Winning Doesn't Always Mean Being First In Everything
NOTES
The Tin Hifi T3 Plus is at the time of this review the latest release by the well known and respected company. In terms of looks alone the T3 Plus is a departure from other Tin HiFi Products but what doesn't stray too far is the high quality of sound.
The T3 Plus features a single 10mmLiquid crystal polymer driver housed in a beautifully appointed resin shell. On tap here is a slight V-shaped tuning with notable coherence and being pleasantly organic. Out of the box they can sound bass prominent but this is easily mitigated by tip/cable rolling as well as pairing the T3 Plus with a more neutral source. This results a very pleasing balanced sound with commendable note weight, clarity and detail while still retaining a warm smoothness to the sound.
The Tin Hifi T3 Plus is not hard to drive, but it became very apparent that it scales very well with more capable sources. To get the best performance out of the T3 Plus, use of a better dongle or dac/amp setup will allow these earphones to reach their sonic potential. The Tin Hifi T3plus is a definite top contender in the sub $100 options out there.
SPECS
- 10mm Liquid crystal polymer diaphram
- Sensitivity: 105±3dB @1kHz 0.179V
- Impedance: 32Ω±15%
- Standard 0.78mm Connectors.
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz
- 3.5mm Termination Plug.
EQUIPMENT
Topping a50s Headphone Amplifier
SMSL Sanskrit 10th MK2 DAC
Venture Electronics Rap5/WarpCore Lite Amplifier
TempoTec E44 , Apogee Groove & Shanling UA2 Dongles
Eartips: Final Audio E (2020 Version)
Cable: Stock Cable 3.5mm SE, NiceHCK LitzPS Silver
Sources: Flac Files From my Personal Collection / Apple Music
BUILD, QUALITY & FIT
Build quality is excellent with the iems being obviously very well made. Attention to detail of the earpieces is clearly apparent as well. The included accessories are a mixed bag with the included tips being good but the cable not being very inspiring. Still the out of box experience is quite good and for many this may all you will need. For the enthusiasts though, changing to other tips or cables will be one of the first things done after opening the package.
:SOUND:
BASS:
Out of the box with stock tips and cable, the T3 Plus initially had a prominent bass with average quality. Swapping tips and upgrading from the basic dongle changed this character. The Tin Hifi T3 Plus has a bass with good energy and punch whilst still exhibiting good control. There is good sub-bass extension while still not being a sub-bass focused iem. The bass walks a fine line between bein well controlled but still remaining quite musical and enjoyable. Sub-bass rumble is definitely present and does not become unglued when presented with demanding material. Note separation and detail are also notable in the lower registers , bested by for example the Hidizs MS2 on these two metrics but reaching deeper with more authority on the T3 Plus. Bass attack and decay are also impressive with the texture of the bass line in Wayman Tisdale's "Circumstance" being clearly heard. This ability to convey bass texture is also clearly apparent in "Angel" by Massive Attack as well.
The T3 Plus's bass power and control were laid bare on the track titled "Intelligent Hoodlum" by Manix. Slam and rumble were very well reproduced while never sounding out of control or having a hint of breakup even at fairly high volume levels.
Mid-bass bleed is also kept in check very well allowing the mids to really sound more open and non congested. All in all the bass on the Tin Hifi T3 Plus is quite musical and pleasurable. A wonderful foundation to the rest of the musical spectrum.
MIDRANGE
While the midrange could was arguably slightly recessed, it is notable for its clarity, smoothness and timbre. The T3 Plus also has a good degree of detail retrieval and separation sounding very open and unrestrained. This is helped in no small part to the lack of mid-bass bleed but yet good note weight and warmth are still present. Transients are handled very well not being overdone or lacking. Male and female vocals really sound very present and with a clarity that can easily allow the emotions of a song to come out. "Tenderhearted Lover" by John Stoddart had this amazing vocalists expressions clearly audible. Nothing was veiled. Cleo Soul's "When I'm in Your Arms" really showcased the T3 Plus's ability to reproduce vocals with a clarity and definition that was very engaging.
There is a well sought after organic nature to the mids which lends itself to satisfying long listening sessions. Coherency is also top notch, owning i'm sure to its well done single dynamic driver implementation. Swapping between a few iems, in an around the price of the T3 Plus, really highlighted just how open the midrange sounded on this iem. Direct comparisons can be very disarming and with respect to sounding unrestrained and open in the midrange, the T3 Plus, more often then than not, came out on top.
Treble
Treble is fairly well extended with no harshness or sibilance. Detail and definition are quite good with air and sparkle being well done. If anything there could have been a little more air but on tracks like "Vanston Place 12am" by Ronny Jordan, the sense of space was still very well done. Brushed cymbals have a natural tone about them and the harmonics of stings and cymbal strikes has a wonderful organic character and natural decay that added to this sense.
There is a boost in the upper mids but it never became harsh or fatiguing. Control was never lost and the overall treble presentation could be described as well balanced.
IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE
The Tin Hifi T3 Plus is more intimate than expansive with respect to imaging. This does not mean that the soundstage is relegated to between your ears. It just means that the imaging is not overdone and a more natural and believable approach is taken here.
"Stimela" by Hugh Masekela had a wonderful sense of venue dynamics and instrument placing and layering. This was more than enough to draw the listener into the performance.
VERSUS
- Hidizs MS2:
The MS2 is another standout in the under $100 crowd and is tuned quite differently than the T3 Plus. Bass is better controlled and somewhat faster on the MS2 while the T3 Plus comes out on top with respect to bass reach and power. The T3 Plus has a more organic tonal character to the bass as well with he MS2 winning on detail and abaolute definition.
Midrange is interesting as the MS2 has arguable better overall detail retrieval, although the T3 Plus is no slouch in this department. The Tin Hifi offering shows better note weight with a more organic presentation and arguably improved timbre although each is a winner in this part of the frequency spectrum imho.
Treble pretty much mirrors the midrange with the MS2 pulling more detail out of a track also with better extension, but the T3 Plus just has the "Organic" edge. The MS2 is also noticeably brighter as well.
- Reecho SG01:
Bass goes deeper with more impact on the T3 Plus with the Reecho's bass being slighter faster. Detail and quality are comparable though. In the midrange direct comparisons found the T3 Plus to be more open and less cupped in sounding and with slightly better layering than the SG01, but each had comparable levels of detail. Neither had any harshness of strident tendencies in the upper mids. In the Treble both excelled but in different ways. The SG01 has an extended yet smooth and detailed treble while the T3 Plus is not as well extended but offers a more organic presentation. The SG01 does take the lead on air and sparkle though.
CONCLUSION
The Tin HiFi T3 Plus is one of the leading contenders in the sub $100 category. It is intimate and detailed offering good timbre and an and organic presentation that is very pleasing. This level of cohesive sonics and natural sound is not too common in the sub $100 iem market.
While if taken on a point by point basis, the T3 Plus is not a dominant winner in all metrics, it's overall cohesive sonic package is formidable for its price and market placement.
Fit finish and great sound all add up to a definite recommendation from Silicon SoundZ for the Tin Hifi T3 Plus.
Where to Buy
www.keephifi.com
Comments