TRN-VX Review (1) – Technical Knockout
Aside from the Trump-boosted body count, the most disconcerting aspect of the COVID lockdown is the stimulus deprivation—all of sudden we’re deprived of sports, in-person interaction, microbreweries and most other useful ways to drown out the constant drumbeat of bad news. All of which has made music and gear the more essential to anesthetize the looming sense of existential doom.
Ergo, my comparative joy at the unexpected arrival of the TRN-VX, a $75 14 driver hybrid from ambitious upstart TRN, who have trotted out ever more refined models since the fun-but-overheated V10/V20. Packaging and accessories are spartan; compact aluminum shells are well-built and comfortable, though aesthetically dull, while isolation (aside from some minor wind noise) is very good.
The TRN-VX is supposedly an enhancement of the well-received V90, and shares the same slightly warmish U-shaped tonality, with an enhanced, well-extended treble, mildly recessed mids and tight, well-articulated bass which has considerable thump and depth, albeit without the slightly overdone boominess of the V90. Note texture is lean but not anemic, and instrument placement is quite accurate across a wide, relatively low-ceilinged stage. Compared to the recent all-BA BA5, the TRN-VX presents more high-end detail, a similarly sculpted bass and more overall refinement, while also sounding more natural and less artificially juiced than comparably-situated KZ hybrids like the ZSX or ZS10.
My quibbles with the TRN-VX are twofold. First, the low end, while musical and articulate, is less than perfectly integrated with the rest of spectrum and tends to stand out rather than blend in (the DD-less BA5 is much more seamless in this regard). Second, drums tend to sound “papery” and slightly unnatural; peers like BQEYZ BQ3 or KBEAR Diamond reproduce quick transients more accurately. As with the BA5, I suspect that some cost-cutting compromises were made in the selection of the (30095) BA drivers. That said, the TRN-VX, however, reveal more high-end information than I’ve heard at this pricepoint and sorts up complex instrumental passages very capably; acoustic and folk music sounds particularly good.
The TRN-VX is impressive overall—a comparable 14-driver unit might have cost >$500 just a few years ago—although I can’t help feeling that a less ambitious design with fewer, higher-end drivers might have yielded the last bit of coherence. Recommended nonetheless.
SPECIFICATIONS
Driver unit: 6 BA + 1 DD (10 mm)
Impedance: 22 Ω
Sensitivity: 107 dB/mW
Frequency range: 7 – 40000 Hz
Connectors: 2 pin
Tested at: $75.14
Purchase Link: TRN Official Store
Disclaimers—received unsolicited and free; my colleague Kopi may or may not have had some (uncompensated) input into the tuning; I had several bourbons before auditioning.
Our generic standard disclaimer.
MY VERDICT
We have reviewed most of the above mentioned earphones.
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“As with the BA5, I suspect that some cost-cutting compromises were made in the selection of the (30095) BA drivers.”
Could you mention what alternatives they could use for better sound quality? Also, where can I find a comparison list or reference of each BA driver in the market?
i don’t know the source of the drivers trn uses (kopi or jurgen would be better informed), so my answer is purely speculative. however, i doubt they’re using knowles drivers, which are well-regarded and pricier than the bellsing or generic drivers that many other chifi makers use.
Carlos,
TRN definitely uses 3rd party BAs. A lot of these cheaper BAs don’t fellow specs closely, that’s why you read sound variations from batch to batch, which makes people think they came out with version 2.0. Is there a listen? There is but BAs don’t just work by itself. You will have to put it in a chassis, together with other drivers and crossover to really hear the differences.
How does the VX compare to the Tin P1?
haven’t heard the p1, which is a $150 planar and may not be a fair comparison. i do prefer the VX to the tin t2, which is more audiophile-accurate, but a bit clinical-sounding.
In a modded state, either with the tape or using an EQ profile, how would you rate these?
Especially in comparison to the KZ ZSX, TRN V90, Blon 03 and/or starfield – which are other options I’m considering or have had. I’m looking to replace my 03s as the shell has apparently failed on the right ear and it is separating in two at the seam.
Would there be any value in doing tape plus EQ tweaking or does that tend to be more either/or.
the blon do have a more natural tonality and the zsx are more coherent, but i still rate the vx higher overall. i have not heard the starfield. as for taping/EQ, it’s of course a personal preference–i find the vx to do just fine as-is, without the sharp treble or peakiness of many of its peers.
Hi there, for about a month now Iuse the V90. Would yoy consider the VX an upgrade over V90? Was kind of disappointed at first, but after using foam tips and T3 cable (also TRN, arrived 2 days later} I’m quite happywith the V90. Only, with some recordings, the heights tend to have a certain sharpness. Would you consider the VX an upgrade?
i do like the vx better than the v90, mainly because of its bass quality, but they’re similar in approach and it’s not a huge upgrade–in the same price range i’d opt for the kbear diamond or the bqeyz bq3