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amazon ThieAudio Legacy 3 reviews
ThieAudio is an emerging Chi-fi headphone brand in the mid-range segment with prominent names known to the headphone community recently through the ThieAudio Monarch and Clairvoyance. Besides, ThieAudio also has products in the lower segment that are highly appreciated by the community.
In this article, we will explore together ThieAudio Legacy 3 – the most affordable IEM headset model to see if it’s right for you.
BOXING AND ACCESSORIES
The box of ThieAudio Legacy 3 is very minimalist, not fancy. Drawstring design box, blue cardboard material with ThieAudio logo on the front.
Inside the box, the company equips us with quite a few accessories:
– 3 sets of silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
– 1 lever switch adjustment tool
– 1 hard synthetic leather earphone case
– 1 Conductor included
DESIGN AND FINISHING
ThieAudio Legacy 3 has a design learned from the IEM models of qdc house – China’s number 1 cult IEM headset company. The semi-custom housing is optimized for Asian ear molds, so it is quite compact but still provides comfort and good sound insulation.
The ThieAudio Legacy 3’s housing is 3D printed with a manual-polished exterior. Many customizations for the appearance, from housing’s color to the texture of faceplate like high-end Custom models.
Here we have the blue version with a very nice gear faceplate. Due to the transparent body, we can see the real hardware inside ThieAudio Legacy 3: 1 dynamic driver, 2 BA drivers, crossover circuit, and two sound exits.
According to information from NSX, the dynamic driver on ThieAudio Legacy 3 is equipped with nanofiber textured diaphragm technology to help reproduce bass more detailed and accurate.
It is surprising that on the body of ThieAudio Legacy 3, we see the switch cluster. This special function is usually only found on mid-to-high-end IEM models to fine-tune different sound qualities for headphones.
Usually, at this price range, companies only equip OFC copper to save costs. Still, the conductors that come with ThieAudio Legacy 3 are quite well invested when using extremely high purity 7N OCC copper material. This conductor promises better detail and dynamics. The lead uses a 2-pin 0.78mm connector with a connector design quite similar to the qdc models.
In summary, despite being at the entry-level, the design and finishing quality of ThieAudio Legacy 3 is very good, creating a sense of luxury and luxury not inferior to expensive Custom headsets.
EXPERIENCE AND MIXING
ThieAudio Legacy 3 for an extremely fit and comfortable wearing experience. Very lightweight and optimal shape, you can wear ThieAudio Legacy 3 for a long time without ear fatigue.
The soundproofing ability of the ear is at a good level. If you use more advanced ear tips like Azla XELASTEC or Spinfit, the sound insulation and comfort will be further improved.
ThieAudio Legacy 3 has an impedance of only about 9 Ohms and a sensitivity of up to 108dB, so it is very sensitive to the source. Just a smartphone or music player can pull this headset well. However, due to high sensitivity, ThieAudio Legacy 3 will reveal the weaknesses of an unclean source; you need to use a good enough source to maximize the potential of this headset.
where can you get a ThieAudio Legacy 3 online
Thieaudio Legacy 3 2BA + 1DD Hybrid Triple Driver in Ear Monitor for Audiophiles Musicians (QDC, Clockworks): Buy it now
Thieaudio Legacy 3 Customization: Buy it now
SOUND QUALITY
Overall, the ThieAudio Legacy 3 has a slightly V-shape sound with a slight emphasis on the sub-bass and high-mid sections.
Bass
Balanced, good response speed. The bass range on the Legacy 3 can go down to 20 Hz with a slight roll-off. Bass has quite good force, the response speed is quite fast, but it lacks texture and detail. This Legacy 3 provides just enough bass to make the song more attractive while maintaining a balanced bass and not pressing too much on the Mid-bass or Sub-bass.
Mid
Warm and quite affectionate. The mid strip on the Legacy 3 is made slightly backward, not occupying the center but very well separated. The male voice and the instruments are made very mellow and gentle. The upper-mid part, where female voices and instruments with higher tones such as trumpets sound melodic and smooth. All of this has been done very well while maintaining overall coherence.
Treble
Gentle and safe. The treble strip on the Legacy 3 is harmonized into the upper-mid part, and there is no glare phenomenon. However, for those who like to listen to treble a lot, it seems that Legacy 3 has not met expectations. This headset seems to lack the sparkle in some songs, lacks a few small details. While this is a plus for those with treble-sensitive ears, ThieAudio made the Legacy 3 safe in the 7-10kHz frequency ranges.
Soundstage
The soundstage seems to be a bit better than other IEMs in the same price range. However, the image on this Legacy 3 is very normal, if not flat. Layering and resolution also suffer from the same problem, which doesn’t seem to be as good as the slightly cheaper IEMs like the Tin Audio T4 or the Starfield from Moondrop.
Different types of tonal tuning
As I mentioned earlier, ThieAudio Legacy 3 can tune itself with the switch on the body. Graph of changing sound according to different settings:
00: this selection seems to reduce the full-range volume. On top of that, the bass seems to be a bit less, which allows the treble to appear a little further forward. The mid-range then sinks a bit lower than the treble but is still quite balanced.
01: this setting is almost the same as the previous one; The only difference I can notice is more emphasis on the High-mid.
10: this filter increases the bass compared to the 00 profile while leaving the rest unchanged.
11: here’s what you read in the detailed review above
Compare with IEMs of the same price range.
Moondrop Starfield
That is also an IEM with a light V-shape sound; however, the Starfield brings a more intense, fun emotion than the Legacy 3 both in soundstage; the treble strip on Starfield is sparkling, with accents. It seems that the Legacy 3 stops at a good level, completely flat and not pressed on any strip too much.
Shozy Form 1.4
The mid-range on both headphones is made quite well. However, the mid-range on Form 1.4 has more affection and warmth. The Legacy 3 stops at a safe, easy-to-listen level.
EPILOGUE
ThieAudio Legacy 3 is a good IEM in the price range. It has the design and finish of an expensive IEM headset, sounding easy for the masses. However, a few minus points in the audio section of this headset will make audiophiles consider.
If you need a beautiful, luxurious headset and do not require too much sound performance, ThieAudio Legacy 3 is a bright choice.