TinHifi T2 Evo

I don't want to repeat packaging and physicals ad focus on sound.
You find the whole package here: https://www.audioreviews.org/tin-hifi-t2-evo-jk/

Equipment used: Mabook Air + DragonFly Red/Earstudio Hud100 + JitterBug FMJ; SpinFit CP145 eartips.


TL;DR: the Tin Hifi T2 EVO is a technically competent neutralish earphone that falls completely short on its poor tuning which introduces a brightness too hot for most.


Boy, this earphone could be good. Really good. It has all the ingredients. Unfortunately, the company refuses to tune properly. A frequency response graph peaking between 4 and 5 kHz (in the human ear’s most sensitive area) and that shark fin at 15 kHz indicate an impending disaster.




What the upper midrange boost mainly does is adding midrange clarity. As an unwelcome side effect, it sharpens and attenuates vocals, which have a good note definition, but they are just too thin and sibilant. That’s where the original T2 are much better.

Bass in the EVO is reasonably tight but somewhat blunt (results vary with tips). Extension is good, but kick could be harder, culprit is lack of mid bass peak/the linear tuning. I’d call the low end rather ordinary but it is at least not overwhelming. Its bluntness removes some sparkle.

Vocals, although lean are rather realistically reproduced with reasonable intimacy. Midrange resolution is good as the lack of body leaves “a lot of space between notes”.

Treble rolloff starts in the upper midrange already, but it is revived by a shark fin peak at 15 kHz, which introduces fake resolution and clarity, air, and pain in the ears of younger listeners. Cymbals sound splashy.

Soundstage is not the widest or deepest (deep enough), but it is refreshingly tall. Timbre is very good, too.

Separation and layering are actually decent whilst dynamics is not the greatest. This iem could be very good wasn’t it for the tuning.

Tin Hifi T2 EVO modded​

Covering the 90% of the screens with micropore tape reduces the glare and increases the perceived mid bass (by reducing the upper midrange). This also enriches male voices to some extent, but not enough to call it a perfect fix. As a downside, the bass becomes slower and boomier but staging improves. The micropore mod certainly improves things but still does not make you run to the store and buy the EVO.


Covering 90% of the nozzle screen wth 3M micropore tape tames the upper midrange to some extent.

Tin Hifi T2 EVO vs Tinaudio T2​

The original Tinaudio T2 is easier to drive, it has a very similar basic signature, it is slightly less bassy and the vocals come out better. The T2 EVO is not a progress, tonally, but it is in terms of technicalities. The EVO offers wider staging, a more articulate note definition, it sounds sleeker whereas the original T2 is technically less refined but has better air.






Tin Hifi got it totally wrong with the T2 EVO. Instead of presenting a true update of the classic T2, they bodged it by delivering an overcooked tuning that will be hurting the eardrums of most. Another lost opportunity. If you need to get a Tin Hifi budget earphone, stick to the decent T2 Plus. Or get an original T2 second hand, it is worth it.

Disclaimer​

The Tin Hifi T2 EVO was supplied unsolicited by NiceHCK and I thank them for that.

Get the Tin Hifi T2 EVO from NiceHCK Audio Store

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The review sample was kindly provided by Linsoul free of charge and I only paid import fees and tax.
The price is about $59.99 and you get it directly from Linsoul.
(I don't get commission by clicking on the link)

Introduction

TinHiFi is the brand name of a big OEM/ODM manufacturer from China which was launched in 2017 to bring HiFi sound and quality in a more accessible price point.
The T and P series of iems from TinHiFi are well known among the community but I have to confess that this is my first experience with a product from the brand.



About TinHiFi T2 EVO

Following previous T2, T2 PRO, T2 PLUS earphones, now the TinHiFi Tank Family is having a new member the T2 EVO, featuring classic tank build with high-quality workmanship.

The TinHiFi T2 EVO is equipped with a single 10mm carbon molecule composite dynamic diaphragm.

The "T" stands for "TANK" and the EVO is made of aviation-grade aluminum and a Tank style body.
The real aluminum color is classic and neat while the metal housing won't cause any allergic reactions on your ears as they are completely hypoallergenic.
The canal design can shut out noise perfectly and you are able to enjoy deep and rich sound.



Cable and accessories

The TinHiFi T2 EVO is designed with the popular MMCX detachable connectors and it is made from 5N 8-core silver-plated wire.
The cable is pretty good, with a high quality 3.5mm plug, it has a soft feeling, it doesn't get easily tangled and it is absent from microphonic noise.

The earphone comes with a small handmade leather pouch, three different sizes of silicone ear tips / two pairs of each and a single pair of memory foam ear tips.



Wearing comfort and isolation

The T2 EVO is very small and lightweight, the classic old style iem that is worn with the cable over the ear for increased stability.
The iem literally vanishes into the ear and I was able to get a super comfortable fit that didn't cause any stress even after a prolonged time of use.
The shells fit snugly into the ear and the cable helps a lot with stability, as such they are suitable for use during exercise but keep in mind that they don't have an IPX rating.
The iem is totally closed with only one very small hole for pressure relief and combined with the excellent fit, it offers great passive noise attenuation so it is good for noisy environments.



Listening impressions

As per usual practice I have left the T2 EVO playing music for about 100 hours before critical listening.
The T2 EVO is rated at 32Ω with a sensitivity of 93±3dB@1kHZ 0.126V, as such it is not a difficult load and can be used from your phone's 3.5mm output.
Nonetheless I suggest using at least an entry level USB DAC/amp like I did with the iBasso DC05 and Periodic Audio Rhodium.



The T2 EVO has a balanced and neutral sound signature up to the mids followed by an emphasis starting from the upper - mid range, reaching up to brilliance which results in a bright, airy listening experience with a lot of detail retrieval but the sound is lean, lacking in body and presence.
There is a great sense of clarity while the treble is surprisingly extended for a budget iem giving plenty of energy and agility to the sound.
Cymbals and other percussion instruments sound alive and clearly heard in the background with a good decaying speed.
Articulation is not the finest, instruments are lacking in naturalness and are heard with a metallic timbre, sounding somewhat coarse and artificial.
The lower - treble / upper mids are unequally forward and become shouty, causing some kind of piercing annoyance.
Mids and lower mids are calmed down, certainly better in timbre quality with a smoother articulation, finer expression, fuller body and rounder texture so vocalists sound well defined and more present.
Bass is absolutely neutral, almost linear without rolling off too much in the lowest octave, so it is not severely lacking in sub - bass quantity.
The presentation is lean and not as full bodied but in exchange it is fast, clean, tight, controlled and well defined with modest dynamics and impact.
The iem can keep up with complicated and bass heavy material without losing it's pace, able to present the various low register instruments with good layering and clarity, absent of any mid - bass bleed that could lead into potential masking.
The soundstage is quite expanded and it feels airy with excellent separation and positioning accuracy, I guess that this is the strongest point of the T2 EVO.



At the end

The TinHiFi T2 EVO is a neutral - bright iem with great clarity and detail retrieval for the category, linear bass response and an airy, accurate soundstage.
It is well built and lightweight with a comfortable fit, disappearing into the ear, making it suitable for extended use and exercise.
Unfortunately technical performance is nothing so special to write about, timbre is mostly artificial and there is that uneven upper-mids, lower-tremble emphasis that may end up being too annoying for some users.
If you are not sensitive in this particular area and you need a small, and comfortable iem for everyday use under noisy environments then you could give it a chance.

Test playlist

Copyright - Laskis Petros 2021.