1MORE Triple Driver are premium looking and feeling in-ear monitors that don’t spare with accessories. But does the sound quality feel premium too? Check the A/B sound test below.
When you open the 1MORE Triple Driver packaging, you forget you “only paid” $70. You get:
- A big box with a magnetic flap
- Stiff pleather carrying pouch
- Airplane adapter
- And 9 pairs of ear tips
Furthermore, in-ear monitors (IEMs) have an aluminum housing, adding a premium shine and feel. Attention to detail goes even further. Pressing on the inline control buttons is satisfyingly clicky.
However, at HeadphonesAddict, we care more about performance than aesthetics. Sadly, this is where dual balance armatures and a single dynamic driver fail to reach expectations.
Find out precisely what to expect from the Triple Driver IEM and whether they’re still worth buying in 2023.
Price:
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Pros & Cons:
- Decent sound with a forgiving, dark treble
- Premium-feeling build quality & a braided cable
- Tons of the accessories, even airplane adaptor
- Competitors are better in sound quality
- Background distortion when making phone calls in loud places
- Non-detachable cable & somewhat thin wires
Category ratings:
Sound
1MORE Triple Driver sound very polite, with a recessed midrange and pretty smooth treble. Even though the bass response isn’t too elevated, it’s still the most powerful, which makes everything muddy.
Check the 1MORE Triple Driver – A/B sound test:
Learn how to understand sound comparisons.
As with all 1MORE headphones, Triple Drivers were also tuned by Luca Bignardi, a Grammy-winning sound engineer.
While we agree with the note that he left in the box, saying that “sound shouldn’t be a flat line that only satisfies laboratory engineers”, the Triple Driver could have better tuning.
Instead, they don’t quite deliver the sound they promised. Let’s go into more detail.
Bass: Weighty punch but sloppy control
In multi-driver IEMs, bass frequencies are usually handled by a dynamic driver as it produces the most natural response, punch, and decay. The same goes for 1MORE Triple Driver.
Bass frequencies are slightly boosted, have a good extension, and have a nice sub-bass rumble. They can reach pretty low, which makes them an excellent pair for hip-hop and electronic music.
However, the bass boost reaches 300Hz, which means that it bleeds into the midrange. Consequently, you get a very warm sound.
Furthermore, the dynamic driver could be more controlled. It’s fine for pop and hip-hop, but faster drumming, like double bass pedals, can sometimes become mushy and lost in the mix.
For example, drumming at the beginning of “Birth of the Cruel” by Slipknot sounds nice and weighty. But, at 0:54, when the song ramps up the speed, bass kicks start sounding a bit indistinct.
On the other hand, Armin Van Buuren’s “Blah Blah Blah” sounds perfectly fine, forcing you to start headbanging.
1MORE Triple Driver frequency response
Midrange: Recessed with somewhat natural vocals
A recessed midrange accompanied by an elevated bass contributes to a somewhat muddy sound. Fortunately, the recession is relatively even, so vocals and instruments still sound somewhat natural, albeit quiet.
On the other hand, if you’re an audiophile, you might want a bit more detail for critical listening. There’s very little treble energy, so the midrange doesn’t quite excel in airiness and clarity.
“Carry Me Away” by John Mayer can sound a bit bloated, especially in the beginning, and the lack of clarity hides instruments like acoustic guitar during the chorus. That said, that will only matter to audio purists.
Treble: Recessed and forgiving
Higher frequencies are, except for 4.5kHz, recessed as well. Even down to -18dB at 8.5kHz. Meaning that you can expect a relatively polite, dark treble response.
A positive thing about this tuning is Triple Driver’s forgiving nature. These wired in-ears are great for those who are treble sensitive and regularly cringe in the presence of sibilance.
However, the lack of energy in this region also hides some excitement in songs involving lots of cymbal crashes. “Love It If We Made It” by The 1975 comes though a bit dull without air and sizzling from cymbals.
Speaking of cymbals, they have some texture, but you can only enjoy them on quieter tracks, like the beginning of “Marooned” by Pink Floyd. Sadly, the busier the song gets, the less you hear them.
The soundstage is decently wide for an IEM, preventing the sound from feeling trapped inside your head.
Furthermore, the imaging is pretty accurate, too, with just a tiny blurry spot near the center image.
In conclusion, 1MORE Triple Driver are decent, polite-sounding in-ear headphones that work best with punchy music genres. They’re fine for other genres, too, but they don’t sound as enjoyable.
However, competitors like TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red and KZ AS16 Pro can be much more versatile and detailed.
Do foam ear tips affect the sound?
The included foam tips make the sound even darker, with less treble and a little more bass punch. We recommend sticking with regular silicone ear tips.
Comfort & Fit
1MORE Triple Driver are quite small and ergonomically designed, so you don’t feel them poking or pressing against your ears. On the other hand, ear tips aren’t sticky enough to endure more intense head shaking.
These IEMs’ form factor is pretty small, so they don’t poke in your pinna or create any pressure. You even get 9 pairs of ear tips, silicone, and foam ones, to perfectly match your ear canal.
The silicone ear tips are pretty sticky and nicely grab onto your ear canal. That ensures you can easily wear them during a commute or for outdoor walking, even with cables straight down (you don’t benefit by wearing the cable over the ear).
On the other hand, the buds start slipping out of your ears when you start shaking your head or jumping around, which means they aren’t the best choice for sports.
As mentioned at the beginning, these IEMs have an entirely aluminum exterior. While that adds a little weight, you don’t feel it much during use.
However, you feel the cold metal for at least a minute or so. I don’t mind it, but using them in the winter can be a bit unpleasant.
Durability
1MORE Triple Driver have a durable aluminum build that can survive any drop and come with a hard carrying pouch that prevents them from getting squished. But they lack IPX rating and detachable cables to get a higher rating.
You can admit that 1MORE Triple Driver look and feels premium. All-aluminum construction makes them solid, without visible weak points where they could break.
Even the cable’s plug is made of aluminum, with long strain relief. It’s a 90° plug (L-shaped), so you should avoid violently tucking on the cable. Also, the first half of the cable is dressed in a nylon fabric to increase durability.
A potential breaking point could be the stem, which is thin and a bit long. Cables from the splitter up are also quite thin, so you should still be cautious during use and storage.
Fortunately, the latter is nicely secure thanks to included hard pouch made of pleather. It closes down with a magnet, which you can rest assured won’t accidentally open in your bag.
However, there are 2 main concerns regarding 1MORE Triple Driver. First is the lack of an IP rating. That said, humidity is unlikely to damage them solely by sweating.
The second issue is the non-removable cable. Combined with thin wires connecting the IEMs, and the fact that you also have an inline control module (common failure point), the cable could be the first thing to break.
Features
1MORE Triple Driver offers in-line remote control with music playback commands and a built-in microphone. And, for frequent travelers, you even get an airplane adapter.
Wired headphones are rarely packed with extra features. That said, 1MORE Triple Driver earbuds come with playback controls and a built-in mic. So you can accept your phone calls or change songs without touching your playing device.
1MORE Triple Driver controls are as follows:
- Answer/hang up/play/pause – single press on the middle button
- Decline a call/voice assistant – long press the middle button
- Next song – double press the middle button
- Repeat/previous song – triple press the middle button
- Volume up – press the upper button
- Volume down – press the lower button
IEMs also arrive with an airplane adapter so you can enjoy onboard entertainment.
As an observation, the packaging lacks the metallic shirt clip that came included with 1MORE Triple Driver a few years ago.
Microphone quality
1MORE Triple Driver provide a clear and full voice quality but suffers from noticeable background distortion when exposed to loud external sounds.
1MORE Triple Driver microphone test (quiet & background noise):
When using the IEMs in quieter places, your voice is picked up with good clarity and fullness. However, since the mic is built into a cable and positioned under your chin, you sound a bit quiet to the caller.
When exposed to louder sounds, the noise reduction kicks in and tries to cancel out the external noise rather unsuccessfully. Instead, you get an annoying background distortion.
Therefore, try to avoid noisy places when making phone calls with 1MORE Triple Driver.
Noise Isolation
1MORE Triple Driver provide a sufficient seal for casual listening and commuting, but you will hear louder sounds, even when listening to music.
IEMs come with 9 pairs of ear tips, 3 of which are memory foam, so you can easily achieve a proper seal. However, the passive noise isolation is only average.
Unsure why, but the Triple Driver are actually worse than Zero:Red, which are made of resin, and their seal feels less secure.
As expected, earbuds ensure the best isolation at higher frequencies, becoming effective after 1kHz.
One thing to keep in mind is the sound leakage. It’s moderate, but only when listening at high volumes. Still, in a library, people sitting next to you might hear your music.
What about cable noise?
Cable noise is noticeable but not severe or overly distracting. As long as you don’t plan to run with the Triple Drivers, you should be fine.
Should You Get 1MORE Triple Driver?
You should get 1MORE Triple Driver if you value high build quality, premium materials, and don’t like harsh treble. Their sound is relaxing to the point where you start missing a bit of excitement.
On the other hand, if you want clarity and the best bang-for-the-buck sound quality, there are much better and cheaper alternatives out there.
While 1MORE Triple Driver can be an example of how to make premium-feeling in-ear headphones under $100, other IEMs overtook them regarding audio quality in 2023 (the time of testing).
How do 1MORE Triple Driver compare to the competition?
- Triple Driver IEMs are better made than the similarly-priced competition, with premium materials like aluminum.
- Unlike many affordable IEMs, Triple Drivers have inline controls with a built-in mic.
- Buds are equally as, if not even more, comfortable than the competition.
- You get more and better quality accessories, like 9 pairs of ear tips and a hard carrying pouch instead of a soft pouch.
- Their sound quality lacks clarity and excitement compared to similarly priced alternatives.
- You can’t detach their cable, unlike most of the IEMs, even affordable ones.
1MORE Triple Driver alternatives
TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red
Zero:Red are the latest collaboration with the Crinacle, and they bring an impressive sound close to a neutral sound signature, offering much better sound than Triple Driver.
While made of resin, they look amazing and have a detachable cable in case it gets damaged. You also get 7 pairs of ear tips, but only a soft pouch, not a hard one.
1MORE Quad Driver
Expect overall identical tuning except for a slightly boosted 11kHz-12kHz region, which adds more clarity. Technical performance is also slightly better in comparison.
Despite slightly different looks, the rest remain the same, with similar ear tip selection, mic performance, and carrying pouch. Plus, the cable is oxygen-free, and you get a 6.35mm adapter.
KZ AS16 Pro
With KZ AS16 Pro you get a great sound quality; a better technical performance, and similarly dark tuning. You also get 8 balanced armature drivers per earbud to cover the entire sound spectrum.
The cable is detachable but feels very cheap. Also, IEMs are bulkier and not as comfy, and you don’t get a carrying pouch like with other alternatives.
What’s in the Box?
- 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear monitors
- 9 pairs of ear tips (3 or foam (S, M, L), 6 are from silicone (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL))
- Protective pouch
- User manual
- 1MORE sticker
- Airplane adapter
Specifications
| Type: | In-ear monitors |
| Connection: | Wired – 3.5mm |
| Back design: | Closed-back |
| Drivers: | 2 BA + 1 Dynamic |
| Frequency range: | 20-40.000Hz |
| Impedance: | 32 Ohm |
| Weight: | 0.63 ounces (18 grams) |
| Mic & Controls: | Yes |
| Water resistance: | None |
| Battery life: | / |
| Charging time: | / |
| Active noise cancelling: | No |
| Bluetooth codecs: | / |
| Wireless range: | / |
| Microphone: | In-line |
From a childhood fascination with sound, Peter’s passion has evolved into a relentless pursuit of the finest headphones. He’s an audio expert with over 5 years of experience in testing both audiophile and consumer-grade headphones. Quote: “After many years, I can confidently tell which headphones are good and which are terrible.” Find his honest opinion in his reviews.
