Hifiman TWS600 Review

Sound Signature

 

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In my opinion, Hifiman wanted this earphone to be easily discerned from other true wireless earphones. Many of the earphones feature warm signatures, perhaps even too warm, to the point that bass bleeds into mids resulting in a muddy sound across the spectrum. Hifiman created something contrary to this practice. The TWS600 features clarity and a detail focused neutral signature with mids being the star of the show.

I was tired of seeing V-shaped TWS earphones, so this is a good change of scenery.

Sound Quality

The high-frequency section of the  TWS600 is crisp & detailed. Just like the rest of the spectrum, the TWS600’s treble follows the main idea of an audiophile TWS. It is clear, extended, non-fatiguing. Mids are little forward, articulate, transparent, detailed. Upper mids may come a little too bright to some as there is a peak around 2k, so I’d be wary of that if you’re sensitive. Lower frequencies however, are not very present. Especially the sub-range is quite dry and rolled-off. Tonal balance takes a hit because of that, lacking in weight and essential harmonics. You don’t feel this while listening to Norah Jones but it can be easily noticed with music from say Tom Waits. Furthermore, instruments such as tubas, saxes and even piano take a hit from the bass response and they somewhat lack some body overall. Midbass is not very prominent but not as shy as the sub region, so that’s good. It has some body to it as well. Midrange and treble presentation gives a good boost to overall resolution. If we look at the sound stage layout, it welcomes us with a wide and relatively deep fashion, making it quite unique among other TWS earphones.

The sound stage is open and airy. Instrument separation is very good as well, it is quite easy to pick out the positions. However, when you add a little congestion to the equation, things change a bit. This is the case with nearly all solo dynamic drivers but I wanted to mention just in case. Fast passages and increased number of instruments cause congestion and this results in changes in how the sound stage is perceived. Of course, poorly recorded or loudness war veteran tracks make the situation even more complicated so I’d stick to audiophile recordings. Don’t go “but this earphone only supports up to 250kbps!” I already know that. My audiophile nature wants to believe that recording quality is simply more than just numbers. There are just too many variables when it comes to mastering. Better play safe. Let’s talk about imaging and speed. For starters, it’s not hard to see that imaging is directly related to the sound stage, therefore it is good with this pair for a TWS earphone. Because of the reason that the TWS600 has a rolled off subregion and generally bass light presentation, you don’t feel any dynamic driver sluggishness whatsoever. I want to add that the background is not completely dark, you can hear some low hissing in the background. This can sometimes lead to a vexatious experience, especially with artists like Lotte Kestner. 

Oddities

There actually is a weird phenomenon about my pair that I find funny and would like to share with you. Whenever I open my case after charging the earphones, I smell an intense electrical smell. Another odd thing is if you equip some of the included bigger tips, the case won’t close. Err…?

Specifications & Technical Data

  • Topology Diaphragm DD
  • IPX4 Sweat & Dirt Resistance
  • Frequency Response 20hz-20khz
  • Weight 5.9 grams – each side
  • Playtime 5.5h + 33h battery case
  • Earphone charging time 1h
  • Case charging time 1.5h
  • Bluetooth 5.0 + Low Latency
  • Standby 110h
  • Transmission range up to 150m
  • Built-in Microphone
  • SBC – AAC Codecs only.
  • Play / Pause / Next-Previous / Volume Control / Assistant via buttons on the earphones
  • Can be used in single channel mode

Comparisons

Lypertek TEVI

The TEVI has quite good bass control and does not lack in weight. It has recessed mids and equal treble presence compared to the TWS600. Resolution-wise I can say that it is a tie between the both. Instrumental separation is almost equal as well but the Hifiman’s sound stage is wider. The excitement factor is more present on the TEVI whereas HIFIMAN seeks more of an audiophile approach. PRaT is better on the TEVI as well. Actually, if you’re looking for a good all-rounder instead of a great, exclusively-audiophile-oriented TWS, go for the TEVI.

KINERA YH623

Kinera is another bass-heavy competitor with quite recessed mids and less prominent highs. The Kinera sounds veiled compared to TWS600 but the sub region is much more lively because of the high emphasis on bass.

Compared to the Kinera, the TWS600 feels much more breathier, relaxed and neat. Resolution-wise, the TWS600 triumphs.

RHA TrueConnect

Treble is controlled, has enough sparkle but the TWS600 wins the clarity battle. Upper mids are recessed on the TrueConnect. Subbass, bass and midbass are much more prominent. The sound stage is much more intimate and TrueConnect is smoother and more gentle in a general presentation. The TrueConnect has the tonal body and low mass that the TWS600 is missing. However, resolution-wise the TWS600 gets the crown. 

Final Words

The TWS600 is a unique TWS earphone that has a clear distinction from other mainstream TWS earphones. This earphone is specifically tuned for audiophiles in mind, and I can easily recommend it if you have a library that has a female vocal focus or if you like listening to acoustic, jazz and classical genres. The Hifiman TWS600 is great for those. I’d steer clear from these if you’re an EDM guy or a metalhead though. To recap: the fit is great, it is really comfortable even after 4 hours of continuous use. Battery life is great. The earphone build quality not so much, the case design is great. Unfortunately the pair supports only SBC/AAC and there is no support for LDAC or any other high-quality codecs. Lastly, the TWS600 has an excellent, stable connection. If you’re looking to get a TWS specifically for media consumption, I want you to know that these have a small latency of a couple of milliseconds. It’s was not a problem for myself and my brain adapted to it without problems. For example, the latency was much much worse with the Xiaomi AirDots and I could not watch YouTube with them at all. I don’t believe you will run into this problem with TWS600.

To be honest I am quite excited what will we be seeing from Hifiman on the wireless market in the near future.

 

4.5/5 - (149 votes)
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Long time Tech Enthusiast, an ambitious petrol-head, Yagiz likes his gadgets and always finds new ways into the tinkerer's world. He tries to improve anything and everything he gets his hands onto. Loves an occasional shine on the rocks.

2 Comments

  • Reply February 24, 2020

    Bob

    You say it is $79.00 but the website says $99.00 UMMMMMM!!! What’s up with this??

    • Reply February 24, 2020

      Lieven

      That’s outrageous! I would complain to Hifiman if I were you, how dare they change the price after publication of the article.

      Ps. It’s still at $79 on Amazon.
      EDIT: They just updated the price there to $99 as well.

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