TRN MT4 Earphones Review – The New Entry-Level King?

First Impressions

The TRN MT4 came in standard TRN packaging which was quite simple. They were presented well and they came with the basic accessories.

These IEMs combine a zinc alloy faceplate paired with resin housing, which is common nowadays amongst more budget IEMs. 

The overall execution of the design is very well done and it contributes to the sharp looks that these IEMs have.

Like its brother, the MT3, this set also came with a pair of TRN T-Ear Tips. The T-Ear Tip is a new silicone ear tip product from TRN that offers better comfort and seal to users.

Build Quality

The TRN MT4 has excellent build quality. 

Its zinc alloy faceplate provides more rigidity to the resin shell housing and the included accessories are also of good quality. 

The cable that came with the TRN MT4 is a four-core, silver-plated copper cable that rids off the stethoscope effect that you’d normally experience with cheaper cables.

Fit and Comfort

The TRN MT4 does a great job in terms of fit and comfort. It has a unique shape that provides a snug fit to the ears.

Its resin shell has these grooves that are meant to sit nicely in your ears. They’re reminiscent of the grooves on the CCA CSN – another pair of IEMs with a great ergonomic design.

Even though it has an alloy faceplate, the TRN MT4 is still relatively light and is quite comfortable in the ears. 

The included T-Ear Tips were also great and I thought they’re a nice addition to this set. They provided better comfort and seal, plus they fit much better compared to the standard silicone ear tips that you’d get with budget IEMs.

Sound Quality

Since it follows a classic V-shaped sound signature, the critical factors for this kind of tuning are present in the TRN MT4. 

It has a lifted bass region, a slightly recessed midrange, and a slight boost on the higher frequencies, which gives a rather energetic and lively sound.

The upper frequencies can get a bit distracting but given their price, these IEMs have great sound quality overall.

Bass

The bass is balanced, with just enough warmth to make it appealing.

The TRN MT4 also has a quick bass response and a deep rumble to them without being too overpowering. It sits right with the upper mid-bass and doesn’t feature any mid-bass bleed.

Mids

The mids are slightly recessed in presentation, which is common with the V-shaped tuning. 

The male vocals are slightly far back, which isn’t entirely surprising due to the tuning on the mids. On the other hand, female vocals are a bit more forward in the mix.

Treble

The treble of the TRN MT4 has a decent amount of extension and airiness to them. They have a fair amount of boost but still manage not to sound sharp or harsh.

I love how the treble retains details and reveals micro-details of the mix. It has an overall energetic presentation that works nicely with the other frequencies.

Test Tracks

I’ve tested the TRN MT4 on different genres of music to get a proper understanding of how they sound and here are my findings:

• Metal / Rock – The guitars cut nicely through the mix, which can be attributed to the tuning on the upper frequencies having a bit of a boost. The vocals and drums were nicely presented and sit well in the mix without sounding muddy or drowned out. Tracks used: Brain Stew (Green Day), Reverie (Polyphia), That’s What You Get (Paramore)
• Pop – Since pop and K-pop tracks have a relatively lively and energetic sound, the V-shaped tuning of the TRN MT4 added a few more shades of color to the overall presentation of the songs. The instruments sounded natural and didn’t lack body, while the vocals had excellent clarity. Tracks used: Bad Boy (Red Velvet), OMG (NewJeans), Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
• Hip-hop – In this genre where the bass is king, the TRN MT4 caught up with the 808s and kicks in the tracks I’ve listened to. It also presented a good amount of sub-bass extension, and the light boost on the treble helped a lot in revealing the details of other sounds present in the tracks. Tracks used: Amen (Shanti Dope and Pricetagg), Cash In Cash Out (Pharell Williams ft. 21 Savage & Tyler the Creator)
• Indie – This genre’s laidback and mellow sound characteristic is what everyone’s after, and the TRN MT4 did a great job of capturing this. The soft drum grooves were nicely presented. The guitar parts had many details that helped them position themselves better around the mix. The main vocals and backup vocals were also presented with great clarity, which helped reveal micro details in the songs. Tracks used: Show Me How (Men I Trust), Space Song (Beach House), Queen of Disaster (Lana Del Rey)
• R&B / Soul – A mixture of mellow and groovy sound characters, this genre benefitted from the V-shaped sound signature of the TRN MT4. The presentation was good. The bass region sounded great, plus the vocals and instruments cut through the mix pretty well. The drums were also more energetic in the presentation. Tracks used: Devil in the Details (Mac Ayres), Get You (Daniel Ceasar), Telepatia (Kali Uchis)

Conclusion

Overall, the TRN MT4 is an excellent set of IEMs, which is why it wasn’t surprising that HBB recommended it.

Although bass heads wouldn’t find these IEMs sufficient, casual listeners and those who enjoy a warm V-shaped tuning would appreciate the MT4.

For around $16 to $20, the price-to-performance is quite good – from its impressive build quality and sound quality to the overall aesthetics.

With this, it’s safe to say that the TRN MT4 is an excellent entry-level budget option and a great starting point for those who want to get into the audio hobby. 

This post was last updated on 2025-01-17 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.