I loved Symphoniums’s Helios and it was well received by everyone who tried it and I also thought it was truly something special. They managed to make an all BA IEM sound better than most TOTL hybrids and had some neat tricks going on in general. So when I heard a new IEM that was meant to be a more relaxed listen was coming out I was thrilled. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a unit for a bit via a local tour. The Triton is a hybrid design consisting of a single DD and at least two BA drivers. I didn’t see much info on the driver setup for the Triton but I’m simply guessing the BA driver count here. The Triton comes in at $899.00
The Triton can be picked up from Symphonium at their website below.
https://www.symphoniumaudio.com/products/triton
Gear Used
IPhone 12 pro with headphone adapter, Lotto PAW S1, Moondrop MR2 and SMSL SU-9 feeding the SP400 amp.
Looks and fit
I absolutely hate the Triton shell when it comes to fit and comfort. I was more forgiving in my Helios review but they both use the same shell. The size of the shell is fine but it's the long nozzle that kills me. It requires a deeper fit in order to sound the best. I’ll get into the nozzle length sound differences later but the Triton/Helios shell normally causes too much of a seal in my ears and this causes everything to sound tinny and causes pressure discomfort. I have finally found a pair of tips that allow a deep fit and not as much seal pressure. With the stars aligned right, the right time of day, in the right position and the right fitment, I find the comfort ok but I can feel a little pressure from the nozzles on the inside of my ear canal after an hour or two. While I do complain about the shells a lot, I do believe the right fit will produce some very good sound.
Isolation and sound leakage
The Triton shell is fully sealed and it feels like a CIEM to my ears in terms of seal. It does block out sound really well when it comes to passive isolation. It also leaks almost no sound either so this makes for a good IEM in quiet places.
Packaging and accessories
We get a nice average sized box with the case and IEMs sitting on top. On the front side of the box is a little shelf which holds the ear tips and metal card which holds the serial number. I think the included accessories are perfectly fine, though I don’t like the case as much as the threads can squeak when undoing the case. Not the end of the world but something to note. I totally woke up my fiance with the case noise at least a few times at night.
Sound(overall)
These final impressions were done off the SMSL SU-9 connected to the SMSL SP400. These impressions are what the Triton sounded like to my ears. This was also using the W2 eartips from Spinfit. I opted for the silver cable that was provided with my tour unit(it was already attached to the Triton out the box). Things like ear tip selection and DAC/amp selection will produce different results and impressions vs what my ears hear on my specific gear.
With a deep fit in the ear, the Triton has a clear but somewhat fun tuning. The bass hits well enough but it is very controlled and has a nice quality to it. It has a fast decay so it lacks a little fullness to the bass and in all honesty, I wish it were a little slower and I would prefer it to just hit a bit harder. It’s so close to my preferences and it bothers me that it needs just a bit more haha. I am appreciating faster bass lately so I give the Triton a pass here. The mids are pretty clear and they bring in good details on instruments like guitars and trumpets. I think vocals sound just a bit more relaxed detail wise on the Triton but it still has a clean presentation. Just feel it’s missing a little something. The upper mids are fairly controlled and less intense which is a nice change of pace since I feel everything I’ve reviewed lately are all upper mid focused. I think the Triton gets sharp enough but never gets harsh. I do like the treble on the Triton and I think it pulls in details up top fairly well. It still sounds a little tame to me but it has good resolution and the decay is quick. It’s not Helios treble but I do enjoy the detailed sound I hear on the Triton. Overall I like this tuning and it reminds me a little of my favorite IEM, the THIEAUDIO Clairvoyance in a way.
Nozzle depth issues(for me)
So the Triton(and Helios) require a deep fit to sound the best IMO. The company reps recommend a deep fit as well. Most ear tips I used caused the seal to become too intense which caused pressure discomfort so I went with a bigger ear tip which meant the Triton shell stuck out quite a bit. Even though I had a good seal that was comfy, this caused the sound to be somewhat lean and almost hollow. It lacked some bass impact, mids sounded thin and treble came in a little too wonky for my tastes. I recently bought the new Spinfit W2 tips to try for some other IEMs and after trying the small size on the Triton, I was able to get the deep fit without pressure issues. The Triton ended up sounding vastly different to me. This is one of the few IEMs I get too much seal pressure from. I know many people who don’t have the same issue so keep that in mind if my complaints seem like it's a common issue, cause it’s not for most people.
Soundstage/Imaging
The staging is above average in width and depth. This could be due to the fitment but I remember the Helios having more space in the stage. The imaging is very good here and I could pick out all the normal things I look out for on specific tracks. It unfortunately doesn’t have the neat imaging tricks the Helios provided.
Sensitivity/Drivability
I think the Triton is easier to drive, so it can be powered from probably all dongles just fine. It's a little sensitive but I didn’t notice any hissing off my source gear.
Stock cable
The Triton comes with a stock copper cable. My unit came with two silver plated cables in both 4.4mm and 2.5mm. I think the stock cable is fine but I wouldn’t cable roll these unless you use cables that don’t have ear guides built in. The Triton sticks out a lot(even with a deep fit) so guides on cables can cause all kinds of fitment issues. I like the way the stock cable looks and feels so I wouldn’t change it out personally.
IEM comparisons
THIEAUDIO Clairvoyance
I am biased towards the Clairvoyance since it’s my favorite IEM so take this as you will. Both do bass pretty well but the Clair has just a bit more impact and body to the bass that I really like. The Triton is no slouch but it just doesn’t hit like the Clair does. The mids are good on both but I feel the Clair has a slight advantage. The vocals sound better on the Clair as well. The Clair has a slightly stronger upper mids so I believe this is why I find the mids to be better overall. The treble sounds about the same in terms of sparkle and sharpness. Though I do feel the Triton does detail retrieval better and it provides a cleaner sound up top. The staging is wider on the Clair but imaging is about the same between the two. I like the Clair tuning over the Triton but it feels like the Triton is 95% of what I love about the Clairvoyance. Both are great but I can get an easier and more comfortable fit on the Clair. I simply have more issues here and there with the Triton’s shell.
UM MEXT
The MEXT does come in $200 more than the Triton but it's a good comparison nonetheless. Both go for different tunings but I find the Triton works better as an all rounder. The bass is stronger on the MEXT and the impact/slam is noticeably better at a very small hit to bass quality. The mids are more recessed on the MEXT but the upper mids are stronger as well. I like the mids of the Triton better since It never gets too harsh like the MEXT can. The treble is way better on the Triton IMO and while the MEXT has a specific focus, the Triton really does pull in good details over the MEXT. I would pick the Triton over the MEXT if I only could have one but I find the MEXT more fun sounding in certain genres. Fitment again is way more comfortable on the MEXT over the Tritons shell.
Amping Combinations
Moondrop Moon River 2
The MR2 does make the Triton sound just a bit brighter but it still manages to produce good bass with the loss of a little fullness. The mids are a little thinner sounding due to the brighter focus but the treble does have a noticeable added sharpness. This sound signature makes the Triton sound a bit more analytic but I don’t believe the MR2 ruins the sound of the Triton. The staging stayed about the same and I didn’t notice anything special.
Lotoo PAW S1
The PAW S1 has a warmer signature that I preferred with the Triton. Bass on the S1 is nice and full sounding which makes the Triton feel like it has just a bit more going on down low. The mids are warmer with a little less quality in vocals. The treble is pulled back a bit more and there is a little less sparkle up top but I still felt details came through just fine. Staging was a little wider here and while I think a neutral or brighter source might be a better pairing for the Triton, I liked this pairing a lot.
SMSL SU-9/SP400
All my sound impressions are done off this specific stack. While I rarely think IEMs need a hardcore amp, I find scaling can sometimes occur with better DACs. I did find the best sound overall to come off this stack but I felt something like the Moondrop MR2/PAW S1 dongles got me 90 percent of the way there and that’s absolutely acceptable IMO.
Overall thoughts
So is the Triton the only sub $1k IEM that matters to me now? Nah, I still like the Clairvoyance tuning and comfort over the Triton so it will continue to be my favorite all rounder for the time being. The Triton’s tuning is wonderful and minus the weird fitment issues I personally have, the Triton is an easy recommendation! Symphonium yet again has another winner on their hands. The only thing I think holds the Triton back is the Symphoniums own Helios. I complained in my Helios review that I felt the Helios was priced too low at $1099(sounds like a $1500+ IEM) and the Triton feels it's priced correctly at $899. With the helios only costing $200 more, I think the Helios will be most people's choice over the Triton. Which is a bummer since the Triton is a really good IEM and more my tastes persoanlly. I really like Symphonium and Subtonic so I’m happy to see another winner released from them. I look forward to seeing what the Storm is brewing and as always! Thanks for reading!!
I loved Symphoniums’s Helios and it was well received by everyone who tried it and I also thought it was truly something special. They managed to make an all BA IEM sound better than most TOTL hybrids and had some neat tricks going on in general. So when I heard a new IEM that was meant to be a more relaxed listen was coming out I was thrilled. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a unit for a bit via a local tour. The Triton is a hybrid design consisting of a single DD and at least two BA drivers. I didn’t see much info on the driver setup for the Triton but I’m simply guessing the BA driver count here. The Triton comes in at $899.00
Quick shoutout to Symphonium for sending the Triton to review. While I always appreciate the chance to test and review products sent in from manufacturers or dealers, it never affects the rating of my reviews.
The Triton can be picked up from Symphonium at their website below.
https://www.symphoniumaudio.com/products/triton
Onto the review of the Symphonium Triton! My personal preference is a hybrid/tribrid IEM where I get good hitting bass and have a detailed treble with decent mids. When it comes to an over ear headphone I prefer a spacious sound with a deep low end, the mids to be more forward and the highs to be a little bright with some sparkle. I listen to a lot of genres but I hover in the classic rock, blues and edm music with some rap here and there.
Gear Used
IPhone 12 pro with headphone adapter, Lotto PAW S1, Moondrop MR2 and SMSL SU-9 feeding the SP400 amp.
Looks and fit
I absolutely hate the Triton shell when it comes to fit and comfort. I was more forgiving in my Helios review but they both use the same shell. The size of the shell is fine but it's the long nozzle that kills me. It requires a deeper fit in order to sound the best. I’ll get into the nozzle length sound differences later but the Triton/Helios shell normally causes too much of a seal in my ears and this causes everything to sound tinny and causes pressure discomfort. I have finally found a pair of tips that allow a deep fit and not as much seal pressure. With the stars aligned right, the right time of day, in the right position and the right fitment, I find the comfort ok but I can feel a little pressure from the nozzles on the inside of my ear canal after an hour or two. While I do complain about the shells a lot, I do believe the right fit will produce some very good sound.
Isolation and sound leakage
The Triton shell is fully sealed and it feels like a CIEM to my ears in terms of seal. It does block out sound really well when it comes to passive isolation. It also leaks almost no sound either so this makes for a good IEM in quiet places.
Packaging and accessories
We get a nice average sized box with the case and IEMs sitting on top. On the front side of the box is a little shelf which holds the ear tips and metal card which holds the serial number. I think the included accessories are perfectly fine, though I don’t like the case as much as the threads can squeak when undoing the case. Not the end of the world but something to note. I totally woke up my fiance with the case noise at least a few times at night.
Sound(overall)
These final impressions were done off the SMSL SU-9 connected to the SMSL SP400. These impressions are what the Triton sounded like to my ears. This was also using the W2 eartips from Spinfit. I opted for the silver cable that was provided with my tour unit(it was already attached to the Triton out the box). Things like ear tip selection and DAC/amp selection will produce different results and impressions vs what my ears hear on my specific gear.
With a deep fit in the ear, the Triton has a clear but somewhat fun tuning. The bass hits well enough but it is very controlled and has a nice quality to it. It has a fast decay so it lacks a little fullness to the bass and in all honesty, I wish it were a little slower and I would prefer it to just hit a bit harder. It’s so close to my preferences and it bothers me that it needs just a bit more haha. I am appreciating faster bass lately so I give the Triton a pass here. The mids are pretty clear and they bring in good details on instruments like guitars and trumpets. I think vocals sound just a bit more relaxed detail wise on the Triton but it still has a clean presentation. Just feel it’s missing a little something. The upper mids are fairly controlled and less intense which is a nice change of pace since I feel everything I’ve reviewed lately are all upper mid focused. I think the Triton gets sharp enough but never gets harsh. I do like the treble on the Triton and I think it pulls in details up top fairly well. It still sounds a little tame to me but it has good resolution and the decay is quick. It’s not Helios treble but I do enjoy the detailed sound I hear on the Triton. Overall I like this tuning and it reminds me a little of my favorite IEM, the THIEAUDIO Clairvoyance in a way.
Nozzle depth issues(for me)
So the Triton(and Helios) require a deep fit to sound the best IMO. The company reps recommend a deep fit as well. Most ear tips I used caused the seal to become too intense which caused pressure discomfort so I went with a bigger ear tip which meant the Triton shell stuck out quite a bit. Even though I had a good seal that was comfy, this caused the sound to be somewhat lean and almost hollow. It lacked some bass impact, mids sounded thin and treble came in a little too wonky for my tastes. I recently bought the new Spinfit W2 tips to try for some other IEMs and after trying the small size on the Triton, I was able to get the deep fit without pressure issues. The Triton ended up sounding vastly different to me. This is one of the few IEMs I get too much seal pressure from. I know many people who don’t have the same issue so keep that in mind if my complaints seem like it's a common issue, cause it’s not for most people.
Soundstage/Imaging
The staging is above average in width and depth. This could be due to the fitment but I remember the Helios having more space in the stage. The imaging is very good here and I could pick out all the normal things I look out for on specific tracks. It unfortunately doesn’t have the neat imaging tricks the Helios provided.
Sensitivity/Drivability
I think the Triton is easier to drive, so it can be powered from probably all dongles just fine. It's a little sensitive but I didn’t notice any hissing off my source gear.
Stock cable
The Triton comes with a stock copper cable. My unit came with two silver plated cables in both 4.4mm and 2.5mm. I think the stock cable is fine but I wouldn’t cable roll these unless you use cables that don’t have ear guides built in. The Triton sticks out a lot(even with a deep fit) so guides on cables can cause all kinds of fitment issues. I like the way the stock cable looks and feels so I wouldn’t change it out personally.
IEM comparisons
THIEAUDIO Clairvoyance
I am biased towards the Clairvoyance since it’s my favorite IEM so take this as you will. Both do bass pretty well but the Clair has just a bit more impact and body to the bass that I really like. The Triton is no slouch but it just doesn’t hit like the Clair does. The mids are good on both but I feel the Clair has a slight advantage. The vocals sound better on the Clair as well. The Clair has a slightly stronger upper mids so I believe this is why I find the mids to be better overall. The treble sounds about the same in terms of sparkle and sharpness. Though I do feel the Triton does detail retrieval better and it provides a cleaner sound up top. The staging is wider on the Clair but imaging is about the same between the two. I like the Clair tuning over the Triton but it feels like the Triton is 95% of what I love about the Clairvoyance. Both are great but I can get an easier and more comfortable fit on the Clair. I simply have more issues here and there with the Triton’s shell.
UM MEXT
The MEXT does come in $200 more than the Triton but it's a good comparison nonetheless. Both go for different tunings but I find the Triton works better as an all rounder. The bass is stronger on the MEXT and the impact/slam is noticeably better at a very small hit to bass quality. The mids are more recessed on the MEXT but the upper mids are stronger as well. I like the mids of the Triton better since It never gets too harsh like the MEXT can. The treble is way better on the Triton IMO and while the MEXT has a specific focus, the Triton really does pull in good details over the MEXT. I would pick the Triton over the MEXT if I only could have one but I find the MEXT more fun sounding in certain genres. Fitment again is way more comfortable on the MEXT over the Tritons shell.
Amping Combinations
Moondrop Moon River 2
The MR2 does make the Triton sound just a bit brighter but it still manages to produce good bass with the loss of a little fullness. The mids are a little thinner sounding due to the brighter focus but the treble does have a noticeable added sharpness. This sound signature makes the Triton sound a bit more analytic but I don’t believe the MR2 ruins the sound of the Triton. The staging stayed about the same and I didn’t notice anything special.
Lotoo PAW S1
The PAW S1 has a warmer signature that I preferred with the Triton. Bass on the S1 is nice and full sounding which makes the Triton feel like it has just a bit more going on down low. The mids are warmer with a little less quality in vocals. The treble is pulled back a bit more and there is a little less sparkle up top but I still felt details came through just fine. Staging was a little wider here and while I think a neutral or brighter source might be a better pairing for the Triton, I liked this pairing a lot.
SMSL SU-9/SP400
All my sound impressions are done off this specific stack. While I rarely think IEMs need a hardcore amp, I find scaling can sometimes occur with better DACs. I did find the best sound overall to come off this stack but I felt something like the Moondrop MR2/PAW S1 dongles got me 90 percent of the way there and that’s absolutely acceptable IMO.
Overall thoughts
So is the Triton the only sub $1k IEM that matters to me now? Nah, I still like the Clairvoyance tuning and comfort over the Triton so it will continue to be my favorite all rounder for the time being. The Triton’s tuning is wonderful and minus the weird fitment issues I personally have, the Triton is an easy recommendation! Symphonium yet again has another winner on their hands. The only thing I think holds the Triton back is the Symphonium's own Helios. I complained in my Helios review that I felt the Helios was priced too low at $1099(sounds like a $1500+ IEM) and the Triton feels it's priced correctly at $899. With the helios only costing $200 more, I think the Helios will be most people's choice over the Triton. Which is a bummer since the Triton is a really good IEM and more my tastes personally. I really like Symphonium and Subtonic so I’m happy to see another winner released from them. I look forward to seeing what the Storm is brewing and as always! Thanks for reading!!
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