TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero IEM Review

[pallatin]

I've been using this Truthear x Crinacle Zero and loving it very much since I got it months ago. However, now I'm using the Truthear Hexa and enjoying it every little bit as well! Hexa is a little more 'neutral' to me, sounds 'crisper'. The Zero is perfect when I want a little more bass out my music, it's more 'fun' if you will. Neither is better than the other, both are very nice, they're just different flavors of great IEMs. Not redundant at all, you could have both and use them for different kinds of music.

 

[markanini]

I've been using this Truthear x Crinacle Zero and loving it very much since I got it months ago. However, now I'm using the Truthear Hexa and enjoying it every little bit as well! Hexa is a little more 'neutral' to me, sounds 'crisper'. The Zero is perfect when I want a little more bass out my music, it's more 'fun' if you will. Neither is better than the other, both are very nice, they're just different flavors of great IEMs. Not redundant, you can have both and use them for different kinds of music.

View attachment 271249

It seems this set has garnered some regard past its hype period, for a smoothly extended treble if I understand correctly. I wonder if the treble characteristic would hold up if the the lows and mids were EQ'd to an Aria type response that I prefer.

 

[Rotiv]

My take on the Truthear Zero IEM

View attachment 234249

The packaging is nice. And a leather pouch? I feel like I spent more than $50, that's for sure.

Plenty of tips are provided, and most people should be able to find one that works for them. The large silicone tips (small bore) provide a great seal and comfort for me. I forget I have them on. However, the foam tips are better absorbers of the environment, naturally.

If you're going on a flight, definitely use foam tips.

Safety note: although the foam tips may attenuate the background by some 20-30 dB, the drone of a flight will still cause you to use higher than normal volume levels. You'll find a level that sounds normal to you (and you'll notice your volume slider is higher than normal), but your ears are still getting an elevated total SPL. Don't crank it up to compensate. Just put up with the noise floor and be kind to your hearing.

I find these to be comfortable. They are lightweight and unobtrusive. I like the cable - light, flexible, and seemingly no microphonics thanks to the tight braid. I do wish I could rotate it at the connector to get it to sit closer to my head, but that can't be done with this connector type, which has two pins for polarity.

The design is attractive, with a purple or blue color depending on the angle the light hits them.

Now, on to the sound.

My neutral reference:

Buchardt S400 MKII
Rythmik FV15HP x2, placement-optimized & equalized.

Out of the box these are too bright for me. I kind of expected that based on my current gear and looking at the measurements for comparison. I agree with others on this. The upper midrange runs away with it, and the bass contour is not to my liking. However, these have tons of potential...

Slaying the shouty dragon

The following EQ was developed with the small-bore silicone tips. I listened to the foam tips afterward and they definitely push the balance further toward the bass and reduce the highs. If using foam, I would take 1 dB or so off of both bass filters below. Of course this is the most subjective part, so do experiment with this.

I spent 3 hours going back and forth between Crinacle's EQ tool, downloading to Wavelet, and listening to music. My reference tracks are full-range movie soundtracks and spectrally-dense, well-recorded rock and pop music. All frequencies are represented in the mix. This EQ will fix the bass balance by reducing the midbass emphasis and extending the bass response to 20 Hz. I didn't take it blindly to the Harman target – since the highs were altered, you can't know what the overall balance will sound like unless you listen. It's all relative. The bass is much cleaner sounding. Most importantly, this EQ will eliminate the shoutiness of the upper midrange. It will sound balanced, and the headphones will disappear. If you have never experienced the bass that well-integrated subs can provide, here is your chance to get a preview.

You know you're close on the EQ when the goosebumps come...

Here is the input I used on the Crinacle site to generate the EQ:

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 2.4 dB Q 2.200
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 80 Hz Gain -3.6 dB Q 0.800
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 100 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 175 Hz Gain 1.8 dB Q 1.800
Filter 5: OFF PK Fc 1100 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2750 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 1.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5000 Hz Gain -5.5 dB Q 2.000
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 7500 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 5.000

Saved to a .txt file, this can be loaded directly into Equalizer APO/PEACE.

View attachment 243451

For mobile use I exported using the Wavelet option. You can download that below on this post.

Download the attached file Truthear x crinacle Zero EX7 to your Android device. In Wavelet, choose AutoEq and Import the file from storage.

The other file, Truthear x crinacle Zero Filters EX7 is for Equalizer APO or other programs.

This is as close to my $10k system as I've heard. And I can take it with me! Having a mobile reference is outstanding. Especially for these prices.

If you can't use Wavelet but have a 10-band PEQ, you can still implement the filters as close as you can. It will be less surgical but it will get the job done.

This was updated to my latest and probably last.

Thank you very much!!! My favoritos EQ
I prefer to listen through my tablet or phone with this EQ than with the dac and amp (Topping) without EQ. I just bought a dongle, will see.

 

[markanini]

I'm sharing my impressions of Moondrop Quarks DSP here, as it's broadly in the same tuning style as Truthear Zero. The issue is the pressurization due to a lack of a front vent. You can nudge the IEM and the FR changes drastically. Combined with the awkward fit that easily looses seal or even falls out of my ears. A deeper insertion kills the upper mids OTOH. Needless to say I don't recommend it.

 

[Blorg]

I'm sharing my impressions of Moondrop Quarks DSP here, as it's broadly in the same tuning style as Truthear Zero. The issue is the pressurization due to a lack of a front vent. You can nudge the IEM and the FR changes drastically. Combined with the awkward fit that easily looses seal or even falls out of my ears. A deeper insertion kills the upper mids OTOH. Needless to say I don't recommend it.

This is an issue that affects all unvented IEMs, like it affects almost all all-BA IEMs (64 Audio are a notable exception, in that they have a configurable venting system) it's an issue to be aware of and a negative for fit but I don't think it's inherently disqualifying. The positive side of it is you get better isolation.

In general terms the trick to dealing with it is to break the seal just slightly after you have them in where you want them. This lets the pressure equalize and the sound will return to "normal". This is easier to do on IEMs with large shells as you can grab the body of the IEM and lever it to just break the seal slightly. It's the same general principle with the Quarks though, and I can get them "normal" without the pressure.

 

[markanini]

The positive side of it is you get better isolation.

I considered this a advantage and made a effort to work around the issues becuase of that, but it was too much of an inconvenience, nudging it in and out 3-4 times after initial insertion, just to get a normal FR, was too much for me.

 

[oppie]

I've been using this Truthear x Crinacle Zero and loving it very much since I got it months ago. However, now I'm using the Truthear Hexa and enjoying it every little bit as well! Hexa is a little more 'neutral' to me, sounds 'crisper'. The Zero is perfect when I want a little more bass out my music, it's more 'fun' if you will. Neither is better than the other, both are very nice, they're just different flavors of great IEMs. Not redundant at all, you could have both and use them for different kinds of music.

View attachment 271249

Im in a similar position, was enjoying the zero the past few months and decided to see what the hexa would offer, however I recieved a pair with a bad connection on the right side. From what I did hear you give up a harman like bass response of the zero for more treble detail in the hexa, both are enjoyable but I'd probably pick the hexa as the smaller shell is more comfortable.

 

[Moonhead]

Anyone compared hexa with moondrop blessing and the lot?

 

[Matias]

Anyone compared hexa with moondrop blessing and the lot?

Yes, here.

Truthear HOLA

Hola measurements published by the manufacturer below. Looks promising! 18 usd https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005121561630.html

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Moonhead]

Yes, here.

Truthear HOLA

Hola measurements published by the manufacturer below. Looks promising! 18 usd https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005121561630.html

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thx mate.
seems like blessing2 is still the one to beat!

 

[Jimbob54]

Thx mate.
seems like blessing2 is still the one to beat!

Be careful when discussing/ buying whether you mean the Blessing 2 or the B2 Dusk- same shape, different sound. The one linked in that thread above is the Dusk. More bass (and more Harman compliant) on the Dusk- seems to be preferred too.

 

[Somafunk]

There’s a new blessing 3 coming soon, could be the new Crinacle project red

 

[IAtaman]

There’s a new blessing 3 coming soon, could be the new Crinacle project red

I believe I read or heard somewhere that it might be a re-tuning of the 7Hz Zero (aka the other zero)

 

[Matias]

I believe I read or heard somewhere that it might be a re-tuning of the 7Hz Zero (aka the other zero)

7hz Salnotes Zero - the "other" Zero

They all use some clone couplers and seemlingly arbitrary calibration. Only exceptionsis Kurins uses RA0045 measurements from Oraory1990 and GRAS RA0402 from Resolve http://kurin.squig.link/ Does Crinacle not use a legit GRAS now too? He doesn't have the Wan'er measured anyway. Thanks for the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[brandall10]

I don't really agree with Equal Loudness EQ. For a start you're not supposed to hear all frequencies to the same loudness, due to Fletcher Munson, so the A16 would have to take that into account. Also Equal Loudness will EQ out your natural hearing deficits you have in some areas, which is probably useful if you need a hearing aid, but otherwise I don't agree with EQ'ing out natural hearing degredation or born individual hearing quirks (as long as it's not severe) - because we get used to what "normal" sounds like with our non-perfect ears, so straying from that would be unnatural sounding.

I think the person you're responding to if in fact advocating for a feature using FM - "which is an equal subjective loudness tuning". As far as personal variations, would be curious to see if it has a way to create an audiogram.

 

[Dunring]

Just got a pair of these and really impressed. They need an amplifier, onboard sound and the Moto G Power phone wouldn't get them loud enough for a favorite song every once in a while. The Topping L30 II is a shining star with these. Still takes medium gain at 12 oclock to get them up there which was surprising that low gain couldn't cut it. Using a Topping E50 DAC, and of course on the SMSL SP200 it was childs play to power these... The low noise floor on the L30 II just really completes them. The tips used for testing fit well, which means I can shop now at "Test Dummy Gap" and everything off the rack will fit me
There's currently a Hifiman Ananda behind me and I prefer these. There's some FLAC files I've already noticed have some things I didn't notice about them before. Going to throw into Destiny 2 now and see how they fare for gaming. The first impression is they really don't need any EQ, wouldn't change a thing. The Yincrow X6 is staying as well, that's the under $10 bargain, and at $42 the Zero just blows away so many expensive headphones out there.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Of course the question you should ask is what is your wife buying that she is not telling you about?

And do not understand clearly these debates, my wife buy what she wants and the same for me.
But 2 days ago she told me I want a pair of iem. Ordered, and I am pretty impatient to test the effect on me.
I showed her the golfing panther and she answered it's OK if Amir gave them a positive review.

 

[Robbo99999]

And do not understand clearly these debates, my wife buy what she wants and the same for me.
But 2 days ago she told me I want a pair of iem. Ordered, and I am pretty impatient to test the effect on me.
I showed her the golfing panther and she answered it's OK if Amir gave them a positive review.

Hey, if that's what your wife said, that's all I need to know!

 

[Zoide]

How would the sound of these compare to full-sized Bluetooth headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM3?

Thanks

 

[Blorg]

How would the sound of these compare to full-sized Bluetooth headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM3?

I would suspect, a lot better, the bass on these much less bloated, and it looks a lot more tonally correct through the mids as well, the XM3 looks very off there. To an extent though, it's personal preference, a hugely bass bloated signature is a very popular one and people used to massive amounts of bass might find these thin and anemic sounding.

I haven't heard the XM3, I'm just going off the graphs/reviews and similar stuff I have heard, I have owned Sony's TOTL over-ear and that had too much bass, and it's only a fraction of what the XM3 has.