Review: Tin HiFi T2 & T3

Tin Hifi

Design & Build Quality

Shell

Like all Tin HiFi IEMs, the T2 and T3 enjoy a full metallic enclosure, which is not surprising for a brand named Tin.

The shell is made of two-parts:

– a center tunnel, holding the drivers and dampers, closed by punctured caps so the driver can “breathe”.
– a main ring, where the center tunnel fits, which holds the MMCX ports so you can connect the cable.

If not impressive from afar, the shell is much more distinctive up close. The T2 and T3 enjoys a two-tone finish with a “raw” center part, whereas the main ring has been polished. Sure, this is not as impressive as the Tin HiFi P1 with its mirror-like finish, but this should not belittle how nice the overall piece looks, and feels.

 

Design-wise, it’s good but not amazing. This is purely subjective of course, and some might like the conservative look over bold choices, like the P1 for example. But this allows the Tin HiFi T2 or T3 not to stand out when plugged in your ear, again purely subjective.

The Tin HiFi T3 is slightly more sophisticated than the T2: little lip on the outer part of the faceplate, slightly bigger main ring with a small notch. Not much, but just enough so you cannot mistake one for the other on the go.

The IEMs are exempt from any kind of inscription, logo or even left/right indication. The only way to know which is which, for those who are new to IEMs, is to look for the blue/red ring embedded between the MMCX socket and the main ring.

Overall, no risk is taken but that’s what makes them cool.

Build quality

Like the P1, the Tin HiFi T2 and T3 doesn’t fall back on this aspect: build quality is excellent from top to bottom.

The junction between the center tunnel and the main ring doesn’t show any gap. The small vents located on the faceplate and the nozzle are as tiny as they could be. This may look silly for others, but this is the kind of small details that says a lot to me. Like a watch where everything matters.

Sometimes, metallic earphones can show rough edges or tiny shards, due to the CNC milling. That is not the case here, everything looks and feels nice, even the protective mesh which is also made of aluminum.

Detachable cables are the norm nowadays. Almost all IEMs come with MMCX connections in my experience. So it didn’t shock me to find yet another MMCX terminated IEM with the T2 and T3.
Tin HiFi pairs these IEMs with two types of cables:

  • the T2 has a  braided silver-plated copper cable, with a gold plated plug and a carbon fiber inlay. A classic.
  • the Tin HiFi T3 goes the extra mile, with an SPC and GPC hybrid cable. Way over-the-top, but I can’t complain.

On a daily basis, the IEMs will withstand every kind of abuse, even if you just throw them in the bottom of your bag, or let them fall on hard concrete. A good option for those who like to travel light, they can ditch the usual carry-box and just keep the IEMs.

So yeah, not “sexy” at all, but would you want your hummer to be sexy? I thought so.

Bundle and Comfort

Inside the box

The Tin HiFi T2 box was half the size of the T3’s. Sure a bigger box doesn’t mean much for an earphone (remember the KZ ZS5) but sometimes this leads to pleasant surprises. Spoiler alert, this is not the fact here.

The difference in terms of size is simply to make the T3 stand out a little more. So, the bundle is exactly the same and you’ll find:

  • the earphones,
  • six pairs of silicon tips + two sets of foams (blue for the T2 /grey for the T3),
  • 1x silver-plated copper cable (T2) / 1x hybrid cable (T3).

Yes, it’s dire/simple but for a sub 50$ IEM and a sub 80$ IEM, I didn’t expect much. The cable itself pays for the entire box.

One last thing, the box can also serve as a carrying box. It looks more like a jewelry box, with its pleather outer shell, fabric interior, and book design. Actually, I even prefer the T2’s box, which could be mistaken for a watch box.

 

Additional accessories

Out of curiosity, I checked Linsoul’s website to see what kind of accessories you get with the T2 or T3. The MMCX socket allows you to plug any cable you want, as long as it has the same micro BNC connector. But thanks to their price, most aftermarket cables will cost you more than the IEM itself.

Comfort

The shells of the T2 and T3 are not so small, so I was afraid they would not fit comfortably in my ear.

Good news, this is not the case. The overall shape lets the IEM slide neatly in your ears, as long as you choose the right tip. Of course, the simple design doesn’t follow the ergonomics of the ear like semi-custom models do. The T2/T3 will look less intimidating to “new-comers” but once you’re used to CIEMs, it’s hard to go back.

The cables are well-suited for the ears: not too thick, not too heavy, just a bit too flashy. But, that’s just me being picky, for the price and finish, this is a great IEM that fits exactly where it should. As usual, take some time to choose the right tips.

So, time to check the specs !

The article continues on Page Three with the specs, after the click here.

4.1/5 - (16 votes)
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A nerdy guy with a passion for audio and gadgets, he likes to combine his DAC and his swiss knife. Even after more than 10 years of experience, Nanotechnos still collects all gear he gets, even his first MPMAN MP3 player. He likes spreadsheets, technical specs and all this amazing(ly boring) numbers. But most of all, he loves music: electro, classical, dubstep, Debussy : the daily playlist.

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