A good introduction creates a stable and sometimes a great ending, while others are caught up and are invested with making sure that their brand barges into the audiophile scene with a good introduction, there are also some that just doesn’t care or its not just a priority or maybe they don’t need it in the first place. Such is the deal with Tri, a new player in the already crowded Chi-Fi IEM game and with not much information to the brand, we could all just rely on their debut IEM to decide if we steer towards it or away from it.

Tri’s debut IEM, the i4 was sent in by Tri in exchange for an honest take on it and no monetary factors are involved. The i4 comes in at a price point of $69 which positions itself in a way that could make way for a dual approach for Tri to either push towards the $100 tier or go on the low based on how the i4 performs. You can head out to the KBEar AliExpress store to check out the Tri i4 since KBEar is a sister brand and both share the same storefront.

The Tri i4 is a single Balanced Armature and single Dynamic hybrid driver IEM and is spec’d out with a 20Hz to 40 kHz Frequency Response, 103dB/MW Sensitivity and 12 Ohm Impedance. There’s not much to draw as an introduction for the Tri i4 and for a newcomer brand in a any field of hobby and business, that’s already a tough task to break. Let’s see if this makes it or breaks it.

Packaging and Build Quality

I was seriously expecting the Tri i4 to come in mediocre packaging so when it came in a rather decent and presentable box. Protection is present in the form of foam cutouts where the i4 sits and an assortment of accessories are also included, here’s a full list:

• Brown velvet button-type carrying case with the Tri-dent logo
• Brown Velcro cable organizer
• 1 pair black foam ear tips
• 3 pairs black wide-bore silicone ear tips (S, M and L)
• 3 pairs translucent gray with green narrow-bore ear tips (S, M and L)

This specific list of accessories is making a great first impression for the value of money that Tri aims the i4 to have.

The i4 IEM itself comes in only 2 colors; blue and brown. I was able to pick my own color and I went with the brown to match the brown velvet case that the i4 ships with. The i4 IEM has an all metal shell mainly made of aluminum alloy and it indeed feels premium with due to its mirror and smooth finish while still being able to create a brushed metal look. Two vents are present on the i4 to satisfy the dynamic driver and the Tri-dent logo is dead center on the faceplate with the nozzle protruding off the metal body with a well-defined lip making for an easy ear tip rolling experience.

The stock cable that comes with the i4 is a 4-core OFC sheathed in black and isn’t braided but instead uses traditional cable twisting. The tension on the twists are great since it allows for the twists to stay and place while still being resistant enough to retain folds. The sheathing material also feels clean to the hand and doesn’t get a bit sticky or slippery unlike other Chi-Fi black rubberized cables. The MMCX connectors are housed in the same black sheath and has L-R marking respectively. The Y-split and the chin slider is flushed and almost creates a seamless feel along the cable length. The right-angled gold-plated 3.5mm jack has great strain relief and the addition of the Velcro cable organizer made it a great stock cable overall. Microphonic noise is once again kept at a minimum even when used excessively on the go.

Tonality and Isolation

The Tri i4 doesn’t shy away from being a warm sounding set and embraces its signature as well as the user that it serves. It is this very aspect of the i4 that allows it to stay on most ears especially at the earlier stages of owning it but the rather easy sounding lows and highs also makes one to reach out for a more bass or treble emphasized IEM. The Tri i4 was tested using the included translucent gray with green narrow-bore ear tips (M) as well as the Sony WM1a music player and the Sony CAS-1 off an MSI GF62-8RE laptop using Foobar2000 v1.4.6 outputting various FLAC files which would be mentioned along the realview.

Lows

The Tri i4 handles the low-end with ease and with “time”. Depeche Mode’s No More (This is the Last Time) in 16/44 FLAC was used and the i4 gives the track much more emotion with how it complements the slow-paced bass hits. Sub bass is rendered thick with a slow decay. Mid bass is done tight and weighty but also less punchy than I would have preferred it to be. The overall bass performance came out full-bodied and robust but don’t expect the i4 to cater to your nimble bass cravings as this isn’t going to take being agile with the low-end seriously.

Midrange

In typical warm sounding signature fashion, the Tri i4’s midrange has no choice but to blend well with the low-end. Bruno Mars came on serenading with his Versace on the Floor in 16/44 FLAC to test out the i4’s midrange abilities. The lower midrange was done full and smoothly. The vocal range of Bruno was clearly evident and gave out a slightly distant-sounding lower midrange. The upper midrange isn’t boosted nor lively, there is no extension to be observed. The i4’s midrange is all about being serene and calm, it doesn’t engage and push the instruments in your face and would be an easy recommendation to those looking for a low-key cozy session with your favorite tracks.

Highs

The higher frequency performance of the i4 keeps things in check in terms of adhering to the warm signature that the IEM wants to maintain overall. The treble has no extension and in turn also shows no signs of harshness and sibilance. Maroon 5’s Harder to Breathe in 16/44 FLAC gave clean treble hits with great snap to them, enough to make them pop out a bit. Great clarity is present and is taken into account this time around for the i4.

Soundstage and Imaging

The i4 gives out an intimate soundstage. Left to right and right to left panning isn’t that observable and makes the imaging to appear center at most times. Layering is however more distinct and gives the i4 a much needed kick in the soundstage department to allow it to create a good separation ability despite the fact that instruments aren’t that great in the width aspect. The flushed shell helps greatly with the soundstage and once again, selecting the best sized ear tips will immensely help the i4’s soundstage performance.

Conclusion

The Tri brand is showing good direction based on the i4 alone and for a brand that is literally just starting, that’s a promising sign. The choice of adding an attractive velvet carrying case and finally some decent stock ear tips is noteworthy too, it seems that this aspects that often haunt Chi-Fi IEMs are looking like a thing of the past. The comfort level of the i4 is also one of its strengths and gives it a fighting chance especially when one is considering multiple options. The i4’s sound also shows a good foundation to work on, a warm sound with clear vocals and a relaxed but enjoyable treble makes it a thumbs up IEM. So what’s wrong with the i4? None, maybe the number of IEMs that you already own might be one.