TRIPOWIN RHOMBUS: A PECULIARITY

Oi! mates, welcome to my new review article, I will talk about the current product release by TRIPOWIN, The TRIPOWIN Rhombus.

Tripowin is an audio company based on China with a respectable reputation to the audio community due its uncompromising quality of their products since 2020. They are also known for their good quality products like IEMs and cables and a worthwile partnership with an audio reviewer who's quite very popular on YouTube, Hawaiian Bad Boy. To be honest, The first Tripowin product that I've encountered was the TC01, and it leaves me unimpressed with its tonal quality.

With its successive products like the Mele and The Olina, TRIPOWIN release the TRIPOWIN Rhombus along with the TRIPOWIN Cencible.

TRIPOWIN Rhombus is made of CNC-milled aluminium alloy in a polygon shape form factor. It is of a hybrid driver set-up consists of imported 10mm liquid crystal polymer film layered with polyurethane composite and a balanced armature driver from premium audio solution, Knowles. The dynamic driver supposedly handles the lows and mids to deliver a precise, detail and responsive sound while the Knowles balanced armature driver (Knowles 33518) responsible for treble frequency. The shell chassis of Rhombus feels really solid that I have confidence in its structural integrity.

It also uses a proven 2-pin connector for ease of doing cable swapping and stronger, more stable contact. As for its wearability, Rhombus seems to have a comfortable and resting well in my lug holes that I don't encounter any issues like loose fitting and wobbling but its a tad hefty on the side.

When it comes to its packaging box, TRIPOWIN Rhombus' box has black rectangular box and its inclusion is decent enough as it includes basic accessories.

Here are the included accessories of TRIPOWIN Rhombus:

● TRIPOWIN Rhombus IEMs

● 3 pairs of white coloured ear tips of different standard sizes.

● 3 pairs of black coloured ear tipa of different standard sizes.

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

● Cable organiser strap.

● Black velvet IEM pouch.

● Instruction manual.

As for amplification rating, TRIPOWIN Rhombus is an easy to drive set that devices with decent output like smartphones and tables can power this IEM. But driving them in a very good power source with quality DAC/Amp will deliver the fullest potential to sound more dynamic sounding.

It seems that TRIPOWIN Rhombus has a mild V-shaped sound signature as it has a perceivable elevation on bass and treble section with a bit notch midrange. Tonality is more on a laid back and quite inoffensive tuning.

Here are some of my observations of its sound characteristics of each part of the frequency range spectrum.

LOWS/BASS:

The bass of this set has this light punchiness and a bit imprecise that it gives some smudges with its midrange that it gives me an impression of a bit muddy presentation. Sub bass is prominent in the bass region as it has an ample rumble into it whenever a sub bass-laden track needs it.

Midbass has a less textured body that it does really give an inadequate slam on some bass-focus instruments like bass guitars, bass kick drums and bass-baritone vocals. Bass guitar has lack of growl and grit that it sounds dull and hollow, bass kick has thatb lack of authority sounding that its a bit soft and hollow (again) in my liking, and as for bass-baritone vocals, it really sounds weak and less power that it lacks that depth and strong.

MIDRANGE:

It has a slight trough midrange quality that its a bit lean, a touch of warmth, smooth and transparent as it is more focused on female vocals rather than male ones. Due to its inherent lean tuning, it doesn't give a proper note weight on male vocals that it lacks authority and deep especially on the alto and tenor voices. Female vocals seems benefited on this one as it gives a decent range, space and projection as it has this feathery and calm presentation.

As for instruments, strings and woodwinds are even more distinguishable compared to some instruments, especially percussion ones. Guitars(acoustics ones) has this balanced to dry sound that gives an almost equal distribution on note ranges to strong fundamental tonal pitch. Violins has this austere and "flute-like" sound feeling that are quite pleasant to hear. Flutes have this graceful and airy sound on every press on its specific note key holes. Clarinets and bassoons sound more on a mellow and warmer side on tuning. Snare drums have this dry and clattering sound with field drums (tenor drums as my brother says) has this boomy and sombre sound. And last but not the least, the sound of a piano is a bit of uneven softness that gives a mellow tone.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble of this TRIPOWIN Rhombus is leaning towards into the side of dark sounding which is quite a double edge sword. You will expect a smooth upper mids to presence treble that doesn't have a hint of stridency nor sibilance due to subdued upper mid peaks but it's a bit dull in my liking due to lack of sparkle to give less definition on details.

As for treble air quantity, it is more of an average range that somehow gives an acceptable extension. Cymbals strikes seem to have that acceptable shimmer but surprisingly, it has a decent sizzle on it. Hi hats are properly depicted on its presentation on how it gives that distinct shortened "chicky" sound.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

On how I perceive and estimate the overall proportion of the presentation of its sound field, This set has an average-size both on width and height with a decent distance of depth from to and fro. Imaging on this one is rather two-dimensional and linear on how I was able to locate the positions of the vocals and instruments with sufficient gap and spacing with decent layering of its specific frequency and tone of each instrument and vocals but it doesn't complement well more complex, multi-instrument tracks.

As for resolution capabilities, it has satisfactory detail retrieval with good macro dynamics but it's more on dampened rather edgier definition.  Coherency of drivers is rather decent than superb as DD and Knowles BA doesn't perform that cohesion to give a more homogenous sound that affects the attack, speed and decay. The tonal colour of this set is quite uneven as they are neither  bright nor warm.

PEER COMPARISONS:

KBEAR Ormosia

● Both IEMs are comparable when it comes to build quality and implementation of drivers as they are both made of aluminium alloy but the differences are the shell design and implementation of pin connectors. While Rhombus follows a UIEM-style pattern, Ormosia rather follows a unique circular design that you can wear either an earbud or a typical IEM. Ormosia uses a MMCX-type of connector which might be problematic in a long run.

● Product packaging-wise, KBEAR Ormosia has a better presentation and it has plenty of inclusions of good quality while TRIPOWIN Rhombus is a bit more spartan. In regards to tonality, KBear Ormosia of a U-shaped sound signature which has matured tuning and sound more balanced compare to a more V-shaped Rhombus.

● As for technicalities, both devices are comparable but on soundstage, Ormosia has better soundstage width, better height and depth.

TKZK WAVE

● Wave is made of clear polycarbonate shell and it has similar driver set-up with the Rhombus.

● Wave is more U-shaped sounding which sounds more balanced compare to a more V-shaped Rhombus. Wave has a more texture and somehow more detail compare to the Rhombus but it has a hint sibilances and some harshness.

● Technicalities-wise, Wave is a bit better in almost all aspects of technical performances with the exception of coherency which I think Rhombus performs a bit better.

To put up my conclusion about the TRIPOWIN Rhombus, I'm applaud the development of TRIPOWIN products which to be honest that I'm not really impress and leave a bad impression on TC01 on how it sounded very mediocre and appalling. TRIPOWIN Rhombus is definitely a decent sounding IEM given of its price with an implementation of a premium Knowles balanced armature driver on its internals but given a more stiffer competition in the current state of audio market, TRIPOWIN Rhombus position is uncertain.

TRIPOWIN Rhombus is currently available and you can purchase it on LINSOUL, Click the link HERE if you are interested.

PROS:

△ Good quality IEM shell chassis as it made of aluminium alloy.

△ A unique-looking aesthetic shell design.

△ A premium Knowles balanced armature driver on its internals.

△ Decent included accesories.

△ Non-sibilant nor harshness.

CONS:

▽ Recess midrange.

▽ Sub-par technical performance.

▽ Inadequate amount of details.

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: TRIPOWIN RHOMBUS

IMPEDANCE: 30Ω

SENSITIVITY: 106dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  20Hz – 20KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M

PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (1) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS

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.