TRN TA4 Review – Semi-Open Back 2DD+2BA IEM
TRN TA4 is the new pair of multi-driver hybrid IEMs designed with dual dynamic drivers and dual Knowles BA drivers on each side. The TA4 boasts a semi-open back design with its imported skin-friendly resin shell material and aluminum alloy face covers.
TRN has equipped the TA4 with a four-driver hybrid configuration. The pair packs dual dynamic driver units and dual Knowles balanced armature driver units.
TRN features a 10mm beryllium-coated dual-magnetic dynamic driver unit alongside a 6mm titanium-coated dynamic driver unit on each side. The 10mm driver here is adjusted for lower-end response while the 6mm unit produces midrange frequency.
With the dual-dynamic driver delivering a rocking lower-end and midrange response, TRN has equipped the TA4 with a premium Knowles 33518 high-performance dual Balanced Armature driver unit on each side. This dual BA combination is here for extended high-frequency response with the set.
TA4 also has beautifully designed ergonomic ear shells. The shells are crafted using high-quality medical-grade resin material inner shells. It is supported by aluminum alloy on the face cover and middle frame. The overall design, look, and feel of the pair are quite exquisite and premium. It has been crafted in an ergonomic shape for a comfortable design.
TRN TA4 comes with a premium-quality hybrid stock cable with a modular termination plug system. The cable is made up of high-quality silver-plated copper & OFC copper braided material. It has a swappable termination plug system with 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4.4mm plugs included in the package allowing the user to use the pair with different sources easily.
What’s in the box
Features
- Four-Driver Hybrid Configuration.
- 2DD+2BA Hybrid Setup.
- 10mm Beryllium-Coated Dual-Magnetic Dynamic Driver+6mm Titanium-Coated Midrange Driver.
- Knowles 33518 Dual Balanced Armature Drivers.
- Semi-open back design
- Imported Resin Material Internal Cavity.
- Aluminum Alloy Face Covers.
- Comfortable Design.
- Easy Driveability.
- High-Purity Silver-Plated Copper & OFC Copper Braided Cable.
- Swappable Termination Plugs (3.5mm/2.5mm/4.4mm).
Specs
- Impedance: 20Ω.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz.
- Sensitivity: 105dB.
- Termination: 3.5mm+2.5mm+4.4mm.
- Weight: approx 5.7 grams (Earpiece)+20grams (Cable).
- Price: $85
I would like to thank TRN Audio for providing me with the review sample of the TA4 IEM.
Sound
The TRN TA4 offers a very spacious and detailed sound presentation with a great sense of clarity and definition thanks to its semi-open back design and the new hybrid driver configuration.
The bass response is pretty fast, nicely layered, and tight in its presentation, with a better sense of depth and body compared to the TRN TA4. The midrange has an impressive sense of airiness, transparency, and resolution, while the treble shows an above-average performance in terms of extension, separation, and resolution that is now much better in terms of control.
Bass
The TRN TA4 shows minimal coloration in the lower frequency area and offers in general a pretty balanced and natural bass response with a good level of layering, resolution, and control. The sub-bass region has good depth and rumble.
The TRN TA4 is producing the midbass region in a pretty balanced and natural manner, with a good level of tightness, impact, and intensity. The sense of resolution, speed, and clarity is top-notch thanks to the well-tuned 10mm diameter Dynamic Driver with Beryllium Coated Diaphragm. With a good level of impact and intensity. sound pretty clear, controlled, and detailed.
String instruments such as electro or bass guitar or drums like kick drums or toms are represented with an adequate sense of body, depth, and intensity. Other instruments such as violas and acoustic guitars do sound nicely transparent and emotional.
Mids
What really impressed me about this In-Ear Monitor is the general midrange character that shows a great sense of clarity, airiness, and detail retrieval that can easily compete with much higher-priced products on the market.
The lower midrange area of the TRN TA4 shows a moderate sense of depth and intensity and sounds in general pretty clear and free of any type of muddiness. Male vocals are reproduced with a good level of body and do sound nicely emotional.
Instruments like violas, trumpets, or acoustic guitars do have an above-average fullness and intensity and are reproduced in a pretty emotional way.
The upper midrange of the TRN TA4 is nicely highlighted and is able to produce a very good sense of clarity and resolution. When it comes to instruments like violins, flutes, or pianos, I can say that the upper midrange of the TRN TA4 is able to add a nice level of brightness, clarity, and liveliness without showing any remarkable sibilance or sharpness.
The general midrange tuning makes the TRN TA4 in combination with its quite efficient open-back design a very spacious and open-sounding In-Ear Monitor in this area.
Treble
The TRN TA4 has a relatively bright treble tonality that is now much smoother, controlled, and fatigue-free.
The transitions from the upper midrange towards the lower treble region are now nicely controlled without showing any remarkable unwanted peaks and harshness. The lower treble range is still energetic and detailed when I listen to instruments such as hi-hat, ride, or crash cymbals.
The upper treble region of the TRN TA4 offers a pretty good sense of brilliance, airiness, and sparkle when I do listen to a wide variety of genres that includes metal to electronic music, from jazz to pop music.
Soundstage & Imaging
The TRN TA4 offers an impressive soundstage atmosphere that is pretty airy and spacious, thanks to the well-implemented semi-open back design. This makes it a quite successful In-Ear Monitor in terms of separation and positioning of instruments and vocals.
The soundstage of the TRN TA4 shows a very good sense of depth and wideness, while it has an average height.
Sum-Up
I liked the TRN TA4 a lot. It does many things right. Quality over quantity level of bass performance. Forward mids with on-spot tonality and timbre, and last but least a smooth treble but with good extension and no sign of harshness whatsoever. A great all-rounder IEM for many genres for a rather budget price. The included good-looking and handling stock cable with swappable connectors is there to justify the price even more.