Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED IEM Review

[Jimbob54]

Is there any reason while amirm did not recomend using the resistor?

I'm guessing he didn't like the fact it lowers the treble some plus makes marginally harder to drive. He was dismissive of it rather than critical.

 

[GaryH]

This dongle is getting out of hand, but I love the sound!

View attachment 294267

Why use the bass adapter (aka resistor) with the Qudelix? Its parametric EQ can do everything the adapter does without any of the drawbacks.

Is there any reason while amirm did not recomend using the resistor?

See my previous post and the article linked there for why it's a bad idea in general.

 

[jhwalker]

Agreed!

I finally got around to troubleshooting this.

Two things:

1) The Amp mode was set to "Balanced (2.5mm)" but I was using the "Unbalanced (3.5mm)" plug (obviously, because that's what came with the Red). Surprised it worked at all, but sound was definitely coming out, just a bit different from what it SHOULD.
2) I forgot the Qudelix actually has its own built-in volume / boost INDEPENDENT FROM Roon (my source). So I was turning Roon up to 100% and still not getting much from the amp :/ Wound up turning it up to +5.5db (i.e., just shy of 6, the max) and keeping Roon at around 90%.

When I fixed both those items, the sound is now what I expected I knew there must have been something I was doing wrong!

PS - I listen mostly to classical, so turning it up that loud is actually necessary for most recordings. Listening to Taylor Swift at the same level would be deafening. LOL.

 

[ngs428]

Why use the bass adapter (aka resistor) with the Qudelix? Its parametric EQ can do everything the adapter does without any of the drawbacks.

See my previous post and the article linked there for why it's a bad idea in general.

I tried the built in autoEQ presets and they were not good. The sound was very flat.

Have any eq settings you recommend which mimic the bass boost of the adapter?

 

[staticV3]

Have any eq settings you recommend which mimic the bass boost of the adapter?

Here's a 2-band PEQ that will give you the same response as with the impedance adapter:

 

[Jimbob54]

I tried the built in autoEQ presets and they were not good. The sound was very flat.

Have any eq settings you recommend which mimic the bass boost of the adapter?

Low shelf 170hz gain 2.5 Q0.5 will not be far off

Ninja'd by Static

 

[ngs428]

Here's a 2-band PEQ that will give you the same response as with the impedance adapter:
View attachment 295247

Thanks! I am trying it right now.

 

[GaryH]

I tried the built in autoEQ presets and they were not good. The sound was very flat.

Have any eq settings you recommend which mimic the bass boost of the adapter?

Here's a more accurate EQ based on B&K 5128 measurements instead of random clone coupler measurements as per above:

Preamp: -3.1 dB
Filter 1: LShelf Fc 105 Hz Gain 2.6 dB Q 0.7
Filter 2: Peak Fc 147 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 1.08
Filter 3: Peak Fc 278 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.73
Filter 4: Peak Fc 2470 Hz Gain -0.7 dB Q 0.26
Filter 5: HShelf Fc 10000 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 0.7

Also you might prefer this EQ:

Preamp: -3.1 dB
Filter 1: Peak Fc 33 Hz Gain 2.8 dB Q 0.27
Filter 2: Peak Fc 8343 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 0.82

 

[staticV3]

Here's a more accurate EQ based on B&K 5128 measurements instead of random clone coupler measurements as per above:

Why might the random clone coupler fail to measure the relative frequency response difference between w/ and w/o impedance adapter?

Sure the 5128's increased accuracy at high frequencies is nice for certain applications, but in this case, it's completely useless.

Edit: and here, the 5128's tendency to provoke rocking modes in the IEM housing is even detrimental.

 

[GaryH]

Why might the random clone coupler fail to measure the relative frequency response difference between w/ and w/o impedance adapter?

I meant the whole rig, and fake knock-off rigs not only have unknown accuracy, but precision too. It's a lottery. Why base any EQ on cheap clone rigs with unknown manufacturing provenance when we have measurements from proper companies like B&K and GRAS that follow strict manufacturing tolerances?

Edit: and here, the 5128's tendency to provoke rocking modes in the IEM housing is even detrimental.

Nah, the EQ I posted was based on a 10-unit (so 20-channel) average which smooths out any significant potential error from inconsistent rocking modes, as can be seen from the difference curve between with and without bass adapter, which just shows a minimal high-Q (not audible-level) deviation around the rocking mode:

Your clone coupler measurement to a lesser extent also exhibits rocking modes anyway when not disguised with artificial smoothing and squashed vertical image scaling as per your previous post:

Regardless of all this, even if that clone rig randomly happened to be ok, your EQ is inaccurate:

 

[markanini]

I meant the whole rig, and fake knock-off rigs not only have unknown accuracy, but precision too. It's a lottery. Why base any EQ on cheap clone rigs with unknown manufacturing provenance when we have measurements from proper companies like B&K and GRAS that follow strict manufacturing tolerances?

Nah, the EQ I posted was based on a 10-unit (so 20-channel) average which smooths out any significant potential error from inconsistent rocking modes, as can be seen from the difference curve between with and without bass adapter, which just shows a minimal high-Q (not audible-level) deviation around the rocking mode:
View attachment 295395
Your clone coupler measurement to a lesser extent also exhibits rocking modes anyway when not disguised with artificial smoothing and squashed vertical image scaling as per your previous post:
View attachment 295396
Regardless of all this, even if that clone rig randomly happened to be ok, your EQ is inaccurate:
View attachment 295397

The majority of IEC 711 couplers on squig.link lookup line up very closely, when inputting the equivalent EQ function based on your BK5128 average. I'm not saying trust the all couplers, just pointing out the IEC 711 agree with BK5128 in that regard.

Secondly, a single shelf filter is sufficient:

Preamp: -3.3 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 220 Hz Gain 3.3 dB Q 0.480

 

[GaryH]

Again, why even look at measurements made on clone rigs of unknown provenance when we have measurements available from rigs made by reputable companies like GRAS and B&K (of 10 samples averaged no less in this case to iron out unit variance) that follow strict manufacturing tolerances? If we have to check each clone coupler against the latter per IEM to verify their accuracy and precision, why not just use the latter in the first place? Also, the 'bass' adapter affects the upper mids / treble as well, so you can use your EQ if only the bass / lower mids effect is wanted and for maximum simplicity, but it won't be a full analogue.

 

[Blorg]

I mean if you want more bass, add a bass shelf to taste, it's not rocket surgery.

I don't think the tweaks to the higher frequencies are particularly desired or beneficial anyway. You boost the bass, you probably don't want to also simultaneously reduce the upper mids and highs, that is a one way ticket to mudsville.

If you are using EQ anyway you are not tied to the limitations of the physical impedance adapter and all this arguing over which measuring rig best reproduces it is missing the point.

If you want a 3dB bass shelf, add a 3dB bass shelf, and personally I think this sounds better than the impedance adapter anyway.

 

[Matias]

The shipping time of the Red is very long lately. I know because I am waiting for a 2nd unit and a unit for my brother to ship for over a week now. They must be heavily back ordered at the factory. I guess it's the price of success...

 

[markanini]

The shipping time of the Red is very long lately. I know because I am waiting for a 2nd unit and a unit for my brother to ship for over a week now. They must be heavily back ordered at the factory. I guess it's the price of success...

Sounds like you like this IEM.

 

[raif71]

The shipping time of the Red is very long lately. I know because I am waiting for a 2nd unit and a unit for my brother to ship for over a week now. They must be heavily back ordered at the factory. I guess it's the price of success...

I'm still waiting for my 1st. Been more than a month now

 

[raif71]

Why use the bass adapter (aka resistor) with the Qudelix? Its parametric EQ can do everything the adapter does without any of the drawbacks.

See my previous post and the article linked there for why it's a bad idea in general.

Not everyone uses EQ . When I get the Red, I imagine, I will try the adapter once or twice... I'm not fond of sound changing adapter myself

 

[Matias]

I'm still waiting for my 1st. Been more than a month now

Wow, that's bad. The one I bought for my friend (yes, that is 4 for who is counting) I ordered on June 7 and shipped next day at the Truthear Official Store on AliExpress.

 

[GaryH]

I mean if you want more bass, add a bass shelf to taste, it's not rocket surgery.

I don't think the tweaks to the higher frequencies are particularly desired or beneficial anyway. You boost the bass, you probably don't want to also simultaneously reduce the upper mids and highs, that is a one way ticket to mudsville.

If you are using EQ anyway you are not tied to the limitations of the physical impedance adapter and all this arguing over which measuring rig best reproduces it is missing the point.

If you want a 3dB bass shelf, add a 3dB bass shelf, and personally I think this sounds better than the impedance adapter anyway.

A poster asked how to best replicate the sound of the adapter with EQ. I told them how.

Not everyone uses EQ

This poster already uses their Truthears with the Qudelix 5K DAC amp, which has a fully parametric equalizer built in, so there's no reason not to use this PEQ, and no reason (in fact reasons not) to use the 'bass adapter' in conjunction with it.

 

[raif71]

Wow, that's bad. The one I bought for my friend (yes, that is 4 for who is counting) I ordered on June 7 and shipped next day at the Truthear Official Store on AliExpress.

That's a bit disturbing to hear...not sure what my seller is doing with their communication with Truthear ... hmmm