Tin HiFi P1 Plus

Introduction:

Tin Hifi is one of the popular brands from the Chi-fi scene and has delivered some great VFM offerings for budget audiophiles in the past. The Dongguan-based company has come up with a new offering, namely the Tin Hifi P1 Plus, which includes a 10mm planar magnetic driver.


Disclaimer: The Tin Hifi P1 plus was sent to me by Hifigo as part of a review tour in my country. I am in no way associated with either Hifigo or Tin Hifi and have no incentive whatsoever to write anything positive or negative about the IEM. The impressions shared in this write-up are based on my usage of the IEM over a week or so. The Tin Hifi P1 plus can be purchased from Hifigo.com using the following link:

https://hifigo.com/products/tinhifi-p1-plus



Packaging and Accessories:

The P1 plus fits extremely well thanks to its sleek and ergonomic design. The stainless-steel shells have a triangular shape of sorts with 2 vents for bass. Although minimalistic, the P1 plus looks great thanks to the solid build quality. The package includes a set of silicon tips and a few foam tips along with a 5N OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) MMCX cable with a 3.5mm termination. The cable is well built and complements the IEM quite well. Finally, there’s a leather case for storing the IEM and accessories. Considering the price point (160 USD) this is a good package. A modular cable or an option to get a cable with balanced termination would be nice to have, especially since the P1 plus requires a sufficient amount of power to shine and a balanced cable would help extract more power from a lot of portable sources.





Amping Needs:

Before I get to the sound characteristics of the P1 plus, I’d like to highlight that the P1 plus requires sufficient power to shine. When I ran it off my FiiO M11Plus LTD, it sounded harsh and shouty. The bass was non-existent and the treble was piercing. However, once I connected a Helm DB12 with the M11Plus, the IEM had a major transformation in sound. There was a significant improvement in terms of tonality and the overall sound was far more coherent. Hence, if you plan to get the P1 Plus, make sure you have a good amp (or at least a basic portable amp) to do justice to the IEM.



Sound Quality:

The key highlight of the P1 plus is definitely the tonal coherence. The mids are sweet and the highs are detailed. Once given sufficient power, the bass improves quite significantly in terms of quantity. Although overall, the P1 plus does lack presence in the sub-bass region, it makes up for the lack of it by providing a laid-back and coherent sound signature that makes it an ideal candidate for longer listening sessions.



I would personally love some more details and presence in the lows, especially the sub-bass region. The bass on the p1 plus is flat and neutral. Vocals are great with mids having a nice airy presentation and taking the center stage in terms of presentation. There is good note weight and separation and P1 Plus handles complex layering of instruments quite well. Treble too is excellent on the P1 Plus. As mentioned earlier, without sufficient power, the IEM tends to sound piercing but once it gets the required power, the treble on the P1 plus is one of the best I’ve heard on any planar magnetic IEM I have tried to date. The highs are well extended and airy. There is good detail here without sounding harsh or shouty (when amped).

The Tin Hifi P1 plus has a wide soundstage though the depth is average. The IEM has excellent layering and separation with very good imaging. The placement of instruments is quite accurate and the overall sound signature is non-offensive.

Conclusion:

The P1 Plus is a near-perfect budget planar IEM with excellent mids and layering. Perhaps some more presence in the bass region would have made it perfect. Nonetheless, this is a great IEM for anyone who is looking for something that has a great fit and can be used for longer listening sessions without fatigue, thanks to its laidback signature.

INTRODUCTION:

Tin HiFi the brand which is based out of China is a well established brand in the ChiFi Audio industry. The brand is specialised in making high quality in ear monitors both in the budget and high end category. Their T3 Plus, P1 and the P2 are the products that boosted the brands image due to their exceptional sound quality and to continue that legacy sound the P1 got a new upgrade the P1 Plus. In this review let's see how this performs against the competitors and its own competitor P1!



DISCLAIMER:

This unit has been provided to me as a part of a review circle organised by the HiFiGo Team and a big thanks to the team for adding me in their circle. This review is completely based on my observations and based on my sources and pairings hence it might differ from person to person. I have not been influenced by the brand nor the person to manipulate this review.

The product can be purchased via this unaffiliated link: https://hifigo.com/products/tinhifi-p1-plus

SPECIFICATIONS:

Driver: 10mm planar diaphragm

Impedance: 22 Ω ± 15%

Sensitivity: 108±3dB @1K Hz V0.179V

Frequency range: 10 Hz–20kHz

Cable: 1.25m {(18/0.06) oxygen-free copper + 200d Kevlar) *3 strands }Φ1.3 * 4 strands woven translucent orange PVC cable

Interface: Gold-plated MMCX connector

Rated power: 5mW

Max power: 10mW

Max distortion: 1% @1k Hz 0.179V

DESIGN AND FIT:

The design is the same as that of the P1 but with some minor changes which are minute. Apart from the design the thing that i don’t like in this is the fit! It's total garbage! The nozzle being very short in length they don’t get inserted into the ear canal perfectly. Even with the L sized tips they don’t provide the adequate sealing. With foam tips the isolation was able to be achieved.



The full construction is made out of metal. As Usual the Tin team went with the controversial MMCX connection this time. The cable is of good quality where its a copper coloured cable. The termination area, splitter and the connector area are made completely out of metal. A slider is given in the cable and the cable don’t get tangled up easily.

The given case is however one of the best i have to say. The case is completely made out of leather and its handstitched. The branding is done on the top of the case. The inner surface are completely lined with nice brown coloured soft lining.

SOUND:

The sound of the P1 plus is more of a neutral sounding pair with upper midrange emphasis. The bass being too modest and lean while the treble issues with the cymbal crashes we will discuss about the sound in detail in this review.

BASS:

The bass being a planar earphone it's kind of disappointing for me. The P1, not the plus version, had an even better bass when amped up. The Tin Team revamped the P1 variant by giving this Plus version to sound better even without amping but the truth is the plus needs some amping to unleash the full potential.

Even when amped up via the Zen Can the bass in the Plus seems to be too shy hence they sound very lean. The sub bass feels pretty light and the rumble is subtle to null. The extension is average in the low end. The mid bass is faster in decay providing a nice amount of clarity and separation but for some EDM and POP music this bass is too light.

The fullness and bodied sound is missing in the P1 Plus due that light low end. The faster decay of course contributed to the clarity and separation in the low end. The thump and fullness just lacks which is kind of better in the P1 non plus variant.

Tracks Used:

1. Jungles (Instrumental ) – Tash Sultana
2. Mountains – Hans Zimmer
3. BigFoot – MALFNKTION

MID RANGE:

The mid range is nicely tuned here with one of the best natural tonality and timbre one can find. The presentation feels very much forward and this is kind of fatiguing for me in the long listening sessions. A slight bit of laidback presentation could have been better. The vocals of both the male and the female sound clean and detailed. The fullness is not found in the vocals due to that reduced mid bass presence.

The staging being a slight smaller in terms of width the serene appeared sight a bit of closed one. The layering however felt nice where the placement of the instruments found to be very realistic.

The upper midrange is the slight disturbance here where they are slightly peaked up thus the female vocals sound harsh sometimes and when the high hat instruments appear the sounds become thinner and harsher.

The separation and the detail retrieval is brought out really well and the technicalities aspect in the mid range are neatly done and overall the midrange is a very pleasing segment with natural and neutral tonality, timbre.

Tracks Used:

1. Fi Ba7ri – Alaa Wardi
2. Why Can't She – Adam Craig
3. Easy On Me - Adele

TREBLE:

The treble is clean and crispy in the P1 Plus. The treble being extended well the airy and open sound is present in the IEM. The point where I started to dislike it is that the cymbal crashes sound a bit harsh. Their attack being very splashy they sound harsh most of the time.

The guitar strings and the trumpets do sound brighter and clean. The airy sensation that it provides gives a nice sense of open sound. The minute details are brought up good and clean. The track separation is nice without any noticeable congestion seen.

The brilliance factor is seen here and the shimmer is present in the top end giving nice clarity and open sound overall.

Tracks Used:

1. Jack Of Speed – Steely Dan
2. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
3. Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits

TECHNICALITIES:

STAGING: The staging of the P1 Plus is more on an average side since the width is not that expensive. The height is average too hence don’t expect any wide serene surroundings. They don’t sound that intimate too hence its more on a normal side but not wide when compared to the other competitors in this price range.

IMAGING AND LAYERING: These are another best aspect of this earphone. The layering is done very nicely where the placement of the instruments are more or less precisely done and the transient response of the channel from left to right is neatly done and appears smooth overall.

Detail retrieval and the instrument separation are above average and overall this definitely triumphs in the department of technicalities.

VERDICT:

The P1 Plus, the latest offering from the Tin HiFi is the successor of the P1. The P1 already being a very nice IEM in the price range with one of the best planar bass that one can get but the issue is they need to be amped up compulsory to unleash its full potential. To avoid this issue the Brand launched the Plus variant but the reality is their power demand is high hence an amp is needed to seek its potential.

The sound is now more on a neutral side with faster and technical bass thus the fun low end rumble cant be expected here. The mid range has natural tonality and timbre thus giving nice pleasing sound. The upper mid range has that weird peak where the female vocals sound harsh sometimes. The detail retrieval and the separation are above average. The highs are brought out really well but the cymbal crashes ofcourse sounds too splashy. The staging is kind of narrow for my taste and to compensate that the layering was done actually very good in the P1 plus.

Overall the sound is very nice for a neutral sound lover but as a general user I would still get the P1 non plus variant since it sounded better to my ears overall. The technicalities are slightly superior to that of their older variant but misses out on the fun factor and based on my observations this is NOT THE PLUS THIS TIME.

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-

1. 2 pairs of foam tips
2. S/M/L Silicone narrow bore tips (clear/red & black)
3. 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-

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Sometimes LG G8x as phone source.
4. 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.

Tin Hifi is located in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. It is a reputed name in audiophile circles. This company has a vision to gift the world with high-quality sound at an affordable price. Their idea that High Quality music should not be a luxury speaks to every music lover.

The first thing you will notice when you see P1 plus is how well ergonomic and elegant its design and build is. The shells are made of stainless steel with two vents. The smooth triangular faceplate is gorgeous. Its look and feel is eerily similar to P1; It's the Planer tuning in P1 plus that marks the difference between them.

It comes with a standard set of items one would expect to come with earphones this range. The box has a silicon eartips, some foam tips ,a leather carry case and a stock cable.

The stock cable is interesting, it's a 5N OFC(Oxygen Free Copper) MMCX type cable, with metallic Y-splitter and connector which pairs beautifully with the earpiece shell. This time it has been braided very nicely as compared to loose braiding in the P1. I do appreciate the fact that Tin Audio considered all the criticism that P1 faced during its time and worked very efficiently and flawlessly in designing of the P1 Plus.



Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ) using ifi xCAN as amplifier portable setup. And, it has also been paired to Schiit Vali2+Mutibit Stack in terms of desktop setup.

Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from HifiGo in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase it from the following link:
https://hifigo.com/products/tinhifi-p1-plus



Highs:
The high frequency range is very nicely done on P1 Plus. The treble is very smooth and relaxing. I have tested with many treble oriented tracks such as "Rehna Tu" from "Delhi6", It performed very well with all those busy instruments and was not at all sibilant or harsh at point of time. Although I must say that P1 plus is not one of those IEMs which are very detailed and precise yet feels very much versatile in day to day casual use for longer durations without causing any fatigue.

Mids:
The tuning of mid-range felt towards neutral side. The best part of P1 Plus is its upper mids range to lower treble tuning which feels slightly elevated giving it more space and air in the vocals adding a good amount of atmosphere to them and making them more lively and lifelike. The overall mid-range perform very well, and it was a delight listening to vocal and orchestral music on it with good texture, speed and dynamics.

Lows:
Coming towards the Bass performance is both hit and miss in case P1 Plus. To be honest if you like good quantity of bass in your music then definitely it's not the IEM for you. But on the contrary it has a very good sub-bass rumble and extension. I tried various EDM tracks on it, it does create a good impact on every drop but yet leaves bit unsatisfactory in terms of quantity.

Technicalities:
I found P1 Plus average in terms of technical performance. The details and separation are quite average, neither it the most precise IEM out there but does its job well for casual listening. The soundstage width and height are again on average side but then comes the most interesting part, that is the depth. I find the depth of P1 plus very good and it engross you into it. Last but not the least, P1 plus scales very well to equalizer, which makes it a very versatile IEM.



Final Verdict:
P1 Plus is a very versatile IEM of budget range planar driver IEMs. It comes with very nice accessories and has a very premium factor to it. The design is very ergonomic and elegant. The mids and treble have very good tonality to it and it's an absolute pleasure to listen to it for longer durations. It performs very well to equalizer. The bass quantity undermines it a bit but it grows onto you like a fine wine with time. I would suggest a slight warm source pairing to it, and scales well with little amplification although it's not mandatory like its predecessor P1.



Comparisons:
The best comparison would be with the talk of the town 7Hz Timeless. The 7HZ Timeless has gained very much popularity in very short span of time due to its aesthetics and performance in the budget planar IEM world and comes are nearly same price bracket as of P1 Plus. Both P1 Plus and Timeless comes lavishly accessorized. Performance wise Timeless is direct plug and play where as P1 does like a little amplification. Timeless has a very musical and fun signature with slightly emphasized bass and treble region where as P1 Plus has a very neutral tonality. The separation, resolution and soundstage is slightly better on the Timeless where as P1 plus is clear winner when it comes to the depth. Also if EQ is your thing, then P1 outperforms timeless in this factor very nicely.

Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me from Hifigo as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Hifigo and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Purchase link here
Note: Please note that my opinions and ratings are based on price, category, market competition and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.

Introduction

Tin P1 Plus houses a 10mm Planar Diaphragm driver. In the vast ocean of DDs and BAs and ESTs and various other iterations of each, planar driver is not a new tech in IEMs. Planars in IEMs were not making much news except for Tin P1 which probably have earned its place in the Hall of Fame. Recently brands have been coming out with successful planar IEMs, these are doing most things right and competing with offerings higher than its price with different driver configurations. To start with, P1 Plus is another successful planar offering punching way above its price range.


Build Quality and comfort

Tin P1 plus like any of Tin Audio’s offerings has a really good build quality. It has a metal shell which is on the smaller side, and should fit everyone, with variation in the tip sizes if required for better fit. The housing is exactly same as the Tin P1. The cable and connectors are very well built, connectors look sturdy and overall the package looks quite premium. I like the fit on these, these are tiny and very comfortable but might not provide the best isolation.
Score: 9/10


Source, drivability and pairing

I believe warm sources will pair well with P1 plus. I used Cayin n6ii (A01) LO + Pico Power as portable setup and Phi DecaDac (diy) + Sapphire amp (diy) as desktop setup. PhiDac is a smooth slightly warm dac whereas Sapphire is super transparent and neutral.

P1 plus can be driven directly off a DAP to sufficient volume but adding a portable amp resulted in much better and less bright presentation with everything improving on it, and then moving on my desktop setup further enhanced my experienced. With desktop setup, it sounds like a headphone and sounds excellent. My impressions will be mostly on the desktop setup as the P1 Plus sounds much better on it.

Sound Signature

P1 Plus is flat sounding with no particular emphasis on any of the frequencies. The tonality is neutral to bright. It does react well to source, having a warm source brings in the warmth in the presentation. With better amping the P1 plus sounds more refined with better detail retrieval and overall, all the technicalities, sounding more even taking off any brightness or any peaks in upper midrange and highs. P1 Plus tend towards an analytical and accurate presentation. It sounds very clean and great clarity across all frequencies. Since sound signature is always an individual preference, there’s no use scoring it.

Lows

Probably the only thing I couldn’t get satisfaction out of the P1 Plus. The bass presence is there but the presentation is flat and neutral so bass definitely takes a backstage and would popup whenever required. Because of this I didn’t feel the impact much. I felt, a slight increase in quantity would have made it perfect. I can still ignore this since there’s so much more to the P1 Plus than the bass. Cayin n6ii A01 with Pico Power gives a nice warmish sound out of the P1 Plus with mild improvement on the bass compared to my desktop setup.
The quality of the bass is still commendable, its fast, articulate and very precise.
Score: 8/10

Mids

The mids on the P1 Plus are just beautiful. Vocals are appropriately forward for my taste with good texture but smooth in its presentation. Instruments sound natural with good detail retrieval. There’s really good layering and air in the mids and doesn’t sound congested. Its not very emotional in the presentation and tends more towards analytical and accurate presentation.
Score: 9/10

Highs

Highs are my favourite in the P1 Plus. Its clean, precise and well extended. The layering and airiness is excellent but surprisingly not piercing. It has great imaging and provides clear positional cues for instruments. Overall probably one of the best treble I have heard from an IEM till date.
Score: 9.5/10

Soundstage, Imaging, Separation

P1 Plus has very nice wide presentation, with decent height. The Imaging is really good on these, I was able to pin point instruments accurately. The layering and separation is one of the highlight of the P1 plus. Its has got excellent layering and surprisingly dissects all the instruments into different layers, its almost headphone like in this! I would have liked a bit more depth but that’s asking too much of it for its price.
Score: 9/10

Comparision

The immediate competition I can think of is 7Hz Timeless. Timeless is probably the best planar I have ever heard. P1 plus definitely sounds flatter and more accurate than Timeless, but Timeless has beautiful and fun sound signature. The bass quantity on Timeless is higher and equally fast and articulate. Timeless I felt has better well-rounded soundstage, holographic whereas P1 plus is wider. Overall it comes down to your preference, if you want something accurate and analytical, P1 Plus is the way to go but be sure to feed it proper desktop amplification it will perform better than Timeless. But if you need something fun, that goes well with portables, then Timeless is the way to go.

Conclusion

The P1 was already a very loved IEM in the planar IEM world, P1 plus just slightly improves on it without losing anything. I haven’t tried the original P1 but according to other people P1 Plus has improved on the bass response. And that’s a step in the right direction. I have been amazed by the kind of value these sub 300USD IEMs offer these days. So if you are okay to hook it up with a desktop amp, P1 Plus is a no brainer for 159$.

Overall rating: 9/10*
*not averaged, just overall considering everything.

Disclaimer : The unit was provided by Hifigo as a part of a review tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own. You can purchase the P1 Plus here.

Build & Fit
At 170 USD, P1 Plus' finish and build quality is on the money. The OFC copper cable is durable and a charming "rose gold" color, which also does not tangle. The shells are made of stainless steel and it exudes a certain "denseness" to it. No one should complain about the build quality of this. Unfortunately, I will have to knock off some marks in fit as the P1 Plus is of miniscule form factor! In fact it might be a bit too small. I have medium sized ears and the earphones go too far deep and quite literally sinks in the ear canal for me. One needs to use bigger sized tips to circumvent this or it will be a deal breaker, specially if you have bigger ears.
With some fiddling though, the fit is not an issue.



Amp Needs
The Tin P1 Plus absolutely needs a desktop amplifier to get it going. Only then will you get the thunderous bass slam and massive dynamic swings. No DAP or even portable amplifier can drive this. Once driven properly however, it is identical to a full sized headphone's presentation and performance wise it kills many headphones as well upto a thousand dollars.



Sound Quality
I was left with my eyebrows raised and a wide gaping mouth when i first heard them. The instant kicker is the sparkling treble that is oh so sweet and vibrant at the same time. But it NEVER reached harsh territory. The treble region soars high in the sky, due to the excellent extension and air. This adds a lot of resolution and enhances detail retrieval significantly, which results in a much much better experience than the P2. I usually dissect the tuning and try to explain further but for the P1 Plus, that will not be the case because I simply do not care about it. The P1 Plus makes you one with the music, and there can exist no higher compliment. The tonality, timbre are absolutely breathtaking and coherent. There is no need to dissect the tuning because the results suggest that the work is already done to perfection. Whatever genre I play, whatever be the quality of the recording, it sounds pure and beautiful. The only potential sucker is the bass extension. Some will find the bass extension to be a bit lacking and they are right. Indeed the P1 Plus fails to dig that deep. Although the decay and detail in bass is very good. Its not big bass, but its fast bass. The soundstage is wide and the separation is excellent, I have been hearing micro details that I haven't heard before from any earphone before in this price range and even more (maybe you will hear them in a much higher price segment).



Conclusion
The P1 Plus is tuned to perfection. And when the tuning is spot on, everything falls in line. And indeed it does. It's very rare to find an earphone that hits so hard in all the right places. Blind recommendation if you love natural tonality but also strong technicalities.

Disclaimer: I received this review unit for free from HifiGO, thank you very much.

Price: 170 usd

Specifications:

Impedance: 22Ω±15%.

Sensitivity: 108dB±3dB.

Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-20kHz.

Rated Power: 5mW.

Maximum Power: 10mW.

Max Distortion: 1%@1kHz.



Accessories:

2 pairs of foam tips

S/M/L Silicone narrow bore tips (clear/red & black)

Carry case



Cable: 4-core cable, working chin-slider, metal divider/connectors. Measuring at 0.25 ohms.






Build: Exactly the same shell as the original P1, fully metal build quite small shell size. The only difference is that the metal filter has a gold color now. There is a lip on the nozzle.

Fit: I did struggle at the beginning (also had problems with the P1), but the trick is to push the tips deeper than the lip. That way the tips will be secure on the nozzle and also fit easier for you. Pretty good fit after that learning curve.

Comfort: Excellent, due to the small shell.

Isolation: Below average due to the small shell.

Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 9 o´clock), Sony EP-EX11 tips L, stock cable 3.5mm

Lows: Very clean bass due to it being very fast and tight. Texture is decent but is quite lacking in quantity for me. Doesn’t rumble much either and extension is pretty meh.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), very clean due the very fast and tight bass but also lacking a lot in quantity, decent texture. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is very clean and hearable.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), very clean due to the very fast and tight bass, but lacking in quantity, texture is decent.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), lacks rumble and extension. Punch quantity is also very low, but very clean due to the speed/tightness with decent texture.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), texture is pretty good but lacking a lot in quantity. Very clean due to the speed/tightness.

Mids: Excellent vocals, especially the female vocals due to the tonality, since male vocals can lack some warmth. Timbre is very good as well, neutral placement with both male/female.

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), excellent vocal tonality, neutral vocal placement, very clean and with natural timbre. Instrument tonality is also quite good with good timbre and is clean.

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), excellent vocal tonality, very clean and with natural timbre. Instrument tonality needs to be a bit brighter though, but very clean.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), not shouty at all nor peaky treble.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), not shouty nor peaky treble.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality is very good as well as the timbre. Very clean.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Both vocal and instrument tonality lacks some warmth but very clean.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t sharp but very good tonality and timbre.

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), treble isn’t peaky. Separation and imaging are good as well, not particularly chaotic.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality could be warmer and texture could be better, good timbre and is clean though. Violin tonality lacks some brightness, but has good timbre, clean and very good treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is decent (lacking in bass though), but very clean and with good timbre.

Soundstage: Width is average but below average in depth.

Tonality: Warm-neutral, with good timbre. Due to the flat tuning, not a particular versatile iem for my library (due to the very low bass quantity).

Details: Impressive micro-details, above-average (for the price range) macro-details.

Instrument Separation: Very good separation, above-average imaging.

Songs that highlight the IEM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY9Q-_3Dye8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtXNvoPfO84 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX8J8XcI-1M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOQR4FyubUg

Good genres: Acoustic/vocal

Bad genres: Rock/metal, EDM, Trance, Hip-Hop, R&B

Comparisons:

IEM: Tin Hifi P1 (original), Sony EP-EX11 tips L, Cable A9 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and has actual rumble on the P1P. Punch quantity is higher as well as with more texture on the P1P, similar speed and tightness. Better tonality and timbre on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more quantity on the P1P with a lot more texture. Similar speed and tightness. More tonally correct and better timbre on the P1P.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a bit cleaner on the P1 (due to it having more treble). Very similar bass but with a bit more texture on the P1P. A bit better tonality on the P1P.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Slightly better vocal tonality on the P1 but similar detail and quantity, with better timbre on the P1P. Instrument tonality and timbre are better on the P1P, similar detail.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), treble is peakier and shoutier on the P1.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), instrument and vocal tonality and timbre are a lot better on the P1P. More clarity (brighter) on the P1 but similar detail.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are more fatiguing on the P1.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are better on the P1P but similar detail. Violin tonality is better on the P1 but better timbre on the P1P while detail and treble-extension are similar.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and timbre on the P1P similar detail.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), slightly wider on the P1 but slightly deeper on the P1P. Detail, separation and imaging are very similar. Timbre is a lot better on the P1P.

Overall: They addressed the major issues I had with the original P1, namely the bass (anemic), timbre (unnatural treble, “plasticky”), upper-treble (too much/unrefined) and energy efficiency (needs way too much power to drive). While the P1P is a change in the tonality (from bright-neutral to warm-neutral) from the original P1, it is a worthy successor to me and much better pick.



IEM: 7Hz Timeless, Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extension is similar, but rumbles more on the Timeless. Punch quantity is higher on the Timeless, similar texture but faster and tighter on the P1P. Tonality is more accurate on the Timeless with similar timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), higher quantity on the Timeless with a bit more texture, cleaner on the P1P due to the faster and tighter bass. More tonally correct on the Timeless, similar timbre.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the P1P, due to the lower bass quantity and it being faster and tighter. Better tonality on the Timeless, with similar timbre.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality is better on the P1P, less harsh than the Timeless, similarly clean but more macro-detail on the Timeless while timbre is better on the P1P. Similar instrument tonality, but more clarity and macro-details on the Timeless while timbre is better on the P1P.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier vocals and peakier treble on the Timeless.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), very similar vocal tonality but cleaner on the Timeless and better timbre on the P1P. Instrument tonality is slightly better on the P1P but cleaner and more detailed on the Timeless.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), sharper electric guitars on the Timeless

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture, detail and clarity are better on the Timeless. Violin tonality, detail and clarity are better on the Timeless while timbre is better on the P1P and with similar treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and clarity on the Timeless but better timbre on the P1P.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), A bit wider on the Timeless but has actual depth on the P1P. Timbre and imaging are better on the P1P but better macro-detail and separation on the Timeless.

Overall: The P1P is the one I would recommend, with it actually having depth to the stage and it having better mids/treble and timbre.



IEM: GS Audio ST1, Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends and rumbles a bit more on the P1P. Punch quantity is a bit higher on the ST1, but a bit more texture, faster and tighter on the P1P. A bit better tonality (due to the treble) on the P1P and timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), similar quantity but more texture on the P1P as well as faster and tighter, cleaner. Tonality is a bit better on the P1P (due to the treble) and better timbre.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a bit more texture, faster and tighter bass on the P1P, similar quantity though. Cleaner on the P1P, less peaky treble (more tonally correct on the P1P).

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality is somewhat similar but shoutier (thus a bit more forward) on the ST1, better detail, clarity and timbre on the P1P. Instrument tonality is a bit better (warmer) on the ST1, but cleaner and more detailed on the P1P, timbre is similar.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier and peaky treble on the ST1.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal tonality is much better on the P1P (less harsh as well), more detailed and cleaner with better timbre. Instrument tonality is a bit better on the P1P and has better timbre, detail and clarity.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a lot sharper on the ST1.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture, timbre, detail and clarity are better on the P1P. Violin tonality is better on the ST1 but more detailed, better treble-extension on the P1P with similar timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the P1P, less peaky treble, more detailed and better timbre.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), similar width, but deeper on the ST1. Imaging, separation, detail and timbre are better on the P1P.

Overall: The P1P is stomping the ST1 pretty hard.



IEM: Tanchjim Oxygen, Final Audio Type E tips LL, cable A6 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles a bit more on the O2. Punch quantity is higher as well as more textured on the O2, a bit tighter and faster on the P1P. Tonality and timbre are better on the O2.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity and texture on the O2 but a bit faster and tighter on the P1P. Better tonality and timbre on the O2.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), Cleaner on the O2 (duo to the treble), more bass quantity on the O2 and texture, but a bit faster and tighter on the P1P. More tonally correct on the O2 as well as better timbre.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality and timbre are better on the O2 as well as more forward, similarly detailed but due to the brighter tonality, the perception of detail is better on the O2. Instrument tonality is bit better on the P1P, but better timbre on the O2, similar detail though.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot shoutier and peakier treble on the O2.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), a bit better vocal and instrument tonality on the P1P but better timbre on the O2 and cleaner on it.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), a lot sharper electric guitars on the O2 but better timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, detail and clarity are very similar but slightly more texture on the O2. Violin tonality, timbre, detail and clarity are better on the O2 but better treble-extension on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the P1P, peaky on the O2. Timbre is better on the O2 though.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider and deeper soundstage on the O2. Macro-detail, Imaging and timbre are better on the O2, similar separation micro-detail though.

Overall: The Oxygen still has better female vocals due to the tonality (double-edged sword, since it is also shouty on some tracks and has peakier treble) and timbre, along with bass. Technically they are quite similar, but the brighter tonality on the Oxygen is giving it an edge in perception.





P1 Plus with PEQ comparisons (preset listed at the bottom):

IEM: Tri I3 Pro, Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends and rumbles a lot more on the I3P. Punch quantity is higher on the I3P as well as more textured, but cleaner due to the much tighter and faster bass on the P1P. Better tonality on the I3P but better timbre on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit higher quantity on the I3P but similar texture while it is cleaner due to the faster and tighter bass on the P1P. Better tonality and timbre on the P1P.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the P1P due to the faster and tighter bass but similar quantity and texture. More tonally correct on the P1P and better timbre.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality, timbre, detail and clarity are better on the P1P as well as a bit more forward. Instrument tonality, timbre, detail and clarity are also a lot better on the P1P.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit peakier treble on the I3P, cleaner and more detailed on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), better vocal and instrument tonality, detail, clarity and timbre on the P1P.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t peaky on them but better timbre on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are similar, better timbre on the I3P but cleaner and more detailed on the P1P. Violin tonality, timbre, detail, clarity and treble-extension are better on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality, cleaner, more detailed and better timbre on the P1P.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a bit wider and a lot deeper on the I3P. Imaging, separation, detail and timbre are a lot better on the P1P.

Overall: The P1P is the better iem, in pretty much every way except the soundstage.



IEM: LZ A7 (pop-red), Final Audio Type E tips LL, Cable A3 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a bit lower and rumbles a bit more on the P1P. Punch quantity is similar, but more textured, faster and tighter on the P1P. A bit better tonality on the P1P and better timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more quantity on the A7 with similar texture but tighter and faster on the P1P. A bit better tonality on the A7 but better timbre on the P1P.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the P1P, due to the faster and tighter bass. Similar texture and quantity.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality, detail and timbre are better on the P1P, similar quantity. Instrument tonality is very similar, but cleaner, more detailed and better timbre on the P1P.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit more fatiguing on the A7 due to it being slightly shoutier.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), very similar vocal and instrument tonality, but cleaner, more detailed and better timbre on the P1P.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), a bit sharper on the A7 but better timbre on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are a bit better on the A7 as well as timbre, but cleaner and more detailed on the P1P. Violin tonality is a bit better on the A7 but better timbre, detail and treble-extension on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality on the A7 but better timbre on the P1P.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider and a lot deeper on the A7, more holographic. Imaging is similar, but better separation, detail and timbre on the P1P.

Overall: While they are tonally quite similar, the P1P is technically better (except soundstage) and has better timbre.



IEM: Sony EX1000 (PEQ), Final Audio Type E tips LL, Cable B7 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a bit lower on the EX1000 but rumbles more on the P1P. Punch quantity is a bit higher on the P1P with similar texture while it is faster and tighter on the P1P. More tonally correct on the P1P while timbre is better on the EX1000.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity on the P1P but better texture on the EX1000, while speed and tightness are similar.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a bit more quantity on the P1P but better texture on the EX1000. Cleaner on the P1P due to the better separation.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality is a bit better on the P1P but cleaner and a bit more forward on the EX1000 (brighter tonality), timbre is a bit better on the EX1000. Instrument tonality and detail are better on the P1P but cleaner (less mid-bass) and better timbre on the EX1000.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), peakier treble and a bit shoutier vocals on the EX1000.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality is better on the P1P but cleaner and better timbre on the EX1000. Macro-detail is similar but better micro-detail on the P1P.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), sharper electric guitars but better timbre on the EX1000.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and detail are better on the P1P but better timbre and texture on the EX1000. Violin tonality, timbre and texture are better on the EX1000 but better treble-extension and detail on the P1P.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality on the P1P (less peaky treble) and detail, while timbre is better on the EX1000.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), Soundstage is leagues ahead on the EX1000, not even a comparison. Timbre is better on the EX1000 as well as imaging. Detail and separation are better on the P1P

Overall: The P1P is for the most part beating the EX1000, BUT the difference in soundstage is so huge that I am personally still picking the EX1000 over the P1P, but it is a very close fight. If you prefer a more relaxed iem, the P1P is better, otherwise I would go with the EX1000.





Conclusion: The P1 Plus is an epic set, that punches way above its price range. Tuned very well in stock, but also responds to EQ like a champ, especially since it is a planar and very flat tuning (easy to tune with EQ). Highly recommended, nr 1 planar iem.

Graph:

PEQ:

P1 Plus:

Low-shelf: 50hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 7.5dB

Low-shelf: 80hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 1.5dB

Low-shelf: 150hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 1dB

Low-shelf: 200hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 2dB

Peak: 2000hz, Q: 2.4, gain: 1.5dB

Peak: 3148hz, Q: 1.14, gain: 4.3dB

Peak: 6254, Q: 3.08, gain: 4,5dB

Peak: 10 000hz, Q: 5, gain: 2.5dB

Preamp: -12 dB

EX1000:

Low-shelf: 50hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 4.5dB

Low-shelf: 100hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 6dB

Peak: 290hz, Q: 1.04, gain: -2.1dB

Peak: 2037hz, Q: 2,75, gain: -1.3dB

Peak: 2826hz, Q: 5, gain: 2.4dB

Peak: 3272hz, Q: 5, gain: 2.1dB

Peak: 3632hz, Q:5, gain: 0.9dB

Peak: 3702hz, Q: 5, gain: 2.1dB

Peak: 4576hz, Q: 4.98, gain: 1.8dB

Peak: 5574hz, Q: 5, gain: -9.6dB

Peak: 8000hz, Q: 5, gain: -2dB

High-shelf: 10 000hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 8dB

Preamp: -10dB

Cable source:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zTm4ei7HEfP8AI1zxswrMw2ho/edit#gid=1801072063

Reference/test songs:

I was a big fan of the original P1. My first ever Magnetic Planar IEM. A relationship that was actually quite rocky due to the very finicky nature of P1 that is so full of characters. So, when my favorite online store HifiGo listed P1+ on their store it was practically a blind purchase for me without even thinking.

FOREWORD​

I will try to make this as concise as possible. A great many people have already known and experienced the OG P1. And to cut to the chase, after spending over 100 hours with my own P1+, I will outlay it like this:

• P1+ is indeed less demanding to drive at 108db of sensitivity vs the OG P1 at 95db. It simply mean P1+ can actually be used on my Android phones directly at volume level of 70/100 (Xiaomi Redmi 10) or 80/100 (Sony Xperia X Compact). Proper listening loudness can be achieved and P1+ can be used for casual listening – something that’s practically not possible with the very stubborn OG P1
• P1+ retained similar sound signature to the OG P1, and I am actually grateful for this as I was already a big fan of the OG P1 sound which I regard as truthful to classic Magnetic Planar signature (using FOSTEX’s Foster Orthodynamic Magnetic Planar sound as a reference – one of the key pioneer for developing Magnetic Planar drivers for the last 30 years). Simply put, both P1+ and OG P1 sounds similar to my FOSTEX T40RP MK3 which I love so very dearly.
• Cosmetically, P1+ is practically identical to the OG P1. In fact, the shells are the same. About the only difference I see is that the cable now goes with a more complex braid on the main body where the OG P1 was much simpler. Even the box and accessories included are identical to the OG P1.

Tuning for Listening​

As with many other IEMs I have ever tried, it will always start with matching the right tips to get proper seal and comfort – as well as to achieve the best match of sonic responses. Again, I would like to remind that tips selection can make or break an IEM in the larger scheme of things. Pair it wrong and they will sound utterly terrible, pair them right (matching the listener ear biology) and sonic bliss is assured.

For my own usage I opted to use the stock grey slow rebound tips included by TIN as part of the accessories. I am very grateful for this as recently it seems many manufacturers seemed to assume that everyone needs silicone tips. I have big issues with most silicone tips – they seem to have odd unnatural Bass resonances and reverb, at least to my ears.

TIMBRE, TONALITY & DYNAMICS:​

P1+, truthful to the original P1, remained highly analogue and organic neutral. The overall sound is pleasingly natural without any hint of artificial Dynamics vibrancy. Clean and tidy as how a Magnetic Planar meant to be. For people who enjoy their sound bright and sparkly, they would describe this P1+ as “warm”. For Bassheads they would probably classify P1+ as boring (similar to OG P1). The tone of P1+ is very mature and polished, non-euphonic as opposed to how it would be normally be heard from most modern single Dynamic Drivers or Hybrids. Dynamic range focuses more on subtle and articulated extensions, which means for most probably this P1+ will not give them the WOW factor on first listen. The sound curve is a lot closer to Diffused Field Neutral but not quite as flat sounding as how it would be with Etymotic ER series.

MIDS:​

P1+ Mids are rich and forward sounding. It has great density, texture, and details – especially when powered properly. The general theme for Mids is natural and smooth. With vocals presentation being realistically lush and engaging for female vocals, deep and commanding for males. Instruments with realistic tones, attack, and decays. There’s zero hint of added coloration especially when driven with an equally neutral source. If I am to draw comparison, then P1+ is very similar to Etymotic ER2XR – which many regard as a refence for natural sounding Mids. The staging for Mids can be perceived as a bit more intimate especially if the listener is more accustomed to V sounding unit, also depending on the level of mastering done with the records. For example, Diana Krall, Alison Krauss, and Morrissey will always have their Mids mastering done a bit more intimate forward than most. With the likes of Sinne Eeg, Nick Cave and Suzanne Vega, there’s a bit more of space provisioned. This only mean that P1+ is super transparent to the nature of the recording, which is a big plus in my book.

TREBLE:​

Treble on P1+ is markedly well extended yet highly controlled. It has all the deep extensions as per expected of an IEM of this pedigree. As with the rest of the sound frequencies, this largely depend on how competent the source is. Overall Treble presentation of P1+ focuses more on subtle articulation with very well controlled shimmer and micro-Dynamics. Treble does not jump into your face; it is as silky smooth yet crisp with pleasing sparkle. Markedly a bit more pronounced than the OG P1 (which can be outright rolled-off when inadequately powered). Treble edge and note decays are very realistic sounding, it does not linger longer than what’s perceived as natural. Nor does it rolled-off too early. What I admire the most is how unoffensive the entire Treble spectrum is, there’s no hint of spiky humps or sibilance. P1+ offers ample Treble details and textures despite being somewhat subtle – again largely depends on the source competency and tips choice.

BASS:​

P1+ has very neutral Bass responses. And this is no different from the OG P1. I am glad that TIN HiFi decided to keep it this way. Unfortunately, this would not be a great thing for Bassheads. However, for those preferring realistic uncolored natural and neutral Bass, P1+ assuredly will be very satisfying. Well, it does seem to be a bit denser than Diffused Field Neutral Bass responses of the Etymotics or VE Duke, but it also means it is not as lifeless sounding as the Etys as well. From certain perspective P1+ can be considered as “less fun” due to this. Sub-Bass unfortunately a bit lacking in presence, almost inaudible when paired with sources pumping up to 1 Vrms of power. Sub-Bass begin to show a bit more of presence with at least 2 Vrms and will shine the best with 4 Vrms and above – or simply put with a minimum of 200 mW per channel. Bass performances of P1+ are at absolute best when paired with my 4.1 Vrms 775 mW DACport HD or RAP5 + Abigail (combination of over 5 Vrms in total) – there’s tons of texture, mass density and details with deep and convincing extensions. Mid-Bass fares better with solid yet subtle punches and rumble, still a bit soft with seismic responses but then this is per expected of a Magnetic Planar especially when they are this small at just 10mm. Bass is where P1 siblings need power the most. As noted earlier it largely depends on the power feed. Running straight from my phones while the sound is decent, Bass is borderline anemic and recessed (still usable but not as abysmal as the OG P1). There’s no hint of Mid-Bass interfering with the rest of the frequencies especially the lower Mids.

TECHNICALITIES:​

Soundstage for P1+ is admirably spacious, wide and with great depth for an IEM. But then it does sound confined and boxed in when used with both of my phones directly from the 3.5mm SE. Soundstage will only open up properly at the mark of 2 Vrms and above. So, this also means with Abigail, Avani and VE Odyssey HD the staging is small and narrow as well.
Imaging and separation are great. Not exactly clinically razor edged but it is not fuzzy as well. Spatial positioning seems to favor a bit more of traditional Stereo rather than being holographic. Separation lines are distinct, and it is easy to track instrument notes even with Lo-Fi recordings.
Speed wise, P1+ just like the OG P1 is average at best. Average when compared against the speed demons like Etymotic ER4SR, VE Duke or Shure KSE1500. But it is speedy enough for a Magnetic Planar which means it will not get congested for handling of complex passages. I must admit though, for handling of outright fast songs above 200 BPM, there’s a hint of compression where the sound field gets slightly narrow – it remained coherent, but the footprint become slightly reduced.
Being a single driver, maintaining Dynamics coherence is easy for P1+. It is evident to me the overall smooth mature presentation is largely attributed by the single driver deft ability to maintain great Dynamics transients harmony throughout the range.

Verdict​

It is simple. TIN HiFi P1+ is the next sensible evolution of P1. Those already loving the OG P1 will also love this P1+. In fact, I may even say if you already have OG P1 and managed to get it paired with powerful enough nuclear-powered amps, then you may consider skipping P1+. But if there’s a need for a more sensible driving source, then P1+ is the clear option to choose from. Not forgetting that with the sensitivity change it also have marginally improved P1+ Treble for a bit more sparkle. Otherwise, they are pretty much identical in timbre, tonality, and characteristics.

P1+ is a fast becoming a beacon on Magnetic Planar done right in IEM form factor.

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And yes, last but not least. What I like about the P1+ as a package is how great the stock cable and the tips are. I am perfectly satisfied that I will not need to swap them out for aftermarket units – at least not for now. I will still swap cables simply because I already have tons of cables lying around, but the key thing is the stock cable is as sonically great as it is aesthetically pleasing.

EQUIPMENT USED:​

1. Ovidius B1 (3.5mm SE)
2. CEntrance DACport HD (3.5mm SE)
3. Abigail
4. Avani
5. VE Run About Plus 5 (18V Amplifier)
6. Xiaomi Redmi 10
7. Sony Xperia X Compact
8. HiBy Music with USB Exclusive Mode (FLAC)
9. Tidal Masters with Exclusive Mode

TIN HiFi P1+ vs 7Hz Timeless

(Both with slow rebound Foam Tips, Stock Cables & paired with CEntrance DACport HD)

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• Dynamic transients on Timeless is markedly more euphonic and edgier than P1+. Timeless being the only Magnetic Planar that I have ever listened to that sounds more like a Dynamic Driver. P1+ on the other hand stayed faithful to classic Magnetic Planar signature of being flatter and solid bodied
• Timeless has more pronounced Bass responses. More like a DD Bass rather than a Magnetic Planar. P1+ exhibited flatter and tighter Bass signature which is common for Magnetic Planars. Timeless also has more audible Sub-Bass, and Mid-Bass with stronger seismic sensation. Timeless will appeal more to Bassheads while P1+ stays truer to DF Neutral Bass performances.
• Timeless offers more Treble sparkle and shimmer with crisper decays. P1+ instead more on smooth and subtle presentation. Trebleheads are more inclined to prefer Timeless over P1+. In summary, Timeless is just more exciting and vibrant, P1+ focuses on mature, smooth, and subtly nuanced Treble textures.
• P1+ has more organic and forward Mids vs Timeless. Timeless being closer to a soft V Mids of Dynamic Drivers type of Mids - while P1+ exhibited hint of warmth as per expected from a typical Magnetic Planar. P1+ Mids is closer to Etymotic ER2XR Mids - which classify it being Natural Organic.
• Stock vs Stock, P1+ has slightly wider Soundstage vs Timeless despite P1+ being more intimate. Imaging pretty much similar
• Timeless still the easier one to drive, less demanding. P1+ despite having lower requirements than the OG P1, will shine best with more powerful pairing. Which also means P1+ is the one that will scale better with superior sources and amplification. 7Hz Timeless will already reach max potential even with a good 2 VRMS source, 90% with 1 Vrms (Avani, Abigail & VE Odyssey HD), while P1+ will only give max 70% with the same 1 Vrms Dongles. P1+ shines the best with 2 VRMS at approx. 90% (Ovidius B1) and 100% with over 4 Vrms power from the likes of DACport HD (775 mW), RAP5 + Abigail or TempoTec Sonata E44. Scalability wise, undoubtedly P1+ being more preferable.

Based on the differences as noted above, it is clear to me why one would choose Timeless or P1+. For generally exciting and vibrant presentation, Timeless is the obvious choice. For refined, subtly nuanced fidelity that is faithful to Magnetic Planar sound, P1+ it is. Compared side by side, the Timeless undoubtedly offering mild V sound tuning, P1+ being analogue and organic, “warm” sounding unit. So personal preferences will prevail on deciding which one suits the listener better - because technically both are equally competent with most elements.

PS: My analogy on this. P1+ and P1 are very similar sounding to my FOSTEX T40RP MK3 while Timeless would be in alignment with Monolith M565c (another Magnetic Planar headphone that I like a lot).

The all-new P1 Plus is the latest in the P-series of planar in-ear monitors from Tin Hifi, and comes up against some very tough competition with the very good and recently released 7HZ Timeless. The P1 Plus was provided by Linsoul for review and retails for $159 USD, which is actually less than the previous P1 and P2 models.

Find the product here: https://www.linsoul.com/collections/all/products/tinhifi-p1-plus

Visually, the P1 Plus looks just like the P1 and P2 models with a stainless steel mirrored-finish housing that has a rounded triangle shape. The unit continues to include a 10mm planar magnetic driver and uses MMCX connectors. The cable is a braided-copper color with metal connectors.

Sound Impressions​

Internally, I don't know if anything really changed, besides whatever was used for tuning. The P1 Plus is tuned differently, and is perhaps the best tuned IEM of all of Tin's product lines. I found the P1 Plus to have a laid-back and warm tuning, which has a dipped upper-mid range and treble, but with plenty of treble extension. The bass range is linear and extended, and not as elevated in the mid-bass as the other P-series IEMs.




When I first put the P1 Plus on, I felt it was pretty mediocre, in that it was tonally acceptable, but technically not. As with the other P-series, the fit was pretty challenging for me, and getting a proper seal and secured fit in my ears was difficult. I tried several tips, with varying degrees of success. Some caused extreme sibilance due to poor fit, and some just did not want to stay in when I moved. I ended up sticking with the included large foam tips that Tin supplies with this IEM.

With the foam tips, I was able to both get most of the sound issues out of the way, and I did not have any problems walking around and worrying about them falling out. With the foam tips, I'm sure it also helped with a some of the upper treble issues I was experiencing while using other tips, though not all of it went away.

One of my biggest issues with many of the Tin products is that they are brighter than my preferences. In the cases of their dynamic driver T-series, this was mostly in the upper-mids and lower-treble range being a little more exaggerated than I'd like to varying degrees, with the recent T2 Evo being the worst offender. In the P1 and P2, my troubles were set primarily in the upper treble.

For relatively budget IEMs, having upper treble output is not always a given, as many of them, at least until more recently, cut off sound at below 10KHz, making some upper-harmonic sounds very muted. High strings and cymbals sound more deadened than usual, so having upper-treble really makes these instruments sound alive, but too much can make them piercing and fatiguing. Such was the case with the P1 and P2.

These previous generation planar IEMs from Tin Hifi's biggest knock, tonally, was that they did not filter out these higher frequencies well enough, and in many of the music I listened to, caused quite a bit of ear pain. Sharp strings, extra splashy cymbals and hi-hats, and sibilant female vocals in poorly compressed pop music, amongst other audio artifacts.

With the P1 Plus, I found that the tonal balance was improved. The sibilance and upper harshness was reduced. It is still there, especially when I was using silicone tips and paired with my Sony NW-A55 digital audio player, but swapping to foam tips and using these alongside the Chord Mojo + Poly player, I found most of the harshness to disappear surprisingly.

The P1 Plus reduces the amount of mid-bass from the previous efforts with a more linear bass response that I prefer. There's no muddiness while listening to this set, and this along with the lower upper mid-range produces a warmer and thicker sound that still doesn't sound off. It's a richer experience than most Tin Hifi products with the reduced pinna compensation, but one that I find good for non-fatiguing listen. Of course, this is dependent on how much the upper treble bothers you.

Technical Musings and Comparisons​

On the more technical side, the P1 Plus isn't stand-out performer in this price-range. It shares many of the same things I found lacking in the P1 and P2, and when directly compared to the newly released Timeless planar IEM, it really shows its technical limitations. The Timeless costs a bit more, roughly $60 more, so budgets need to be taken into consideration of course, but I'll go over some of the areas where I find the P1 Plus and Timeless differ in technical performance.

I listened to a variety of jazz music from Go Go Penguin and Bill Laurence to Avishai Cohen and Joey Aleaxander, as well as the psychedelic guitar play of Tash Sultara, and soul music from Jorja Smith and Celeste during the music sessions between the two IEMs.

The main points that I came away with outside of just their tonal differences is that the Timeless has a larger presentation, more refinement, improved resolution, micro and macrodynamic abilities, and speed. In other words, it's a much more technical beast than the P1 Plus is.

The P1 Plus seemed to lack resolution, and in some cases quite a bit of it in some passages of Tash Sultara's latest album, "Terra Firma." Some of the small intricate guitar play just seemed like it was lost in the mix. In other areas, the P1 Plus seemed a bit sluggish in its transient speed and this probably contributes to the loss of refinement and resolution.

While the P1 Plus is warm and pleasing, it doesn't have the slam and rumble that the Timeless presents as well. The dynamics are also missing in general, as I found the P1 Plus's ability to clearly depict quiet and loud parts of some of my jazz tracks to be a bit lackluster. In general, most instruments and passages all sounded forward and close. There wasn't a large gradient or softness to parts of music that needed it. Instead, everything was a bit more in your face. I don't think this was as bad as the original P1, not even close, but it isn't the best I've heard at $159.

Overall​

The P1 Plus isn't a bad IEM actually, despite its limitations. At $159, it is alright. It has a easy to listen to tonality, and for the most part sounds accurate. I found its technical ability to be just about average to perhaps slightly below at its price point, and that along with its kind of challenging fit, I don't necessarily recommend this for everyone. It's a decent IEM, and I won't fault someone for wanting it. I just find that there may be better ones around for the same, less, or slightly more money.