TIN HiFi T5 In-Ear Monitor Review
TIN HiFi T5 IEM Review
Introduction:
TIN HiFi (Zhongshan Dongting Electronics Technology CO. Ltd.) is a Chinese company located in Guangdong Province in China and is specialized in the production, design and development of portable audio products like In-Ear Monitor.
TIN HiFi Official Website: http://www.tinhifi.com/
The T5 is the latest In-Ear Monitor of the company that utilizes the next generation 10mm diameter Dynamic Driver with DOC diamond diaphragm, which features an enhanced molecular carbon atom structure and composition that more closely mirrors that of diamond compared to the traditional Diamond-Like Carbon diaphragm material. The new structural design allows the DOC diaphragm to be thinner, while being 60% stronger and more rigid than that of traditional DLC diaphragms. Furthermore, due the closer proximity of the carbon atoms to each other, the DOC driver is 5 times harder than that of typical ceramic diaphragms.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank TIN HiFi for providing me the T5 In-Ear Monitor as review sample. I am not affiliated with TIN HiFi or any third person beyond this review and all these words reflect my true, unaltered opinions about the product.
Price & Availability:
The MSRP price for the TIN HiFi T5 is about $129,00 USD. More information’s can be found under the link below;
Package and Accessories:
The TIN HiFi T5 came in a white box with the TIN HiFi and product related brandings on the top.
Inside the box are the following items/accessories;
- 1 pair x TIN HiFi T5 In-Ear Monitors
- 1 piece x 2-Pin Detachable Cable With 3.5mm Headphone Plug
- 3 pairs x Hybrid (Sony) Silicone Ear Tips
- 3 pairs x Black Silicone Ear Tips
- 1 pair x Foam Ear Tips
- 3 pairs x Spare Filters
- 1 piece x Leather Case in White Color
- 1 piece x Cleaning Tool
- 1 piece x Tweezers
- 1 piece x Print Material
Design and Build Quality:
The TIN HiFi T5 is a pretty comfortable In-Ear Monitor with a robust metal housing that is made of “Aviation Grade Aluminum Material” with a nice glossy fisnish in gun metal color or so called “Titanium Grey”. To tune the new DOC driver, the internal cavities of the housing have been carefully designed by TIN HiFi, with several unique acoustic chambers that have been mathematically calculated to achieve the perfect angles of reflection for the sound waves.
The Monitor of the T5 is a combination of 3 parts, which are the faceplate (front part), the back part and the sound nozzle.
The front part that is also called the faceplate of an IEM sport the TIN HiFi logo that is engraved on to the surface.
The back part has a pretty ergonomic shape that fits perfectly to my average sized ear chonca. Here are the L (Left) and R (Right) marking, the sound nozzle and a vent near the nozzle.
The sound nozzle is made of metal material in gold color that features a fine metal filter on the top to prevent the insertion of particles like dust or earwax.
At the rear side of the monitor shell is the second ventilation for the 10mm Diameter Dynamic Driver with DOC diaphragm.
On the top of each monitor shell is a 0.78mm diameter recessed 2-Pin female connector that offers a tight connection to the male 2-Pin connectors.
The TIN HiFi T5 comes with a detachable cable that is made of 4core 40/0.05 Oxygen Free Copper wire cable. The cable features a 200D Kevlar plating to achieve complete electrical isolation for an extremely fast and clean transmission.
Near the left and right connectors are heat shrink ear guides for extra comfort on the go.
There cable comes with a Y-splitter and chin slider made of metal. The Y-splitter has the TIN HiFi logo on the top.
The 3.5mm single ended headphone jack has a straight profiled metal housing that comes with a plastic strain relief for extra protection.
The overall build quality of both the monitors and the detachable cable are top notch that doesn’t show any imperfections such like burrs or gaps.
Comfort and Isolation:
According to TIN HiFi is the T5 is the first IEM of its series that utilizes “a machine learned design” to archive the perfect shape to match that of the average human ear. This new shape design should also allow a greater sound isolation.
What I can say is that the T5 shows a pretty comfortable shape that fits perfectly to my average sized ear chonca. The passive noise isolation on the other hand is on an average level that is suitable for the use in fairly noise environments such like a bus or a train.
Drivability and Pairing:
The TIN HiFi T5 is a relative efficient In-Ear Monitor with its impedance of 48Ω and a sensitivity of 103 dB. Sources with relative weak amplification such like a Mobile Phone, Tablet or DAP’s with weak amplification will pair just fine.
Technical Specifications:
- Driver Unit : 10mm DOC Driver
- Sensitivity : 103dB ±1dB @1kHz 0.126V
- Frequency Response : 10-20kHz
- Impedance : 48Ω±15%
- Rated/Max Power : 3/4mW
- Max Distortion : 1%@1kHz 0.126V
- Interface : Gold-plated 2-Pin Connector
- Plug : 3.5mm black glue gold plated plug
Sources:
- In Ear Monitor’s : TIN HiFi T5, BQEYZ Summer, Auglamour RT3
- DAP/DAC/AMP’s : FiiO M11 PRO, iBasso DC03, Hidizs AP80 Pro
Albums & Tracks used for this review:
- Hayley Westenra – Odyssey Album (Dezzer HiFi)
- Dionne Warwick – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
- Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Really Slow Motion – Deadwood (Deezer HiFi)
- Jo Blankenburg – The Magelan Matrix (Spotify)
- Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
- Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
- Otto Liebert& Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Rush’s – Leave That Thing Alone (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)s
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
The TIN HiFi T5 is an IEM that has a slightly warmer than neutral tonality with a mildly V shaped sound signature. The bass is pretty controlled while it shows a moderate level of speed and depth; the midrange is fairly transparent and detailed, while it sounds in some songs somewhat thin. The treble range on the other hand is pronounced and unforgiving, which shows an audible peak around the 5 kHz (presence) and 8 kHz (brilliance) regions.
This review is written after a burn-in process of approx. 120 hours. I have used the stock Sony Hybrid silicone ear tips and the stock cable that are included in the standard package.
Bass:
The TIN HiFi T5 shows a moderate sense of subbass depth, intensity and rumble, while the speed is sufficient for most genres. The tonality of the subbass area is on the warmer side of neutral. However, I would wish a bit more depth, intensity and extension in this area, while listen to songs like Lorde’s “Royals”, Massive Attack’s “Angel”. The subbass is in general controlled and is reproduced in a fairly clean manner.
I have read some reviews about the T5 that have described the midbass area as muddy and heavy in its presentation. However, I don’t know if the sample that I have got is a retuned batch or not, but I have to say that my T5 shows a pretty linear and balanced midbass character with good level of clarity, speed and impact. It doesn’t shows any midbass hump or remarkable mixings, even in songs like Gogo Penguin’s “Raven” or Charly Antolini’s “Duwadjuwandadu” that do have some quite complex bass passages.
Instruments such like a cross drum, trumpet or bass guitar are represented with a moderate sense of intensity and with a sufficient level of detail and speed for a product at this price range.
Midrange:
The midrange of the TIN HiFi T5 sounds pretty spacious and shows a slightly warmer than neutral tonality that is produced in the lower midrange area. The level of clarity, airiness and detail retrieval is on an efficient level and fulfills my expectations from a product at this price range. I do recommend a burn-in period of about 100 hours since the DOC diaphragm shows a positive response to burn-in.
The lower midrange shows an average level of depth and warmness, which avoids a too thin or dry overall midrange character. Male vocals such like Isaac Hayes, Sting or Elton John are represented with a moderate sense of depth, clarity and fullness.
The upper midrange is mildly pronounced that is able to produce a fairly good sense of clarity detail retrieval and extension for female vocals or instruments such like strings, pianos or brass instruments. The T5 has no audible shortcomings such like a muddiness, sibilance or mixings when I do listen to both vocals and instruments. However, I would wish a slightly better overall technicality, more body and higher level of upper midrange extension in this area.
Treble:
The treble range of the TIN HiFi T5 is more pronounced compared to the upper midrange area with focal points around the 5 kHz (presence) and 8 kHz (brilliance) regions. The treble tonality is bright, sharp and slightly peaky, which results in to sibilance when I do listen to certain songs.
The treble range is not as forging as the upper midrange area and sounds quite unforgiving with bad mastered tracks and complex genres like metal music, where you can find a lot of treble intensive instruments.
The treble range extends in general pretty well when I do listen to crash cymbals or hi-hats, while the sense of speed, detail retrieval and separation is on an average level.
The level of airiness is in the treble range is on a sufficient level which avoids negative situations such as dullness.
Soundstage & Imaging:
The soundstage of the TIN HiFi T5 shows a pretty sufficient performance for a precise positioning and separation of instruments and vocals. The soundstage is pretty wide, while the sense of depth is on an average level.
Comparison:
TIN HiFi T5 versus Auglamour RT-3:
Both IEM’s do have solid looking monitors that are made of metal material, which are equipped with 2-Pin female connectors that do offer a tight connection to the male connectors of the detachable cable. The cable of the TIN HiFi T5 looks more premium and is not as prone to mixings.
When it comes to the sound I can say that subbass region of the TIN HiFi T5 shows slightly more depth subbass depth and extension, while both are controlled in this area. The midbass region of the T5 has more intensity, depth and both compared to the RT-3 that shows a more linear character in this area.
The midrange of the TIN HiFi T5 sounds a bit more recessed, while the level of airiness and detail retrieval is pretty close. Male vocals do have more body and depth when I do listen to the T5, while female vocals do sounds fairly transparent and detailed with both IEM’s. The RT-3 has a slightly advantage when it when it comes to the speed and control in this area.
The treble range of the TIN HiFi T5 noticeably more pronounced next to the Auglamour RT-3 that shows audible roll-off in this area. The T5 is more detailed in both the upper and lower treble regions, with better sense of extension. However, the Auglamour RT-3 is more controlled and forgiving in this region especially when I do listen to poor recorded tracks.
The soundstage of the TIN HiFi T5 shows a better level of wideness, while the Auglamour RT-3 offer a slightly better sense of depth.
Conclusion:
The TIN HiFi T5 is a nice looking In-Ear Monitor with a solid metal housing that offers a comfortable fit and moderate level of passive isolation. It comes with a nice 2-Pin cable and a beautiful looking leather case. When it comes to the sound performance, I can say that the T5 offers a good bass and sufficient midrange performance, while I have mixed feelings when it comes to treble area, where it sounds a bit peaky, sibilant and unforgiving.
Pros and Cons:
- + Bass Response (Depth, Impact & Control)
- + Neutral Midrange Character
- + Treble Extension
- + Design and Build Quality
- + Accessory’s Package (Cable, Leather Case, Spare Parts, etc.)
- – General Midrange Tonality
- – Treble Rage is Unforgiving (Sibilant & Peaky)
- – Soundstage Depth
Thank you for the Read!