TRN V90s Review (2) – Little Red Corvette
Pros — Technically very good; very articulate bass.
Cons — Not the most organic tonality; recessed lower mids and boosted upper treble; needs aftermarket eartips.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The TRN V90S is a technically impressive earphone (for its category) loosely based on the popular TRN V90, characterized by a V-shaped sound with good dynamics and resolution and slightly unnatural timbre. Bass is very well dosed, midrange is rather recessed, and the upper treble is strongly elevated.
The original 4 BA + 1 DD TRN V90 earphone was released in the summer of 2019. It was a relatively organic sounding but very V-shaped earphone with an overly recessed lower midrange. Vocals sounded thin and distant and only JVC Spiral Dots eartips could fix the midrange somewhat. I nevertheless enjoyed some movies with the TRN V90 on a long flight from Calgary to Dublin and back. The interest in this earphone was immense, and it was the most watched review of this blog until KopiOkaya’s eartips compendium took over.
Following in quick succession was the TRN BA5, a technically better earphone at a few dollars more. But, as the name implies, if featured 5 BA drivers and sounded rather artificial to my ears. Critics liked it, I found it was a redundant model.
The TRN V90S features 5 BA + 1DD, and it does not look, feel, or sound like the original TRN V90. Upon first listening, I found it rather “meh” as it did not sound as natural as the TRN V90 or the Blon BL-05s, which is one of my few favourites of 2020. Initially, I thought the TRN V90S was another redundant multi-driver model in the $50 category. It reminds me sonically more of the TRN BA5 than of the TRN V90. But where the original TRN V90 and the TRN V90s come close is the recessed midrange, which is TOO much (or rather too little) for my taste. Nevertheless, this can be fixed with the JVC Spiral Dots eartips.
Co-blogger Kopiokaya already gave his first impressions, and Baskingshark his full review, so I tag on to these two. No need to repeat the housekeeping such as build, haptic, accessories, comfort, and fit. The earpieces sat nicely in my ears and there were no problems. The cable is as cheap as ever, and none of the eartips were large enough for my ear canals.
You find multiple reviews of all of the iems mentioned in this article here.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Unit: 5 BA + 1 DD
- Sensitivity: 108 db/mW
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20000Hz
- Impedance: 22 Ω
- Cable: 2 pin detachable
- Tested at $50 USD
- Purchase link: TRN Official Store
Equipment used for listening: MacBook Air, Earstudio HUD100, JVC Spiral Dots, stock cable.
The TRN V90 have a V-shaped tuning resulting in a slightly warm sound that is technically focused and lacks a bit of organics. As said, I was initially not impressed by the BA timbre above the bass. At $50, the money should be in a well-tuned single driver imo. BUT…for some reason, my ears got into the TRN V90S and I started actually using and enjoying them. The TRN V90S are a technically very capable earphones and I somewhat got used to the timbre.
The other technicalities are impressive for a budget earphone: open, wide stage at average depth, nothing crammed in there. Height is good – generally one of the biggest progresses in recent budget Chi-Fi history. Musicians are sufficiently spaced and separated from each other.
The low end is slightly boosted above neutral but speedy and very well dosed. Layering and texture are good and so is the kick – but it is never overdone. A very pleasant, natural kick with just the right punch that is well liked by my sensitive eardrums – I absolutely dig it. Great that the low end is not overcooked. It provides warmth and body, opens up the stage, and does not reduce the good midrange clarity and transparency.
The lower midrange, as in so many cases, is recessed but not as much as the original V90. Voices are on the lean side but not glassy or aggressive. Perfectly acceptable when using the JVC Spiral Dots. Without these eartips, vocals are too thin for me. That 2 kHz peak adds energy to the vocals which can sometimes be a bit nasal, but there is never any outright sharpness or shoutiness, because that peak is relatively narrow and does not extend into the 4-5 kHz region, as so often with other Chi-Fi models. But we are not far away…
Treble is well extended, too well for some. Lower treble is quite natural but upper treble is very prominent, which adds air, sparkle, and fake resolution. However, younger people with naturally better hearing at above 15KHz may perceive some sharpness. These resonant frequencies will be fatiguing for them in the long term, and harmonic overtones will have an unnatural decay.
Here you have the glass half full, half empty situation again. Although the TRN V90S is technically probably very close to the $129 class of 2018, nobody who has tons of $50-100 earphones needs them. But if you get them on some crazy sale and would like to upgrade from the $20-30 segment, then the TRN V90S could be a candidate. Be aware that you must be upper-treble-proof, get some JVC Spiral Dots, and don’t care about the timbre that much. You get in turn a well-built and well resolving earphone with a killer bass quality.
Until next time…keep on listening!
DISCLAIMER
The TRN V90s were sent to me unsolicited by Idon’tknowexactly. Thank you very much.
Get the TRN V90s from TRN Official Store
Our generic standard disclaimer.
You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.
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