TRI Meteor IEM Review
TRI Meteor IEM Review
Introduction:
TRI is a Chinese company located in Shenzhen China and is specialized in design and development of portable audio equipment’s such like earphones and In-Ear Monitors.
The Meteor is TRI’s latest Hybrid In-Ear Monitor that utilizes a 1BA+1DD driver configuration with a Two-Way Crossover, which are implemented inside a stylish looking monitor shell made from egger resin material.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank TRI for providing me the Meteor Hybrid IEM via KeepHiFi as review sample. I am not affiliated with TRI or any third person beyond this review and all these words reflect my true, unaltered opinions about the product.
Price & Availability:
The actual price for the TRI Meteor is about 99.00 US$. More information’s can be found under the link below;
Package and Accessories:
The TRI Meteor came in a box in black color that has been wrapped with a stylish looking cardboard sleeve that has sports some product and company related bandings on the top.
This box includes the following items/accessories;
- 1 pair x TRI Meteor Hybrid In-Ear Monitors
- 1 x 2-Pin Detachable Cable with 3.5mm Headphone Plug
- 5 pairs x Semi Transparent Silicone Ear Tips
- 3 pairs x Black Silicone Ear Tips
- 1 x Leather Case
- 1 x Cleaning Tool
- 1 x Cleaning Cloth
- 1 x Print Materials
The TRI Meteor has a pretty rich set of accessories, including various types of ear tips, storage case and many more.
The Meteor came with a wide variety of ear tips that includes 3 pairs of black silicone tips and 5 pairs of semi-transparent ear tips that do look pretty similar to SpinFit tips.
The stylish leather case in brown color is of high quality, which has a cover with a magnetic surface. However, the size of the case is a bit small so that it has only place for the cable and the monitors.
Inside the box are also some nice additions such like a cleaning tool and cleaning.
Design and Build Quality:
The TRI Meteor is a Hybrid In-Ear Monitor with a 1xBalanced Armature + 1x Dynamic Driver configuration, which are located inside a pretty stylish shell made from resin material of the Austrian company EGGER, which is specialized in forestry and resin material.
The Hybrid Driver configuration is a combination of a 10mm diameter Dynamic Driver (DD) with Beryllium-plated diaphragm for the lows and a Knowles ED-29689 Balanced Armature Driver (BA) for the Mids and the Highs.
The monitor shell has a semi-custom shape and continues the TRI Star series design language.
The faceplate design of the Meteor is inspired by the Night Sky with full of Stars, which looks pretty nice.
Both faceplates do sport the TRI brand logo that is in silver metallic color.
The back part has a pretty ergonomic shape that fits perfectly to my average sized ear chonca.
Here is the slightly angled sound nozzle with two openings on the top that are part of the Two-Way Crossover System.
On the top of each monitor shell is a 0.78mm diameter recessed 2-Pin female connector that offers a tight connection to the male 2-Pin connectors. Here is also a single opening for the 10mm diameter dynamic driver that helps also to balance the pressure that is created while inserting the monitor to your ears.
The TRI Meteor comes with a detachable cable that is made of N5 purity OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) wire cable. The cable features a soft insulation in black color.
The 2-Pin male connectors that do have a housing in black color. Each connectors sports left and right color indicators. Near the left and right connectors are heat shrink ear guides for extra comfort on the go.
There cable comes with a Y-splitter and chin slider made of metal in black color. The Y-splitter has a TRI brand logo on the top.
The 3.5mm single ended headphone jack has a straight profiled metal housing in black with the TRI logo on the top, which sports a plastic strain relief for extra protection.
The overall build quality of both the monitors and the detachable cable are top notch that doesn’t show any imperfections such like burrs or gaps.
Comfort and Isolation:
The TRI Meteor a pretty small sized In-Ear Monitor with a nicely comfortable shape that fits perfectly in to my average sized ear concha’s. The passive noise isolation on the other hand is on an average level that is suitable for the use in fairly noise environments such like a bus or a train.
Drivability and Pairing:
The TRI Meteor is a relative efficient In-Ear Monitor with its impedance of 12Ω and a sensitivity of 105dB. Sources with relative weak amplification such like a Mobile Phone, Tablet or DAP’s with weak amplification will pair just fine.
Technical Specifications:
- Model : Meteor
- Driver Configuration : 1BA + 1 DD Hybrid
- Driver Units : 10mm Beryllium-Plated Diaphragm DD and Knowles ED-29689 BA
- Impedance : 12±2Ω
- Sensitivity : 105±3dB SPL/mW
- Freq. Response : 20 Hz-20KHZ
- Color : Black
- Shell Material : Resin Material (EGGER)
- Cable Material : 5N Purity OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) Wire
- Interface/Connector : 2pin (0.78mm)
- Plug Type : 3.5mm Singe Ended (TRS)
- Cable Length : 120cm
Sources:
- In Ear Monitor’s : TRI Meteor, TFZ King II, TIN HiFi T5
- DAP/DAC/AMP’s : HiBy RS6, FiiO M11 PRO, iBasso DC03, Hidizs AP80 Pro
Albums & Tracks used for this review:
- Hayley Westenra – Odyssey Album (Dezzer HiFi)
- Dionne Warwick – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
- Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Really Slow Motion – Deadwood (Deezer HiFi)
- Jo Blankenburg – The Magelan Matrix (Spotify)
- Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
- Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
- Otto Liebert& Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Rush’s – Leave That Thing Alone (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)s
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
The TRI Meteor shows a mildly warm tonality and offers and entertaining sound signature. The subbass sounds pretty deep while the midbass are is more balanced. The Meteor has an energetic upper midrange tuning, while the treble area sounds in general pretty smooth, forgiving in its presentation.
Bass / Midrange / Treble / Soundstage:
The 10mm diamater beryillium coated dynamic driver is responsible for the lower frequency area of the TRI Meteor, which is pretty good in terms of naturalness, tonality and emphasis of the in this area. The subbass region is the most remarkable area of the Meter that sounds fairly pronounced and dominant in the general presentation, while the tonality is fairly warm, thick, and soft.
The subbass presentation is deep, powerful and has a good sense of rumble if needed, while the extension is on an average level. The Meteor sound pretty successful with genres like electronic, pop and rock music. The deep and thick tonality of the TRI Meteor makes the presentation of instruments like saxophone and contrabass pleasant to listen to.
The TRI Meteor shows fairly strong midbass depth and intensity. This area sounds in general pretty balanced and controlled when I do listen to instruments like cross drums, snare drums or percussion instruments have good intensity and speed.
Overall, the Meteor offers in general an above average bass quantity and emphasis. The most remarkable plus points of the bass response is the control and resolution for an IEM at this price level.
The TRI Meteor offers a pretty musical and smooth midrange presentation with good sense of transparency, while it’s not the most successful IEM in terms of technicality. The midrange is slightly less pronounced and warmer in tonality compared to the lower frequency region. The midrange of the TRI Meteor shows in general an efficient level of depth and fullness.
Male vocals such like Barry White or Isaac Hayes are reproduced in a fairly musical and transparent manner. Female vocals on the other had do sound quite energetic and detailed thanks to the energetic upper midrange tuning that can sound a tad shouty.
The TRI Meteor sounds especially successful while listening to instruments that have a thick tonality. Instruments like pianos or violins have a shorter extension due to the upper midrange character. The general instrument presentation of the TRI Meteor is pretty soft and lush, while the tonality is on the warmer side of neutral.
The TRI Meteor offers a moderate pronounced upper midrange character, which has a soft, slightly warm and fairly musical character. The upper midrange transitions do sound in general quite controlled while the extension is on an average level. The upper midrange region is shows an average sense of spaciousness and airiness.
The treble range of the Meteor is moderately highlighted compared to the lower frequency area. The tonality is mildly warm, while the general presentation is pretty smooth and free of sibilance or sharpness. The lower treble region shows a sufficient sense of clarity and definition when I do listen to instruments like violins or pianos. The upper treble area offers an adequate level of airiness and extension while the resolution is on an average grade. The TRI Meteor is ideal if you are treble sensitive and do look for an IEM that is ideal for longer listening periods.
The TRI Meteor has an adequate soundstage atmosphere for a fairly precise separation of instrument and vocals. The wideness of the stage fine, while the depth is on an average level.
Some Short Comparisons:
TRI Meteor versus TFZ King II:
The TRI Meteor is superior when it comes to the subbass depth, rumble and extension. It offers also a better level of clarity in this area, while both are pretty equal when it comes to the decay. The TFZ King II on the other hand shows more midbass quantity and intensity; however, the TRI Meteor is again superior in terms of speed and control in this area.
The midrange of the TRI Meteor offers a better sense of clarity and resolution especially in the upper midrange register. The TFZ King II is slightly more successful with male vocals due to the better level of depth and body in the lower midrange area. The TRI Meteors on the other hand is more successful when I do listen to female vocals and instruments such like pianos and guitars, since it offers a better level of upper midrange clarity and resolution.
The upper midrange and treble are of both IEM’s is pretty controlled and fatigue-free. The upper midrange and lower treble region of the Meteor shows a slightly better grade of extension and resolution.
The soundstage of the TRI Meteor is wider, while the TFZ King II is more successful when it comes to the depth of the stage.
TRI Meteor versus TIN HiFi T5:
The TIN HiFi T5 has a mildly V shaped sound signature with a fairly linear bass response and good midrange/treble detail and clarity reproduction.
The subbass of the T5 has moderate depth, while the Meteor is superior in terms of depth and extension. The TIN HiFi T5 has a slightly advantage in terms of control in this area, while the Meteor has the upper hand when it comes to the speed and impact.
The midrange of the TRI Meteor has a slightly warmer tonality, while the TIN HiFi T5 sounds more neutral and somewhat thinner. The TRI Meteor is more successful with male vocals, while the TIN HiFi Meteor has the upper hand when it comes to female voices.
The upper midrange and treble region of the TIN HiFi T5 sounds slightly more energetic and detailed, while the TRI Meteor offer a slightly better sense of speed and control in this area.
The soundstage of the TRI Meteor has the wideness, while the TIN HiFi Meteor has the upper hand when it comes to the depth of the stage.
Conclusion:
The TRI Meteor is a stylish looking and highly comfortably fitting Hybrid In-Ear Monitor with an affordable price, which offers a quite entertaining sound signature thanks to its deep and controlled bass response, nicely transparent and airy midrange presentation, and a treble region that is smooth and fatigue free.
Pros and Cons:
- + Deep and Controlled Bass Response
- + Musical Midrange Presentation
- + Smooth and Fatigue-Free Treble Tuning
- + Build Quality, Fit & Comfort
- + Rich Accessory’s Package
- – Upper Midrange Sounds slightly Shouty
- – A bit more Upper Treble Energy would be welcome
- – Soundstage Depth
Thank you for the Read!
