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

[decebalus]

ported the driver to android. it is "functionally complete"

View attachment 531031View attachment 531032

any android app for it ?

 

[KDRN]

any android app for it ?

GitHub - cheesyserg/BlackPearlControl-Android: Initial Commit

Initial Commit. Contribute to cheesyserg/BlackPearlControl-Android development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[decebalus]

GitHub - cheesyserg/BlackPearlControl-Android: Initial Commit

Initial Commit. Contribute to cheesyserg/BlackPearlControl-Android development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Thank you !

 

[KDRN]

New Web Based control app for DACs with PEQ

It's an open source project that looks to be vibe coded using AI, but it works fine on a few my USB DACs like the Black Pearl and Fiio JA11. I find it easier to use than the original manufacturers apps plus there is no need for registration. If your DAC uses WalkPlay it will work with this app...

www.audiosciencereview.com

nice, ig i wont be making a web app anymore

 

[KDRN]

@jkim does the black pearl's output clip if i set the software volume and hardware volume to max?

 

[staticV3]

@jkim does the black pearl's output clip if i set the software volume and hardware volume to max?

When you use an external Amp, then no it won't clip:


When you plug headphones directly into the black pearl, then yes it can clip:

 

[KDRN]

When you use an external Amp, then no it won't clip:
View attachment 544135 View attachment 544136

When you plug headphones directly into the black pear, then yes the black pearl can clip:
View attachment 544133 View attachment 544134

thank you. i just need to confirm since the black pearl has some weird way of managing volume. when i was trying to find the volume registers for my driver software. i found that the software volume and hardware volume. somewhat has weird behavior.

if i set the OS volume low, the DAC's hw volume somehow compensates by going to a higher register value (boosting) compared when the OS volume is set to max the volume register is showing a lower value.

i was assuming due to that weird volume negotiation. theres a chance of clipping digitally.

 

[Alexblablabla]

Hi team,

Long time lurker first time posting here. I recently got the Fiio JT7 which is my first over ear. Only non IEM I had before was the Moondrop Old Fashioned.

And as you expect non of my existing 1V dongles can drive the JT7 sufficiently. The only thing I have for now is my work MacBook Pro, which is locked down so no software EQ.

That’s the long winded background to me getting the Black Pearl. It’s still in transit from Aliexpress but now as I read more I realize I might not have enough headroom for EQ when using it with the JT7, since the Black Pearl might be current limited at lower impedance?

Any guidance? Did I make a stupid mistake for getting it? I have all these other 1V EQ dongles like the CB1200 and JM12 for my IEMs and consider them more than sufficient for those.

I apologize if this should be a separate post.

 

[KDRN]

Hi team,

Long time lurker first time posting here. I recently got the Fiio JT7 which is my first over ear. Only non IEM I had before was the Moondrop Old Fashioned.

And as you expect non of my existing 1V dongles can drive the JT7 sufficiently. The only thing I have for now is my work MacBook Pro, which is locked down so no software EQ.

That’s the long winded background to me getting the Black Pearl. It’s still in transit from Aliexpress but now as I read more I realize I might not have enough headroom for EQ when using it with the JT7, since the Black Pearl might be current limited at lower impedance?

Any guidance? Did I make a stupid mistake for getting it? I have all these other 1V EQ dongles like the CB1200 and JM12 for my IEMs and consider them more than sufficient for those.

I apologize if this should be a separate post.

i had the jt7 (before i returned it due to a rattling sound on one earcup) pairing it with a 1Vrms dongle sounds fine and get it loud enough for me. but yeah if you wanna EQ them. you need a MUCH more powerful amp. even with a dac like the black pearl under balanced. yeah you have enough loudness and you can EQ for a certain point. but it is still not enough. if you need an extreme EQ. you really need a desktop AMP for that extra headroom.

there is the fiio gigas 1 which has bonkers amount of power but it is still new and we dont know how well fiio designed the amp...

if you wanna cash out for a desktop amp ide suggest the topping L30ii. crazy amounts of power. you can pair it with a 2vrms dac to fully utilize it. but a 1vrms dac is fine.

edit: the black pearl starts distorting if i push it hard with bassy music

 

[Alexblablabla]

i had the jt7 (before i returned it due to a rattling sound on one earcup) pairing it with a 1Vrms dongle sounds fine and get it loud enough for me. but yeah if you wanna EQ them. you need a MUCH more powerful amp. even with a dac like the black pearl under balanced. yeah you have enough loudness and you can EQ for a certain point. but it is still not enough. if you need an extreme EQ. you really need a desktop AMP for that extra headroom.

there is the fiio gigas 1 which has bonkers amount of power but it is still new and we dont know how well fiio designed the amp...

if you wanna cash out for a desktop amp ide suggest the topping L30ii. crazy amounts of power. you can pair it with a 2vrms dac to fully utilize it. but a 1vrms dac is fine.

edit: the black pearl starts distorting if i push it hard with bassy music

Thanks for the advice!

I do have a general question since I got the Balck Pearl and have been using it. What’s up with the volume control on the DAC? It seems to interact with the volume control on my source (MacBook/iPhone). If I keep the source at 1 bar (minimal before muting) I still seem to be able to raise the volume on the DAC to more than a comfortable level on JT7.

 

[xvii]

Did a cleaner web EQ control: https://peq.flac.moe/
Repository: https://github.com/iljasrb/LightWebPEQ
Issue reports and PRs are welcome.

Spoiler: AI Disclosure

• AI tools were used to gather information about devices and protocols. Website implementation is also AI written. All of the functionality is manually reviewed and tested by me.
• Why!?: Because it saves me a lot of time: research, development and debugging. Still the core of website functionality is checked with tests and manually by me (only with TRN Black Peal tho). Codebase and styling is kept minimal and maintainable.

 

[KDRN]

Did a cleaner web EQ control: https://peq.flac.moe/
Repository: https://github.com/iljasrb/LightWebPEQ
Issue reports and PRs are welcome.

Spoiler: AI Disclosure

• AI tools were used to gather information about devices and protocols. Website implementation is also AI written. All of the functionality is manually reviewed and tested by me.
• Why!?: Because it saves me a lot of time: research, development and debugging. Still the core of website functionality is checked with tests and manually by me (only with TRN Black Peal tho). Codebase and styling is kept minimal and maintainable.

View attachment 548395

we already got crinacle's eq tool. so yeah

Crinacle's EQ Tool | Hangout.Audio

Configure and apply EQ filters.

eq.hangout.audio

 

[xvii]

we already got crinacle's eq tool. so yeah

Crinacle's EQ Tool | Hangout.Audio

Configure and apply EQ filters.

eq.hangout.audio

That's good, but it's always nice to have alternative software available.

 

[snoolobster]

Savitech Kencent Audio USB\VID_262A&PID_0001\5000000001

Edit: some audible pops on the cmaj.steady and SotS test. great

Hi, did you ever confirm if you had a fake or not?
1) I just got a new black pearl from amazon, July 2026, I would have thought the "bad batch" was out of the system by now ...

Amazon.com: LEAUDIO TRN Black Pearl Portable Hi-Fi Digital Audio Decoder 3.5+4.4 Output Dual CS43131 PCM 384kHz 32Bit DSD256 DAC Headphone Amplifier : Electronics

Amazon.com: LEAUDIO TRN Black Pearl Portable Hi-Fi Digital Audio Decoder 3.5+4.4 Output Dual CS43131 PCM 384kHz 32Bit DSD256 DAC Headphone Amplifier : Electronics

www.amazon.com

NOTE it SAYS Supports WALK PLAY APP EQ linkage

2) Android walkplay app, windows chrome walkplay do not recognize this device.
https://eq.hangout.audio/ also does not recognize this device.

3) Windows recognizes this as hifi188, same as @symphonyofconstruction

4) Same VID and PID as symphony had
USB\VID_262A&PID_0001&REV_0003

5) THIS weblink does see the hifi188 and will connect to it

AuraPEQ - Audiocular Aura & Multi-DAC DSP Parametric Equalizer Controller

Unlock and configure the hardware-level 10-band Parametric Equalizer (PEQ) on your Audiocular Aura, Moondrop, FiiO, and other compatible DSP-enabled DACs. Save presets permanently to the internal DSP flash memory.

mandy321.github.io

There, it detects my device as

So, do I have a fake, NOT a TRN Black Pearl, so no walkplay, and should I return it? It seems its fake, or the "s" version, but, seems hard to believe they're still selling these, in July 2026, and explicitly sayin in the amazon page its walkplay compatible? That would be fraud, right?

 

[pioterd]

If I hook it to a computer, do you think a Black Pearl can properly drive a Sundara?

Sundara is 40ohm, around 104dB/1V sensitivity. If 110dB SPL as a maximum is ok for you (yes, it is VERY loud, at least for me), it will be driven properly from 3.5mm output. If you hear any distortion above 105dB SPL it will be probably sundara itself, Hifiman really does not care about distortion levels in its headphones above 105dB SPL.

I bought recently from Amazon (LEAudio) Black Pearl. Version 0.6. No issues so far using K712/K601/DT150. No issues when connecting it to bigger amp. On these headphones I do not hear any Cirrus clicks/distortion/etc... Later I will check on my truthear gate (30ohm, 122dB/1V).

For anyone who would like to know: each "volume click" in TRN black pearl is 0.6dB. 10 clicks down from maximum and output is 6dB lower (1Vrms from 3.5mm). Measured.

 

[pioterd]

i just need to confirm since the black pearl has some weird way of managing volume. when i was trying to find the volume registers for my driver software. i found that the software volume and hardware volume. somewhat has weird behavior.

I confirm that too. On windows 11 for example 2Vrms output from 3.5mm is from 20/100 volume up to 100/100. If you want lower it in windows you need to go below 20/100.

So I set the host to 100/100 and just use buttons on Black Pearl (each click is 0.6dB).

 

[Shalvy]

Hello all, I've just read a report on reddit mentioning the inline mic does not work for the PS5 in UAC 1.0 mode? Is there anyone on here who'd be able to confirm if they can use their inline mic (or not) with the PS5 for party and game chat? Thanks

 

[Morisummer1996]

good job,man