Sub $150 IEMs for regular listening

[Redcarmoose]

The P1 Max “Big Panda” just came out a few weeks ago. Here it is:

https://www.tinhifi.com/products/tinhifi-p1-max-official-website-priority-sale

It has a significantly larger planar driver than the original P1.

Wait...your saying they are two separate headphones, the Big and Giant Panda?

Edit: It’s the same they just changed the Giant part to Big.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I wonder what the commemorative edition is! Haha

It’s even more money! Lol

 

[Redcarmoose]

I just have to say that I got the P1’s a while back and was not impressed at all with them . I have found a pair of T1 Max Big Panda and all references to Giant Panda leads to you and not TinHiFi Is it you that could have got that wrong ? No worries just wanted to give the right one a shot. Dali fan as well.

They were only just released? No one has them? They need 100 hours of burn in also I use narrow bore tips. I too thought they were crummy at the start, but now they are some of my very favorites. I use them with a HanSound Zen cable in 4.4mm balanced with the Walkman 1Z.

Mine were sent to me for review from Linsoul.
https://www.linsoul.com/collections/all/products/tinhifi-p1-max

Check the box-top to see the name “Giant Panda” maybe retuned?

The Box.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ti...sal-in-ear-monitor.25818/reviews#review-28407

Where they too low in the bass department for you? A compressed soundstage maybe? That is what I thought in the beginning, then they morphed! They are worth many times their price. IMO

 

[Surf Monkey]

So you mean you judged the Muse too quickly? I had that happen with the HOOK-X but way more so with the Panda. Next planar IEMs I get I’m just going to burn them in first about 80 hours. Being the S12 and the Panda will be so popular, I’m sure someone will have both.

I myself am truly amazed, as I never expected planar technology to be so cool! But the HOOK-X and Panda graph a little the same but no way do they sound the same. The Panda has a smaller soundstage except that it’s 3D yet cohesive with instrument tone. The bass, as is the transient response, lightning fast.

The HOOK has this giant almost head wrap of a soundstage, yet inside there is nice space between elements. The Panda though comes off maybe slightly brighter, and can get slightly hot if you listen loud and with the wrong tunes. The HOOK is way more forgiving and never really shows any style of hotness. The imaging of music is maybe the biggest difference though? Where the Panda is not congested in anyway, the HOOK has instruments in farther out spaces. The HOOK is probably instantly gratifying but the Panda is super addictive! I could not stop listening to the Panda for days on end.

The emotional part is while I listen I look over at (other) IEMs many times the price and wonder why I even have them?

Though getting the HOOK-X sounds like a winner of an idea. If you ever get the Panda wait for new reviews! IMO

Cheers!

Yeah, I think that’s fair. The Muse was my first planar. Seemed really good at first, but it didn’t really grow on me. The bass is solid and the mids are reasonably forward but there’s something off about the high end. It isn’t as cohesive as it should be. Once I got the S12 it became very obvious that the Muse wasn’t up to snuff (at least to my ear.)

As to the rest, I do think the Hook-X is probably the better choice for me in the short term. The S12 is a real winner. I suspect it’s very similar to the Big Panda.

 

[Redcarmoose]

A planar not cohesive, that’s an oxymoron!

Yeah, I think that’s fair. The Muse was my first planar. Seemed really good at first, but it didn’t really grow on me. The bass is solid and the mids are reasonably forward but there’s something off about the high end. It isn’t as cohesive as it should be. Once I got the S12 it became very obvious that the Muse wasn’t up to snuff (at least to my ear.)

As to the rest, I do think the Hook-X is probably the better choice for me in the short term. The S12 is a real winner. I suspect it’s very similar to the Big Panda.

 

[Redcarmoose]

New review by someone!