isn't the widest or deepest, but it has enough to not sound congested.
• Image separation is great thanks to its Knowles BA driver. Nothing sounds "glued" together or congested. Instruments and vocals are well separated and spread out within the stage that they are given.
• Imaging is average too. You can tell where the instruments are coming from, but you can't pinpoint exactly where. For the price, it is good enough.
• Great build quality and shell design. Shell design resembles that of the legendary IEM-Z1R, and it is built like one too. The shell of the TA1 is solid and oozes confidence. Great as a daily beater as I would not worry about them breaking.
• Fit and comfort are great too.
• These are also very easy to drive.

CONS

:​

• Not the most coherent.
• Stock cable and tips aren't the best.
• Slight sibilance and harshness (with stock tips).
• Average soundstage and imaging.
• The bass here is slightly anemic. It has the quantity and sub-bass, but it lacks texture and slam. It might distort with certain frequencies too.
• Imaging is average. Hard to pinpoint exactly where each instrument is coming from, especially with its smaller soundstage.

IN CONCLUSION:​

I think TRN TA1 is a great option for vocal lovers and treble heads. Its vocal performance is exceptional and pretty unique for the price. Pair that with its detailed treble presentation and you get a $29usd IEM that sounds amazing (albeit not out of the box as tip-rolling to Final E is necessary IMO).

If you are looking to pick up the TRN TA1, I highly recommend picking up Final E tips and TRN T1 8-core Gold SPC cable. These 2 pair really well with TA1 and I can't recommend them enough.

Looking to upgrade from the MT1? The TRN TA1 might be it.

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank HIFI Audio Store for providing a review unit of the TRN TA1. Rest assured that my impressions written in this review are my own personal thoughts and opinions and in no way influenced by outside parties.

I am not an expert in this hobby nor claim to be an audiophile. I just love listening to music and am fond of writing articles.


Introduction:

Currently the cheapest Knowles-equipped IEM in the market, the TRN TA1 can be found for less than 25 USD. I have here the JP-exclusive version with the random short hair winking anime waifu compared to the boring TRN-logo faceplate of the standard edition (uses MMCX connection). The TA1 utilizes a hybrid setup with 1 BA & 1 DD, rated at a sensitivity of 107 dB and an impedance of 16 ohms.



These were plugged to my Oppo Reno 4/Asus X409 with the Earstudio HUD100 MK2 (bypass, high power) for the review. There was a very slight improvement in note weight as well as technicalities (soundstage and overall clarity, specifically) compared to in low power mode. No drastic change observed to warrant the use of an external amplifier for the TRN TA1.

Build and Comfort: I gotta say, the build and design of the TRN TA1 is something that should be impossible in this price range. It’s weighty, uses premium-feeling materials, and of course, the shell design which is reminiscent of a certain 1000+ USD IEM. The waifu also gets plus points (lol). However, these don’t fit well OOTB for my ears. Using the stock cable and stock ear tips, the TA1 just kept falling off my ears. As I have a Faaeal Hibiscus cable lying around, I switched to that along with double-flange ear tips, and wore them cable down. Fit well for me and I thought it was the best one. But then I started using the stock IT01x cable (over-ear) with the short stem, wide-bore ear tips the IT01x came with. Angling the IEM towards my ear canal/s just like with earbuds, I achieved optimal fit for SQ (concerning seal and such). Nozzle is shorter than usual which is what I suspect caused an issue with fit, as the shell itself is relatively medium in size (note: it is on the heavier side, as well).

The stock cable is essentially the same as the one that came with the TinHifi T1 Plus, only with MMCX connection. The earhooks are uncomfortable for my ears (like the ones with the Audiosense IEMs).

Regarding comfort, assuming that I’m wearing them using my “best” setup, it is not exceptional. The design itself causes discomfort for my ears after ~2 hours of straight use (over-ear; due to the edges). Wearing them cable-down avoids said issue. As the shell is also heavier than usual due to material, it won’t go unnoticed in your ears. One bummer is that the waifu is upside-down when worn cable-up. So you have to wear them cable-down if you don’t want her to be defying gravity.

Isolation is below average.


Package: 3 pairs of black silicone tips (S/M/L). 4 pairs of clear silicone tips (S/M/L). 1 pair of sticky foam tips. Paperwork. 4-core MMCX cable.





Now, onto sound:

For this review, the IEM was left in stock mode without mods, using the stock wide-bore white tips (S) and the cable from the iBasso IT01x, with a listening volume of low-medium to medium.

Regarding tip rolling, the 2 types of included ear tips didn’t work for me (one was too bassy/muffled while the other was boring). Double-flange tips allow for cable-down wear and provides a tighter/deeper bass response with clearer highs, in exchange for an even more closed-in soundstage. With that, I prefer short stem, wide-bore tips as they “open” the sound, bringing improvements in the clarity of the midrange and treble (TA1 really needs that) while still maintaining satisfying bass quantity (though noticeably worse extension compared to other tips) without muddying the sound or limiting the soundstage.

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Bass: Warm-sounding to the point that others would say it is bloated/muddy. Extension depends on eartip, but generally speaking is relatively average. Decent for the price - meaning that it does “rumble” but is more like a trickle and not deep enough to provide a satisfying listen on EDM and the like, personally speaking. There’s a hump leaning on the midbass and thus the influence on the midrange. Speed is of average attack and decay so it won’t cause any issues with any genre. Tightness is average while texture and detail is sub-par. Bass lines won’t sound monotonous but it’s not the fastest in this price range and it also doesn’t fit my preference of BA-like bass response (fast attack and decay). There is slight mid-bass bleed which compliments the intended tuning of the TA1, influencing the midrange and overall signature.

Midrange: This one will be up to preference. It is very non-fatiguing, warm and pleasant using my preferred setup. There’s also this unique thickness that I have never heard in an IEM – syrupy. I have to admit, that characteristic hooked me in, especially with the homey vocals… for the most part. It was addicting to me at first, but then I came to realize that it seriously lacked resolution and that thickness took away the naturalness of the midrange. It also blunted guitars and the like. Male and female vocals have good positioning without one being overly forward or the other being recessed.

Treble: A rather controversial part of the TA1. When the graph of the TA1 was shared to the public by a certain reviewer, there was major uproar. A huge ~15 dB dip starting on 4.5 kHZ up to 9.1 kHz was seen. While this does avoid harshness with highs sounding delicate, it also pushed back the unenergetic in-the-first-place treble region to the point of being muted. And even if it utilizes a Knowles BA, there were instances of splash. Sibilance, or the chase to its non-existence, will highly depend on fit and tip use.

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Timbre: not the most natural of IEMs due to the hybrid set-up. There is a hint of artificial timbre from the Knowles BA. But because of the thickness of the midrange and the dip in the treble region, this is mostly hidden.

Soundstage, Imaging, and Separation: Average to Above Average, Average to Above Average, and Average to Above Average… for the price. That Knowles BA does bring its advantages on technicalities. You’d survive any genre. Soundstage isn’t particularly wide nor deep but has enough to not sound congested or 2D. You’ll notice where sound is coming from but it isn’t focused. The TA1 will be able to handle any song to a certain degree (but can’t go orchestral and the like).

Detail-retrieval: You’ve seen the dip that affects the lower treble to treble proper region? Yup. Add to that the mid-bass bleed, so don’t expect too much for 25 USD.




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Conclusion:

Having used the word average a total of twelve (12) times, while the TRN TA1 is not the best of the few IEMs I’ve heard in this price range, there is one thing it has that the others don’t have – a waifu. When other IEM companies only put the waifu on the box, TRN takes it to another level and designs an IEM with a random short hair winking girl printed on the faceplate. For 25 USD, as a collectible (assuming that you’ll buy the JP-variant), I say it’s worth-it, most especially for the upscale build and shell design. But more importantly, sonic-wise? Not so much when there’s the BL-Mini and the even cheaper and "best" sub-30 KZ DQ6 (with foam tips).

TRN TA1 initial impressions (UPDATED)

TA1 is TRN's attempt to reach the budget conscious market while providing a generous combo of 1DD + 1BA (Knowles) per ear. Knowles BA drivers are known internationally to be an excellent choice for BAs and are not cheap but TRN pulled it off quite well!

Specs
3.5mm jack
107 db sensitivity
10Hz-40000Hz Frequency response
16 Ohms Impedance
Weight 30gms
Cable length 1.2m

Not your usual Midcentric tuning.. Some details were missing while some are added which made things totally interesting for TA1!

TRN has been around for quite some time selling IEMs ranging from Ultra budget single DDs to Ultra high end IEMs made of gold or made with 30 BAs.. While and most of their IEMs are well known to have the typical Vshaped signature TA1 surfaced as Midcentric in the ears of international reviewers.

Pros
Excellent design and rigidness
Extravagantly affordable for having Knowles
Good cable and tips included
1 of the cheapest Midcentric IEM out there
No microphonics nor driver flexing
Mmcx terminated

Cons
3/10 tracks are congested specially on busy tracks
Mids and trebles are borderline shouty and can be metallic
Midbass bleeds are present as well in some busy tracks

Bass is there and have no complains at all. Quantity and quality well balanced and well textured. Bass is also EQ sensitive which is good. Can reach quite deep and still has good rumble but not much and that's just right for my taste.

Mids well they should be meaty and lean and they are. Male vocals and female vocals are presented clearly and has a touch of emotions through its texture. It's almost as if you're in a small bar and the vocal monitors were facing the audience. Strings and wind instruments are well textured making their details stand out as I mentioned above. Great as in super great for tracks that displays acoustic performance! That's where it truly shines!

Trebles, Knowles territory.. Percussions and simbals are well controlled only borderline shouty without EQs. Initially I thought by having knowles branding it should have a good extension, imaging, wide soundstage, and excellent spatial panning just like my other IEMs that have knowles, I was wrong.
TA1 creates an echo that resonates in my brain pleasingly but ends abruptly, It's as if when you're about to get high asf someone pulls of the cop prank! Bummer!

Its Imaging and soundstage can be described in 1 paragraph. Details are set nicely and in an unorthodox manner just like in a small bar that fits 50 people with speaker set up everywhere with no startegic spacing and placing with vocal monitors facing the audience. I'm not saying it's bad-bad, but being in a small town music scene, I'm used to it and I enjoy any music at any form. It's just not something for OC listeners, and I'm not 1 of them.

Bass ★★
Mids ★
Trebles ★
Imaging ★★
Layering ★★
Microdetails ★
Soundstage ★★★
Spatial Panning ★★★★
Timbre ★★
Tonality ★★
Affordability ★

Overall rating ★★

Comparisons

TRN MT1, IF MT1 was worth 1k and I got this at Php707.. Id still choose MT1. Spatial panning is better on MT1 and it's only Php285.

BGVP DN2, both 1dd 1ba hybrids. It has extra resolution on instruments that enhances your imaginations. it's almost present here in TA1 but its uncommon tuning blends in and pushes out some details. DN2 is twice its price here in PH.

BQEYZ KC2, another hybrid. TA1 has better bass performance but KC2 wins on all other spectrums. Not even borderline shouty. KC2 is just a bit more expensive for Php1.7k but has 2dd and 2ba

Conclussion:
This is a good IEM to try and own. Good for casual listening and aesthetically eye catching! Like wearing jewelries! Despite my observations above, I would still recommend these specially for its price range. Its tuning can be a love and hate relationship with other reviewers but for me TA1 passed most of my test tracks and for its excellent build and finish, this is trully a headturner. Sometimes different sounding IEMs can be appealing too and this is 1 of them and has a great synergy with my LG V30 Quad DAC phone. Midcentric and warm.

Update: after 2days I was able to resolve the missing frequency that belongs to the lower treble section which was pointed out by BGGAR, I used a cheap Beats Powerbeats 2/3 double flange tips. Its a wide bore tip that sits deep in your ears almost like an etty.. Now its a treble galore factory and I can confidently say that there's no more missing sounds nor congestions, just raised mids, micro details, airiness and treble sparkles. It almost sound like spring 2 with way lesser spundstage for a fraction of the value.

Here's my new rating after using the mentioned tips

Bass ★
Mids
Trebles
Imaging ★
Layering
Microdetails ★
Soundstage ★★
Spatial Panning ★★
Timbre ★
Tonality ★
Affordability ★

Overall rating ★

#berrywhitegamingandreviews #TRN #TA1

HiFiGo suggested that I should test and evaluate the TRN-TA1 leaving it up to me to decide whether it is worthy of being reviewed.
I greatly liked it and I am providing the community with my honest and subjective opinion.

Introduction

TRN is a China based small manufacturer of in-ear monitors that is in the market for some years now and they have released some worthy models.

TRN TA1 is the latest hybrid driver in-ear monitor featuring a premium dual-driver hybrid setup with premium Magnesium Alloy ear shells.
The pair instead of the unbranded BA drivers that are usually used at this price point features a high-performance Knowles Balanced Armature driver paired with an 8mm dual-core dynamic driver.
It is selling for only $38 and you can order it from HiFiGo



Technical parameters

TRN has equipped the TA1 with a dual-driver hybrid configuration consisting of an 8mm dual-core dynamic driver unit with a Knowles 33518 BA unit.
The 8mm micro dynamic driver unit handles the lower end with utmost precision and quick punchy bass complementing the other frequencies for musical output.
Knowles is a renowned brand for high-performance balanced armature drivers.
TRN has opted for a Knowles 33518 for sweet vocals and rich treble performance with the TA1.
The pair delivers smooth, detailed vocals, with rich non-fatiguing higher-frequencies.
The pair provides a super smooth distortion-free acoustic performance throughout its wide frequency response range.



Physical appearance and fit

The TRN TA1 is made from a premium magnesium alloy shell.
This material carries a natural gloss and feels superior.
It is one of the most important elements in the whole design of TA1 with focus on functionality but also aesthetics.
Moreover, with a small form factor design, the earpieces will provide a perfect, comfy fit for most people.

Build quality is top notch and miles ahead than the price would suggest.
The earphone feels and looks very premium with a shiny, discrete and luxury design not to be found again in the budget category.



The TRN TA1 is very discreet and comfortable with an excellent fit and positioning inside the ear.
It offers a fatigue free user experience suitable for long term use and we have greatly appreciated the small form factor after reviewing so many bulky multi driver iems.
The supplied cable is for over the ear fit but it is equally suited to be used with the classic cable down method if we swap cables.

Cable and accessories

The TRN TA1 comes packed with a four core silver plated OFC copper cable with detachable mmcx connectors.
It is actually of good quality with sturdy plugs and without microphonic noise with the only downside that it is a little smelly.

Eight pairs of ear tips are provided including 4 white colored (balanced) , 3 black colored (bass) and 1 foam.

No carrying case or a pouch are included.



Sound impressions

The TRN TA1 is rated at 16 ohms and a high-sensitivity of 107dB/mW so a small amount of power is sufficient to drive it loud.
This is a $40 iem so it felt natural to test it with entry level dac/amps like the SoundMAGIC A30 (review) FiiO BTR3K (review) or Zoorlo Ztella.(the balanced ear tips were used)

The TN1 has a very agreeable , quite balanced and easily enjoyable tuning that is fatigue free and suitable for long term listening with all kinds of music.

Bass extension is good and while it can't reach sub bass levels it is able to reproduce faithfully all the acoustic bass instruments but it may struggle to reach bass depth and rumble needed for electronic music.
Of course the 8mm dynamic driver is not expected to slam hard but nonetheless we found that dynamic behavior was sufficient and the iem is able to convey persuasively all the needed contrast.
The driver feels well controlled and the bass is tight enough and not slow with quite good detail and clarity.

Transition to the mids is good with the slightest midbass bloat that doesn't cloud the mid range but we have spotted a mild masking between various bass and mid bass instruments that affects clarity and separation.



The midrange tuning is some kind of a W shape with a recession at the lower mids and emphasized mid - upper mid range.
This tuning will favor high soprano notes and related instruments that will sound upfront and accentuated but not fatiguing.
For example solo oboe and soprano voice will emerge a little forward in a piece like http://open.qobuz.com/track/108643147 or the guitar solo is slightly dominating in the Sultans of Swing.
Nevertheless the overall feeling and presentation falls on the natural side with an engaging mid range that is well articulated with good clarity.

Treble is where the balanced armature driver kicks in and we were happy to find out that it sounded well integrated and not detached.
The higher registers feel quite balanced with a relaxed and easy going profile that is not short of energy and detail retrieval at least for the price point and casual listening.
Decay is natural and the overall timbre is good without metallic artifacts.
But there is a steep accentuation at the brilliance range that while is not piercing it will favor certain high instruments to sound a touch too prominent in the mix.
For example cymbals and bells are overly emphasized at tracks like the Sultans of Swing or http://open.qobuz.com/album/0002894794190

Soundstage is very good for the category with accurate positioning and well extended width that can handle symphonic works without much complaint regarding congestion.

Compared to Tripowin TC-01 ($45)

The Tripowin TC-01 (review) is another $45 wonder that greatly outperforms its price tag.
For $5 bucks more we get an extra hard carrying case and a little softer and longer cable.
Build quality is astonishingly good for both iems and the same goes for the overall design and appearance.
While the Tripowin is a very comfortable iem the TRN TA1 is even more comfortable with an extra discreet shape that favors deeper insertion without causing fatigue.



The overall sound tuning of the Tripowin TC-01 is a little more V shaped than the W shape of the TRN TA1.
Bass up to mids will sound fairly the same regarding tuning but the TC-01 feels a little more clearer and better controlled but on the leaner side.
The TA 1 on the other hand is fuller sounding with a greater body to the notes but a little more bloated at upper bass.
Tripowin TC-01 mids and especially upper mids are more evenly tuned so voices and various instruments sound more balanced and in the same line.
Treble on the Tripowin is more detailed and less relaxed than the TRN TA1 which is more smooth and easy going.
The brilliance range is less emphasized on the Tripowin and very high percussion instruments are less pronounced.



But the extra Knowles balanced armature driver is the key point and leads to a big difference regarding the associated frequency range which has much better quality characteristics on the TRN TA1.
Instruments are better articulated with more natural timbre and decay whether on the Tripowin sound artificial with a metallic hue and leaner body.
Both are easy recommendations with sound performance and build quality far above the asking price and they can fit different tastes and musical genres.

At the end

The TRN TA1 is another outsider winner because it is an excellent sounding budget iem without any significant notable drawbacks.
It is cleverly tuned to satisfy equally casual and more demanding listeners and while it is not a genre master it can handle nearly everything.
Add to the above the excellent build quality , the discreet and comfortable fit with an appealing design and we are talking here a $40 bargain that is highly recommended.

Test playlist

Copyright - Laskis Petros 2021

Let's take a look at the frequency graph:


(measurements made using an IEC711 Occluded Ear Simulator)

The bass on the TA1 is great in my opinion, it has good weight to it and is in balance with the rest of the sound signature, i didn't feel as though the midbass was too much or that the sub bass was lacking oomf.

The mids sounds good, it is for the most part natural with nothing obvious that needs correcting, however i did prefer the the sound when i decreased the 1.6khz by a few dB.. and increased the 6.3khz by a few dB...

let's talk about the treble, the treble is quite gutted, there is a ~14db GOUGE in the treble, and it's audible, the treble is fairly veiled because of it. is it the fault of the tuner? or tuning? i don't think so. You see, the MT300 is another iem that uses the Knowles 33518, the same BA as the one in the TA1, right in the nozzle just like the TA1, it also has that huge cutout in the highs, leading me to believe that it's not the fault of poor tuning or implementation, but due to limitations with the 33518 BA itself. I don't believe there's any way to alleviate that dip without using a totally different balanced armature. imho, I'm not a huge fan of the TA1 treble, or the 33518 driver itself.





The soundstage is mostly localized in your head, imaging is actually good for the most part, treble instruments are placed away from your ears and are easy to pin point, despite this, i wouldn't call the overall experience realistic sounding.

The TA1 cost me 30 bucks and the MT300 $74, the MT300 is basically the upgraded version of the TA1 with more upper treble extension and definition and more low frequency extension. but for $30, the TA1 sure gives the MT300 a run for it's money.

Trn TA1


The Trn TA1 is a budget 1+1 hybrid in ear monitor from Trn.
One Knowles 33518 ba and one 8 mm dynamic driver for each side.
It comes with one oxygen free copper silver plated cablej, and six pairs of silicon eartips, and one pair of foam tips.

Featuring a removable cable, the TA1 connects via an MMCX connection. As a result, this earphone offers compatibility with a wide range of Trn and third-party cables.

The earphones feel and look fairly premium, thanks to the aluminum housing and mirror like coating .The overall shells don't have any sharp edges. The nozzles are not too long or too short so I can happily use these iems with my eartips collection. The supplied tips come in handy in trying to find the perfect fit. And as for this shape iems,the fitting is very important for maximum sound quality.

For my ears , I find the fit is just okay but when wearing wire down,this earphone fit quite nicely and comfortably again thank to the mmcx connection.


General specification

Product Name = Trn TA1
Drivers configuration =1 knowels 33518 and 1 8mm dynamic driver
Impedance = 16omh
Sensitivity = 107db
Frequency = 10-40000Hz

Synchronization

With es100 the TA1 sounds a bit warm but also muddy.
Using btr5 is a different story, the sound is clean and dynamic. Clarity for this 30$ iems is quite amazing. Sound stage is noticeably improved
The high is so delightful to listen to. Do take note, this Trn is fairly easy to drive even with phone
When using E1DA G3, the sound is comparable to the btr5. The E1DA has an amazing app while the fiio has a high gain option.
For portable use, personally, I pick the fiio btr5 because it not only syncs well with trn TA1 but also can be used as a bluetooth receiver without attaching to my phone all the time.
Additionally, when using TA1 with trn bt20s pro, the TA1 still performs quite well but loses some high details.



Sound
I have used this TA1 for more than 10 days so I think I have done enough drivers burning in.

Low End

Thanks to the 8mm dynamic driver, the TA1 provides a pretty luscious low end. There’s a sense of tightness and well controlled bass. This results in a sound with minimal bleed. it still feels pretty accurate and those bass textures are well delicious. However, it is not powerful enough for bass heads.
For example, a song called superman by Enimen, the bass texture is quite clear and tight. Every hit is well presented. Another one called Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, at near the end of the song, the rumble is clean and precise with a slight roll off.


Midrange

When it comes to the mids, I was actually really surprised at how good the TA1 sounds. The TA1 mid is so thick , with more emphasis at the center of the frequency range. Yet, with this headphone, the upper mid never sounds harsh nor piercing, this is very new to me from trn tuning , no matter what genre I am listening to. The low and high are smooth and relaxed , but vocal really steals the show here. Every word from the singers is so alive and in my head.
For those who like jazz and slow pop music, I highly and highly recommend you to have a try this one out.
Again the Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, her voice is so well positioned away from that bass. One song called Real Friends by Camila Cabello, the sound of the guitar has a feeling of warmth and full and yet not distracted. Her voice is lush and forward without any harshness.
One more song called Tears by Celine Farach, the beginning of the few minutes, the TA1 sets me in a relaxing mode but just as she sings. Her voice is so full and above the rest of the instruments.

High

A little rolled off, these highs never seem too bright nor dark but I feel the cymbal crush always behind the singers. Still, for bass guitar,it sounds full but the string sound is lacking. When I listen with this TA1, I miss some notes in my music like it has faded away in the background . The high is presented but with a rather gentle way,more like a laid back but not dark.
Crush cymbals lovers will find some early roll off here.
Micro details lovers should look for another alternative.

Soundstage

Not the best aspect of the TA1 , it delivers some good depth and even a paltry sense of space. Granted, it is a hybrid so I expected more especially from Trn, but with this mid focused tuning, I couldn't complain. It is a trade of.
There’s some slight overlap in the imaging but the clarity and separation in the mids help push vocals forward from the overall sound.

Tonality and timbre

This Trn is a hybrid but more like a single dynamic in ear monitors to me. Sometimes, I feel lark of of air from that knowels ba driver.
This won't suit those looking for micro details masterpiece but very well suited for folks who like jazz music. It is unbeatable for this price.
Timbre
To me, this set has a slight colored timbre towards the warm side and yet again this makes the vocal even more so addictive to listen to.

Comparison

Fiio fh1s

A 70$ 1+1 hybrid from fiio
While fiio represents a wide soundstage with a neutral to bright tuning, the TA1 is more mid focused, especially voices.
These two are so quiet different in tuning.
So what if I have to pick one?
When using a phone, it is indecisive.
However, when using my portable amp xduoo xd5 plus, the difference becomes even clearer. My fh1s becomes harsh,and I notice all the frequency go up and a bit lifeless.
The TA1, on the other hand, shows its strength with the laid-back tuning. To me, the singer's voices are so addictive and I never get distracted by the low and high frequency. Also, the upper mid still remains as gentle.

Moondrop Ssp

A 40$ single dynamic driver iems
Many claim ssp is diffused field tuning iems. To me, it is a mild v shaped sound signature and leans to the dark side.
The moondrop could sound full with the help from additional power like headphones amp, fiio A5 at least.
Between these two,for overall listening, I still prefer the TA1 because it is cheaper,and easier to drive, and has a more relaxed tone.
And TA1 fits more comfortably and can be used with a wide range of eartips.

My overall thought

Trn TA1, a 30$ hybrid in ear monitors, is not a fun set for bass head nor micro details performer.
But It's vocal based tuning lets me enjoy my music for a lot of hours without any ear fatigue and with the metal housing, this will last.
It is a musical set from Trn and it is quite surprisingly good.
For this price, this build and this tuning, I highly recommend.

Gears used

Earstudio es100
Fiio btr5
Fiio A5
E1DA G3
Xduoo xd5 plus
UAPP app

Songs used

Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
Superman by Enimen
Real Friends by Camille Cabello
Tears by Celine Farach