This is a review of the new TIN HIFI BUDS1
Redcarmoose Labs June 3rd, 2024
TIN HIFI BUDS1
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tin-hifi-buds1
Review:
In May of 2021 I reviewed my first TINHIFI audio product. Since then I have reviewed an additional 10 more TINHIFI IEMs, not counting this one. And while the sound quality varied per model I did start to recognize a slowly emerging TINHIFI house sound. Like the $29.00 10mm DD C2 has the midrange of the newly released $129.99 T5S, only the T5S technicalities and bass quantity have been thrusted forward, really this T5S is my most favorite I have had the opportunity to hear. And what separates the T5S from its brothers is a thicker, richer sound. So even though much of the T5S midrange tone is shared with the C2, there has been a step into more realistic technicalities in that T5S midrange...........they even warmed up the lower section by adding (literally) a whole T5S bass dimension!
Why am I going into all this?
The new Buds1 low-end is also enhanced, so much so that the lows make my previous TWS TIN, the TINBUDS3 sound thin by comparison. Yep, they came out with a number 3 before a number 1. To consolidate this paragraph, the Buds1 has more bass than any TIN I have ever heard, bass head levels of low-end.
Yet, somehow you get used to it, though there isn't a lot of bass detail inside this wash.
Truly I don’t know how, but I have been using the Buds1 for almost a week, and they have grown on me. In fact yesterday I went to the gym with them (for the second time in a row) then strolled around about town. This endeavor took hours, then I checked the suggested play time on a single charge?
What?
5 hours. LOL What 5 hours from a charge, and a total of 30 hours playtime recharging from the included case? No wonder they never ran out of juice, I could have stayed out an extra hour with music!
They are terrible on motorcycle rides, see that port on the outside? That grabs wind-noise and makes the music fully drowned-out. Though if you’re into that wind-sound, no one is stopping you!
Bluetooth 5.3:
The great part is instant connectivity to your phone or computer, I say this and you expect to read it, yet this is the very best stable connection, and ease of use scenario I have yet come across. Though they would cut out for a brief second when I was at home, around town walking there were the regular cut-outs every so often, this may be from other signal completion, who knows?
There is ANC:
That’s active noise cancellation, which wind overpowers of course.
Bass, midrange and treble:
A ridiculous 13mm driver made from a composite PU+PEEK into a single full-range Dynamic Driver Diaphragm system. Plus this smoothness worked its way………all the way into the midrange and treble, creating a well imaged, yet harmonically dense replay of cymbals and vocal replay. Imagine the best timbre yet coated in a super thick mid-bass and lower midrange. Sounding like a boost right at 6.5kHz which by itself releases imaging in the treble department to balance this hearty bass. What is left is a non fatiguing midrange which showcases a dense yet smooth and clear vocal display. Though while the vocals were perfectly heard despite the bass, it was the spacial clues of the treble...........realizing imaging in a distance formed outside the stage………this got me going. I mean look at the largest of the three vents, making the stage exceptional. In fact it is this stage that is my most favorite part, as it sure isn’t exactly the clear details. Lol
Clear detail?:
No real pace here, where the lows can blend together into a slush of deep-end distortion. I mean what pace is here is arrived at through mid-detail, and nice treble images, to where songs (after the breakdown) take on an added clarity for just a moment before the bass (re-kicks-in) to create that fog. To where there is sub-bass, yet it is again drowned-out by the mid-bass authority and lower midrange smearing life. This all sounds pretty bad, Ya? Well they become a guilty pleasure.
The difference that makes the TINHIFI BUDS1 a winner is volume levels!
Rose Technics Ceramics TWS:
You may think I’m going to rate the BUDS1 very badly due to the pace issue? When in fact the difference that makes the BUDS1 a winner is volume levels. Yep, where you don’t need to, but if you read the Rose Technics TWS review I give the Ceramics 3.5 stars, yet if you were to actually read the whole review you would see I was being nice with that score. Not only does the Ceramics have the same muddiness that we have with the BUDS1, the BUDS1 fixes this offering a bigger stage that allows us to see into this fog, then the volume levels the BUDS1 do, that you can’t even get close to maxing out. And yes, there is sub-bass to the BUDS1 which can surprisingly show-up unexpected and thrilling, to where the Ceramics has none of that on offer. And finally…….the form-factor of the BUDS1 clinches the deal, being the very most comfortable TWS I have ever felt in my ears.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/rose-technics-ceramic.26941/reviews#review-32855
Apple Air-pods 2nd generation:
Look, you do realize that all these (other) products are attempting to gain a section of Apple's success right? The IEM makers now are attempting to capitalize of Apples TWS success. The darn BUDS1’s case even has that chrome lip (that I accidentally forgot to remove the plastic protective film on for photos). Yep, and they are making the BUDS1 in blue, red and this white seen in the photographs. But I must say, white is hard to photograph at times, where really there is way less “off-white” to the BUDS1 than is shown in the photos. So really the color scheme is much closer to AirPods in real life, those the size is way bigger. Not only that, the bass is way bigger, the stage is way bigger, and they fit (to me) way better than the original Air-pods. Of course the BUDS1 are an IEM, compared to the hard tip-less surface of the original AirPod.
In truth I have a very difficult time not recommending the BUDS1. Why……well the fit for one. As such they are incredibly small. And most of the material is (fitting) inside of the ear, with just that outer bar to grab hold of. And while this oval tip may look different on first view, really the way the oval fits inside your ear is special, and I can see even high-end manufactures migrating over to this (tip) design possibly someday? But the other factor is value. While the price of $29.99 is not $19.99……it is also not (1st gen AirPod) of $159.00 (which was more in 2016 dollars)………..$206.00 to be exact.
Note the chrome strip on the front of the BUDS1, and on the back of the Apple AirPods 2Nd generation.
Packaging:
Included accessories: With a third set of oval eat-tips on the IEMs themselves
Smart Hall:
As such the BUDS1 seamlessly joins with your source when the case is opened, magnetically activated by the motion of opening the case. Subsequently stopping replay when the case is closed.
IPX5:
Where the BUDS1 are not at the top of the IPX list, as there are found IPX7 IEMs. As such swimmers go for headsets with IPX7 or IPX8, which can be immersed in water. Where this is all an attempt to make clear the term waterproof, and the waterproof ability which varies from IEM to IEM.
IPX3 is most suited for workouts, and here we are wonderfully 2 steps even above that!
Water IPX Standards
Added features:
Plus: Dual microphones delivers great voice pick-up during calls.
Plus: Low latency means great gaming.
Conclusion:
Honestly I really, really like the BUDS1! Mainly due to the fun sound. As such this bass heavy replay goes one step further to drown-out outside city traffic, or others talking. The great thing it does is add note weight and denser harmonics to the signal, that combined with the ample stage provides a party in your head. I mean these TWS IEMs have more bass than even most of my wired IEMs, and while smearing pace, it also smears definition of bass notes, creating a kind of fuzzy soup for such bass additives to swim in. Now normally (especially) with wired IEMs such a distortion of reality would be frowned on.
Not for everyone:
And sure there maybe a few members (who still) gravitate towards that sterile, cold and mid-forward life-less replay of Apple products? Yet they just don’t have the footprint size we are talking about here, and to me that footprint guarantees immersion. Simple as that. As this stage takes place, with the (low-end pushed out) into forward and back and side to side. The mostly slightly small but meaningful treble reaching up into the higher stratifications of stage, offering at times a thrill. All the while that buried sub takes hold when the file calls for it to exert prominence earth-quake like.
In the end this ends my least wireless signal cranky TWS, of course I’m no expert having a TWS history of only 5, yet it is easy to understand, as when you open the case as take the BUDS1 out a nice woman’s voice comes on right when BUDS1 enter your ear that simply says connected, and I like that. Or it says connected, transparency mode.
Fitment means they stay in-place. Right, these are sports IEM correct. Do you get my drift? They literally never move or need adjusting. I mean sure this is an individual ear-canal shape thing……..but so are all the other TWS I have, and none of them fit like this.
The feel is the fit and the fit the feel:
The fit creates the feel, yep……..so they are one of the most comfortable sets at only 4 grams each on my kitchen scale. The case too, it is a kind of soft touch matte finish, way different from the cold hard expression of TWS (charge case) art Apple portrays.
The bottom line? TINHIFI have rethought the TWS earphone arriving at a simple value. I say it is a value because (if you gel with the tone) the value part easily surpasses the Tin Buds 3, the Apple AirPods and annihilates the Rose Technics Ceramic in sound quality, feature and ultimately volume levels/power output. We are seeing simply a bigger TINHIFI company with more Research and Development funding to come-up with a bonafide winner. Even surpassing their other TWS earphones in over all value. Creating a new tone in sound design with more bass than the Tin Buds 3, and better fitment. No the BUDS1 are nowhere near perfect and I’m sure you get that, only I never ever thought I would use them everyday, and look forward to using them as much as I do? Get yours today!
Left to right:
Apple AirPods (2nd generation) $129.00
Rose Technics Ceramics, A choice of 3 colors $39.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/rosetechnics-ceramics
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/rose-technics-ceramic.26941/reviews#review-32855
TINHIFI Tin Buds 3 $89.52
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-tin-buds-3?_pos=7&_fid=286027dfb&_ss=c
https://www.amazon.com/Linsoul-TINHIFI-Tin-Buds-High-Fidelity/dp/B0B671TLJC?th=1
Use Guide:
1) To Play/Pause, double touch either earphone.
2) 3 clicks to the left earpiece to hear the previous song.
3) Touch either earphone to answer and hang-up.
4) Touch long for 3 seconds when a call comes in.
5) To wake-up Siri, touch either earphone 3 times.
6) Press and hold the left earphone for 3 seconds to turn-on game mode, music mode. Press and hold the right earphone to turn-on transparency mode/noise reduction mode, or turn off noise reduction mode.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Kareena from Linsoul for the opportunity to review the TIN HIFI BUDS1 TWS IEM.
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C
$29.99 USD
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tin-hifi-buds1
Equipment Used:
Samsung Phone Bluetooth
Apple iPod Touch Bluetooth
Redcarmoose Labs June 3rd, 2024
TIN HIFI BUDS1
- Continuous Music Playback
- Advanced Noise Cancellation
- HIFI Unit Enhancement
- Sleek Design with Enhanced Sound
- Crystal-Clear Calls
- IPX5 Water Resistance
- Seamless Connectivity
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tin-hifi-buds1
Review:
In May of 2021 I reviewed my first TINHIFI audio product. Since then I have reviewed an additional 10 more TINHIFI IEMs, not counting this one. And while the sound quality varied per model I did start to recognize a slowly emerging TINHIFI house sound. Like the $29.00 10mm DD C2 has the midrange of the newly released $129.99 T5S, only the T5S technicalities and bass quantity have been thrusted forward, really this T5S is my most favorite I have had the opportunity to hear. And what separates the T5S from its brothers is a thicker, richer sound. So even though much of the T5S midrange tone is shared with the C2, there has been a step into more realistic technicalities in that T5S midrange...........they even warmed up the lower section by adding (literally) a whole T5S bass dimension!
Why am I going into all this?
The new Buds1 low-end is also enhanced, so much so that the lows make my previous TWS TIN, the TINBUDS3 sound thin by comparison. Yep, they came out with a number 3 before a number 1. To consolidate this paragraph, the Buds1 has more bass than any TIN I have ever heard, bass head levels of low-end.
Yet, somehow you get used to it, though there isn't a lot of bass detail inside this wash.
Truly I don’t know how, but I have been using the Buds1 for almost a week, and they have grown on me. In fact yesterday I went to the gym with them (for the second time in a row) then strolled around about town. This endeavor took hours, then I checked the suggested play time on a single charge?
What?
5 hours. LOL What 5 hours from a charge, and a total of 30 hours playtime recharging from the included case? No wonder they never ran out of juice, I could have stayed out an extra hour with music!
They are terrible on motorcycle rides, see that port on the outside? That grabs wind-noise and makes the music fully drowned-out. Though if you’re into that wind-sound, no one is stopping you!
Bluetooth 5.3:
The great part is instant connectivity to your phone or computer, I say this and you expect to read it, yet this is the very best stable connection, and ease of use scenario I have yet come across. Though they would cut out for a brief second when I was at home, around town walking there were the regular cut-outs every so often, this may be from other signal completion, who knows?
There is ANC:
That’s active noise cancellation, which wind overpowers of course.
Bass, midrange and treble:
A ridiculous 13mm driver made from a composite PU+PEEK into a single full-range Dynamic Driver Diaphragm system. Plus this smoothness worked its way………all the way into the midrange and treble, creating a well imaged, yet harmonically dense replay of cymbals and vocal replay. Imagine the best timbre yet coated in a super thick mid-bass and lower midrange. Sounding like a boost right at 6.5kHz which by itself releases imaging in the treble department to balance this hearty bass. What is left is a non fatiguing midrange which showcases a dense yet smooth and clear vocal display. Though while the vocals were perfectly heard despite the bass, it was the spacial clues of the treble...........realizing imaging in a distance formed outside the stage………this got me going. I mean look at the largest of the three vents, making the stage exceptional. In fact it is this stage that is my most favorite part, as it sure isn’t exactly the clear details. Lol
Clear detail?:
No real pace here, where the lows can blend together into a slush of deep-end distortion. I mean what pace is here is arrived at through mid-detail, and nice treble images, to where songs (after the breakdown) take on an added clarity for just a moment before the bass (re-kicks-in) to create that fog. To where there is sub-bass, yet it is again drowned-out by the mid-bass authority and lower midrange smearing life. This all sounds pretty bad, Ya? Well they become a guilty pleasure.
The difference that makes the TINHIFI BUDS1 a winner is volume levels!
Rose Technics Ceramics TWS:
You may think I’m going to rate the BUDS1 very badly due to the pace issue? When in fact the difference that makes the BUDS1 a winner is volume levels. Yep, where you don’t need to, but if you read the Rose Technics TWS review I give the Ceramics 3.5 stars, yet if you were to actually read the whole review you would see I was being nice with that score. Not only does the Ceramics have the same muddiness that we have with the BUDS1, the BUDS1 fixes this offering a bigger stage that allows us to see into this fog, then the volume levels the BUDS1 do, that you can’t even get close to maxing out. And yes, there is sub-bass to the BUDS1 which can surprisingly show-up unexpected and thrilling, to where the Ceramics has none of that on offer. And finally…….the form-factor of the BUDS1 clinches the deal, being the very most comfortable TWS I have ever felt in my ears.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/rose-technics-ceramic.26941/reviews#review-32855
Apple Air-pods 2nd generation:
Look, you do realize that all these (other) products are attempting to gain a section of Apple's success right? The IEM makers now are attempting to capitalize of Apples TWS success. The darn BUDS1’s case even has that chrome lip (that I accidentally forgot to remove the plastic protective film on for photos). Yep, and they are making the BUDS1 in blue, red and this white seen in the photographs. But I must say, white is hard to photograph at times, where really there is way less “off-white” to the BUDS1 than is shown in the photos. So really the color scheme is much closer to AirPods in real life, those the size is way bigger. Not only that, the bass is way bigger, the stage is way bigger, and they fit (to me) way better than the original Air-pods. Of course the BUDS1 are an IEM, compared to the hard tip-less surface of the original AirPod.
In truth I have a very difficult time not recommending the BUDS1. Why……well the fit for one. As such they are incredibly small. And most of the material is (fitting) inside of the ear, with just that outer bar to grab hold of. And while this oval tip may look different on first view, really the way the oval fits inside your ear is special, and I can see even high-end manufactures migrating over to this (tip) design possibly someday? But the other factor is value. While the price of $29.99 is not $19.99……it is also not (1st gen AirPod) of $159.00 (which was more in 2016 dollars)………..$206.00 to be exact.
Note the chrome strip on the front of the BUDS1, and on the back of the Apple AirPods 2Nd generation.
Packaging:
Included accessories: With a third set of oval eat-tips on the IEMs themselves
Smart Hall:
As such the BUDS1 seamlessly joins with your source when the case is opened, magnetically activated by the motion of opening the case. Subsequently stopping replay when the case is closed.
IPX5:
Where the BUDS1 are not at the top of the IPX list, as there are found IPX7 IEMs. As such swimmers go for headsets with IPX7 or IPX8, which can be immersed in water. Where this is all an attempt to make clear the term waterproof, and the waterproof ability which varies from IEM to IEM.
IPX3 is most suited for workouts, and here we are wonderfully 2 steps even above that!
Water IPX Standards
| LEVEL | PROTECTION AGAINST | EFFECTIVE AGAINST | DETAILS |
| 0 | None | ||
| 1 | Dripping water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: 10 minutes. Water equivalent to 1mm rainfall per minute. |
| 2 | Dripping water when tilted up to 15° | Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position. | Test duration: 10 minutes. Water equivalent to 3mm rainfall per minute. |
| 3 | Spraying water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: 5 minutes Water volume: 0.7 litres per minute Pressure: 50 - 150kPa |
| 4 | Splashing of water | Water Splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: 5 minutes. Water volume: 10 litres per minute Pressure: 50 - 150kPa |
| 5 | Water jets | Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: at least 3 minutes Water volume: 12.5 litres per minute Pressure: 30kPa at a distance of 3m. |
| 6 | Powerful water jets | Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: at least 3 minutes Water volume: 100 litres per minute Pressure: 100 kPa at a distance of 3m. |
| 6K | Powerful water jets with increased pressure | Water projected in powerful jets (6.3mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction, under elevated pressure, shall have no harmful effects. | Test duration: at least 3 minutes Water volume: 75 litres per minute Pressure: 1000kPa at a distance of 3m. |
| 7 | Immersion, upto 1m depth | Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time. (up to 1m of submersion). | Test duration: 30 minutes Tested with the lowest point of the enclosure 1000 mm below the surface of water, or the highest point 150 mm below the surface, whichever is deeper. |
| 8 | Immersion, 1m or more depth | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. The test depth and/or duration is expected to be greater than the requirements for IPX7 | Test duration: continuous immersion in water Depth specified by manufacturer, generally up to 3m. |
Added features:
Plus: Dual microphones delivers great voice pick-up during calls.
Plus: Low latency means great gaming.
Conclusion:
Honestly I really, really like the BUDS1! Mainly due to the fun sound. As such this bass heavy replay goes one step further to drown-out outside city traffic, or others talking. The great thing it does is add note weight and denser harmonics to the signal, that combined with the ample stage provides a party in your head. I mean these TWS IEMs have more bass than even most of my wired IEMs, and while smearing pace, it also smears definition of bass notes, creating a kind of fuzzy soup for such bass additives to swim in. Now normally (especially) with wired IEMs such a distortion of reality would be frowned on.
Not for everyone:
And sure there maybe a few members (who still) gravitate towards that sterile, cold and mid-forward life-less replay of Apple products? Yet they just don’t have the footprint size we are talking about here, and to me that footprint guarantees immersion. Simple as that. As this stage takes place, with the (low-end pushed out) into forward and back and side to side. The mostly slightly small but meaningful treble reaching up into the higher stratifications of stage, offering at times a thrill. All the while that buried sub takes hold when the file calls for it to exert prominence earth-quake like.
In the end this ends my least wireless signal cranky TWS, of course I’m no expert having a TWS history of only 5, yet it is easy to understand, as when you open the case as take the BUDS1 out a nice woman’s voice comes on right when BUDS1 enter your ear that simply says connected, and I like that. Or it says connected, transparency mode.
Fitment means they stay in-place. Right, these are sports IEM correct. Do you get my drift? They literally never move or need adjusting. I mean sure this is an individual ear-canal shape thing……..but so are all the other TWS I have, and none of them fit like this.
The feel is the fit and the fit the feel:
The fit creates the feel, yep……..so they are one of the most comfortable sets at only 4 grams each on my kitchen scale. The case too, it is a kind of soft touch matte finish, way different from the cold hard expression of TWS (charge case) art Apple portrays.
The bottom line? TINHIFI have rethought the TWS earphone arriving at a simple value. I say it is a value because (if you gel with the tone) the value part easily surpasses the Tin Buds 3, the Apple AirPods and annihilates the Rose Technics Ceramic in sound quality, feature and ultimately volume levels/power output. We are seeing simply a bigger TINHIFI company with more Research and Development funding to come-up with a bonafide winner. Even surpassing their other TWS earphones in over all value. Creating a new tone in sound design with more bass than the Tin Buds 3, and better fitment. No the BUDS1 are nowhere near perfect and I’m sure you get that, only I never ever thought I would use them everyday, and look forward to using them as much as I do? Get yours today!
Left to right:
Apple AirPods (2nd generation) $129.00
Rose Technics Ceramics, A choice of 3 colors $39.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/rosetechnics-ceramics
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/rose-technics-ceramic.26941/reviews#review-32855
TINHIFI Tin Buds 3 $89.52
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-tin-buds-3?_pos=7&_fid=286027dfb&_ss=c
https://www.amazon.com/Linsoul-TINHIFI-Tin-Buds-High-Fidelity/dp/B0B671TLJC?th=1
Use Guide:
1) To Play/Pause, double touch either earphone.
2) 3 clicks to the left earpiece to hear the previous song.
3) Touch either earphone to answer and hang-up.
4) Touch long for 3 seconds when a call comes in.
5) To wake-up Siri, touch either earphone 3 times.
6) Press and hold the left earphone for 3 seconds to turn-on game mode, music mode. Press and hold the right earphone to turn-on transparency mode/noise reduction mode, or turn off noise reduction mode.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Kareena from Linsoul for the opportunity to review the TIN HIFI BUDS1 TWS IEM.
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C
$29.99 USD
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tin-hifi-buds1
Equipment Used:
Samsung Phone Bluetooth
Apple iPod Touch Bluetooth
