Sound Review by Kev
Disclaimer : ShenzhenAudio has graciously
provided us with this sample unit in exchange for an honest review. The views
discussed below are a reflection of Project A3's thoughts surrounding the
product. The sample has been run-in for at least 50 hours prior to
reviewing in order to achieve an accurate representation of the product.
Introduction:
TinHifi is no stranger to the
budget audiophile market. Their universally acclaimed T2 and T2 Pro’s are
heralded as IEM’s that epitomize the current philosophy in budget audio; that
price alone does not dictate impeccable sound quality. In fact, the Tin Audio
T2 and T2 Pro’s are still frequently sold on Drop (formerly known as Massdrop).
There is only so much that can be
achieved by spending excessive amounts of income on audio-gear. And to the
majority of the audiophile demographic, $100 is plentiful to attain gear that
doesn’t drain their bank accounts. The ambitious release of the power-hungry,
P1 IEMs’ captured the brand’s maverick attitude, unafraid to push the
boundaries of what can be achieved at a humble price. That, and funky driver
configurations.
To further the brand’s
established presence in the chi-fi marketplace, TinHifi has released the T4;
the spiritual successor to the cult T2 and T2 Pro. During its initial Indiegogo
campaign, through word of mouth alone and Tin Audio’s glowing reputation, the
campaign secured funding upwards of $500,000 SGD.
The T4 features a carbon-nanotube
(CNT) diaphragm; a popular diaphragm material that is used by costlier IEMs’,
except they’ve stuck to their roots, selling the T4 at a reasonable $99 USD.
What makes the material, CNT special (from a layman’s perspective), is its
ability to displace air rapidly, reducing unwanted vibrations and total
harmonic distortion in the process.
But, as seen from the hype
surrounding its successful Indiegogo campaign, would the Tin Audio T4 be able
to meet the monumental expectations of avid audiophiles?
You can now purchase the TinHifi
T4 here : https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/tinhifi-t4-earphone-dynamic-with-detachable-cable-tin-audio-t4-hifi-in-ear-earphone
PROS
|
CONS
|
●
Well
finished, CNC Aluminium Shells
●
High-quality
SPC cable
●
Flat,
balanced sound signature
●
Clarity
across entire spectrum
●
Solid
imaging, above-average soundstage
|
● Could
use a little more mid-bass and lower-mid emphasis
● Rubbery cable sleeve could be a bit ignoring
|
Specifications:
●
10mm High Quality CNT Dynamic Driver
●
3.5mm MMCX Silver-plated Copper Cable
●
CNC Aluminium Shells
●
10-20kHz
●
Rated Power: 3mW
●
Max Power: 5mW
●
32Ohms Impedance
Gear Used &
Tracklist:
Onkyo DP-X1 | Sony NW-A105 | Aune X1S | Periodic Audio Nickel
(Ni) | Venture Electronics Odyssey | Google Pixel 2XL
Genres
|
Artist
|
Songs
|
Live
Recordings
|
Diana
Krall
|
Desperado
(Live)
|
Natalia
Lafourcade
|
Soledad y
El Mar
|
|
Case Lang
Veirs
|
Atomic
Number
|
|
Depeche
Mode
|
Question
of Lust (Live 1998)
|
|
Instrumentals
|
Max
Richter
|
On the
Nature of Daylight
|
Santa
Esmeralda
|
Please
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
|
|
Nils
Frahm
|
Toilet
Brushes (Live)
|
|
Jazz
|
Bill
Evans
|
A Waltz
for Debbie
|
Chet
Baker
|
I'm a
Fool to Want You
|
|
Sons of
Kemet
|
Your
Queen is Harriet Tubman
|
|
Ryo Fukui
|
Scenery
|
|
Rock
|
Avenged
Sevenfold
|
Nightmare
|
The
Stooges
|
Down On
The Street
|
|
Avenged
Sevenfold
|
Unbound
(The Wild Ride)
|
|
Guns N’
Roses
|
Sweet
Child O’ Mine
|
|
Ozzy
Osbourne
|
Crazy
Train
|
|
Green Day
|
21 Guns
|
|
Classical
|
Niccolò
Paganini
|
La
Campanella (From Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor)
|
Pyotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
|
The Year
1812 Solemn Overture
|
|
David
Arnold
|
Independence
Day
|
|
Pop
|
Hu
Yang-Lin (胡楊林)
|
Perfume
is poisonous (香水有毒)
|
Fish
Leong (梁靜茹)
|
Love Song
(情歌)
|
|
Western
Pop
|
Anamanaguchi
|
MEOW
|
Iamamiwhoami
|
Chasing
Kites
|
|
Algiers
|
Dispossession
|
|
New Order
|
Bizzare
Love Triangle (Extended Mix)
|
|
Marian
Hill
|
Breathe
Into Me
|
|
Tyler,
The Creator
|
EARFQUAKE
|
|
Tones and
I
|
Never
Seen the Rain
|
|
Red Hot
Chili Peppers
|
Around
the World
|
|
ACG
|
Saori
Hayami
|
オレンジミント (Orange Mint)
|
RADWIMPS
|
前前前世 (Zenzenzenzense)
|
|
RADWIMPS
|
スパークル(Sparkle)
|
|
DAOKO
|
Cinderella
Step
|
|
Kana
Hanazawa
|
恋愛サーキュレーション (Renai Circulation)
|
Unboxing:
On first glance, the non-descript
cardboard box features nothing but an embossed logo with gold leafing, spelling
out the name of the brand, and the model below it. Removing the lid, reveals
the impeccably finished T4 Shells, alongside a tan leather case with a magnetic
flap/lip and regular silicon eartips (S, M, L), 1 pair of foam tips and
spin-fit styled tips (S, M, L).
Opening the leather case unveils
the high-quality, mmcx silver-plated copper cables alongside a velcro
cable-tie.
For $99 USD, I wouldn’t expect a
premium case, let alone a braided silver-plated copper cable. Tin Audio has
spoiled the market with its package that far surpasses its already affordable
price tag. It is easy to see why the brand has a loyal following. The hype is
certainly warranted.
Scalability:
The TinHifi T4, with its low
impedance and high sensitivity, is
easily driven out of all the sources I used for testing. There was no
discernible hiss or static from any of my testing gear, including the Aune X1s
with its high-impedance output.
However, because of its low
mechanical impedance, it is harder to achieve a significant damping factor to
exert more control on the driver. Nevertheless, when the T4 is fed more power,
there is a slight improvement in the lower-end, with a snappier mid-bass
response.
Overall, the T4 sounds crystal
clear out of all sources and works well with many paired sources.
Fit:
Despite its rounded ear-shape
akin to that of the Sony IER Z1R, the T4 sit well on my outer ear canal. Its
lightweight aluminium shells are featherweight, sinking into my ears, barely
noticed during my long listening sessions prior to composing this review. The
cables are supple and pliable, easily conforming to the outer earlobe without
placing any excessive strain, distributing the weight of the cable evenly.
TinHifi’s signature L-R markings (as featured on the T2 and the T2 Pros) are
back, using red and blue coloured rings around the mmcx connector for easy
identification.
Its nozzle is fairly long,
allowing for decently deep insertion to attain a tight seal. Because it seals
so well (especially when paired with the stocked spinfit tips), the T4 offers
above-average isolation. On the daily train commute to the city, the T4 managed
to drown out the monotonous hum of the train engine by 70% at regular listening
levels; a remarkable feat, considering it has a small pinhole vent next to the
nozzle. These are the ideal grab-and-go everyday carry earphones.
However, it is tough competing with the ubiquitous adoption of
universal acrylic shells, one which utilizes a form factor that is widely
accepted as the most comfortable shell design available in the massive IEM
market.
Sound Sig:
The T4 is incredibly balanced. It is resolving, articulate with a
slight mid-bass bump to liven up its representation of music. What makes
the T4 unique is its ability to adapt quickly to most of the genres thrown at
it. Its pristine representation of the entire frequency spectrum makes it an
audio-chameleon. Despite its linear sound-signature, there is a fun-mid bass
lift to ensure music sounds dynamic and musical enough for daily listening.
Bass:
The T4 is a bass-light earphone. Apart from a slight lift in the
mid-bass department, the lower registers sound full enough without overstaying
its welcome, decaying quickly so as to not stray too far from its neutral
sound signature. It stays in its own place, without ever bleeding into the
upper registers.
However, on songs such as Natalia LaFourcade’s Soledad Y El Mar, there’s a
noticeable lack of weighty low-end and sub-bass bloom, resulting in the string
sections lacking both reverb and warmth that are characteristic of acoustic
guitars. Without that slightly slubbier low end, the classical guitars and
double basses sound slightly hollowed out.
In the defence of the T4 however,
a speedier bass response ensures minimal bleed in the mid-range, prioritizing
clarity and realism.
However, the T4’s excels with all
genres of music, sounding inoffensive in the bass registers without boosting
any bass qualities.
Mids:
The T4’s mids are dynamic and
clear, sounding incredibly clean. Across the entire track list, it was hard to
pinpoint any glaring faults. It adapts quickly to what is being played on it.
However, it does favour upper-mid clarity and sparkle over the lower-mids which
tend to blanket the entire mix with too much warmth. As much as I prefer a
heavy emphasis on timbre and even-harmonics, the T4’s tuning Is much more
mature, defining itself as a jack of all trades, avoiding unnecessary colouring
of the entire frequency band.
With tracks such as Chasing Kites by Iamamiwhoami, which generally
favor the traditional consumer V-shaped sound signature, The T4 represents the
tracks pulsating kick-drums and crisp synths fairly well. Even the voluminous
thud of the kickdrum is fleshed out pretty accurately on the T4, with Jonna
Lee’s porous vocal melodies sounding clean and full.
All in all, the mids remain unadulterated; what you hear is what you
get.
Highs:
Like the T4’s midrange, the highs are given enough room to breathe,
without any purposeful attempt to tame or tweak the highs; it is neither
extended or muted. In Ryo Fukui’s Scenery, the
striking of each key sounds refined and effortless on T4. From each key to the
next, the track radiates an impressive high range that somehow manages to sound
smooth, without any trace of harshness. The T4 is a polished piece of kit that
plays well with so many tracks across a multitude of genres.
Treble:
Now, “treble” is the widely
divisive quality that has split the audio community; you either love it or hate
it. If you’re either a treble-head or a treble-sensitive listener, the T4
straddles the line between both realms, attempting to appeal to opposing ends
of the spectrum.
Thankfully, it does this with
ease and more successfully than its pricier counterparts. The treble is
slightly splashy, with enough shimmer and forwardness to prevent it from
sounding overtly thin. On songs like My Queen is
Harriet Tubman by Sons of Kemet, the hotness of the ride and crash
cymbals do not sound sibilant at all, bereft of any of the associated harsh
overtones that are characteristic of brass cymbals. Most importantly, the highs
still are pushed far enough so as to remain captivating.
Soundstage:
At $99 USD , the T4 displays above-average staging capabilities.
Horizontal width isn’t an out-of-the-head experience, but it sounds wider than
most earphones in a similar price category. With the track, Dispossession by Algiers, vocal cues from the
background singers can be clearly heard, without sounding too distant nor too
close to the lead vocals on the track.
Separation:
Because of the T4’s linear presentation, each frequency band sounds
distinct from one another, and it isn’t all that difficult to position or
identify instruments or vocals in a 3D soundstage. It is important to take
note that this isn’t a $1000 IEM or a multiple balanced-armature setup. Do not
expect excellent imaging capabilities that rival flagship status IEMs’. What
the T4 does well in however, is coherence, no thanks to the utilization of a
single, full-range dynamic driver. Sometimes, less is more.
Musicality:
The TinHifi T4 is a powerhouse of
an IEM that is well-adept with all genres of music, ranging from the free jazz
to chiptune. To cut this section short, the T4 pairs well with all genres and
doesn’t excel in one particular one; it just sounds great all around.
Comparison:
TinHifi is considered a resident
favourite in the chi-fi audio scene. I decided to put it in its paces,
challenging a North American brand, Periodic Audio, with their entry-level Mg
(Magnesium); a single dynamic-driver IEM with a unique magnesium diaphragm.
In addition. The Shueor Tape
serves as a more expensive contender, to see what an extra $50 offers in
tangible value.
Lastly, the Tipsy Dunmer, could
be seen as a direct rival in the chi-fi marketplace vs the T4, considering it
houses a single dynamic driver as well.
TinHifi T4
|
Periodic Audio Mg
|
Shuoer Tape
|
Tipsy Dunmer
|
|
$99 USD
|
$99 USD
|
$129 USD
|
$119 USD
|
|
Driver
Configuration
|
1 Carbon
Nanotube Dynamic driver
|
1 Magnesium (96%) Dynamic driver
|
1 Low voltage, Electrostatic driver
|
1 Graphene Dynamic driver
|
Mobile/Dongle
friendly
|
Mobile/Dongle
friendly
|
DAP suggested
|
Mobile/Dongle
friendly
|
|
Fitting
|
Snug and
lightweight
|
Snug and lightweight
|
Snug and lightweight
|
Snug and lightweight
|
Comfort
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Sound Signature
|
Fairly
Linear, slight bass lift
|
Slgihtly Neutral, Lower-mid focus
|
Incredibly accurate mids, heavy treble
emphasis
|
Lower-mid warmth, with a smooth “analogue”
sound signature
|
Lows
|
Speedy
mid-bass, faint sub bass. Overall linear bass response
|
Slubbier bass, with a well-rounded kickbass
response
|
Soft-bass response, more sub-bass than
mid-bass.
|
Thick mid-bass bloat, lingering sub-bass. Good
for bassheads
|
Mids
|
Clear and
Neutral, zero emphasis on either
lower or
upper mids.
|
Lower mid emphasis, with added warmth
|
Incredibly clear midrange, slightly heavier
focus on
upper mids to lower mids.
|
Warmish mid-tones, thick lower-midrange
emphasis
.
|
Highs
|
Pristine
highs, good extension with little colouration
|
Beautiful sparkle up top, slight roll-off in
upper registers
|
Clear highs, slight brightness.
|
Highs roll off quickly, somewhat muted in the
mix
|
Soundstage
|
Above
average horizontal width
|
Good horizontal width, good positional cues
|
Above average horizontal width
|
Good horizontal width, slightly congested
sounding
|
Separation
|
Above
average imaging, easy to distinguish between vocals and instruments
|
Great imaging, vocals and instruments are
distinct and separated
|
Above average imaging capabilities. Struggles
under musically complex tracks
|
Congested due to bass bloat, decent imaging
overall
|
Vocal
Performance
|
Great
clarity, needs alittle bit more lower-mid warmth on male vocals
|
Well weighted, sounds full and lush with male
vocals
|
Amazing female vocal performance
|
Warm, analogue-sounding vocals. Sounds more
relaxed.
|
Instrument
Performance
|
Sounds
great with almost all instruments
|
Pairs well with percussion sections and
acoustic guitars
|
Exceptional pairing with string and brass
instruments
|
Timbre is accurate but it lacks sparkle or
upper-mid detail.
|
Remarks
|
Perfect for a flat/reference
signature or as an “everyday carry” IEM.
|
A dark and velvety smooth IEM for a non-fatiguing listen
|
Suitable for consumers who favour clarity and midrange detail
|
Great for vinyl-lovers that crave a smooth, non-fatiguing listen
|
Sound Conclusion:
The TinHifi T4 is an IEM that offers tremendous value for the “everyday
listener” that favours not only flexibility, but a resolving sound that favours
accuracy and clarity. At $99USD , the T4 is a steal and I can see myself
grabbing it as my go-to IEM for my day-to-day listening sessions.
I would even argue that the T4 is
valid competition against IEMs’ that are significantly more expensive. Sound
like this is unprecedented in this price category. I look forward to seeing
more releases from Tin Audio.
Aesthetic talk by Steve ( TinHifi - T4 )
TinHifi was one of the successful
example of Chinese audio these years
by introducing their budget
lineup starting from T2 and til now from
the result on the Indiegogo campaign for the T4, pretty obvious that the new
gem has been successfully drawn so much attention before the official release
and is highly hyped again in the budget audio world , if you track back to
their previous models on the T lineup, there wasn't any noticeable changes on
the Aesthetic side in between T2 and the T3
but today on the T4, I think it's a good time point to talk about their
effort based on this criteria.
Colour;
Comparing to the T2 T3, the
changes on the Colour has changed to a
silver glossy finishing which make things look more chic and trendy this time,
you will notice that many brands are now producing metal shells , glossy
finishing on mass production which I believe it's starting to be the trend of
the iem industry. back there on the T2, T3 the whole feeling leans towards to a
more Industrial design and was a bit hardcore on the overall presentation. the T4 this time somehow reminds me of the
Sony IER-Z1R but of course a " simplicity" and much smaller housing one. By looking into the recent trend,
IEM with similar finishing, no matter it
is electroplating, aluminum or stainless steel has proven that the Aesthetic is
more acceptable on the marketing side and was a good shift on for the T4 in
making such decision. Great decision
made here on making the appearance more commercial and up to date to meet the
modern aesthetic trend,comparing to the T2 T3, the T4 made a successful move to
achieve a more premium feel. However the plastic blue/red ring that
indicates left /right on the mmcx plug should be considered to swap it with a
electroplating finishing one for a more consistent look with the metal shell
for the next generation of the T series. Something like the Meze did on the rai
solo would be a great idea either.
Craftsmanship;
Judging by the sample that I got,overall the built is pretty solid,
weighting for a metal build iem is good, not much pressure on ear, satisfied
for long time listening. however the flaws that I noticed is the mmcx plug
seem to be a bit wobbly and also there are some tool marks ( photo above) on the
shell caused by the CNC process, you can see the marks under sunlight and in
certain angles , but of course for the price I think this is forgiveable as
even if the turnings has been adjusted to be a more precise and slower speed
which definitely will add more cost onto the project, it still have a certain
chance of getting shallow marks on it. It's only about the degree of the issue
So why bothered?
Design details;
Besides the change of the
finishing we said before, another major change of the design is the faceplate.
I've talked with boss of TinHifi directly about the design and they said the
idea was inspired by turbocharger, indeed you can tell by the faceplate this
time, the whole design is on point,
without being too exaggerated or too similar to a actual turbocharger, Craftsmanship on the faceplate is very
detailed, precisely made from the CNC process, edges are smooth without any
corner spikes, it's always good to see a design starting from inspiration and
this time the T4 really deserved a big thumbs up comparing to the T3
transmitting from the T2. A relatively fresh feeling here that
differentiate the T4 from the other models in the T series.
Silhouette;
Nothing much to talk about in
this aspect. It's basically just a over
the ear bullet shape iem, no weird outlines or disproportionate on the whole.
Other than the silhouette itself, the fitting might be a bit tricky for some to
get it place properly into your ear canel also ergonomic and isolation would be
relatively a slight down side comparing with those universal acrylic shells out
there since the design of T4 is more relying on the proper eartips to get a
better isolation just like the typical bullet type iems, so if you are
expecting something fits really well and sticking tight fit to your ear shape, this might upset you a little. But
overall this shouldn't be any issue for most of the people in general listening
.
Cable;
The cable itself is a significant
improvement from the T2, however the
rubbery cable sleeve might bother some people especially when they dont get
their cables tied properly, it will
definitely drives you crazy when you are trying to untie it, after all this
issue is more of a personal preference. But speaking of the cable quality itself and regarding the price tag of T4,
it's quiet a decent cable especially when comparing with some of the
competitors in the same price segment and I do suggest Tin audio to start
designing their own plugs in order to establish a more define image on their
branding and for product line ahead.
Packaging;
This is another significant
upgrade from the T2, the package box itself looks much more Hi-end than the models before, the use of the
silicon texture for the box seem to be a trend of packaging nowadays in China ,
already seen couple of brands using it such as IKKO, NFAUDIO etc. And indeed it looks pretty decent along with
minimalist design idea. The presentation is average, not the best but more than
satisfy and What really impressed me
here is actually the earphone case. For a 99USD IEM THIS IS A STEAL. . The
whole case looks pretty similar to the one that was provided by Hidizs ms4.
Slightly smaller by looking at it side by side , but generally it gives you the
same texture, same quality built, a sturdy and premium case that you will have
no complaints with.
Conclusion;
The T4 is truly one of the most impressive project out there in the
99USD bracket, from IEM design to package presentation, offering one of the best case out there, all
these elements that meets all the general requirements that customers are
asking for. It's really hard to fault TinHifi on the T4 particularly in this
price market. By talking with the boss of TinHifi, I can sense how
ambitious and passionate they are aiming for their coming lineup. Not just on
sound but also on Aesthetic side, Will TinHifi maintain their hypes and break a
new selling record in 2020? Let's sit back and see.
FINAL RATINGS
*All
ratings are accurate as of date of publication. Changes in price, newer models
may affect Project A3's views on the performance and value of the reviewed
product.
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