TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:BLUE2 IEM Review

[Robbo99999]

Depends how someone defines significant and which one you mean as current, I wouldn't be surprised if there will be some evolution like also in the past, see also this recent paper from Sean Olive if its not known to you yet
https://aes2.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22696
(currently free to download)

Nice, good to see some proper work done on it. First I've heard about it. Adds a bit of validity to B&K measurements, so EQ's can be done with greater confidence to one of the more successful target curves in that study - either Soundguys or Harman 2019 (not to confuse the latter with Harman 2019 for GRAS rigs that we use here on this site, it's a different curve because different measurement rig).

 

[jcarys]

I've been enjoying my pair. As I wrote in another thread, one of the biggest improvements is the cable. It seems to be tangle free from my experience. I think the deep bass is a bit too high, sometimes it sounds bloated on some of the pop and rock music I've sampled. I also picked up on the 4.5k peak, but only that it brings vocals forward a bit - not unpleasant so far. I will check out your EQ this weekend and see whether it improves the sound further. Thanks for the review.

 

[DSJR]

It's three times the price of obvious favourite competition, so what's the point in its existance?

Maybe I'm being mean, but with prices likely to increase a lot for you guys in the US (I'm staying stumm on that I promise), things may well change a good bit...

 

[markanini]

It's three times the price of obvious favourite competition, so what's the point in its existance?

Maybe I'm being mean, but with prices likely to increase a lot for you guys in the US (I'm staying stumm on that I promise), things may well change a good bit...

To me it's not a justifiable purchase based on what I have already fulfilling a purpose and likely better aligned with my acoustic preference. That hardly makes me question why TE Blue 2 exists, though. It's hard for me to understand why this meta-question is important. I'd still much rather have a free market where products with different levels of justification can exist, than some kind of system where a government body decides what your options are.

 

[MZKM]

I don't know why Crinacle released this one. He already has the original Blue which followed the Harman Target

IIRC, he stated deeper bass extension. and a smoother transition between bass and midrange. Which you can see both of in the measurement. And a less "chonky" nozzle and a better cable.

 

[mc.god]

They are objectively good iems but as others said there are better options at lower prices nowadays, even at distortion performance that is honestly a bit surprising, so they are no more than Fine for me, and i prefer a bit less u-shaped signature anyway.
The tips matter is a bit confusing, Crinacle's measurements on 5128 show a bigger difference between foam and silicone, but given that i really don't like foam tips it's another no for me.
Thank you as always for the review!

 

[F1308]

Thank you.
Currently testing the Truthear GATE.
I think I will be skipping the BLUE 2...

 

[Bensons]

Had the Blue:2 a week (tested alongside with the Gate, Blue, and Red). The sound was too bright for my liking. When high notes hit, it became too bright to bare. The Blue is already at edge and the Red is the smoothest. Preference-wise, Red —> Blue —> Gate —> Blue:2.

This is coming from using the HD650 (EQ’d) as reference.

 

[GWolfman]

Thanks @amirm!

I have the Reds and don’t see any reason to get these, though I would’ve liked a microphone option at the time of getting the reds.

 

[Mr Swing King]

Thanks for the review!

This iem would have been the bee’s knees - king of the hill only a few years back. Nowadays it is surpassed by many other cheaper ones - even it’s own daddyo.

We’ve come a long way…so much so that something like this little blue thang feels wholly redundant.

 

[RogerSmith]

According to Crinacle this iem was designed to be used with foam tips in specific (so a no no for me). Sadly I don't know why the distortion levels are so high, in fact Crinacle said they were even lower than in first iterations.

Maybe this is the story he makes up. But it rather seems to me that foam tips are the only way to tame down the horrible treble peak which they apparently did not manage to get rid of by other means. "Designing" an IEM to be specifically used with foam tips would be like designing a couch where you need cushions to sit on, otherwise it would be too uncomfortable. Just a stupid concept.

 

[michaelahess]

So I started my IEM journey with the Crinacle Zero:2, then the CHU II, now the GATE.

Completely pointless probably, but the Zero and GATE seem more open, the CHU, deeper base.

I think I'm done buying for a while as I'm very happy with all of them.

I did go through a half dozen cords before finding one that's really good, https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...il_item.3.43cdf19c4SyCTW&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Using a JCalley JM20 DAC.

 

[zachary80]

Curious to see regression in THD

 

[Oso Polar]

So I started my IEM journey with the Crinacle Zero:2, then the CHU II, now the GATE.

Completely pointless probably, but the Zero and GATE seem more open, the CHU, deeper base.

Chu II are not *deeper* (as in extending lower in frequency) base, they are just significantly more boomy and bloated. Zero:2 have just a tiny bit of this bass excess, IMHO acceptable without EQ, GATE may be the best in the bass quantity and quality but upper mids frequency bump ruins them completly.

I'd rather see Zero:2 with better ergonomics (better shell and cable), and not one more variation of Zero Blue.

 

[michaelahess]

Chu II are not *deeper* (as in extending lower in frequency) base, they are just significantly more boomy and bloated. Zero:2 have just a tiny bit of this bass excess, IMHO acceptable without EQ, GATE may be the best in the bass quantity and quality but upper mids frequency bump ruins them completly.

I'd rather see Zero:2 with better ergonomics (better shell and cable), and not one more variation of Zero Blue.

Agreed on your more accurate terms on the CHU II and Zero:2. I would argue "ruins then completely" is nothing more than your personal taste.

None of these are bad. At all.

I want as close to the Harmon curve with as low of distortion as possible. I will then EQ to taste. Good bones is a far easier target (not at all easy to create), than to begin with, than something "tuned" to my personal taste.

 

[Oso Polar]

I would argue "ruins then completely" is nothing more than your personal taste.

None of these are bad. At all.

Yes and yes, certainly this is my taste and "ruins" is relative, just in the context of all these recent budget IEMs that more or less follow Harman curve, certainly there are many much worse.

 

[markanini]

By that token listening volume ruins the sound, varying individual fit ruins the sound etc. as this substantially affects the FR.

In actual fact I don't think that's the case. Because if FR is important then you can't ignore the many factors that affect FR beyond the graph produced by the measurement rig. When you realize that's not practical you can treat FR graph more as a diagnostic, or part of a rational evaluation protocol-but it can't be the sole part.

 

[USER]

A step backwards. As has been mentioned these will sound overly bright to many, more so than the originals. This seems intentional, however, because in 2025 most manufacturers have full control of the frequency response tuning at pretty much any price point. (Of course, results vary with the user and ear canal shape, etc. etc.) Not that it really matters, but, still, how can it have more distortion than its $20 competitor, the 7Hz Zero?

 

[RogerSmith]

A step backwards. As has been mentioned these will sound overly bright to many, more so than the originals. This seems intentional, however, because in 2025 most manufacturers have full control of the frequency response tuning at pretty much any price point. (Of course, results vary with the user and ear canal shape, etc. etc.)

Absolutely true, I don't get it as well. Probably it was some time in the making already and Crinacle tries to cash in as much as possible, either with collabortions, his own brand or his proper store.

Not that it really matters, but, still, how can it have more distortion than its $20 competitor, the 7Hz Zero?

Valid question, even if this level of distorion will not be audible. But the question is much more valid still to much more expensive IEMs from 64 Audio and related brands, costing $1,000 and more and reeking of distortion.

 

[Billy Budapest]

What is the significance of “Zero” as it’s used in the naming by different brands? Same for Crinacle but I think I figured out that part, he’s a tuner who works with these shops.

Crinacle is not only a tuner, he is a very well known member of the online headphone community and a very entertaining and informative YouTuber. He also has a headphone shop/demonstration room in Singapore.

Like Amir, he is one of the “good guys” in this space.