TRN White Tiger 2DD + 1Planar IEM

General Information

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Latest reviews

jeromeoflaherty

Head-Fier
Does this hybrid DD + Planar Tiger 'Roar' ?
Pros: Good accessories for price ( 4.4mm / 3.5mm adapter, nice box, good selection of eartips)
3 Nozzles to play with treble 'Planar' tuning
Lovely looking unique tiger stripped shell
Excellent midrange and treble
Good level of bass (though the boosted mid-bass does bleed into the midrange)
Cons: 2 of the Nozzles are extremely long extending long into the ear canal may cause un-comfort
Angle of nozzles make keeping a seal difficult - they popped out ever so often
Strange 2-pin adapter also has the habit of not securing the IEM and cable
Warm tuning may not appeal to everyone (can bleed a little into the midrange)

Does the White Tiger roar or does it purr?​

The TRN White Tiger enters an incredible competitive IEM space with a hybrid dual DD + Planar and offering three tuning nozzles that allow users to tailor the sound to their preferences.

It has a very attractive mid-range price point of $69.99 and as you will see brings some attributes of much more expensive IEM offerings into an attractive package, but it’s not without its strange quirks.

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So, even in the past few weeks the number of planar IEM’s releases seems relentless, so does the TRN tiger have enough to stand out and ‘roar’ at the competition?


Note: I would like to thank Shenzenaudio for providing the TRN White Tiger for the purposes of this review.
It currently retails for an $69.99. Check out more details on Shenzenaudio via this non-affliated link: TRN White Tiger

Read on to find out.

Retail Box and Unboxing​

The TRN White Tiger offers a premium unboxing experience. With a well-designed box and excellent accessories:
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On the back of the box:

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Removing the outside sleeve reveals a nice box:

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Opening this box reveals a very tough looking carrying box for the IEM and 2 boxes with accessories:
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Taking everything out:

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You get a reasonable selection of eartips and I do like that you get both a 4.4mm and a 3.5mm adapter in the one box:
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The cable is good quality but does tangle quiet easily, it is also extremely long for an IEM cable and as you will see has some other quirks:
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Though I do like the adapter mechanism - this is the cable end:
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And each adapter can be easily plugged in assuming you align the arrow with the white dot:

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And is very secure once connected:

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The storage box itself is extremely durable - I think a car could drive over this box, and it would not break:
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But due to the length of the cable, it is a tight fit for the IEMs and cable in the box:

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Nozzles​

One of the standout features is the inclusion of three tuning nozzles, allowing you to adjust the sound signature from a tilted sound to more V-shaped sound as you will see in the measurements section:

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Note: 2 of them are much longer than the other one. More this when we get to the comfort and fix section.

The IEM Shell​

The build of the TRN White Tiger is very solid, with its metallic shell giving it a premium feel.

I do really like the design of this shell:
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But you might notice in these pictures a few of my minor issues with the White Tiger, so one is the 2-pin connection on the shell is not recessed it actually sticks out:
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But then the 2-pin connections on the cable is tiny:

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At least a few times during my time with the white tiger the cable actually came away from the shell in my ear:
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However, this wasn’t my main complaint, so I need to get onto the comfort and fix:

Comfort and Fit​

So this will be very subjective and therefore do not take this as meaning it will be like this for you, but I found the large nozzles would eventually cause me some discomfort though part of this is I believe the angle of the nozzle compared to how the shell sits in my ear. Its hard to describe, so I tried to capture some photos showing the angle of the nozzle on a few of the other IEMs that also happen to have long nozzles (include the Truthear Zero Red):
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Note: I do like how the White Tiger Shell stands out for the 'normal' shell - just a pity for me about the nozzle.

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This photos probably shows the different angle of the White Tiger nozzle better:

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But I think what made them uncomfortable was that believe they are long and not necessarily aligned with my ear canal, the IEM shell would pop out slightly with most of the stock ear tips. Considering I have no problem with the large nozzle on the Truthear Zero or with the even larger FiiO FH19 it has to be some combination of IEM shell shape and nozzle length.

Note: This was mainly when I used the White Tiger out on a walk so after maybe 10 minutes I would have to shove it back into my ear only for this to happen again a little later.

So, this is with two of the three nozzles as they are quite long. So if this happens to you definitely do some tip rolling and find one that is strong enough to keep the nozzle secure without being uncomfortable.

Driver Configuration​

The White Tiger has an interesting configuration with the dual DD handling different frequencies. I would guess the 10.5mm handles the bass and the 8mm is handling the mid-range leaving the planar to handle the treble. TRN describe the planar as “6mm planar diaphragm, a thickness of only 2μm, and a hair-thin 0.01mm copper wire embedded in a lightweight composite diaphragm”.

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Sound Impressions​

These sound impressions with mainly from using the default ‘Green’ Nozzle, though I did experiment for a few hours with each nozzle:

Bass

The White Tiger’s bass is warm and full, with a strong mid-bass emphasis that adds weight to tracks without overwhelming them. It’s particularly well-suited to genres like hip-hop and EDM, providing a deep and satisfying rumble. I also really like some classic rock tracks from the 1970’s with “Led Zeppelin” “4 symbols” being a highlight. However, the bass does bleed slightly into the midrange, which can reduce clarity in more complex tracks.

A great example of the White Tiger’s bass prowess can be heard on Beyoncé’s “16 Carriages”—the thumping bass is impactful and energetic.

Midrange

The midrange is smooth and enjoyable, but the warmth from the bass can obscure some midrange details. Vocals come through clearly, but certain instruments and voice may feel a little unnatural, particularly in the upper mids.

This is noticeable on tracks like Bob Marley’s “Exodus”, where the midrange feels slightly restrained and overpowered, but it was still very engaging.

Treble

Treble on the White Tiger is well-controlled and I really appreciated what that planar is doing in the upper treble region. But the White Tiger also carefully avoids harshness, making it a comfortable listen for extended periods without fatigue.

Tracks like New Order’s “Fine Time” showcase the balanced treble response with well-articulated highs that complement the bass.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage of the White Tiger is relatively narrow, with a more intimate presentation. It lacks the relative width of some competitors but still manages to offer decent midrange layering and separation. The imaging is good, but as I mentioned the mid-bass can occasionally congest the sound in busier tracks.

On Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”, the soundstage feels confined, but the swirling effects in the middle of the song are well-placed.

Specifications and Measurements​

SpecificationDetails
Transducer typeHybrid in-ear monitors
Driver configuration10.5mm Dynamic Driver + 8mm Dynamic Driver + 6mm Planar Magnetic Driver
Frequency response20Hz-40000Hz
Impedance16Ω
Sensitivity118dB
Connector type2-Pin
Jack type3.5mm + 4.4mm
Weight~7.2g + 23g (Single Earphone + Cable)
WearEar hook
Cable typeFour-strand silver-plated cable
Cable length1.2m±3cm

Measurements​

All my measurements are taken with my 711 clone coupler and are available here

First lets look at the frequency response:

Frequency Response​

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This is with the default green nozzle and shows good channel matching. You can see that warm mid-bass in this graph at least compared to the usual ‘Harman bass’ that typically separates bass from midrange in a Harman tuning.

But otherwise this is a solid tuning with great channel matching.

So lets look at the difference with the other nozzles:

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So the black nozzle (the short one) gives the brightest tuning here with almost harman IE level of treble. The green and especially the red nozzle have that much more now popular recessed upper midrange similar to the “new meta” tuning. More on this in a bit.

Distortion​

So the distortion is excellent, well below audible limits even playing at > 100dB:
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And shows as a percentage:

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Comparisons:​

So of the IEMs I have recently measured I thought I would select a few with similar profiles, especially this tuning that had that “new meta” like recessed upper mid-range.
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These other IEM’s though have different flavours of bass, with the Aful Explorer having a Harman like bass and with the Orchestra Lite being more ’neutral’ and the FiiO FD15 being in-between those variations. But again you can see that “warmth’ in the mid-bass of White Tiger. For me this makes the White Tiger an interesting alternative and a fun listen for certain genres of music, but it would not be my preference.

Rating​

I give the TRN White Tiger a pragmatic rating of 4 stars. The accessories and tuning flexibility are standout features, but the fit and bass-midrange bleed can be a downside for some users.

Conclusion​

The TRN White Tiger is a solid offering in the mid-tier IEM market. It delivers a warm and engaging sound signature, particularly for bass-heavy genres, but comes with some quirks with the comfort at least for me. But I do love how unique the shell looks:

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And the tuning flexibility and excellent accessory package make it a good option for those looking to experiment with sound signatures especially in this price range and especially for those who what that planar sound.

Despite its quirks, it’s an IEM worth considering for those wanting a fun, flexible listening experience.

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Colin5619
Colin5619
Great review, thanks for the time it took to do, it’s appreciated.

Comments

Trae

500+ Head-Fier
Out of box tonality is meh, but after eqing to my tastes it sounds great. My target is crinacle + a large bass boost.

Does not pair well with warm sources (Q15), but it sounds great out of my G5.

Quick impressions after my EQ:

Very natural presentation, speaker-like. Authoritative and filling sound, very resolving and well dampened.

Soundstage is on the larger side with good depth. Imaging is very natural sounding and holographic. Great balance between size and accuracy. Doesn't sound large and empty or in your head, but reasonably sized and full.

Mids sound amazing on these. Lots of meat and authority. Very natural sounding to me.

The 6mm planar is surprisingly resolving and has good speed. No complaints here. This is the 4th IEM I've used that uses a planar for the highs, and they all perform very well. Was not expecting this level of resolution out of a $70 pair of IEMs. Punches way above its price.

10.5mm bass IEM is a good performer as well. It can take a large boost to the sub frequencies and produce visceral slam for the bassheads out there.

Vs 7Hz Aurora eqd to my personal target: Tiger is much fuller sounding. About the same resolution out of both. Aurora has a larger but less defined soundstage, mids are just weak and thin sounding on the Auroras despite both being set to my target curve. This is a DD vs. BA thing here, and I think the DD on the Tiger does mids better than the BA on the Aurora. Bass on the Aurora is nice, very deep and oddly spacious, but it lacks the visceralness of the Tiger.

Overall, I prefer the Tiger over the Aurora after eqing both to my target curve. The driver setup on the Tiger just presents sound in a more speaker-like way which is my preference.

Fitment is good, a more rounded 7Hz Legato shell basically. Construction quality is good and the stripes are engraved in the plastic so no fading off over time like some cheaply painted iems.
 
I would like to add my 2 cents about the TRN White Tiger to the reviews we are seeing here. To start with: i'm happy to report that my set doesn't have the cable connection problem as reported in the exellent review of the OP. The connection is secure and hasn't failed yet.
I will be concentrating on the sound aspect of the IEM from a different style of music perspective. My focus will be more on jazz, instrumental and moody types of music.
I'm using a AKM balanced DAC and memory foam ear tips. No equalization was used. I mounted the red filter pair, the so called "atmospheric" tuning.

-Till Brönner, Dieter Ilg - A Thousand Kisses Deep
This is a instrumental jazz piece with a bass violin and a trumpet.
The rendering of the double bass has plenty of timbre with deep extension. The pizzicato is very clear and defined with the correct decay.
The trumpet is clear, precise and full of body. Here is where the planar tweeter shines, it successfully keeps excellent detail while never getting close to harsh in the upper frequencies of the trumpet. This is where many brighter IEM's fail imho but not the White Tiger. Well done TRN.

-Druga Sonata Za Violinu Solo U A-Molu by Ana Vidović.
This is a classical solo Spanish guitar piece.
A intimate presentation, fast transition, dynamic and again full of timbre. A pleasure.

-Celestial Echo by Malia and Boris Blank.
A moody track combining the wonderful voice of Malia with the electronic musical prowess of the Yello legend.
Bass comes in low with good extension, it's well controlled, never boomy. Warm rendition of Malia's voice. Natural. Intimate stage.

-Birds by Dominique Fils-Aimé.
Jazzy song with a violin bass and the wonderful soul voice of Dominique. Again full of body and timbre. Percussion is fast and defined with correct decay. Again that intimate presentation.

Well, by now it should be clear that i like this set. In a way it reminds me of the Beyerdynamic DT770 over ear headphones. It has the same style of intimate but detailed presentation. It is definitely on the warm side but it still retains the necessary detail.
This is one of the more interesting and fun iem that I've heard in a while when combined with the red nozzles.
I would have no problem recommending this iem to people who like a meaty, fun and warm sound.
 
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