The discovery thread!

[helloh3adfi]

TRN actually provided detailed phase of burn-in sessions I may give it a try.

ROFL. That's probably an instruction on how to cultivate your IEMs!

 

[AmericanSpirit]

ROFL. That's probably an instruction on how to cultivate your IEMs!

It has Kung-Fu stage which initially confused me But I like seeing those specific virtues for a certain culture.

 

[G777]

TRN X7 arrived. It was $29 USD.

wow! Outlook is very highend, and I’m a sucker for full-resin filled IEM because it simply looks great. Faceplate is nice too.

Will update impression notes on this post.


As I read several reports that X7 strangely acts differently by aging which is pretty rare for a BA IEM, but I also see on X7’s instructions recommending 10-72 hours of “warm up”, I may give it a try.

TRN actually provided detailed phase of burn-in sessions I may give it a try.


Initial 30 sec impression,
As expected X7 is red labled “near extinction ” mid-centric IEM!

TL;DR
TRN X7 is tuned to present a “gentle and round touch” coloration, with pretty flat bass floor and mid-centric tonal balance back up by properly placed Bellsing 7BAs, which surprisingly do not show any sign of “grainy” bellsing signature at all. I believe this is what TRN tried to present, but mid-centric full-BA IEMs are less desired from the current market, ended up TRN to conduct a wagon sale for bare minimum
cost of $29. A good and fun IEM to play with for someone got bored of Harman or V-tuned, bass-rolled IEMs

I actually respect TRN’s challenging spirit of presenting some non-mainstream tuning, a mid-centric IEM with bold heart. X7 actually does its Mid-centric specialist job as intended Definitely a great and unique one to keep eyes on.

▶︎Vast majority of people would classify this tuning as “muddy” as X7 has rolled off treble, I actually wanted some Mid-centric IEM that’s not bass-dominant (unlike GS Audio ST10 or KZ AST) , and X7 is exactly exactly I was looking

▶︎Soft touch as majority of tonal balance is mid focused, I will ear tip roll and cable roll to find a best match condition

▶︎Basic technicalities are limited for upper registers, but mid-technical expressions on X7 is quite satisfying

▶︎Bass Floor is very gentle, near monitor like flat when compared to vast majority of sub$100 segment.

▶︎Good collection for odd-ball lover

Thanks to squiink projec, FR is graphed!

I also have the X7. Definitely departure of the usual U-shaped tuning, but I've noticed that I was able to pick up nuances in vocals easier (probably due to its odd 1.5kHz emphasis). It does sound less natural though, especially when switching to it from a more Harman-tuned IEM.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

I also have the X7. Definitely departure of the usual U-shaped tuning, but I've noticed that I was able to pick up nuances in vocals easier (probably due to its odd 1.5kHz emphasis). It does sound less natural though, especially when switching to it from a more Harman-tuned IEM.

Glad to see another X7 comrade

Yes X7 is very uniquely nicely tuned for vocals, and easy-listening style tracks like this.


It’s colored, and is an audience picky mid-focused, but definitely not too dark or bass rolled, nice balance TRN has done to X7.

I’d personally find this kind of tuning matches to Ambient and harsh sounding Asian pop songs, if brain takes too much of treble info before sleeping, it will be overly stimulate, so this X7 is I feel a great sleep prep IEM that has solid technical BAs.

 

[o0genesis0o]

It's much more frustrating to find yourself with a budget 4k that sounds the same as a budget of €50, and even more frustrating to read wonderful reviews of that 4k and condescending reviews of €50.... but that's the hobby, everyone has their own ears and their own tastes.....

More and more I believe that the price itself is a property of head-fi gear, not just an arbitrary label slapping on the product. Simply put, you put in more money, you value the product more. Kilobuck is not a price bracket. It’s a very real property of an IEM.

I mean, haven’t we seen / heard mediocre products propping up by the kilobuck price, which forces their buyers to be vocals about how you need to listen to them just right, sometimes with a magical cable or an SP3000 DAP or tube amp to “unlock” their “magic?

Would the Monarch or U12t be that revered without their price tags? Would they still be “King of IEMs” or “good for the price”?

I’m writing these as I listen to the AFUL P5 to review. Besides the soundstage size, the biggest fault of these is the $200 price tag. Slap a price tag of, say, $800 and suddenly you hear people saying “Monarch killer” rather than “good for the price”.

Of course, it’s not always the case that high price commands reverence. Certain circles worship budget “well-measured” products, possibly to prove that “I’m very smart, you stupid” against the fanatical audiophiles (the type above). There, price has reverse relationship with sound quality, in order to fit the belief that anyone buying expensive audio products are dumb.

Sometimes, novelty and friendship can break the hold of price as well (look at the recent resurgence of flathead earbuds).

 

[FranQL]

More and more I believe that the price itself is a property of head-fi gear, not just an arbitrary label slapping on the product. Simply put, you put in more money, you value the product more. Kilobuck is not a price bracket. It’s a very real property of an IEM.

I mean, haven’t we seen / heard mediocre products propping up by the kilobuck price, which forces their buyers to be vocals about how you need to listen to them just right, sometimes with a magical cable or an SP3000 DAP or tube amp to “unlock” their “magic?

Would the Monarch or U12t be that revered without their price tags? Would they still be “King of IEMs” or “good for the price”?

I’m writing these as I listen to the AFUL P5 to review. Besides the soundstage size, the biggest fault of these is the $200 price tag. Slap a price tag of, say, $800 and suddenly you hear people saying “Monarch killer” rather than “good for the price”.

Of course, it’s not always the case that high price commands reverence. Certain circles worship budget “well-measured” products, possibly to prove that “I’m very smart, you stupid” against the fanatical audiophiles (the type above). There, price has reverse relationship with sound quality, in order to fit the belief that anyone buying expensive audio products are dumb.

Sometimes, novelty and friendship can break the hold of price as well (look at the recent resurgence of flathead earbuds).

Speaking of buds... you should listen to this wonder (it's my last DIY)... hearing things like that for a ridiculous price is something I feel very very lucky for.

 

[o0genesis0o]

Speaking of buds... you should listen to this wonder.... hearing things like that for a ridiculous price is something I feel very very lucky for.

Which buds are those?

 

[FranQL]

Which buds are those?

a diy bud, biocomposite diaphragm that can offer a just amazing sound (IMO of course).

 

[o0genesis0o]

a diy bud, biocomposite diaphragm that can offer a just amazing sound (IMO of course).

Are those drivers from Smabat? And no bass holes or anything?

You should release those FranBuds one day. JAnonymous and others speaks highly of them.

 

[baskingshark]

As I read several reports that X7 strangely acts differently by aging which is pretty rare for a BA IEM, but I also see on X7’s instructions recommending 10-72 hours of “warm up”, I may give it a try.

TRN actually provided detailed phase of burn-in sessions I may give it a try.

I have seen manufacturers recommending 200 hours burn in LOL!

Smells like a manufacturer "get out of jail card". By the time the burn in is completed, the returns window for the IEM is long closed, or a new hypetrain would have arrived in the mail box haha.



FWIW, I know burn in is a big source of conflict on forums (similar to cable believers versus detractors), and I respect both camps. Personally, I am ambivalent to burn in, but I do as a matter of fact burn in my IEMs before reviewing them, no harm in a way. But 200 hours burn in? Is that a mega overkill? I don't think that 200 hours will make a golden swan out of an ugly duckling, and there won't be huge night and day differences in the tuning.

 

[PhonoPhi]

TRN X7 arrived. It was $29 USD.

wow! Outlook is very highend, and I’m a sucker for full-resin filled IEM because it simply looks great. Faceplate is nice too.

Will update impression notes on this post.


As I read several reports that X7 strangely acts differently by aging which is pretty rare for a BA IEM, but I also see on X7’s instructions recommending 10-72 hours of “warm up”, I may give it a try.

TRN actually provided detailed phase of burn-in sessions I may give it a try.


Initial 30 sec impression,
As expected X7 is red labled “near extinction ” mid-centric IEM!

TL;DR
TRN X7 is tuned to present a “gentle and round touch” coloration, with pretty flat bass floor and mid-centric tonal balance back up by properly placed Bellsing 7BAs, which surprisingly do not show any sign of “grainy” bellsing signature at all. I believe this is what TRN tried to present, but mid-centric full-BA IEMs are less desired from the current market, ended up TRN to conduct a wagon sale for bare minimum
cost of $29. A good and fun IEM to play with for someone got bored of Harman or V-tuned, bass-rolled IEMs

I actually respect TRN’s challenging spirit of presenting some non-mainstream tuning, a mid-centric IEM with bold heart. X7 actually does its Mid-centric specialist job as intended Definitely a great and unique one to keep eyes on.

▶︎Vast majority of people would classify this tuning as “muddy” as X7 has rolled off treble, I actually wanted some Mid-centric IEM that’s not bass-dominant (unlike GS Audio ST10 or KZ AST) , and X7 is exactly exactly I was looking

▶︎Soft touch as majority of tonal balance is mid focused, I will ear tip roll and cable roll to find a best match condition >> Ear Tips (Feaulle Latex H570, opens up diffuse field a bit further pushing down the bass floor to Monitor-flat yet retain bass “thump”)

▶︎Basic technicalities are limited for upper registers, but mid-technical expressions on X7 is quite satisfying

▶︎Bass Floor is very gentle, near monitor like flat when compared to vast majority of sub$100 segment.

▶︎Good collection for odd-ball lover

Thanks to squiink projec, FR is graphed!

There are more rare (TRN quietly pulled it out of the market) and one of the most uniquely tuned, all-resin all-BA TRN X6
(I thought to possibly offer it for $100, but I would rather keep them despite their wobbly connectors)
That brings us to the legendary QC of TRN!
They may become better (hopefully), yet I most definitely opted not to experience them in any form (even as spare parts, as cost-effective as they are) after T3 silly soldering failure.

It's much more frustrating to find yourself with a budget 4k that sounds the same as a budget of €50, and even more frustrating to read wonderful reviews of that 4k and condescending reviews of €50.... but that's the hobby, everyone has their own ears and their own tastes.....

So true!
Your own tastes should guide your quest.
Again, my worst purchases was based on those "unbiased" reviews. I learned.

I would love one day seeing fancy shelled KZs send to teviewers as "mid HiFi" or TOTLs, as well as TOTLs rebranded as KZ or CCA.
It would have been hilarious, undoubtedly, considering "graphene" difference in cables can be perceived purely based on some "herd mentality". Graphene (a single-layer sp2 carbon in its proper definition) is just the most chuckleable of those multiple cable perceptions.

The selection of the reviewers in this hobby is clearly along the hype and heard mentality.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

There are more rare (TRN quietly pulled it out of the market) and one of the most uniquely tuned, all-resin all-BA TRN X6
(I thought to possibly offer it for $100, but I would rather keep them despite their wobbly connectors)
That brings us to the legendary QC of TRN!
They may become better (hopefully), yet I most definitely opted not to experience them in any form (even as spare parts, as cost-effective as they are) after T3 silly soldering failure.


So true!
Your own tastes should guide your quest.
Again, my worst purchases was based on those "unbiased" reviews. I learned.

I would love one day seeing fancy shelled KZs send to teviewers as "mid HiFi" or TOTLs, as well as TOTLs rebranded as KZ or CCA.
It would have been hilarious, undoubtedly, considering "graphene" difference in cables can be perceived purely based on some "herd mentality". Graphene (a single-layer sp2 carbon in its proper definition) is just the most chuckleable of those multiple cable perceptions.

The selection of the reviewers in this hobby is clearly along the hype and heard mentality.

Yea I read about X6, it looks like it was TRN’s first full-BA attempt and they seemed had hard time for Bass BA tuning with X6.

X7‘s build is very solid, so they are maturing in full-BA know-hows it seems.

I had a disappointment on TRN VX Pro as it wasn’t any significant change from old VX, but this X7 is something new from TRN and quite unique tuning they’ve offered.

I‘m personally looking forward to another mid-specialized X8 after having X7.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

More and more I believe that the price itself is a property of head-fi gear, not just an arbitrary label slapping on the product. Simply put, you put in more money, you value the product more. Kilobuck is not a price bracket. It’s a very real property of an IEM.

I mean, haven’t we seen / heard mediocre products propping up by the kilobuck price, which forces their buyers to be vocals about how you need to listen to them just right, sometimes with a magical cable or an SP3000 DAP or tube amp to “unlock” their “magic?

Would the Monarch or U12t be that revered without their price tags? Would they still be “King of IEMs” or “good for the price”?

I’m writing these as I listen to the AFUL P5 to review. Besides the soundstage size, the biggest fault of these is the $200 price tag. Slap a price tag of, say, $800 and suddenly you hear people saying “Monarch killer” rather than “good for the price”.

Of course, it’s not always the case that high price commands reverence. Certain circles worship budget “well-measured” products, possibly to prove that “I’m very smart, you stupid” against the fanatical audiophiles (the type above). There, price has reverse relationship with sound quality, in order to fit the belief that anyone buying expensive audio products are dumb.

Sometimes, novelty and friendship can break the hold of price as well (look at the recent resurgence of flathead earbuds).

Yea pricing is a proper value addition strategy of any product.
I do feel P5 with HS18 is very nice IEM and It’s better tuned than Blessing 2 and Dusk, with very unique bass woofer that produces very deep and high density bass resonance.
If being slapped Elysian tag it maybe sold at $1,299

Good part of this hobby is that we have many common reference gadget and after you find “trustable” reviewers we somehow can apply triangulation to estimate the potentials of unheard IEMs.

 

[PhonoPhi]

Yea I read about X6, it looks like it was TRN’s first full-BA attempt and they seemed hard hard time for Bass BA tuning with X6.

X7‘s build is very solid, so they are maturing in full-BA know-hows it seems.

I had a disappointment on TRN VX Pro as it wasn’t any significant change from old VX, but this X7 is something new from TRN and quite unique tuning they’ve offered.

I‘m personally looking forward to another mid-specialized X8 after having X7.

TRN have BA8 and BA15 (30095-stuffed 30 BAs in total), you may consider them for broadening your listening experience (as much as I am all-BA and budget fan, not much tempted by those TRN).

On another note, with the great experience with Truthear Shio (clarity, impact, spatiality (!) and great synergy with few of my favourite all-BAs, likely enhanced/cooked 8+ kHz), I caved to get Hexa despite my pledge not to buy any DDs, looking forward to it after it can be shipped following the Lunar New Year celebrations.

P. S. Typo corrections...

 

[lgcubana]

I have seen manufacturers recommending 200 hours burn in LOL!

Smells like a manufacturer "get out of jail card". By the time the burn in is completed, the returns window for the IEM is long closed, or a new hypetrain would have arrived in the mail box haha.



FWIW, I know burn in is a big source of conflict on forums (similar to cable believers versus detractors), and I respect both camps. Personally, I am ambivalent to burn in, but I do as a matter of fact burn in my IEMs before reviewing them, no harm in a way. But 200 hours burn in? Is that a mega overkill? I don't think that 200 hours will make a golden swan out of an ugly duckling, and there won't be huge night and day differences in the tuning.

I don’t believe in absolutes, specific to this hobby, which is open to an individual’s interpretation. That being said I’ve run across many more DD that open up after x amount of hours, versus very few, that don’t benefit from some exercise.

My recent escapades with the JVC HA-FW1800 be a perfect example of a DD that had a disproportionate, splashy, lower bass response, that improved after about 40 hrs. Did the FW1800 become a rockstar ? No, but it did improve.
vs
iKKO OH10, which hit the ground running