TRN, another Chinese Manufacturer that focused on price/performance based headphones. We previously reviewed V90 and now we got hands on the budget focused in ear monitor TRN M10, next to the TRN VX. First of all, driver structure of TRN M10 is 1BA and 1DD which is on trend.
Thanks to TRN for sending us the review sample!
Unboxing, Build Quality, Cable
As shown on the video box is tiny, lightweight and casual, M10’s image on the front and specifications on the back.
After taking off the plate drivers the plastic film is the first thing you see. There’s cable and the tips separately packed underneath. cable comes detached out of the box which is a good thing, material is thin metal. It’s good that material isn’t squashy like sheet metal. Cable is the one of the thinnest cable i’ve seen for a long time. Cable painted glossy black and thin but since it’s braided and have stress relief, it won’t cause problem. For the price, while Y cable is a positive, lack of chin slider can be tolerated. Also comfortwise, it’s painless in ear, stiff but can’t isolate well.
- Jack type ：3.5mm
- Transducer type ：Hybrid In-Ear Monitors
- Connector type ：0.7 5mm
- Wear：In Ear
- Frequency response ：20Hz- 20000Hz
- Impedence ：16 ohm
- Sensitivity：106dB
- Colours：College Blue / Phantom Black / Moonlight Silver
- Weight(Headphone + cable)：20g
- Cable length : 1.25m+ 5cm
Sound Quality
Sound is little bit warm and dark. Also have intriguing strong hitting bass. When the Volume level exceeds 60/100, metallic sounding on mids and treble reflects us M10’s price. Instrument seperation isn’t that bad but it’s hard to say for the stage width and depth. It’s like everything in front of you and it sounds like sound comes from a single row.
Sibilance isn’t that much, even on full volume. There’s not much problem except metallic sounding (can be exhausting with distorted imaging) + dull sounding. By nature, mids are recessive but it’s not easy to notice.
Bass, Mid, Treble
Bass can be hoarse (~%25) also can lacks of punchiness and sounds unnatural.
You need to listen to extra bass added pop kind of music to unsee.
I mentioned mids are recessive. but not recessive as V signature. But looseness on resolution and depth in bass/mid restricts imaging.
For example while listening blues music or Dire Straits, bass should sink into you.
On treble, it’s not bad for under 15$. Struggles for extension but treble can be annoying because of unnatural and metallic sounding on higher volume levels.
TRN M10 Review – Last Thoughts
While i writing this review, i often mentioned its price since TRN M10 is a headphone that have nice build quality and R&D. To be fair,under %55 sound volume it doesn’t sounds bad at few instrumented, basic tracks. For 11$-12$ it’s decent starter headphone.