Intro
Well that didn’t take long! Immediately after Truthear launched the Zero, they came out with the Hexa. This time it’s a hybrid setup and the frequency response graph looks almost exactly like the Moondrop Blessing 2 – a $320 set of highly praised IEMs. Is the Hexa a baby Blessing 2 or something else in disguise? Let’s dive in.
Tech Specs
Driver Configuration: 10mm Dynamic Driver + 3 Balanced Armatures
Diaphragm Material: PU + LCP Composite
Sensitivity: 120dB/v @ 1kHz
Impedance: 20.5Ω土15% @1kHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz- 40kHz
Connector: 0.78mm 2 Pin
What’s in the Box?
In essence, the packaging is the same as the Truthear x Crinacle Zero but with a different anime girl (aka: waifu) on the front. The carrying pouch, cable, and eartips are the exact same as the Crinacle Zero as well. For information about those, read my Truthear x Crinacle Zero review as repeating this information seems redundant.
The design of the IEMs themselves are low-key and minimal. While the aluminum front of the Hexa has hard edges, the semi-transparent back is smooth and made from 3D printed DLP and medical grade resin. I really appreciate the minimal design language that’s not too fancy or shouty. While this is my personal preference, I think some IEM manufacturers could learn from the Hexa (7Hz Salnotes Dioko I’m looking right at you).
The bass, mids, and treble are all separated by tiny tubes coming from the drivers, terminating in the nozzle – something usually reserved for much more expensive IEMs, like the Blessing 2. This alone is incredibly impressive especially for the price of the Hexa being only $80.
Fit, Comfort, & Isolation
The size of the Hexa is small-to-average, especially considering that 4 drivers are stuffed in them. They are extremely comfortable when worn for multiple hours at a time. Also contributing to the great comfort level is the complete lack of weight – 4.8 grams per IEM.
While the nozzles don’t have a lip to keep the eartips securely on, I have yet to have an issue with them coming off in my ears. I think this is due to the fact that the back of the Hexa has a matte texture, which helps secure the eartips to the Hexa themselves. Overall, the Hexas are nicely made and have no sharp edges or pressure points. Isolation is average – they’re not super isolating but at the same time they’re not letting in all outside sound.
Sound
Overall
The overall sound signature of the Hexa is neutral with a slight sub bass emphasis. They sound effortless and very smooth. Timbre across the board is exceptionally natural – nothing sounds over or under emphasized. There is also a complete lack of plasticy or sharp balanced armature timbre, which is something that even much more expensive IEMs struggle with.
Bass
This style of bass tuning is different from mainstream over-emphasized bass. In fact, I find the bass tuning to be similar to the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko. The sub bass quickly glides into the mid bass and straight into the lower midrange. While the bass of the dynamic driver isn’t the fastest or most technical out there, it is perfectly acceptable and easy to listen to – it gets the job done!
Because the sub bass is emphasized, it delivers deep rumble and sounds bigger than it really is – especially in contrast to the neutral-style mid bass. The mid bass is slightly on the thin side and doesn’t have much punch or slam to it. Because of this, bass guitars and kick drums can sound a little weak and slightly pushed back into the mix. That’s not to say that they get overshadowed, they are less front and center, but still are easily heard. Again, the mid bass sounds more neutral than it does emphasized or lacking.
Mids
The Hexa’s tuning of the lower midrange is mostly neutral with only a hint of warmth from the easy, slow glide into the mid bass. Since this glide is very subtle, the upper bass does not bleed into the mid range and only contributes that hint of warmth.
Moving into the upper midrange, there is a slight recession or small notch in the pinna gain region (from 1.5kHz to 2.3kHz). While it looks minor, this recession has an effect on vocals.
To compare, the latest trend in IEMs is to have a sharp upward rise in the pinna gain toward the lower treble. This helps make vocals stand out and become the forefront of music.
However, with the Hexa’s notch in the pinna gain, this helps bring vocals back into the mix of the music without overpowering everything around it.
Neither style is more correct than each other and it comes down to personal preference.
However, I do prefer the ever-so slightly laid-back vocal region of the Hexa as it helps vocals sound more cohesive with the rest of the instruments in a track. Again, this is purely personal preference.
Treble
Overall, the treble of the Hexa is safe and inoffensive, which helps lead into the Hexa’s pièce de résistance: the amazing timbre of the treble. Not once did the treble sound like it was coming from a balanced armature. It is so smooth and sounds unbelievably natural. After listening to the Hexa, I realized that I’d much prefer a smooth and natural treble over something a little harsh and more detailed. To finish up, the treble extends incredibly well but isn’t sparkly. It’s super easy to listen to without any fatigue, even for epicly long listening sessions.
Technicalities
The Hexa is not a detail monster, but it isn’t low resolution or mushy either. For the price, detail retrieval is outstanding, although a cheap planar set of IEMs will take the prize comparatively. The Hexa finds a balance of surprisingly good detail retrieval without becoming overwhelming.
If there is one subpar thing about the Hexa, it’s the intimate soundstage. To my ears, depth and height are virtually non-existent, and width sounds only a few inches outside of my head.
However, where the Hexa absolutely shines is in instrument separation. While there isn’t a lot of room in the soundstage, every single instrument has its own unique space and position. Instruments are intimate with each other but are completely separate from one another as well. Again, while it’s not the biggest soundstage, the Hexa competes with great planar driver IEMs in terms of separation. This alone is astonishing, especially for $80.
EQ
Before diving into this section, I want to be crystal clear that this review of the Hexa is based entirely on the stock tuning. Normally talking about equalization wouldn’t be a normal part of a review. However, it’s almost impossible to mention the Hexa’s similarities with the Moondrop Blessing 2, without mentioning its brother, the Blessing 2 Dusk.
The Blessing 2 Dusk has re-tuned bass (À la Crinacle) from the original Blessing 2. Stick with me here, but another bass profile that is almost identical to the Dusk comes from the ThieAudio Monarch MkII. The Monarch MkII has fractionally different bass from the Dusk and I like the style marginally better. But really, it’s splitting hairs between the Dusk and Monarch MkII. Basically, I’m clarifying so I don’t get called out by some hard-core audiophile nerd out there.
Ok, back to equalization.
There are only two EQ adjustments that I made to enhance the Hexa’s bass and overall tuning. There is -1.5db at 220Hz to clean up the upper mid bass. Then +2.5db at 44Hz to bring up the sub bass and lower mid bass.
These two adjustments help give the Hexa a slightly more fun signature, while also increasing some of the punch or slam factor of the bass a tiny bit, all without ruining the default sound and character of the Hexa.
Try it out and let me know what you think!
Conclusion
So, is the Hexa a mini Blessing 2? Well…yes and no.
If you temper your expectations from a $300+ IEM to an $80 set, then yes, it is a mini Blessing 2 in tuning. Clearly the Hexa won’t have the same level of detail retrieval and soundstage, so it’s not a Blessing 2 clone. However, I believe that the Hexa punches well above its price point and is easily worth the asking price – as Crinacle said, “it’s a Blessing 2 for the sub-$100 market,” and I couldn’t agree more.
In summary, the Hexa is very easy to listen to and makes long listening sessions a real pleasure. Where the Hexa absolutely shines is instrument separation.
In fact, the Hexa made me rethink what I value in IEMs. I went from loving extreme detail to preferring less detail in favor of easy listenability, and from wanting the biggest soundstage to choosing instrument separation instead.
The Hexa made me change my preferences and I adore it for that. While the Hexa is tuned completely different from the Truthear Zero, Truthear knocked it out of the park with its second release as well.
Just like the Zero, it’s an absolute triumph and an easy recommendation.