By aspect — in detail
Near-universally described as warm-neutral / 'warm side of neutral' — a warmer, more relaxed take on the Hexa, repeatedly likened to the HD 650. Sources split on whether that tilt is a mature evolution or a sidegrade that softens the Hexa's clarity.
Measured
On the B&K 5128 the Pure reads warmer and more relaxed than the Hexa with a tamed upper-treble peak (Headphones.com); Pragmatic Audio frames the 'tilted' tuning — more mid-bass, less mid-treble — as JM-1-influenced and aimed at an HD 650-like target. Prime Audio is the lone outlier, calling it a 'light V-shaped presentation.'
⚠ vs. listeners — Everyone measures the same warm tilt; the split is taste. Warm/relaxed listeners hear a mature evolution, neutral-bright fans hear lost clarity and prefer the Hexa — the same graph, opposite valence.
Where it splits
A more mature, musical neutral — most prefer it to the Hexa.60%
“that's the reason why I actually prefer the Pure over the original Hexa.”
Resolve (Headphones.com)
A sidegrade, not an upgrade — the leaner Hexa is the more honest neutral.40%
“Not an upgrade from the Hexa, it's a different product entirely.”
SoundGuys (Jhaycee Calvez)
Broad agreement on character: a controlled, sub-bass-led low end with more mid-bass body than the Hexa, clean and rarely bloated. The disagreement is quantity — tasteful and 'just right' to most, still light on slam and rumble to bassheads.
“the Pure strikes a perfect balance with a controlled mid-bass presence that adds just the right amount of warmth and body without ever becoming overwhelming.”
Pragmatic Audio
“The low-end on the TRUTHEAR PURE takes on a more neutral and restrained approach, never aiming for heavy slam or physical rumble.”
Headfonics (Kurt)
Measured
Measures as roughly a +3–4 dB lift from the sub-bass through the core midrange versus the Hexa, with the response nearly identical from ~1 kHz up (Prime Audio); the tuner says sub-bass is 'basically identical' to the Hexa, the added warmth coming from the mid-bass (Resolve / Headphones.com).
Forward and warm-tilted, and a clear strength for most — natural, smooth, 'lifelike.' A real minority hears the low-mid bloom as a cost: vocals that sit slightly buried, or come off grainy and lifeless.
Measured
A low-mid lift adds body and warmth; on the B&K 5128 Resolve notes the same forwardness can detract a little from clarity versus the Hexa, which keeps slightly more separation and contrast.
Where it splits
Lush, natural, lifelike — the headline strength.58%
“The midrange presentation is where the Pure truly shines, offering a natural, slightly forward presentation”
Pragmatic Audio
Slightly buried / grainy / lifeless — the warmth costs clarity.42%
“They don't sound fully natural, sometimes coming off lifeless despite the forwardness in presence.”
Headfonics (Kurt)
Everyone agrees the Hexa's upper-treble peak is flattened — the Pure is smoother and darker up top. Whether that reads as a welcome, non-fatiguing fix or as too rolled-off (dull cymbals, little air) is the cleanest split on the set.
Measured
The peak that gave the Hexa its glare is flattened — 'extremely well controlled and clean in its treble' on the B&K 5128 (Headphones.com) — but SoundGuys measures the whole treble shelf below its preference curve with the upper treble rolled off.
⚠ vs. listeners — Same flattened top end, opposite verdicts: ex-Hexa listeners who found it glary hear a fix; treble-seekers hear a roll-off. Tips shift it — narrow-bore keeps more energy, wide-bore and foam tame it.
Where it splits
Smooth, safe, non-fatiguing — fixes the Hexa's glare.55%
“this does fix that issue that I had with the original Hexa being a little bit too glary occasionally”
Resolve (Headphones.com)
Too rolled-off / dark — lacks air and sparkle.45%
“Air and sparkle are minimal.”
Headfonics (Kurt)
Most hear it as intimate-to-average and generally narrower than the Hexa, an effect of the relaxed upper treble; a couple of reviewers find it impressively wide. Not a holographic stage.
“There's fair width to the soundstage, but height and depth don't fully develop.”
Headfonics (Kurt)
“The Pure presents an impressively wide soundstage with excellent depth”
Pragmatic Audio
Instrument separation is widely praised as strong for the price; pinpoint imaging and competitive-FPS directional cues are the weaker spots, and busy passages can soften.
“Instrument separation is top-notch for the price and even steps on the toes of IEMs that are almost double the price.”
McCullough Audio
“Not suitable for competitive FPS gaming”
redditrecs (Reddit aggregate)
A consistent read: good resolution for a sub-$100 set, but not class-leading and a touch behind the Hexa's clarity. A capable all-rounder, not a detail monster.
“Detail retrieval is like the Hexa, it's good for the price, but not superb.”
McCullough Audio
“Detail retrieval is good but not class-leading.”
Prime Audio
Modest impact that opens up at higher volume — a recurring soft-landing note. Against the Hexa, though, several hear the Pure's extra body and sensitivity as a step up in dynamism.
“the PURE doesn't deliver much impact. It becomes more engaging at higher volumes.”
Headfonics (Kurt)
“that bass comes across with a lot better sense of dynamism and impact and physicality”
Resolve (Headphones.com)
The lightweight resin shell earns lots of all-day-comfort praise, but the Pure is chunkier than the Hexa with a long, wide nozzle, and the stock cable's ear hooks bother some — so fit is genuinely hit-or-miss and tip/cable-rolling dependent.
Measured
Roughly the Hexa's shape but slightly thicker, with a long ~5.5–6 mm nozzle designed for deep insertion; 1DD+3BA, 13.8 Ω / 124 dB-per-Vrms (specs). Amazon flags it a 'frequently returned item,' and several owners cite the large nozzle and ear-hook cable.
Where it splits
Lightweight, easy all-day comfort.60%
“The Pure offers outstanding comfort for extended listening sessions.”
Pragmatic Audio
Chunkier shell / long wide nozzle / tugging ear hooks — fit can fight you.40%
“the stock 2-pin cable is uncomfortable to use. The ear hooks keep tugging on the earbud.”
SoundGuys (Jhaycee Calvez)
Solid smoky-resin shell, and the new silver-plated coaxial cable is the standout upgrade over the Hexa — praised almost everywhere. The main knock is from one reviewer who finds that cable too stiff and shiny; accessories are otherwise a plain pouch and tips.
“The included cable is of exceptional quality and represents a significant upgrade over the one included with the Hexa.”
Pragmatic Audio
“The cable is thick and feels like it leans on the more premium side, but it's too stiff and shiny for my tastes.”
SoundGuys (Jhaycee Calvez)
Fit-dependent. With a good deep-insertion seal it isolates well (one reviewer measured ~80% of ambient blocked); but the triangular shell doesn't seal every ear, and then isolation falls off.
“the passive isolation blocks around 80% of the ambient noise.”
SoundGuys (Jhaycee Calvez)
“Isolation is where the PURE struggles, as the triangular shape prevents it from fully sealing the ear canal.”
Headfonics (Kurt)
Measured
Designed for a deep-insertion fit (audioreviews.org); isolation swings with seal and tip choice (foam helps).
Value
Strong consensus11 srcThe strongest agreement on the set — repeatedly called one of the best IEMs under $100 and a great, EQ-friendly base. Dissent is thin: a few find it unremarkable next to the field.
“an exceptional entry point that competes with IEMs costing two or three times its price”
Pragmatic Audio
“Exceptional sound quality for price”
redditrecs (Reddit aggregate)
