We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to fix, extend or upgrade the cable on a pair of compatible Audio-Technica headphones, choose NewFantasia Replacement Audio Upgrade; if you need an actual in-ear monitor for critical listening, gaming or studio monitoring, choose TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds. These two products sit in completely different categories, and that is the first thing to understand before you spend anything.
• NewFantasia Replacement Audio Upgrade — biggest strength: a 2 m (6.6 ft) braided, tangle-free replacement cable with an OFC inner conductor and a 3.5 mm male to 3.5 mm male layout, plus a 6.35 mm adapter for full-size gear. It solves a very specific problem: a worn, too-short or too-flimsy stock cable.
• NewFantasia Replacement Audio Upgrade — biggest trade-off: it is a cable only. There are no headphones in the box, and it will not fit every headphone — you need a compatible 3.5 mm socket on your model.
• TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds — biggest strength: a complete 10 mm DLC dynamic-driver in-ear monitor with three tuning nozzles, a hybrid OFC/silver-plated detachable cable and swappable 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs. It is a full listening tool, not an accessory.
• TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, with passive noise cancellation rather than active, and it is not water resistant.
• Who each pick is for: NewFantasia for Audio-Technica owners who just want a better cable; TRNzod for anyone who wants a reference-style monitor for music, recording, gaming or studio work.
The NewFantasia Replacement Audio Upgrade is a 2 m / 6.6 ft HIFI replacement cable built around a 3.5 mm male-to-male connection with a 6.35 mm adapter included in the box. Inside, the conductor is OFC wire. Outside, it is a braided, tangle-free jacket with a 4 mm cable diameter. It is black, round and clearly designed to be handled — coiled, stuffed in a bag, dragged across a desk — without turning into a knotted mess.
Who should skip it? Anyone expecting headphones. The package contains one replacement cable and nothing else — no headphone, no earpieces. If your headphone is not on that compatibility list, or your socket is not a 3.5 mm connection, this is the wrong part. And if what you actually want is a monitoring tool rather than a repair, the NewFantasia cable is not going to get you there no matter how good the braiding is.
TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds: Who It's For
The TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds are a proper in-ear monitor. The core is a 10 mm DLC dynamic driver with a dual-magnetic-circuit design, rated at 30 ohm impedance with 114 dB sensitivity and a frequency response up to 20 kHz. That combination matters: 30 ohm and 114 dB means it is easy to drive, so a laptop, phone, portable player or gaming console can push it without drama, while a DAC or a balanced output gives it more headroom.
The feature I find most interesting for a reference-monitor use case is the three tuning nozzles. Reference gives a natural, balanced presentation. Immersive adds weight and richness down low. Clear pushes vocals and fine detail forward. That is essentially three monitors in one shell, and it lets you adapt the same IEM to mixing, casual listening or competitive gaming without buying a second pair.
The housing is liquid metal, with an optimized acoustic chamber intended to control unwanted resonance — which is exactly what you want if you care about a clean background, defined layering and precise imaging. The cable is a four-strand hybrid of OFC and silver-plated conductors, detachable via 2-pin, and it ships with swappable 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs so you can run single-ended or balanced. The accessory kit is genuinely complete: 3 tuning nozzles, 7 pairs of eartips, the detachable hybrid cable, both plugs and a carry pouch. The over-ear cable routing and conch-inspired shells are built for a stable fit.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants wireless. This is a wired IEM with a 3.5 mm + 4.4 mm jack, passive noise cancellation only, and no water resistance rating. If you need ANC for a noisy commute or sweat-proof buds for the gym, look elsewhere.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for actually monitoring or mixing → TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds, thanks to the Reference nozzle and the controlled, layered presentation implied by the liquid-metal chamber design.
• Best for gaming → TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds, with the Clear nozzle for footsteps and detail and the wide soundstage the driver is built around.
• Best for plugging into a home amp or interface → NewFantasia Replacement Audio Upgrade, because of the included 6.35 mm adapter.
• Best for balanced-output gear → TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds, which includes a 4.4 mm plug alongside the 3.5 mm.
• Best for travel → TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds, since it comes with a carry pouch, a detachable cable and a range of eartips to dial in fit — though note it is not water resistant.
• Best for a specific Audio-Technica headphone owner → NewFantasia Replacement Audio Upgrade, provided your model is on the compatibility list.
• Best for someone starting from nothing → TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds. The NewFantasia cable is useless without a compatible headphone already in your bag.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the TRNzod Conch IEM Earbuds. It is a complete product: driver, housing, three tunings, hybrid detachable cable, both plug types, seven pairs of tips and a pouch. For reference-monitor work — mixing, recording, gaming, critical listening — it gives you the tools to shape the sound rather than just delivering it. The NewFantasia cable is a genuinely useful accessory and the right answer if your ATH headphone needs a new leash, but it is a repair part, not a monitor. Buy the TRNzod if you need monitoring; buy the NewFantasia if you need the cable.
what is studio monitor headphones
Studio monitor headphones are headphones designed to reproduce audio as neutrally and accurately as possible, rather than flattering it with extra bass or scooped mids. The goal is to hear what is actually in the recording so you can make decisions about it. The TRNzod Conch's Reference nozzle — described as a natural, balanced presentation — is aimed at exactly that kind of listening.
what are reference studio headphones
Reference studio headphones are the same idea under a different name: a reference is a known, consistent baseline you compare other things against. That is why the TRNzod Conch includes a nozzle literally called Reference, sitting alongside Immersive and Clear, so you can switch between a neutral baseline and more coloured presentations on the same pair.
what are studio monitor headphones
They are headphones built for monitoring rather than casual enjoyment — clean background, defined layering and precise imaging matter more than warmth. The TRNzod Conch's liquid-metal housing and optimized acoustic chamber are designed to control unwanted resonance, which is the kind of engineering that supports that goal.
can you connect headphones to monitor
Yes. Wired headphones connect to studio monitors, audio interfaces and amps through the headphone output, and the connector type is the only thing to check. The TRNzod Conch ships with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs, while the NewFantasia cable uses a 3.5 mm male-to-male layout and includes a 6.35 mm adapter for full-size jacks.
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