Tronsmart Onyx Pure Hybrid Dual Driver Earbuds IPX5 32 hour playtime AAC/SBC
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(total 1-3 mins read)
Tronsmart Onyx Pure is Tronsmart's latest budget TWS IEM. It comes in at $20usd with a Hybrid dual driver configuration (1DD + 1BA).
Upon opening the box, I am presented with a manual, a USB C charging cable, 3 eartips, and the TWS IEM itself. For the asking price of $20usd, I have nothing to complain about. Everything you'll need is given here.
Battery life - battery life is pretty amazing for the price. With 7 hours on a single charge and up to 32 hours with charging case, I will give the battery life here a 5/5 stars!
Passive noise isolation - Noise isolation is ok, but it really depends on your ears and the seal. I will rate it 3/5.
Fit - Fit with stock eartips isn't too good for me. However, after changing to the Spinfit cp-360, fit is near perfect!
BT Connection - Bluetooth connection is great. With Bluetooth 5.3 and SBC codec, I have never had any drop off issues with my iPhone 13 Mini.
[FR graph courtesy of paulwasabii. Check him out here.]
In terms of sound, I will only be covering how the Onyx Pure sound with the stock EQ settings. This is because I find this to be the best sounding and frankly, I do not enjoy the other EQ settings. I find them too tonal imbalanced and weird sounding.
With the stock EQ setting, the Tronsmart Onyx Pure is actually pretty good for the price. You will get what I'll describe as a "fun V shaped sound". Boomy bass, relaxed upper mids, slight spark to the treble.
Bass here is the best bit of the Onyx Pure. The bass here is just pure fun! It is punchy, thick, and full. However, it is boomy and it does bleed into the mids.
In terms of midrange, midrange resolution is fuzzy, upper midrange is recessed, so vocals will come off as slightly hazy and recessed with tracks that are bass heavy. However, vocals are still "clear enough" and acceptable. For the price of $20usd, I wont complain.
In terms of treble, I think the BA treble here is pretty well done. It isn't spiky or metallic, yet it adds back a bit of "clarity" that's otherwise missing from the bass and midrange. Again, for a $20usd TWS, this is actually pretty decent.
In terms of coherency between the DD and BA driver, I am actually surprised as it is better than expected. It isn't perfect…. But I think Tronsmart did a great job blending the DD and BA together instead of making both drivers sound like they are doing their own thing independently.
Overall, for $20usd, I think the Tronsmart Onyx Pure sounds pretty great! For a beater pair of TWS to be used while jogging, cycling, working out, I think the Tronsmart Onyx Pure is a very good deal. For $20usd, you get good fun sound, IPX5 waterproof rating, good fit, 32 hour battery life, stable connection, and a small form factor for easy carry!
I highly recommend the Tronsmart Onyx pure for those looking for a cheap, budget-friendly TWS. Thank you for reading.
Interested in getting the Tronsmart Onyx Pure? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):
Tronsmart - https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-onyx-pure-hybrid-dual-driver-headphones
Aliexpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004389068812.html
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3HYZ427
Tronsmart Onyx Pure is Tronsmart's latest budget TWS IEM. It comes in at $20usd with a Hybrid dual driver configuration (1DD + 1BA).
Upon opening the box, I am presented with a manual, a USB C charging cable, 3 eartips, and the TWS IEM itself. For the asking price of $20usd, I have nothing to complain about. Everything you'll need is given here.
NON-SOUND IMPRESSIONS:
Portability - The size of the case is pretty good. It is small and compact. Making this a very easy TWS to carry around.Battery life - battery life is pretty amazing for the price. With 7 hours on a single charge and up to 32 hours with charging case, I will give the battery life here a 5/5 stars!
Passive noise isolation - Noise isolation is ok, but it really depends on your ears and the seal. I will rate it 3/5.
Fit - Fit with stock eartips isn't too good for me. However, after changing to the Spinfit cp-360, fit is near perfect!
BT Connection - Bluetooth connection is great. With Bluetooth 5.3 and SBC codec, I have never had any drop off issues with my iPhone 13 Mini.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS:
In terms of sound, I will only be covering how the Onyx Pure sound with the stock EQ settings. This is because I find this to be the best sounding and frankly, I do not enjoy the other EQ settings. I find them too tonal imbalanced and weird sounding.
With the stock EQ setting, the Tronsmart Onyx Pure is actually pretty good for the price. You will get what I'll describe as a "fun V shaped sound". Boomy bass, relaxed upper mids, slight spark to the treble.
Bass here is the best bit of the Onyx Pure. The bass here is just pure fun! It is punchy, thick, and full. However, it is boomy and it does bleed into the mids.
In terms of midrange, midrange resolution is fuzzy, upper midrange is recessed, so vocals will come off as slightly hazy and recessed with tracks that are bass heavy. However, vocals are still "clear enough" and acceptable. For the price of $20usd, I wont complain.
In terms of treble, I think the BA treble here is pretty well done. It isn't spiky or metallic, yet it adds back a bit of "clarity" that's otherwise missing from the bass and midrange. Again, for a $20usd TWS, this is actually pretty decent.
In terms of coherency between the DD and BA driver, I am actually surprised as it is better than expected. It isn't perfect…. But I think Tronsmart did a great job blending the DD and BA together instead of making both drivers sound like they are doing their own thing independently.
Overall, for $20usd, I think the Tronsmart Onyx Pure sounds pretty great! For a beater pair of TWS to be used while jogging, cycling, working out, I think the Tronsmart Onyx Pure is a very good deal. For $20usd, you get good fun sound, IPX5 waterproof rating, good fit, 32 hour battery life, stable connection, and a small form factor for easy carry!
I highly recommend the Tronsmart Onyx pure for those looking for a cheap, budget-friendly TWS. Thank you for reading.
Interested in getting the Tronsmart Onyx Pure? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):
Tronsmart - https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-onyx-pure-hybrid-dual-driver-headphones
Aliexpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004389068812.html
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3HYZ427
Attachments
Tronsmart Onyx Pure Hybrid Dual Driver Headphones
Tronsmart Onyx Pure is the latest TWS from Tronsmart and the unique feature on Pure is the hybrid dual driver configuration. Not common at any price for TWS, but under $20usd is even less common.
Many thanks to Tronsmart for sending the Onyx Pure to me and you can find more information here:
https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-onyx-pure-hybrid-dual-driver-headphones
Specs from Tronsmart:
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 Codec: SBC |
| Bluetooth Range | Up to 10 meters / 33 feet |
| Number of Microphones | 2 |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Play Time (Varied by Volume Level & Audio Content) | Earbuds: 7 Hours on a Single Charge(50% Volume) With Charging Case: Up to 32 Hours of Playtime (50% Volume) |
| Charging Time | Earbuds: 1.5 Hours Charging Case: 2 Hours |
| Frequency Range | 20-20KHz |
| Driver Unit | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature |
| Voice Assistant | Supports Siri, Cortana, Google Assistant, etc |
| Other Features | Reset Switch 3 EQ Modes |
As you can see from the spec list, this is fairly typical for the price range and missing app support and higher quality codec support that is found in their upscale model Onyx Prime.
Case:
Slim plastic case but does feature the reset on the bottom which is one feature I do like. No need to break open the manual to figure out what touch combo is needed to reset, just hold the reset button in for a few seconds and ready to pair again.
Sound
As I noted earlier, the hybrid dual driver configuration is not common for TWS
I was expecting less coherence, possibly more shrill with a BA in that location, but Tronsmart did a good job avoiding the typical budget hybrid tuning problems. There are 3 EQ modes, but as usual, the Normal setting is the most balanced and the one I would continue to use. The 3 modes graph as:
No real surprise on connecting the EQ mode to the graph. Bass mode adds bass and reduces treble which Tronsmart has done before. Just increasing bass would be fine, no need to reduce treble which simply adds a muddiness to the sound. But for Pure mode, they got it right, just reduce bass and leave the treble mostly the same.
Generally, the sound is more like a bass-boosted neutral. There is a fun mid-bass bump but flattens out fast going into the mids and then stays relatively flat into the treble. Just adding some upper treble boost for fun again. The noticeable lack of pinna gain is an interesting choice and makes for a real relaxed treble. No big V here. The second interesting piece is how the DD and BA divide the signature. I don't know where the crossover is but probably well into mid or upper treble. High enough that it sounds like a single driver until some high frequency instruments. For $20usd, the sound quality is good and that signature will attract a few folks as it is not very common.
Overall, I had $20usd expectations and I think they executed well here delivering good sound quality at a very reasonable price. I would love AptX and app support in all TWS, but considering the price constraints, I think Tronsmart smartly paired back the costly extras and focused on the sound which is the right move.
Hello, I'm Ah Hui aka Mr Wong. I'm a K-pop fan and audiophile from Malaysia.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Tronsmart for Sending me this review unit and giving me the opportunity to review the Tronsmart Onyx pure .
This is my few time working with Tronsmart I remember my first time reviewing their Bluetooth wireless speaker called Tronsmart studio Bluetooth wireless speaker .thanks again to them sending me their TWS IEM to me .I'm very excited to review this .
PACKAGING :
Simple and small size box . Inside consists of the wireless TWS .Accessories include a type C cable, operating manual and warranty card. The unboxing experience is about average.
Configuration of IEM : Hybrid configuration.
Price of IEM : US $19.99 from Tronsmart Amazon official store .
Comfort: Comfort is great. Fitment is great too but it's need use another eartips stock eartips fitment depending by person .
Design : small size TWS .feel very light
BELOW IS PICTURE :
accesories :
manual :
infront box :
backside box :
type c cable :
some eartips .
beautiful design :
PRO:
long playtime ,detail retrieval decent . Type-C charging port . Soundstage wide , 3 EQ support , vocal sweet , IPX5 water resistant
32 hrs playing time , Bluetooth 5.3
CONS:
Stock eartipsfeel doesn't fit secure , treble clarity average , feel slightly sibilance but it can fix by EQ
**Disclaimer : This reviews done by using TRN M size eartips and Realme C11 2021 with UAPP pro
BASS: The bass here is feel texture punchy layered . When I listen to Lovelyz - spotlight , I can feel the sub bass is punchy ,rumbly , layered but doesn't feel bleeding .
MIDS : balanced mids present ,sweet present of female vocal .When i listen to this Female Vocal track called Diana Krall - I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm . I really enjoy the vocal present on here as it is balanced, sweet present here .However I don't feel any sibilance when i exchange EQ . How about male vocals ? male vocal is full bodied ,doesn't bleed and feel sweet also IMO .I really enjoyed the male vocal presence on Jay chou - Qi Li Xiang
HIGH : Treble is feel slightly sibilance with stock EQ after exchange EQ it's smooth . However i think treble can be better extended .
SOUNDSTAGE : it is deep and wide but not tall enough. When listening to the Jay chou - Qi Li Xiang i feel the backgroud is deep and wide
IMAGING : it's about decent .When I listen to Jay chou - Qi Li Xiang ,I can pinpoint the guitar and drum instrument on left and right side , the singer centered on stage with great stereo positioning
Details : detail retrieval here is about decent When I listen to some tracks, I can pick up on the micro-details.
Overall i can recommend this TWS because price is acceptable .
Playtime : up to 32 hrs ..
4 / 5 star .
interesting buy ?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3HYZ427/
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Tronsmart for Sending me this review unit and giving me the opportunity to review the Tronsmart Onyx pure .
This is my few time working with Tronsmart I remember my first time reviewing their Bluetooth wireless speaker called Tronsmart studio Bluetooth wireless speaker .thanks again to them sending me their TWS IEM to me .I'm very excited to review this .
PACKAGING :
Simple and small size box . Inside consists of the wireless TWS .Accessories include a type C cable, operating manual and warranty card. The unboxing experience is about average.
Configuration of IEM : Hybrid configuration.
Price of IEM : US $19.99 from Tronsmart Amazon official store .
Comfort: Comfort is great. Fitment is great too but it's need use another eartips stock eartips fitment depending by person .
Design : small size TWS .feel very light
BELOW IS PICTURE :
accesories :
manual :
infront box :
backside box :
type c cable :
some eartips .
beautiful design :
PRO:
long playtime ,detail retrieval decent . Type-C charging port . Soundstage wide , 3 EQ support , vocal sweet , IPX5 water resistant
32 hrs playing time , Bluetooth 5.3
CONS:
Stock eartipsfeel doesn't fit secure , treble clarity average , feel slightly sibilance but it can fix by EQ
**Disclaimer : This reviews done by using TRN M size eartips and Realme C11 2021 with UAPP pro
BASS: The bass here is feel texture punchy layered . When I listen to Lovelyz - spotlight , I can feel the sub bass is punchy ,rumbly , layered but doesn't feel bleeding .
MIDS : balanced mids present ,sweet present of female vocal .When i listen to this Female Vocal track called Diana Krall - I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm . I really enjoy the vocal present on here as it is balanced, sweet present here .However I don't feel any sibilance when i exchange EQ . How about male vocals ? male vocal is full bodied ,doesn't bleed and feel sweet also IMO .I really enjoyed the male vocal presence on Jay chou - Qi Li Xiang
HIGH : Treble is feel slightly sibilance with stock EQ after exchange EQ it's smooth . However i think treble can be better extended .
SOUNDSTAGE : it is deep and wide but not tall enough. When listening to the Jay chou - Qi Li Xiang i feel the backgroud is deep and wide
IMAGING : it's about decent .When I listen to Jay chou - Qi Li Xiang ,I can pinpoint the guitar and drum instrument on left and right side , the singer centered on stage with great stereo positioning
Details : detail retrieval here is about decent When I listen to some tracks, I can pick up on the micro-details.
Overall i can recommend this TWS because price is acceptable .
Playtime : up to 32 hrs ..
4 / 5 star .
interesting buy ?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3HYZ427/
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: Tronsmart Onyx Pure
Price: MSRP Approx $30
Website: Tronsmart
Review Reference: RC075
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
3 x Pair Eartips
YouTube Review:
Real Life Experience
Welcome to the @regancipher review of @Tronsmart Official latest release, the dual-driver ultra-low-budget Onyx Pure. Currently, they retail at just £15.99 on Amazon UK!
As with past Tronsmart releases, the 'Onyx' represents their value portfolio, with the Pure looking like a refreshed-for-2022 Spunky Beat replacement, bringing hybrid drivers, Bluetooth 5.3 and three built-in EQ modes without the need for reaching for the app, which this release does not support.
Tronsmart's previous dual-armature release, the Onyx Prime, was a fun-sounding, punchy monster, and I wasn't expecting much different from Tronsmart with this release - Tronsmart, like Soundcore, usually reserve an uplifting, bassy sound-signature without too much fuss over refining the details for their price-sensitive buds, and, true to form, that's exactly what Tronsmart have delivered here.....
Unboxing - 6.5/10
Don't expect an Onyx Prime-style unboxing here - with the Onyx Pure retailing at around $30, Tronsmart have cut all of the fat out of this release, trimming down the unboxing experience and user guide to what you would come to expect with buds at the QCY, SoundPEATS and KZ-price point.
The exterior stays true to the Tronsmart branding, with the headline features listed on the front, other key features on the back, and a QR code (taking you to the Tronsmart site) and the contents displayed on the sides.
Once inside, you get a black plastic carton, similar to that inside the Apollo Q10, with the charge case, spare tips, charge cable, warranty card and user manual crammed either in it or around it. Significantly smaller than the Onyx Prime, the manual is condensed down to a pocket-size, monochrome folding booklet, with visuals and text in six different languages. It does a pretty decent job of conveying what the controls and LED's mean, without the 'best in class' visual representations offered by previous releases.
The charge cable and tips are standard, budget-bud fare.
The Case - 7/10
The case is, like most budget cases, finished in matte black, and the front sees the Tronsmart logo screen-printed below a single LED. The LED is a little hard-to-see, but flashes on and off whilst the buds are charging in the case, turning itself off when the buds are at 100%. Plug the case in using the USB-C to A charge cable (the port is located on the bottom of the case) and while it is charging you'll notice it glow red, this time turning to white when between 20-70% full, and green once over the 70% mark. It's nice to have a battery indicator at this price point, albeit somewhat limited in it's delivery.
Flip open the case by locating the lip at the front, and you'll be greeted by a similarly-designed cockpit to the SoundPEATS Mini - the buds slot in the top at an angle, and snap in thanks to the magnets. Whilst the case does support hall-switch mode, connecting the moment you open it, it doesn't have a particularly secure hinge. This means it can from time-to-time snap shut just as you're trying to get the buds in. Fortunately, if they go into single mode, you can switch the dormant bud on by popping it in your ear and holding the multi-function touch control for a few seconds. The case is, therefore, easy enough to open with single handed use, but not especially practical to use in this way.
The case also has a clearing button on the bottom (one click clear) which resets pairing history in the event you have any issues reconnecting.
The 'cheap and cheerful' design renders it very lightweight in terms of footprint (approx. 61mm x 44mm x 24mm at it's widest/tallest/deepest) and in the hand (38.21g). This is comfortably one of the lightest I've reviewed for a while, coming in just over 5g heavier than the smaller SoundPEATS Mini case, but some way lighter than your average TWS case. It's suitably portable for popping in your jeans pocket while you're out and about.
Battery Life - 7/10
The case takes around 90-120 minutes to charge fully. Sadly, there's no quick charge feature - a bit of a disappointment - and no wireless charging, but once fully-charged I got a very respectable 6 hours 12 minutes from the first blast, and between 5 hours 45 and 7 hours for the additional charges. Like always, higher volume and calls will erode the battery life quickly - thankfully, the Pure are reasonably loud.
The Onyx Pure's direct competitors - the SoundPEATS Free2 Classic and QCY T17 - score higher on single use battery life at 8 and 7.5 hours respectively, but beats them both on total playtime at 32 hours, compared with 30 and 26 respectively.
Ergonomics and Design - 7/10
The design of the Onyx Pure is generic and pretty simplistic. The shape is more akin to the Spunky Pro than the original Spunky Beat, with the flat surface ideal for touch controls. Indeed, I found the controls very intuitive with very few accidental touches. Underneath the touch surface is a small LED - this only comes on when pairing/connecting.
On the inside is a pressure release chamber, and the buds are pretty comfortable - the neck doesn't protrude too far into your ear canal (much shorter than the above-pictured SoundPEATS Mini and QCY T17) but is wide enough to give you decent enough isolation without feeling like you're being subjected to an ear lobotomy. However, it is quite bulky - not on the level of the SoundPEATS T2, but like the Mini, it's quite chunky (as you would expect with dual armature drivers).
Even so, it's comfortable enough for prolonged use, and doesn't hang precariously from your ear like the T2 did. Whilst I wouldn't recommend them for side sleepers, they're fine for exercise - thankfully, the buds are IPX5 moisture-resistant, making them more than adequate for workouts or getting caught in a thunderstorm.
The battery connectors do make direct contact with your skin, so if you have nickel allergies, be mindful of this.
The buds weigh 4.27g - slightly heavier than the SoundPEATS Mini and QCY T17, but some way lighter than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94, SoundPEATS T2 and Jabra Elite 75T (similarly-shaped to the Onyx Pure). Regardless, they don't feel lop-sided in terms of weight displacement - fit, longevity and comfort all score highly here.
Audio - 8/10 (for the price paid), 6.5/10 (raw score)
Audio on the Pure is a pleasant surprise given the price. Kick drums on house and pop tracks come through fast and full, and the bass is, whilst a little sloppy, present and full-bodied, without sounding especially detailed.
It is a similar story for the trebles, which, like the SoundPEATS Free2 Classic, are boosted, although can sound a little artificial and coarse, which you can see with the peaks at 5kHz and 8kHz. Tronsmart have avoided an overly-sibilant sound, which was synonymous with their early releases, but to create the impression of an open, airy soundstage, have lifted the higher midrange frequencies, and it is this which, in particular, betrays the absence of any real detail or resolution.
Vocals sound forward, and when listening to house tracks like 'Look Right Through' by Storm Queen, you get a pretty dynamic representation that is enjoyable enough to listen to, without ever pretending to sound analytical. 'Killer' by Seal, a heavily layered track on decent headphones, lacks the depth integral to the orchestral arrangement as you would expect - everything is pretty much front and central, with only shakers, tams and bass guitar taking a minor detour slightly to the sides. Even so, it's still a better experience than many higher-priced releases I've tested over the last few years, which not only sound artificial, but lack any real gusto, something that cannot be levelled at the Onyx Pure.
The Pure have three EQ modes, which are introduced by triple tapping the left earbud. Bass Boost notches the treble, but removes some of the dynamism from drums, sounding a little flat, and Pure lifts the mid-range a little but eats away at the subbass completely. My advice - stick to the default configuration.
Call Quality - Indoors - 6.5/10, Outdoors – 6/10
Calls are doable on the Onyx Pure. When you have no background sound, your voice comes through clear enough, although you'll probably find yourself talking a little louder than usual. Interestingly, the Pure performed better in outdoor tests than busy indoor tests, nullifying ambient sound such as wind and lorries to a 'crackle', but unfortunately, this can bleed into your voice too - it seems regardless of the level of background noise, it does essentially the same thing, so if you're making regular calls, you are probably better looking at a stem-based alternative.
Features
Aside the 3 EQ modes, you aren't getting a load of features with the Onyx Pure. Voice Assistant can be hailed with a triple tap of the right button, EQ with the left. Controls also extend to volume with single taps, and cycling through tracks by holding the left and right buttons for backwards and forwards respectively. Controls are very intuitive and accurate, and when you activate them you either get a voice (power on, power off, bass boost, pure, etc.) or a beep (play, pause, volume, etc).
The buds are not supported by the Tronsmart app, and whilst latency is reasonably good on video rendition, on games it lags a little and would have benefited from a gaming mode option.
The buds use the ATS3015S, a new chipset from Actions Semi from the same family as that used in the JBL C260TWS, amongst others, and provides Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. Connectivity is solid enough, and you're defaulting to the AAC codec on both iOS and Android.
Final Comments
The Onyx Pure aren't going to win any Red Dot awards, and I'm pretty sure that was never Tronsmart's intention - instead you're getting an updated Spunky Beat for 2022, with improved sound, good ergonomics and decent battery life.
Whilst the Onyx Pure may not be for everyone, if you're on a strict budget, they are definitely a more credible option than no-name alternatives on Amazon, offering a fun, punchy sound signature that makes a mockery of it's price tag. Tronsmart have brought a dual-driver configuration to the market and made it accessible to pretty much everyone, without compromising on basic essentials such as battery life and water resistance, and whilst some may contend that the feature-trimming has gone a little too far with no quick charge or gaming mode, at the current price (£16) it is hard to argue with the Onyx Pure's raison-d'être.
Price Weighted Score: 76%
Raw Score: 70%
Comparison to QCY T17 and SoundPEATS Free2 Classic:
At the sub $25 mark, you have plenty of options from unknown brands, but you've also got the likes of QCY offering almost their entire portfolio (AliExpress sales permitting!) as well as the SoundPEATS Free2 Classic. We've already mentioned the battery and size comparisons, but there is really little to choose between when it comes to these models.
Sound on the T17 feels more natural and less edgy than the Onyx Pure, with a smoother low frequency emphasis. The T17 have a nice 'elastic' soundstage which can feel spaced out with low complexity tracks, and then a little warmer once you introduce a more extensive orchestral arrangement. The Free2 Classic, like the Onyx Pure, tries to extend the higher frequencies to give the impression of a more open soundstage, tightening the bass a little to add punch, and they sound very good for it.
Calls are 'different' on the Free2 Classic and T17S, letting through more noise (including your surroundings), but sounding a little more natural. Unfortunately, the T17 belong to the family of QCY products with limited app support, and the Free2 Classic, like the Onyx Pure, are not supported by the vendor's native app. The T17 and Free2 Classic use the Jieli family of chipsets, supporting Bluetooth 5.1, whereas the Onyx Pure gives you 5.3 connectivity thanks to the Actions Semi ATS3015 chip.
In reality, there is little to choose between all three models. I found the T17 the comfiest and closest to my preferred sound signature, but all three have their merits - the Free2Classic in particular have aged well, and remain a solid choice in 2023 on a strict budget.
Tronsmart Review Inventory:
Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro
Tronsmart Bang
Tronsmart Studio
Tronsmart Apollo Air
Tronsmart Battle
Tronsmart Onyx Apex
Tronsmart Apollo Q10
Tronsmart Onyx Free
Tronsmart Apollo Bold
About Tronsmart:
Tronsmart are now fully established as a mid to premium range earbud vendor, with their focus almost solely on audio products - mostly speakers and headphones. Founder Eric Cheng, a self-confessed geek, founded the company with his first paycheck (where was he working?!), building a lab to disassemble audio products with the aim to recreate them in his own vision at a cost-efficient price point.
After bringing in ear-chewing trophy-winning footballer Luis Suarez as an ambassador, the company have gone from strength to strength, building a close relationship with Qualcomm, and bringing two of their chips to market first with the Apollo Bold, and then the Apollo Air, which uses the Qualcomm QCC3046.
For speakers, the range is now almost as extensive as their earbuds, ranging from 7, 10 and 15w mini speakers through to the 60w Force Pro and Mega Pro.
Tronsmart remain one of my favourite mid-tier vendors, outrunning their budget competitors by releasing flagship products alongside the run-of-the-mill releases, and demonstrating transparency and commitment to quality and innovation with every release.
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: Tronsmart Onyx Pure
Price: MSRP Approx $30
Website: Tronsmart
Review Reference: RC075
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Tronsmart
- Model: Onyx Pure
- Driver: Dual-Driver Dynamic / Balanced Armature
- Chipset: Actions Semi ATS3015S
- Mic: 2
- ANC: No
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: No
- Volume Control: Yes
- Gaming Mode: No
- Earbud Weight: 4.27g
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 38.21g
- Case Dimensions: 61mm (width) x 43mm (height) x 25mm (depth)
- Quick Charge: No
- Wireless Charging: No
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 7 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 32 hours
- Charge Capacity: 400mAh
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX5
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
3 x Pair Eartips
YouTube Review:
Real Life Experience
Welcome to the @regancipher review of @Tronsmart Official latest release, the dual-driver ultra-low-budget Onyx Pure. Currently, they retail at just £15.99 on Amazon UK!
As with past Tronsmart releases, the 'Onyx' represents their value portfolio, with the Pure looking like a refreshed-for-2022 Spunky Beat replacement, bringing hybrid drivers, Bluetooth 5.3 and three built-in EQ modes without the need for reaching for the app, which this release does not support.
Tronsmart's previous dual-armature release, the Onyx Prime, was a fun-sounding, punchy monster, and I wasn't expecting much different from Tronsmart with this release - Tronsmart, like Soundcore, usually reserve an uplifting, bassy sound-signature without too much fuss over refining the details for their price-sensitive buds, and, true to form, that's exactly what Tronsmart have delivered here.....
Unboxing - 6.5/10
Don't expect an Onyx Prime-style unboxing here - with the Onyx Pure retailing at around $30, Tronsmart have cut all of the fat out of this release, trimming down the unboxing experience and user guide to what you would come to expect with buds at the QCY, SoundPEATS and KZ-price point.
The exterior stays true to the Tronsmart branding, with the headline features listed on the front, other key features on the back, and a QR code (taking you to the Tronsmart site) and the contents displayed on the sides.
Once inside, you get a black plastic carton, similar to that inside the Apollo Q10, with the charge case, spare tips, charge cable, warranty card and user manual crammed either in it or around it. Significantly smaller than the Onyx Prime, the manual is condensed down to a pocket-size, monochrome folding booklet, with visuals and text in six different languages. It does a pretty decent job of conveying what the controls and LED's mean, without the 'best in class' visual representations offered by previous releases.
The charge cable and tips are standard, budget-bud fare.
The Case - 7/10
The case is, like most budget cases, finished in matte black, and the front sees the Tronsmart logo screen-printed below a single LED. The LED is a little hard-to-see, but flashes on and off whilst the buds are charging in the case, turning itself off when the buds are at 100%. Plug the case in using the USB-C to A charge cable (the port is located on the bottom of the case) and while it is charging you'll notice it glow red, this time turning to white when between 20-70% full, and green once over the 70% mark. It's nice to have a battery indicator at this price point, albeit somewhat limited in it's delivery.
Flip open the case by locating the lip at the front, and you'll be greeted by a similarly-designed cockpit to the SoundPEATS Mini - the buds slot in the top at an angle, and snap in thanks to the magnets. Whilst the case does support hall-switch mode, connecting the moment you open it, it doesn't have a particularly secure hinge. This means it can from time-to-time snap shut just as you're trying to get the buds in. Fortunately, if they go into single mode, you can switch the dormant bud on by popping it in your ear and holding the multi-function touch control for a few seconds. The case is, therefore, easy enough to open with single handed use, but not especially practical to use in this way.
The case also has a clearing button on the bottom (one click clear) which resets pairing history in the event you have any issues reconnecting.
The 'cheap and cheerful' design renders it very lightweight in terms of footprint (approx. 61mm x 44mm x 24mm at it's widest/tallest/deepest) and in the hand (38.21g). This is comfortably one of the lightest I've reviewed for a while, coming in just over 5g heavier than the smaller SoundPEATS Mini case, but some way lighter than your average TWS case. It's suitably portable for popping in your jeans pocket while you're out and about.
Battery Life - 7/10
The case takes around 90-120 minutes to charge fully. Sadly, there's no quick charge feature - a bit of a disappointment - and no wireless charging, but once fully-charged I got a very respectable 6 hours 12 minutes from the first blast, and between 5 hours 45 and 7 hours for the additional charges. Like always, higher volume and calls will erode the battery life quickly - thankfully, the Pure are reasonably loud.
The Onyx Pure's direct competitors - the SoundPEATS Free2 Classic and QCY T17 - score higher on single use battery life at 8 and 7.5 hours respectively, but beats them both on total playtime at 32 hours, compared with 30 and 26 respectively.
Ergonomics and Design - 7/10
The design of the Onyx Pure is generic and pretty simplistic. The shape is more akin to the Spunky Pro than the original Spunky Beat, with the flat surface ideal for touch controls. Indeed, I found the controls very intuitive with very few accidental touches. Underneath the touch surface is a small LED - this only comes on when pairing/connecting.
On the inside is a pressure release chamber, and the buds are pretty comfortable - the neck doesn't protrude too far into your ear canal (much shorter than the above-pictured SoundPEATS Mini and QCY T17) but is wide enough to give you decent enough isolation without feeling like you're being subjected to an ear lobotomy. However, it is quite bulky - not on the level of the SoundPEATS T2, but like the Mini, it's quite chunky (as you would expect with dual armature drivers).
Even so, it's comfortable enough for prolonged use, and doesn't hang precariously from your ear like the T2 did. Whilst I wouldn't recommend them for side sleepers, they're fine for exercise - thankfully, the buds are IPX5 moisture-resistant, making them more than adequate for workouts or getting caught in a thunderstorm.
The battery connectors do make direct contact with your skin, so if you have nickel allergies, be mindful of this.
The buds weigh 4.27g - slightly heavier than the SoundPEATS Mini and QCY T17, but some way lighter than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94, SoundPEATS T2 and Jabra Elite 75T (similarly-shaped to the Onyx Pure). Regardless, they don't feel lop-sided in terms of weight displacement - fit, longevity and comfort all score highly here.
Audio - 8/10 (for the price paid), 6.5/10 (raw score)
Audio on the Pure is a pleasant surprise given the price. Kick drums on house and pop tracks come through fast and full, and the bass is, whilst a little sloppy, present and full-bodied, without sounding especially detailed.
It is a similar story for the trebles, which, like the SoundPEATS Free2 Classic, are boosted, although can sound a little artificial and coarse, which you can see with the peaks at 5kHz and 8kHz. Tronsmart have avoided an overly-sibilant sound, which was synonymous with their early releases, but to create the impression of an open, airy soundstage, have lifted the higher midrange frequencies, and it is this which, in particular, betrays the absence of any real detail or resolution.
Vocals sound forward, and when listening to house tracks like 'Look Right Through' by Storm Queen, you get a pretty dynamic representation that is enjoyable enough to listen to, without ever pretending to sound analytical. 'Killer' by Seal, a heavily layered track on decent headphones, lacks the depth integral to the orchestral arrangement as you would expect - everything is pretty much front and central, with only shakers, tams and bass guitar taking a minor detour slightly to the sides. Even so, it's still a better experience than many higher-priced releases I've tested over the last few years, which not only sound artificial, but lack any real gusto, something that cannot be levelled at the Onyx Pure.
The Pure have three EQ modes, which are introduced by triple tapping the left earbud. Bass Boost notches the treble, but removes some of the dynamism from drums, sounding a little flat, and Pure lifts the mid-range a little but eats away at the subbass completely. My advice - stick to the default configuration.
Call Quality - Indoors - 6.5/10, Outdoors – 6/10
Calls are doable on the Onyx Pure. When you have no background sound, your voice comes through clear enough, although you'll probably find yourself talking a little louder than usual. Interestingly, the Pure performed better in outdoor tests than busy indoor tests, nullifying ambient sound such as wind and lorries to a 'crackle', but unfortunately, this can bleed into your voice too - it seems regardless of the level of background noise, it does essentially the same thing, so if you're making regular calls, you are probably better looking at a stem-based alternative.
Features
Aside the 3 EQ modes, you aren't getting a load of features with the Onyx Pure. Voice Assistant can be hailed with a triple tap of the right button, EQ with the left. Controls also extend to volume with single taps, and cycling through tracks by holding the left and right buttons for backwards and forwards respectively. Controls are very intuitive and accurate, and when you activate them you either get a voice (power on, power off, bass boost, pure, etc.) or a beep (play, pause, volume, etc).
The buds are not supported by the Tronsmart app, and whilst latency is reasonably good on video rendition, on games it lags a little and would have benefited from a gaming mode option.
The buds use the ATS3015S, a new chipset from Actions Semi from the same family as that used in the JBL C260TWS, amongst others, and provides Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. Connectivity is solid enough, and you're defaulting to the AAC codec on both iOS and Android.
Final Comments
The Onyx Pure aren't going to win any Red Dot awards, and I'm pretty sure that was never Tronsmart's intention - instead you're getting an updated Spunky Beat for 2022, with improved sound, good ergonomics and decent battery life.
Whilst the Onyx Pure may not be for everyone, if you're on a strict budget, they are definitely a more credible option than no-name alternatives on Amazon, offering a fun, punchy sound signature that makes a mockery of it's price tag. Tronsmart have brought a dual-driver configuration to the market and made it accessible to pretty much everyone, without compromising on basic essentials such as battery life and water resistance, and whilst some may contend that the feature-trimming has gone a little too far with no quick charge or gaming mode, at the current price (£16) it is hard to argue with the Onyx Pure's raison-d'être.
Price Weighted Score: 76%
Raw Score: 70%
Comparison to QCY T17 and SoundPEATS Free2 Classic:
At the sub $25 mark, you have plenty of options from unknown brands, but you've also got the likes of QCY offering almost their entire portfolio (AliExpress sales permitting!) as well as the SoundPEATS Free2 Classic. We've already mentioned the battery and size comparisons, but there is really little to choose between when it comes to these models.
Sound on the T17 feels more natural and less edgy than the Onyx Pure, with a smoother low frequency emphasis. The T17 have a nice 'elastic' soundstage which can feel spaced out with low complexity tracks, and then a little warmer once you introduce a more extensive orchestral arrangement. The Free2 Classic, like the Onyx Pure, tries to extend the higher frequencies to give the impression of a more open soundstage, tightening the bass a little to add punch, and they sound very good for it.
Calls are 'different' on the Free2 Classic and T17S, letting through more noise (including your surroundings), but sounding a little more natural. Unfortunately, the T17 belong to the family of QCY products with limited app support, and the Free2 Classic, like the Onyx Pure, are not supported by the vendor's native app. The T17 and Free2 Classic use the Jieli family of chipsets, supporting Bluetooth 5.1, whereas the Onyx Pure gives you 5.3 connectivity thanks to the Actions Semi ATS3015 chip.
In reality, there is little to choose between all three models. I found the T17 the comfiest and closest to my preferred sound signature, but all three have their merits - the Free2Classic in particular have aged well, and remain a solid choice in 2023 on a strict budget.
Tronsmart Review Inventory:
Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro
Tronsmart Bang
Tronsmart Studio
Tronsmart Apollo Air
Tronsmart Battle
Tronsmart Onyx Apex
Tronsmart Apollo Q10
Tronsmart Onyx Free
Tronsmart Apollo Bold
About Tronsmart:
Tronsmart are now fully established as a mid to premium range earbud vendor, with their focus almost solely on audio products - mostly speakers and headphones. Founder Eric Cheng, a self-confessed geek, founded the company with his first paycheck (where was he working?!), building a lab to disassemble audio products with the aim to recreate them in his own vision at a cost-efficient price point.
After bringing in ear-chewing trophy-winning footballer Luis Suarez as an ambassador, the company have gone from strength to strength, building a close relationship with Qualcomm, and bringing two of their chips to market first with the Apollo Bold, and then the Apollo Air, which uses the Qualcomm QCC3046.
For speakers, the range is now almost as extensive as their earbuds, ranging from 7, 10 and 15w mini speakers through to the 60w Force Pro and Mega Pro.
Tronsmart remain one of my favourite mid-tier vendors, outrunning their budget competitors by releasing flagship products alongside the run-of-the-mill releases, and demonstrating transparency and commitment to quality and innovation with every release.
