Disclaimer
- Sound evaluation are kept neutral and does not include 3rd party accessories (ie; eartips, cable, reversible mods)
- The reviewed IEM is a sponsored unit by Shanling. Nevertheless, all opinions remain original ideas, there was zero influence from any 3rd party or external opinions throughout the review.
- No EQ or filter presets were used during the entire sound evaluation.
Overall Rating
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Introduction
Shanling, known for their DAPs, CD players and portable DAC/AMP is no stranger when it comes to hi-res audio equipment. With an experience of over more than 30+ years from the year the establishment were founded back in 1988, their expertise are portrayed through some of the most aesthetically unique looking and high performance equipments for audiophiles such as the Shanling M8T, the successor to the original M8, the legendary CD-T300 tube output CD player and much more. That said, Shanling isn’t just a brand that produces uber high-end equipment, as they also have more affordable offerings such as the Shanling M0 ultra-compact audio player, Shanling H0 and H2 which are their budget portable DAC/AMP and including IEMs. Shanling pretty much excels in most of their product segments but if you ask me personally, I can put my trust on them when it comes to DAPs.
Nevertheless, in recent weeks Shanling has sent me one of their newest products for review. What we have here is the latest Shanling TINO. This IEM currently retails at an affordable $79.00, which features dual dynamic drivers configuration. A 10 mm dynamic driver that’s responsible for the low-end frequencies and another but smaller 8 mm dynamic driver to deliver the midrange and treble. This IEM also features a modular cable which potential buyers could purchase the TINO with a single-ended 3.5mm plug as default. But, they can also be given an option to purchase the modular plugs separately for an additional cost such as a 4.4mm balanced and a USB DAC through Shanling’s own website. Having said that, they were generous enough to provide all of the modular plugs to test at my own leisure for this review. Not to forget, plenty of appreciation to Shanling for sponsoring us a unit to make this review possible. With that being said, let us dive straight into the review of the Shanling TINO!
Unboxing Experience
“Sophisticatedly.. Simple”, would best describe the overall experience as I unbox the Shanling TINO. There’s nothing extravagant about the included items or complex mechanisms, however the way that Shanling presents the TINO made it appear like a premium looking pair of IEMs. So, on the outer layer there was not much to see other than a picture of the IEM itself with a Shanling branding and the name of the IEM on the front. On the top, there’s a Hi-Res Audio certificate logo as this IEM supposedly could present frequencies higher than 20kHz. Meanwhile, at the back you’ll find basic specifications about Shanling TINO, including the details about Shanling and so on, pretty simple and basic presentation.
While most budget IEMs usually come with packaging that just pops out like a gift box, the Shanling TINO on the other hand is presented inside a flip box with a Shanling branding on top which gives this IEM a touch of premium experience and sophistication. Inside, users will be greeted with the IEM itself resting in between a foam cutout with the TINO is already attached to the cable. As we unbox further, users will find a cylindrical aluminum case which contains the ear tips inside and at the bottom of the box, you’ll find a manual guide alongside a warranty card. Interestingly, one of the included set of eartips seem to be a clone version of the Sony EP-EX11 with subtle alterations such as the matte silicone texture, slightly larger bore and much stiffer stem.
Specifications
- Driver: 10mm PU-suspended edge, liquid crystal polymer (LCP) diaphragm dynamic driver + 8mm diamond-like carbon (DLC) diaphragm dynamic driver.
- Impedance: 16 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 113±3dB
- Frequency Response: 18Hz-40kHz
- Cable: 1.3 meter, modular cable 3.5mm (default). (4.4mm and Type-C USB DAC sold separately)
- Nozzle diameter: 6mm
- Weight: 4.6g
USB DAC Plug:
- Separation: 100dB
- Sampling Rate: 32bit/384kHz
- Noise: 122dB
- Dynamic Range: 100dB
Build and Comfort
To make the TINO appear as one of a kind, Shanling has applied a traditional Chinese foil-burning technique for the faceplate which resembles a warm, deep amber colour combined with the gold trimming that radiates gorgeously when shone under the lights. There is little information about this ancient art, however based on the details I could gather from the internet it is said that this ancient art predates the Tang dynasty era and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Back to the main topic, due to the foils being handcrafted it does mean that every TINO looks no two the same to each other. Similarly with the likes of DUNU Davinci, DUNU SA3 which was inspired by Hokusai’s paintings, etc. Even on my pair, the left side is completely different from the right side.
Moving onto the build itself, TINO features a dual dynamic driver layout as the main 10 mm dynamic driver with the diaphragm material being a PU-suspended edge and LCP for the dome to produce the low-end. Meanwhile, an 8 mm dynamic driver with a DLC diaphragm is responsible for delivering the midrange and treble frequencies. When inspecting closer into the IEMs, it appears that the smaller 8 mm dynamic driver is located in front of the nozzle and also it appears there are no acoustic tubes being used inside this IEM.
Weighing at just 4.6 grams per side, the TINO feels featherlight when placed onto the palm of my hand. Only when hooked with its cable did I realize that the whole thing was weighty. TINO features a build that is made entirely using 3D printed resin material followed by a UV curing process to achieve a precise and refined finishing quality. From a comfort perspective however, the Shanling TINO was a comfortable pair of IEMs and due to the lightweight shell I could barely tell that I was wearing one. In terms of ear tips compatibility, the nozzle size on TINO is measured at 6mm hence ear tips that are smaller than 4-4.5mm might be difficult to attach such as the provided stock ear tips which requires an extra care when trying to put them on. Additionally, there are pressure vents on each side, located at the back of the IEM just below the connector sockets to prevent pressure build-up.
Cable
Shanling TINO are provided with a dual braid cable which very much reminds me of the Hisenior White Whale cable that was included inside the Mega5-EST 7th Anniversary Edition. Hence, you can expect a very similar premium appearance although the cable memory was slightly stiff, so you’ll need to wrap it properly to avoid it from tangling or out of shape. From the specifications of the materials, the cable features an 18 cores of high-purity OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper) wire and measured at 1.3 meters. The outer layer of the cable is protected with a thick layer of insulation which makes the cable feel quite heavy.
By the appearance it looks simply gorgeous and compliments the whole aesthetic well, though I wonder perhaps a copper wire would fit nicer. The connectors for the modular plugs are surprisingly made out of hard plastic which I initially thought was aluminum due to its lightweight feeling, meanwhile the rest of the components are made with metal. The TINO comes with a 3.5mm single-ended as default, you can purchase the modular plugs separately at an additional cost for the 4.4mm balanced and the USB DAC. Shanling didn’t provide any specific DAC chip used inside the USB but they do provide details such as its decoding capability which can play hi-res files up to 32bit/384kHz.
Test Equipment
- Local Hi-Res files > Astell&Kern SE100 M.Chat (Linear Phase Fast Roll-off Filter)
- Tidal (Master) + Local Hi-Res files via UAPP > Sony Xperia 1 V + DSEE Ultimate (ON), Dolby Atmos (OFF)
- Tidal (Master) + Local Hi-Res files via UAPP > Sony Xperia 1 V > Questyle M18i
- Tidal (Master) + Local Hi-Res files via UAPP > Sony Xperia 1 V > Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini
- Tidal (Master) + Local Hi-Res files via UAPP > Sony Xperia 1 V > MUSEHIFI M3 II
Power Requirements
Compared to other dual dynamic driver IEMs that I have tried throughout my reviewing experience, the Shanling TINO can be said is one of the most efficient IEMs I have tested. That said, when plugged into sources with higher noise floors such as the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro which I have previously reviewed, the Shanling TINO remains silent. I plugged the Shanling TINO through numerous sources such as my reference DAP, the Astell&Kern SE100 through balanced output and was able to reach a sufficient volume of between 29-34/150.
Meanwhile, on much smaller and portable devices such as the Questyle M18i, I only needed to crank up the volume to between 6-8/60 coming out from the 4.4 balanced output on low gain to reach my comfortable listening volume. However, I do notice that on a weaker source the bass on the TINO sounded slightly softer and less impactful when compared to plugging it into a more capable source.
Sound Evaluation
The Shanling TINO has undergone burn-in phase for at least 48 hours prior to sound evaluation. Throughout the analysis, I paired up the TINO with a neutral source, the A&K SE100 on Linear Phase Fast Roll-off Filter chosen given that it’s the most natural sounding filter compared to default. Triple-flange ear tips and 4.4mm balanced are set as defult throughout the sound evaluation. Bonus test tracks used can be found down at the end of this review.
Shanling TINO in my opinion is a warm, balanced sounding pair of IEMs with smooth highs and possesses a spacious soundstage. First time putting them on, this IEM delivers a U-shape tuning that focuses more towards sub-bass and upper-mids, complimented with the airy treble and spacious soundstage which is likely due to the elevations in the higher treble. Furthermore, the midrange on the TINO was fairly neutral with a slight warm timbre thus, you can expect a slightly richer tonality in stringed instruments such as acoustic guitar, etc. Meanwhile, midrange presence was quite forward due to the emphasized ear gain, it can be quite intense for my personal taste but it’s totally fine when played at lower volumes.
This IEM shares a similar tuning with another IEM which was the hype or meta a few years ago, the Truthear Zero: Red which I have reviewed in the past. Both sounded very much similar with subtle nuances mainly within the bass frequencies, lower mid and upper-mids. Unfortunately I could not compare both head-to-head since the Zero: Red was a loaned unit hence I had to hand it back, however I do still own the Blue variant which in my opinion was a more unique sounding IEM. To add onto that, I will also compare the TINO when connected through the provided USB DAC in the comparison segment below.
Low Frequency (Bass)
Bass on the Shanling TINO was rapid, engaging and capable of reaching deep into the lowest of frequency as the tuning focuses on sub-bass performance. Sub-bass is delivered clean with good clarity without any muddiness, however rumbles and textures felt rather light which focuses more on a cleaner and detailed sub-bass rendering which may not satisfy those who prefer a much visceral, thicker sub-bass rumble. Mid-bass punches felt polite yet fast which resembled a soft, rapid “boom” when tested through my usual track such as Hunter – Björk and Hollow (16-bit Remix) – Björk. Although the mid-bass was lacking in terms of quantity for that hefty, thick punch. The 10 mm dynamic driver, still capable of delivering good depth, balanced bass presence and natural sounding bass. For example, rendering the tone of kick drums felt natural, full and airy. That said due to the leaner mid-bass, bass transients are slightly much shorter, decays much faster when compared to a Harman-esque based tuning.
Middle Frequency (Mid)
Midrange on the TINO delivered via the smaller 8 mm dynamic driver has good clarity, and in terms of sound it was fairly neutral although there is a slight elevation within the lower-mids which gives the midrange a slight colouration, enhanced body and lushness. That said, vocals and stringed instruments remained majorly neutral. Upper-mids sounded butter smooth and forward but at the same time slightly hazy in my opinion, there’s a faint breathy tone especially when it comes to female vocals. Something worth noting, due to the emphasized ear gain, those who are sensitive to the upper-mids region might perceive the TINO as too intense or unnatural and although some ear tips do help to lessen the intensity it’s definitely something to keep in mind.
High Frequency (Treble)
Treble is more on the relaxed side, laid-back which can be seen even through the graph. I could not pick up any sibilant nor harshness coming from the 8 mm dynamic driver. That said, treble presence might feel lacking for some people since it is more into the mellow, inoffensive sort of tuning. However, it does still have a great sense of airiness due to the extension past 10kHz. There was enough crispness and brilliance to deliver sufficient presence without overpowering the lower frequencies and at the same time allowing the midrange to shine.
Technicality
From a technical standpoint, Shanling TINO excels in portraying a spacious soundstage that stretches slightly outside of my head. It has a fairly balanced oval-ish shape, whereby there is slightly more width than depth within the soundstage. Combined with the airiness from the higher treble, it creates a pleasant ambience which does not feel boxy or flat, resonances produced from the dynamic drivers dispersed naturally. Spatial imaging was sharp, although not pinpoint sharp but the TINO could still render accurate movements even when there are different elements playing at the same time.
Detail retrieval and resolution were average at best, pretty standard for most affordable IEMs. For high level details, the TINO does the job absolutely fine however when it comes to rendering low level details, it tends to get slightly blurry and barely noticeable. Layering and separation were also average, I could hear a good sense of placement and depth between elements albeit only limited. So for something that has a lot of elements such as classicals, etc, the Shanling TINO could get quite congested.
Lastly for the dynamic range test for the Shanling TINO is rated at average. Utilizing the Ultimate Headphone Test – ABYSS Headphone dynamic range test as a reference. In short, a sample sound of a drum and a bell are played simultaneously as much as 7 counts, but only the sound of the bells will become quieter. Hence, from a scale of 7 counts, TINO was able to produce an audible 5 out of 7 counts.
Comparison(s)
- Shanling TINO (USB DAC)
Switching to the USB DAC, there was not much of a difference in terms of sound quality across the whole spectrum. However, I did notice some subtle differences when listening with the USB DAC, compared to 3.5/4.4mm input connections such as a change from a forward midrange presentation to a slightly recessed, V-shape sort of sound signature. Other than that, soundstaging also became slightly less spacious and less airy.
Truthear Zero: Blue
While both of these IEMs feature dual dynamic drivers, TINO sounded much similar to the Zero: Blue’s other sibling, the Zero: Red. Nevertheless, the most noticeable difference in terms of tuning and sound quality was in terms of bass response. Mid-bass sounded much thicker, punches harder with better depth with the Zero: Blue. Sub-bass are fairly similar on both IEMs. However, due to the greater emphasis on TINO, it does allow the IEM to produce a much deeper and textured rumble compared to the Zero: Blue.
Same goes with the midrange, fairly similar on both IEMs but it was more tolerable on the Zero: Blue without sacrificing forwardness, naturalness and clarity considering it has a slightly lesser ear gain. Treble sounded much more crisp with better presence in the Zero: Blue. Though I understand some might prefer the much relaxed, smoother sounding TINO. However, if you’re looking towards that lively, engaging characteristics Zero: Blue would serve better for that purpose. Technical wise, the Zero: Blue were less efficient hence it requires a more powerful source compared to TINO. Soundstaging sounded much more close yet balanced, there’s better detail retrieval and resolution on the Zero: Blue. Dynamic range was also slightly better on the Zero: Blue hence, endnotes on instruments or bass lines lingers slightly longer.
Eartip Combination(s)
- E Pro EP00
Good pairing with TINO, doesn’t change the boomy impact from the bass slams. However, it is slightly thicker and hefty without coming across as muddy. Lower-mids were a tad warmer with the upper-mid sounded much more tolerable. That said, it does sacrifice the already smooth treble as it becomes slightly dull in my opinion. The EP00 is well known for its capability to preserve or enhance airiness and this combination with TINO is no different, the treble although slightly dull was still airy as with any other ear tips.
- Pentaconn Coreir Alloy
Solid pairing with TINO, adds slightly more body, reshaping it to resemble much of a thick “thud” sound and weight into the mid-bass as well as midrange. Treble also sounded a tad much airier and resonances dispersed much more naturally. Quite pricey as a whole pack of two would cost you a fraction of the cost of this IEM.
Purchasing Links and Where to Get?
- Shanling Official Website (non-affiliated);;
https://store.shanling.com/TINO-pd544920858.html
Conclusion
With a unique, one of a kind faceplate that features the rare art of Chinese foil-burning painting that awes the eye with its strikingly deep, warm amber colour. Shanling TINO impresses listeners through its warm, smooth low-end and midrange complimented with the relaxing, airy treble and a spaciously natural soundstage. Though it might be lacking in delivering WOW factor, the Shanling TINO is still a very competent performer under $100. Perfectly suited for those who are looking for a unique looking pair of IEMs, with a priority of a relaxed sound signature without sacrificing airiness and spaciousness which they could enjoy even for a prolonged period of time or even for someone who are looking for a safe sounding IEM with strong vocal presence in the midrange. With so many IEMs nowadays sharing a more or less similar sound signature except for the looks, the decision is all for you to decide. With that, marks the end of my review for the Shanling TINO and hope to see you all in my next review!
Additional Test Tracks
Can You Stand The Rain – Boyz II Men 44.1kHz
Money For Nothing (Explicit) – Dire Straits 44.1kHz
A Poem Titled You – TAEYEON 44.1kHz
Anesthetize (Live) – Porcupine Tree DSD256
Vermilion – Slipknot 44.1kHz
Kanade – SUKIMASWITCH 44.1kHz
La vaguelette (Original Game Soundtrack) – HOYO-MiX 44.1kHz
Rhythm – Jamey Haddad, Lenny White; Mark Sherman 44.1kHz
Kimigatame (When Suara Meets DSD 11.2Mhz) – Suara DSD11.2MHz
Just Coolin’ – Art Blakey 192kHz
Automatic – Hikaru Utada 44.1kHz
In My Room – Hikaru Utada 44.1kHz
Colors (Live in Studio) – Black Pumas 192kHz
Timbres – Yosi Horikawa 44.1kHz
Misguided Ghosts – Paramore 44.1kHz
