Tin HiFi T2 IEM

Great set of IEMS, extremely well balanced, as all things should be.

I spent the first 20 years of my career in the high-end consumer and professional audio industries. So I was constantly surrounded by mono-block amplifiers as heavy as a Volkswagen, speakers that can cure constipation, and speaker wire that could be at home in a bridge suspension. But now I'm in my 50's, my whole music collection is on my phone and it's all about convenience. Sitting in a room in front of a music system critically listening for sound stage and dynamics? Yeah, not so much these days. In the mean time, I had almost forgotten how good quality audio can sound. For the money, these T2s are a revelation. Of course nothing is perfect. But at this price, I could not ask for anything more. The sound is open yet controlled. High frequencies are a bit forward but not shrill even when pushed hard. Bass is extended, solid and tight. And the all-important mid-frequencies where the unforgiving human voice resides is a bit on the warm, lush side yet loses none of its detail. One note of caution: Try ALL of the included ear tips. They sound excellent in my ears with the factory installed foam units, but they are too tight in my ears. I was shocked when I tried a smaller set and all of the heft of the bass was gone and the midrange became hollow and nasal, the way a bad horn-loaded driver does. Upon inspection, I found that the tips not only vary in outside diameter, but also have varying openings. The difference in sound is HUGE. So try them out and see which ones sound best in your ears. In the recording studio, the best near-field monitors allow the engineer to "hear into" the mix. They are precise and unforgiving. But ironically, they don't really sound great for casual listening. These Tin Audio T2 IEMs are a good compromise. They offer the listener enough nuance to hear the intricacies in the layers of a recording. However, they are not overly analytical or annoying - like that one member of your family that's quick to point out every one of your flaws at holiday gatherings. In the end they deliver an articulate representation of the music and remain engaging with out fatiguing the listener.