TINHIFI Tin Buds 3 TWS IEMs

The Tin T3 Buds were sent to me by Linsoul for me to share my opinions and publish this review. They have not made any specific requests and therefore, as usual, I will be as unbiased and honest as possible.

You can find a (non-affiliate) link to the T3 Buds via Linsoul by visiting the version of this review published on my blog (link at the end of this review).



Intro…

I don’t think anyone can deny that Bluetooth has come a long way recently and that it is going to continue to improve, becoming the main audio solution for the general public. Yes, there are still going to be the audiophiles who focus on improving things and getting performance that only cables can bring (at this moment in time), along with those who simply prefer cables (me being one of them), but the majority of people will be more than happy to opt for bluetooth solutions.

It’s also true that IEMs have come a long way in recent times, getting better by the day (or so it seems) at prices that are getting cheaper and cheaper. That is bringing us to start seeing wireless IEMs in the “middle ranges” from companies who have focused mainly on wired options until now. By “middle ranges”, I am not referring to prices, it is more in reference to products from companies that are quite a step above the usual no-name TWS options on Amazon but way below some of the higher end (and more known) options like Apple, Samsung, etc.

Tin Hifi are one of those companies, bringing in the T3 Buds at a price of just under 90€. As Tin Hifi have had some good success with some of their wired IEMs (and some not so good), it is interesting to see what they can offer in this TWS world.



Presentation…

The box that the T3 Buds arrive in is fairly simple, just a black box (although the box does have a nice finish to it) inside a white sleeve with the brand and model on the exterior.

Inside the box we get the TWS IEMs inside their charging case, 4 sets of silicone tips, a USB to USB-C charging cable and the user manual/documentation.

That is the extent of the contents but except for maybe a few more kinds of tips, not much else that can really be asked for.



Build and aesthetics…

The charging case is round and rather compact, although I do find that the shape makes it a little more uncomfortable to carry than the oval or rectangular models from other companies. It is a very nice looking case though, in a dark metallic blue finish with a nice texture to the outside.

It may just be me but I did find it was a little more difficult to get them out of the case than with other models but that also means that they sit well in their charging ports, avoiding them moving and not charging correctly (something that I have experienced with other TWS IEMs).

The Buds are very similar to the T3+ in looks and shape, although these are slightly smaller with a little change to the ergonomics. They feel the same in the ears, except for the lack of cable over the ear of course, which means that I do find them comfortable. They are obviously a little heavier than the T3+, which is to be expected as they have the electronics inside them, but are not overly heavy and I find they can be worn for longer periods without fatigue.

Overall I like the aesthetics of the T3 Buds, as I did the T3+, giving them a bit of a premium look. They also seem to be well built, although that is something that will need more time to confirm.



Functionality…

The functionality is similar to many other models, using a combination of short or longer presses on the faceplate of the IEM.

A single press on either of the IEMs is for play/pause, a double press is for next/last track (right side for next and vice versa) and a triple press summons the assistant. To raise or lower the volume, it is a long press on the right (up) or left (down) but not too long, as too long will turn the Buds off.

While I applaud the fact that volume can be controlled from the IEMs, something that many brands miss and I feel should be obligatory, the choice of a long press to do so isn’t the best option. It makes changing volume a rather long task, especially if you want to raise or lower by more than a step or two, at which point it is quicker to just grab the phone.

I also find that the response to the touches is not great, taking various attempts on occasions for them to recognize the press. It could just be the fact that I haven’t got the hang of it but it did get a little irritating at times.

The connectivity is decent, letting me roam around my office or home with the phone on my desk, so no complaints there. They also connect very quickly, both on first connection and when reconnecting.

Audio from the mic is not the greatest but it is decent enough for short calls. I wouldn’t recommend them (or, to be honest, any TWS that I have tried) for conference calls and regular online meetings etc.



Sound…

I had already been listening to the T3 Buds for a while before I saw someone post a graph of the frequency response. When I saw the graph, I was surprised as it looked far more exaggerated than what I was listening to. I measured it myself and got the same results, which still look far more exaggerated than what I hear personally.

Here is the graph in comparison to my personal preference target:



While on the subject of graphs, let’s get isolation out of the way also. As you may already know, you can view any of my isolation (or FR) measurements and compare them by following the link at the end of the review. Here is the graph of the T3 Buds isolation in comparison to zero isolation (grey dotted line):


Ok, now let’s get on with my subjective opinions on the sound, which do sort of resemble the graph but at a reduced level.

Starting at the lowest frequencies, down in the subbass area, the performance of the T3 Buds is actually fairly decent. It may not give the rumble that more subbass focused sets give but there is enough for these frequencies to be appreciated and not suffer from a large amount of roll off. I found myself enjoying music with plenty of content in the lowest of lows, without really feeling too much was missing, and while “Chameleon” may not vibrate the inside of your head, it does still sound full in the subbass areas.

In the midbass, there is a little extra presence there, giving some warmth to the low end of instruments such as guitars and basses, yet it is not too overdone. I would say that the extra presence of the midbass is about too much as subbass is too little. Noticeable but not terrible, making a lot of music enjoyable, especially things like classic rock that benefit from that extra bit of warmth.

In the midrange, there is a bit of a scoop going on that can make certain vocals seem to be missing a bit of presence in their lower to mid ranges. I find that vocals like Dua Lipa in “Don’t Start Now” seem to lose a little fullness in the lower vocal ranges yet they are still very present due to the boosted higher end of the mids.

In fact, the higher end of the mids is the point that my ear most disagrees with the graph of these IEMs. I said above that the graph seems to be more exaggerated than what I actually here and these ranges are exactly what I am referring to. Yes there is a little bit too much in the higher mids, which brings vocals forwards but at the same time can make the sound a little thin, especially in the case of acapella or vocal centric tracks, such as “I Concentrate on You”.

However, although the extra bit of “thinness” is noticeable when coming from other sets, it is not something that really jumps out too much and I found that my ears adjusted to it pretty quickly. Luckily this extra boost does fall away before hitting the 5kHz mark, meaning that I can tolerate it much better, but of you are someone who is sensitive to the 3 or 4kHz range, then this will probably be much more of an issue for you.

The higher frequencies do seem to extend fairly well, without any exaggerated roll off in these ranges, giving a nice touch of air and clarity. I can’t say they are amazing up at the top but I do find them to be similar to the regular T3 Plus in these areas, with sibilance being kept in check fairly well, only appearing on tracks that already have a large sibilance presence in the recording.

Details I also find to be similar to the T3 Plus, in other words, they are not the strong point of the T3 Buds yet there are enough to enjoy music without getting the feeling that things are missing. You certainly aren’t going to get suprised by details you have never heard before but you won’t have to search for things you have heard a thousand times either.

Soundstage I find to be decent, as is image placement, maybe not groundbreaking but enough to get a good sensation of openness and feel that the music is not just on a single plane.



Conclusion…

There is one major issue with the T3 Buds that I haven’t mentioned yet but is something that needs to be considered. I was going to mention it under functionality, then under sound, but I guess late is better than never.

The issue I am referring to is the background noise of these IEMs. There is a background hiss that is quite prominent on the T3 Buds and is very noticeable both in silent parts and on quieter passages of songs. It is not the worst background hiss I have heard on a TWS but it is something that is very apparent.

In addition to that, there is the isolation, which is not great in general but even worse in the lower ranges. I would say that the main use for TWS IEMs is while out and about, due to the commodity of not having a cable, yet the lack of isolation in the lower ranges can make it difficult to appreciate the deeper notes, putting more emphasis on that boosted high mid range.

In general the tuning is ok, far better than I think it looks on paper, but those two issues do take away from the overall user sensation in my opinion. If you are mostly listening to busy music, in other words, songs that don’t have quieter passages or silent parts, then these are probably not going to be as apparent to you or be much of an issue.

As usual, this review is also available in Spanish both on my blog (www.achoreviews.com) and on www.youtube.com/achoreviews

All FR measurements of IEMs can be viewed and compared on achoreviews.squig.link

All isolation measurements of IEMs can be found on achoreviews.squig.link/isolation

The First 6mm Beryllium Driver Bluetooth Earbud in the World

Latest Bluetooth V5.2 connectivity
Premium Qualcomm QCC3040 Bluetooth Chip
6mm Beryllium-Plated Dynamic Driver
Semi Customized 3D Printed Resin Ear Shells
Aviation-Grade Aluminum alloy charging case
Hand-Painted Faceplates
Artistic Design For Charging Case
Balanced Tuning
aptX, aptX-II
90 Days Stand-by, 6.5 Hours Estimated Playtime
400mAh Charge Case Battery

One of the first releases for Bluetooth that incorporates an actual semi-custom standard IEM look and feel



In the world of dynamic driver speakers, the greater the tensile strength of the membrane, the better response of the speaker. Beryllium plating does that for the Tin Buds 3. Add to that the same technology concepts used in the wired TINHIFI T3 Plus and we have the value the Tin Buds 3 represents. Whether you intend to use the Tin Buds 3 at the gym, while traveling or walking your dog, is up to you. The 3D printed shells combined with a hand painted faceplate guarantee a look, the semi-custom form factor provides a feel, and the 6mm beryllium DD provides a sound. The Tin Buds 3 takes only an hour to charge. With a full-charge they play music up to 6.5 hours, with 90 days standby time. The Tin Buds 3 come in black or blue, with a nice selection of 4 silicone tips, the charge case and USB cable. Such joy to use in that there is never a delay while watching movies or TV. A slight delay in gaming as is true with all TWS earbuds. 5 to 5.5 hours playback is probably the true number. The 6.5 hour rating is at an extremely low listening level.

Amazing usability:
If you were wondering if the limited features would be a draw back, I look at it as an attribute. It really depends what you're after. There is no quick-charge, where you charge the Buds for ten minutes and get an hour play. Still you charge them for an hour and get 5 to 6.5 hours of playback. Your 4 indicator lights on charging case show the amount of case charging left. No DSP sound and no extra DSP functions, the sound is fully generated to sound like the IEMs themselves with correct imaging and tone generated by the actual 6mm beryllium driver and acoustic chamber resonances. So in many ways this could be looked at as pure response.

My first experience with the TINHIFI Tin Buds 3 was simplistic to say the least. They came fully charged, I took them out of the charge case and my laptop recognized them. Later I switched to another music player and simply had to choose the Tin Buds 3 as the Bluetooth device. That's it. The whole joining of Bluetooth took about 2 seconds after taking the Buds from the charge case. Next I went into the bathroom area and around the corner, the direct connection worked flawlessly. While the computer was in the bedroom, I left with the Tin Buds in my ears and tried to go downstairs. They only started to cut-out halfway down the stairs. I then went to have dinner with them in my ears in another room separate from my computer, and they worked flawlessly! Remember, all these tests were one or almost two walls away.

Theses things get loud:
Surprisingly really loud? I could only go slightly over half volume. Also there is basically the same character at any volume, so none of that optimal volume stuff. In fact they didn't remind me of typical single DD sound, what ever that means? While not as authoritative as a wired DAP sound, the tone was nicely expanded out and full. Nothing was left out, parlaying a nice general placement of treble, bass and midrange. Such a tune offers surprisingly good vocals with the bass bumping off to the sides. While the sound was fast paced and clear, there was zero congestion or bass fog. While I wouldn't call these exactly audiophile, they did offer a style of mid-way point between audiophile and basic consumer sound. Such a place is actually new to me as far as quality goes. Much of this probably takes place due to the fun curtailed bass experience. As many know the market has been filled with non-textured, fuzzy and one-note bassTWS IEMs. These is an example of a TWS monitor that resembles an actual audiophile IEM, and plays music accordingly. Also the small stuff like how the faceplates are hand painted adds a nice touch every-time you open the case. All these differences are small but add up. Such abilities you will quickly forget about and take as regular replay in daily use. And that's kinda how these are. They are totally enjoyable to listen to, but at the same time you concentrate on what you are doing. There is nothing obnoxious or even remotely stand-out-ish about the sound, and that's a good thing. Though you will become distracted by the music at times. I also found music to be better than movies or TV with them, but that could just be me?

When I found out I was getting these to review, I thought, I doubt I could review such things? I don't do TWS reviews? There are lots of reviewers out there that concentrate on TWS, I don't. Then it hit me.....who better than a wired IEM reviewer to review these, They are trying to smear that line between wired and TWS.....and they kinda do?




Treble:
Really the Buds 3 have a more prominent mid treble, yet itemization of elements make it out. There is a slight airiness that may just be part of the TWS experience? Where the mid-treble is not exactly splashy but probably going that way. Where there is a slight compression in contrast to fully fledged audiophile IEMs. Still this tune is special in that it's so well-rounded. In many ways it's more even, correct and complete than some wired IEMs. Accents come in with full regard to expression and reality, if not shy of such physicality that only comes from a better wired example. The cymbals attacks are diminished of full valor yet trimmed off to a lovable FM radio presence, if that makes any sense at all. There is something in the timing too that has an overall effect, but it's subtle. Really to generalize here there is a feeling of good FM radio? The way FM would handle the treble, that is what is taking place. It's not bad or good, not a plus or minus unless you love FM........haha. Some do! It has that pace of FM?

Midrange:
As always the mids do all the work. Also in reference to the treble, the mids have way more imaging and action. Where both the bass and treble are displayed with an endearing softness, the mids...not so much. Maybe this is the DD personality taking? The clarity is greater in the midrange here? The mids are truly the Tin Buds 3 concentration. They are holding the show together. There is no way they are taking a back seat to the treble and bass, which in fact has this TWS synergy thing. That the TWS process sound and DD beryllium texture somehow goes together? No way do we have the realistic timbre and textures of wired, but for what it is this is not half-bad. It's probably the rhythm that's doing this? It is as if it's all see through and clear, nothing is fully formed or solid, yet that's the magic in that it enables a specific pace. Again the rhythm here. You would think rhythm would go below in the bass section, but no, there is a carrying along due to the mids. The drum panning is cool when a drummer will cover the range of drums and travel across the whole kit, you can hear that. It's the nimbleness maybe that's the key here? With less density, things move faster.

Bass:
My favorite part of the Tin Buds 3. Why? Because they didn't forget about it. In fact, depending on how you listen, the bass may be the very star of the show? Why? Due to being sculpted and audiophile. Remember when I said these are half-way audiophile IEMs? Well, the Bass is totally audiophile, that's the half that is. It's just so much fun as it's tight and speedy. It's the transient edge that makes the bass a blast. Speed.......yep. But beyond that, the tone and timbre are correct. I can full-on make a list of wired IEMs that the TINHIFI Tin Buds 3 bass win out on. Those other wired IEMs may do the treble better, but there is something about our bass response? Truthfully I've never heard this exact character or I would give similarities to it? While the bass still has a little of that FM pace, everything does, the whole signature. There is a slight slowness to attacks as that's TWS in its heart, but that doesn't seem to get in the way of the bass response, if anything it may enhance it? I don't know? But it's the magic of the bass imaging/placement that has me picking theses up off a table.

Studio Monitors:
These are marketed as studio monitors? Still for whatever that means they are not linear or flat “monitor” sounding. The bass is punchy and fast and fully satisfying. The treble is relatively bright but never sibilant. The best part for me was the exquisite imaging and speed. The bass, while authoritative, was not muddy or bloated. All and all I have to give TINHIFI kudos for truly dialing in a great sound signatiure! There in nothing not to like about how these perform.

Even vocals come through with clarity! This all may sound too good to be true, and it’s surprising, yet this is the 2022 world we live in. Miles better than the few TWS devices I have used, and way better than my Apple AirPods (2nd generation) of course.

Included:
Four sets of silicone ear-tips
Elaborate 40 page user manual in multiple languages
USB charge cable
Charge case
Ear-phones

Conclusion:
While other TWS IEMs are left to add DSP processing, here we don't want that. While other IEMs have phone programs to fiddle with the sound, here we don't look for such devices. We simply want the pure tone that arrives with a single 10mm beryllium DD doing what it does. We will leave the resonance chambers to add their sound characteristics, natural decay and spacial positioning. While things like note weight (for one) separates us from living the wireless dream to its full-extent, we are fully entertained. It's that entertainment mixed with convenience that makes TINHIFI Tin Buds 3 a true value. While there may a day in the far off future when wireless surpasses wired sound, we are not there yet. Progress is evident that TINHIFI is taking steps in the right direction. While the Tin Buds 3 is not perfect, it's musical in the very best of ways. They work well and give us a taste of what future can bring.

Hand pained faceplates, true semi-custom form-factor and low weight............the feeling of no wires is freedom in itself. The perfect level of sound involvement to be interesting, yet not fully distracting. It's obvious that TINHIFI did their homework, introducing a throughly bug-free example of TWS art. As TINHIFI's very first TWS release, they have created a classic, with all those things we associate with a classic. Perfect size, perfect shape and perfect function. To think a few short years ago things like this were only a dream. If you choose to make such a dream a reality, it's simply up to you.

PRODUCT PRICE
$89.52 USD

Get them here.
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-tin-buds-3?variant=43020628885721

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





Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Kareena Tang from Linsoul for the opportunity to review this IEM.

Disclaimer:
These thoughts and ideas are of one individual, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
MacBook Air
Foobar 2000 MacBook