TRIPOWIN VIVACE: Vividly Tuned One

Vivace means “lively or vivacious” in Italian and this term is used in a musical composition in which indicates a brisk and animated tempo for well-articulated rhythms and more dynamic melodies.

It's been a long time since I did a review on a TRIPOWIN product, and it was almost 2 years since my last assessment of a product from them and now I finally got one after a long time. What we have here is their latest entry-level, single driver IEM and it will be priced around US$30/£24 which makes it probably its strongest point in terms of price-to-performance ratio.

This is TRIPOWIN VIVACE and this one is a collaboration with 0diBi, an audio reviewer from South Korea and he also has his own YouTube channel. I'm quite used to reading his works as I used to visit his blog for a long time to check some new portable audio stuff as I think that he is very knowledgeable on audio stuff, he might be a real audio professional on how he conveys his ideas about audio technologies and its principle.

This set sports a 10mm dynamic driver with titanium-coating on its PET diaphragm which will strengthen, stabilised with some added anti-oxidation and anti-corrossive properties for better response in which delivers a crisp, fast and vivid sound. And then, the driver was encased in a compact-size shell chassis with a composite materials consisting of a polycarbonate plastic cavity base with a rather short nozzle and a laminated thin metal alloy faceplate with different prints and logo on each side of the channel.

The earpieces utilise a proven design interlocking mechanism, the bi-pin connector of a 0.78mm design which is more stable, durable and easy for detaching/attaching connectivity with its detachable cable. The included stock is quite good for its price point as it is constructed from a braided 4-core monocrystalline copper cable with a rubbery-like surface of its outer layer insulation coating with a 3.5mm termination plug on its end and there's a not a hint of microphonics on it but its on stiffer side in terms of flexibility.

In terms of fitting and comfort, the VIVACE offers decent comfort but due to its short nozzle, fitting might be challenging on this one as it doesn't give that proper sealing that is able to block some external noises from the outside.

The product packaging is rather minimalist as it has a small packaging box with some pictures and prints on its box sleeves. The inclusions that we can find inside are rather elementary in quantity with some usual content for listening usage.

The following contents inside of its packaging box:

• Pair of TRIPOWIN VIVACE IEM earphone transducers.
• Stock cable
• 3 pairs of balanced bore silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• 3 pairs of narrow bore silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• Instruction manual

This set is very responsive on power scaling as it is sensitive enough that it can be driven by sources with decent power output. A normal gain power output is optimal for this device to sound dynamic and fuller across its frequency range.

The VIVACE appears to have a U-shaped sound profile with a balanced-warmish tonality on it that makes it more vibrant and engaging to listen due to that noticeable emphasis on lows and highs.

LOWS/BASS:

While it appears that its more of a sub bass-focus on its overall bass quality, its mid bass is rather balanced with some adequate texture on them. Therefore, it gives a precise, rumbly and a bit tighter sound on its overall bass responses.

The sub bass presence on this one is clearly felt on this one as it really reverberates and grumble that were generated by certain instruments like synthesisers, drum machines and also, from low tone bass guitars and double-basses. The mid bass texture of this one is relatively ample as it delivers a sufficient fullness on its note weight to some bass-clef instruments and deep male vocals. Bass guitars has a clear and sonorous sound while double-basses have a bit fuller and resonant sound, and then bass kick drums sound rumbly yet sustaining. On male vocals, while basses and bass-baritones have a deep and resonating sound but they have less dark timbre and less rich sound on their voices but at least it has some warmth on them.

MIDRANGE:

The midrange presentation of this one is a noticeable a bit scooped on the entirety of its frequency range but the good thing that it sound too lean as it has a balanced texture on its note weight that makes it somehow an all-rounder for vocals and instruments to sound more organic with some smoothness, warmth and vivid.

On male vocals, a smooth and enough warmness on baritones, a clear and ringing sound on tenors, and then, a tender and emotive voice from countertenors. As for female vocals, a rich and plush sound from chesty vocals of the contraltos, fiery yet velvety on mezzo-sopranos, and then, a sweet and gleaming sound on soprano vocals.

Regarding instruments, the brasses like trumpets, trombones and horns, they sound rounded, brassy and velvety. Meanwhile, the woodwinds such as concert flutes, piccolos, clarinets and saxophones on how they sound correspondingly, have these, graceful,  clear, lustrous and reedy sound characteristics from them. On the percussive instruments, snare drums sound precise, tom-toms sound warm and resonant, field drums have a sonorous sound and kettledrums have a velvety sound. Pianos, The string ones with the likes of guitars, cellos and violin, a crisp sound on guitars while the cellos have a cantabile and resonant sound, and then violins have vibrant sound on every motion on its bowstring.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of this one is on the smooth and a balanced side of tuning. As I don't consider it as dark tuning, with just an enough emphasis on the upper-mids up to the presence section of the treble region. It lacks that shimmering and brilliance factor that will satisfy the ears to majority of treble-loving audio enthusiasm but its laid-back characteristic will assure an absence of sibilance, shrill and stridency.

Evidently that this set seems to deliver a rather modest amount of airy extension and less intense sparkle on its brilliance part of the treble region. Cymbals have a lustrous sound, hi-hats have a short buzz sound, glockenspiels have a bell-like sound and celestas sound sweet and soft.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Definitely that Vivace is not on the widest side of a perceived sound/speaker dimension as it only has an average lateral span but it has a good depth and height on it. Its imaging capabilities projects a two-dimensional stereo presentation where I was able to pan out certain positioning of vocals and instruments in a rather two-layered soundscape with some decent separation on them.

Coherency is quite impressive on this one as it performed a non-distorting, fast transient response that these dynamic drivers are capable of. As for resolution capabilities, it has a more strong emphasis on macro-dynamics than micro-detail retrieval as former shows more solid on exhibit the varieties of volume loudness on certain instruments and vocals from soft to loud levels while the latter aspect appears to be less sharp on highlighting some nuances and subtleties from a sonic background on an audio track

 PEER COMPARISONS:

TANGZU WAN'ER S. G. STUDIO EDITION

• WAN'ER's latest reiteration with some improvements of its tuning as it still has a single driver set-up with a 10mm dynamic driver with PET diaphragm.
• Shells are made of polycarbonate plastic with a QDC-type bi-pin connector.
• It has a similar amount of inclusions but its product packaging is more presentable.
• Compared to VIVACE, this set has a more neutral sound as it has a tighter bass response along a neutral and transparent midrange with just a tad of brighter treble response.
• On technical capabilities, it has a bit wider sound/speaker stage, a concave-like stereo presentation and a tad more resolving on micro-dynamics.

7HZ G1

• Another competitor of the VIVACE as it also has a dynamic driver configuration with a DLC-coating of its diaphragm.
• Unlike the VIVACE, the shell chassis is made of a metal alloy material.
• Apparently, it has more accessories like more choices of ear tips and a carrying case.
• This one has a U-shaped sound profile that is more sub bass-focused on its bass quality, a leaner and an energetic midrange, and then a brighter treble response that makes this one also a coloured sounding.
• On its technical performance, while it presents a middling sound/speaker stage presentation,its layering and separation is quite impressive for a single DD set-up IEM with a good micro-detail retrieval capabilities.

SIGVA QUE

• Another single driver IEM and it uses a beryllium-coated diaphragm on its dynamic driver.
• It uses a composite material on its shell structure, a wood panel on its faceplate and a metal alloy on its cavity base.
• This one is pretty well-accessorised and it also has better quality stock cable and a solid carrying case.
• The QUE has a U-shaped balanced-warmish sound profile as it has a well-balanced bass response, a warm yet energetic midrange and a tad bright and airy treble response.
• Technicality-wise, this set has a moderately spacious sound/speaker stage with concave-like stereo imaging presentation with some decent layering and separation of elements on its soundscape, and for a single DD set, this one is quite resolving in both macro-dynamics and micro-detail retrieval capability.

To sum up this product review, I conclude that the VIVACE is probably one of the TRIPOWIN's best released sets in the entry-level segment as this one is quite well-tuned for a coloured sounding set. It has a good build quality yet lightweight, an acceptable quality of its stock cable and a pleasant tuning that makes it an all-rounder sounding. And also, this one will also put a good mark on 0DIBI's reputation for his take on audio tuning quality in the audio enthusiast world.

TRIPOWIN VIVACE is now available on LINSOUL, check out the non-affiliated link that I've provided below.

LINK: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tripowin-x-0dibi-vivace

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: TRIPOWIN VIVACE

IMPEDANCE: 18.3Ω

SENSITIVITY: 92dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20kHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m

PIN TYPE: 0.78 2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S):  (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER

PROS:

● Lightweight composite shell chassis and it offers comfortable wear.

● Good stock cable for its price point.

● Two (2) choices of ear tips to choose from.

● Easy to drive as it scales well even to decent sources.

● Agreeable coloured tonality for casual and novice audio enthusiasts.

● Quite a balanced sounding bass response,  with a rumbly, punchy and precise sound on them.

● Sufficiently warm and smooth midrange presentation.

● Lush, rich and dense sounding for tracking specific vocal types like, bass, bass-baritones, baritones and contraltos

● Smooth and balanced treble response.

● Good driver coherency.

● Affordable price for its performance.

CONS:

● Still not that most authoritative bass quality for adherent bass heads.

● Recessed midrange presentation.

● Inadequate treble air extension.

● Less impressive technical capabilities.

● No carrying case for storage.

● There are some competing sets at similar ranges that offer a better stock cable.

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 *

Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *

Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*

Type O Negative - Black No.1 *

Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **

Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *

Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to TRIPOWIN nor receive any 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 send my gratitude to Ms. Kaitlyn Wu of LINSOUL AUDIO for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her  generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.