And here we have another IEM that is setting the bar higher than ever.
Today we are going to be looking at the Tripowin Lea. It uses a LCP Dynamic Driver which is the same material used in the driver of the Moondrop Aria. Tripowin is most well known for their cable making and they recently collaborated with HBB for the Mele and Olina which are two also very impressive sets. Their past models like the TP10 and TC01 were not my favorite but the Lea is their game changer. In this review, we will be seeing whether their Lea, which is an independent product by Tripowin(No Collab) is worth the price tag of $36USD. Will the Lea prove that they don't need a collaboration to have good tuning?
I was sent the Lea by Linsoul in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity.
Packaging:
Not the best packaging at this price but I won't complain. It's a cheap product. More importantly it must sound good.
Accessories:
Cable isn't the best. I expected better from a well known cable maker. The Y split is ugly.
Also not sure why didn't they just build in the ear guides. They also provide tips but its just the usual S,M,L size and in black. Nothing special.
Build:
The Nozzles go really deep.
Overall the build of the Lea was good. But there were glue stains on my unit when I unboxed it so please clean your stuff Tripowin. The Nozzles go deep so I get good isolation and it looks like it can take a few knocks. I also like their new 2 Pin design. Compared to the QDC design, this is much more durable as it won't have the chipping issue. I can also sleep without worrying about bending the pins of the cable. The only issue is that its not very common so it will be hard to find a cable other than from Tripowin themselves.
Sound:
The Lea on first impressions can be considered neutral. It actually has a lot in common with the Moondrop DD lineup and in fact it even graphs almost identically to the original Moondrop Blessing(First Version). The only main difference would be that it is not plagued by that nasty metallic timbre that Moondrop IEMs have.
Bass:
Most IEMs in this price range usually go for a sound signature with prominent bass and that usually doesn't end nicely. The Lea on the other hand, is on the leaner side but it is still good. It is well controlled and does not bleed into the mids like most in this price range would. When necessary, the Lea can go deep and provides adequate rumble. It also does not neglect midbass and has a good punch. It also has got good texturing and details especially for an IEM at this price. Because the bass is on the leaner side, people who like bass may not really appreciate this so I would recommend looking elsewhere.
Mids:
Mids is my favorite part of the Lea. Vocals do not sound overly thick or thin. It has a very natural tuning and is uncolored. It is also able to render a high level of details. The Lea makes the music sound very engaging and adds emotion to the music. There was never an instance where I found the Lea to be shouty or harsh in any way. It is very relaxed and easy to listen to for long periods. The timbre on the Lea is also very nice. It does not have that metallic timbre that Moondrop IEMs have.
Treble:
The treble here is pretty relaxed. Cymbals still sound crisp and has a good sparkle. The treble never gets harsh and I didn't experience sibilance. I do think some might have preferred it to be more airy but personally I think it's acceptable for myself.
Technical Ability:
I wasn't expecting much from a sub $40 IEM but it is surprisingly proficient. Due to the tuning of the mids the Lea can sound pretty intimate but resolution and detail are really good for the price. I would say it can even compete with IEMs in the sub $100 range easily. Imaging is also quite precise.
Conclusion:
With all the recent drama in the Chi-Fi world, the Lea just goes to show you don't need a multi driver set up to have top tier tuning. The tuning of the Lea is something more common in sets above $100. I have to say I am really impressed. The Lea is cheap, sounds awesome, and is no slouch on the technical side for the price. It is definitely a recommendation from me for those looking to get into the hobby. It will definitely be able to give you a good introduction into the higher end segment of the audiophile hobby.
Once again I would like to thank Linsoul for providing me with this unit of the Lea. You can purchase it from them at their official website, Amazon, or Aliexpress. Links will be below.
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?me=A267P2DT104U3C&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER
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