Sensitivity / Hiss
If the impedance is low on the P1, sensitivity is also low, so I encountered no hiss during my review. Get a good DAP because if not, you won’t even grasp the true potential of these IEMs.
Association
- TinHifi P1 + FiiO M6 : the perfect lightweight combo… but not this time. The FiiO M6 is great, mark my words on that, but it doesn’t match well with the TinHifi P1. It lacks this little flame of magic that gives you this top-tapping feeling, although all the details remain clear all the time. I plugged the latest iBasso DAC in to the M6 and got surprisingly good results, so it’s clearly the amp section which is to blame.
- TinHifi P1 + FiiO M11 : spaciousness and accuracy. This is one of the best combos I tried with the P1. I can’t say much about the FiiO M11, as the review is coming soon, but if you want a combo under 1000€ that can play every genre, you should REALLY try it.
- TinHifi P1 + iBasso DX220 : spoiler alert, the DX220 is the best player iBasso made to date. Even so, if you get more details and boost up the accuracy, this doesn’t feel as right as the M11 combo in my opinion. That may be the sparkling upper-mids ? That is to say, it’s still a terrific combination.
Comparisons
Want to compare it with other chi-fi gear ? Here you go:
- BGVP DMG : the BGVP DMG cant’t match the TinHifi P1 accuracy, as the latter took the edge every time. Yet, the DMG has more spaciousness and seems to immerse you more. This is more a choice of personal taste, even if I’d prefer the P1 overtime, especially for the better isolation.
- Simgot EK3 : I tried the EK3 just before the P1, and those two don’t sound the same. At all. The EK3 feels more relaxed, more smooth, the details get to you in a tender way. The P1 does the exact opposite, as if you were in a restaurant and the waiters would politely but firmly push you toward one specific meal. Also, the P1 doesn’t come with multiple signatures (and isn’t as beautiful, but that’s my own opinion.
- KZ AS16 : the AS16 is a very different kind of animal with those 8 balanced drivers. Yet, I found a lot of similarities : same upper mids boost, accuracy is key and transients are damn fast. But, the AS16 is much more easy to drive, giving it the edge on lower tier DAPs. On a Shanling M2X, I’m pretty sure most of you will prefer the AS16, but on the M11, the P1 will definitely feel more adequate.
Conclusion
The TinHifi P1 is very good overall, excellent for the price. The sound is nice with overwhelming precision, impressive sound pressure and a sound signature that 90% of listeners will love, and 10% will tweak. The build quality is superb, with the shiny Stainless Steel shell and the copper braided cable. I love it.
It needs a (very) good source to fully deploy its wings but, do it and you’ll be pleasantly rewarded. For 199$, you really can’t go wrong on this one. Enter the chi-fi train, it keeps speeding up !
To the recommended list it goes!
David
Any thoughts on the synergy with the Chord Mojo? I have a Mojo, thinking about buying a Fiio M11
Kevin
I have a Mojo but I do not like the Mojo. It has excellent detail retrieval but at the cost of feeling closed/zoomed in to achieve it. The P1 needs all the help it can get in the soundstage & imaging department so It should be paired with something like the M11 because it has a more analytical and spaced out/distant presentation.
It might seem less detailed than the Mojo because instruments appear to be further away, but at the same time that gives it room to breathe and appreciate each element of the song more on its own. With the Mojo the instruments are more pressed in your face and seem to be fighting for your attention in a smaller space. Couple that with the shallow soundstage of the P1, you get too much of a good thing.
Get the Fiio.
Jason
My Fiio M11 does not drive the P1 adequately. I use high gain and balanced, tight seal with foam tips and the sound is just adequate. I do not enjoy them through the M11.
Wonderer
Wait…
So these come with 4.4/2.5 balanced accessories?
I am not sure I came across that fact from other previous reviews…
Am I able to used balanced connection via stock cable?
Bill
They don’t. They were included with the pre-release version but there were issues and they didn’t work as intended. Tin omitted them from the retuned retail version. I’m having a hard time trusting this review…
James
3.5mm to 2.5/4.4 balanced players? Isn’t that meant to be very very bad? I thought you could only go the other way?
Loganaden Balakrishna VEERAPEN
Nanotechnos on a few occasions you mentioned ‘balanced drivers’ – you know they are in fact called ‘balanced armature drivers’ right?
Aaron
Where you using the p1 and the m11 with the balance output?
is it better than using the 3.5mm output?
thanks
DJ Core
Balanced will always be better than 3.5 output.Wider soundstage as well.Look into the advantages of Balaced and you’ll appreciate it more.
David
Anyone have both the Fiio F9 Pro and the TinHiFi P1s and have a preference (when paired to a Chord Mojo)
Ben
I’d be interested in comparison to the BVGP DMS rather than DMG. Any listening experience?
DJ Core
i have the DMG and skipped DMS.DMG is better than DMS and the P1’s resolution is 5x what DMG can do.DMG has more Bass which is good but sometimes muddies the lower Mids unless you have the Latest audiophile Filter which reduces that effect.
P1 has redefined my appreciation for Music.You hear new things in music you’ve been listening too since you were a kid.Best buy for me.
DJ Core
Received mine from Linsoul this past saturday July 13th.For the first time.The hype is Very very real.These sound like $1000 IEM’s.
I’m hearing things i didn’t hear in a bunch of songs i’ve been listening to sinc i was a kid.Stuff with guitars,Sax etc sounds like it’s being played right there in the room.Stage is wide depending on source.Desktop DAC/AMP was the widest.ZX300 just sounds beautiful.I’m truly satisfied with these.
They also respond well to EQ and actually do have just enough Bass when added.(Did +3b on the ZX300 on SE output 50mW+50mW and i was happy with the result) at 65% volume.should be significantly better on balanced 200mW+200mW which i’ll try today
Didn’t tape any vents yet but will try it.
Sounds ok too on my LG V35 but volume is at 90%.Will trick it into High impendance and see what happens.
Won’t be buying any more IEM’s.Got others for HipHop stuff
pmnocturnal
Hey, just here to ask, how did they do in the high impedance mode
boris
I tried and now use them also with Lg V20 high impedance mode. It’s great! I also have fiio k3, hiby w3 and bravo audio v2. To me all sounds great! Best iems so far! Great for long listening too. Sub base is not really present, but to me that makes it more pleasant and comparable to open over ear headphones like hd600. They respond great to EQ. I am so happy with them I own two, just in case…
Michel
NanoTechnos , which of these are better
Fiio fh5 , etymotic ER4XR, Tin P1 ?
For
Details , transparency , separation , durability
Kurt Gingher
Is it new technology for it’s own sake or is there a technical or at least intellectual case for this approach ?
Jason Banaszak
I really am at a loss as to how you can think the M11/P1 combo is anything better than mediocre. Upon first listen I thought there had to be something wrong somewhere, the bass was so recessed and lacking any impact, the whole sound signature was dry and…meh. Plugged them into my desktop amp, and these issues vanished. I guess if you don’t have any basis of comparison you might think they sound good through the M11, but please check the P1 through better powered sources and you will discover how severely limited they are using a DAP like the M11.
Maurice Kaizer
How would the p1 fair paired with astell and kern ak70