By Nick Smith, 30th January 2025
How far do the limits need to be pushed before something becomes too much of a good thing?
This crossed my mind when I heard of the new TSMR ARMORs which sport three bass tuning switches.
Don’t get me wrong – I love hard hitting bass. However there’s always that point at which it goes from being pleasantly emphasised to violently omnipotent. Heck, some of my friends even prefer the latter.
The art of tuning earphones oft lies in pushing one particular aspect of sound enough to differentiate from rival options, without compromising the rest of the audio spectrum excessively.
So when offered a pair of the ARMORs in exchange for my thoughts I cracked my knuckles & stood ready to evaluate how successfully they walk this tightrope. Read on to digest my findings!
Packaging
The USD $289 TSMR ARMORs arrive in a small cardboard box, inside is a fairly compact leather case that feels supple & substantial to the touch, a definite upgrade over previous TSMR cases.
You also receive two sets of silicone eartips in three sizes, a cleaning tool, SIM card tray tool (for adjusting ARMOR’s tuning switches), a small paper manual, stock OFC silver-plated cable with leather organiser strap, the IEMs themselves… and even a waifu card!
All up it feels like a more substantial package than I’ve experienced with past TSMR IEMs, and commensurate with the ARMORs’ pricetag.
Ergonomics
The ARMORs are physically substantial. About average for modern hybrids in this price range, yet considering they contain two DDs and a trio of tuning switches the space has been utilised impressively.
Comfort is a very personal thing, but though they stick out a reasonable distance the areas which make contact with the canal are fairly slim and the stems are not terribly thick.
I can keep them in for at least several hours without discomfort, but wouldn’t call them small enough to lay claim to comfort necessarily being one of their strengths.
Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging & Ergonomics
Page 2 – Sound Impressions, Technical Performance & Tuning Switches
Page 3 – IEM Comparisons
Page 4 – Cable Comparisons
Page 5 – Conclusion
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