Review of TRN Black Pearl: Portable USB DAC & Headphone Amp with 10-band PEQ

[Dk33145]

View attachment 506346

Considering that each CS43131 chip costs something like $5 to $10, TRN's profit margin on these are razor thin. The original is a fantastic deal. I would not be surprised if it gets discontinued in favor of the newer "stripped down" version.

 

[JanL]

Considering that each CS43131 chip costs something like $5 to $10, TRN's profit margin on these are razor thin. The original is a fantastic deal. I would not be surprised if it gets discontinued in favor of the newer "stripped down" version.

They should just raise the price to account for it. It's not like there is much competition in the 40 dollar range for a dual CS43131 with EQ. But to remove EQ and mic support and sell it under the same name is not right.
They could compete with the Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 at $50.00 easily.

 

[IsaacOscar]

Considering that each CS43131 chip costs something like $5 to $10, TRN's profit margin on these are razor thin. The original is a fantastic deal. I would not be surprised if it gets discontinued in favor of the newer "stripped down" version.

From reading the attached image, it seems like they made a mistake and have fixed it now?
Perhaps they intend to sell the stripped down version under a different name, but haven't yet?
And/or they have discontinued the original?

 

[ziggurcat]

Considering that each CS43131 chip costs something like $5 to $10

I'm skeptical that that's their cost on those chips.

From reading the attached image, it seems like they made a mistake and have fixed it now?
Perhaps they intend to sell the stripped down version under a different name, but haven't yet?
And/or they have discontinued the original?

It's difficult to say since they've given 6 dozen different stories as to why the boards are different. The AliExpress store has been updated somewhat -- they only offer the "lower priced" version. Which means they lied again by saying that there's going to be two versions of the device. They also still claim it does PEQ when we know the "lower priced" version isn't compatible with WalkPlay (unless @symphonyofconstruction can confirm that it does now?)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008743608298.html

 

[IsaacOscar]

It's difficult to say since they've given 6 dozen different stories as to why the boards are different. The AliExpress store has been updated somewhat -- they only offer the "lower priced" version. Which means they lied again by saying that there's going to be two versions of the device. They also still claim it does PEQ when we know the "lower priced" version isn't compatible with WalkPlay (unless @symphonyofconstruction can confirm that it does now?)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008743608298.html

This is what it shows to me:

Which I read as saying it's on sale (about 50% off). No where does it say it's a "lower priced version".
I'm not willing to buy it just to see what arrives though.
It's probably best to spend your money on a more trustworthy seller though (I bought the Fiio Melody which is apparently identical in terms of functionality and performance; it was on sale for A$52, but it's now gone up to A$62.
Now I'm going to buy A$50 worth of 4.4mm cables though as it's not loud enough!)

 

[ziggurcat]

This is what it shows to me:
View attachment 507987
Which I read as saying it's on sale (about 50% off). No where does it say it's a "lower priced version".
I'm not willing to buy it just to see what arrives though.
It's probably best to spend your money on a more trustworthy seller though (I bought the Fiio Melody which is apparently identical in terms of functionality and performance; it was on sale for A$52, but it's now gone up to A$62.
Now I'm going to buy A$50 worth of 4.4mm cables though as it's not loud enough!)

The "lower priced" version is just one of the many excuses they gave as to why the board was different/didn't support WalkPlay (see post #323) -- they claimed that the warehouse "accidentally" shipped people a "lower priced" model they were going to release because there was apparently demand for such a SKU.

I also have a FiiO Snowksy Melody, but because I am on Mac/iOS, I am locked out of being able to make any changes on the device (specifically disabling DRE). I can do PEQ through the web-based app, but that's all I can access without also buying an android device to use the Control app. I think the version on iOS is limited to some of their BT dongle DAC/HPAs, and they don't even have a USB section in the iOS app as it is shown here in the tutorial/startup guide:

Which clearly shows the Snowsky Melody. I bet the FiiO Control app for Android phones allow you to adjust settings via USB as it is shown in that screenshot. If I had an actual means of changing the settings, I'd probably switch to the Melody, but entirely for superficial reasons (it's a much nicer-looking dongle).

 

[CedarX]

I think the version on iOS is limited to some of their BT dongle DAC/HPAs, and they don't even have a USB section in the iOS app as it is shown here in the tutorial/startup guide

This is correct, due to iOS limiting USB HID access to the App.

 

[KDRN]

i created a stl model so if anyone interested 3d printing a case for it here it is

TRN Black Pearl.stl

drive.google.com

edit: fixed ratio (quick hack)

TRN Black Pearl(fixed ratio).stl

drive.google.com

 

[IsaacOscar]

i created a stl model so if anyone interested 3d printing a case for it here it is

Exactly why would you want a case for something that's already a nice box shape?

 

[KDRN]

Exactly why would you want a case for something that's already a nice box shape?

well, a magnetic case comes to mind

 

[IsaacOscar]

well, a magnetic case comes to mind
View attachment 508039
View attachment 508040

Ok that could be useful. Fiio sells this thing for it's dongles, but it could work with the black pearl:

https://www.fiio.com/productinfo/1342575.html

 

[ziggurcat]

This is correct, due to iOS limiting USB HID access to the App.

Now, is that all iPhones or just the ones with the Lightning ports?

 

[ziggurcat]

Exactly why would you want a case for something that's already a nice box shape?

I am still looking for a good magsafe case that has access to the volume buttons, etc... I have sort of a thing right now, and it works well, but I do not have the ability to adjust the volume on the device. I'm not too fond of the jump in volume with the volume buttons on my iPhone, and I'm also not a huge fan of the slider that they have if you swipe from the upper right corner of the screen because of my fat, nubby sausage fingers.

 

[CedarX]

Now, is that all iPhones or just the ones with the Lightning ports?

All iPhones (and iPads), it's an OS constraint: iOS, unlike Android, Windows, Linux, MacOS, etc. limits what the App can do with USB devices. I believe it stems from security considerations—it's a potential backdoor for a malicious USB device. There a few options/workarounds, like using a (special?) MFI-certified chip ($$+ royalties), or what RME has done, communicating the device settings through a MIDI implementation instead of serial or HID interfaces. Bluetooth is another workaround, Qudelix 5K for example: audio can go through the iPhone lightning or USB port, but the settings .
I'm not following this very closely but there were rumors that Apple would remove that iOS limitation.

 

[ziggurcat]

All iPhones (and iPads), it's an OS constraint: iOS, unlike Android, Windows, Linux, MacOS, etc. limits what the App can do with USB devices. I believe it stems from security considerations—it's a potential backdoor for a malicious USB device. There a few options/workarounds, like using a (special?) MFI-certified chip ($$+ royalties), or what RME has done, communicating the device settings through a MIDI implementation instead of serial or HID interfaces. Bluetooth is another workaround, Qudelix 5K for example: audio can go through the iPhone lightning or USB port, but the settings .
I'm not following this very closely but there were rumors that Apple would remove that iOS limitation.

I was wondering how Qudelix gets around it since their app (by the accounts I've read) has no problem changing settings on the device itself (also half of that sentence appears to be missing -- "but the settings..." ?). I know this isn't exactly on-topic, so I won't say much beyond I wish FiiO would at least allow settings changes with their weblink app like I can with web-based WalkPlay app for my Black Pearl (it's largely why I'm sticking with it for now). It was already a PitA to be able to use be able to at least use both the devices I have (the Melody, and Black Pearl) with my iPhone 14 due to its Lightning port -- people kept saying I needed to get that unwieldy camera dongle adapter, but I got a HIBY, and a FiiO Lightning to USB-C OTG cable to try out, and both of those cables work perfectly fine (and it's a lot less bulky).

 

[CedarX]

I was wondering how Qudelix gets around it since their app (by the accounts I've read) has no problem changing settings on the device itself (also half of that sentence appears to be missing -- "but the settings..." ?). I know this isn't exactly on-topic, so I won't say much beyond I wish FiiO would at least allow settings changes with their weblink app like I can with web-based WalkPlay app for my Black Pearl (it's largely why I'm sticking with it for now). It was already a PitA to be able to use be able to at least use both the devices I have (the Melody, and Black Pearl) with my iPhone 14 due to its Lightning port -- people kept saying I needed to get that unwieldy camera dongle adapter, but I got a HIBY, and a FiiO Lightning to USB-C OTG cable to try out, and both of those cables work perfectly fine (and it's a lot less bulky).

Qudelix has a very well structured approach to HW & SW: the audio source (USB or BT) on the 5K is independent of the settings (App) source (USB or BT). Any combination of USB & BT works, except on iPhones: the settings (EQ & al) can only be done via BT in the iOS Qudelix App. But playing music from an iPhone to the 5K can be done via either BT or Lightning (or USB). The audio source device doesn't have to be the same as the settings App device. For example, if I connect the 5K to my laptop (USB), I can play music from my laptop to the 5K via USB, and control the 5K EQ settings from my iPhone via BT. But I can also play music from iPhone to the 5K via BT, and control the 5K EQ settings from my laptop via USB...

 

[ziggurcat]

One thing I noticed yesterday is when I connected my Black Pearl to my computer, there's a section to set the amp type (Class H or AB), Low or High Gain, and the channel balance. In the channel balance area, the Left channel was offset to the Left by 1dB, so I put it back to 0, disconnected the device by clicking the Disconnect button up top, then reconnected the device (because I forgot do to something first beforehand), and it went back to being offset to the Left by 1dB again.

Because it was unusual, I then disconnected the device again, reconnected, and the same thing happened. I had also noticed that everything had sort of reset itself before any of this was caught (NOS mode wasn't selected, and neither the amp type or gain values were set to what I had them)

Has anyone else encounter this?

 

[Dk33145]

I'm skeptical that that's their cost on those chips.



It's difficult to say since they've given 6 dozen different stories as to why the boards are different. The AliExpress store has been updated somewhat -- they only offer the "lower priced" version. Which means they lied again by saying that there's going to be two versions of the device. They also still claim it does PEQ when we know the "lower priced" version isn't compatible with WalkPlay (unless @symphonyofconstruction can confirm that it does now?)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008743608298.html

Actually even the stripped down version is a phenomenal deal, not sure how TRN makes money. Here's Mouser's price on those DAC chips and they tend to be very reasonably priced: https://mou.sr/4btsX2T

 

[ziggurcat]

Apologies, the edit window seems to have expired for my last post -- I think I resolved the channel balance thing. I connected the BP, and instead of bringing the balance back to 0, I moved it over to the right by 1, then disconnected. Reconnecting the device still showed the balance over to the right, which meant it saved, so I then brought it back to 0 again, and so far that has kept it from shifting to the left every time I connect the device to WalkPlay (online).

Edit:

And can someone help me figure out how to read this:

For example, what the two red lines represent? And does this mean I can safely slide the volume up +4 - 5dB?

 

[CedarX]

I think I resolved the channel balance thing. I connected the BP, and instead of bringing the balance back to 0, I moved it over to the right by 1, then disconnected.

It may be a bug in the rounding/truncation of signed hex. numbers to decimals—e.g. moving the slider from +1 to 0 actually gives +0.01 / 0x00000001 which is then truncated and stored as 0x0000, which then reads 0 after; whereas moving the slider to -1 to 0 gives -0.01 / 0xFFFFFFFFE which is then truncated and stored as 0xFFFF, which then reads -1 after.