TinHiFi T5S

INTRODUCTION

Let me start with the obligatory warning:

Dear reader, please remember that whenever there is an opinion in my review, it is my opinion, which may differ significantly from yours. We are all different from each other and have different tastes, and something that does not give me an accelerated heartbeat, to you can be a great set, so I always recommend listening before buying, if there is such an opportunity. I would also like to point out that in the evaluation of individual parameters, as well as the entire headphones, I try to relate to the price level that has been set for them, which simply means that any opinion I give should be followed by the thought ".... for its price". I believe that this is the only fair form of evaluation and best represents the value of the reviewed product.

PROPER INTRODUCTION

Today I would like to introduce you to the T5S headphones from, a well-known company in the market of in-ear headphones, TinHiFi. The headphones were entrusted to me by the manufacturer itself to describe my impressions, for which I am extremely grateful.



PRESENTATION AND CONSTRUCTION



When I took a look at the packaging, especially this sci-fi-inspired image made at a time when limitations on the number of processed colors were very visibly reflected in graphics, I had mixed feelings. However, everything started to change as soon as I unpacked the set. First of all: the set itself looks great - the metal casing of the headphones, without unnecessary embellishments, with one subtle joint, two tiny vents, and a gray back plate makes a premium impression. On top of that, from the first moments I got the impression that I associated the design with something, but at first, I couldn't realize with what. It was only after a while that I was reminded of the Gort, a robot character from the old 1951 sci-fi film "The Day the Earth Stood Still." See for yourself:



Simple, metal construction with rounded shapes, devoid of ornamentation - just like the T5S .



Included is a very nice, braided cable with a bundle of dark brown and silver, which I find very good. For storing the headphones, we get a very nicely finished white leather (or leather-like material) case, sized to fit a luggage bag rather than a backpack. In addition, a set of tips (several pairs look like Sony EP-EX11), including foam ones (light gray). The set also includes a set of anti-wax filters along with a pair of pliers, which is rather unusual, and while I personally don't see a use for the filters, the pliers themselves may come in handy . All in all, I find the T5S equipment to be rich and of high quality, and the presentation itself, reminiscent of 1950-1960s science fiction design, to be interesting and also very successful.



SOUND - FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Already in the first minutes of listening to music through the T5S, I noticed quite precise and clean sound of high registers. The sounds of treble and the upper midrange are very fast and quite detailed, while at the same time, they are not shrill and piercing. The tonality itself is rather neutral, but if I had to pick a side, I'd lean towards a warm sound, due to the amount of bass and the treble not being particularly emphasized. The instruments sound natural, but also not overly realistic, that is, they just sound correct.

I must also add that it took me some time before I was able to properly evaluate the capabilities of this set. I don't know if the reason was the need to burn-in the driver, or maybe it was my brain that had to adjust to such a presentation of sound, but the fact is that my feelings changed with the time of interacting with this set, and it changed in their favor. I also noticed that the satisfaction of listening to music increased as the volume increased.

BASS

The bass is soft and there is a lot of it. It's mostly concentrated in the sub-bass area, but I can't say it’s overly boosted and that there's little of it in the mid-bass. The mid-bass provides a solid thump, so it also helps to add dynamics to songs, but it is unfortunately rather lacking in texture, so fans of the sound of the strings rubbing against the neck (in the case of bass guitar, or double bass) may feel unsatisfied sometimes. Here we are dealing more with a woofer-type bass: soft, warming sound.

MIDS

Male vocals sometimes seem a little less clear than I'd like, which may be due to that solid portion of bass, while female vocals sound quite natural and, in my opinion, pleasant. This is not a mid-centric set, so don't expect too much detail enriching this frequency range either. For fans of guitars on overdrive, or those who want an experience of ASMR, I can hardly recommend the T5S. Unfortunately, when listening to rock or metal, I found the guitars often lacked a growl..., a kind of claw that would speed up my heartbeat, instead I got a somewhat dry mass of guitar noise. The phenomenon of exaggerated sibilants (I call them exaggerated because they are a natural effect, which is a problem when certain frequencies are boosted), if it appeared, was rather unobtrusive, and I would not worry about problems with this issue, which I consider as an advantage of this set.

TREBLE

On the one hand, in these frequency areas, the T5S performs best, because it is the richest, but at the same time, you have a certain sense of insufficiency. The headphones catch a lot of detail in the high registers, and you get a sense of high resolution, but at the same time sounds, such as drum cymbals, lack the flash, the spark that makes you want to listen to them more and more. The treble tones in this set have a certain sharpness, but they are also slightly withdrawn, so they do not glare and remain in the background, which just might appeal to people who like details, but don't like them to overwhelm with their forwardness. I still maintain that the most fitting term for the T5S sound is balanced.

TECHNICALITIES

Instrument separation is fine, that is, you can distinguish different instruments from each other, but it is not very accentuated or exceptional. The soundstage is quite okay, while the background sound is worth mentioning, richly supplied with details caught, especially in the high registers. I'm referring here to all sorts of choruses, sound spots, etc. elements of songs that do the job of background, and in listening through the T5s are audible throughout the song and create such an interesting effect of musical space, which was especially good in songs from live recordings, but not only.

For example, in the song Tina Turner - Golden Eye the background is built up by the violins and various kinds of bells, which accompany us throughout the song and are constantly heard in satisfying clarity. As for the sound presentation itself, at times I felt like I was listening to a concert, standing somewhere in the room, but not in the center. One has the feeling of high-precision sounds that are fast and coins quite sharp, but not hurtful or irritating. It's also worth noting that these headphones handle songs with a lot of sound congestion very well and, for example, some drum solos can amaze with their clarity.

PAIRING

The T5S is a very picky set. First, in my opinion, they need power to sound its best. Secondly, I got the impression that it does not unveil its advantages with every DAC and thirdly, it needs time to present its character (or for the listener to adapt to the sound presented). Fortunately, I had the opportunity to connect it to the Kiwi Ears Allegro, with which it created a coherent analytical sound presentation, and, in this combination, it performed best for me. When it comes to ear tips it's not easy either. The best fit for me was the Epro EP00s, which provided me with the right level of passive isolation while making sure the highs didn't interfere too much. The Sony EP-EX11s (I think), included with the set, also worked well for me, bringing an extra softness to the sound.



GOOD EXAMPLES

Always, during critical listening, I try to find examples of songs when the headphones showed their best side and the T5S managed to impress me too:


The Balek Band – Kesesam

• exemplary genre: electronic funk,
• the track as if created to promote T5S, seriously everything here plays beautifully.
• surprisingly wide stage
• sounds appear from different sides and at different levels of depth.
• good instrument separation
• bass fits like a glove to this style of song
• percussion elements and various bells enrich the sound of the background very well.
• the track brings out the best of the set.

Hiromi - Dancando No Paraiso

• exemplary genre: speed jazz
• everything sounds clean and fast, just like the song itself.
• very fast and dynamic percussion, but it does not get lost, and you can selectively hear each beat of the sticks.
• closing your eyes and listening to the individual sounds of the elements of the drum kit, the headphones build a picture in your head of the spacing of each element, which is especially audible during the drum solo around 4:05, and the selectivity of the strokes around the fifth minute of the song, just amazes.
• The bass solo, on the other hand, sounds somehow unimpressive.

Meute - Man with the Red Face

• exemplary genre: rhythmic orchestral music
• great reworking of a techno classic by Laurent Garnier
• all the instruments of the orchestra sound correct and spread around the listener's head.
• the low-sounding brass instruments bring a very nice warmth to the piece.
• as the piece picked up pace, my leg increased its amplitude of vibration
• sense of space and purity of sound
• trumpets and saxophones properly reproduced.

Matthew Halsall, The Godwana Orchestra - Journey in Satchidananda

• Model genre: melodic jazz
• The double bass sounds like such a wandering warmth with a sound that is not very clear, such a mist of bass.
• rich background of the piece, not disappearing under the notes of the main instruments
• delicate sound of the instruments, including the trumpet most beautifully
• in the background all the time audible sound of a stick lightly hitting a drum cymbal and drum transitions

Robag Wruhme - Tulpa Ovi

• exemplary genre: electronic music
• very clearly separates samples of bells and clicks from the main line of the song played on the piano.
• clean sound, lots of space
• percussion clicks, although quite sharp in timbre, do not interfere.
• rhythmic bass-like pulse accompanies throughout the song.
• I think that the headphones would also work well with the works of Max Cooper

It has probably become my habit by now that with every set I review, I look for some sound, an instrument, which is best reproduced by it, and in the case of the T5S it is the sound of small percussion drums and the sound of a trumpet. Some examples of the second can be found above, while for the former an example would be the track Eddie Chacon - Sundown, in which you can hear the conga, or bongos giving the rhythm to the song, that can be heard in your left ear throughout the song.

Summing up the listening experience, I must admit that I had a big problem with the proper evaluation of this set. Some of the tracks sounded very good, even amazingly good, but also others were as much as discouraging to listen to. In the end, I think it's just not an all-arounder and is best suited for certain genres of music. In my opinion, popular music, electronic music, and entertainment music with high dynamics are well reproduced by these headphones. Classical or film music too, whereby I would not set my mind on picking up the sonic nuances of individual instruments but listening to the pieces as a whole. With film or classical music, I enjoyed listening to the background sounds, which were practically always clean and rich in sound, and never intrusive. For Hip-hop they might be suitable, because of the amount of bass, but rather there are better sets for that. The T5S, on the other hand, didn't appeal to me for metal and harder rock, and I think that's not the genre for them.

Summing up the sounds the T5S emits, I still have to mention one more thing. Although sonically this set is balanced and nothing in it disturbs me, unfortunately, nothing in it captivates me either, or in the end, the sound presentation was simply not very engaging for me. I didn't feel a part of the music, wasn't moved by the sound of the beautiful vocals, or delighted by the naturalness of the sound of the instruments. Everything about it sounds correct and not artificial but at the same time a little .... emotionless. I did some reading, and it seems that the correct term for this type of sound presentation is low micro-dynamics. Maybe the fault also lies with me and my expectations of sound presentation, because lately, I've been leaning towards sets that expose the middle registers, focusing on vocals and macro details. No matter what the reason I believe that I should not overlook this observation.

To explain the title of the review a bit, this presentation of sound brought to me an association with a certain character, the robotic Tin Man (Tin(HiFi) Man), from the Wizard of Oz novel, who, along with the rest of the team, followed the yellow brick road to gain a heart from the Wizard and eventually become human, which unfortunately in the case of the T5S probably did not succeed.



SUMMARY

In my opinion, the T5S does almost everything very well, but at the same time, it is not a particularly exceptional set. The main advantage of the T5S is the clarity and transparency of the sound, and although the reproduced sounds are precise, fast, and quite dynamic, and the extracted details nicely enrich the background, the presentation of the sound itself did not impress me. But to whom can I recommend the T5S? Well, I think I can wholeheartedly recommend it to someone who is looking for a set with a balanced and clean sound, or that will create a rich and unobtrusive background for the listener. I, for example, appreciated this set while reading a book, and listening to some soundtrack, and for that, it worked perfectly.

All in all, this is a very correct set, with fairly safe tuning, but also high sound clarity, which is why I think the right price for it is $100 and you can get it for that much on AliExpress during certain promotions. The starting price is about $130, which is a bit more, but if you take into account the rich accessories, is not overpriced. however, I am afraid that due to the rather intense competition in this price range, the T5S may have trouble breaking out in the market.

Below you can find some additional photos I took:

𝑻𝒊𝒏𝑯𝒊𝒇𝒊 𝑻5𝑺 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑴𝒊𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓


|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

After the fairly underwhelmingly received T5, TinHifi is back with another $100+ offering named the T5S. This is the successor of the T5 which was released back a couple years ago. Going by the specifications I’ve looked up, the T5s seems to carry a single dynamic driver the TinHifi made themselves.



Whether or not that is enough of a driver for the $129 asking price is up for debate but spoiler alert it does sound nice but driver count is not indicative of one’s performance.

|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the brands I review and do not give out preview privileges.

This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

I don’t do rankings or tier lists as they can get outdated immediately as a reviewer can change their thoughts of a product to a certain extent. If you do want a recommendation then feel free to reach out so I can help out


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𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 Tinhifi 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆.

𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 Linsoul Audio 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁. 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿
𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.

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| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |



It comes in a cube-shaped box with neat futuristic civilization art on the front and the name of the item along with the branding. This art is probably a reference to the name “ Mars “ TinHifi decided to call the T5S but nonetheless more than enough to protect the set during shipment.



Removing the cover and opening the top flap of the box you will get to see the IEMs themselves encased in foam on the upper portion and an accessories section where the cable is located. Underneath that layer is where the included case where the remaining accessories are located and some papers.

𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:
Paperwork
TinHifi T5S drivers
White faux-leather magnetic case
4-core SPC 2-pin cable(3.5mm)
Cleaning brush
1 pair of white foam tips
3 pairs of narrow-bore eartips (S/M/L)
3 pairs of normal-bore eartips (S/M/L)
Spare filters

Very strong set of accessories included by TinHifi. The case is definitely much nicer in quality than similarly priced sets. The addition of a brush is also good as ear wax can definitely do a number on an IEM. The included narrow-bore eartips looks like a Sony’s EP-EX11 which I have personally as I often use them for sets that I find needs a bit more low-end.


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The T5S is made almost entirely out of CNC'ed aluminum. It feels nice in the hand with sufficient heft to make it feel that it’s a quality product. The overall shape of the T5S reminds me of the T3+ that I used to own that was made out of resin. It has this pseudo-custom fit with a fin to help it sit snugly in your ear.



TinHifi only made the T5S in one color, which was this sort of gunmetal finish. The faceplate is polished a tad bit different from the rest of the body and has TinHifi branding. The back of IEM has one of the two vents and the other is right under the nozzle. Speaking of the nozzle, it seems to be made out of brass.

The design is pretty minimal. It doesn’t scream flashy or anything but at the same time it is a design that lacks the sense of interest as it gets quite bland after a day or two.



The T5S contains only a single dynamic driver. Some may see this as a rip-off as other sets on the same or even cheaper price ranges have more than one driver even if they are both dynamic drivers. I for one prefer a good sounding single DD than a bad sounding tribrids.


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The isolation of the T5S is great. It easily blocks out unwanted outside noise. This can work as a daily commuter set but still not on the same level as active noise-canceling.


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

This set is really comfortable in my ears. Despite having fins and curves, it doesn’t get fatiguing on the ears even when using it for prolonged hours. The metal build doesn’t feel heavy in my ear. The occlusion effect is on par with other IEMs though but at least it isn’t worse.


** 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗭𝘂 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗶 (𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺) | 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗘𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗼 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗗𝗔𝗖 **


| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

Very easy to drive. I never had an issue powering this even with my Apple dongle.


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||



TL;DR, this is one of my favorites around the $100 price range. The T5S is a mid-centric set that has an ample amount of bass and great separation while not being harsh. I really liked the way this sounds for the type of music I’m currently into.


| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

Low-end of the T5S is present, yet tamed. It doesn’t take center stage but is still in the playback to provide a nice kick to it. Subbass has a decent amount of rumble and midbass hits provide nice impact with good speed but it won’t blow your socks off. It doesn’t spill onto other frequencies while still providing warmth to overall playback


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

This is probably the highlight of the T5S in my opinion. Vocals and instruments are the star of the show. Female vocals are more forward than their male counterparts but can sound sibilant. Both types still have bodies that sound full and lush. Instruments are great with nice detail, presence and warmth. Note weight is definitely one of the key highlights of the T5S. It sound very natural with no weird timbre


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

While it provides good detail, it doesn’t have that much treble energy to sound harsh but at the cost of losing some extension and sparkle. Treble heads may find this a bit too tame whilst people sensitive to treble like me will definitely take delight using these.


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Whilst the layering, separation and imaging are great, the soundstage is quite average. It doesn’t have this feeling of a more expansive or open sound. This is still great for all things immersion and entertainment from all kinds of media consumption


|| 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ||

This is definitely one of my recommendations around the $100 price range. It is a safe, mid-centric set that is great for those looking for a more laid back and safe sound. It is great for vocals and instruments, so if your playlists compromise that could benefit from those, then this might be a great pickup for you.



I have multiple recommendation depending on one’s use case and playlist hence why I have no current hierarchy list of what is the best as each IEM can excel in different aspects while suffering from another, and in this case the T5S occupy my “mid-centric set” spot for the $100+ price range.


[| 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 |]

https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t5s?_pos=2...

(These are not affiliate links. I do not gain anything whatsoever upon purchasing something using the said links)

Tin HiFi T5S
1DD “nano grade ultra-linear diaphragm”
$130

First of all before I even begin this review, let me thank HiFiGO for sending me this IEM sample in for review.
Rest assured, my review as usual 100% my own personal opinion.

Unboxing
What you get inside the box :

• IEM
• Cable
• Eartips
• Carrying Case
• Tweezer
• Spare Filters
• Cleaning Brush
• Document Card

Build Quality


The T5S is made from alluminum alloy and the shape is somewhat very ergonomic, it has curved shell for more stable fit on your ears.

The shell is still light weight enough for long listening session.

While the cable quality is very good for its price, it is very soft and not easy to get tangled.
The cable I believed it's made from SPC + Copper mixed.
One thing I wish though, I do want an option to pick the termination (2.5mm / 3.5mm /4.4mm).
For now it is shipped with 3.5mm SE only.

Comfort
is very good, itis one of the most comfortable IEM I have wear thanks to its ergonomic and lightweight design.

Sound

Tested using FIIO KB3, FIIO KA11, Stock Eartips, Stock Cable.
Music is mostly from Apple Music (J-POP, J-Rock, RAP, EDM, Jazz, Metal)

Tonality in General : Harman Neutral

Bass is focused on the sub bass region, presentation of the bass is on the musical side of spectrum rather than snappy analytical bass.

Speed of the bass is normal, not too fast nor slow and shabby, It can be used for all kind of genre to be honest, including metal and EDM.

One thing about the bass though, if you're prefer more mid bass punch, this might not be the IEM for you since the bass is mostly focused on the sub bass region.

BUT, the sub-bass is deep and rumbly if you're into sub-bass.

Midrange is a bit tamed from and soundssmoother than your typical harman typed tuning.

This could be a plus or minus depending on what your preferences.
For example, if you're in search for a laid back musical tuning, the T5S could be one of the better choices out there, but on the opposite side, if you want a more aggressive and forward midrange presentation, the T5S might not be the one for you.
Its all depending on what is your subjective preferences.

Thing I could say about the midrange is that the T5S has a very good note weight, it sounds correct and does not shouty or sibilance at all, and overall presentation is very musical.

Treble is actually smooth, I'm genuinely surprised, the graph on the internet showing the T5S has a peak around 9 – 10k, but in real life, the treble is also laid back in presentation.

It does not make you tired at all by listening to it.
Extension wise it is decent, more extended than your typical single DD on this price bracket.

Technicalities
is “Good” for its asking price.

Stage is decently wide and issymmetrical in width and depth. It has good stage layering, soeverything feels like properly placed.

Imaging is OK, not the best I've heardbut its no way bad either.

Separation and Positioning is good, itis well separated while maintaining to sound cohesive at all time, positioning is also good, it is not the most razor sharp positioning I've heard but It is usable even for playing Valorant.

You won't have any problem locating object position using the T5S.
Detail Retrieval is average, it is not the most detail extracting IEM out there, but it has just enough to make it feel not dull and boring.
Though one thing I must say, even this IEM is not a detail monster, it capable to renders small nuanced decay which is very good.

Comparation

Moondrop Starfield 2
$110
The Starfield 2 has more of a bright and sterile overall tonality. It lacks bass, and the vocal is too forward in my opinion, though if u want an IEM with “clarity” you can consider the Starfield 2 as an alternative to the T5S.
Technicality wise, the T5S has a little bit better treble extension.

Letshuoer S12 Pro
$135
Single Planar, has more treble quantity and more aggressive intense sound compared to the more laidback presentation of T5S.

Technicality wise, the S12 Pro has better detail retrieval compared to the T5S, but stage wise, the T5S has more information on the layering.

Conclusion

So... did I recommend the T5S?
Honestly it depends on what you're looking for in an IEM, If you're in the market for around $100 and searching for a laid back tuning with good technicality and a very ergonomic design, YES, I can recommend the T5S.

The overall packaging, build, and accessories is also very good for its asking price.
Alright thats all from me for now, thanks for reaching this far !

Just in case you're Indonesian, or understand Bahasa Indonesia, you can watch the video here


-littlenezt

The TINHIFI T5S
Now this review will be arranged slightly backwards. Common we all know who TINHIFI is, at least most of us do. And sure just like all the reviews I’m going to talk about the original T5 released in early May of 2021. And you know when Linsoul contacted me about reviewing this new edition of the T5, the T5S….I was not really sure I wanted to review it. Yep, I gave the TINHIFI T5 flagship IEM a horrible score of 3 stars when I reviewed it! And if you do know anything about TINHIFI they kinda just keep putting out IEM after IEM, when at times there are not a whole lot of changes. But this review will actually start at the very end……first. Why? Well that’s what we are all here for end results. And sure I have already written a big portion of this review……………as normal reviewers do……..they listen then write a little, make some judgments and make a few discoveries, then write about it some more. But early on I knew the T5S was my favorite TIN so far. I have heard 12 TINHIFI IEMs and reviewed 10 of them up to this point. And that is still not covering the TinAudeo T2, the most famous TIN of them all. But here is a different focus, Yep. This is TIN’s TOTL Flagship IEM and priced at a whopping $129.99. Not exactly spare change or pocket lint! And that is what was so sad about the original T5, it had a wicked 5kHz peak as well as no bass, which didn’t balanced out the 5kHz peak at all. So that’s what I’m so surprised with this new direction now. Also normally I don’t spend time researching other on-line reviews, but I did this time. The reason being is that this T5S is a big deal to me, that and I really wanted to know (I was curious) as to how it was perceived. Now sure everyone has their own pet signatures and values to judge IEMs, and I read that some reviewers have compared this to the TINHIFI C3. But I have to disagree as the T3 is only a $63.99 IEM………maybe it graphs a little close to the T5S, but we are living in a whole new town now…….I feel. In fact I don’t even want to revisit my T3 review…….it simply doesn’t matter……as if the T3 was close to what we have here I would know about it and remember such qualities.




What new qualities?
Well that’s what the very beginning of this review is about. It’s about a love affair and a usability that simply makes the T5S incredibly special. What I did was used a few cables including the included cable, but since the included cable is only 3.5mm I had to try out the 4.4mm SIMGOT AUDIO LC7 modular cable, then I had to try out the NiceHCK Cyan cable. I also in the end of the review process tried the T5S with a number of different sources and music. You still may be wondering when I am going to start this darn review? I will give you a clue as to Redcarmoose’s reviews; when I like something I talk about it a lot. When I don’t like something I try and keep it relatively short………and this review is long, longer than normal. You see while the T5S is not perfect……..they did so many things right, and the more use time I had with the T5S the more I perceive the deficits reduced?

I used the SIMGOT Dongle, the DEW4X and it was OK, I used the Shanling UA3 Dongle and again it was OK. I used the HiBy R3 II and again it was fine………….showing just how well rounded of a performer the TINHIFI T5S was…….but then it dawned on me. I want to make the vocals stand out just a tad more…….also I want to increase the soundstage to slightly bigger………so the Sony WM1A was the obvious choice. Such temperament would be from a maximized midrange and the soundstage size to back it up. I went to usual wide-bore ear-tips and they fit perfect. I will later get into the form and size, fit and feel as it is fully above normal here.



Left to right: WM1A, HiBy R3 II, Shangling UA3 and SIMGOT AUDIO DEW4X

So we can keep track of equipment, here is one example of playback...as follows.

1) WM1A DAP (Mr Walkman’s Firmware)
2) NiceHCK Cyan cable
3) TINHIFI T5S
4) Wide-bore ear-tips

I know it doesn’t look like much, but this was the best I ever heard the T5S. At least one way to interpret them?

What I’m trying to say is the T5S is very well rounded. Yep, so well rounded that really changing playback combinations of different DAPs or Dongles and cables were all a simple slightly different version of the same T5S sound in the end. Some my think this may mean the T5S is not as transparent as some IEMs, and I would agree. Yet that is not all a bad thing in the end? I went looking for trouble………..with that said a had a few cables, a few Dongles and a few DAPs and the T5S is what I would call simply friendly, yep it got along with everything. I really tried to trip-it-up but got nowhere in the end………..basically the T5S has a sound and a character that is unmovable. And actually at times that can be a good thing.

The TINHIFI T5S history:
The original T5 was the very first TINHIFI I ever heard. It came out in May 0f 2021, and while I reviewed it….I wasn’t very nice. Nope, I gave it a solid 3 out of 5 stars. Many had an issue with the 5kHz peak, my main thing was that it didn’t have much bass? While I was just being honest, Linsoul didn’t send me any more IEMs for awhile? But then they did……and so far I have reviewed……..

The TINHIFI T5 May 7th, 2021
The TINHIFI T1S April 26th, 2022
The TINHIFI Giant Panda Planar April 28th, 2022
The TINHIFI Tin Buds TWS June 24th, 2022
The TINHIFI T2 DLC October 20th, 2022
The TINHIFI C2 January 10th, 2023
The TINHIFI T4 PLUS January 11th, 2023
The TINHIFI C3 January 20th, 2023
The TINHIFI C5 April 20th, 2023
The TINHIFI C0 ELF October 17th, 2023

In the works The TINHIFI T2MKII, but still there are a lot of TinAudio and TINHIFI creations not listed, that’s just how many they have made!

And this TINHIFI T5S “Mars” you are reading about today. I know for a fact that the original T2 was the most successful IEM for TINHIFI, then called TinAudio. This was way back in 2017, and I know it was a big deal because I have read the reviews, and people still talk about it. The original T2 was $49.90 USD and in part was revolutionary in how it fit, up till then nothing was ever made that seemed to have the form of the T2. Now I was into IEMs in 2017, but somehow missed-out getting a pair. Though even to this day they do spike my curiosity, so much so that I would still like to hear them.

The T5S “Mars” is a welcome change. The MARS is the very best TINHI I have ever heard? The best!

It is not at all like the original T5?

The TINHIFI T5S:

Music Tests:
Here I go and make the run of albums I am already familiar with to try and understand where the good points and bad points are. This music is simply contains an understanding of replay that I have become close with. Now no one truly knows (the character of replay)……….what is factual or distorted, real or not real. As the moment in the recording studio has been lost forever in time, so it’s anyones guess what is the true tone of playback here. Still there are considered even, correct and complete styles of replay which go both to entertain and hold a value which many agree upon. Often of course there are many different ideas as to how the bass is presented, with some listeners arguing that the bass is too much, or too little. The same could be said about the midrange, as some like their vocals forward, and some like a more recessed playback. Same goes for treble as some like piercing highs that hold much more (than average) detail. But beyond that there is also the actual character inside the instruments or voice that at times will hold a metallic slant, or be of a slower transient response. TINHIFI has given us a very easy to understand character, and as such it flows readily accessible as to exactly how it is.

How is it?
With-in that though there can be small places where we are surprised, yet this tune is very even and correct……..but it walks a line. As such the line could very well be on the boarder of boring or soupy? As such there is still a very prominent vocal forwardness that normally helps push this style of signature into a more even and understood stature. As such in so many ways I look at TINHIFI for providing gifts here, in that they went ahead and added extra bass from the old original T5, also the fine-tuned the T5’s 5kHz peak into a way more (to me) user friendly IEM. I can only speak for myself, but really this is a concept of balance, where I gave the original TOTL TINHIFI T5 a score of 3 due to lacking bass. Yet what occurred there too was an excessive 5kHz peak that was even more noticeable due to the bass balance left out. Sorry but we could actually make a joke that the original T5 was named after the exuberant 5kHz peak!

So here we go and use different tracks to find-out just what they have now come-up with.

Hans Zimmer
Inception OST
Old Souls
44.1 kHz - 16 bit
Probably the greatest gift here is simple and pure full-range DD timbre. Right off the piano at 00:23 show this stance of well done timbre. There is a first piano note starting off at the 00:08 mark, but it’s too far back in the mix to show us much. The next feature to grab our attention is the fact that the stage actually holds entertaining separation at hand. This is actually a really big deal for this reviewer and will make me think “WOW” in thoughts while hearing the music. Honestly when the 00:54 mark is reached the bass drop is on the best side of wonderful. I’m using the WM1A with MrWalkman’s firmware and the SIMGOT AUDIO LC7 cable and my regular wide-bore ear-tips. As such the stage is maximized, but also there is a beautiful smooth separation and deep frequency detail held at our outskirts of hearing. In fact with-in the genius of Hans Zimmer he toped off the bass with a piano note which arrives simultaneously. I mean sure this has been a song to test home theater since it came out, but somehow it is also one of the best songs to use to understand IEMs? There are three main elements at this point, right before the vocal snippet at 00:25. Two different pianos, the bass and what sounds to me like a synth-horn, or the sample of a horn, as it holds attributes of a horn at times. While technically this number owns a style of middle-ground in playback. Where the piano and synth elements were probably just surfacing enough for entertainment and while is bass drops were not the most detailed I have heard, they got the correct bass-tone down. Still I challenge anyone to here this exact set-up on this song and not be thrilled at the over-all results. Really the T5S (it seems) was right in its element here, providing a well done example of a modern movie OST.



Gdanian
Induction
Shild Emitter (feat. Tineidae)
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
Here while not as separated as I’ve heard, the playback is still (somewhat) well layered and big. Probably the best feature here is the deep lows which we really can feel, and not just emotionally but somehow physically? Still this is one song that I remember being bigger than it is now? Where really this particular song is maybe not the very best to showcase what the T5S is about, as it is missing both stage and layering giving a hint as to possibly its inadequacies? I don’t know after a couple attempts this music here is not holding the involvement usually found, and I don’t know why?



DCD
Anastasis
Kiko
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
At the 05:15 mark we can take note of well done vocals, while not vocal specialist IEMs, the vocals are front and center and not hiding by any means. This song also puts forth a magic coming from the pace contained with the T5S, a pace that is nether fast or slow but waits for each and every instrument to gain it’s detail inside of the rhythm. Though funny as when vocals take place, somehow the instruments go to sit back a smidge making me wonder if it is the recording or the IEMs doing this?



DCD
Anastasis
All In Good Time
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
This is a song about male vocals really. But it is also a song about bass notes and the clarity and performance of them. Then the relation to each other as we experience playback at the same time. Where in this case the male vocal playback reaches the outskirts of the stage, and maybe never heard better is the stage we are so endlessly bragging about. The fact that there are strings and drums.............and many subtle and romantic ways this particular song comes to life. But none of that would matter if the striking vocals were buried or at loss for effect. Sure I’ve heard this with more separation and slightly more forwardness, yet that was with Hybrids, and with Hybrids come other unwanted issues. Especially the Hybrid issues with timbre, as that is one thing that is the last of our worries here. At 04:35 there is a break in the vocals and an instrumental ornamentation and in-fact the song continues till 06:37 with not a sound in sight of vocals, yet that is where the stage comes in and again no where better to show the increased stage size in width as well as in being high enough and deep front to back, where this particular feature can be rare in single full-range DD playback. Going back to the start again there is a recheck and a confirmation of male vocals being both front and center and vivid enough to make these vocal IEMs if you really needed them to be. While not being the very best at everything, the T5S seems to go about its day simply doing it all very well for the money spent.

Build:
Such a pleasure here. Really I can hold these in my hands and become spellbound in just at what extent they are fabricated. I see a bunch of IEMs per year, yet nothing exactly like this here. To start with they are all 5-axis CNC routed aluminum and hold the most exquisite custom universal form factor, simply blending with your ear anatomy. At 7 grams a piece they are not heavy or too low-weight, but show as perfect. The gold nozzle holds even my preferred ear-tips on just right. Showing two vents, as one is near the nozzle and one off the side as seen in photos here. As such there are flush two-pins and offer simple yet complete ease of use.



In my experience this is also the best built and best fitting TINHIFI IEM……..a work of art, really?

Well-roundedness:
This is the crazy part, and so crazy I simply had to keep trying different combinations of stuff over and over again. With me trying the Sony WM1A, the HiBy R3 II, the Shanling UA3 and the SIMGOT AUDIO DEW4X…….after my full burn-in cycle of 100 hours all pieces of equipment did have slight their own individual sound, but all of it was great and held special musicality. This pretty much guarantees if you're down for this style of signature, that you will like the results. And the other crazy part was I kept thinking in order for the T5S to do this it has to reduce detail or something, like make everything boring or lackluster, but no, the details are still what I would consider mid-quality, which goes directly with the price.

Burn-in:
I know this is a controversial subject. Yet in my early pre-burn-in attempts, the T5S came off slightly boring in playback. I don’t know why but the burn-in of 100 hrs seemed to loosen-up the agility and move the vocals into a slightly more forward position. Obviously our health affects hearing, our mood etc, etc. Yet truly after the process the T5S seemed slightly more mature in playback and offered a tad of better smoothness. The only reason I’m reporting this here, is if you buy a pair, simply wait till burn-in takes place to fully judge what the TINHIFI T5S is truly about. It worked for me?

Phone use:
Here from the standard 3.5mm output the T5S becomes very middle of the road tonally. Less vivid than audiophile DAP playback, but still smooth and not showcasing any unwanted peaks. As such there is an easygoing way about it, and in many ways this is probably the basic personality of the IEM, with less stage separation and a more compact tonal response? As sure it will gain ground in fidelity upon offering a more sophisticated signal, yet there is nothing to fault in this utilitarian capacity.

The Cable:
The included cable is the nicest I have ever come across from TINHIFI, they aren’t messing around here. And you can guess the 3.5mm included cable was also very close to the 4.4mm playback from a balanced source…..you just can’t hurt the T5S playback. I mean sure the 4.4mm balanced playback was slightly more vivid and separated, except the tone was the same, pretty much the same as 3.5mm. This cable is 28 strands of 0.06mm enameled copper and 54 strands of 0.05mm silver plated copper……..and you can see the proof in the photos. What you can’t see in the photographs is how ergonomic and flexible in daily use the cable becomes. The simple way it bends and adapts to any position in use and the total non-microphonic properties it holds, truly one of my most favorite cables so far this year!


^Are you kidding me?^




Box opening experience:
You get a pair of tweezers for changing screens, as if you do a visual, the screens themselves do have unusually small holes, so you have 6 replacements filters. It also comes with a deluxe carrying case, a brush and 6 pairs of silicone ear-tips, and 1 pair of foam ear-tips on the IEM.



Conclusion:
This is my favorite TIN so far. I mean this is what many of us hoped for. We wondered if TIN would ever get the message, that they would work on tuning to arrive at a warmer and not so peaky experience. And that is what they have gifted us. What came along for the ride is an open and generous soundstage, a beautiful construction, and a well-rounded demeanor. Let’s be grounded here, sure it sounds like a $129.99 IEM. If you totally get with what the signature is doing, it could be your daily driver. I mean it is built like a daily driver, with being so well-rounded you can skip from Rock, to Classical to Vocal music and somehow find correct playback…….this to me is quite unusual? And with-in this correct playback the music is interesting and fun…….the music has just the right amount of soul. Just the right amount of pizzaz to make everything work.

Synergy:
The T5S plays well off every source used and really better than well, as the T5S seems to wildly find synergy everywhere it goes. You will note different stage positioning and tonal character differences from each player, yet nothing is ever wrong, or off sounding?

Value:
There could be some folks who would want more resolution, and what doubles-up to send this concept home is the TINHIFI T5S has a great driver, but it falls short on a sparkly treble. In turn those treble details and treble stage are probably average (or below average) for the price. Yet for those in need of more detail up-top this could be an issue and decrease the intrinsic sound value? Still to me I’m more about midrange separation and hold the way the T5S does vocals as way more important to the overall value judgment. You see if those vocals are forward enough and bright enough, I can live with the style of treble and actually learn to enjoy the total character stance, finding very little issues at all? Really that’s where I am at, and have no problem recommending the T5S to the public at large. TINHIFI has moved to finally tune these IEMs fun and user friendly, won’t you join in the party?

TINHIFI T5S
HIGH-DEFINITION BALANCED HI-FI IEMS

• Exquisite Design with Innovative Features
• Unparalleled Comfort and Audio Experience
• Precision-Crafted Lightweight Aluminum Build
• Next-Gen Ultra-linear Diaphragm
• Excellent HiFi Audio Adjustment for a Broad Soundstage
• Premium Audiophile Cable

$129.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t5s

Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Kareena from Linsoul for the love and TINHIFI T5S review sample.

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

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
Shanling UA3 Dongle 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm output
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II 3.5mm/4.4mm output and USB Type-C output
SIMGOT AUDIO DEW4X with 4.4mm balanced output

These are the experiences and thoughts of a single individual, your results may vary.

Introduction!
Hello friends!
Today in the review we’ll talk about purely dynamic headphones from the Tinhifi company, called T5s and their cost is $129 and it’s so interesting that in general they don’t often release new products and as such they usually don’t get the proper hype, but this time it’s like for me they simply outdid themselves and made the successful model with a very comfortable sound.
The headphones arrive in a nicely designed small box with an interesting space design, the name of this model and a small company logo here.

And here at the back there is the manufacturer’s address, various data and there are quar codes that can be scanned, it’s a pity the technical specifications are not written here, but don’t worry, I found them, and one dynamic driver with a diameter of 10mm is responsible for the sound, and the sensitivity is 103dB and they received 32ohm impedance, and they are surprisingly a little heavy during to drive, but in general most modern sources can handle them without problems.

Let's take a look at what's included!
And the first thing that greets us here are the headphones made of aluminum, so they are light and, to me, generally look super strict and at the same time stylish, since the front panel here received the name of the company tinhifi and at the same time the text shimmers so cool!

And as usual, there is a 2-pin connector installed here that goes exactly in line with the body and next to it there is the first acoustic hole, and the second is located on the inside of the body almost next to this golden and rather elongated nozzle which has a very good protrusion due to which the ear pads cling here as reliable as possible and therefore the headphones fit in the ears just perfectly, very tightly and comfortably and with sound insulation in general everything is super, you can even install these standard foam tips that come with headphones if you don’t like silicone ones.

Accessories!
Well, from the accessories here we get tweezers, a brush for cleaning headphones, and here there are two cards.
And the most interesting thing is in this excellent white leather case!

inside of which, in my opinion, there is a rightfully excellent 4-wire cable, a good set of ear tips, and additional metallic filters!

The cable has a standard 3.5 jack plug and 2 pin connectors with markings for connecting to headphones, really respect for the cable as it fits perfectly to the headphones and together everything looks harmonious.

How do these headphones sound?
Now let’s talk about the sound of these Tinhifi T5s headphones, and here’s something neutral and with only one dynamic driver, as for me, the setting here is generally super correct, there is also a boost in low frequencies by as much as 10dB, so there should be enough bass for everyone , and what makes me happy is how they correctly designed the mid frequencies, very carefully approaching 3kHz and with an unusual solution they tidied up the sibilant region from 6 to 8kHz and just as competently compensated for this with a small rise at 9kHz, and the presentation in the end turned out to be literally musically enveloping, but let’s go in order!

Low Frequencies:
Since the low frequencies were increased by 10 decibels, they are presented here as very powerful textured with literally massaging sub-bass with excellent depth, even though this is not even a basshead model, and the midbass here has truly insanely good control and has a very obvious punch and transparent textural elaboration due to which it does not sound monotonous and booming, but on the contrary, it can be clearly heard even separately from a very defined kick.
Well, according to the canons of good dynamic headphones, the bass attack here does not feel relaxed and imposing, and we have a super distinct, clear attack-focused blow, even in my opinion it is definitely not inferior to reinforcement headphones both in quantity and quality of reproduction.
Mid Frequencies:
But the mid frequencies here were set up just like I love the neutral and super comfortable smooth tone of the vocal part, where there is quite a sufficient amount of air and confident transparency due to which not a single instrument or aspect in the music is hidden, but the upper middle just my respect, it’s neat, restrained, with correctly placed accents on the drums, which received a clear and distinct attack, and the after-sounds here are quite confident in duration!
High Frequencies:
Well, I think the high frequencies here are just the perfect ending, they are tuned very warmly and super musically with a slight slight monitor and chill where there is no excessive brightness, but due to this we get a more authentic sound without unnecessary colors and additional resolution and detail as happens in more bright headphones, but they’ve been tidied up a little around the edges,and despite the small hole here on the highs they do not feel dark closed or devoid of life because of this, on the contrary, the resolution here was kept good for us and the cymbals do not sound blurry on attack and somehow dark or closed, and you can even listen to them as heavy without any problems genres and something light because here it is the most comfortable and non-tiring presentation in the evening, which for me is just the thing to just relax after a hard day when nothing distracts you and just gently allows you to enjoy the composition!
Stage and stereo panorama:
But the stage is just my respect in these headphones, it turned out to be very wide with excellent immersion in depth and excellent depiction of the images of instruments, everything really sounds very clear and verified in space, the images are not blurred or lost anywhere, you can easily separate everything from each other.
My conclusion on these headphones:
Tinhifi T5s turned out to be excellent dynamic headphones that simply surprised me and made me fall in love with them from the first listening, the most comfortable presentation without any unnecessary accents and harsh analytics, they have a super musical presentation tone for smooth and calm listening, just turn it on and enjoy the music,I think fans of this kind of presentation should definitely appreciate them, and I definitely recommend them.
Link where you can buy them!
Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t5s
Aliexpress: https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005006344197339.html
I will be glad if you subscribe to my YouTube channel and watch this full review on TINHIFI T5S!

Review Of The Tin HiFi T5S​

Introduction​

New IEMs, the next generation of their earlier releases, were just produced by Tin Hifi, a Chinese business that dabbles in electroacoustic devices. The business has gained a large following of audiophiles who adore the in-house sound system because to its reputation for providing high-quality sound at an inexpensive price. The T5 is the company's flagship single dynamic driver IEM, and the Tin Hifi T5S is its replacement. Prior to analyzing the T5S, I want to make a few points clear.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the kind people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “T5S.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the T5S based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The T5S has a single dynamic driver on each side that makes use of a Japanese CCAW lightweight voice coil and an ultra-linear diaphragm. The lightweight aluminum used to make the shells is CNC machined. I think everyone can use the ergonomic design and sturdy construction of the shells. The weight and form of the shells don't wear you out or create any discomfort during extended periods of listening, thus the fit and comfort are excellent as well. Although the included cable feels fine and looks well, it is similar to other IEMs in this price range. The cable has a straight 3.5mm termination jack on one end and two pin connections on the other. Along with the IEM, additional accessories include a carrying case, cleaning brush, nozzle mesh, tweezers, and various ear tips. Technically speaking, the frequency response spans from 10 Hz to 20 kHz, with a sensitivity of 103dB. A 32 ohm impedance is present.

Sound​

The T5S's response often focuses on the midrange and sub bass to provide a mid centric response that has just enough clean bass to counteract any abnormalities that may have happened during tuning. As I used this IEM more, I discovered that controlling the bass more brought out a shouty response beyond the mid-range. The treble now sounds safe and is calming to hear. To be honest, it is mainly gloomy, although the extension is apparent. The Moondrop Aria 2, which I recently had the opportunity to listen to, is the answer to which I can relate. In comparison to the Aria 2, which I felt was more open-sounding, crisper, more transparent overall, the response feels more rounded and balanced. To learn more, let's explore the sound more.

Treble​

The treble is simply described as having a dark, relaxed response. However, after allowing my ear to adjust and getting comfortable, listening to more music does allow me to perceive the extension, even though neither the vocalists nor the instruments have an airy, spacious sound. The upper treble only aids in keeping the vocals from sounding forced or boxy. The vocals are forward-sounding without being abruptly stopped in the upper octaves. Yet, the response once again contributes to the singers' feeling alive and present. At the same time, the instruments don't seem natural or noticeable in the mix. The response can be smoothed out rather than repressed because the lower treble sounds more muted and with less intensity. To be clear, neither the voice nor the instruments sound monotonous or painful. Overall, the treble range sounds calm, deep, and polished.

Mid Range​

With a very forward response, the mid range is where the energy moves through the response the greatest. It elicits a more energetic and enthusiastic response rather than coming across obnoxious or overly immersive. The presence and clarity of the notes are, in my opinion, two different things. The notes are present but not very clear or transparent, and other multi BA IEMs, like the EM6L, do a better job of producing better clarity between notes, which aids in better separation. The upper mid range has the most energy, which in turn produces a forward and energetic sound. The response feels more musical and organic in terms of both quality and quantity, even if the T5s sounds similar to the EM6L in the previously described aspects. The instruments respond to the vocals with a pleasing and direct response, making the voices seem vibrant and alive. In comparison to other IEMs throughout the response, the energy decreases in the lower mid range but has a greater forward reach. Both the instruments and the vocals have a rich note presentation and an ambiguous texture, which, in my opinion, is better for achieving a natural and melodic reaction. As a result, the mid range sounds natural and musical while also projecting a dynamic, energetic presentation overall.

Bass​

Regarding the bass, the response is well-executed, which aids in executing a tonally present response with sufficient mid-bass presence to prevent the response from sounding muddy and obtrusive. The emphasis is on the sub bass with more than adequate mid bass which usually provides a warmer response than a cleaner or textured response. The punches are not strong and don't stand out in the mix, but the thumps and slams are more noticeable and impactful but controlled, which contributes to an authentic and clean response. The sub bass extends deep, allowing for a very subtle rumble sensation in the ear canals. The lower mid range is affected by the mid bass, which contributes to the establishment of a well-balanced response. As a result, the bass region has a booming, warm, and strong overall presentation.

Technical Performance​

Regarding the technical performances, I generally think that single dynamic drivers, particularly those in this price range, aren't able to reach the level of output that several drivers can. However, IEMs with single dynamic drivers have recently been able to catch up as well; the Simgot EA1000 is a clear example of this. Let me elaborate. The T5S has excellent control over its technological capabilities as well, but it doesn't appear to be the greatest.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The T5S creates a more 350 degree stage than the Aria, which produces a greater stereo response. The stage feels close, but it is neither crowded or nearly nonexistent. The image is sharp enough for a clean and safe reaction. I can tell where the sound is originating from because of how clearly the notes are separated.

Speed & Resolution​

Although the resolution is excellent, the macro details are the only ones that stand out. The attack and note decay are well-paced but not the fastest.

Sound Impressions​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - The vocals felt a little pushed back, which allowed for a more open-sounding presentation but a darker treble, with the exception of the upper treble's air feeling more distinct and noticeable. When listening to T5S with WM1A, the response was more dynamic and tonally more dense with more separation between notes, particularly in the mid range. This combo with the WM1A was more to my liking.

Tempotec V6 - With the treble region slightly pushed up and the bass little more controlled, the response was more pronounced and clear when listening to T5S with V6. Even so, neither the micronuances nor the details were as expectedly modified. However, it sounded better with a clearer response, particularly in the lower notes.

Tracks Used​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

In conclusion, I would say that the Tin Hifi maintains its competitive edge and has a pleasing tone with a respectable level of detail, enabling a natural portrayal with careful tuning. While there are other IEMs available that provide a sound that is clearer and more resolved than the T5S, the T5S excels in terms of musicality and natural response. I would highly recommend the T5s to anyone who favor dark-sounding IEMs and detest treble or who want vocals that are emphasized with a warm, organic presence.