
Intro
While some may recommend budget $20 IEMs like Xiaomi Pistons or the 8$ Monoprice 9927, I have found 30-40$ to be the sweetspot if wanting to spend little as cash possible for something good. Such price gets you an IEM like this one, which not only has a great sound for it's price, it is well rounded in construction, ergonomics and isolation. In this price range, the only other IEMs I could think of that are on par in sound, are Sony MH1, SteelSeries Flux IE and ZA Tenore [this price range also seems to the home of the microdrivers]. But it's all about the whole package here, as the T1E are better constructed than all the IEMs just mentioned, while having good isolation and ergonomics to boot. With the introduction of these IEMs, TTPOD garnered quite the attention here at Head-fi and for good reasons.

photo credit:massdrop.com
History
TTPOD T1E uses a dual micro-driver design. Each microdriver is 6.2mm in a unilateral formation, tweeter on top, woofer on the bottom. This design was first introduced with the JVC FXT90 [pictured on the far left below]. In addition to being the first of it's kind, it was one of the very few dual-dynamics at the time and was received quite positively. Fast forward sometime and company MOE introduces it's SS01 [pictured in the middle], which not only had a lower price, it proved to have better sound than the previous FXT90. Then comes in TTPOD with their T1 which introduces an almost identical design to the MOE, but didn't quite the get attention the company perhaps hoped for. This is when T1E comes in [Pictured on the far right],"E" for "Enhanced Bass", the missing puzzle piece in the sound, which would garner quite the attention. These 3 IEMs share the same "DNA" and you can pretty much call them siblings. While the FXT90 is still quite original, the SS01 and T1E look identical in the front of their housings, but the back portions give each IEM their originality. I believe these 3 all share the same OEM driver configuration, with each company giving their take on the sound. Here you can see that the SS01 and FXT90 have the same exactly resonance points, with the SS01 having deeper bass and smoother treble. I suspect the graph of the TTPOD T1E will also share the same resonant points, with a sound more akin to the SS01, with perhaps smoother treble and less midbass. I haven't personally heard the SS01 and it's been so long since I heard the FXT90. I would say that from memory, the T1E has less midbass, more subbass, more forward midrange and smoother treble than the FXT90. Considering the T1E is about half the price of a FXT90 and quite a good amount less than the SS01, with tuning better than the former and perhaps on-par or better than the latter, TTPOD is doing quite well....


Accessories and Packaging
T1E comes in quite a nice box package, presentation is quite nice. In it, you will find tips and a soft carrying pouch [pictured below]. Tips included are a set of colored tips with a wide bore [tip opening] in 3 sizes, smaller bore tips in 3 sizes and generic wide bore tips in 3 sizes. Shirt clip is pre-installed and will come in quite handy for the design of this IEM [more on this later]. All in all, I'll say the accessories are solid. The shirt clip is helpful and well build and the colored tips can't be bought separately, which gives them more value. I would have preferred a hard zippered carrying pouch but the fact that they include so many tips means these are well accessorized.

photo cred [massdrop.com]
Build Quality
First off the housing has this transparent design [even the black ones pictures below], which gives it quite the aesthetic appeal [in 5 different colors!] and the cable is solidly built. The housings are made of plastic, which makes it look cheap in comparison to the similarity priced Zero Audio Tenore, though housing still feels solid and wields a much better than the mentioned. While it may be somewhat stiff and carries memory, it's cable feels far more duable than most cables in this price range. Nozzle has a metal mesh which is well built and has two metal bolts on the back of it's housing, which add to it's looks [though both apparent vents are apparently closed]. Strain reliefs on the cable look underwhelming but luckily the cable should hold up well. To note, the plug is quite big, but should still do well for phone cases as it's design makes up for it's size, with a aiding cap right above the jack. To note, the cable is actually 6N silver plated copper, a configuration only found in much pricier IEMs like the GR07. All in all, the T1E built pretty well for it's price range, IEMs like the Tenore and Flux In-Ear aren't as impressive with their fragile cables.

photo credit: massdrop.com
Comfort and Isolation
While this IEM may resemble the much higher-priced Sennheiser IE800, it's housing is actually almost twice it's size. The housing on this IEM is quite big and it's nozzle is short. Therefore, expect a shallow fit this IEM, which does allow it to be comfortable despite it's size, but will also make it insecure in the ear if a good seal isn't achieved. Because of it's design, wearing them over the ear just isn't as practical, though luckily the included shirt clip is quite helpful in eliminating cable noise when worn straight down. I personally didn't have any luck with the included tips and opted for
Comply TSX400 which have a mesh inside the tip, taming the midhighs a bit. A thing to note is that this IEM sticks out a very good amount outside of the ear due to big housings and shallow fit, definitely not one to be worn when laying on your side.
Isolation is a big above average. While it may appear to have ports in the back, the housing is actually all closed, though what limits it's isolation is it's shallow fit. If the reference, Etymotic ER4 isolates about -43db
[IF graph result], the T1E is at -25to-30db. Overall, I find it's isolation practical for commuting, though I'll want a bit more if I were somewhere really noisy.
Sound Quality
I've heard some describe these as v-shaped in sound, but I found them quite a bit midrange forward. The bass while punchy never exerts authority and it's treble has quite the sparkle, but the focus is a bit on the lower midrange and accentuated midhighs. To note, TTPOD makes quite the claims in configuration, with a German bio-membrane diaphragm and less than 1db difference between channels, i hope the channel matching can be confirmed with future measurements. Efficiency on this IEM is quite good, I found it to get loud enough on my iPhone even on quiet recordings, more efficient than the likes of Sony MH1, Zero Audio Tenore and Flux In-Ear. I chose to use Comply TSX400 because it tames it's midhighs and keeps it's treble extension quite well, Comply S200's taming of bass didn't work well for this IEM as it's bass is midbass oriented.
[Listening set up: Shallow fit, Comply TSX400>iPhone 6]
bass: While it's bass may be "enhanced", I found it to be much less in quantity than I expected. I actually found it to lack a bit of subbass, missing some rumble in the low end. But it's midbass was indeed quite enhanced over a neutral response, but far less than a bass bloated IEM such as the Xiaomi Pistons. Perhaps about 4-6db above neutral in it's midbass at 150 with a gentle roll-off starting at about 90hz. Overall, the bass on the T1E is quite punchy and full energy and controlled, but doesn't quite the rumble of some IEMs with similar or less midbass.
midrange: I actually found the range quite in your face here. I suspect, these are well tuned in the most important 3k region, giving the midrange the presence needed. Lower midrange does have a tint of warmth due to it's midbass but at the same time the sound can sound a bit nasal due to enhanced higher mids in the 1-2k regions. I found this combination did make for quite the midrange, as it can sound quite in your face at times. Luckily, the midrange is quite detailed and clear despite these criticisms.
treble: Here, the lower treble [5k region] is a bit accentuated. I personally did find it a bit sibilant at times, but was remedied by tip rolling. I used
Comply TSX400 which have a damper inside which help tame the midhighs. The stock wide bore tips were too sibilant for my taste, so I slightly preferred the stock tips with the smaller opening. Higher treble is much softer in comparison, but does have a good amount of energy and sparkle for cymbals, though it does start to roll off past 10k, thus lacking some air in the very high regions.
Zero Audio Tenore Comparison: Here I'm comparing the T1E to what I consider, the best sounding IEM in it's price range bar-none. Bass on the Tenore has a similar punch but carries more weight, sounding a bit more natural in comparison, though requires tips like the Comply S200 to sound more refined as the foam tames the bass. T1E sounds softer but it's midbass has more punch, but it also warms up the lower midrange a bit more, though it's clearer when the Tenore uses silicone tips. midrange is more forward on the T1E though not by much. Midrange placement is more natural on the Tenore, as the T1E can sound a bit nasal/honky at times. Higher mids are more forward on the T1E which makes it more prone to sibilance and it lacks the air and treble extension of the Tenore. On the other hand, the treble also has more sparkle and energy making it a bit more engaging. Soundstage is wider on the Tenore but the T1E's intimacy can be preferred at times. While it may seem like the Tenores pull ahead, I'll say overall, the T1E just doesn't do anything terribly wrong in comparison and stays on par for the most part. While I give the slight nod to the Tenore in every aspect, the T1E isn't too far behind and it's an overall better package due to better build, it's cable won't give out nearly as quickly as the Tenores...
Xiaomi Pistons 2.0 Comparison: Here the Pistons just give out too much bass in comparison. Both the subbass an midbass are enhanced a bit much in comparison to the T1E, making it muddier and less clear. The midrange is more forward on the T1E but the slightly more laid back Piston mirange sounds a bit more natural here, but it also sounds less clear due to the muffled lower midrange. The midhighs and treble are surprisingly quite similar, but I found the Pistons to be more prone to sibilance with more grain throughout the higher frequencies. Both roll off past 10k and lack some air. While the Pistons had a wider soundstage the placement of instruments was much clearer on the T1E. Overall, the T1E simply wins, it's bass is much more in-line with the rest of the frequencies and the higher frequencies are more refined. To boot, it has better build, isolation and comfort, so I don't see the point of spending less for the Pistons, the 10-15$ price increase for the T1E is a far better investment.
Generally I like to listen to this IEM at moderate or lower volumes, this is an IEM that gets a bit shouty and fuzzy at higher volume levels, luckily you can listen to it loud enough for it to be fun. This IEM has an intimate soundstage, don't expect anything grand, but imaging and depth are good. While it may not go very low or very high in the extremities of audio, this IEM has quite the energy in between. Regardless, this criticism is compared to full range dynamics, the T1E still has better bandwidth than any other single Balanced Armature I've heard to date, which includes the likes of the Etymotic ER4. With a sound that's clear, coherent and engaging, it's easy to recommend, specially for it's price.

Here is my apparent perception of the T1E's response. To note, the peaks here can be located elsewhere past 7k, due to difference in insertion depth. As you can see, while there is quite the bass hump, because it is located in the upper subbass, this IEM remains quite clear. I find that there is some low sub-bass missing but it's not too bad. There is a 3k peak which makes things quite crunchy, but also a bit edgy. Also to note is that the latter two peaks are tamed with tips quite well, but the 3k peak seemed to remain for me. Treble rolls off past 10k, so it lacks some air.
[ When I EQ this IEM I place a 3-4 db drop at 200hz with 1Q and decrease the 3k region to about -3db with a 4Q, -2db at 10k with a 1Q. I use Equalizer in iOS]
Conclusion
Despite not necessarily having a sound signature fit to my preferences, this is an IEM I could see myself recommend. My main complains are it's big size and limited bandwidth, but it just gets so many things right for it's price. TTPOD has set quite the example here with the pricing, JVC and MOE just don't give you this much value for your money. All in all, these belong in a handful of IEMs I still keep on my mind because they are in the top ranks in it's price range, easily recommended!
notable links:
official site
ttpod head-fi thread
purchase link [Currently on 2/23/2015 on MassDrop, great warranty support, 2 days left!!]