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

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

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.

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.