Review: Tin HiFi T4

Firstly I would like to thank Linsoul for sending me this sample for review.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings

Tech Specs:

Cable – (0.03/63C+200D enameled wire*1C+0.08/28C silver-plated enameled winding), Transparent TPU Cable
INPUT – 3.5mm carbon multi dimensional heavy plug
IEM Connector – Gold-plated MMCX Connector
Max Distortion – 1% @1kHz, 0.126v
Rated Power – 3mW
Impedance – 32Ω ±15%
Frequency – 10-20KHz
Sensitivity – 102 ±3dB @1kHz 0.126v
Driver Unit – ￠10.0mm high quality CNT Dynamic Driver

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tin-hifi-t4-in-ear-monitor-earphones#/

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:

If you’ve ever had a Tin HiFi product before the packaging will be familiar, with a matte black box that includes the brands logo and model number on the front. Lift the top of the box off and you’ll find the IEM’s along with the cable in the carry case. The packaging is sleek and attractive without being big and over the top.

Build quality is superb, the raw aluminium shells look awesome in person along with being solid and well machined. The cable is an upgrade over previous models, it is a silver plated cable that has good thickness yet is soft and supple for comfort. The one thing the cable is lacking is a chin slider, other than that it is superb with good strain relief all round. The MMCX connectors are nice and tight, and there is nothing on these that I would say is weak or poorly made.

Accessory wise you get a nice leather case along with Medium foam tips, and 2 sets of S, M and L single flange tips. On the cable there is a small velcro strap that helps keep it tidy. A really good set of accessories as always from Tin HiFi, and nothing missing at all.

Comfort and Isolation:

The T4 are comfortable overall but I feel like the T3 was slightly better, with smoother edges and better angles. I feel if you pull gently on the cable the connectors end up close to the top of your ear, as they don’t really lock into your concha very well. The cable is soft and causes no comfort issues, it’s just the connector on the earphones and the cylindrical shape isn’t the most ergonomic out there. With the right tips though, I have found these more than comfortable enough for long listening sessions.

Isolation is good, these are however still a vented dynamic driver IEM and they don’t quite reach the level of a full sealed IEM. Still they are perfect for general daily use and commuting, only in the most noisy of environments would they suffer.

Sound:

Lows: Well Tin HiFi are well known for making earphones that lean towards a more neutral – neutral/bright sound signature, and the T4 follow this trend. Whilst I wouldn’t call them lacking in the bass area, they are definitely not for those who enjoy a fuller/warmer sound signature. The lows are very clean and precise, with a good balanced between weight and extension. They don’t really hit that hard and lack a bit of punch, nor do they have a lot of rumble but they have good linearity. During heavier tracks they retain control at all times and can keep up with good articulation and speed; yet stick on some slower music and they manage to bring out a lot of detail and body in acoustic instruments. They are not very well suited to more modern pop, hip-hop or EDM, but for rock, metal and jazz they do a very good job. The lows have good transparency, allowing them to accurately portray what’s in the recording without adding too much of its own flavour, changing it’s character for the track.

Midrange: The midrange is intimate and clean, the upper mids have a bit of a boost that makes them sound a little cold at times. The lower mids are well separated from the lows, allowing male vocals to cut through with authority and the centre image is well focused. Electric guitars really stand out, with plenty of presence and power yet never getting in the way of vocals, everything has its own space in the recording with the T4. Apart from their slightly brighter tonality the midrange is pretty well behaved and doesn’t comes across harsh or sibilant. The midrange can extract a good amount of detail from recordings yet does so without throwing them at your face. Subtle nuances are there if you want to listen for them.

Highs: This is one point where previous Tin models have often split opinion, some finding them a little too bright. Well you will be glad to hear that the T4 do not have the same level of top end presence or brightness, yet they still manage to sound clear and open. The highs have been toned down and pushed farther out in the mix to create a wider soundstage, they have also toned down the peakiness that some previous models suffered. The transition from the midrange to the highs is no longer pushed forward, this means they don’t suffer from sibilance. This little dip has sucked out a tiny bit of energy from the initial cymbal crashes, but they extend well and have more presence in the upper treble which is sure to please a few more listeners. These are not in any way lacking up top, they are just a bit less offensive than some of the earlier Tin models, and these should suit a few more people.

Soundstaging is good but not great, there is pretty good width but they are limited in height. These do offer up a more intimate listen, separation is great though and they have excellent control managing to keep everything in its own space.

Conclusion:

Well Chi-Fi is getting really good, but are these a giant killer? No, but don’t worry there is plenty to love about the T4, and it is still a very solid buy for the price. The T4 offer up a neutral-ish tuning with good detail and control across the frequency range. They almost border on an analytical sound signature, but just about steer clear. These are a really pleasant sounding IEM that are slightly fuller than the P1 and require less power, even though they aren’t quite as refined.

Sound Perfection Rating: 8/10