As the prices of audio products continue to increase, manufacturers are intensifying their focus on enhancing the quality of budget gear. In the past, spending $20 on an IEM usually meant settling for something average at best, but TruthEar aims to challenge that notion. Let's now assess if the TruthEar Gate warrants a $20 investment.
The TruthEar Gate will set you back $20 from your bank account. It features a 10mm dynamic driver, 28Ω impedance, 122dB sensitivity, and a frequency response range of 20hz-20KHz.
I want to thank Shenzhen Audio for providing the TruthEar Gate for review, much appreciated.
Purchase (non-affiliate link):
The TruthEar Gate is available in two color choices: white and black, with the black version being the one we are reviewing.
Specifications:
Driver: 10mm DD
Impedance: 28ohms
Sensitivity: 122db
Frequency Response Range: 20Hz-20kHz
The Gate is presented in an impressive package considering its $20 price. The outer sleeve features artistic flair on the front and displays the specifications on the back. One side showcases the branding, while the other side features the slogan "TruthEar: Where sound meets the truth."
Upon sliding off the outer sleeve, you will uncover a black box labeled "Gate" on the top.
Once the lid is removed, you will be greeted with a display of the Gate and a box for the eartips. Neatly tucked underneath the Gate is the cable.
Further down, there is an accessories box containing the carrying pouch.
The carrying pouch is black faux leather. It reminds me of a change pouch my grandmother would have in her purse. You squeeze the sides to open it. Overall, well built, small and pocketable.
TruthEar comes with two varieties of silicone tips. You will receive small, medium, and large sizes of narrow bore tips, as well as small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes of wide bore tips. These tips provide nuanced variations in sound quality; the wide bore tips offer more air and space with reduced bass impact, while the narrow bore tips provide a slightly narrower soundstage but with enhanced bass impact. I was fine with both tips, but I had a preference for the narrow bore tip.
The cable included with TruthEar is a high-quality component given the $20 cost of the IEM. It comes with a 2-pin connection and a 3.5mm termination. The ear hooks provide adequate tension and the cable is rarely tangles. The cable is made of multi-core oxygen free copper.
The TruthEar Gate features a striking design with a transparent faceplate and a compact, ergonomic shell. The faceplate displays the inner mechanisms of the Gate, featuring a TruthEar logo on the left side and the model name "Gate" on the right.
The back of the shells have a small, ergonomic wing, a slight angle, and a medium-length nozzle.
I find the fit and comfort of the Gate to be excellent. I can wear it for hours without any discomfort. While the noise isolation isn't exceptional, it's decent, blocking around 60% of outside sounds. You can still hear sounds like television and conversations, but they are somewhat muffled. Louder noises from things like coffee grinders, vacuum cleaners, and vehicles are more noticeable. Once the music begins, you become completely immersed and everything else fades away.
With an impedance of 28 ohms and a sensitivity of 122 dB, the TruthEar Gate is is eadsy to drive when it comes to audio source pairings. I found that the Gate performed well with various devices such as dongles, DAPs, and desktop setups.
Some of the Gear Used in Testing:
Rose Technics RZ-300m
Rose Technics RZ-550
Rose Technics RS9039
Fiio KA17
Aune Yuki Hiby FC3
DUNU DCT480 Fosi Audio DS2
Hidizs S8 Pro
AFUL Snowy Night Hiby FC3
Fiio K11
Fiio K19 Geshelli Labs J2
Geshelli Labs Erish 3
Fiio K9 AKM
Mytek Liberty DAC ii
Mytek Liberty THX HPA Hiby R5 Gen 2
My Review Process: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/honest-audiophile-review-process
My Terms & Definitions: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/the-honest-audiophile-s-terms-and-definitions-guide My Reference Music: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/does-your-music-preference-impact-your-sound-impressions
So how does the TruthEar Gate sound?
Bass:
The TruthEar Gate offers a mature yet playful bass performance, with noticeable extension into the sub-bass range providing adequate rumble and grumble when called upon in the track. While the mid-bass delivers sufficient impact, the upper-bass is less pronounced compared to the mid and sub-bass. The Gate lacks texture in its notes, but its tone and timbre sound natural. The amount of detail and resolution it offers is impressive, with the bass demonstrating excellent speed, articulation, and clarity, particularly given its $20 price tag.
Mids:
The midrange of the TruthEar Gate is rich and abundant. It offers good note weight, clarity, and a touch of forwardness in the upper mids. Vocal and instrument presence is highlighted, standing out in the mix with clarity and articulation. Although the lower mids are slightly thinner, they maintain clarity and articulation. Similar to the bass, the midrange is remarkable in its detail retrieval and resolution. The tone and timbre are generally natural, although the higher frequencies may exhibit a touch of artificiality at times.
Treble:
The treble of the TruthEar Gate sound a bit dry and lack energy. The lower treble is more energetic and vibrant. In general, the treble is presented in a non-offensive manner, although seems somewhat bored. Unlike the bass and mids, the treble is average with detail retrieval and resolution. The tone and timbre are generally natural, although the lowerfrequencies may exhibit a touch of artificiality at times.
Technical Abilities:
I didn't have high expectations for the technical capabilities of the TruthEar Gate when I first put it in my ears, but it ended up surprising me. The soundstage of this IEM is wider than anticipated, despite its darker treble. It offers good width, effectively representing various venue sizes. The Gate's imaging is satisfactory, smoothly tracking from side to side without gaps or stutters. The positioning tends to be more general ("on the right side") rather than precise. The depth is sufficient to prevent the music from feeling congested and cramped. The detail retrieval is remarkable for its price, ensuring you don't miss much. The resolution of details is also impressive, although there is some grit and grain, particularly in the upper mids and treble. The tone and timbre are mostly natural, with only the upper mids and lower treble occasionally sounding slightly artificial.
vs Tangzu Wan'er
Surprisingly, the comparison between these two budget IEMs was much closer than expected. The Tangzu Wan'er offers a bit more note weight, a slightly more natural tone and timbre, less expressiveness in the upper mids and lower treble. Wan'er is better in upper treble extension and has slightly more controlled bass extension. Soundstage width is comparable, with slightly better imaging on the Wan'er. Moreover, detail retrieval and resolution are slightly better on the Wan'er. While both are strong budget choices, the Tangzu Wan'er outperforms the Gate in my view.
The TruthEar Gate provides a remarkable audio experience paired with a fantastic unboxing experience. I haven't come across another $20 IEM that offers the same level of quality. In my honest audiophile judgment, investing $20 in the TruthEar Gate is definitely worthwhile, but if you can spare an extra $5, the Tangzu Wan'er would be an even better choice. For beginners interested in exploring audiophile sound quality without breaking the bank, I suggest trying out the TruthEar Gate. Nevertheless, the TruthEar Gate is not a giant killer. The TruthEar Gate is simply a remarkable $20 IEM, nothing more, nothing less.
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkDbs @TalkDbs
Website: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com
YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMj7xJ1SDxGqqxZ5l3g_jg/join
The Honest Audiophile research/review process: https://youtu.be/UkSnoZZNyYc Tierlist:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing
Audio Terms/Definitions: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/the-honest-audiophile-s-terms-and-definitions-guide
Test Tracks: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/does-your-music-preference-impact-your-sound-impressions
Amazon playlist: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/afb5506483ba4ae3be17c2184797ebb6sune?ref=dm_sh_ycUHvBw1lOkeqCrwPFcc45NAl
Tidal Playlists:Jazz: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ea7f58ba-f05d-466f-9714-936d0ab7fa0f
Recommended Gear:
Audeze LCD-5: https://www.audeze.com/products/lcd-5
Rosson Audio Design RAD-0: http://www.rossonaudiodesign.com/
Meze Empyrean: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-empyrean
Hifiman Ananda: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/290
Sennheiser HD660s2: https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-US/p/hd-660s2/clcrij55r0b570bw9bubufphu/
Austrian Audio Hi-X60: https://austrian.audio/headphones/hi-x60/
Audeze LCD 2 Closed: LCD-2 Closed Back (audeze.com)
CTM Da Vinci X: https://cleartunemonitors.com/products/da-vinci-x-universal
Westone Mach 60: https://westoneaudio.com/product/mach-60/
Tin Hifi T2: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t2?_pos=1&_sid=7cddd72dc&_ss=r&variant=34447375302811
Sony NW-A105: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwa105-b
Sony NW-WM-1a: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwwm1a
Mytek Liberty DAC ii: https://mytek.audio/shop/lbrt-dac-ii-287#attr=Mytek Liberty THX HPA: https://mytek.audio/shop/liberty-thx-285#attr=
HeadAmp GSX-Mini: https://www.headamp.com/products/gs-x-mini
Tor Audio Roger: https://toraudio.com/main.html#
Schiit Audio BiFrost 2: https://schiit.com/products/bi-frost-1
Massdrop THX AAA 789:
Massdrop THX AAA One Linear: https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
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