TRIPOWIN CENCIBEL: A SENSIBLE TUNING

Oi! And welcome to my another IEM review article and what I have here is another product from TRIPOWIN, The TRIPOWIN Cencibel.

Along with the Rhombus, Cencibel is one of the latest offerings from TRIPOWIN that aims more on the entry-level segment for budget-conscious audiophiles. Unlike the Rhombus, Cencibel is quite different on build quality, implementation of transducers and even on tonal aspect as I elaborate the contrasts between the devices in a thorough manner.

TRIPOWIN Cencibel's shells are made of medical resin moulded via 3D printing to achieve that versatile fitting to most ears and  also to give a better acoustic chamber performance with its driver to eliminate potential imbalances. Speaking in regards to its driver, it has a newer generation type of dynamic driver which has a 9.8mm nano carbon graphene diaphragm. This new type of driver can achieve the deeper sub bass response, a textured midrange and better detail retrieval. Like all TRIPOWIN products, it has a detachable 2-pin connector for ease on cable swapping or upgrading.

As for fitting and comfort, TRIPOWIN Cencibel inserts well into my lug holes without any issues due to the ergonomically designed and smooth contours outline on its shell. The stock cable of this unit is quite decent for its price, a black 4-core SPC wires  that were braided and then twisted.

Regarding its product packaging, TRIPOWIN Cencibel is quite decent when it comes to inclusions. It has a medium-size rectangular  black box with a simple print of the brand at the front.

The contents inside are the following:

● a pair of TRIPOWIN Cencibel IEMs

● a 4-core SPC black cable in 3.5mm termination plug.

● a black hard-bound zippered IEM case.

● Three (3) pairs of black ear tips of different standard sizes.

● Three (3) pairs of white ear tips of different standard sizes.

● Instruction manual.

When it comes to driveability, TRIPOWIN Cencibel can be amplified enough on decent sources such as smartphones and tablets but putting them in even better sources with good HiFi-grade DAC/Amps performs even better. Dedicated audio player and other audio equipment like desktop DAC/Amps will give a better dynamic range and volume output on this device.

The TRIPOWIN Cencibel's tonality is leaning towards being of a bright U-shaped sound signature. It has more elevated bass and treble with a neutral but textured midrange.

I'll do some explanation on its sound characteristics based on my observation from each frequency range spectrum.

LOWS/BASS:

The bass quality of TRIPOWIN Cencibel is very impressive as it has an impact, punchy and good depth. Sub bass has a substantial presence as I felt those rumble and reverberation everytime I play my favourite synthpop tracks with sub bass driven instruments.

Mid bass has a considerable amount of texture to give a good body on bass guitars, bass kicks and bass-baritone vocals. Bass guitars have a weighty and resonant sound to give more growl, a thudding and also resonant sound on a bass kicks then a more depth and sonorous quality on bass-baritone vocals. There are some slight bass bleeds that I've noticed but not to the point that it sounds smudgy to my listening experience.

MIDRANGE:

Midrange of this set is slightly notch in the overall frequency range but it has substantial warmth, tangible note weight and clean sound. Both vocals on either male or female, have a significant amount of body and details to sound not too lean though female vocals have some slight advantage due to the fact that they are presented more forward.  Female vocals sound more energetic and detail on how they have this hypnotic and provocative though I do encounter some shrill in higher vocal pitch that might sound a bit nasally.

And for instruments, it gives more emphasis on strings and brass. Guitars has this bright and crisp sound, violins have this bright and vibrant sounding, trumpets have this intense and metallic sound, horns also have this metallic to resounding one to give a more brassy vibe. Pianos seems on the vivid and bright tone and l almost forgot on the percussive side, it gives a dry, penetrating and yet crackling sound on snares.

HIGHS/TREBLE: 

As I mention on the shrilly part on the highest reach on female vocals, that noticeable emphasis and peaks on the upper mids register give me some intensity and instances of being shouty that will give some issues on some treble sensitives. But good thing it has a very minimal amount of sibilance which I can tolerate. It has clear and decent detail.

As for airiness, it has a very modest extension that gives a decent sizzle and shimmer on cymbals strikes and a correct sound depiction on hi-hats on what it gives that shortened chick sound.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Soundstage width seems to be in an average to above average size that gives me at least a decent headroom on how I perceive its spatial field, it has a decent height reach and a good depth position in between front and back.

Imaging is presented rather on typical two-dimensional stereo panning as I am able to locate the placement and positioning of instruments and vocals with decent layering of its specific frequency and acceptable separation and spacing of each element. But there are some evident points that a complex instrumental track will not perform very well that it sounds a tad muddled and hazy especially on an orchestral one.

Coherency of the driver performs fast enough and gives a very cohesive and homogenous sound to deliver a good attack, sustain and decay.

When it comes to resolution capabilities, TRIPOWIN Cencibel has a decent clarity with good detail retrieval with adequate macro-dynamics to give a solid resolution on it. Timbre on this one is a bit hard to determine as they are not warm nor bright that leaves me unimpressed.

PEER COMPARISONS:

TINHIFI T2 DLC

● While TRIPOWIN Cencibel have a moulded resin shell, T2 DLC shell chassis made of the aluminium alloy with its proven design that was reprised from the original T2. Both have single DD drivers but different materials (graphene diaphragm for Cencible, diamond-like carbon diaphragm on T2 DLC) and uses a 2-pin connector.

● As for tonality, both units have similar U-shaped sound signature but T2 DLC is a bit more balanced sounding, closer to neutral as it has a tighter bass, more transparent sounding and more air on treble response. Cencibel has more punchy bass, a bit recessed midrange, more noticeable upper mid peaks and just enough treble air.

● Technicality-wise, T2 DLC has slight better edge on this one as it has a wider soundstage and better separation but the rest seems similar to Cencibel as both of them have a slight difficulty on performance when it comes to more complex tracks.

TRIPOWIN TC01

● Both products have the same transducer set-up which uses single dynamic drivers, TC01 uses a polyurethane + silicone coated diaphragm. TC01 has an aluminium alloy shell chassis which is more sturdy. It has a short nozzle that gives me some fitting issues and not the best sealing for sound isolation.

● TC01 has a more V-shaped sound signature. It has craggy bass response, too much midbass that bleeds towards mids, leaner and less detailed midrange and unpolished treble register (more noticeable upper mids peaks and less airy treble).

● TC01 has a lesser technical performance compared to the Cencibel as it has narrower soundstage and ever more congested layering and subpar separation.

As I end my review here, it seems that TRIPOWIN is keeping further and constantly improving its product line-up given how I really have a very low opinion on their previous product, The TC01. I'm really impressed that TRIPOWIN takes some cues from the feedback of their previous products try to improve some of its shortcomings.

TRIPOWIN Cencibel is the testament of TRIPOWIN's striving for the development and refinement in their products. Although that there are some inadequacies on the Cencibel when it comes to tonality and technical performances but for its price offering, TRIPOWIN Cencible is an attractive proposition to purchase.

TRIPOWIN Cencibel is currently available in LINSOUL, you can check HERE if you are interested to purchase them.

PROS:

△ Attractive resin shell.

△ A large hard-bound zippered IEM case.

△ U-shaped sound signature that will be more versatile to almost musical genre.

△ Punchy bass response.

△ Ample textured midrange.

△ Decent soundstage width with good height and depth.

CONS:

▽ Not for treble sensitives due to some peaks on upper mids.

▽ Some instances of having a shouty and nasally female vocals.

▽ Uneven tonal colour.

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: TRIPOWIN CENCIBEL

IMPEDANCE: 30Ω

SENSITIVITY: 107dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  20Hz – 20KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to TRIPOWIN nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly. 

Once again, I would like to Ms. Kareena Tang of LINSOUL for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity towards me and other reviewers.