Tin Hifi T2 EVO Review – Tape Me
Pros — Good note definition and timbre; excellent build.
Cons — Poor tuning leads to bright, harsh sound with thin note weight.
In this Article
Executive Summary
The Tin Hifi T2 EVO is a mistuned evolution of the Tinaudio T2 that lacks in tonality but convinces in technicalities.
Introduction
Tin Hifi (then Tinaudio) appeared as a sensation on the scene in 2018. Their $50 T2 was a neutrally tuned iem built like a tank, a rarity within the sea of V-shaped tunings. Aficionados embraced it, vulgarists taped the front vent off to increase bass…shame on those :).
The company changed their name to Tin Hifi and continued releasing iems which were hit and miss…I remember a whole army of reviewers publishing their thoughts of a new release simultaneously upon the distributor’s command. These days are over, as a single YouTuber has a much bigger outreach.
To our all surprise, the T2 EVO shares design and build with the original T2, which gives you that retro feeling. Different are the driver, the smiley on the faceplate, and the shiny finish, as well as the cable’s metal strain relief. But the haptic remains essentially the same.
Earpieces’ red-blue colour coding at the connector is reversed compared to the original T2 because T2 EVO is meant to be worn over-ear only (the EVO’s stock cable features earhooks).
Specifications
| Drivers: 10 mm carbon molecular composite diaphragm |
| Impedance: 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity: 93 dB/mW |
| Frequency Range: Hz |
| Cable/Connector: 5N 8-core silver-plated wire/MMCX |
| Tested at: $59 |
| Purchase Link: NiceHCK Audio Store |
Physical Things and Usability
Just like the original T2, the T2 EVO’s accessories are spartan: storage sack, cable, two sets of the same silicone earpieces, a pair of foams, paperwork, and the earpieces. The shiny metal earpieces are as good as it gets in terms of build and haptic.
The connectors remains MMCX despite huge quality issues with Tin Hifi’s original T2 and also their T4. But, I noticed that these MMCX connectors sit VERY snug, so that I don’t expect any problems.
Fit is now exclusively over-ear as the stock cable features memory wire. Fit is good, comfort is ok, isolation is average. The stock tips were too small for me, SpinFit CP145 worked well. Owing to the low sensitivity, the T2 EVO loves amplification.
Tonality and Technicalities
Equipment used: Mabook Air + DragonFly Red/Earstudio Hud100 + JitterBug FMJ; SpinFit CP145 eartips.
TL;DR: the Tin Hifi T2 EVO is a technically competent neutralish earphone that falls completely short on its poor tuning which introduces a brightness too hot for most.
Boy, this earphone could be good. Really good. It has all the ingredients. Unfortunately, the company refuses to tune properly. A frequency response graph peaking between 4 and 5 kHz (in the human ear’s most sensitive area) and that shark fin at 15 kHz indicate an impending disaster.
What the upper midrange boost mainly does is adding midrange clarity. As an unwelcome side effect, it sharpens and attenuates vocals, which have a good note definition, but they are just too thin and sibilant. That’s where the original T2 are much better.
Bass in the EVO is reasonably tight but somewhat blunt (results vary with tips). Extension is good, but kick could be harder, culprit is lack of mid bass peak/the linear tuning. I’d call the low end rather ordinary but it is at least not overwhelming. Its bluntness removes some sparkle.
Vocals, although lean are rather realistically reproduced with reasonable intimacy. Midrange resolution is good as the lack of body leaves “a lot of space between notes”.
Treble rolloff starts in the upper midrange already, but it is revived by a shark fin peak at 15 kHz, which introduces fake resolution and clarity, air, and pain in the ears of younger listeners. Cymbals sound splashy.
Soundstage is not the widest or deepest (deep enough), but it is refreshingly tall. Timbre is very good, too.
Separation and layering are actually decent whilst dynamics is not the greatest. This iem could be very good wasn’t it for the tuning.
Tin Hifi T2 EVO modded
Covering the 90% of the screens with micropore tape reduces the glare and increases the perceived mid bass (by reducing the upper midrange). This also enriches male voices to some extent, but not enough to call it a perfect fix. As a downside, the bass becomes slower and boomier but staging improves. The micropore mod certainly improves things but still does not make you run to the store and buy the EVO.
Tin Hifi T2 EVO vs Tinaudio T2
The original Tinaudio T2 is easier to drive, it has a very similar basic signature, it is slightly less bassy and the vocals come out better. The T2 EVO is not a progress, tonally, but it is in terms of technicalities. The EVO offers wider staging, a more articulate note definition, it sounds sleeker whereas the original T2 is technically less refined but has better air.
Concluding Remarks
Tin Hifi got it totally wrong with the T2 EVO. Instead of presenting a true update of the classic T2, they bodged it by delivering an overcooked tuning that will be hurting the eardrums of most. Another lost opportunity. If you need to get a Tin Hifi budget earphone, stick to the decent T2 Plus. Or get an original T2 second hand, it is worth it.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Disclaimer
The Tin Hifi T2 EVO was supplied unsolicited by NiceHCK and I thank them for that.
Get the Tin Hifi T2 EVO from NiceHCK Audio Store
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