TRN CS2

Box:

Nothing to talk about. Just iem itself, cable and eartips.

Sound:

Bass: Tight and powerfull but no quality at all. Just... Fun.

Mids: Really really bad mids... Scooped out, just sounds uneven and low res sound with a non-existent instrument seperation.

Treble: Just peaky and have a bad detail production. Unlistenable for me.

Still a good buy after 3 years?

Unfortunately, no. You have really good options like, Tangzu Princess CHANGLE, Trn CS4, Moondrop Quarks in this price range at 2024. No reason for buying cs2.

I don't hate TRN. Their T-tips are by a wide margin my absolute favorite eartips, I like the weird Xuan'wu energy, and I've ordered the new rosefinch to check out.

I'm comparing these to most of the big players in the $10-20 field: CCA CRA, Moondrop Chu, Moondrop Quark, 7hz Zero, and Truthear Hola.

These are a fun, energetic V shape that unfortunately just can't play with the price sector anymore. I paid $5 on aliexpress and was impressed with the build quality. For that money, they are honestly not a bad choice, but the dollar-for-dollar improvement here can't be overstated. The cable is honestly worth $5 and I'd say an upgrade to the stock KZ cable. The fit is okay but not great. I like the "custom fit" wings design, though they are a little extreme, I think the profile of the Truthear Hola is better

Imaging and soundstage are perfectly acceptable in the pack, I use "big sur moon" by buckethead to test this, and I hear good in/out separation with some amount of sound moving behind and in front, but not above. Not claustrophobic at all - the only one in this pack that fails is the moondrop chu, which makes me physically ill after only a few minutes. The Chu's are so bad in this regard that I disqualify them from everything, words can't describe how much I hate those things.

Bass is standout, well controlled, with great thump in the mid, balanced the sub, very little bleed and great speed. I'd be happy with this bass at $50.

Treble is a little sparkly and not fatiguing, but the detail in the low treble and upper mid is abysmal. Cymbals just sound bad, they have no ring or shimmer, just crash-nothing.

Mids are the real failing. I like me a good V shape. But these scooped the mids so hard that some songs and details sound like they're underwater. Everything just sounds thin and distant. Even my weird Xuan'wu's and their wonky everything feel "cohesive" in a way that these just don't.

Overall, if this was 3 years ago and my only IEM's were KZ ATE's, I'd say that for $15, there's a lot of IEM for the money and I would be a LOT less harsh (more in line with the other reviewers, who did these in 2021). But everything else in the segment apart from the chu's just demolishes them now. If you want V shape, the CCA CRA does every single thing better in the tuning and technicals, with the same soundstage and imaging. The quarks and truthear holas are more jack-of-all-trades and the 7hz zero's are brighter, less bass focused fun with lots of soundstage.

This is going to be a simple review the box is the typical lower price box containing a image and information. Inside a cable and 3 size tips are provided. It should be noted TRN tips are decent for stock quality.

The unit itself is simple consisting of a plastic body and metal nozzle, the shape is ergonomic and familiar to IEM fans. I found it decent for the price and comfortable for long term use.
Sound:
We will start at the bottom ...
Bass: Bass provides a detailed and Balanced presentation it is very natural and has adequate depth and speed but does ever so slightly bleed into the lower mids, that said it has little effect on them to my ears other than some lower warmth.

Mids; are presented neutral and full with details and clarity, vocals are pleasant and though recession is not heard neither is a push forward, they feel organic in position.

Treble: is slightly forward and has emphases, giving the CS2 a nice sparkle and detail to the top end but no harshness
was detected.

Soundstage and imaging was good perhaps better than average, I found them accurate and tuning while safe was very pleasant.

In conclusion : Its a good buy for beginners on a budget or anyone looking for a great value. Its a fun and engaging IEM for the money its a solid buy.