TRUTHEAR - Gate

My personal rankings for stuff I've heard. I'm a neutral/neutral bright guy. (My post on reddit goes somewhat in depth on all of these, sadly I'm not very technical in my language) Kotori Audio Zephyr (Duh) Truthear Hexa Tangzu Yu Xuan Ji (might be too bright for some but easily looks the prettiest by a *BIG* margin) Truthear Gate (My current set, would upgrade to one of the options in the list in a few months) Tanchjim 4u (Bang for buck) Truthear x Crinacle blue 2 (tachjim 4u has better value) Aful Magicone (very similar to hexa) Moondrop May (A default starter set for almost everyone regardless of taste.) Letshouer s08 (not my taste, great value, premium for the price) Letshouer dz4 (not my taste, great value) Moondrop Chu 2 (My previous set that are lying around somewhere) Tangzu x hbb Xuan Nv (just because of the fit) Kotori Audio Vampire I'll check out your YouTube!

I’d recommend the truthear gate, it’s pretty clear and tuned really well

Truthear Gate & Moondrop Chu 2 seem to be decent options below 2k. Both are comfortable, sound good & have mics. Go for Gate imo.

It's nice to hear your impression of them, given you have experience with other sets. I have been using them since Jan 4, swapping between the ZERO:2, Truthear Gate, Zero RED and Hexa and the Moondrop MOCA. At first I was reluctant about placing them above the Zero RED, and got blasted in the comments for saying they sound better than budget wired IEMs. But honestly yes I agree with you. The ROBIN have excellent sound presentation.

truthear gate is also a great $20 chifi! i personally liked it better the standard 7hz and both chu’s.

I got the Truthear Gate In-ear monitors a few months ago. They cost me 15€ shipped on Amazon when they were new, now they cost 21€. They are great and you can‘t go wrong with these especially for the price. Bought them in black for my black iPod 5th gen but I want to buy a second pair in white just so that my white iPod 5th gen has its matching IEMs😆

It's a quite overwhelming world indeed! The thing is no one can guess what IEMs will sound best according to your taste. The soundest strategy is perhaps to get three or four "best" budget IEMs (less than $25 each) with wildly different sound profiles, beta test them, find out what sound profiles you like the best and move upwards from there. At least, that's what I plan to do. I am just starting with the cheap Truthear Gate.

I'd suggest truthear gate. Similar amounts of bass to wan'er, good vocals and well tuned highs, easy to listen to. Comfortable and light shell. Comes with two types of eartips (wide bore and narrow bore tips) and a pouch. The cable is also one of the best at this price point. The version with mic has volume + play/pause. No type c (dsp) variant though only 3.5mm. it's a well balanced set and great value for price.

Kiwi Ears Cadenza prolly maxes out your budget provided. Warm set but not that detailed (40 USD) KZ EDC Pro is still quite good right now. U-shaped and quite balanced across the frequencies (12 USD) Truthear Gate is also quite a great choice with its cable too. (25 USD)

I'm not really fond of the prices on Shopee but I'd say go for options coming from Feigu Audio. It's actually cheaper buying from Feigu on Shopee than Lazada (my go-to platform). I'd say go for Chu 2 for a safer pick. Wan'er if you want something a bit more detailed but you lose bass rumbles/presence, assuming you don't mind. Anyways, here are my 2 other suggestions outside your options: KZ EDC Pro - very nice, balanced sounding for cheaper than what you're looking at right now. Get them now while it's not tampered with yet. QKZ x HBB - something for more bass, very warm/bassy/ambient set. KBear Rosefinch - less rumbles than the QKZ x HBB but more detailed Truthear Gate - the cable (best of what you're looking at and what I'm offering right now) is very nice for this and the sound is quite balanced.

I've never done video mastering, but I'd assume you want something fairly neutralish. Maybe with a little of the V-shape signature that is so popular these days. I'd recommend the Truthear Gate. It's one of a few Neutral-ish options under $25. (Tangzu Wan'Er Studio and Simgot EW100P being the other two I would recommend) What sets the Gate apart is that it comes with a better cable than the other two, and includes a carry pouch. The three sound very similar to each other. The Simgot has a bit of extra top end, and the Wan'er Studio is a tiny bit warmer. The Gate sits in the middle and is very resolving for the price. Feel free to pick one of the other two if you know you prefer a bit of extra treble or a bit of extra warmth.

They are actually better than Wan'er infact i had a chance to compare them to studio Wan'er newest edition of Wan'er SG, these both go side by side, I think Gate still leads them because i noticed the MIC is really HD, i recorded couple of acoustic version of my songs and they really nailed the audio quality, i didn't see this coming specially from a 20$ IEM.

Got myself Truthear Gate and Honestly it has better sound quality than Viper cloudX

Tangzu Wan'er Studio Edition (SE), its a flatter tuning, with less coloration of the sound, SPECIFICALLY for Studio type work, hence the name. This is the only reasonable option in that price point. Everything else mentioned in this thread, provides too much coloration to make for a good set of Studio Mastering IEM's The OG Zero is too bright. The Zero2 is too bassy, with rolled treble, and the timbre isnt correct enough. Plus both Zero's suffer from mids that are scooped enough to hurt lower register vocals. The Truthear Gate is closer, but its a darker tuning that loses some detail up top, and doesnt push the vocal range. The Wan'er has always been known for its vocals, and the Studio Edition emphasis that by reducing the bass, to not get bass bleed into the mids that add coloration, and a smooth rolloff on the highs, so as not to get too many sparklies. Its not a musical IEM, but if you are doing production, you want accuracy, not vibrancy.

KiwiEars Airoso. Get it while its still under $100. >Truthhear Gate, Tanchjim Bunny, and KZ Klean for a blind buy or the Truthhear Hexa, Truthhear Nova and Letshouer 12 Pro (but my friend said the 12 Pro has weird bass) Gate = No. Plastic shell resonates. Feels like garbage. People that love the gate, i question all of their listening tastes. Bunny = Fantastic. Probably one of the best $20 IEM's available. The USB DSP and app make it more fun. KZ Klean = Uh... Kefine Klean, maybe? Kefine Klean is a great choice at $50. But i think the Inawaken Dawn is better. Hexa = Good, but very dull to someone who is new to the hobby, and used to V shaped tunings (i.e. boosted bass and treble, Hexa is very flat) Nova = Tuned to the popular Harmon Curve. Which is very V shaped. THe Simgot SuperMix4 is a common alternative. S12 Pro = Planar. Fantastic IEM. BUT...and this is probably why your buddy said ti had "weird bass", it will require you to use a higher powered Dongle DAC/Amp, because Planars need a lot of power to push around. If you underpower them, they sound muddy, thuddy, and dead. With enough power, they have amazing tactility and speed. But they do suffer from a somewhat metalic timbre that can be off putting to some people, as they are not "natural" sounding. But very fun. Overall, like i said, i think the KiwiEars Airoso is your best bet. It is a hybrid IEM that plays very clean, provides tons of detail, and bass when you need it. And seems to play about every genre of music you throw at it, without feeling like its lacking. Its not a neutral tuning, but it plays naturally. If that makes sense?

Gate, if you ever buy the Moondrop Chu series, get replacement filters as well as you might have to replace the embedded filters (I had to replace my Chu 2's filters after a week of usage)

I like the Gate. You may just have to get your ears used to them. And even if you don't at least you're not out a lot. I will say that I'm completely happy with the kefine klean. It's been my go to ever since I got it a couple months ago. When on sale you can find them for $40. Jump up just a bit in price and the sound gets better.

If you're looking to find your sound signature then just get two or three of the budgets. Truthear Gate, Moondrop Chu2, and Tangzu Wa'ner. 3 different sounding budget iem's.

Depends what you compare them to . Against Bluetooth earbuds and normal wired earbuds? Iems are insane value for money . 20 USD can buy you something like the Truthear Gate. And generally, good iems are cheaper than "good headphones".

Oof, we'll be here all day . Ok here is a list , whatever comes to mind ,, the list is going to be absolutely massive. 7hz Salnotes Zero (both 1 and 2) Moondrop Chu ( 1 and 2) Tangzu Wanner Ziigaat Nuo Kiwi Ears Cadenza Simgot EW200 Kefine Delci QoA Vesper 2 Moondrop Aria 2 Moondrop May Truthear Hexa Truthear x Crinacle Zero (all of them) Simgot EA500LM Final Audio E500 - E3000 7Hz Sonus Tanchjim Zero Tanchjim 4U Tanchjim Ola and Ola Bass HZSound Heart Mirror Pro Truthear Gate Kinera Celest Pandamon (both) Kinera Celest Plutus Beast

Really an excellent review and hats off for the detailed review! Here's my experience --- **The Gate IEMs Review (After 2 Months)** - **First IEM Experience**: My first IEMs after using TWS. I plug them directly into my laptop/PC’s 3.5mm port without a DAC. - **Sound Quality**: The sound is amazing, especially for someone who prefers less bass. The vocals are crystal clear and not compressed. - **Volume & EQ**: I usually use them at 50% volume, as they felt too shouty at first. They sound great no matter how I adjust the equalizer. - **Gaming**: These IEMs excel in narrative-driven games, but they also hold up well in action sequences, with a good depth to the soundstage. - **Overall**: 4/5 – great clarity, versatile, and a fantastic introduction to IEMs. ---

Build quality, it's plastic. Sound is okay but it's really bright. Separation on a $25 iem, don't expect much. The highs sound one dimensional. 

totally. it's not bad, i just find it too bright. it fits really well, it's very light, decent cable. to get that "holy shit" sound youll have to spend 100-200. after that it's harder to hear the differences.

I would avoid KZ altogether. They're outdated in the Chifi IEM market. They're also a scummy company for a plethora of reasons. There's new shit coming out every month. Best budget recommendations are the Truthear Gate, 7hz Zero:2, and Tangzu Wan'er, imo. The Gates are like $15, the other two are about $25. Personally I have the Zero:2 and love them. The treble is toned down, and the mid bass is much better. You get a fuller sound without the peak-y high end of most cheap single dynamic drivers.

Love my 7HZ Zero:2s. The Truthear Gates and Tangzu Wan'er are the other two cheap cheap options I would look into. Truthear Zero Red or Blues would be good if you want to spend closer to $50. Most of the KZ options are out of date with the speed of the Chifi IEM market. You can get better for the same price. Any of the Shure and Sennheisers are overpriced compared to what's coming out of China. I wouldn't even bother personally.

They all perform pretty similarly. I'd have to A/B to remind myself but I *think* the Chu 2 is slightly ahead of the rest. The Gate might be a bit wider sounding actually because it's a bit brighter than the Chu 2, but IMO it's not as well tuned as the others and can sound a bit "scratchy" at times. If you want to avoid too much bass, you will probably prefer the 7Hz Zero as it's a bright-neutral tuning (Chu 2 & Gate are both mild v-shape, Wan'er & Zero 2 are warm-neutral). With that said, none of these are basshead. Bear in mind that soundstage is a psychoacoustic effect anyway, so what sounds wider to one person might not sound like that to someone else. Very broadly, a slight v-shape with a lean towards more treble and less mid-bass will sound wider, but there's no guarantee everyone will hear it that way.

My ears are small too, after trying multiple iems, this is what I think are some comfortable iems for small ears which i have owned. Sub $20 - Get Truthear Gate over salnotes zero Sub $150 - S12, ie200 Sub $200 - Meze alba (Most comfortable iem i have ever tried) Sub $600 - Symphonium meteor, ie600 Kilobuck - 64 audio

I know I’m 3 months late, but the Chu 2 has better treble extension and more bass slam since it’s more V-shaped sounding compared to the Gate. However the Chu 2 can sound a bit metallic at times but it kinda depends on the songs or playlists. But If you're looking for cleaner or more natural mids, the Gate is just a better choice IMO.

Sound wise Zero 2 is warmer and smoother, while Gate slight more lean kinda neutral and more forward in upper mid and treble. Tech is around the same level. It just a matter of sound preference. For fit & comfort Gate is better because less angular design. Can't go wrong with these two

tysm, ive been looking for good budget iem's for a while now your comment just confirmed my thinking these iems were good for valorant. Here's a cookie 🍪

Yeah when i bought my truth ear gate iems i found the ear tips very chalky and ended up using some old ones from my nothing ear 2s

The sound quality is pretty similar however i do wish there was a set of iems with transparency mode i find that during games it sometimes feels a little akward wearing them and not being able to hear things around me

i have both truthear gate and kz castor personally i think that vocals are very muted on castor and rest is boosted too much and they dont have a punchy bass while gate has everything balanced bass isnt outstanding but its more punchier i enjoy gate more cuz its also smaller fits better and it feels more premium

Even if it is plastic you cant say anything bad about them i actually dropped them few times by accident and they are perfectly fine

well i have both of them also now i have experience with more expensive iems and i can easily say that gate is a lot better than castor dont worry gate will handle every genre u listen to i listen to almost everything and gate never fails to deliver a good listening experience compared to castor so gate easy recommendation for every genre castor isnt bad but its just worse compared to gate

i have truthear gate i love them so much

So I was fortunate enough to receive the Gate really early and have had some time with it. I dropped a video review where I compare against several IEMs in this price range, including the Hola. My short verdict is this though... * The Hola was more warm and relaxed sounding, something I truly enjoyed. * The Gate comes across as a little more bass light, with increased energy in the upper mids/treble. Some people will prefer one sound profile over the other, but this is definitely not a Hola 2.0. * Ergonomics are even better for my ear on the Gate than the Hola, but it's close. It's really comfortable, light weight, and the shape maintains a good seal/placement on my ear. * Cable is the same, still fantastic, and better than anything else I've tried under $30. * TLDW - The Gate is still one of the best budget IEMs period, but those wanting a new version of the Hola, which had a beautiful relaxed sound, may be disappointed in the upwards tilt towards treble. Personal preference comes into play here. Full review here! [https://youtu.be/sF\_bpICZrA8](https://youtu.be/sF_bpICZrA8)

While I have better IEMs, I recently got some Truthear Gates, and they're honestly pretty damn good for the price. They definitely earned a spot in my rotation.

most of these $20-ish IEMs are pretty much all same sound quality, detail level, QKZ Odin, Moondrop CHU II, Truthear GATe, 7Hz Zero, 7Hz x Crinacle Zero: 2, Wan'er SG, Wan'er SE but for what you are looking for QKZ Odin will imo be the best choise, Wan'er SG is also good but their build quality is step or two below everything else on the list

cadenza is better, gate is comparable but different to chu II, not rly worse or better, maybe also look into $35 tripowin piccolo, it's on sale for $10 right now, absolute best buy, step up from all those $20 IEMs(except Tanchjim Zero DSP but that has a non-detachable cable)

bro neither 💀 get the truthear gate from headphone zone. its on sale right now as well. available only for 1700. much better than both these iems. also better than wan'er & chu 2. or wait for the wan'er 2 (coming out in early march). also use headphone zone for buying iems. they have fantastic customer service & u also get points for buying stuff (which u can later use to get discounts on other products). i can tell u more about this stuff if u want 🙌🏻

please don't make the mistake of buying kz iems. just get the 7hz zero or zero 2. or you can buy truthear gate (best gaming iem under 2k). all of these are much better value than kz iems. kz iems have a terrible cable + they only give 3 pair of eartips inside the box & nothing else. while, tangzu wan'er or truthear gate or zero/zero 2 give you 6-7 pairs of eartips + a cleaning cloth or case to carry your iem + truthear gate has the best cable quality of any iem under 3k.

if you buy truthear gate, you will be set for the next 3-4 years minimum. you can get gate at 1600 during sale from headphone zone. you can also get tangzu wan'er 2.

if you listen to both english & hindi songs, and prefer balanced sound then - truthear gate. but if you want a little bass heavy sound signature then 7hz zero 2. now, if you only listen to hindi songs, then tangzu wan'er 2. (note skip og wan'er sg as wan'er 2 is the upgrade & has better cables, better sancai eartips & better build.) these all sell for around 1.5k - 2k and skip everything else such as moondrop chu 2, any kz iem (dont ever buy a kz iem), skip og 7hz zero as well. SPECIAL: if you can spend around 3k, then just blindly go for 7hz G1. currently the best budget iem. proper v shape fun sound signature, with great clarity & separation. metal build. truly fantastic if you dont want reference grade & just wanna enjoy & vibe to your music with great clarity.

i too come from a cheap tws and got the same iem and yeah i did notice a rather bigger difference in sound quality, instruments separation was better, hella lot more clarity and balanced bass rather than just bass, im happy with the upgrade

truthear gate, 7hz zero 2, moondrop chu II. any of them can be good

**Brief review for those who dont want to read the full review** **A subscribe to my [YouTube channel](https://youtube.com/@hokagoteatimereviews) would be a great way of supporting me and would really appreciate it** (Close to hitting 1K) Been liking these long term reviews, as they give more insight. Do you think I should do them more? 🤔 - Great set of accessories for the price - The pouch included is so good! - The cable included is fantastic! I use them with more expensive iems sometimes - The transparent design is really cool - The overall sound is a jack of all trades - A great buy for a first time iem user - The shell could get scratched easily - The bass could be lacking for some **Full Review** **Introduction:-** A gateway to the iem world? Hey guys, today I am going to review the new budget iem from truthear which is called gate. It comes at $19. The gate is a replacement for the ever so popular hola **I have also shared a video version of the review at [YouTube](https://youtu.be/awo35DZOvnQ) any support there in form of a view, A like or A subscribe is greatly appreciated. But if you so wish to read the written version you can read this** Before I start the review I want to say a huge thanks to Shenzhen Audio for the review unit. But all the thoughts and opinions you are about to hear are my own. Please check them out below via the unaffiliated link to shenzhen audio I will be as usual following my bullet style format for better readability for those who are dyslexic and in general find it hard to read long paragraphs. I follow this guide in general from the British Dyslexia Association. Lets get started! **Build, Comfort and Accessories:-** 1. The outer packaging of the gate is very simple and it has this waifu. 2. The Box comes with the iems, a set of narrow bore tips, a set of wide bore tips and the fantastic pouch 3. The pouch supplied is very nice! It has this metal clapse around the rim and shuts tight when closed, this is a very nice case specially for the price. 4. It can fit a smal dongle dac like the fiio ka11 and the iem 5. The cable supplied is very good it terminates to 3.5mm at one end and 2 pin at the other. 6. Also bonus points for the cable for it having a chin slider which works very well 7. The gate are really comfortable to wear and I have had no problems wearing them for 6-7 hours. 8. There is a minor driver flex specially on the left side for me, although this might vary depending on the persons ear anatomy. 9. I really like this transparent shell design the gate has, and it is something unique for this price range. 10. I said that the iems are comfortable, but seeing the inside design does make me confused as to why the iems couldn’t have been even more smaller to fit even smaller ears. Because there are some people out there who has even smaller ears than average and they might have issues with the size of this. Just a thought! 11. Also they are really easy to power **Sound Impressions:-** 1. I have used all the stock accessories for the testing. I have also used the narrow bore tips 2. The overall sound is very close to Harman 2019 with a tad bit lower bass than it. 3. I really like the sort of north of neutral sound signature of the gate. Although some could find it to be a bit thin overall. 4. What it does is it makes it very easy to play for all genres. 5. The gate also performs really well as a low volume set. As someone who listens to low volumes I really appreciate it Bass- 1. The bass of the gate is ok-ish for my personal taste 2. People who like neutral sound might find it to be perfect 3. The bass is more sub-bass focused than mid-bass 4. When listening to the song crack crackle by classy the gate had a decent amount of thump and punch, I personally would have preferred a tad bit more amount of sub-bass here 5. The mid-bas is done very tastefully here, and it goes quite well along with the sub-bass 6. When listening to the instruments from the 1985 live album by cassiopea, the instruments don’t sound that crispy or rather they sound a bit lifeless. 7. For example adding a tad bit of bass via eq or via xbass mode from the ifi go blu the entire bass region sounds very lively. Mids- 1. The mids of the gate in my opinion are really good 2. Although the male vocals take a back seat than most of the song 3. But the thick richness of Chris cornelles and Bill withers voice comes across very well, it was a bit surprising to me. 4. Now coming to female vocals, they sound really good. 5. When listening to Sakura and Hanawa Sakura by ikkimonogakari, The vocals were really crisp and lively. 6. The female vocals are done really well, but for someone who doesn’t like shouty upper mids might find a bit of an issue here specially at higher volumes. 7. The entire mids is done quite tastefully in my opinion Treble- 1. The overall treble is smooth, apt for the price 2. I would say that the amount of treble is quite good but… 3. The treble at some songs sounds a bit uneven and unpolished. Again I know these are under $20 4. But this is the one of the small gripe I have with the set. 6. For example when the instrument section of the song blue bird by ikkimongakari, which was also an opening for naruto. They sound a bit unpolished and meh. 7. Again do remember these are only $20 and the treble isnt so bad, that you cannot listen to them its just that they are tad bit unpolished in some songs 7. I did tip roll them, and with the divinus velvet tips the bass sounded a bit more fuller and the treble seems to sound a bit more cleaner. But then again the divinus velvet tips are the same price as the iems. Soundstage, Technicalities and Imaging:- The soundstage of the gate is average overall. They seem to have better depth than width. When listening to galactic funk live by cassiopea the claps by the audience had a good space, but the spacing of the instruments sounded a bit cramped. Again these are only $20 iems, but still thought of mentioning Technicalities for the gate is really good, almost most genres sounded very good and clean over here. Imaging was average too for the price, the left to right transition and vice versa was quite ok for the price. Again please remember the price. Gaming Test:- Since these don’t have much bass when a lot of bombs were exploding or anything thumpy like kicking a door etc. was happening they sounded really clean and they didn’t overwhelm me like with most bassy iems. The sense of soundscape was average and I could gauge a good understanding of the footsteps around me with the gate. When there was a lot happening in the scene with bombs exploding and guns firing at average to higher volumes the gate did sound a bit piercy and sense of space did fall for that moment. For occasional gaming sessions these were quite good. **Comparison and Recommendation:-** 1. v/s Moondrop Chu 2 – The all metal build quality of the chu 2 is much better than the gate. Also both the cables of the chu 2 and gate are very similar and I really love them! The chu 2’s are a tad bit bassier than the gate, while the female vocals are much better in the gate. I think so both of these compliment each other very well. 2. Sadly I haven't tried the zero or zero 2, but going by the graph these look a something in between the zero and zero 2 3. I think so for the price, these are quite good specially if you want a bit neutral sounding iems 4. I personally would recommend them for the price, for the fantastic pouch and the cable alone! 5. I really love the cable and pouch provided, you can buy the gate just for it and be happy. 6. So that is my review of the Truthear Gate, If you have any question please do comment below. **Like and subscribe to my [YouTube Channel](https://youtube.com/@hokagoteatimereviews) is a great way of supporting me as it helps me a lot! I hope you have a great day ahead, bye!** If you have any questions please feel free to ask me and also if you have any issues regarding this format of review please do comment I will try to mend it. Also sorry to those who are used to reading long paragraphs of review here. I hope my review was upto the mark, I appreciate any feedback. Have a great day ahead, Bye :)

KZ is trash, buy Moondrop Chu II or Truthear gate instead 👍

Chu II or Truthear gate is better

Gate imo is very mid. Shouty, poor bass quality. Zero 2 is a bit meh in todays market. Chu 2 is okay, but not fun or exciting. Chu 2 DSP is much better. Cadenza is very nicely tuned, but bass lacks dynamics. Wan'er sounds a bit messy. None of these have nice bass really. QKZ x HBB has really nice bass, but are pretty dark so would EQ a bit. Should try Nuo again since maybe they had good punchy bass.

**Pros:** * Clarity focused tuning * Good volume scaling * Inclusion of good cable * Nice pouch **Cons:** * Slightly off timbre * A little bass light Truthear is a relatively new brand in the IEM market, but everything they've released so far has been impressive. Their collaboration with Crinacle on the Zero IEMs has definitely helped, but their consistent quality suggests they are either very experienced or supported by industry giants. https://preview.redd.it/481gu4i1quad1.jpg?width=2664&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22a1c415fa757278e004eb60e0c1c08efbf91630 After the discontinuation of the Hola, a successor was anticipated, and Truthear answered with another ultra-budget IEM, the GATe. Priced at $18.99 ($19.99 with a mic), the GATe has big shoes to fill and stiff competition to overcome. # Disclaimers The Truthear GATe was provided to me by Cloris from shenzhenaudio for free. As I always say, everyone has biases, so take everything you read with a grain of salt. I'll strive to be more concise and to the point in my reviews from now on. If you have any questions, please ask in the comments, and I'll do my best to answer them. # Packaging, Build, and Accessories In this ultra-budget segment, packaging and accessories are often minimal, but the GATe still manages to impress. Unfortunately, I haven't tried the Hola, so I can't compare them in terms of accessories or sound. From what I've gathered, the GATe uses the same cable as the Hola, which is one of the best in this price range. It's very soft and doesn’t retain memory. The IEMs and cable come in either black or white. Besides the cable and a set of tips, you get a magnetic carrying pouch similar to what a-brand-that-should-not-be-named on reddit offers with their IEMs. I don’t recall getting a carrying pouch with any IEMs below $20, let alone one of this quality. https://preview.redd.it/k13m6bx2quad1.jpg?width=2302&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c6fe804706cc72fe64e0721fe3fcfb6b40facbc The GATe has a beautiful design with transparent faceplates. The insides aren't as attractive, featuring only a single dynamic driver, but I appreciate the look. The shells are entirely made of plastic, which might be a step down from the Hola. I don't mind it, but former Hola users might feel a bit betrayed. The shells have a small wing that helps with fit security without being annoying. # Sound Quality # Tonality https://preview.redd.it/7v92ahh4quad1.jpg?width=2640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d559ee73d3e4ae355d5588ed9885cdf5b93342ba This time around, Truthear went with a clarity-focused tuning for their ultra-budget offering. On first listen, the clarity and vividness stood out, but it felt bass-light. The GATe isn't devoid of bass; it actually has more bass than some older ultra-budget IEMs like the Moondrop Chu and 7Hz Salnotes Zero. However, the upper mids and treble are more prominent than the bass. The GATe scales well with volume and comes alive, a sentiment confirmed by a few of my friends. The mid frequencies on GATe are very well-tuned. As I mentioned, the GATe's clarity-focused tuning makes the mids its best feature. The treble isn’t harsh, peaky, or piercing, but there is a slight unevenness that affects the timbre a bit. # Technicalities https://preview.redd.it/3hurmjl5quad1.jpg?width=2617&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3896e0ec234725fa3c6380ae747af1acfe941957 Discussing technicalities for ultra-budget IEMs might seem pointless. There are technically better or worse IEMs in this price range, but ultimately, you get what you pay for. In the GATe’s case, it has decent imaging and staging capabilities. The timbre is slightly off but not too bad. The clarity-focused tuning helps reveal a good amount of detail, but the drivers' resolving capability can barely keep up. However, these drivers are pretty good among other ultra-budget IEMs since the GATe scales well with volume. # Comparisons # Truthear GATe vs. Tangzu Wan’er https://preview.redd.it/23nkloo6quad1.jpg?width=2221&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c18932243f43500dafb734585e09410777f11e0 * Wan’er has more bass, but GATe’s bass is better defined and textured. Wan’er’s bass is less controlled and the weakest point of the IEMs, though it extends deeper into the sub-bass and rumbles more. * Wan’er is warmer, thicker, and has more note weight. GATe’s note weight is sufficient, but some listeners might want more. * Wan’er emphasizes its mids more and is slightly shoutier. GATe is more balanced and scales better with volume, sounding clearer and crisper. * GATe is more prominent in the treble overall. Wan’er has lower treble energy. While neither is particularly sibilant, GATe is more susceptible to sibilance with volume. Still, GATe has more snap and shimmer, while Wan’er sounds blunted in comparison. However, Wan’er might suit those sensitive to treble better. * Wan’er has a better timbre overall, but GATe has a wider and more spacious presentation. Wan’er feels more in-your-head, while imaging is more focused and precise on Wan’er. GATe has better detail retrieval, revealing more nuances. https://preview.redd.it/teqqlqt7quad1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=246516702c8e97624675b3898b4b00680da0e0a8 # Truthear GATe vs. EPZ Q1 Pro https://preview.redd.it/nc4l537aquad1.jpg?width=1574&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6254120a2ab6a6713c8a594ad9384b912e98f8d * GATe is slightly warmer and thicker, with a more impactful bass. Q1 Pro has more sub-bass extension. * Q1 Pro has more prominent mids and is shoutier in the upper mids. * GATe has a more relaxed and slightly blunted treble. Q1 Pro sounds livelier without being harsh or sibilant at moderate volumes, but GATe can be pushed more without becoming harsh. * Q1 Pro is more technically capable, with better timbre and resolution. Q1 Pro has a slightly wider and deeper soundstage. Imaging is also more precise on Q1 Pro. https://preview.redd.it/kq075mxbquad1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=35d687fb24a396d2ed74dea02bc310342e572ac5 # Conclusion I enjoyed the Truthear GATe more than I expected. Usually, after reviewing unimpressive products, I set them aside, but the GATe convinced me to keep them around. They have a comfortable fit, scale well with volume, come with a very good cable, and include my favorite type of pouch with a magnetic closing mechanism. According to other reviews, they sound vastly different from the original Hola, so perhaps both could have been kept around. Nonetheless, I'm quite happy with what Truthear has delivered.

Whatever ultra-budget IEM I have on me. If it's going outside, I'm keeping it cheap in case it needs replacing. Currently it's the Truthear Gate.

I'll say in advance it's very anecdotal and subjective, so take it how you will. Sennheiser HD560S is good for my particular use case for a headphone, at AU$300 (when I bought it). I want headphones that are good for at-home media consumption and media production (hobby-level video editing, among other things), wearable for extended periods of time, with a life span in the years (not months). Performance-wise, that means neutral-ish sound signature, discernible sound-staging and imaging. HD560S has that. Build-wise, that means decently ventilated open-backs, durable materials, and not be completely useless when a component of the headphone fails. Detachable cable (single-ended) that can be replaced if it fails, sturdy plastic with metal(?) mesh that feels light in my head and decent clamp force. For a point of comparison, there was a set of headphones that I bought at a similar price point before the HD560S: Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 80-Ohm edition (AU$290). Performance-wise, there's a noticeable amount of treble in it (not ear-splitting). Build-wise, the metal build is heavier and sturdier, but it clamped on my ears a bit more, and it didn't feel like my ears were well-ventilated. If anything, it felt like I was wearing my old Turtle Beach gaming headset - ears got hot within minutes. The final straw was when the non-detachable cable was once forcibly yanked away, damaging the jack and the AUX port on the front IO panel of my PC. There was another headphone port at the back, so that was fine, but the DT990 couldn't e saved without DIY (I learned the hard way that I shouldn't be DIY-ing cable replacement for headphones). If I was out and about, I'd instead opt for ultra-budget IEMs or clip-on stereophones - if ever they broke, it wouldn't cost much money to replace. For me, that means I have to really justify making a purchase greater than AU$80 for this use case. IEMs/clip-ons I have owned as expendable daily drivers are: 7Hz Salnotes x Crinacle Zero (1), Truthear Gate, Moondrop Aria Snow Edition (the most reckless decision for this use case) and Koss KSC75.

I got 2 gate both has channel imabalance lol...I am frustrated af now

I am a little disappointed in the responses here, but not surprised. I see a lot of excuses being made for what amounts to a poorly executed audio reproduction device. The harsh reality is that custom molds generally have pretty terrible frequency response and the market in general is way behind the times. There have been a few custom molded IEM's measured at sites like ASR and boy do they look bad. Doesn't matter how much you spend either, these companies are mostly focused on creating molds with good fitment, sound quality is typically considered after that (if at all). Here's a $2000+ JH pair with atrocious response. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jerry-harvey-jh-custom-iem-review.56926/ And here's a $17 IEM. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-gate-17-iem-review.61784/ It kind of makes you wonder what is even going on at these custom IEM companies. They certainly have some catching up to do, but most are still stuck in the past of ridiculous marketing like multiple drivers which data shows are clearly not necessary. My band and myself all use cheap off the shelf IEM's for performance and often tracking/jamming and I've never gotten a complaint. I did purchase one pair of custom IEM's from ultimate ears but was shocked to find they sounded and measured terribly. I only use them as ear plugs now.

Hello, What IEM guys are you using for c2? I was using Truthear Zero Red but difficult to ear steps, currently usonf Truthear Gate and they are ok for a budget iem. Looking for a new pair with the best image and detail t pinpoint positions. Currently looking: - Simgot EM6L - Simgot ew300 - Supermix 4 Trying to keep in 100 euros range. Thank you :)

The same but with 50% L/R isolation. They are not the worst but a budget ones with a different sound assignature like Truthear Gate its a lot better in terms only of imaging and steps. I just bought a few minutes the simgot ew300 tomorrow I will leave feedback here with the comparison to Gate if the improve of imaging was good enough to spend the money.

yes definitely. I didn’t think the supermix 4 sounded much better, but the highs were much more aggressive. I played for 1/2 hour and was in pain. It’s very difficult to review CS. Thanks to Amazon.es, I tested them all... I ordered them, tried them for 1/2 weeks and returned them. I also had the Zero Red, gate and hexa but the order for me was em6l, ew300, tripowin, red, supermix, hexa and gate.

Already bought the Truthear Gate and I am loving it thus far. Was watching a Band show called Hibike Euphonium and you can clearly hear whether the sounds/voices are coming from the indoor/outdoor. The clarity and details are insane in IEMs.

wan'er 2 and tanchjim zero ultima is around the corner so i guess i'll just better off waiting for those. I was just wondering how much bass i really needed lol when i bought the gate i thought it lacked that punch and when i got the klean i wanted to see if i can handle more bass.

7hz Salnotes Zero:2 are great as well, super neutral. And the Truthear Gate. Both very cheap and neutral.

Truthear Gate - slightly bright balanced sound, comfortable, has mic, looks minimalistic yet beautiful and 3.5mm connector

Here are a few deals I would like to mention. The slightly better and newly released Truthear Gate is also on sale for $20 at Amazon. If you prefer a brighter sound the original 7hz Zero is $7 less on AliExpress.

Gate is a tad bit better than the wan'er but a bit worse than the zero2, imo.

I just got the Truthear GATe and they're good, I won't lie. There's a slight increase in the clarity and quality of sound but I dont find MUCH of an improvement considering I used cheap TWS before. I've seen a lot of people praise this IEM for its quality so I'm not sure if it's just me,the defect with the product I bought or if its just like this.

Only tried 3 so far. Kz edx pro, truthear gate and kz castor bass edition. Gate had the best treble

1500 INR? * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver * KZ EDC Pro If you can at least push it at 2k INR, I would suggest * Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 * Tangzu Wan'er SG * Truthear Gate * 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 Prices are HeadphoneZone, Audio Store, and Concept Cart If Amazon * KZ EDC Pro above 1.5k INR * Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 * Tangzu Wan'er SG * Truthear Gate * 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver

- KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver - KZ EDC Pro - Tangzu Wa'ner SG/Wan'er SG 2 - 7Hz Salnotes Zero/Crinacle Zero 2 - Truthear Gate - Tanchjim Bunny

All under 3k INR (based on ConceptKart website) Neutral (including warm and bright) * Tangzu Wan'er SG (neutral warm) \*\* * Tangzu Wan'er 2 (neutral warm) \* * Tanchjim Bunny DSP (neutral bright) \* * Tanchjim One DSP (neutral warm) * Moondrop Chu 2 DSP (neutral bright) * 7Hz Salnotes Zero (neutral bright) * Truthear Gate (neutral balanced) \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Qing (neutral balanced) \* * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver (v-warm-ish to neutral bright) \*\* V/U-shaped (including warm and bright) * Tanchjim Bunny 3.5mm * Tanchjim One 3.5mm * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 (mild v-balanced) \* * ND Planet (v-warm) * Rose Technics (Roseselsa) Aurora Ultra (v-warm-ish) \* * Moondrop Chu 2 3.5mm (mild v) * DUNU Titan S2 (v-balanced) \* * BLON BL-03 (v-warm) * BLON BL-03 II (v-warm) * Kiwi Ears Dolce (u-bright) * TRN Conch (mild v-bright) * Moondrop Chu 2 3.5mm (mild v-balanced) \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss (mild v-warm) * Tangzu Shimin Li (mild-v bright) * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver (mild v-warm-ish to neutral bright) \*\* * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Black Improved Bass (v-bass to v-bright-ish) \*\* * KZ EDC Pro (u-warm) \*\* * KZ EDX Pro (v-bright) (\* recommend | \*\* personally I own)

I got my first IEM’s today the Truthear Gate, they sound really good i also have only used cheap earphones/headphones and these sent shivers down my spine they are really good. The sound is balanced and very clear also they come with good accessories so totally worth it. I bought them from headphonezone for 1990₹

Honestly 20$ IEMs like Truthear Gate are already better than AirPods. So anything will work really.

TL:DR for those who have neither the time nor the willingness to read the full review: || || |**PROS**|**CONS**| |Nice overall tuning with present yet controlled sub-bass, forward vocals and some spice up top|The lower mids could have been a tad warmer and the upper treble spike could have been tamed a bit to avoid some occasion inconsistencies in the timbre| |Decent resolution considering the price|Average technical performance| |Very comfortable shells|Very few reasons to upgrade from the Hola, which seemed like a more “timbrically-mature” IEM| |Easy to drive|| |Good selection of tips|| |The stock cable is decent for the price|| # INTRODUCTION Truthear is well known for products like the Hexa, NOVA, ZERO and ZERO:RED, but also for the HOLA, which were discontinued and replaced with the GATE, the set that we’re gonna discuss in this review. >*Disclaimer: the Truthear GATE were sent to me by ShenzenAudio so that I could write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion on the set, it isn't promotional or paid content and I don’t get any revenue from the sales of this product.* *At the time of the review, the Truthear Gate were on sale for 16,99$ at Shenzen Audio.* https://preview.redd.it/rb7s79f9yr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2c7257fad92e4ae334d537be3934f1a1e224fbd # TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS * Driver Configuration → 1 x 10mm DD (LCP + PU) * Impedance → 28Ω@1kHz * Sensitivity → 122 dB/Vrms@1kHz * Frequency Response Range → 20Hz-20kHz * Total Harmonics Distortion → <1%@1kHz, 104dB * Cable → OFC cable with 0.78mm 2-PIN connectors * Plug Type → 3.5mm TRS jack # PACKAGING The packaging looks pretty good and contains: * The Truthear GATE * The OFC detachable cable with 0.78mm 2-PIN connectors * 2 sets of silicone tips (one set of narrow bore tips, one set of wide bore tips) * A small pleather pouch * User manual https://preview.redd.it/vvnxflpayr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1887973b5187f094751fd4ed5f06feb8e047756 https://preview.redd.it/hkiktmqayr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9839beddd8a3d25a4c708a815171762e72764d0 https://preview.redd.it/3dcz7kpayr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c76a6bc65d2a7ba4d097b126d93f2635e1084b1 https://preview.redd.it/0ai9mjpayr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f188afa98b19dea73b29e095c623a814f575ddba # DESIGN, BUILD QUALITY, COMFORT AND ISOLATION The Truthear GATE are entirely made of 3D printed resin and sport a look-through plastic faceplate. The shell shape is the same as the previous budget model from Truthear, the Hola, with the only difference being a slightly longer nozzle on the GATE (very small difference though) and a different materiale since the Gate feels a bit cheap. The isolation is just average whereas there’s really nothing to complain about comfort since there are no sharp edges and the nozzle is not particularly wide. https://preview.redd.it/17fvvtueyr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6bb4a88cb13a2eab9993c2600bd28acbc30e2e8 https://preview.redd.it/abs8t7ueyr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b42c29aff75c8b07834aa25b6ffb29fed8ca7c5 https://preview.redd.it/8nrc26ueyr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81556042924e093c778e28c326f5669db829e786 https://preview.redd.it/woqom6ueyr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e821a98d29b6f46a370de745a1243080af075d0 # CABLE The cable does its job, it sports a chin slider and it’s rather flexible, but it’s nothing to write home about.  https://preview.redd.it/8axinv1gyr7d1.jpg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b6c609ee495135af1d5a16e73771944032e9e59 # SOUND **GEAR USED FOR THE TEST** * DAC: Topping E30  * AMP: Topping L30, Fiio A3 * Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra * Moondrop May’s DSP cable with PEQ=0 * Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle, Fosi DS2 * Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B * Bluetooth Adapters: KBEAR S1, KZ AZ10  * Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR **Do they need an amplifier?** No, they don’t strictly need an amplifier but they scale with some more power and the overall sound seem to improve a bit with better note weight. **Sound signature** The Truthear GATE follow a soft U-shaped signature with some sub-bass emphasis and upper midrange boost, along with some spice in the upper treble. * **Lows**: The sub-bass has pretty good extension and digs pretty deep, yet without providing a true “headshake”. The bass is slightly behind the sub-bass, it has good speed and control and average textures. It’s not a basshead IEM for sure, so you’ll be better off with other IEMs if you’re looking for a basshead set in this price range. * **Mids**: The lower midrange could use a bit more warmth for more depth but it doesn’t sound off. Acoustic instruments come across nice even though they lack a bit of body in the lower note due to the relatively controlled bass. The upper mids is forward and female vocals usually become the stars of the show with a pleasant energy around them. Trying to push the limits of the upper midrange, the most prone-to-sibilance tracks struggle to find fertile soil, and I could hear a few prolonged “S” just a couple times in dozens of hours of listening sessions with these. If there’s one caveat, then it’s related to the female vocals not having a bit of warmth in their lowest registers. * **Highs**: The highs don’t feel “closed-in” but the upper-treble spike is not enough to perceive the GATE as truly “open-sounding”. In addition, that specific upper-treble spike (which is located above 10kHz) sometimes adds a “plasticky” effect to some hats, a thing that bothers me a bit yet not enough to be a dealbreaker. When it comes to the detail retrieval, the GATE do a nice job and provide enough information in most tracks, even though they’re not the set with which you’ll be able to pick-up the smaller nuances.I wouldn’t say that the GATE will certainly suit those with sensitive ears since there’s some spice in the upper-treble, but I can confidently say that they are not harsh-sounding nor super bright so those who can stand a bit of treble sparkle should probably give these a try. The **soundstage** is average for the price range and the same applies for the **imaging**.  # SOME COMPARISONS **Truthear GATE vs Truthear Hola** >The GATE have better sub-bass extension, less mid-bass focus with better bass speed, slightly less warm lower mids, a more emphasized and vivid upper-midrange and a slightly brighter treble response that is generally a tad more detailed. The Hola, instead, are warmer overall, with a punchier and more full-bodied midbass, generally warmer male vocals a smoother treble roll-off (and there are no cases in which some cymbals become “plastic-ky”). In terms of soundstage, the two sets are comparable but the GATE sound a slightly wider stage. The imaging is very similar with the GATE showing a bit more precision in a couple occasions. Comfort and isolation are identical, and the same applies for the stock cable. Should one upgrade from the Hola? No, if you have the Hola the GATE isn’t a big upgrade, so I’d stick with that. If you don’t have any of the two, instead, and would like to try a Truthear budget set, then the GATE is a nice alternative to the discontinued Hola, even though the overall timbre is slightly different. **Truthear GATE vs Celest Wyvern Abyss** >They are not tuned in a very different way if not for Gate’s upper end peak. The Wyvern Abyss strike a better balance across the whole spectrum and play a notch above with better imaging and soundstage, even though the Gate are a tad more detailed at times (even though that introduces a few weird inconsistencies in the timbre). The Wyvern Abyss have better build quality and look like a much more expensive product even though the price difference is not crazy. Comfort is subjective, as usual, but the Gate are easier to keep in smaller ears for long listening sessions. The isolation, instead, is hands down better on the Wyvern Abyss. Abyss’ stock cable is better also. The Wyvern Abyss are more expensive but they are worth the \~10$ difference in my opinion, especially when it comes to the imaging and instrument separation. I'd pick the Wyvern Abyss. # FINAL THOUGHTS The Truthear GATE are not as disruptive as the old Moondrop Chu used to be, but it’s also true that the market already has a lot of offerings from different brands, and whether you decide to go for one or another, it’s very hard to find very different performance in the same price brackets (except for a few cases). After the success of the Hola, Truthear is back with the GATE, a set that brings a few improvements to the table, even though with some quirks. The timbre is not “perfect” and the technicalities are only average for the price, but the overall tuning is pretty good for the price and this was basically the “formula” that made the HOLA successful. In fact, I think that "GATE" is kind-of the right name to use for this set, as it's basically among the smartest sets that one could buy to begin the audio journey.

Truthear GATe is my first iem. As you said you are using a tws which is bass heavy so you won't notice any upgrade in bass. You can appreciate vocals as they are clear. If you love vocal forward music than it's gonna be your choice. To appreciate the difference, play one song in your tws through your phone and play the same somg through your pc via headphones jack. Sync the timing and listen. now you will find what's the difference.  I love vocal forward songs like ghazals and bollywood classics and 90s indie pop so it fullfill my requirement. It doesn't have rumbling or thumping base but have optimum base which is required. 

if you are looking for actual flat tuning, there is the Tanchjim Zero witch which is pretty flat, but it has some boost on vocals and treble so it inst like totally balanced, but might work for startes with its reduced bass area. Second best would the Salnotes Zero original, not the 2, since its more balanced but not like super bassy nor super treble foward. Truthear gate might alse be an option since it has ever slighly less boosted upper mids and a similar controlled treble, but it also has slighly more bass than the Zero original. If you happend to not have the Gate available, simgot 100p its pretty similar but with a bit of more mid bass kick, and slighly less sub bass rumble, on the rest of the sound they are around the same.

Not quite better, but as options There is Moondrop Chu 2, recent 7hz Aero, Simgot EW200 or TruthEar Gate. Mind you each of them are differently tuned, so you need to read or watch review or try it out in the store to know which one you like. i've try out chu 2 and gate with few songs, Gate is too anemic for my library and Chu 2 have better synergy as its more energetic and more fun for my rock library. or if you can access and have experience with buying from AliExpress, you could get KZ ZS12 for thirty something dollar, which apparently the current best for sub $40. moving up ranks at $50\~60-ish you get Kefine Delci.

Moondrop Chu 2 Tangzu Wan er SG/Studio edition(to be released late june) Truthear Gate Truthear Zero red Simgot EW200 Simgot EA500(LM) 7Hz Zero 2 All of these sets are well known and beloved by many in the audio community. Easily replacable too given their cheap price.

So curiosity got the better of me and I ordered a pair of TRUTHEAR gates which just arrived today from Amazon (I managed to find a seller). All I can say is thank you for posting this photo that sent me down the rabbit hole. I’ve been blown away by these IEMs, I studied music tech at university about 15 years ago and music was a massive passion of mine for many years, I feel like these headphones have rekindled my love for it, honestly had goosebumps listening to tracks with these earphones. Just shows how long I’ve been out of the audio game and how much technology has evolved. So far it seems like the best £18 I’ve ever spent. I also have a pair of 7hz zero 2 coming from aliexpress which I picked up for £13 so it’ll be interesting to test them out too. Hope you have an awesome day, thanks again!

It's less about being worth the upgrade if you already own one of the other sets, to me at least. I find that the question is more about just spending the little bit of extra money to begin with if it's within your budget. If it's not then an upgrade would also be out of the question either way, so that's not the focal point. As you said, the Cadenza just take EQ really well and have solid technical performance for their price, so even if you don't enjoy the tuning, they can be a really good deal. From there, newbies can easily play around with different signatures and AutoEQ other IEMs onto the Cadenza to get a fairly good impression of what they enjoy. I consider the Cadenza to be a great starter IEM for that reason and would argue that if you're looking to eventually upgrade or expand your collection, they are a top notch recommendation. Where I agree with you is that they are not ideal as a standalone one-of product. As part of an arsenal or as a first entry point they can shine but if you're only ever planning on one "do-it-all" IEM, then the 7hz Zero:2, Tangzu Wan'er and (as much as I dislike them) KZ Castor Pro are better in that regard. One last thing too, and this is a very minor criticism: Since you mentioned the Truthear Gate, which are considered very treble forward and the sharpest sounding non-KZ IEMs in their price range, I think it's a moot point to argue about the perceived sharpness of the Cadenza, especially given that a simple tip-roll can solve that issue entirely. I agree that the problem exists, I just wouldn't outright fault the Cadenza for that when other IEMs that people might be upgrading from had even sharper treble, even with better tips. Still, the default upgrade path here would go through the Truthear Zero:Red, not the Cadenza for most people and I'd levvy a lot of the same criticism against those as well (nozzle size -> stock tips, good technical performance, minor price difference to other entry level IEMs). I think it's more of an issue with ultra-budget and budget IEMs just not being all that different from one another and the most notable differences only coming once you invest more, which many people want but can't do. Then they opt to make marginal upgrades and end up disappointed at the lack of a difference. It's more of a customer behavior issue, not a product issue inherently if you ask me. Other than that, great stuff, appreciate the attention to detail.

Kz Castor is technically superior to Gate , but has a bad tuning...If you know how to EQ , Castor's output becomes much better than the Gate....But Gate is more Comfortable than Castor for wearing.

the gate isn't bad but is in no way good, I recommend for budget get the tangzu wan'er or the 7hz zero2. but honest at this price range it won't be any really bug upgrade if you wanna hear major difference you gotta bring your budget to around 50 with things like the simgot ew300, crinicle project red or the tangzu Xuan nv

CHU 2 has plenty of bass and thump when the music calls for it. It is not a bass tuned IEM where it’s always there, stepping on everything. It’s got some thump and bump to satisfy the “fun” tuning. Gate is more “analytical” compared to the CHU 2. They are NOT however a night and day difference. If you got both of course you can tell the difference doing a side by side comparison. Just don’t expect two VERY different tunings. Gate can thump some quality bass when the music calls for it. It’s not rumbley bass but it’s got some solid quality bass. I’d say an more “analytical” set would be the ew200 over the Gate.

Got gate like 10 days ago, it is my first iem, really enjoying them so far. Nice review, glad I did not make a wrong purchase.

I know there's a quite a few people who have been waiting for me to finally make this post. I apologize for the delay, I was still waiting for an iem to be delivered. A little background: I've been an fps gamer all my life. I used to play cod semi-profressionally and participated in both online and LAN tournaments for money. The main fps games I play today are apex, cod and siege. Ever since I discovered the audiophile world with studio headphones I was amazed how much better headphones sounded compared to gaming headsets. Fast forward to present day and I am now into IEMs and discovering which ones are the best for gaming. As a disclaimer my thoughts and opinions are my own. I understand there are YouTubers such as Fresh Reviews, Ryan Ho, and Gadgetry Tech that may or may not agree with my takes. So please take my thoughts and opinions with a grain of salt as I am just a chill guy who likes to game competitively. The way I determine if an iem (or headphone) is good for gaming is by 3 main categories: soundstage, imaging, and sound separation. A good and accurate soundstage has good width (x), height (y), and depth (z). Imaging, or stereo imaging, is the spacial perception and ability to perceive the precise placement of sounds. Essentially directional audio. I.e left, right, center, back, top left, etc. Sound separation in a iem or headphone is the ability to pick up different sounds at once without it overlapping each other. So the ability to hear explosions go off, gun shots, gadgets, footsteps, etc without distorting the other sounds. With that being said here's the list of iems that I've tried each with a short review and a rating out of 5 for gaming (3 is usable, anything less is not): CCZ BC01 Pro (1) - way too bassy, bad vertical directional audio. Better options CCZ BC04 Pro (2) - same issue as the BC01 but a much more tolerable bass. Better options Moondrop Chu 2 (1.5) - sound is okay, soundstage felt narrow to me. Imaging was okay. Sound separation was below average. Premium feel and build but I didn't like how heavy they were on my ears. Better options Truthear Gate (2) - sound great but not good for gaming. Narrow soundstage, imaging is okay, below average sound separation. Better options Truthear Zero Red (?) - literally couldn't fit in my ears properly without severe pain. So I couldn't test the IEM and returned it. Will be testing the zero 2 tho Truthear Hexa (4) - comfort is not that good, better than the zero reds tho, soundstage and imaging is okay, sound separation is decent. Also not a fan of how they sound tbh. Too neutral for me Tripowin Vivaci (3) - nearly identical to the zeros 2 in technical performance but I like the zero 2 more in terms of overall sound. And for $5 more you can get the 7Hz G1 which is better than both 7Hz Zero (2.5) - a bit too bright, zero 2 is better 7Hz Zero 2 (3) - average soundstage, decent imaging, below average sound separation. Best $20 iem imo, better options as you continue to go up in price 7Hz G1 (4.5) - a Klean but cheaper with a more fun v-shaped sound signature, get this if you're on a budget 7Hz Sonus (4.5) - the most underrated iem for gaming, great imaging and great soundstage but average sound separation. EW300 is a bit better cuz it has better sound separation Kiwi Ears Canta (3.5) - a bit too bright for most people, good imaging, okay soundstage, below average sound separation Kiwi Ears Quartet (4) - best soundstage imo, super comfy fit, imaging is okay and sound separation is average Kefine Klean (4.5) - a better Delci, better sound separation and arguably better sound signature imo Kefine Delci (4) - good soundstage and imaging, slightly above average sound separation Simgot EW300 (4.5) - nearly endgame but still needs better sound separation. Simgot EM6L (5) - endgame, great soundstage, great imaging, great sound separation. Can't recommend it due to it's nozzle QC issues. Otherwise I probably wouldn't use any other IEM for gaming but this Simgot Supermix 4 (3.5) - not endgame. Might get some hate for this but I was really not impressed by this iem for gaming. It had a narrow soundstage and okay imaging, good sound separation tho. EM6L is way better Other IEMs I am planning to review: ND Planet, Tangzu Waner 2, KZ EDC Pro, Truthear Zero 2 Blue, and Kiwi Ears Airoso Note - in the end I recommend the 7Hz G1, 7Hz Sonus and EW300. The DT 900 Pro X and 770 Pro X are my reference headphones for directional audio for competitive fps games. Those headphones essentially make me feel like I have wall hacks and the iems perform 85-90% as good. The best was definitely the EM6L where I felt nearly no difference in performance with my headphones but I can't recommend it because of the nozzle QC issue. It is an easy fix by super gluing it back on but that shouldn't even happen for an iem worth $110 in the first place. With that being said I will still review iems (and headphones) above and below the respective prices but I feel that you will be perfectly happy with the performance of the iems I recommended. Side Note: I'm currently in the process of building a website with the best gaming peripheral recommendations which includes not only iems but headphones, keyboards, mice, monitors, even pro controllers and more. Hope you all have a blessed day and find this helpful in your purchasing decision!

since youll be wearing it for longer hours, trust me, you need an iem which fits flush with your ear(like truthear gate), or has a small form factor (like Blon BL-03). Most of the offerings from kz, cca, and even tangzu have big shells which after sometime may hurt. My first iem was Salnotes Zero. Had such a pointy shape it started hurting after 15mins of use. Even tho i liked its sound, i had to return it. I say buy Truthear Gate, and a dac like KZ AM-01(i daily drive). Gate has a sound which you can listen to for hours, and it sits flush with my ear (my ears are big). Soo yea, try them out. One can always eq with wavelet to get a different sound signature, since eq is the only thing we budget sound enthusiasts got. Money? no bueno.

I have the gate and its very good. Comfortable, lightweight, sounds fantastic. The gate provides a decent amount of boost in bass and treble region making it an overall balanced tuning. Any more bass or treble will make its sound signature unbalanced. Chu 1 and zero og were both balanced and in their subsequent release they just went with the typical V. I would say that the sound of gate is closer to chu 1 or the zero og with a more controlled treble so that it is not fatiguing.

If you can't audition them, I would recommend the reds for their neutral sound signature and slight bass boost. Very versatile set. The hexas I feel are more fun with a tighter bass and the wan'er are more vocal forward. If you NEED the mic, the wan'er comes with a mic option. The Truthear gate is also a strong competitor for the wan'er. I think the wan'er edges in quality but the gate has the more comfortable cable imo. I currently am dailying the ZeroReds with the Gate cables. Caveat: the Reds have a HUGE 7mm nozzle. Leads to poor seals and general discomfort for alot of people. I have huge ear holes so it's not a prob.

Budget IEMs are perfect for handhelds. My favorite comes with a great cable, tips, pouch, and sounds amazing. It rivals my Moondrop Aria but is more comfortable because of its light weight and much cheaper.

I’m really curious now after loving the Gate. Maybe if I sell off my Aria I’ll give it a try.

They have a very similar sound signature which I like. The Gate’s predecessor (Hola) was seen as a budget Aria. I’ve got a headphone splitter coming so I’ll do some better A/B testing with that. I could see myself selling off the Aria because I definitely prefer the lighter weight of the Gate. It’s also the clear price-performance winner between the two.

Gate is a great IEM. The only downside is that Hola came first

Hey, I've owned the chu 2, zero:2 and truthear gate. I'd say gate sounds the best and has the best accessories. Chu 2 and zero:2 are quite similar but chu 2 wind out slightly depending on your tuning preference. Zero:2 sounds quite congested compared to the gate, and the included cable and tips are quite bad. My own chu 2 has unfortunately got channel imbalance issues after about 2-3 weeks of use so they've just been sitting in a box 🥲

I'm also a first time buyer a few days back and I bought the Truthear Gate. I have listened to OG zero before. The Gate is a little better than them in treble and bass. I'm really enjoying their details. But, as other comments suggest, if you are into vocals - go for Wan'er and if you are into bass, go for the castor bass version. The Gate can be called as an all-rounder for me.

Waner is better for vocals, gate is kind of all rounder, not too much not too less. Depending on the types of songs you hear more, your choice can vary. You can always eq though (unpopular opinion,but yeah as long as you feel good everything works )

It is sensitive, I consider it quite loud enough at 30% from laptop (inbuilt dac) and around 50% from my realme 6(inbuilt dac). Yes this won't be the same for you but the gate's are quite sensitive too.

The rate of diminishing returns has increased the last few years. Way better in average, but budget has been revolutionary jumps versus incremental at the higher end. $20 IEM - Truthear Gate $50 IEM - Truthear X Crinacle Red $140 Closed - Hifiman Sundara Closed Back $200 Open - Sennheiser HD6X0 lineup $230 Closed - Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X Those are my general value recommendations. Beyond the Hd650 I think is less value and someone should have a baseline idea of what they personally want to change or improve.

(amongst the iems have I owned) s tier: kiwi ears ke 4 and truthear hexa a+ tier: Ikko OH10, Pula PA02, Shuoer s12 pro, Sennheiser ie200, Kefine Delci, Dunu Titan S OG a tier: Dunu Titan s2, Tanchjim One, pre revision CCA CRA+ A- tier: Binary Chopin, Tangzu Waner Studio, KZ PR2 pre revision, Tripowin Olina SE B+ tier: Kiwi Ears Quintet, Tangzu Xuan Ji, Simgot EW 200, Truthear Gate and Hola, Tangzu Wan'er SG B tier: Moondrop Chu 2 and OG, KZ EDA Balanced, Kiwi Ears Quartet, Moondrop Aria Snow, FiiO Jade Audio JH3, Tripowin Lea B- tier: 7hz zero OG, Truthear Zero Blue, Whizzer BS1 C tier: KZ CRN D tier: Moondrop Quarks honorable mentions: Koss KSC75 in A minus, Porta Pro in B, Moondrop Space Travel in B-, Galaxy Buds Plus and 2 in A minus along with Airpods Pro Gen 1, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in A plus.

The chu 2 are worth it yes. They will outperform basically any gaming headphone (hyperx, razer, corsair etc) in basically every aspect. They are also 20 dollars, they and their competition (truthear hola/gate, 7hz salnotes zero 2, wan er) are all extremely good for the price, and you likely wont be finding headphones that outperform them under 100 dollars let alone gaming headsets (ive heard ok things about the astro line, and the sennheiser one with a mic) might not even outperform them period. Also they wont affect your performance in games. I play to the same level weather i'm using a pair of apple earbuds, or my hifiman susvaras, and so do many many others. Buy Iems for how good you think they will sound for your music and the rest will come with it. As a gamer the only thing that might help is soundstage but even then, not enough to make you play any better than you already do. You can utilize sound information with literally any pair of headphones/iems to basically the same degree). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOYRu6q8qJ4&t=112s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOYRu6q8qJ4&t=112s)