Introduction
It is easy to say that the Tin Hi-Fi T2 is the IEM that made the company more recognisable and chosen as a choice to a load of people who are looking for a budget pair of IEM’s due to the sound they produce for the price point, costing £45.99, and with potential sales, making them even cheaper.
To understand better. An IEM is an in-ear monitor. It sits further into your ear canal than normal earphones. It is what you see when singers are on stage, or when they are making music. Their primary goal is to be focused more on sound quality than convenience.
Sound
The T2s are tuned to deliver “neutral” or “flat” sound signature. Therefore, they deliver a pleasurable and relaxing listening experience, which can be greatly appreciated at times.
With the T2s, if you are wanting powerful bass from these IEM’s, change your expectations immediately. This is not to say there isn’t bass, it just isn’t in your face. The T2s do however have a really good punch, but it does roll off quite early. Listening to Britney Stoney’s "O.D", the bass is just so punchy, whilst still giving off that very relaxed tempo. This results in an enjoyable listening experience. The T2s bass can still attack when it needs to. “Wolves” by Kanye West really shows how aggressive the bass can be, it really is the cherry on top in harmony with the hums or the “Oooo we ooo wee oooo’s”.
The mids, or where most of the magic happens, are well represented on the T2s. The strums of the acoustic guitar on Oasis’s “Half the World Away” was really brought to life. In addition, the vocals were so nicely profound, without shadowing both of the guitars, and may I also mention that both of the guitars were not in a competition to see which one stood out better, they were both in cooperation, raising that bar of depth.
The T2s treble representation can be too bright at times, even becoming too fatiguing for me during longer listening sessions. In fact, due to how piercing Sia’s vocals are in “Chandelier (piano version)”, I am having to turn down the volume, which can sometimes be a problem for me because at lower volumes, in busier songs, it makes the vocals sound really pushed back. However, I do have to say, there is really good treble detail, for sub £100. Phil Collins “I Cannot Believe it’s True”, makes the cowbells sparkle and give the Hi-hat’s excellent tonality.
I am also impressed with the soundstage on the T2s. There is a very good amount of depth. Listening to Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky”, the fuzzy faint guitar is not so direct and is nicely distant, whilst the drums are more direct. This is also the same for the harmonious vocals, they are also distant, it really ties up and adds a whole level of depth, I never would have expected a pair of IEM’s to have at this price.
In busier songs, the T2s can struggle to execute really good separation. With all the instruments being used in Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day”, it seems to start to lose its control. The drums get lost with the piano, and I struggle to hear what parts of the drums are being hit in the chorus. This also takes a toll on the vocals, as aforementioned, his vocals are getting pushed back. In songs that are less busier, there is better separation and vocals stand out more, for example, Everything but the girl’s “Downtown Train”. The piano has clear separation from the vocals, and it sounds a lot more spacious. What needs to be taken into account is, not all of the time, less busy songs are going to be played.
Overall, the T2s sound is really enjoyable, but for me, they are a lot better in less busy songs, but in these songs, they shine ridiculously well. It might take a while for people to really appreciate the sound quality of these IEM’s but when they do, I believe they will be amazed at how capable they are for the price point.
Fit and Comfort
For me, I have struggled with the fit. I keep on thinking that they are not in properly because they don’t create a proper seal in my ears. Subsequently, I keep on pushing them in, even though they are far as they can go. I have tried different tips, but the only tips that do fit are the smallest ones. They, however, do come with a good assortment of different sized tips, including a set of blue foam tips.
When I am heavily distracted by the music and don’t push them in most of the time, the T2s are a comfortable pair of IEM’s, I have been able to sit through long sessions without needing to take them out. You do have the option to either wear them with the cable hanging down or up and over the ear. I found them to be better secured with the cable over the ear.
Build Quality
Tanks. They are built like Tanks. They have exceptionally good build quality. They are metal, all the way through, and are machined really well that is conducive to a very nice simplistic aesthetic. They don’t really stand out, they are very subtle. I can’t really see the T2s breaking or taking damage easily, the only possible damage would be cosmetic, and that would be potential scratches from the contact of each IEM.
Tits and Tats
The T2s include, I want to say a carrying case, that is relatively large, and a detachable MMCX connector cable, that is nicely braided and relatively long. I don’t hear any cable rub which is a nice addition, and there is a plastic ring on the cable that can make the length of the cable split longer, which is useful.
Conclusion
The T2s are an excellent choice and should be considered for people that want to make an entry into the IEM world. They are a very capable performer and have a sound signature that really isn't found in many earphones let alone IEM’s at this price point, but people shouldn’t consider this the last IEM pair they need to buy, as it contains issues such as how challenging it is to make a better separation in busier tracks, but they are still a pair of IEM’s that should be considered hugely.
