After being active in the audiophile scene, Truthear has been rather consistent with their releases and kept their promise in producing low priced, high performance products. In 2022 they have decided that it’s time to give it a try on a higher level specification of a single dynamic driver along with 4 balanced armature in a more premium package with the Truthear Nova. With their experience with Moondrop, hopes are running high on the Nova as their previous products have been a banger such as the Zeros, Hola and Hexa. How will there fare in this mid range segment coming into 2025? We shall find out here.
But first a big shout-out to Susan from Red Ape Headphones Store for providing this sample for us to have an honest take. Do check them out for a plethora of audio products with great prices.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Truthear Nova;
- Driver Configuration: 1DD + 4BA
- Diaphragm Material: PU + LCP
- Shell; 3D DLP by HerGears
- THD: THD@1kHz<1% (94dB)
- Sensitivity: 123dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
- Impedance: 14.8Ω±15% (@1kHz)
- FR Range: 8Hz-40kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
- Effective FR Range: 20Hz-20kHz (EC 60318-4, -3dB)
- Cable Material: 4-Strand (448-Core) OCC
The Truthear Nova can be purchased in store, on their website as well various platforms like shopee and Lazada. They are the official reseller of the Truthear brand and many more.
https://s.lazada.com.my/s.m414V
Packaging & Accessories
Truthear has been known not to emphasise on their packaging but the Nova have seen an upgrade in their packaging showcasing a premium package with a high quality accessories worthy of a flagship status. It is still simple but very premium and their waifu theme remains as usual. The packaging includes 6 pairs of eartips where 3 silicone eartips, 2 dual flanges and 1 foam eartips are included. It also has a beautiful fabric 4 core cable, a gorgeous PU leather semi hard case, some paperworks, the usual Shiroi picture and the IEM itself. Nicely packaged and no complaints here.
Design
The design here is a fully medical grade resin DLP 3D printed with collaboration with HeyGears as all of their products do. It is now a smooth, glossy resin in solid black and a crystal blue wave faceplate. Beautifully designed faceplate with a high quality finish on the overall body. The shell is slightly big but isn’t a problem for me and they have a good ergonomic fit with a good passive isolation.
Under the hood of the Nova is packed with 5 drivers a side with a 10mm single liquid crystal dome + polyurethane diaphragm, dual cavity dynamic driver for their lows, 2 customised armature for mids-highs and 2 more armature for the high range. There is a 3 way passive RC crossover tuned and tuned with a professional Harman 2013 with characteristic tuning producing a warmer, smoother sound.
The nozzle here is a slightly large diameter with 6mm maximum width and they have a good length with a lip in the middle. There are 3 bores at the tip which corresponds to their 3 way crossover.
The 0.78mm is a slightly recessed pin similar to the other Truthear and Moondrop products and they are slightly tight which is great. The vent or should I say vents, is situated right under the 0.78mm pin and they have 4 small holes for the dynamic driver to have some breathing room. No driver flex is present which indicates it is well vented.
Cable here is a 4 core (4 x 112 strands) OCC cable in black and blue 1.4 metres long. It is luxuriously made as it is soft, well braided and flexible. The cotton used is of a high quality one as they are smooth and soft to the touch. Sadly, they only came in 1 termination which is in 3.5mm single ended. Soundwise they are decent with good detail and clarity with a slight emphasis on the lower end.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby FC6
FiiO BTR7
Hidizs S8 Pro Robin
Dunu Luna
Dunu EST112
Moondrop A8
Intime Sho DD
Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro
Rose Technics QT9s Mk2
Truthear Hexa
Intime Sho DD
Letshuoer S15
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone here is balanced very well with a Harman tuning that is somewhat safe but has some boost in the lower with a smoother, extended highs. It has a smooth sound signature that is easy to listen to with good details all around with a decent clarity. Dynamic range here is wide with an extended low and highs typical of a hybrid setup. They have a near field sound that projects sound straight into the ears as opposed to dispersing the sound and this increases intimacy but loses wideness in their sound signature. Their overall technicalities with great transparent and resolving sound is decent but in this price range it is quite competitive.
Soundstage
This is where it gets tricky as the Nova possesses a decent soundstage but due to their tuning of a forwarded midrange and a near field sound, the soundstage may come as somewhat narrow. Though with a perceived narrow soundstage, it still manages to sound airy with no boxy headroom present. The Nova does have a good seal with a good passive isolation but it lacks openness and it may cause some music to sound a little too compact but only a tad bit.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is good on Nova and they are a well tuned hybrid IEM that has good cohesion with all the drivers working with gaps present. Crosstalk here has no major issues with the left and right sound well presented in a good stereo manner and I do feel a balanced setup which will bring this Nova a step higher. As for timbre, it is smooth, musical and intimate with a great bass amount along with an extended sub-bass that gives a big bass in size but not overly powerful. Highs timbre here is slightly polite and does sound inoffensive yet present but it does have some instances of a metallic sheen that is typical of a balanced armature.
Drivability
Rated at 14.8 ohms with a 123 db sensitivity, they are relatively easy to drive though need some extra juice than normal to have a better dynamics and wider sound. As for amount of volume, they do have adequate loudness on whichever output you plugged it to but a good source matching is important here as a bright source may incur some shout in their upper midrange. A warm source like AKM or Cirrus Logic based setup will suit better as well as a more balanced setup will increase their dynamic range. They do scale up with better sources but only in a small margin but they are forgiving in nature as they do show minor flaws in badly mastered recordings but they do sound better with high bit rates tracks which can be great for critical listeners as well as casual users. They are quite a sensitive IEM and can pick up noise from noisy sources so an addition of an impedance adapter can be used for these situations.
The Bass (Low)
The bass here is where I do think the Nova forte is as they have a well balanced, slightly boosted bass that has the authority along with great airy extension. The bass is big in their size but has an adequate amount to not sound overpowering and they don’t bleed into the midrange. Amount of details here is great with an average clarity as they do have a mild boominess that give a slightly loose bass that possesses a great reverb. There is some mid bass lift here that gives a good energy and body to the bass and they are able to give music some bite in the lower end for a more fun listening. Resolution here is great as they are vivid and well textured along with a great natural transparency. Sub-bass here is amazing as it dives deep with a solid and clear rumble with a well controlled amount that suits most genres. The bass here might suit light bassheads but isn’t adequate for those hardcore bassheads as they are just a mildly boosted bass.
The Mids
Midrange here is a forward mids with a warm sound that is neutral while leaning towards the upper midrange to give it a slightly bright sound. It has a good thickness and along with their forward sound, they are an intimate, lush and sweet midrange but they lack a spacious mids thus it gives the soundstage a narrowed effect. The amount of details here is superb and they excel more towards the macro details and with a rather average micro details retrieval capabilities. Clarity here is above average with a great resolving sound while having a minor coloration in their overall sound. Transparency here is also great with an accurate and natural sound giving an unaltered sound though with the minor coloration. The mids here does have a focus leaning towards the high range and with certain tracks they may display some shout that hinders their smoothness marginally. Vocals here are mediocre as they tend to sound a little too intimate but they do possess a good upper end brilliance that contributes to a lively sound. Instrumentals on the other hand sounded great with a clean, clear and accurate sound especially with strings with adequate amount of air.
The Highs
The high range has a neutral presentation with a good extended range that possesses a good amount of air and they do have a slow roll off giving a good decay. Their amount here is actually just right for being smooth while having a good bite for a lively yet inoffensive sound apart from the upper midrange. Detail retrieving capabilities are great with high range nuances well displayed with great smoothness. Clarity here is superb as typical of a balanced armature performance but they do display instances of metallic timbre that causes some high staccato to sound a tad bit unnatural and with a mediocre transparency. Resolution here is great with a vivid, sharp sound that has a crisp sparkle. Treble here is balanced with slightly low treble that gives a good amount of clarity without any major harshness.
Comparisons
VS Truthear Hexa
The legendary Harman tuned Hexa and the Nova is the direct successor and a good success indeed as they are a true upgrade in almost all ways but cost twice the amount of Hexa. I do think that even with the price jump, Nova is still a good direct upgrade in terms of the overall performance of a more fun Harman tuned IEM with a higher end package. Both have amazing builds but the Nova does feel more solid for their fully resin build.
High range on both is similar but the Nova does sound smoother with better extension while the Hexa does sound a little more polite. Details and clarity on the Nova is better but the Hexa does possess better timbre as their BA timbre is more controlled.
Midranges on the Hexa aren’t as forward and they do have better space but the Nova does sound thicker, more resolving and slightly clearer. Vocals on the Hexa have better intimacy and do sound lusher while Hexa vocals sounded more natural but aren’t as lush. Hexa instrumentals presentation is better with a livelier sound.
Bass quantity on the Nova is bigger and deeper along with a better extended sub-bass response versus the leaner bass of the Hexa. Details and clarity are on par with each other but I do find the bass on the Hexa rolls off a little too quickly and the sub-bass is polite.
Soundstage on the Nova does sound wider and taller but only marginally but spatial audio is better on the Hexa for their less forward midrange.
VS Rose Technics QT9s MK2
The Rose Technics QT9s MK2 is one of my favourites when it comes to a hybrid setup for their amazing V shaped sound that is energetic with great technicalities. They are a similar setup of 4 balanced armatures with a single dynamic driver and priced similarly as the QT9s MK2 price has dropped since the MK3 has been released. Fit on the QT9s MK2 is better for their smaller shell but build quality on the Nova is better.
Highs on the QT9s MK2 has a stronger highs that has more presence than the smoother Nova. QT9s MK2 has a crisper and has a more evident sparkle but it is more fatiguing in the long run. Details and clarity are on par with each other but Nova does have better air and texture. Highs on the Nova sound smoother and they have better extension. Timbre on both is similar with energetic, piercy highs but with some minor BA timbre.
The Midrange of the Nova has better clarity and details with a forward midrange while the QT9s MK2 has a more balanced midrange without any upper mids peak. Vocals on the QT9s MK2 do sound more natural but lack brilliance like on the Nova and the Nova does excel with their intimacy although not as spacious.
Bass on the QT9s MK2 has a tighter slam and they have a slightly bigger mid bass quantity but the Nova excels in the sub-bass region with a deeper reach sub. Bass texture is quite similar with a clean and clear bass on both sets. Clarity seems to be better here on the Nova in a small margin.
Soundstage is quite similar but due to the forward mids of the Nova, the perceived width in soundstage is better on the slightly recessed mids of the QT9s MK2.
Synergy
FiiO Q7
My go-to portable DAC/amplifier is the Q7 in test driving for almost all my gears. It is a transportable powerhouse when it comes to driving power and they are packed with all the features you will need making them a good DAC amp in terms of power and usability. They have superb neutral sound with a well controlled power for in-ears and can bring out a lot of details for some IEM. The Nova does need a slight amount of power and the Q7 does give a good sound refinement by providing a good overall improvement in their dynamics.
The bass the Q7 provides here is tighter, cleaner and clearer but with a slight amount added in the mid bass. Sub-bass does have a more clear rumble that increases the immersion. The bass resolution does sound more vivid and they have an airier bass that makes the bass more fun to listen to. Bass seems to sound cleaner by a small margin with a clearer impact.
Midrange has a more neutral, clearer sound and possesses better resolving capabilities along with slightly better detail retrieval. They are still a forward sound but have better transparency as they do sound more balanced with less upper mids peaks. Upper midrange does sound less shouty and smoother but marginally. There is some improvement in their spaciousness that gives a little more air. Vocals sounded slightly more accurate with the smoother upper mids.
High range has an extra presence and balanced armature timbre does decrease slightly with an airier presentation along with an extended response. There are some details added here with a more natural timbre with a touch of extra energy.
Soundstage is wider and taller with an accurate placement while increasing air.
Hiby FC06
The now legendary Hiby FC06 with Hiby signature Darwin R2R architecture inside a miniature audio dongle that is well received in the community. It has a decent amount of power and their organic, analogue sound is irresistible but it isn’t for those who seek a clinical sound. Driving power here is just nice and it gives the Nova a touch of character and reduces the upper mids peak.
Bass has a lift in the mid bass with added details and clarity along with an extended response. The bass does have a wider overall response that sounded more organic. Sub-bass depth remained mostly the same but it is clearer with a more controlled rumble mixing well with the midrange.
Midrange thickness remains and they are able to give a clearer sound while providing better transparency and resolution along with a reduction of upper mids peaks. Vocals sound more natural with a slightly more open sound.
High range sounds mostly the same but they do have a more natural sparkle. Treble is more organic with a slight reduction in their metallic timbre. Details seem to remain the same but they do sound clearer with slightly more refined highs and a slight increase in their extension.
Soundstage has increased in width and height and they do add some spaciousness.
Who Is It For?
The Nova is for those who want a flagship status IEM without breaking the bank. The sound quality here for a flagship is debatable but their overall refinement over the Hexa is undeniable with a well done bass, forward mids and smooth highs. It is suitable for treble sensitive folks as the overall sound is inoffensive apart from the mild upper mids peaks. It may suit light bassheads but not hardcore ones as the bass is done just right. It has great immersion and good accuracy that also makes it suitable for gaming and movies as well. It is not a true vocal performer but it is excellent for instrumentals and genres like EDM or Hip-hop. The Nova is suitable for an everyday carry IEM as it provides good isolation with an inoffensive yet fun sound signature.
Final words
So has Truthear created the best IEM in this price range even as we near 2025? I would say almost yes as they are actually a decently tuned IEM with a flagship aura but competition is tough and the Nova are up against stiff competitors. Though that being said, the Nova does provide excellent value for a hybrid IEM for their immersive, intimate yet accurate sound that doesn’t sound too boring in the vast sea of Harman tuned IEM. It has a premium unboxing experience that may rival flagship products and a well built IEM with collaboration with HeyGears, I do feel it may hold its place for a long time as one of the best in this price bracket. The caveats like too forwarded mids, slight upper mid peaks and a somewhat narrow soundstage is actually kinda minor and acceptable. A great job by Truthear’s team in producing reasonably priced products over the years and I can’t wait for what’s in store for them in 2025.
I would rate this product a 4 and half over 5 stars.
Pros
- Good overall technicalities
- Accurate Harman tuning
- Beautiful, solid built with great fit
- Good unboxing experience
- Nicely accessorised with beautiful cable and case
- High quality HeyGears 3D DLP body
- Wide dynamic range
- Good cohesion and separation
- Great overall details
- Accurate, immersive and bass
- Excellent sub-bass
- Engaging, forward midrange
- Smooth, inoffensive high range
- Airy overall sound
- Highly resolving sound
Cons
- Upper mids peak
- Narrow soundstage from forward mids
- High range lack crispness and energy
- Balanced armature metallic timbre
- Not clinical enough
- Harman tuned that might deter some
- Only available in 3.5mm single ended
