Truthear x Crinacle ZERO:RED In-Ear Monitors

[Aynsley]

9 months in the IEM world is a long time, most sales happen in the first 2-3 months before something else comes up that could be better. I don't think there will be much cannibalization of sales going on, especially since the two sound different enough.

As short as 2-3 months? Wow. I had a vague idea that popular (= successful) gear sales fell gradually then plateaued, and it was those 'long' sales that allowed manufacturers to recoup loss-leaders.

 

[VSG]

As short as 2-3 months? Wow. I had a vague idea that popular (= successful) gear sales fell gradually then plateaued, and it was those 'long' sales that allowed manufacturers to recoup loss-leaders.

There are very few IEMs that have a continuous sales period that long, most taper off quickly. You will notice that many IEMs I've reviewed last year are discontinued/no longer available for sale.

 

[kha]

Good IEMs, too bad they have big nozzles, not for my small ear canals.
Ordered Truthear Hola instead and small ear tips.
I'm curios what else Truthear will release this year.

Great review.

 

[Aynsley]

9 months in the IEM world is a long time, most sales happen in the first 2-3 months before something else comes up that could be better. I don't think there will be much cannibalization of sales going on, especially since the two sound different enough.

After two days of web browsing, and re-reading your review, I think I understand why Crinacle tuned the Zero Blue and Zero:Red differently. And judging by ASR and other audiophile forums, the new Red is selling very well. I think I understand, but I've ended up with more questions than answers.

If the Harman IE target is 'shouty' because of (maybe) the number of test subjects and differences in test protocol, I'm puzzled by the high zero-distortion rating it received on ASR. I also can't help wondering how Truthears managed to re-tune the Zero while using what looks like an identical shell. Perhaps the inner cavity has been machined differently, but for a budget IEM I can't see the manufacturer investing in two production lines. Or is it as simple as changing one or two lines of code in the CNC milling machine software?

 

[VSG]

After two days of web browsing, and re-reading your review, I think I understand why Crinacle tuned the Zero Blue and Zero:Red differently. And judging by ASR and other audiophile forums, the new Red is selling very well. I think I understand, but I've ended up with more questions than answers.

If the Harman IE target is 'shouty' because of (maybe) the number of test subjects and differences in test protocol, I'm puzzled by the high zero-distortion rating it received on ASR. I also can't help wondering how Truthears managed to re-tune the Zero while using what looks like an identical shell. Perhaps the inner cavity has been machined differently, but for a budget IEM I can't see the manufacturer investing in two production lines. Or is it as simple as changing one or two lines of code in the CNC milling machine software?

Electronic crossover filters that dictate how the two drivers behave together. They are different here compared to the original ZERO.