TINHIFI C2 Mech Warrior Review – The Small Man’s Andros?
The $30 TINHIFI C2 is a safely tuned, technically average, V-shaped single-dynamic-driver earphone that sticks out of the crowd by its excellent metal build.
PROS
- Good midrange resolution and timbre
- Good speech intelligibility
- Flawless, coherent signature
- Excellent metal build
CONS
- Bass dominant
- Middling technicalities
- Somewhat generic V-shaped tuning
- Not the best comfort
In this Article
The TINHIFI C2 was provided unsolicited by the manufacturer for my analysis – and I thank them for that. You can get it from TINHIFI.com.
Introduction
TINHIFI have been releasing model after model lately – and I am starting an analysis marathon: the $30 C2 here, followed by the $40 C3 and the $120 T4 Plus. Originally an early ChiFi sensation with their $50 T2 some 5 years ago, the company has evolved steadily. Our team has looked at quite a few of TINHIFIs in the past. Their trademark appears to be their metal build and their shiny silvery appearance….with some recent exceptions.
Oh, and any headline that ends on a question mark degrades you, dear reader, to clickbait.
The TINHIFI C2 is a single dyamic-driver earphone that follows the metal tradition. In fact, it uses the shell design of the Revonext QT2S (remember that brand?). Both have a mild resemblance to the Campfire Andromeda.
Specifications TINHIFI C2
Drivers: 10 mm composite dynamic driver with PU (polyurethane) + LCP (liquid crystal polymer) composite diaphragm Impedance: 32 Ω ± 15% Sensitivity: 104 dB/mW ± 3dB @ 1 kHz0.179V Frequency Range: 10-20,000 Hz Cable/Connector: ???/2pin 0.78 mm Tested at: $30 Product Page/Purchase Link: TINHIFI.com |
Physical Things and Usability
Interestingly, there is no waifu on the package but rather a transformer…therefore not appealing to the pollinating teenage males but rather to the metrosexual engineering type.
In the package are the earpieces, a standard cable, 2 sets of tips (S/M/L), and the paperwork. The aluminum shells are spectacularly well built, the cable is adequate, and the eartips are too small for my ears. I therefore used SpinFit CP145. Fit is good, isolation is average (for me), and comfort is soso: the shells have lots of corners that touch your concha. I had to get used to it but than could enjoy the C2 for hours.
Tonality and Technicalities
| Equipment used: MacBook Air | Earstudio HUD 100 (low gain) | SpinFit CP145 eartips |
TINHIFI C2 is a warm-neutral, safe, standard V-shaped iem with an extra serving of mid-bass but without any annoying peaks. Yep, the mid-bass dominates the sonic image, which develops a more or less subtle boom and is not the tightest at times. Sub-bass extension is good but is also getting fuzzier on the way down. Overall offers the bass shelf a very solid foundation.
Vocals in the lower midrange are therefore pushed back although they are well defined and not even particularly lean. It is just that the bass is ruling. Lower treble is rolled off, which, together with the bass, creates a relative narrow, intimate soundstage. Timbre is very good and comes to the rescue.
The overall signature is “agreeable” and probably more exciting for the less experienced listener than for the compulsive buyer. It is solid but repetitive for people like me. TINHIFI obviously did not want to take the risk of presenting a shouty iem, similar to their T2 DLC.
Stage is, as said, rather narrow, but tall, and with a decent depth. Resolution is somewhat compromised by the emphasized bass. Separation and layering are average. Timbre is natural.
In acoustic pieces without little bass, midrange is clean, clear, and reasonably well resolving. Actually better than one would expect at this price. No hint of harshness. Spatial cues is also more than decent but vocals remain somewhat recessed.
The combination of clear midrange and minor bass boom results in a great speech intelligibility. The TINHIFI C2 work great for me for watching movies and TV programs on the computer. The bass also works well to eliminate much of the ambient street noise, or noise on the bus.
Concluding Remarks
The TINHIFI C2 is a sturdy, metal built iem that offers a solid V-shaped sound with a dominant however not overwhelming bass and a natural timbre. Is is a good choice for a budget V-shaped iem, particularly well usable for acoustic pieces (“timbre”) and also great for watching videos (“bass”) but it may lack excitement for the more experienced hobbyist.
For metalheads: its quality metal build is also rare in its class. Or did I interpret the term wrong?
Last but not least: are the TINHIFI C2 really the small man’s Andros? Probably not…with all respect, that bar is way too high! Thank you, dear clickbait :).
Until next time…keep on listening!
