Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED IEM Review

[Sebby]

But I'm not.

I don't particularly like Harman IE, and have not shown it in any graph.

Peaky and uneven treble is bad, no matter the target response. It's the opposite of high-fidelity (signal in=signal out).

That's what I'm criticizing. Not the lack of target adherence.

The main issue is that I was hesitant from the graph, but after trying them I fell in love with them.
Wrong or right from an objective point of view, we all found them wonderful. The only unanimous complaint is the mids a little too thin...

 

[Kennedy]

Hello, I have an issue with the Truthear Zero Red. I’m a drummer, and I use them for on-stage monitoring, connected directly to my mixer, a Soundcraft Notepad 8FX. However, I have a major problem. Compared to my old KZ IEMs, the Truthear sound much quieter at the same gain and volume levels! How can I solve this issue? Thank you!

came here from google, thank god someone else had the exact same issue, I thought I was tripping or losing my hearing or something.

 

[Bernard23]

Yep, they're quiet. I bought some tanchjim ones instead.

 

[markanini]

Theres the new Tanchjim Bunny that looks promising too.

 

[earlevel]

came here from google, thank god someone else had the exact same issue, I thought I was tripping or losing my hearing or something.

I have the blue Zeros, and they are loud enough for me, but I happened to pick up a set of Audiovance "Vibes 202 Wired Earbuds" (Amazon, $29-$32 right now, depending on color). They sound quite good and are significantly louder than the Zeros. My iPhone drives my Zeros as loud as I'd want to listen, but it drives the Vibes quite a bit louder, I have to turn them down. They come in a better case than the Zeros, and the little mesh pocket inside is perfect for carrying tips and a couple of Apple dongles (Lightning and USB-C versions, for iPhone and iPad). The case is much better about avoiding tangles than the Zeros pouch. I took both on vacation, but ended up using the Vibes solely.

 

[dweeeeb2]

The apple dongle drives my RED’s loud enough to cause ear drum ache

 

[dtaylo1066]

I am sure my Reds could make my ears ache if I turned them up too high on my iFi Micro iDSD amp/dac. I don't find them a particularly comfortable pair of IEMs, though

 

[raif71]

I use KZ10 and Zero Red with Sony wm1a DAP. Yes the Red is significantly quieter than KZ10 but after getting a balanced wire (4.4mm) for the Red, that quickly improve its loudness with the DAP.

 

[Kennedy]

Yep, they're quiet. I bought some tanchjim ones instead.

thankfully my dac/amp was already running at like -40db so I just had to increase to -30db.
all while being paranoid that Im just "not used" to the sound signature or whatever. they do sound quite piercing sometimes.

 

[Sal1950]

The apple dongle drives my RED’s loud enough to cause ear drum ache

Then don't do that.

 

[dtaylo1066]

My Red Zeros, which I loved, started sounding thin and bright of late. I thought maybe my iFi micro dDSD Black was going, or my new Tidal subscription sucked, of maybe the drivers in the IEMs were toast.

The silicone tips then fell off into my ear when removing the Zeros. I put on a replacement pair, which were smaller, but it sounded like dog meat. I then put on the largest tips (after re-reading Amir's review) and, BAM, I was back in business better than ever. So for my ears, I need to use the largest tips, and that isolates my inner ear and results in amazing detail, bass and spatial properties. And is more comfortable.

I am new to IEMs and headphone listening, and never realized the right IEM tip fit was so crucial.

 

[CedarX]

never realized the right IEM tip fit was so crucial.

+1
For IEMs, it’s not so much about finding the right tips, it’s much more about finding the tips that provide the right fit.

 

[syzygetic]

Welp, just coming here to say I picked up a pair of these because why not for $55. They're technically perfect. What more can I ask? What an age.

 

[mc.god]

+1
For IEMs, it’s not so much about finding the right tips, it’s much more about finding the tips that provide the right fit.

True, but seems that some iems more than others change response with different tips, I had troubles finding alternative tips for Red that don't audibly drop the highs, while for instance no troubles with TE Gate and 7Hz Zero, and then i found this that somewhat confirmed that i wasn't completely gone mad (specifically pointing to Kbear 07 that I own):

 

[CedarX]

True, but seems that some iems more than others change response with different tips, I had troubles finding alternative tips for Red that don't audibly drop the highs, while for instance no troubles with TE Gate and 7Hz Zero, and then i found this that somewhat confirmed that i wasn't completely gone mad (specifically pointing to Kbear 07 that I own):

View attachment 420037

View attachment 420039

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Sure, but these potential differences are irrelevant if a combination of IEM/tip is uncomfortable (wrong fit) and doesn’t seal your ear canal.

 

[mc.god]

Sure, but these potential differences are irrelevant if a combination of IEM/tip is uncomfortable (wrong fit) and doesn’t seal your ear canal.

No doubts, every FR and performance evaluation have sense only after proper seal and comfortable usage are granted.

 

[Jimbob54]

No doubts, every FR and performance evaluation have sense only after proper seal and comfortable usage are granted.

And I suspect many many of the user generated sound impression posts we see here and elsewhere are not made with that condition met. I mean, I have seen examples where the ear loops are the wrong way round.

If user reports "tinny" or "no bass" on any reasonably modern IEM and they dont have a track record of posting sensible sound impressions you'd have to suspect poor seal first.

 

[mc.god]

And I suspect many many of the user generated sound impression posts we see here and elsewhere are not made with that condition met. I mean, I have seen examples where the ear loops are the wrong way round.

If user reports "tinny" or "no bass" on any reasonably modern IEM and they dont have a track record of posting sensible sound impressions you'd have to suspect poor seal first.

Oh, I'm sure too, especially reading users review on Amazon complaining "everyone says this have great bass but it's a scam, beware of the good reviews folks, they have no bass at all!"

 

[FTB]

One thing to choose the right eartips is to wear the IEMs without listening to music and rub our fingers close to our ears to determine if the isolation is good or not.
No proper isolation, no proper bass level.