Intro
When I first put the X7s in my ears, they just gave me this wonderful relaxed feeling you get when you get into the plush lobby of a very expensive hotel. The feeling of being cosseted by soft seats while listening to very soft music which although set at very low volume you do not miss out on the detail the music presents. That to me encompasses everything about the TRN X7s, just gently lush.
Disclosure
A set of X7s were sent to me by TRN for review. I had no previous experience with TRN, until I received these and the CS2 for review.
All opinions are my own with no influence from anyone. No one has editorial control or influence over the contents of this review. I make an effort to ensure that I give the reader factual information. F I am mistaken for any reason on any point do let me know. I am told they are half price during the 11.11 sales. You can buy the RN X7 here:
Seller Info
https://m.aliexpress.com/store/sell...QT0sBfO/usnthbGlleHByZQAAA5n6#latest-feedback
My setup for this review
I paired them with Samsung galaxy note 10 plus and Fiio M11, as my source, and for amplification variably, a Samsung dongle, Fiio BTR5 and the Littlebear B4X "pseudo tube" dac/amp, mostly balanced 2.5mm on low gain. I also used Amazon Music, but primarily UAPP music player app plus YouTube music.
Form, Fit and Function
The package: The X7s come in a simple mid-sized cardboard box with the earpieces, ear tips, a cable . The package not at all excessive in size and squeezes in a good range of accessories. The X7s come with the following in the package in which are:
The IEMs;
A 3.5mm single ended cable;
A puck style hard metal case;
A selection of tips,
An airline adapter; and
A 6.3mm adapter;
The casing of the ear pieces appear to be made of transparent resin with a faceplate (not transparent) which has bits of silver embedded in it for the black pair and a TRN logo also embedded. You also have the option of purple, instead of the black set which to me are quite elegant.
The X7 is a set of universal In Ear Monitors (IEMs) which is well contoured with added wings, which make the fit very good. In fact I would say, although the casing appears to have a similar shape to the CS2, the X7 isolation with no music is incredibly good and I would say one of the best passive isolation for IEMs.
The X7 are an all Balanced Amature (BA) configuration. One can in fact see a range of BA drivers through the casing. The X7s come in two colours, Black and purple. The detachable cable is not the most attractive and nice feeling cable, given the price (before the 11.11 discount) TRN . The fixed cable has a 3.5mm singled ended plug, which I swapped for a balanced cable for this review.
The sound
In short if you do not want to read the whole review:
As I stated in the introduction the X7s are tuned IEMs to give you a soft, gentle and comforting sound. They remind me of a high-end sound system set to play at low volume. However, these are more than capable of pumping some serious volume at you, do not be mistaken they are potent!
Bass
Bass on the X7s does not sound like BA bass, these drivers must be in the new range of BA bass drivers which give you good quality bass. Clearly dynamic driver bass is more natural in the delivery of bass, but the difference is now marginal. You do not feel the need for more bass. This I say despite the fact that I like bass....but good quality bass. I find the sub-bass rich and visceral.
When the track demands it, you feel the vibrations in the ear pieces and feel the notes gently through your body at higher volumes. The mid-bass is not left out rather it delivers a full bodied well defined bass, very good BA bass which does well to come close to DD bass, in my view.
Tim Bowman’s Soul dreams comes across as gentle and calming without losing the clearly defined bass notes while the shimmering highs are also beautifully rendered by the X7s.
Tim Bowman - Soul Dreams:
Brian Culbertson - On My Mind:
The mid-bass hits quite gently at the beginning of this Brian Culbertson track and displays the quality and quantity of the BA bass on the X7s. You also get a good kick from the sub-bass, all of this with good definition of each note. Obviously, as with BAs, the bass is fast. In fact, there is nothing missing here. Also check out the bass on Haley Reinhart’s track, "Creep", below.
Mids
The presentation of mid treble is full and lush and more importantly not shy, forward, you get enjoyment from the vocals, guitars, piano, saxophones etc. The voices are full and realistic. The sound of Haley Reinhart’s rendition of creep with her voice overlaying the clear and distinct notes of the piano coming through beautifully is such a joy.
Haley Reinhart - Creep:
Kirk Fletcher - Silver Spoon:
Highs
These earphones have been tuned to restrain the highs but although, not focused on the highs. The tuning does not go as far as to make these V shaped, to my ears. This is definitely a U-shaped set and gives you such clarity, nothing at all is lost. What sets these apart is their tender tuning, of course if you want them to be more forward all you need is to increase the volume and they shed their sedate mask and become more in excitable. I am not a fan of smooth earphones and to me the sound on these have not been smoothened, instead they have been given the old fashioned soft tuning as opposed to the coarse or sharp analytical tuning and to my ears they sound good.
Frederic Chopin - Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No.2:
Stage, separation and imaging
You also get good imaging, and instrument separation which puts these IEMs way beyond their price range. The stage is also good in width but I would not call it highly expansive stage. Orchestral music is very well presented on these earphones.
Synergy
The X7 sound good on all my gear with the warmer Fiio BTR5 and the Littlebear coming out on top for my ears. I have to say, I had not expected these to sound so good paired with the Littlebear B4X. The synergy between the X7 and the Littlebear tube amp is just so delightful.
Conclusion
What I can say is that having these in my ears has been a pleasure. I cannot see any reason why I would not want the level of quality these earphones deliver at any volume and more so the comforting sound at low volume, in my collection. The X7 are quite impressive at the price, and even better especially the 11.11 half price deal.
Enjoy your music!
When I first put the X7s in my ears, they just gave me this wonderful relaxed feeling you get when you get into the plush lobby of a very expensive hotel. The feeling of being cosseted by soft seats while listening to very soft music which although set at very low volume you do not miss out on the detail the music presents. That to me encompasses everything about the TRN X7s, just gently lush.
Disclosure
A set of X7s were sent to me by TRN for review. I had no previous experience with TRN, until I received these and the CS2 for review.
All opinions are my own with no influence from anyone. No one has editorial control or influence over the contents of this review. I make an effort to ensure that I give the reader factual information. F I am mistaken for any reason on any point do let me know. I am told they are half price during the 11.11 sales. You can buy the RN X7 here:
Seller Info
https://m.aliexpress.com/store/sell...QT0sBfO/usnthbGlleHByZQAAA5n6#latest-feedback
My setup for this review
I paired them with Samsung galaxy note 10 plus and Fiio M11, as my source, and for amplification variably, a Samsung dongle, Fiio BTR5 and the Littlebear B4X "pseudo tube" dac/amp, mostly balanced 2.5mm on low gain. I also used Amazon Music, but primarily UAPP music player app plus YouTube music.
Form, Fit and Function
The package: The X7s come in a simple mid-sized cardboard box with the earpieces, ear tips, a cable . The package not at all excessive in size and squeezes in a good range of accessories. The X7s come with the following in the package in which are:
The IEMs;
A 3.5mm single ended cable;
A puck style hard metal case;
A selection of tips,
An airline adapter; and
A 6.3mm adapter;
The casing of the ear pieces appear to be made of transparent resin with a faceplate (not transparent) which has bits of silver embedded in it for the black pair and a TRN logo also embedded. You also have the option of purple, instead of the black set which to me are quite elegant.
The X7 is a set of universal In Ear Monitors (IEMs) which is well contoured with added wings, which make the fit very good. In fact I would say, although the casing appears to have a similar shape to the CS2, the X7 isolation with no music is incredibly good and I would say one of the best passive isolation for IEMs.
The X7 are an all Balanced Amature (BA) configuration. One can in fact see a range of BA drivers through the casing. The X7s come in two colours, Black and purple. The detachable cable is not the most attractive and nice feeling cable, given the price (before the 11.11 discount) TRN . The fixed cable has a 3.5mm singled ended plug, which I swapped for a balanced cable for this review.
The sound
In short if you do not want to read the whole review:
As I stated in the introduction the X7s are tuned IEMs to give you a soft, gentle and comforting sound. They remind me of a high-end sound system set to play at low volume. However, these are more than capable of pumping some serious volume at you, do not be mistaken they are potent!
Bass
Bass on the X7s does not sound like BA bass, these drivers must be in the new range of BA bass drivers which give you good quality bass. Clearly dynamic driver bass is more natural in the delivery of bass, but the difference is now marginal. You do not feel the need for more bass. This I say despite the fact that I like bass....but good quality bass. I find the sub-bass rich and visceral.
When the track demands it, you feel the vibrations in the ear pieces and feel the notes gently through your body at higher volumes. The mid-bass is not left out rather it delivers a full bodied well defined bass, very good BA bass which does well to come close to DD bass, in my view.
Tim Bowman’s Soul dreams comes across as gentle and calming without losing the clearly defined bass notes while the shimmering highs are also beautifully rendered by the X7s.
Tim Bowman - Soul Dreams:
Brian Culbertson - On My Mind:
The mid-bass hits quite gently at the beginning of this Brian Culbertson track and displays the quality and quantity of the BA bass on the X7s. You also get a good kick from the sub-bass, all of this with good definition of each note. Obviously, as with BAs, the bass is fast. In fact, there is nothing missing here. Also check out the bass on Haley Reinhart’s track, "Creep", below.
Mids
The presentation of mid treble is full and lush and more importantly not shy, forward, you get enjoyment from the vocals, guitars, piano, saxophones etc. The voices are full and realistic. The sound of Haley Reinhart’s rendition of creep with her voice overlaying the clear and distinct notes of the piano coming through beautifully is such a joy.
Haley Reinhart - Creep:
Kirk Fletcher - Silver Spoon:
Highs
These earphones have been tuned to restrain the highs but although, not focused on the highs. The tuning does not go as far as to make these V shaped, to my ears. This is definitely a U-shaped set and gives you such clarity, nothing at all is lost. What sets these apart is their tender tuning, of course if you want them to be more forward all you need is to increase the volume and they shed their sedate mask and become more in excitable. I am not a fan of smooth earphones and to me the sound on these have not been smoothened, instead they have been given the old fashioned soft tuning as opposed to the coarse or sharp analytical tuning and to my ears they sound good.
Frederic Chopin - Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No.2:
Stage, separation and imaging
You also get good imaging, and instrument separation which puts these IEMs way beyond their price range. The stage is also good in width but I would not call it highly expansive stage. Orchestral music is very well presented on these earphones.
Synergy
The X7 sound good on all my gear with the warmer Fiio BTR5 and the Littlebear coming out on top for my ears. I have to say, I had not expected these to sound so good paired with the Littlebear B4X. The synergy between the X7 and the Littlebear tube amp is just so delightful.
Conclusion
What I can say is that having these in my ears has been a pleasure. I cannot see any reason why I would not want the level of quality these earphones deliver at any volume and more so the comforting sound at low volume, in my collection. The X7 are quite impressive at the price, and even better especially the 11.11 half price deal.
Enjoy your music!
