Intro
The T5 is currently the latest addition to the ever so famous T-series introduced by TinHifi. It all started with the T2 which performs way above its retail price at the time. There are other T-series along the way and here we are with their, shall I say latest ‘innovation’ using a whole new shell design complete with new driver diaphragm. Will it stay in line with the rest of the T-series or will it bail out of the family with a whole new different sound signature?
To be completely honest, they do stray away quite a bit from the neutral-balanced (some say bright-ish) signature. More on that later. But one interesting fact is that the new driver being used is derived from a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) diaphragm in which some of us are very fond of. This is due to the exceptional technical performance that it can offer especially those fast transient response. And it’s very much evident here with the T5 using the new ‘DOC’ diaphragm driver, but better.
Packaging
Now the packaging here is quite an impressive one but nothing that we haven’t seen before from TinHifi. The box itself is quite interesting as it’s textured with geometrical pattern bearing the TinHifi logo. Opening the box, the T5 will greet its new owner along with its white p-leather carry case on the upper layer. Lifting the IEM cradle, there’s another layer holding the eartips, cleaning brush and a tweezer (I guess it’s for the filter change). There’s also a pair of foam tips packed with 3 pairs of nozzle filters. The way I see it, it’s of a replaceable design to cater for long term usage as the filters are all similar to the one pre-installed.
The IEM itself is…to be honest, sexy!! Yes it sure does have the looks. The matte-polished Aluminium shell finish sure grows on me and the best part is they’re not a fingerprint magnet. It’s got a nice weight to it (not heavy but just a nice comforting heft to the hands), accompanied by the twisted black colored cable really complete its stealthy looks. In terms of behaviour, the cable is an improvement over the past rendition of the T-series. The fitting of the T5 itself is heavenly for me. The shorter nozzle can easily be fixed with longer stem eartips. But it also have its perks of not being intrusive while having an above average sealing properties (in comparison to previous T-series line ups).
Functions & Specifications
- Material: Aviation-Grade Aluminium shell
- Transducer Type: 1x 10mm DOC diaphragm Dynamic Driver
- Sensitivity: 103dB/Vrms @ 1kHz
- Impedance: 48ohms @ 1kHz
- Frequency Range: 10Hz – 20kHz
What’s In The Box
- TinHifi T5
- Silicon eartips (S, M, L) x 2 pairs each
- Foam eartips (M) x 1 pair
- Replacement filters x 3 pairs
- Carry case
- Tweezer
- Cleaning Brush
Retail Price & Where To Get
You can get this at $139.00 USD from TINHiFi Official Site. For local buyers (Malaysians) can get this item at Red Ape – Headphone Store, Stars Picker Audio Library 摘星知音 & HILL AUDIO – MY.
Sound & Tonality
TinHifi goes V!! They’re of the much favoured V-shaped sound signature that’s supposedly easy to impress starters and the masses. But…it’s not really the case here. More on that as you go thru this humble opinion of mine. Having paired with a newly developed, capable and excellent speed of a very well done single 10mm Dynamic Driver, they are quite an interesting listen.
Source Used
- Foobar2k > Stoner Acoustics UD130 > Xuanzu XU606 Pro > TinHifi T5
- HiBy R2 > iFi Micro iDSD Black Label > TinHifi T5
Songs Used
Bass
The lower frequency range is sub-bass dominance with good extension down low. No rumble to be heard here though. The mid-bass is fast, tight and punchy which is of a very desirable character. There’s a slight bleed on the upper-bass to lower-mids which contributes for the overall arguably natural tonality but can be considered clean nonetheless. The lower frequencies of the T5’s are not weighty nor they are full-sounding, but also not textured enough for such a clean bass section. They’re apparently smooth and pleasing, but far from satisfying to say the least.
Mids
T5’s lower-mids can be percepted as clean and smooth sounding. Transition from the upper-bass is excellent and almost full-sounding. Almost, yes. The mids is a bit recessed and natural sounding but too smooth for my liking. Macro details are fine (quite subdued) but micro details retrieval seems to be brought down quite a notch down. It’s quite a disappointment for me since the dynamic driver being used is actually pretty capable. On to the upper-mids to lower treble transition, this range can get hot really quick. Despite being smooth from the lower end on up, this is where it starts to get pretty uncomfortable.
Treble
Lower-treble on the T5 can be sibilance. Depending on the eartips being used, sibilance can be addressed but only ever so slightly. Switching from the stock black silicon to the Spinfits CP360 seems to tone down the peakiness a bit but still pretty audible on sibilant-prone songs. The overall treble region are well articulated just enough to present sparkles with applaudable texture. However, the upper-treble of the T5 is quite rolled off which renders subtle nuances absent despite being somewhat peaky. Fatiguing listen, maybe. Engaging listen, not quite.
Soundstage
The soundstage presentation of the T5 is slightly above average with decent depth but missing the sense of height quite considerably. It’s still great with good layering capability and not really a bummer but having owned the T2 and the T4 in the past, they were very competitive in this segment especially when considering their asking price (T2 having the biggest soundstage with slight inaccurate imaging and T4 being slightly smaller in soundstage than T2, but with better imaging percision).
Imaging & Separation
The T5 does provide a very impressive, on point imaging capability for a single DD but honestly could be better at the price range. Separation however can sometimes suffer especially when given the task to handle complex low-end or very heavy passages and sounds can be heard as somewhat clumped together. Again like I said previously the driver unit is no slouch and a better implementation will definitely bump up the performance of the T5 as a whole.
Driveability
For what it’s worth, they do not require fat powerful sources to be driven but scales very well with more power supplied affecting soundstage and imaging for the better…but not by much.
Synergy
They’re source dependent, which is good in my opinion but it’ll be a hit or miss depending on your source. So potential buyers be wary. On warm source they sounded more musical but somewhat dull. I fell asleep while listening the first night having them in sigh. On neutral source they’re more competent to provide quite an impressive technical performance. Not to mention being more energetic and engaging.
Comparison
Tin Audio T2
The OG which was responsible of putting the Tin Hifi name onto the map and undoubtedly represents a very good price:performance IEM. So how does it fare against the new T5? The T2 is more neutral with arguably slower transients speed as compared to the T5. Bass is less pronounced in comparison to the T5 but goes similarly deep. Mids is more natural but fuzzier sounding on the T2 in comparison with the T5 being smoother and cleaner. Detail retrieval is slightly better on the T2. Treble is slightly more pleasant on the T2 albeit both would be quite a fatiguing listen. As always, YMMV.
Soundstage is apparently bigger on the T2 with slightly more depth and height. The T5 edges the T2 in layering where it’s much more distinct in comparison. Imaging is more precise on the T5, leaving the T2 making them sounding blurry. Instrument separation is somewhat similar for both (at least for me) with the T5 edges the T2 slightly in this regard. So is it an upgrade over the T2? Maybe, maybe not…depending on what you seek, both are different sounding IEM with different ergonomics. I personally prefer the T5 over the T2.
KBear Believe
Being one of the controversial IEM in the history of Chi-Fi (at least for me), honestly they’re not bad at all. Now compared to the T5, Believe is more weighty and fuller sounding. Bass regions hit with more authority but managed to retain similar speed and smooth sounding to say the least. Mids is slightly more forward with better detail retrieval on the Believe. Treble sounded more natural and slightly more detailed on the Believe despite the T5 being more articulated in this region.
On to some technical performance, the soundstage on the Believe is bigger and noticeably taller than the T5. In fact, it’s one of the better presentation of soundstage at the price range in my opinion with above average layering capability for a single DD. Imaging is similarly precise but separation is more refined on the Believe despite being the warmer sounding IEM. Only one very well known caveat of the Believe that might steer people off is that they tend to ask for more power in comparison to the T5.
For Who?
In my opinion, the T5 is suited more for those that prefer somewhat Balanced Armature technical performance with natural-ish presentation of a Dynamic Driver. It’s fast, lean and clean but lacks the ‘fun’ factor of a V-shaped signature. As for my hearing perception, they’re leaning somewhat towards the FiiO’s FD5 sound presentation and technical performance but seems to be lacking in every department. But heck, the FD5 is more than twice the asking price anyway.
Verdict & Stars
One thing for sure this time TinHifi really nailed it with their aesthetics and ergonomics game with the sick looks of the T5, providing a better fitting IEM as compared to its predecessors in the T-series. Not to mention the low-profile and easily manageable cable which is an excellent addition to the stock configuration (at least for me). Apart from that, they’re honestly just OK. This may be a bit too much but for me it sounds somewhat boring-ish with the kind of tryhard treble response. In all honesty, they could be better in a sense that TinHifi have been delivering exceptional price:performance ratio product over the past years with the T-series.
Thank you TinHifi for giving us the opportunity to review this IEM. Looking forward to review another product!!
(3.5 / 5)
