The TRN V80 is a small, comfortable hybrid earphone that excels in its well-textured, controlled bass and its refined and very natural sound, including a large and accurate soundstage and great resolution and detail. The harmony between its four drivers creates a good room feel. The V80 constitutes another stage in the fast race for the perfect hybrid earphone at a low price.

I purchased the TRN V80 from NiceHCK Audio Store for $0.10 for the purpose of this review. Thanks for the discount! Nobody has (ever) demanded any conditions and I wished I got a cut from Jim NiceHCK but I don’t. As always, I tested the V80 across a section of music that broadly covers the frequency spectrum, including natural sounds generated by voices and orchestral instruments…for many hours. Following the review, the unit was donated.

As to the measurements: the measuring coupler was two pieces of plastic tubing on the end of a Dayton iMM-6 microphone. No compensation applied. These measurements should not be directly compared to other measurements except those done on the same device, for example the ones I have posted before.

In the last two to three years, low-priced Chinese earphones have experienced an increasingly fast technological progress. Knowledge Zenith were the first to introduce a <$20 hybrid in 2016 and now offer a 5-driver a side earphone for around $50. Other companies such as Tinaudio and TRN followed suit. TRN is a relatively young earphone manufacturer from Dongguan, China. Whereas Knowledge Zenith have a highly diversified product range, TRN offers only four but quite different sounding earphone models, the V10, V20, V60, and the V80, which is subject of this review.

• Product Name: TRN V80
• Driver Unit: 2 balanced armature + 2 dynamic hybrid driver unit
• Impedance: 24 Ω
• Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW
• Frequency Range: 7–40000 Hz
• Plug Type: 3.5mm straight plug
• Cable Length: 1.25 m
• Interface: two-pin connector
• Price: $39 with the remote at the time of reviewing
• Purchase link: NiceHCK Audio Store

The plain white box contains the earpieces, a cable, three pairs of rubber tips (S/M/L), a manual and a warranty card. Don’t forget ordering case.

The earpieces are entirely made of metal and appear to be very sturdy. The relatively long nozzles have a lip at their end. TRN shamelessly lifted much of the V80’s shape from the Dunu Falcon C earphone. The cable is braided similar to the ones included with the latest Knowledge Zenith models. I selected the version with the one-button control and mic but it is also available without for $1 less. The cable is attached to the earpiece via a two-pin connector.

The rounded earpieces are amazingly small and not too heavy. They fit very well in my ears and remained comfortable for several hours at a time. The largest included eartips worked fine for me.

I used my iPhone 5S with and without the audioquest dragonfly black dac/amp. Even with the iPhone alone, the V80 sounded good.

This earphone is all about bass quality (but not quantity, although there is more than enough). The bass is wonderfully textured with some slam, which creates a pleasant (but never overwhelming) sensation on my eardrums that quickly became addictive. And although it is nicely extended into the sub bass, it is not for bassheads. The lower mids are a bit recessed without the bass bleeding into them. Male vocals may sound a bit slender at times and even blunt but always natural and they are never harsh as in some current Knowledge Zenith models such as the ZS10 or ES4. The vocals are quality and the result of good tuning of decent drivers. The upper mids and treble are slightly emphasized with rare minor sibilance and no pierce. Treble is forward, very clean, clear, and well extended.

The interplay of bass, mids, and treble paints a sparkly, vivid, three-dimensional, and relaxed sound picture with a very natural timbre. Sound is neither dark or bright or neutral but somewhere in between. The soundstage is wider than the average of comparably priced earphones I know and the bass texture adds depth. Instrument separation and layering are excellent and so are resolution and detail.

The V80 is versatile: it worked well with an octet by Spohr performed by the Gaudier Ensemble, cabaret by London’s Tiger Lillies, pop by Erasure, Jazz ensembles, but also with the rhythm/lead guitars of German heavies Michael Schenker and the Scorpions (forgive me!).

So what could be improved? Bring the vocals more forward and take the treble back a bit…and charge $150.

Knowledge Zenith ED16 (~$24): Another well-tuned, relaxed, coherent but warmer, slightly shallower sounding hybrid iem (one dynamic and two balanced armature drivers) which features a slightly less controlled bass, less dense but more forward voices, and less detail and accuracy, albeit the ED16 is not less enjoyable outside of direct comparison. Quite frankly, this is a really good earphone and I had to dig deep to find quality differences.

Tinaudio T1 (~$38): This single-dynamic driver earphone has a slightly flatter, less energetic signature mainly owing to its less pronounced bass and its more neutral mids. It may also lag somewhat in resolution and detail but is still a homogenous, natural sounding earphone that is practical underneath a hat or in bed because of its button-shaped metallic earpieces.

TRN V60 (~$24): This hybrid earphone (two dynamic and one balanced armature driver) has a slightly overwhelming bass that may suck life out of the midrange and dulls the overall sound to some extent. The V80 is better in essentially all aspects…unless you are a basshead.

Focal Sphear (~$130): A warm and refined sounding single dynamic-driver earphone with a patented bass-reflex system that features a slightly “fatter” image which is not necessarily better than the V80’s. Resolution and layering of the two are in the same ballpark, which not only confirms the quality of the V80 but also points to the increasing disequilibrium of value for money.

With the V80, TRN have positioned themselves towards the forefront of low-price hybrid manufacturers who are trying to achieve sonic harmony between their dynamic and balanced armature drivers. The V80 offers a rather natural sound with the bass as its strongest individual strength that seduced me to lengthy listening sessions. This is a low-priced four-driver hybrid earphone that presents a convincingly coherent forest rather than just trees. It is definitely “not more of the same”, it is both good AND interesting sounding and should become a very strong commercial contender in the growing $30–$50 segment. Is this where the diminishing return begins? Respect, TRN!

You can get the TRN V80 from the NiceHCK Audio Store HERE.

Knowledge Zenith have finally produced a balanced hybrid in the KZ ED16 that sounds great and does not suffer from bloated bass, harsh mids, or piercing treble. A real listening pleasure for less than $25.

Knowledge Zenith have been around the western markets for a few years now initially making themselves a name with very low-priced but good sounding earphones. In 2015 and 2016, favorable reviews of the KZ ATE and KZ ZS3, respectively, propelled Knowledge Zenith onto the stage of budget audiophiles.

Since 2017, Knowledge Zenith has released a number of very affordable hybrid earphones that have created a large circle of fans. The ED16 belongs to the company’s latest batch of releases by the time purchased mine.

This “hybrid” earphone sports three drivers, one “dynamic” and two “balanced armature”. Most earphones only have a single dynamic driver, which is capable of covering the whole frequency spectrum and generating a full bass. More expensive, professional monitor earphones contain one of more balance armature drivers, which have a better resolution and detail, but none of them covers the whole frequency spectrum. Combining a dynamic driver with two balance armature drivers gives the listener the best of both worlds: a satisfying bass and detailed midrange and treble.

The ED16 comes in a small box, which also contains a cable with a one-button remote and microphone and three pairs of eartips in sizes S, M, and L. The cable is connected to the earpieces via two pins and can be replaced.

The earpieces are made of robust, translucent plastic and are as good a quality as it gets. The rubbery cable is the traditional Knowledge Zenith standard and works just fine. I selected the one with the one-button remote and microphone. The button works with both Apple and Android devices and can be used to stop/forward/rewind music and do start/receive a phone call.

These earphones are very comfortable for my ears over longer periods of time. The cable is worn over and around the ear for maximum hold. The portion of the cable that wraps around the ear is reinforced by memory wire. Sound isolation is good and there is no bleed to bystanders.

I used my iPhone 5S as source and the included eartips in size L did the job for me.

The ED16 can be characterized by a warm, open, and relaxed sound signature that is very pleasant to my ears.

Bass is prominent, warm, with lots of punch, and well extended to the deeper frequencies, yet it is not overwhelming and does not smudge into the midrange. The midrange is equally warm and is never harsh or sibilant. Vocals are firm and a bit recessed. There is a peak in the upper midrange at 2 kHz which adds some sheen to the higher vocals and is probably responsible for the openness. Treble starts rolling off at 4.5 kHz and has a small 10 kHz peak, which does not produce any piercing but adds some brightness to the image. Bass, mids, and treble are linked by a glaze that results in an nice sonic fluidity.

The overall image is big, the soundstage is rather wide and deep. Spatial representation is excellent. Instrument separation and layering are good.

KZ ZS10: This five-driver per side has a good resolution and instrument separation, however rather recessed, sometimes harsh mids that can be smothered by the bass that is much stronger than in the ED16.

KZ ZS6: It has an attractive metal body and a rather analytical however accurate sound with a treble pierce unforgiven by sensible ears.

KZ ZSR: Similar timbre as the ED16, with similar treble but more bass. The ED16 appears to be an evolution of the ZSR.

KZ ES4: The ES4 is more bass-oriented, with a neutral, analytical midrange and less forward treble. The sound of the ED16 is more coherent.

I own about 70 pairs of earphones and headphones, including many by Knowledge Zenith (EDR1, EDR2, HDS1, HDS3, ie80 ATE, ATR, GR, EDR1, EDR2, ED3, ED4, ED7, ES3, ES4, ZS3, ZS5, ZS6, ZS10, ZSR, ZST, and ZSA). The ED16, although by far not their most expensive model, is their best in my opinion (together with the ZS6 at twice the price). I am rather lukewarm about their latest ZS10 flagship. Knowledge Zenith has continuously improved their hybrids and they finally got it right with the ED16, which features a sound signature of a quality only found in much more expensive “brand name” earphones. The ED16 is simply a really good, enjoyable earphone for longer listening sessions and a steal at its ~$25 purchase price.