TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero IEM Review

[eardiggler]

These IEM's have helped me confirm that I don't really like IEM's in general. There's nothing wrong with these, but I just can't get comfortable with having something jammed into my ear canal for more than 20 minutes. That's on me. I'm sticking with my little Koss KPH (on the ear) headphones when I need something small and lightweight over IEM's. I appreciate Amir reviewing these. For $50 it was totally worth experimenting!

 

[PaPoMusik]

I just wasted $50 on these…

If bought through Amazon:

Return policy:
Elegible for return, refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt:

 

[Somafunk]

I just wasted $50 on these…

Cool story bro

 

[asrUser]

In which case for IEM's you might argue that frequency response measurement & distortion measurement is all that matters.

You may argue, but frequency response is not everything. There might be differences in soundstaging and if the IEM sounds thick or too thin. For me the most important thing would be comfort. Best sound quality would be useless if I get ear pain after 20 min.

I just wasted $50 on these…

Look at the package and rethink.

 

[asrUser]

So I was looking for something similar but with a little less bass. I tried the Moondrop Aria Snow but there was just too much missing and it did have less bass, way too much less. I thought about the Starfield but someone earlier said it has more bass than the Truthear Zero. I don't want to spend $300 although the Blessing 2 might be the right one.

Did you try to eq the Aria snow and it still did not sound good enough? According to Crinacle the Aria 2021 (mk1) should be the same as a Starfield.

 

[Robbo99999]

You may argue, but frequency response is not everything. There might be differences in soundstaging and if the IEM sounds thick or too thin. For me the most important thing would be comfort. Best sound quality would be useless if I get ear pain after 20 min.


Look at the package and rethink.

Yes, of course comfort matters. I still think measured frequency response of IEM's is gonna be even more influential in the final experience of the device than that of over ears......it's often said that frequency response is all that matters if you want to drive it down to one variable, but for IEM's I'd consider that to be even more applicable, for the reasons I mentioned in my earlier post of which you conveniently only quoted one sentence....(interested people can trace back the branch of the conversation if they want).

 

[spartaman64]

yeah ive been planning to get a ciem for comfort

 

[cbracer]

Did you try to eq the Aria snow and it still did not sound good enough? According to Crinacle the Aria 2021 (mk1) should be the same as a Starfield.

Yes you can add some bass in the EQ and get it to sound better for sure. Acceptable, but then I swapped back to the Truthear with reduced bass and that was still better. More full sounding. $50 is better than $80 so my choice would be Truthear, although the Aria fit my smaller ear canals better. The sound you hear does not always match the frequency graphs when comparing these IEMs. Like on the Chu for example. And you have to try different songs because some IEMs always sound better on some songs than others that's for sure. I will try my Starfield tonight and let you know. Unfortunately I already sent my Aria Snow back, but I can still compare to Truthear.

 

[Madlop26]

My family of IEMs reaching to 7 now, becoming a mess


what about this as a solution for IEM stand? I think may work quite well.View attachment 232455

yes , worked pretty well I dare say

 

[Chromatischism]

I think I've done it!

Using a frequency sweep, I've nearly eliminated all the resonances that are bothering some of us. Of course I also listen to a lot of music to confirm. Also:

-Fixed the dirty bass/overall bass shape. Just like I found in my main system, the bass boost needs to be done by around 100 Hz. This is (IMO/IME) a flaw in the Harman curve.
-With less of a V-shaped response, drums and other mids have much more impact
-Deeper bass
-Much better balance

You have to try it. Filters below, and Wavelet attached.

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

Really curious to know what you guys think. It should sound very well balanced.

I've also updated my original post.

 

[cbracer]

-Fixed the dirty bass/overall bass shape. Just like I found in my main system, the bass boost needs to be done by around 100 Hz. This is (IMO/IME) a flaw in the Harman curve.
-With less of a V-shaped response, drums and other mids have much more impact
-Deeper bass
-Much better balance

That graph looks like what I want. Is there a PC or iphone app to use those filters or just google?

 

[Chromatischism]

For PC, Equalizer APO. Install that, then PEACE on top of it. I think I watched YouTube to figure out how to set it up, the creator has some published walkthroughs there.

 

[Jhify]

I just fited on the Comply 500 Series rounded foam tips. Confort went from a 2/10: I can't wear them for more than a hour, to a 7/10: I can listen for few hours without much disconfort. And I can finally get a proper seal which I couldn't whith any of the tips included. If you've got weird ear canals I recomend them.

With a simple 10 band eq to tweak them a bit they're now my go to at the office.

 

[Phantomuser]

I'm using Comply 500 tips and they also work well for me , I can listen for hours now too.
Ive found giving them a little squeeze before putting them in and voila .. great sound and they stay put!

 

[Haruko]

-Fixed the dirty bass/overall bass shape. Just like I found in my main system, the bass boost needs to be done by around 100 Hz. This is (IMO/IME) a flaw in the Harman curve.
-With less of a V-shaped response, drums and other mids have much more impact
-Deeper bass
-Much better balance

that's funny idk what are your reference tracks to test this with but try and play something like Catty Angel · KIYO＊SEN. If the eq sounds better to you then i guess you can say you have done it...

 

[KikoKentaurus]

I think I've done it!

I've nearly eliminated all the resonances! The worst offenders were surrounding 5 and 7 kHz. I also:

-Fixed the dirty bass/overall bass shape. Just like I found in my main system, the bass boost needs to be done by around 100 Hz. This is (IMO/IME) a flaw in the Harman curve.
-With less of a V-shaped response, drums and other mids have much more impact
-Deeper bass
-Much better balance

You have to try it. Filters below, and Wavelet attached.

Preamp: -2.3 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 2.500
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 80 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 1.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 100 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 2.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 175 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1050 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2750 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 0.850
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5000 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 7500 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 5.000
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 10000 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 3.000

Really curious to know what you guys think. It should sound very well balanced.

I've also updated my original post.

Do you use foam tips or basic ones?
Also, this blogger states that the deviation differ from what is provided by Crinacle.

 

[Chromatischism]

Do you use foam tips or basic ones?
Also, this blogger states that the deviation differ from what is provided by Crinacle.

I use the silicone tips (small bore) for comfort, but I also tested with foam. I use foam in noisier environments.

 

[GaryH]

Also, this blogger states that the deviation differ from what is provided by Crinacle.

Indeed...

It's looking like these could have been cherry-picked then:

 

[usern]

That graph looks like what I want. Is there a PC or iphone app to use those filters or just google?

For PC, Equalizer APO. Install that, then PEACE on top of it. I think I watched YouTube to figure out how to set it up, the creator has some published walkthroughs there.

PEACE is not necessary.
Create new control flow:

Then click on file select:

In the file selection dialogue, create new .txt file (can name it anything), right click open it and paste the EQ there. And select the newly created file. All done.

Preamp: -2.3 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 2.500
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 80 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 1.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 100 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 2.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 175 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1050 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2750 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 0.850
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5000 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 7500 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 5.000
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 10000 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 3.000

After that, can adjust the filters in GUI by clicking the arrow button:

 

[Lilith]

They arrived today and the sound is great. Bass response is very good and I can use them to judge my mixes in the bass region instead of listening in my car.