Jomo Audio Trinity BS
Disclaimer
I would like to thank Joseph Mou of Jomo Audio for loaning me the Trinity BS (Brass) in exchange for my honest opinion. No incentive was given for a favourable review.
Trinity BS
- Drivers: 2 x Electrostatic with internal transformer, 4 x Balanced Armature, single 8mm Dynamic Driver (4-way crossover)
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 80KHz (Theoretical)
- Impedance: 30 Ohms at 1KHz. RDC: 40 Ohms
- Wiring: High purity silver-plated copper internal litz wiring
- Shell: Proprietary 3D semi-custom ergonomic universal shell design with solid brass nozzle design
- Price: S$3,799 (~US$2,800)
Links:
https://www.jomoaudio.com
https://www.facebook.com/jomoaudio/
Preamble
Jomo Audio is a custom and universal IEM company based in Singapore, a place I once referred to as the audiophile's equivalent of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Considering all the technology crammed into the Trinity under review here, I readily get this image of Joseph Mou standing in a white room telling his Oompa Loompas...
"If Willy Wonka can do that with a chocolate bar, how about we shrink those electrostat headphones down to earphone size?!" That is probably not quite how it happened, but the result is there and I think that image is just too funny not to pretend that is how it went.
Of course in reality Jomo teamed up with one of the world's leading electrostatic driver manufacturers to miniaturize their electrostatic driver and its transformer to fit inside a tiny Jomo IEM shell. Then of course Joseph went on to say:
"How about we add all the other technology in there as well to create a triple hybrid? You know, since we have Wonka Vision Jomo Vision up and running anyway?"
Okay, I am being a bit silly here, but Jomo have done some pretty unique things in the past, like the gorgeous carbon fibre shells, both in custom and universal, for the Flamenco. Those I have drooled over many times, although I believe the Flamenco now come with a new shell design that looks pretty gorgeous too. I guess that is the spirit of "Takumi" mentioned on Jomo's "About Us" page, the Japanese term for Craftsmanship Spirit. Always the drive to continue to hone their craft and create technologically innovative and artistically beautiful new IEMs. Certainly exemplified in this case by the triple hybrid Trinity in its beautiful brass and purple version.
As these were demo units, there was nothing really to unbox and I can't say anything about the packaging (although the aluminium case for the demo units is incredibly nice and I would love to have a few of those lying around for my own IEMs) or accessories, so I will skip straight on.
Build quality and fit
At this price point I would expect great build quality and that is certainly what I the Trinity offer. The beautiful shells feel very solid while they still stay nice and light. The brass nozzle is fixed nearly seamlessly in place and looks great with the sparkling purple of the shell. These are IEMs that I feel confident using without concerns, although I would be hesitant about subjecting them to too much abuse. I would say these are very solidly built without overdoing it to keep the weight comfortably light. A really good balance: more solid feeling than my Empire Ears Phantom and not as heavy as the Rhapsodio Zombie.
The fit is described as "semi-custom" and I do indeed get a really nice fit with these. While the shells are on the larger size (not unexpected considering the tech inside) they fit surprisingly flush and are extremely comfortable. I often have issues getting a comfortable fit and can change tips many times before I find the ones that work for me, but not with the Trinity. I used the supplied Tornado tips and those worked perfectly without any need for tip rolling. The choice of tips is very important to get right, as it can have a considerable impact on the seal, sound and comfort, so I was very happy it all worked out so easily. Great fit, great comfort and I could wear the Trinity all day without any issues. Also helpful was that the stock cable supplied was a nice thin and supple one, although I must admit I was a little surprised not to find the Effect Audio Ares II as a stock cable. At this price point the included stock cable feels quite out of place, especially considering that (if I remember correctly) other Jomo IEMs do come stock with Ares II. Not a huge problem for me because I have several cables lying around, including Ares II, but it does make me wonder if the stock cable could be holding the performance of the Trinity back a little. Well, perfect time to get in some listening and find out!
Source
All listening was done with my AK70 and FiiO K3/Macbook Pro from the SE out (stock cable) and balanced out (aftermarket cables).
Presentation
The Trinity have an impressive presentation. The tonality is a warm and smooth one, but don't underestimate the technical capability of the Trinity, as it is combined with a very large and airy stage, and an incredibly revealing nature. Much of this is dependent on source, but with a neutral or brighter source the Trinity will happily point it out to you when a recording is of a poor quality. That difference was clear between my AK70 (warm-natural) and the K3 (neutral), but also between the SE and balanced out of my AK70. The balanced out of the AK70 is a little more laidback in the treble and (using Ares II) that helped to make the Trinity a bit kinder to older Jazz recordings. But even with a neutral source it does not get offensive because of the smoothness. It is just that the Trinity achieve such outstanding clarity and are so exceptionally detailed, well beyond anything I have heard so far, so there is no hiding for poor quality recording. It is like the Trinity kindly tap you on the shoulder saying:
"Excuse me, could you possibly get a better quality recording of this album because this is not quite up to snuff, my dear chap?" ...rather than sticking pins in your ears to bully you into buying a better quality recording.
When I shared some first impressions of the Trinity I used the word "soulful" to describe their sound and I still think that is a great word to sum up what I feel the Trinity with the brass nozzle do best. For classical music, especially any pieces with a bit more emphasis on the bass section such as Beethoven's 5th, I think the Trinity are a touch too warm and the bass a little too physical. Not that it is in any way bad, I could happily listen to it (and have), but it is not quite as good as the Trinity are for other types of music. When I switched to music by the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Sting (Live) and Santana, the Trinity started showing their incredibly soulful nature and proved to be the most engaging IEMs I have heard to date.
What struck me about tracks such as Santana's Smooth is how coherent and well balanced everything was. There is some slight emphasis on the bass, but in a way that you might expect it at a live performance. It is when you focus on Rob Thomas' voice and Santana's guitar that the bass starts to become more functional and the soundscape starts to take shape. The bass guitar adds a smooth and relaxed rhythm, percussions add energy and cymbals top off that energy with a wonderfully sweet sparkle, all surrounding the voice and guitar at the centre compelling you to move. Everything just feels like it is in exactly the right place to build up the emotion of the song and get you fully immersed in the music. It feels like standing right there with Rob and Santana, playing/singing along, rather than merely listening.
Bass
The bass of the Trinity is a full, resonant and physical one with great detail and texture to it. It is a relatively slow bass and it gives the sound something similar to what you get with a live performance. It can extend really deep when needed, but does not do it as prominently as, say, the Empire Ears Legend X. I think the way the bass is tuned is a key part to the overall 'soulful' character of the Trinity.
The Trinity seem to have a character to them that is genuinely a coherent combination of three parts and it all starts with the bass. As with Santana's Smooth, the Trinity excel with The Rolling Stones' version of I Can't Quit You Baby, where the foundation is the bass layer. It provides a slow pace that is set by the bass guitar and an impactful and physical drum to create a tangible 'moody' feeling upon which the other layers such as the guitar riffs sit, to give that unmistakeable feeling of melancholy that is so characteristic of this track. In this case the bass adds the sort of warmth and physicality that helps set the slow moody pace, but in a more uplifting track such as Commit a Crime, the bass guitar is a little faster and due to its texture sets a higher foundational rhythm for the track that is incredibly engaging. To my ears it is technically incredibly good, but more importantly, works exceptionally well within the overall signature.
Although I think the Trinity excel with music such as blues, jazz and soul, they are of course much more versatile and the bass adds tons of fun for more popular music. I love the impact, weight and texture in Imagine Dragons' Yesterday and the fun it adds to Walk the Moon's Headphones. The quality of the bass and its physicality mean the Trinity are incredibly fun and engaging to listen to. Less ideal for classical, but it will work for mostly everything else.
Mids
The mids of the Trinity are very clear, detailed and have a unique character to them that provides a lot of energy to the overall signature. The mids are natural in their tonality, but not exceptionally so, which is where I think an intentional trade-off is made in favour of achieving that energy. This is also where I think the Trinity are less ideal for classical, as instruments such as woodwinds do not quite have the fullness I get with my Phantom (which are my reference in this case). So that is something linked to my personal preferences as well.
However, the trade-off I mentioned is absolutely worth it. The Trinity are by far the most amazing IEMs I have heard so far for guitars, both acoustic and electric, and here is where that coherency of three parts starts to take shape. To go back to the Rolling Stones, the foundation of a warm and moody bass get topped by a layer of crisp, extremely well-textured electric guitars that have incredible energy and emotion. It is so engaging and lively that it perfectly compliments the physicality of the bass to give that wonderful feeling that only blues can give. And it feels so real that it is as if you are part of the band because you automatically get drawn into the riff. This works just as well for acoustic guitars, as each type of guitar comes through with its characteristic sound clearly rendered by the Trinity. So, for instance, Eric Clapton's Unplugged album sounds just as amazing.
Vocals felt to me a little further back than I am used to, allowing instruments (especially guitars) to come forward a bit more clearly, although the vocals themselves maintain excellent clarity and sound natural. While I think the Trinity overall are quite warm, vocals seem to be well balanced without a clearly favouring male over female vocals. There is a hint of sweetness to female vocals, but I did not feel it unbalanced choral pieces to the point that male vocals dominated over the female voices. It felt quite well balanced.
Treble
This is of course where the Trinity introduces its new tech, the dual electrostatic super tweeters, and I have to admit that the treble certainly feels unlike anything I have heard. The treble is incredibly transparent, natural sounding and has a refinement that to my ears feels unique. It is sweet, sparkly, light and airy, seemingly without effort, yet it stays so smooth.
This is also where the Trinity become complete. Back with the Rolling Stones you get this wonderful blend of the cymbals within the overall image, providing sparkle without demanding any attention. In my opinion this is exactly where the cymbals should sit. Like icing sugar, they add sparkle over the image, but they are just there for the finishing touches. Nothing too splashy or too forward and yet still clearly defined and present with a richness that is incredibly enjoyable. It is a testament to the quality of the treble that even though it is not pushed forward, it can still distinguish itself from the very energetic bass and mid range instruments to form a genuinely coherent trinity of layers.
Another great example of this is the sound of the brushes in Madeleine Peyroux's You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. It is that typical sound for jazz, coming through incredibly clearly while sitting perfectly within the image. It adds just the right type of energy for the song and that, in my opinion, characterises the treble really well, it is a Goldilocks treble: just right.
Aftermarket cables
I usually take my time listening to various cables, but because the connectors on the IEMs were very tight I could not switch between cables very easily, in cases preventing me from trying out a cable, and I decided it was safest to keep my listening session quite brief.
-Effect Audio Ares II (3.5mm SE)-
This is the cable I would have expected as a stock cable and I think it pairs very well. I have both a 3.5mm SE and 2.5mm balanced Ares II, and I decided it was best to compare like-for-like and use the 3.5mm SE to compare to the stock cable. Overall I think the stock cable performed very well, but Ares II still gives a few notable improvements. Ares II improves background blackness and gives an overall cleaner sound. Vocals come forward a little bit and clarity is improved. While the soulful character is maintained very well, the overall sound is a little smoother and more forgiving. Just as always, I think Ares II is a very solid upgrade option.
-Effect Audio Lionheart-
Lionheart is an interesting pairing for those who find the energy of the Trinity a bit much. Lionheart tones down the physicality of the bass a little bit and takes some of the edge off strings, pushing guitars back a little and pulling forward vocals a bit more. The overall sound gets the typical liquidity of Lionheart, mids become a bit more natural in the way I prefer them (warm-natural) and I feel transparency is improved.
-PlusSound Exo Silver+Gold-
A wonderful pairing and one of my favourites. The Silver+Gold adds clarity and reduces some of the warmth, but maintains the soulful character really well. There is still an edge to guitars and the bass gains a lot of control without loosing its impact in the overall signature. It is brighter and thus works better with classical music as well.
-Dita Audio Truth (Silver)-
Another wonderful pairing that leads me to believe the Trinity pair best with silver cables. Much like the Exo, the Truth adds clarity, but pushes it even further while maintaining more of the original warmth in the bass. It is very smooth and sounds incredibly natural, with outstanding vocals
-PlusSound X6 Tri-Copper-
A great pairing that expands the stage a bit and adds a fair amount of air and improved separation without harming the coherency. The Tri-Copper also very slightly takes some of the edge off while maintaining the great texture of guitars. The bass feels more extended and a little more controlled. A very pleasant pairing that improves clarity and resolution without straying from the stock sound.
-Effect Audio Leonidas II-
I had a lot of trouble with the connectors for this pairing, but I really wanted to try it and indeed it turned out to be my favourite pairing by far. Leonidas II improves transparency to astonishing levels, adds control to the bass while maintaining the warmth to build up the sound that the Trinity do so well. Guitars sound smooth while gaining even more texture, vocals sound superb and the treble is just as sweet. There is something truly special about this pairing.
Comparisons
-Empire Ears Phantom-
At the moment I only have one pair of IEMs available that I consider worth comparing to flagship IEMs such as the Trinity and those are my own Phantom. These are my main reference for reviews and my benchmark for naturalness as I prefer it (i.e. warm-natural). Therefore this comparison is also useful to understand my preferences and to put my impressions of the Trinity in the right context.
Both these IEMs have a type of warm and smooth sound, but they have quite different characters. The Trinity have a much larger stage, greater clarity, more detail and considerably more energy. The bass has much more physicality and texture to it, even though the quality of the Phantom's bass is outstanding to begin with. There is something more articulate about the notes of the Trinity and that is particularly noticeable with guitars. The Phantom do guitars very well, but the Trinity are downright masterful and present guitar riffs with so much texture and crunch that the Phantom sound almost subdued by comparison. Indeed, back-to-back the Phantom have that sense of veil compared to the Trinity.
It is however not all win for the Trinity and the Phantom are masterful in their own right. Mid-range tonality is where the Phantom excel and the Trinity just can't quite get the naturalness that the Phantom have, especially with instruments such as woodwinds. The Trinity are natural, but the Phantom nail it perfectly. Similarly for vocals. The Trinity have great vocals, but the Phantom's vocals are more forward, more natural and just have this amazing sense of intimacy to them. The Phantom also have a better overall smoothness, playing more kindly with less optimal quality recordings.
Both IEMs have great coherency and that is quite a feat for the Trinity to pull off with a much larger stage. Both also have a very holographic stage, surrounding the listener in music, immersing you in sonic bliss. Which you prefer will come down to your taste in music, preferences for certain aspects such as vocals and of course the budget you have available, as the Trinity are a step up in price.
Conclusions
I have greatly enjoyed my time with the Jomo Trinity and consider them the most soulful and engaging IEMs I have heard to date. They are warm and smooth, with a very large and airy stage, lots of details and a very revealing nature. Moreover, the Trinity have an infection energy that will give you the feeling like you are right there on stage performing with the band. If you have an opportunity to demo these, please do yourself a favour and listen to Santana's Smooth and I will guarantee you that you will feel like you are standing right next to Santana with your very own air guitar.