Review: 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone with In-line Microphone and Remote

By: Maurice Washington, Head-Fi Contributing Author

Introduction

I was introduced to the 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones – through a contact from 1MORE who had them in their stable, and wanted to know my thoughts of the in-ear monitor (IEM).  Thanks to the contact for the Triple Driver in exchange for my honest opinion.   I have listened to the Single and Dual Driver earphones for a while before being introduced to the Triple Driver earphones, so up to being introduced to the Triple Driver; my thinking was that the Dual Driver was the top-of the-line-model.  A quick background of me is of a person who loves music and likes to listen to as many IEMs as possible, from all available price-points.  I have listened to IEMs as costly as free (given to me to listen while I was on a tour bus, up to $2,699 for a standalone IEM and $2,999.99 electrostatic IEM that required the use of an included Digital-to-Analog Converter/Amplifier [DAC/Amp] for it to function).  Will the IEM from the Chinese sister company Xiaomi - accomplish true bliss?  Let’s find out!

Earphone

1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone with In-line Microphone and Remote

Sources

iPhone 6 (Space Gray, 128GB):  $849.99 or $399.99 with a 2-Year Contract

Surface Pro 2 64GB: $899.99

Questyle Audio QP1R Golden and Space Gray: $899 USD

DAC/Amp

Grace Design x Massdrop m9XX DAC/Amp: $499 shipped in the United States

Software Applications Used

Neutron Music Player – 320kbps

Spotify Premium – Extreme Setting

TIDAL HiFi – Lossless

Inside the 1MORE Triple Driver box

Opening the soft-touch 1MORE dark-colored box that says “Here | Hear” blazon on the top presents the Triple Driver in cutouts, and a thoughtful message.  This is what it says:

“Innovating products infused with our beliefs, passion, and pursuit – created for you.

We are relentlessly committed to delivering quality and affordability well beyond your expectations.  Enjoying music as it was originally intended by the artist is no longer a luxury, but a 1MORE standard.

Earlier this year, 1MORE released its first dual-driver in-ear headphones.  Every aspect of the mechanical and electrical design has been scrutinized by our experienced industry experts.  The result is truly unique.

The positive launch reception and accolades were beyond our expectations.  Yet, the release was just the first step in our new series of high fidelity audio in-ear headphones.  Our products are designed to enrich your music listening experience and your life.  1MORE is proud to introduce another new product, triple-driver in-ear headphones. 

The 1MORE team has been diligently working around the clock, and we will continue to, because we appreciate the opportunity to share this journey with you.

Music is food for the soul and we promise to deliver it.  This is why we exist.

Thank you for believing in 1MORE, and stay tuned!”

Opening the box will present such items as a manual, cable shirt clip, and NINE pairs of universal tips (3 sizes of foam [Small, Medium, Large] and 6 pairs of silicone [Very Small, 2 pairs of Small, Medium, Large]).  An extensive assortment for sure!

Stylishness – fit and function

The product part sketches inside of the case are a very nice touch from the status quo from other manufacturers who omit showing the parts used to create their IEMs.  The case, as is the same one used in the Dual Driver model, is a nice addition to have to storage your earphones live.  The earphones are very comfortable, even without using 3rd party tips such as SpinFits.  However, keep in mind the width of canal/sound tube is more than the Dual Driver, but makes up for this with having a longer canal/sound tube than the Dual Driver, so the fit of the Triple Driver isn’t overall that much more of a concern over the Dual Driver.

The details make it worthwhile

The design of the Triple Driver was well-thought out, especially for the price point of the earphones.  There are a few aspects of the design that I have not really seen in an IEM, as a whole – meaning the bespoke design of the earphones are true-to-form.  Some features that I have observed:

Comfortable fitting silicone universal tips.  Most companies provide 3 sizes of tips – the Triple Driver comes in 5 sizes and a total 9 pairs of tips – the inclusion of the extra small tips provides more flexibility to fit even more people’s ears.

Angled housing and canal tube – this makes fit and isolation easier for more listeners.  There are integrated wax guards for the silicone tips (the Triple Driver’s silicone tips don’t have the integrated wax guards) and the foam tips don’t have the integrated wax guards.

3-button remote.  Usually, this is not a big deal, but what a big deal is that the buttons are not marked.  This, in my opinion, makes the remote more subtly good-looking.

The cable, from the earphone housing to the Y-connect is not a normal-looking cable – it is vertically ribbed!  Absolutely amazing observance, and makes the cable just a bit more luxurious and special, compared to earphones, even from companies that command more money in my opinion.  From the Y-connect to the headphone plug, the cable is braided.  The Y-connect and earphone plug are brushed aluminum, but have a minutely ribbed feel to it – a luxurious feel for not a huge price of admission.  Those two types of sheath, in one mass-produced earphone, is rare and makes for a diversely unique cable experience.  Features like these are those that help positively differentiate from the rest of the IEM manufacturers in the market. 

As a whole, the Triple Driver looks and feels wonderful, and I like the rarer styling of the sheath cabling and black with rose gold as its housing, regardless of model or price. Let’s delve into how the Triple Driver sounds. 

How does the 1MORE Triple Driver sound?

Smooth, clear and crisp would be the words that I would use to describe the Triple Driver house sound.  These are balanced sounding earphones with just the amount of heft, clarity, smoothness and spaciousness.  They are special-sounding and can be euphoric in sound when paired with your favorite source.

The treble is velvet, smooth as silk, and is clear in its presentation.  It is not sibilant and more extended than its Dual Driver sibling.  You should be able to listen for hours and not feel like your ears are “hot” from the treble barrage – none of the sort with this IEM.

Butter.  Simply butter.  I’m talking about the midrange, which has sufficient heft, and can simply envelop you with its laid-back, yet slickly in-your-face nature.  This doesn’t mean the midrange is congested – no – it is more like “here I am, hear me whisper sweet nothings in your ear”.  Compared to the Dual Driver, the midrange has slightly more clarity.  If you are person that enjoys a sublime-sounding midrange, the Triple Driver should satisfy your wants and needs.

The bass is suave, meaning it is controlled, not diffuse, and sufficiently powerful in the quality region.  The Dual Driver, in comparison has more perceived bass than the Triple Driver, but the bass of the Triple Driver has a quality and effortlessness that can make the IEM a more reference, balanced, and therefore satisfying earphone.

The resolution is immense for a triple driver hybrid.  Clarity with warmth is the status quo, and scales as you scale your equipment.  The soundstage is adequate and will sound less in front of you because of the more balanced sound the Triple Driver presents.  The depth is sufficient as well, picking out micro detail with ease.

Final summary

These can be seen as top of the line earphones, regardless of the price.  The packaging, beautiful.  The literal message, thoughtful.  The construction of the earphone itself, inspiring.  The sound, bliss.  This is worth a listen and a purchase – for the amazing price of admission, why not?

Specifications