TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero IEM Review

[vitalii427]

Interesting comment, I have a question, not just about those particular IEM, in this thread, all IEM in general. If I understand your post, you are saying that insertion depth will affect the frequency we hear, much more than the IEM actual FR, if this is the case, is it just not easy for every one to insert those IEM, just so they sound great to them.

I don’t clearly understand the bold part but it seems that it is not what I mean. I was talking about coupler resonance peak the frequency of which depends on insertion depth.

Here you can read more about it in Coupler Resonance section: https://crinacle.com/2020/04/08/graphs-101-how-to-read-headphone-measurements/

 

[Cote Dazur]

I don’t clearly understand the bold part

Sorry, I will try to explain better.
Is the frequency response affected by the coupler resonance peak controlled by insertion depth a bigger factor than the actual FR response variation from the different IEMs, resulting in IEM in ear placement being a major reason for differences in performance perceived from different listeners, more than inherent IEM specific FR response. Furthermore, with careful in ear positioning, can all/most IEM with a decent frequency response achieve great sonic performance and be tuned by proper placement to give a satisfactory result?

 

[GaryH]

No.

 

[doug2761]

Does anyone know who makes the ear tips that come with the Zero? I've found that the large ones of the three found just above the foam tips work great for me. I'd like to get another pair. Anyone interested trading if you prefer the tips that I'm not using?

 

[Jimbob54]

Does anyone know who makes the ear tips that come with the Zero? I've found that the large ones of the three found just above the foam tips work great for me. I'd like to get another pair. Anyone interested trading if you prefer the tips that I'm not using?

Cant tell you who makes but I've never seen any the same on any other iem I've had or after market ones I've bought. Suspect they are made by /for truthear.

 

[vitalii427]

Sorry, I will try to explain better.
Is the frequency response affected by the coupler resonance peak controlled by insertion depth a bigger factor than the actual FR response variation from the different IEMs, resulting in IEM in ear placement being a major reason for differences in performance perceived from different listeners, more than inherent IEM specific FR response. Furthermore, with careful in ear positioning, can all/most IEM with a decent frequency response achieve great sonic performance and be tuned by proper placement to give a satisfactory result?

No. Two random IEMs has much more difference than just a peak placement. Actually it’s hard for me to detect notable difference changing insertion depth with same tips until start loosing seal

 

[Cote Dazur]

No. Two random IEMs has much more difference than just a peak placement. Actually it’s hard for me to detect notable difference changing insertion depth with same tips until start loosing seal

Thank you, I am glad it is that way. I was curious mostly because I find that IEMs, as oppose to headphones, to me, are a little finicky on how they sit in the ear and how that affect the sound.

It makes me think, it is like speakers, but without the ability to put tape on the floor to know where to put them back LOL.

As I am getting use to them, sitting the Zero in my ears where they sound great is much easier and not a challenge anymore, but at the beginning it was a little annoying.

 

[DubbyMcDubs]

Received my pair today. Bought from the Shenzhen Audio amazon option. Only took a few days in Australia, not bad.

For $72AUD they are impressive. These are my first set of IEM's and I am finding them fairly uncomfortable and cant use for extended periods, even with the smallest tips (ones at the top right of the card). Are the SpinFit ones slimmer? I must have narrow ear canals.

As for the sound, they sound pretty good for the money. I have tried with my iPhone 11 Pro Max via the apple lightning to 3.5mm adapter and also on my Benchmark HPA4/DAC3 combo. They don't really compete with my HD800S in terms of overall clarity. With acoustic music, they seem to be a bit dull. I tried Maiky76's eq but I didn't really like that tune. The bass kicks ass though. Kick drums etc are great!

For anyone playing along at home, subjectively speaking, have a listen to the following album on Tidal. It's a really well recorded acoustic album, which I love, by Tony Rice and David Grisman. I've listened to it on a lot of setups including Salon2's and Studio2's. On those speakers and the HD800S (with Oratory EQ) there is a crisp metalic sound that is true to the mandolin and Tony's guitar strings that is lost on these IEM's. I think it might be able to be EQ'd a little better to get them there. Thoughts? Subjective I know, but its just something that ive listened to a lot on various well measured speakers.

https://tidal.com/browse/album/42435579

 

[MajoloBama]

You mention Tony Rice and David Grisman as a reference that you are used to hearing, how do you know that reference is correct? And not exaggerated?

 

[DubbyMcDubs]

You mention Tony Rice and David Grisman as a reference that you are used to hearing, how do you know that reference is correct? And not exaggerated?

It's always possible. But on multiple other systems it sounds very natural.

Edit: On these headphones it kinda sounds like all the life has been sucked out of the recording. Finding that too with other tracks. Perhaps its coming down to insertion into my ears as well. Probably tricky to get them right. I am more tempted to trust the HD800S's and my old Studio2's with the Benchmark stack.

 

[MajoloBama]

If it sounds muffled and sort of dark, sounds like you are right....maybe not fitting your ears right....

 

[DubbyMcDubs]

If it sounds muffled and sort of dark, sounds like you are right....maybe not fitting your ears right....

While I think there is an element of that going on, I wouldn't go as far as saying its muffled and dark. As always with these subjective descriptions, it means very little to others.

 

[Groom]

It's always possible. But on multiple other systems it sounds very natural.

Edit: On these headphones it kinda sounds like all the life has been sucked out of the recording. Finding that too with other tracks. Perhaps its coming down to insertion into my ears as well. Probably tricky to get them right. I am more tempted to trust the HD800S's and my old Studio2's with the Benchmark stack.

To expect a similar performance to the extremely wide and almost overly open sounding HD-800Ss from a sub 50$ in-ear is not very realistic, imho.

They also can´t compete with my Audezes but nevertheless are incredibly good for the price and give me some kind of a "down-to-earth" presentation, I often enjoy and that translates much better than my former HD800 when mixing.

 

[DubbyMcDubs]

To expect a similar performance to the extremely wide and almost overly open sounding HD-800Ss from a sub 50$ in-ear is not very realistic, imho.

They also can´t compete with my Audezes but nevertheless are incredibly good for the price and give me some kind of a "down-to-earth" presentation, I often enjoy and that translates much better than my former HD800 when mixing.

I completely agree with you.

 

[Cote Dazur]

These are my first set of IEM's

Received my pair today

You may want to spend a little time before coming to any conclusion. I was new to IEM a few month back, my experience is that it takes a little time to place them optimally in the ears to enjoy them fully. It will be interesting to read you again in a month.

 

[Robbo99999]

Received my pair today. Bought from the Shenzhen Audio amazon option. Only took a few days in Australia, not bad.

For $72AUD they are impressive. These are my first set of IEM's and I am finding them fairly uncomfortable and cant use for extended periods, even with the smallest tips (ones at the top right of the card). Are the SpinFit ones slimmer? I must have narrow ear canals.

As for the sound, they sound pretty good for the money. I have tried with my iPhone 11 Pro Max via the apple lightning to 3.5mm adapter and also on my Benchmark HPA4/DAC3 combo. They don't really compete with my HD800S in terms of overall clarity. With acoustic music, they seem to be a bit dull. I tried Maiky76's eq but I didn't really like that tune. The bass kicks ass though. Kick drums etc are great!

For anyone playing along at home, subjectively speaking, have a listen to the following album on Tidal. It's a really well recorded acoustic album, which I love, by Tony Rice and David Grisman. I've listened to it on a lot of setups including Salon2's and Studio2's. On those speakers and the HD800S (with Oratory EQ) there is a crisp metalic sound that is true to the mandolin and Tony's guitar strings that is lost on these IEM's. I think it might be able to be EQ'd a little better to get them there. Thoughts? Subjective I know, but its just something that ive listened to a lot on various well measured speakers.

https://tidal.com/browse/album/42435579

I'm surprised you found the treble lacked "sparkle", I thought the treble on these was one of the most impressive aspects in relation to most of my EQ'd headphones. Mind you the bass on these was great too. I did find the MaikyEQ improved them to reduce shoutiness around 1-2kHz, but I'm surprised to hear about your reports re the treble. I mean, fair do's, but it doesn't match my experience - could be unit to unit variation, or maybe somekind of HRTF differences between you & me which is giving us different subjective impressions of the treble.

 

[DubbyMcDubs]

I'm surprised you found the treble lacked "sparkle", I thought the treble on these was one of the most impressive aspects in relation to most of my EQ'd headphones. Mind you the bass on these was great too. I did find the MaikyEQ improved them to reduce shoutiness around 1-2kHz, but I'm surprised to hear about your reports re the treble. I mean, fair do's, but it doesn't match my experience - could be unit to unit variation, or maybe somekind of HRTF differences between you & me which is giving us different subjective impressions of the treble.

Looks like this is one of the inherent difficulties with IEM's. On the convenience side, it looks like there are pros and cons.

 

[Matias]

Truthear has a new Facebook page and already announcing a new 19 usd DD IEM HOLA, and a dongle SHIO, which utilizes dual CS43198.

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[DubbyMcDubs]

You may want to spend a little time before coming to any conclusion. I was new to IEM a few month back, my experience is that it takes a little time to place them optimally in the ears to enjoy them fully. It will be interesting to read you again in a month.

I agree, it's early days.

My general thoughts are on these are that they are a great sounding headphone, especially for $72AUD and represent incredible value. I do think they might be a little bit hyped. That does not mean I think they are garbage. They are an excellent option for on-the-go listnening. The sound isolation is great.

Last night I did a four hour listening session with them, consisting of roughly 90% Tidal, 9% gaming and 1% binaural music. Here are my conclusions, so far.

Gaming/Binaral:
For these purposes, IEM's are awesome. The game I chose to test is my favorite, Escape from Tarkov, which uses a binaral sound engine. The localization of sounds is improved and its fun to try. For gaming, I am going to keep using them some more.

Binaral music tracks were also a lot of fun, however I wouldn't find myself listening to these very often.

Tidal:
Listened on both PC with the Benchmark HPA4 and then later with the iPhone. For me, the use case with the iPhone is where these really shine. You get a great sounding on-the-go option with awesome sound isolation. If I was commuting or working in an office again, I would use these every day.

Fit:
This is the most disappointing aspect of these IEM's. It would have been nice if the nozzles where just a little smaller. I am going to try the small SpinFit's to see if it improves. Are the CP155's the correct model to buy??

 

[Spyart]

Received my pair today. Bought from the Shenzhen Audio amazon option. Only took a few days in Australia, not bad.

For $72AUD they are impressive. These are my first set of IEM's and I am finding them fairly uncomfortable and cant use for extended periods, even with the smallest tips (ones at the top right of the card). Are the SpinFit ones slimmer? I must have narrow ear canals.

As for the sound, they sound pretty good for the money. I have tried with my iPhone 11 Pro Max via the apple lightning to 3.5mm adapter and also on my Benchmark HPA4/DAC3 combo. They don't really compete with my HD800S in terms of overall clarity. With acoustic music, they seem to be a bit dull. I tried Maiky76's eq but I didn't really like that tune. The bass kicks ass though. Kick drums etc are great!

For anyone playing along at home, subjectively speaking, have a listen to the following album on Tidal. It's a really well recorded acoustic album, which I love, by Tony Rice and David Grisman. I've listened to it on a lot of setups including Salon2's and Studio2's. On those speakers and the HD800S (with Oratory EQ) there is a crisp metalic sound that is true to the mandolin and Tony's guitar strings that is lost on these IEM's. I think it might be able to be EQ'd a little better to get them there. Thoughts? Subjective I know, but its just something that ive listened to a lot on various well measured speakers.

https://tidal.com/browse/album/42435579

That's not enough description of crisp of this album imo) the guitar with some room verb little far from a listener and mandolin much closer and I can really touch its strings virtually... I don't even think any Iem can translate such experience cause all they have not enough high end emm freedom I guess. If you push up high end eq on them you May lostmant other things in that over detail chaos. Good album to test, thanks!