Truthear Nova Review

Roughly 3 years ago, the company Truthear released their "supposedly" flagship hybrid IEM, different than their masterpiece Hexa, but may share some DNA's from their ZERO series. It's probably flagship because it is still, today, their most expensive product to date. Packing with a single Dynamic Driver for the low end, 2 balanced armatures for the midrange, and another two for the rest of the frequency spectrum.

My 2 year old Nova. It's pretty rough to be honest.

Specs

Build and comfort

Build

Disclaimer, there is still so little photos, more of them on the way.

Onto the packaging, it is one of the most complete and rewarding for this price range, especially if you are a weeb. You get a rather large white and light pink box with their mascot, that comes with the IEMs themselves, a small pouch, a standee and a card of their mascot. Oh yeah the cables. It is a very nice black and blue 4 braided sleeved cable, with a detachable 0.78mm 2-pin connector and 3.5mm termination.

The Nova is encased in nice black glossy resin. Particularly in this one, it is not transparent, so we can't see the drivers inside. The resin extends onto the nozzle, it is relatively big, has no filters, just 3 holes for each of their respective crossovers.

It is kinda big? Honestly, it maybe is, but after 2 years of using it, I think my ears have been... deflowered if I were to describe it.

Fit

The Nova has a relatively large shell, and its nozzle isn't exactly the smallest either. Depending on your ears, this could either be perfectly fine or a little uncomfortable.

Insertion depth is fairly average, and getting a proper seal shouldn't be too difficult with the right ear tips. Isolation is also decent for a universal IEM, although obviously not something I'd rely on in particularly noisy environments.

Long listening sessions are generally fine once you find the right tips. However, its size and shape might become noticeable after a while, especially for people with smaller ears.

Sound

A relatively balanced, Harman-inspired tuning with a sub-bass emphasis, clean mids, and an energetic but generally controlled treble.

Bass

The bass presentation is fairly clean and controlled, with most of its emphasis sitting in the sub-bass region. There's a decent amount of rumble when the track calls for it, without completely overwhelming the rest of the frequency spectrum.

Mid-bass is comparatively restrained, so don't expect an especially thick or warm presentation. Kick drums and bass guitars have enough presence, but they aren't particularly emphasized.

Overall, it's a relatively well-behaved bass response. Nothing particularly offensive, although people looking for a warmer or more bass-heavy sound might want something else.

Mids

The midrange is generally clean and fairly forward, with vocals getting a decent amount of attention. Female vocals in particular have a noticeable presence, while male vocals can occasionally sound a little thinner depending on the recording.

There's a slight contrast between the lower and upper midrange, which helps maintain clarity but can also make some instruments sound less full-bodied than expected.

It's not necessarily a bad presentation, but it isn't the most natural or warm-sounding midrange either. For general listening, though, it gets the job done.

Treble

Treble is where things get a little more interesting.

The Nova has a fairly energetic upper-frequency presentation, providing a good amount of perceived detail and clarity without making everything sound overly dark.

There's a decent amount of extension, and cymbals and other high-frequency instruments have enough presence to avoid sounding completely dull.

However, depending on your sensitivity and choice of ear tips, certain recordings can sound a little sharp. It's not something I'd necessarily call fatiguing across the board, but it is worth mentioning.

Soundstage and imaging

Soundstage is reasonably spacious for an IEM, although it isn't particularly exceptional. There's a decent sense of width, with enough separation to prevent most busy recordings from becoming a complete mess.

Imaging is also fairly competent. Instruments generally occupy identifiable positions, and directional cues are easy enough to follow.

It's a perfectly respectable technical presentation, but I wouldn't consider it a particularly groundbreaking experience in this price range.

Measurements

Taken from CSI-ZONE squiglink page and enlarged. See how it compares to Hexa.

Looking at the frequency response, the Nova follows a generally balanced tuning philosophy, with a noticeable sub-bass shelf and an emphasis around the upper midrange.

It's worth remembering that frequency response graphs don't tell the entire story. They can give us a good idea of the overall tonal balance, but things like fit, insertion depth, ear tips, and individual hearing differences can influence what we actually hear.

Still, it's a useful reference when comparing the Nova against other IEMs.

Versus

Truthear Hexa

The Hexa is probably the most obvious comparison, considering they're from the same company.

The Hexa is a more affordable option, with a slightly different driver configuration and a generally more restrained presentation.

The Nova offers a more substantial sub-bass presentation and a different approach to the upper frequencies. It also has a larger shell and a considerably different aesthetic.

Whether the Nova is worth the additional money is ultimately dependent on what you're looking for. The Hexa remains a perfectly reasonable alternative if you don't need the additional bass emphasis or simply prefer its overall presentation.

Verdict

The Truthear Nova is a fairly competent IEM that gets a lot of things right. It has a decent build, a generous accessory package, a relatively balanced sound signature, and technical performance that makes it easy to recommend as an all-rounder.

However, it isn't perfect. The relatively large shell might be problematic for some people, and its particular midrange and treble presentation won't necessarily appeal to everyone.

I'd recommend it to people looking for a relatively balanced IEM with some sub-bass emphasis, good clarity, and an energetic presentation.

On the other hand, if you prefer a warmer sound, a more relaxed treble, or smaller shells, there are other options worth considering.

Is it worth the original asking price? I'd say it's a reasonable offering, provided that its particular tuning works for you. It's not something I'd blindly recommend to everyone, but it's certainly an interesting piece of Truthear's lineup.