Truthear GATE $17 IEM Review

[muza_1]

I think one of the reasons for multi-drivers
IEMs is that they are fairly easy to “tune” to whatever desired FR: you start with an off-the-shelf DD with good bass response, and then fill what’s missing with narrow-band BA’s & tweaks to RC filters.

A single DD can be tuned with DSP or a crossover type circuit can be used to achieve the desired frequency response, it would have the same effect on the sound as a crossover that anyways is used on hybrids, single DD are low distortion so I think is less of an issue than using different types of drivers and the complexity that goes with it.

Personally I think the reason has more to do with marketing and market expectations than audio quality.

 

[CedarX]

A single DD can be tuned with DSP or a crossover type circuit can be used to achieve the desired frequency response

What do you crossover with on a single DD IEM?

 

[muza_1]

What do you crossover with on a single DD IEM?

English is no my first language so the example came out badly explained, what I mean I a type of circuit to shape the response that may use that same or similar components of a crossover.

 

[DVinylfan]

I just asked Audiophonics to message me when these are available: mid January 2026 or later. Think I'm going to have to be quick.

 

[Matt_Holland]

I just asked Audiophonics to message me when these are available: mid January 2026 or later. Think I'm going to have to be quick.

Amazon UK has vendors with stock if that’s of any help.

 

[DVinylfan]

Amazon UK has vendors with stock if that’s of any help.

Thanks I don't do Amazon but I appreciate the intention. I'll wait for Audiophonics I've dealt with them already and they're sound.

 

[AudioSceptic]

I just asked Audiophonics to message me when these are available: mid January 2026 or later. Think I'm going to have to be quick.

Can't you just order them now? <https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/in-e...536.html?search_query=truthear&fast_search=fs> Price is competitive with Amazon.

 

[josiah]

I guess this is where IEMs and how they fit your ear come to play. No matter which of the included tips I used. They sounded lacking bass and off. The Zero 2's fit perfectly and sound better for me.

 

[Matias]

Sometimes the fit influences the sealing and the final tuning more than we wish... Been there too.

 

[obsessive9119]

I guess this is where IEMs and how they fit your ear come to play. No matter which of the included tips I used. They sounded lacking bass and off. The Zero 2's fit perfectly and sound better for me.

Have you tried the Zero tips? I found them a lot nicer than the Truthear ones. I ended up buying some Tri Clarion tips which I liked even more.

 

[Weastony]

I guess this is where IEMs and how they fit your ear come to play. No matter which of the included tips I used. They sounded lacking bass and off. The Zero 2's fit perfectly and sound better for me.

They have a very unpleasant (and large) hissing peak (in my case it is about 13 dB) at frequencies above 10kHz. It removes depth from the sound and is very tiring on the ears. The equalizer helps, but the issue is that the peak depends on the fit and the eartips.

I don't think these IEMs are worth buying because of their low THD. IMO distortion below 1% is not audible in music. Much more important is the tuning of the IEMs themselves, i.e. the FR.

 

[staticV3]

They have a very unpleasant (and large) hissing peak (in my case it is about 13 dB) at frequencies above 10kHz. It removes depth from the sound and is very tiring on the ears. The equalizer helps, but the issue is that the peak depends on the fit and the eartips.

View attachment 500869

I don't think these IEMs are worth buying because of their low THD. IMO distortion below 1% is not audible in music. Much more important is the tuning of the IEMs themselves, i.e. the FR.

This is exactly what makes there Zero:2 so great:


That and the boundless bass headroom

 

[Cadillacofminds]

On the thread for the Velum headphones someone posted Harman measurements and a link to more data from them showing that the acoustic impedance a headphone driver (especially with closed-back models) sees (if this is the right way to talk about the concept) varies significantly between users. The thread Amir made discussing Harman's findings with regard to user variability also talked about impedance, unfortunately though I am too dumb to have easily understood that thread. I came to the conclusion that he seemed to be saying "low impedance" IEMs would have less variability. ...I am dumb but I would assume IEM's have higher acoustic impedance than closed-back headphones? Are "low impedance" IEMs, ones that are more easily driven to high decibles, going to have more or less user variability than the average closed-back headphone?

Relatedly, what is the best way to make out peaks, and maybe even dips in response? "Frequency response sweeps," toggling on and off and adjusting filters while listening to white or pink noise?

 

[AudioSceptic]

I guess this is where IEMs and how they fit your ear come to play. No matter which of the included tips I used. They sounded lacking bass and off. The Zero 2's fit perfectly and sound better for me.

Do the Zero 2's tips fit on the Gates?

 

[obsessive9119]

Do the Zero 2's tips fit on the Gates?

Yes they do

 

[XacTactX]

I was looking for a set of budget IEMs and I just picked up a pair of these. I was just wondering, with all of these $20 IEMs that have hit the market in the past few years, how good are they compared to other budget IEMs of the past? When I first got into this hobby I started with the Monoprice 8320 (~$7), then I got the Hifiman RE0 ($50 used, not the same budget, then the RE400 (this was around $50 or $60, not the same budget), and the Xiaomi Piston 3 (~$16) as a budget set of IEMs. Does anyone know how it compares to any of these?

 

[Weastony]

Relatedly, what is the best way to make out peaks, and maybe even dips in response? "Frequency response sweeps," toggling on and off and adjusting filters while listening to white or pink noise?

I do it like this: first, I listen to pink noise to understand how the IEMs "hiss" at frequencies of 10kHz+, and then I start checking in small ranges with a sweep tone and immediately create filters with high Q (this can be done on Owliophile). After that, I listen from start to finish (18kHz) and check how clean it sounds.

Also, after all the corrections, you can use a High Shelf filter and adjust the overall level to the desired one.

 

[CedarX]

I was looking for a set of budget IEMs and I just picked up a pair of these. I was just wondering, with all of these $20 Chi-fi IEMs that have hit the market in the past few years, how good are they compared to other budget IEMs of the past? When I first got into this hobby I started with the Monoprice 8320 (~$7), then I got the Hifiman RE0 ($50 used, not the same budget, then the RE400 (this was around $50 or $60, not the same budget), and the Xiaomi Piston 3 (~$16) as a budget set of IEMs. Does anyone know how Chi-fi compares to any of these?

If you look at the forum Suggestions and Announcements, you’ll see that the term “Chi-Fi” is not welcome on ASR.
Besides, since you got the Truthear GATE, you know they compare well.

 

[XacTactX]

If you look at the forum Suggestions and Announcements, you’ll see that the term “Chi-Fi” is not welcome on ASR.
Besides, since you got the Truthear GATE, you know they compare well.

I haven't received the Gate yet, and unfortunately all of the IEMs that I mentioned in the previous post broke after owning them for 5-10 years. Sadly I can't compare any of them at this point

Edit, I think I threw away the Monoprice 8320, after a while I outgrew the sound and comfort of those, they were a great introduction to IEMs

 

[DVinylfan]

Back in stock at Audiophonics today.
Just ordered a pair

TRUTHEAR GATE In-Ear Monitor Black

Truthear's Gate earphones offer unbeatable value for money. They feature a dynamic driver with a carbon and liquid crystal polymer diaphragm.

www.audiophonics.fr