1MORE Triple Driver Review

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.

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• List price (MSRP): $79.99
• Manufacturer: 1MORE

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Related: Best wired earbuds under $100 – Most durable earbuds – Best bass earbuds

Our Conclusion

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.

Pros & Cons:

Compare similar IEMs

Our Analysis and Test Results

Close analysis showed that 1MORE Triple Driver are built incredibly well for the price but offer an underwhelming sonic performance. The sound is muddy and lacks excitement due to a big dip in the treble’s frequency response.

At least passive noise isolation proves to be good enough even for commuting, with an average of 17,36 dBA of ambient noise attenuation.

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.

Key points:

• A slight bass boost extends way into the midrange, resulting in a muddy sound.
• Smooth and well-extended higher frequencies make the sound decently pleasant.
• Expect decent soundstage width and pretty accurate imaging (positioning of the sound in the soundstage).

Check our 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.

Soundstage and imaging

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.

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.

Sound Comparison

My 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.

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.

Compared to other similar models

These IEMs are more comfortable than the bulky KZ AS16 Pro and weirdly shaped CCA LYRA but aren’t as stable as both of them. They’re also less comfy than TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red.

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.

Are they suitable for…

• Wearing in the rain: Not suitable, as they aren’t even sweat-resistant.
• Running & exercising outside: Somewhat suitable, but only for light workouts when you don’t sweat a lot (like walking).
• Sweating: Not suitable.
• Dipping underwater: Not suitable; that is a fast ticket to get them to stop working.

Durability comparison

Due to their metallic construction and braided cable, Triple Drivers are overall more durable than most competitors.

However, competitors like KZ AS16 Pro and TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red have detachable cables, which puts them in slight advantage.

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.

Features rating comparison

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.

Here’s a table of how effective is 1MORE Triple Driver’s passive noise isolation at blocking specific frequencies:

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.

Noise isolation rating comparison with other models

Should You Get 1MORE Triple Driver?

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).

Pros & Cons

Who are these best for:

• Users who value high build quality, premium materials, and don’t like harsh treble.

Who should avoid them:

• Users who want clarity and the best bang-for-the-buck sound quality. There are better wired alternatives out there.

How do 1MORE Triple Driver compare to the competition?

Here’s their value rating compared to similar alternatives:

Are they worth the price?

At their current price of around $60, they’re still a tough sell since there are much better-sounding, albeit not as luxuriously made, alternatives available.

1MORE Triple Driver alternatives

TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red

1MORE Quad Driver

KZ AS16 Pro

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