Kiwi Ears CANTA VS Truthear Pure

Youtube Video Summary

Truthear Pure brings a warm, bass-impactful presentation from its 1DD+3BA setup, but the rest feels like it’s under a blanket. There’s a noticeable 2 kHz hump, then the upper range ducks hard past ~8 kHz, leaving the sound veiled—like three comforters thrown over the music. Great for bass-centric tracks (think Arcane S2 remixes), yet dull and somehow fatiguing at the same time. The shells look cool—semi-transparent with a heatsink-style back—and the stock cable is soft and supple but fixed 3.5 mm. Accessories are classic Truthear: small leather pouch, tip array, and a waifu postcard. Listed around $89 (feels more like $50 value).

The real curveball is the imaging and stage. On 3D test tracks that should sweep smoothly around the head, motion skews and snaps—front/back depth behaves weird and timing feels off. It’s the kind of tuning (or implementation) that begs for EQ just to “open it up”. For listeners who want warmth + bass and the bunny-girl aesthetic, this will scratch the itch. For a cleaner, properly integrated 1DD+3BA experience, alternatives like Defiant make more sense, especially at a similar price. Net: an acceptable set for bass enjoyment, but with odd staging and a rolled-off, veiled top end that keeps it off the must-buy list.

Youtube Video Summary

Truthear Pure lands as the so-called Hexa successor, but the tuning pivots hard: it’s warmer, darker, and even more laid-back. Male vocals pop with weight, extension, and a lush low-end foundation. At mid-to-low volumes it can come off bloated and a little low-res up top, with dulled upper-mid/treble detail; push it to around 75 dB+ and it scales nicely, opening the stage, adding clarity, and staying non-fatiguing thanks to the tamer upper mids.

Genre pairing leans into hip-hop, rap, R&B, jazz, and rock/metal: there’s satisfying mid-bass impact and sub-bass rumble, with restrained upper mids keeping sibilance and shout in check on hotter recordings. Tipwise, avoid bass-boosters like Final E, Divinus Venus, and even the stock silicones. Go with Softears Ultra Clear or other clear, open-bore tips to nudge in more treble air while keeping the smoothness.

On raw technicals, Pure isn’t class-leading for its bracket—less detail and separation than the older Hexa despite sharing drivers, because the warmer/darker tilt trims perceived clarity. Buy it for the tuning and volume scaling. It plays like a more vocal-centric spin on the AFUL Explorer (darker, immersive, vocals pop more, a bit less sub-bass-centric). Chasing value or technical bite? Sets like EW300 (on sale) or Moondrop Aria 2 Red, and of course Hexa, will feel cleaner and crisper. Bottom line: a side-grade with its own niche—great for listeners who prefer a warm, smooth presentation and aren’t shy about turning the volume up.

Youtube Video Summary

The Truthear Pure offers a neutral, JM1-style target tuning aimed at a studio-reference sound, achieving this goal competently for its price point. However, its build quality and accessories feel disappointing and recycled from older models like the Hexa. The shell contouring is rigid and unimpressive, while the tips and case lack innovation. The cable is a slight improvement over the Hexa's – supple but lacking clear right/left indicators – making the overall package just okay, not exciting.

Sonically, the Pure presents a linear bass rise and a generally neutral presentation, differing from the Hexa by offering a bit more warmth but less sparkle and magical mid-range presence. While it fixes the Hexa's "pillowy bass," it doesn't fully surpass it, lacking the Hexa's legendary status. Comparisons reveal it's very similar to the Audio Sense DT200 in tonality, though slightly preferred. It falls short against competitors like the Kiwi Ears Quartet (better bass/mids), Ziigaat Lush (better technicalities), Softears Volume S (more natural curve), or planar options around its price. Crucially, the fit is problematic, often requiring expensive aftermarket tips like the Baroque to work well, which feels impractical for a $90 IEM.

Ultimately, the Pure is a solid but middling release, earning a B rating. It suits those specifically seeking an affordable JM1-style neutral signature or dedicated Truthear fans. For most listeners, however, better alternatives exist: the Hexa remains preferable within Truthear's lineup for its magic, the Nova offers more fun, or competitors like the Aful Explorer (bass-focused), TANGZU Fudu (value planar), or slightly pricier Volume S provide more engaging or technically proficient experiences. It's not a strong general recommendation.

Youtube Video Summary

Kiwi Ears Canta is a single dynamic plus dual planar hybrid that leans hard into a vocal-forward tuning. The shells and accessories feel nicely put together, and there is a healthy bass shelf from the dynamic driver, but the real focus is on a very energized upper mid and treble region. Paired with something like a slightly rolled off dongle such as Allegro Mini, the extra upper treble bite is pulled back into a more relaxed and less fatiguing place, making the overall presentation easier on the ears.

The bass shelf sits close to the 10 dB mark and gives notes proper weight, yet it still sits under the elevated upper mids and treble, so the low end can feel secondary whenever that top end lights up. Vocals are pushed far in front with lots of clarity and edge definition; the planar drivers do not really need the extra boost to sound sharp and clean, so the end result tilts bright and a bit less natural than a more relaxed take on this concept. It comes across as half musical, half professional vocal centric monitor, more focused on presence and articulation than warmth.

Treble brings plenty of lower and upper energy, driving a stage that is very wide and quite tall with clear separation, but the emphasis also flattens depth and can become fatiguing over longer sessions. The soundstage feels impressive in size yet somewhat shallow, and that tradeoff will either feel exciting or too much depending on treble tolerance. For listeners who want vocals aggressively front and center with lots of detail and do not mind a leaner, more analytical balance, Canta offers an interesting option in the Kiwi Ears lineup, while those who are sensitive to treble or prefer a more natural, easygoing tuning will likely need EQ or careful pairing to get the most out of it.

Youtube Video Summary

The Truthear Pure keeps the $90 hybrid recipe of the Hexa (3BA+1DD) and most of its shell geometry, but tweaks details: a slightly smaller nozzle eases fit for those who struggled with Hexa, while a thicker body changes how it sits against the antitragus. Accessories are sensible—the pocketable soft pouch and three styles of ear tips help dial in seal and stability—though the bold logo and faint channel markings won’t win style awards. Overall comfort is compact and easy, with fit security largely dependent on tip choice rather than ear-conforming contours.

Sonically this is a shift from Hexa’s laser-neutral baseline to a warm-neutral flavor: ~1–2 dB more energy from 1 kHz down adds body and density, while slightly pulled-back upper mids/treble relax the presentation. Stage size and separation aren’t the selling points, yet the treble execution is impressively clean and controlled for the price, avoiding the congestion feared from early listens. Bass remains not the star, but attack is snappier and kick definition more satisfying than on Hexa, making drums feel better outlined without abandoning neutrality.

Think HD600 vs HD650: Hexa reads brighter, airier, and a touch more “technical,” while Pure is fuller, warmer, and more relaxed—arguably the more mature tonality. For contrast seekers, the Jazir/Z Reviews Defiant hits harder with a lively V-shape; to split the difference with extra low-end and micro-contrast, the AFUL Explorer fits. As a sub-$100 choice, Pure lands as a five-star set: not a technical monster, but a beautifully tuned, dense take on neutral that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Hexa rather than replacing it—pick Hexa for openness, Pure for tone and treble refinement.

Youtube Video Summary

Truthear Pure arrives as a $90 1DD+3BA hybrid with a solid accessory set: postcard, soft pouch, six pairs of silicone tips plus foam. The non-modular cable is notably soft, tangle-free, low in microphonics, and the chin slider actually stays put. Shells are semi-transparent 3D-printed resin with a grooved faceplate, a vent, and a nozzle lip that keeps tips secure; there’s a recessed 2-pin connector. Size is only slightly larger than Hexa, but comfort is similarly excellent—low-profile, secure, and easy for long sessions.

Sonically, Pure shifts firmly into warm territory. Bass is abundant with strong slam, yet its slower decay and “glide” into the lower mids introduce a thick, relaxed presentation that can cloud mid-range clarity and leave vocals a touch hazy; the upper-mids sit a bit too laid-back for the bass level. Treble is safe, smooth, and non-fatiguing rather than airy. Technicals are middling for the class—imaging decent, detail behind more incisive sets. Versus Hexa, Pure adds bass and impact but loses the Hexa’s clean, neutral midrange; compared with Moondrop Aria 2, it’s the “too warm” side of warm-tuned. Best suited for listeners who want a cozy, laid-back signature; not ideal for clarity seekers unless EQ is used to trim the low-mids/bass. Final verdict: 3/5 stars—comfortable build and enjoyable smoothness, but the warmth dominates the balance.

Youtube Video Summary

Truthear Pure follows the beloved Hexa with a smarter twist on neutrality: a hybrid 1DD+3BA at $90 that keeps the sturdy 3D-printed shell, slightly chunkier but similarly comfortable. The package is generous—three pairs of “thick” tips, three “thin,” plus foams—along with a much softer, less tangle-prone cable (still a fixed termination) and a soft leather pouch that’s actually pocket-friendly. Build, fit, and accessories punch above price, making this feel more premium than the tag suggests.

Sonically, Pure takes Hexa’s neutral core and downtilts it: a touch more lower-mid energy for weight and body, with the Hexa’s brighter colorations eased back. The result is a warm-neutral, enveloping, and non-fatiguing presentation—vocals and instruments gain richness without mud, and timbre/decay stay natural rather than dark or blunted. Think of the duo like HD600 vs HD650 for IEMs: pick Hexa for cleaner/brighter clarity, pick Pure for fuller, relaxed musicality. Choose Pure if a superbly executed warm-neutral tuning, long-session comfort, and broad genre versatility are priorities (great as a first “do-it-all” IEM). Skip it if a crisper, more analytical, or treble-forward edge is needed—the Pure presents detail naturally rather than pushing it. Either way, Pure carves meaningful space beside Hexa: neither redundant nor straying too far from true neutral, just the right amount of warmth done right. (Also, a white Pure would be fun—name kinda begs for it.)