Submitted by nxnje t3_zm3zw1 in headphones
TLDR for those who have no time or willingness to read the full review:
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Cleanness and overall transparency; Very good technical performance with remarkable imaging; Not fatiguing despite the lean bass; Good resolution | Very sensitive ears could still be annoyed by the upper-mids/lower treble; Some may find them too “relaxed” at times; Bass punch could have been better |
| Great design and packaging | Stock cable is just average and it’s prone to tangle |
| Good selection of tips provided |
INTRODUCTION
Truthear seems to be pretty new brand in industry, but in fact I do not know if it really is “that” new.
I have no source to confirm this, but by looking at their packaging and IEMs’ design, it appears that Truthear is a sort of “outside-China” Moondrop branch.
Being it related to Moondrop or not, products are what really count, and in this case the Hexa will be on the discussion table.
>Disclaimer: the Truthear Hexa were provided by Shenzenaudio for free in order to write an honest review. I do not represent them in any way and this is not promotional content.
At the time of the review, the Truthear Hexa were sold for $79,99.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Configuration → 1DD (PU + LCP) + 3BA
- Sensitivity → 120 dB/Vrms @1kHz
- Impedance → 20.5Ω +/- 15% (@1kHz)
- Frequency Response → 20 Hz – 20000 Hz
- Cable → 1,2m silver plated copper cable with 0.78mm PINs, no microphone
- Connector type → L-type gold plated 3,5mm jack connector
PACKAGING
Packaging is very good and it’s clear that Truthear really wants their unboxing experience to be pleasant.
It contains:
- Truthear Hexa
- 3 paris of wide bore tips, 3 pairs of narrow bore tips, 1 pair of foam tips
- A pleather carry case
- A standalone cardboard painting to use as a decoration
- A user manual
DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
The Truthear Hexa are well built, made by resin and 3D printed with very high precision.
The shells are dark but not totally black, and there is a sort of transparency that lets you see something inside from the sides.
The look is pretty unique in their class, and the sharp edges contribute to the modern design of which the Hexa can be proud of.
There is a vent located near the female connector on the shell, and the nozzle, which is pretty large, has two separate sound bores. There isn't any nozzle lip.
CABLE
The cable is good but definitely not above average like everything else and there’s also a chin slider (which is a nice plus). It’s prone to tangling, though.
COMFORT AND ISOLATION
Comfort is pretty good, but it’s safe to say that if you have very small ears the edgy shell shape could cause some discomfort. If you have normal-to-big ears, the no worries.
Isolation is just average instead, nothing to rave about.
SOUND
How do these sound?
This should be the main reason for reading this reviews.
TEST GEAR
- DAC: Topping E30
- AMP: Topping L30
- Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, POCO F4 5G
- Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle
- Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
- Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE
Do they need an amp?
The Truthear Hexa show noticeable improvements when amplified and fed through a good source. They can be used through a smartphone, but it’s better to use a dongle and give them some more juice in order to have a fuller low end and a better soundstage rendition.
Sound signature
The Truthear Hexa is a neutral-to-bright set.
-
Lows: the Truthear Hexa has good sub-bass extension, which can rumble when needed but not in an aggressive way. Midbass is not Hexa’s “forte” and in fact people who usually listen to a lot of EDM and hip-hop tracks and are used to strongly V-shaped should stay away from these (unless they are specifically searching for a neutral set).
In general, transients are fast, textures are good, and the overall bass response is definitely satisfying. -
Mids: the midrange is neutral, instruments are forward in the scene and there are good layering and separation that make the Hexa very agile through busy tracks.
The upper midrange is emphasized with female vocals being energetic and intimate, whereas male vocals have the right depth and quantity.
The Hexa are, in general, very clean and transparent in the midrange, with no midbass bleed or similar issues. - Highs: treble is not for sensitive ears, but packs a good amount of details and a very good extension. It’s airy, very open, and definitely something that many will love.
Soundstage is well rounded but fairly intimate, and imaging is very good with precise pinpointing, even when tracks become pretty busy.
How included tips affect sound:
- Narrow bore tips: more forward bass, slightly less brightness overall
- Wide bore tips: less bass, more overall brightness
- Foam tips: just like narrow bore tips, but even more bass and even less brightness
Some comparisons (tips used for comparisons are the blue ones):
------------ Truthear Hexa vs Moondrop Chu ------------
The Hexa have better sub-bass extension than the Chu, and they also have a bit more bass punch, with better textures and speed.
The midrange is lean on both, but the layering and separation of the Hexa are much better. The upper midrange is more forward on the Chu, and it tends to be generally hotter than on the Hexa. Both male and female vocals sound better on the Hexa with more depth and intimacy.
Highs are more refined on the Hexa, more detailed and clean overall, even though the Chu does pretty well for the cost.
Soundstage is slightly bigger on the Hexa but not dramatically so, and what’s evidently better is the depth. Imaging is much better on the Hexa.
Build quality is an easy win for the Hexa, which also feature a detachable cable, whereas isolation is comparable. Comfort, instead, could be a bit better with the Chu considering their more-rounded shape.
Overall, the Hexa are more mature, more refined, much more technical and they are definitely worth the extra money.
------------ QoA Gimlet vs Truthear Hexa ------------
Sub-bass is more present and emphasized on the Gimlet but the extension is slightly better on the Hexa. Bass slam is more evident on the Gimlet, that also happen to be more fun and suited for bass heavy genres, but bass is cleaner on the Hexa even though they are less engaging in the lower end.
The midrange is more articulated on the Hexa, with better layering and separation, whereas the Gimlet take advantage of the elevated bass to give more warmth to male vocals. Female vocals, instead, are good on both, but the Hexa are more intimate and accurate in this regard.
Treble is more open and detailed on the Hexa.
Soundstage is slightly bigger on the Gimlet, imaging is better on the Hexa hands down.
Build quality is great in both cases and both have detachable cables, even though the Gimlet have a better stock cable.
The Gimlet also win in terms of isolation, but the Hexa are more comfortable overall thanks to their longer nozzles that make them easier to wear.
The overall technical winners are the Hexa, whereas the Gimlet provide a much more fun (yet less neutral) listening experience with a different timbral approach.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Hexa are very good, not only for their technicalities but also because of their good tuning.
Truthear is doing a good job on the market and all we can hope is that they’ll keep offering good products at reasonable prices.
herzonia t1_j09flfw wrote
Just on the cables, I haven't had too many issues with mine. But I roadie wrap my cables.. might be worth checking out, it's saved me plenty of time untangling cables since I've started doing it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fsvANAT3yg