If Crinacle’s IEM goal curve does it for you and also you don’t want TOTL technicalities, then the ZERO: RED does all of it.
I sought after to hate those IEMs. It will have made scripting this overview such a lot more straightforward – “cocky IEM maven designs affordable IEMs, they usually SUCK!” How’s that for a headline? The item writes itself.
The Truthear x Crinacle ZERO: RED is the newest collab between IEM size web famous person Crinacle and Truthear. Their earlier paintings used to be the Truthear ZERO which, just like the RED, used a duo of dynamic drivers and used to be tuned to the Harman IEM goal.
This newest incarnation is tuned to Crinacle’s personal IEM goal curve and has an upgraded crossover, reportedly to make stronger distortion efficiency.
The ZERO: RED are a no brainer acquire for someone in search of an reasonably priced impartial pair of IEMs. Whilst no longer very best in each method, they’re very good the place it in point of fact counts – the tonal steadiness. I will be able to inform that the ZERO: RED are made via folks with super business revel in. Each the presentation and construct high quality are top-notch for the reasonably priced value.
- Elegance-leading tonal steadiness
- Just right consolation
- Sumptuous seems to be
- Works for every type of song
- Quite a few equipment
- The bass spice up adaptor will also be helpful
- The design is well-thought-out
- Technicalities are handiest k
- The bass spice up adaptor is awkward for moveable use
- The nozzles will also be too thick for some
Hype is commonplace on this pastime, however handing over on guarantees isn’t.
Let’s dive into why I believe this pair of IEMs the cheap benchmark and who must get them.
In This Article
Technical Specs
- Shape: Vented shell common IEMs
- Drivers: 2 dynamic: 1x bass + 1x mid/treble
- Crossover: passive digital 2-way
- Sensitivity: 120dB/V (at 1kHz)
- Frequency Reaction: 20 – 20 000Hz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
- Impedance: 10Ω ± 15% (@1kHz)
- General Harmonic Distortion: ≤1% (at 1Khz)
- Cable Access: 2 pin 0.78mm
Packaging
Once more with the anime women! My higher part is beginning to suppose this reviewer gig is only a entrance for one thing stranger.
Lengthy tale brief – the packaging is greater than nice and wouldn’t be misplaced for IEMs costing ten instances extra.
The field is inside of a shiny sleeve exhibiting the aforementioned quilt artwork and a to hand size graph entire with the fundamental tech specifications. It’s no longer too garish, and I believe does the task. After casting off the sleeve, an understated field seems. I love it!
What I don’t like is that lid to the true cardboard container is held company via air suction, and there’s nowhere to take hold of it. You simply must let it slowly slide down and catch it as soon as it comes free. After opening it a couple of instances, it will get more straightforward.
Inside of I’m greeted via the IEMs and a pleasant pleather case. Inside of is the cable and an collection of ear pointers. The ZERO: RED additionally ships with a 10Ω impedance adaptor for a extra bassy sound.
Within the field
- Truthear x Crinacle ZERO: RED IEMs
- Silver-plated copper cable
- Garage bag
- 10Ω bass adaptor with 3.5mm connections
- Silicone ear pointers (S/M/L) in slim and huge bore diversifications
- M length foam ear pointers
- Two units of IEM nozzle filters
- QC certificates
- Guide
- A cardboard stand for the forms field
Design
The design and appears of the ZERO: RED get prime marks from me.
The pink faceplate seems to be in point of fact placing and offers the IEMs a top class glance hardly discovered at this value level. It’s great that the faceplates don’t catch fingerprints, so the ZERO: RED will most likely glance recent for a very long time.
As for the nozzles, they’re beautiful thick. Fortuitously they’re well-designed and feature a preserving lip for the tricks to latch on. I’ve long gone nozzle fishing with my Blessing 3 a couple of instances, which wasn’t delightful. My colleagues have been relatively confused once I caught the ends of my Leatherman pliers into my ear.
The integrated cable is ok. It has 4 separate conductors, so a retermination to balanced is potential. This can be a bit vulnerable to tangling however doesn’t grasp kinks and bends for a very long time. The cable works nice and helps to keep out of the best way of the listening revel in.
Convenience
I don’t have any qualms about dressed in the ZERO: RED for a whole 12h shift on a movie set. There aren’t abnormal angles or edges that disagree with the form of my pinna. A few of my dearer IEMs sit down higher because of a greater resin mould, however none are as mild because the ZERO: RED.
The cable ear hooks are in large part unnoticeable and paintings nice even with glasses. The enter 3.5mm jack is angled and, in my view, works higher than the immediately choices in a pocket atmosphere. Whilst the 10Ω adaptor is a fascinating addition, I to find the immediately extension of the angled jack makes the full setup slightly bulky.
Internals
Like the unique Truthear ZERO, the ZERO: RED makes use of a 10mm dynamic motive force for low frequencies and a smaller 7.8mm dynamic motive force for the remainder.
A passive digital crossover guarantees every motive force will get handiest what it wishes to accomplish at its easiest.
In a QA circulation, Crinacle claimed that the crossover were overhauled to make stronger THD efficiency around the audible vary. I don’t suppose it has a lot to do with higher digital elements quite than converting the frequency the place the drivers go over to one another.
Every of the nozzles at the ZERO: RED comes capped with a steel filter out grate, fighting free earwax from coming into the shell. Two further units of filters are provided – alternatively, there aren’t any directions on the best way to exchange them.
ZERO: RED Sound
The Truthear ZERO: RED are tuned to check Crinacle’s evolved IEM desire goal. To begin with, I used to be skeptical since the Moondrop Blessing 3 have been additionally very size primarily based designed to check Crinacle’s tonal goal, and in my view, tonality used to be their major weak spot.
Upon first listening, I used to be shocked that the ZERO: RED sounded so excellent. There may be various bass, and the highest finish is prolonged, in contrast to at the Moondrop Aria. I might even say that tonality-wise, those IEMs are a benchmark and punch method above their value level.
I’m slightly of a sucker for excellent dynamic motive force IEMs, and those positive tickle my fancy. They’re no longer the comfort-food heat Aria. On the other hand, the low finish keeps the dynamism I hardly get from balanced armature implementations. Additionally, the crossover turns out really well performed, as I will be able to’t discover any discrepancies between the 2 bands.
Tonal steadiness
The ZERO: RED is most commonly impartial.
There may be, in fact, the issues of private desire, ear geometry, and ear tip selection, however to me, the ZERO: RED hit the tonality goal. This can be a nice aid to make use of IEMs that require no EQ on my section in the end.
Like Crinacle, I believe some would favor extra low-end and will be predisposed to make use of the integrated 10Ω adaptor. When put between the IEMs and the amp, it attenuates the entirety however the low finish, making the full sound signature markedly darker. It additionally bumps down the sensitivity, so it can be helpful with extra hissy assets.
Technicalities
ZERO: RED has first rate technical efficiency, but it surely’s no longer the homerun this is their tonal steadiness.
I’m positive folks will proclaim that the ZERO: RED proves that each one pricy IEMs in the market are a rip-off. I will be able to admit that those IEMs will make me a harsher pass judgement on since the ZERO: RED have very good worth for the fee. The place extra luxurious IEMs take over is in technical efficiency.
Whilst the ZERO: RED have a moderately huge headstage, the imaging might be extra pronounced and actual. Even with out the impedance adaptor, the low finish can appear a tad hazy. The highs, whilst prolonged, don’t have the airy nature {that a} well-implemented electret or balanced armature motive force can pull off.
Now, do those shortcomings make the ZERO: RED dangerous? After all, no longer. I needed to whip out my trusty Theiaudio Monarch MK1 to 0 in on any objections I’m describing right here. Oh, and the Monarch MK1 nonetheless wishes EQ to be as impartial because the ZERO: RED.
Bass
There’s each extension and affect – a amusing experience assured.
I’ve little or no qualms concerning the low finish at the ZERO: RED. For bassy song, there’s sufficient extension in order that not anything is lacking. I particularly benefit from the loss of balanced armature rapid but featherweight bass.
The adaptor is also helpful for correct bass freaks in the market, however for me, it isn’t a worthy tradeoff. The lack of keep an eye on doesn’t paintings effectively for me with maximum tracks. Stuff like outdated Led Zeppelin used to be one scenario the place the web acquire used to be certain, as the unique recording is infrequently slightly skinny.
Mids
Ain’t not anything proper if the mids aren’t proper – that’s my motto for all audio tools.
With ZERO: RED, mids are once more quite impartial, so there’s little else to jot down house about. There’s no longer sufficient solution to imbue them with the magic that higher-end IEMs regularly be offering.
Fortuitously the bass doesn’t seep into mids, in order that they’re quite blank. And there’s no hint of any more or less peakiness brought about via resonance. The tuning makes the mids very recording-dependent, so be ready for a wonder if folks within the studio did it proper.
Treble
No surprises within the treble. They’re tuned effectively with sufficient extension to render all overtones.
With such excellent tuning, it’s tricky to jot down about anything else however the shortcomings of the ZERO: RED. The highest finish is superb and doesn’t reason ear fatigue, but it falls wanting higher-end choices. Is it an issue with the fee that Truthear asks for those IEMs? Heck, no!
The place to Purchase
Conclusion
If you overlooked it, I a great deal benefit from the ZERO: RED!
As a reviewer, my task is to concentrate on the shortcomings of each product in the market. If the instrument I’m checking out is that this excellent, there’s simply no longer a lot to mention. On this case, I believe the ZERO: RED are a no brainer acquire for someone in search of an reasonably priced impartial pair of IEMs.
To be further positive, I like to recommend folks to visit Crinacle’s size web page and EQ their very own IEMs to his goal. For me, the ZERO: RED will keep in my quiver of IEMs so I will be able to examine others to them. Whilst no longer very best in each method, they’re very good the place it in point of fact counts – the tonal steadiness.
I will be able to inform that the ZERO: RED are made via folks with super business revel in. Each the presentation and construct high quality are top-notch for the reasonably priced value. I’ve noticed method pricier choices fall flat the place Truthear and Crinacle have proven excellence.
Allow 48h for review and removal.