TIN P1 PLUS- A portable planar
TIN as a chifi company is well famous for its cheaper offerings rivalling a lot of other chifi manufacturers. It's well famous for its power-hungry TIN P1 planar iem which is an older offering. So today, I am getting to review the newer more efficient version of P1 -
TIN P1 PLUS.
DISCLAIMER:
This unit has been provided to me as a part of a review tour in my country organized by HiFiGo. This review is completely based on my experience with it and all opinions positive or negative are my own and no one else’s (no one can have my thoughts ). Please try it yourself if you can, since we all hear things differently. The link for the iem is here.
SPECIFICATIONS-
Driver type-
Planar
Impedance:
22Ω±15%.
Sensitivity:
108dB±3dB.
Rated Power:
5mW.
Maximum Power:
10mW.
Max Distortion:
1%@1kHz.
PRICE-
170USD / ~ 15k INR
UNBOXING-
This iem came in the classical Tin synthetic box and no retail box, otherwise Indian customs would have killed it with their exorbitant import prices
. All the accessories were placed inside the box and it easily accommodated everything
. Rest the pictures will describe
.
BUILD AND FIT-
It's an all-metal build with a very small signature. Overall, it's not heavy but is kinda small so, in order to get a good fit, you have to use larger than your typical size ear tips. The cable is pretty good but it's mmcx and given TIN's reputation (my tint2 and tint2 plus all have those mmcx issues), they begin to show disconnections pretty easily with time, so be careful with your usage.
CABLE-
The cable is pretty good and has a lot of leeway. There is no micro-phonics and the only sad thing is it's
3.5mm and mmcx of TIN.
ACCESSORIES-
- 2 pairs of foam tips
- S/M/L Silicone narrow bore tips (clear/red & black)
- Carry case
POWAHH-
This does require some power and becomes more dynamic but the overall increase is not much worth it. There might be some pairing issues like I had with my R01 module, but the T01 module of N6ii was great. A warmer source would be better to add more bass and sub-bass and slightly more thickness to the notes. Even with amping this is bass light.
NOTE- This IEM is used with-
- N6ii and T01 module & R01(mostly T01 since R01 caused this iem to have too much sharp peaks in certain instruments with very fast loud notes in the treble region like triangles and crash cymbals etc) for portable on chair listening experience for the most part of the review.
- On desktop- N6ii T01 LO and A30s (Burson V5i D) and XDUOO MT602 Sylvania tubes (beautiful pairing but then low gain on N6ii and also volume at 08 but I would stay with it since it becomes a beautiful entity but this requires a better copper cable !!!) has been used.
- Sometimes LG G8x as phone source.
- Tips used were stock ‘L' sized tips
NOW COMING ON TO THE SOUND OF THE TIN P1 PLUS- (This is subjective and your opinions may vary)
SUB-BASS-
Sub-bass is completely classical of a planar iem / headphone (at least the ones I have tried completely). It has a very small presence and good energy. There is a small feel of rumble in it
and it seems sub-bass light completely. Addition of SS amps also did not increase the feel but did add some decay to make it have more feel overall. Some amount of increase in sub-bass volume is added and hence amping is needed but it's not much of a very big difference that warrants an amp for an optimal experience. Adding a warmer source would be a much better option but I don't have any at the moment to try, except R01, which isn't much of a warmer source plus don’t have great synergy with this iem rather T01 adds more of a sub-bass
.
BASS-
The bass is punchy and dynamic. There is more of a mid-bass punch and not too much high-bass added. The tonality is on the leaner side and has a lot of texture proper of a planar iem. It’s full of bass energy but doesn't overshadow whatever the sub-bass it has. It has great attack and very fast decay giving a very fast and clean listen on the bass notes. Notes have a great beginning and big body with great edge definition. Amping kind of does add more punch to the mid-bass butt adds more dynamism too the light hits. Overall great experience
MIDS-
Let's start with the best part of a song - the vocals. Vocals are very clean with great definition to the words. There is more emphasis on the 'ssss' words. Vocals have great body and great extension with lots of air coming through the mic. Plus, each word is extensively clear and crisp with minute details being as clear as day. The overall feel is on the leaner side with slightly unnatural feel to the female vocals. Female vocals extend greatly but become slightly shouty with too much upper mids presence.
The instruments in the mids are greatly presented with lots of details thrown into the mix. The tonality is slightly on the leaner side. There is great stage depth and discreet space around the instruments. Lots of dynamics with a great way of presenting transients which have very fast decay and fast attack too
. The timbre is present on the string instruments more than other keys or drums. Each notes have great definition and extension with beautiful reverb
. The upper mids and lower treble are more enhanced than the lower mids and hence provide an energetic experience sometimes a little too much for certain instruments like triangles, crash cymbals etc which have very fast notes. There's also a great amount of texture added to the notes too.
TREBLE-
The treble is the most beautiful part of this iem which is best experienced with orchestra and other instrumentals. The beautiful extension in the treble region is excellent
. There is lots of air in the instruments and beautiful reverb around the strings of the instruments. Notes separation and definition is excellent, rivalling some of the great iems in this price range. Dynamism is also great with tonality being slightly on the leaner side. The only thing I found as a con is, it sometimes becomes too much with cymbals, triangles , and shakers where the notes are kind of too much sometimes. The decay and attack are fast with good timbre in the wind and string instruments
albeit lacking in the shakers and other metallic instruments
.
HEADSTAGE AND IMAGING-
There's great height and stage depth in the head-stage of the iem. But not much depth (-y axis) added but with enough width added it makes it feel have a much wider presentation. The instruments have been placed near the edge of the head-stage with notes going outside. The entire head-stage is balanced or slightly V shaped. Imaging is great with precise detailing of the instruments in space and sometimes even fooling us
with its presentation.
RESOLUTION AND SEPARATION-
The separation and layering are truly that of a planar and it just is clear as water in that department. There's great resolution too which is revealing and kind of attaches you to it and makes you trying to find that in others
. Each instrument is spaciously separated and their notes are well executed except shakers, triangles and other metallic fast paced metallic instruments.
COMPARISONS--
BQEYZ AUTUMN
Pros-
More balanced signature
Better mid bass tightness and definition
Better inter-instrumental separation
Texture is better enhanced
Better notes edge definition
More controlled and balanced notes
Wider stage
Good change in sound with filters
TRI I3 PRO-
Pros-
Better treble extension
Better treble details
Better sub-bass
Better stage depth and layering
Better transparency
Better mids
Note body definition was better.
TIN P1 PLUS-
Pros-
Better treble extension
Better air in the string instruments
Better transparency
Better edge definition of the notes
Better texture in bass
TIMELESS 7HZ
Pros-
Bass is warmer
Sub-bass is warmer
Better vocals than T1 plus
Less air
Less details
MOONDROP KATO-
Pros-
Excellent dynamics
Excellent tonal accuracy
Beautiful airy notes and treble (less than p1plus)
Well extended in the treble region
Has sub-bass and is mid bass heavy
Beautiful separation and spacing around instruments
Wide stage
Excellent imaging and resolution.
SUMMARY-
Now for the price and ability to run from portable sources has already made this way better on the go, than P1. But, at this price range and slightly higher there are more better and enjoyable options
, but if you want the best extension in treble, lots of air, can change cable to OCC copper and want the feel of a planar without much bass and sub-bass, this becomes highly recommended.