Shanling Tino Review
Intro
Hello, this review and feature covers the latest from Shanling Audio named the Shanling Tino. The Tino is actually a dual dynamic driver earphone which comes in with an MSRP of $79. I received the Tino directly from Shanling Audio and I am very excited to finally get to hear Shanling’s rendition of a dual DD set. I’ve reviewed only one other Shanling product prior to the Tino. That product happens to be one of Shanling’s more exquisite single dynamic driver iems in the Shanling MG600 (MG600 Review). At any rate, the Tino should arrive soon, and I cannot wait to fill you all in.
Shanling
Shanling Audio is one of the most popular brands within the audio world and has actually been around for a ridiculously long time. Founded in 1988! Read that again. I was beyond impressed to see this fact. Folks, they have way too many patents to list here but just so you know, they have an incredibly impressive track record of R&D and innovation within the hobby. You can check that out HERE. Thirty-six years is not a fluke friends. Brands simply cannot hang around for that long unless they have some solid innovations and solid products. Time is the real litmus test. They began making dac/amps and slowly evolved into every conceivable audio product type. I have personally purchased many Shanling Audio products over the years and the one unifying theme is usually price to performance. Price to performance can mean a lot of things but it usually revolves around fantastic build quality, attention to details, knowing the pulse of the community, creating aesthetically pleasing products, making sure they sound great, and of course making sure the price tag isn’t so high. That’s Shanling in my eyes. Hence why I am excited to check out this latest two DD iem.
Competition
Now, I cannot leave this intro without speaking on the elephant in every room, for every product, in almost all price points. That is competition. There is so much of it folks. Think about it, under $100 is easily the most sought-after spot for so many brands to hit the jackpot. Sets like the Simgot EA500 (EA500 Review) and EA500LM (EA500LM Review), the Kefine sets like the Delci (Delci Review), Delci AE (Delci AE Review), and Klean (Klean Review) all hit that “jackpot”. I could easily keep going, with no end in sight while listing off many iems which compete well within the $50 to $100 price point. So, what I will try to do is break down the Tino and try to figure out who it is for, what it’s good at, and how it compares to other similar sets. The Audioverse is so stacked with solid iems and each brand behind those iems are vying for your dollar. No doubt about it, the price point that the Tino is in happens to be one of the most viscous. Let’s see how it stacks up moving forward.
Nice package
Well, I just got the Tino in and I’m very happy with the whole package here, Shanling really did a nice job on this one. I will most certainly get a lot of alone time with the Tino in my ears, with a bunch of different sources and many different genres. However, right now it goes to the burn-in station, and I’ll reconvene in about five days. And with that all said, I think I’m ready to get into this review. The Shanling Tino everyone…
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Disclaimer:
I received the Shanling Tino from Shanling Audio as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. Shanling Audio has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Shanling, and thank each of you for taking the time to read.
Tino Pros
-Price to performance
-The build is nice for such a light iem (4.6 grams!)
-The design is very easy to appreciate (foil-burned faceplates)
-Very comfortable, could wear for hours
-Great unboxing (one of the best in the price point)
-Gorgeous white modular cable
-Well balanced and energetic sound
-Timbre is fantastic, natural, earthy, smooth, clean
-Fast & rigid bass, well-defined, good density, punchy, impactful
-The mids are very nice for vocalists as well as instrumentation
-Treble has a very natural sound, just enough brilliance, smooth
-Imaging is great
-Stage has nice depth
-Really just a wonderful tuning
Tino Cons
-Can come across a hair shouty with the right track
-Some may want more air up top
-Bass heads will not be impressed, nor will treble-bois
-Detail Retrieval isn’t its specialty
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The Tino arrived in a small sized box with an outer sleeve which shows off a picture of the Tino in all its glory. Take off the sleeve and you’ll see a regular black box. Open that and the Tino is the first thing to hit your eye. Gorgeous as ever and attached to the white cable. Take out the earphones and under that layer is the hockey puck style carrying case. Inside of the case you’ll find the eartips. Next to the case is a smaller box which has some reading material as well as the extra modular adapter. Really there isn’t a ton to say about the unboxing other than it is a very nice one for $79. It’s pretty obvious that Shanling included some very nice accessories.
Eartips
Shanling put together a nice package. Even the eartips are of good quality. You can tell that Shanling put some thought into what eartips that they chose to send out. So, they provided eight pairs of eartips in total which come on a handy little “holder” of sorts and sit comfortably within the case. So, the first type are five pairs (Sx2, M, M, L) of dark gray narrow-bore style shallow fit eartips. These tips have a firmer flange and a rigid stem. Each stem is colored differently per their size. Now, again, this style has a shallower fit, so keep that in mind. The next type of tips are three pairs (S, M, L) of narrow-bore tips with a softer feel to the flange and once again they are not flimsy (which is nice to see). The tips I’m referring to are the three pairs in the center of the “holder”. Again, these tips also have a rigid stem. Additionally, these tips are actually quite a bit longer than the first style which can be used for a deeper fit.
What’d I use
To be honest, all tips provided are very nice. Perfect tips for this set. I did end up using the included tips for the entire critical listening period. Those would be the second type of tips I described. The slightly longer set of narrow bore tips. Very comfortable. They have a feel similar to Divinus Velvet tips in the type of silicone used. I of course went through every set of tips that I own trying to find the best pairing sonically. What I ended up finding was that Final Audio E-Tips, and the included tips worked best. So naturally I went with the included tips and the rest is history. Really a nice addition in the packaging and my hat goes off to Shanling for providing eartips which actually pair well sonically. You rarely see that. I almost never use any included tips in any earphone review. Nice job Shanling.
Carrying Case
Folks, I’ve always liked those hockey puck shaped tin cans. You see these brands use them from time to time. Well, lucky for me Shanling decided upon the alloy cans as the carrying case for the Tino. These cans come in two halves which simply get pushed together. They aren’t very large, however. Perhaps just large enough to fit your earphones and cable. Really great size too. They fit comfortably in the front pocket of my jeans and don’t look ridiculous. So that’s a plus. However, the best part is that it is a highly protective case. You could drop it from a roof, and nothing will happen to your earphones inside. Of course I don’t suggest you try. Anyways, it’s a very nice style case for a $79 set. Certainly, better than some cloth carrying case or some faux leather style case. I’m down with the can. Nice addition.
Cable
The last accessory that Shanling provided is most certainly the best accessory that they provided. That being the beautiful white modular cable. Very nice. So, it has 4-cores of 18 strands of OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper), along with 49 strands of copper wire and finally they used 133 strands of silver-plated copper wires forming the outer layer. Really a phenomenal cable at this price. Certainly, I didn’t expect such a high-quality inclusion. Now, you can purchase the Tino in this modular form which offers 3.5 single ended as well as 4.4 balanced terminations. Or you can purchase Shanling’s type-c DSP cable as well. I personally like the modular designed cable as the fittings are gorgeous. Made out of what I assume is stainless steel or some sort of hard and shiny metal. At any rate, the modular terminations are simply pushed together, and the outer coupling simply gets threaded on over the adapter to hold it firmly. I really enjoy this cable. It’s nicely plump, looks fantastic with the Tino, and the almost metallic white sheen on the outer layer just looks nice. Another great addition from Shanling.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
So Shanling decided upon using resin for the body of the Tino. The great thing about resin is that it can look amazing and it’s usually much lighter in weight. I was amazed to see that the Tino only weighs 4.6 grams! That is essentially nothing in the ear folks. Really an extremely light set. Lighter than even the Kefine Delci, Klean and a few other notably light iems within the price point. Great for wear, and smaller than most multi-driver sets. So, the Tino was crafted by way of 3D printing and tested ad nauseum to find perfect fitment and weight. The faceplate area is a flat piece which is attached in two parts with the shell. The nozzles are just under 6mm in width with a medium length nozzle. The nozzle itself is on a slight angle towards the ear which helps tremendously for fitment. At least for me. Honestly, the Tino was made with comfort in mind folks. So often we see these heavy all-alloy sets which weigh closer to 20 grams and the difference over a long listening session is very obvious as far as comfort is concerned. It’s a nice build. Nothing that’ll blow your mind, but very nice, and I cannot emphasize enough how nice 4.6 grams is to wear.
Design
One of the huge benefits to the Tino is how nice this set looks. In my opinion, this is an area where Shanling seems to excel in, that being design. Certainly, they have a flair for the artistic. The Tino comes in a gorgeous “fall-color” motif, deep amber, slight grays, dull oranges to reddish-orange as well as hints of browns. Just beautiful iem folks. They capped off the faceplate with a golden alloy ring around it. Really a classy touch. Ya know, the faceplates are very interesting actually. Shanling states that they used a foil burning method on the faceplate design. I don’t know much about “foil-burning” but if that is what got them these deep textures then I’m all for it. Supposedly, foil burning is rich in Chinese history. Really a very nice-looking design, minimalist but very intricate in its coloration. They did a fantastic job.
Internals
Shanling decided upon a two dynamic driver setup which includes one 10 mm LCP diaphragm dynamic driver with a PU suspended edge as well as an 8mm DLC dynamic driver. The 10mm handles the bass region, and the 8mm tackles the mids and highs. Each driver makes use of N52 magnets along with an imported lightweight black copper voice coil. Obviously, they used some solid drivers in this set as I don’t hear any undue distortions, and the sound comes through crystal clear.
Fit / Comfort
As far as fit is concerned, I couldn’t have asked for a better fitment for me. I feel like I say this in most reviews anymore, but I haven’t had a bad fit since HBB’s dud, the Kailua (horrible fit on that one), or Muse Hifi’s East 6. At any rate, the fit of the Tino is quite impressive for me. Quite literally they slide right in and are comfortable as a set of earphones could be. It cannot go understated just how light this set is. It really is a selling point in my opinion. Once you wear them for a few hours you’ll understand what I’m saying. Extremely comfortable! I applaud Shanling for seeking out the best materials that they could find for a very comfortable fit. Now, I have no idea as to how this set will fit you, but I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that they will probably fit you like a glove. Unless you have some sort of alien ears. At which point, the Tino may not fit you. For everyone else, Shanling hooked us up because the comfort is phenomenal.
Drivability / Pairings
Output
The Shanling Tino is a very sensitive iem. Rated with an impedance of 16 ohms and a sensitivity of 113 db’s (give or take) it is extremely sensitive and can get to ear piercing volume without much power added. This set can be used with multiple lower powered sources. I used my iPad and had zero issues, I used those super cheap Amazon dongle dacs as well and it was easily driven. So, you don’t need some enormously powerful source. That said, there is a small improvement (in my opinion) with using a touch more power than something like a simple smartphone, iPad, etc. I find this to be the case with most iems. Nothing crazy either, just a simple dongle dac will suffice. You don’t need some thousand-watt monster amp. In fact, I used the EPZ TP50 quite a lot when out and about and I love the pairing on high gain. At any rate, more power isn’t needed but helps to a small degree.
Source tonality
Once again, I find myself in the middle of a review with a warm/neutral sounding set. Just like the others, I really don’t think source tonal color (warm, bright etc.) makes a huge difference in my listening. I can tell you this, I don’t like bright sources with this set. Brighter sources will induce a hair too much glare and shrillness in the upper-mids/lower treble regions. Every other source type is game-on. For the most part anyways. Maybe if I was being extremely picky, I may veer towards a slightly warmer and more velvet sounding source.
What do you need?
Just like I said, you can use a smartphone and you’ll be in business. You may want to order this set with the type-c DSP cable as well. However, for best listening I would try to at least pair this set with a decent Dongle Dac, decent power too, and you’ll be in business. Happy listening.
Sound Impressions
*Note: Before I enter into the sound portion of this review, I must first make a couple points. First off, I burned in the Tino for about three full days. I do think this helped the overall sound. I hear a slightly tighter, less fuzzy bass. However, listen-in over time may be the funner way to go about this. Also, I use flac or better files which are stored on my devices, and I listen mainly with UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro). At times for certain dongle, I also listen with Hiby Music Player as well.
What’s it sounds like? (condensed)
The Shanling Tino is what I’d consider a warm/neutral sounding set. However, it’s closer to neutral than anything. There is a little warmth afforded from the bass region but mostly it stays pretty tight and isn’t too overbearing. I would call it a U-shaped sound as the midrange is nicely forward and not recessed to the back of the sound field, but I also tend to think slightly V-shaped makes sense too. Honestly, it’s a nicely tuned set, very well balanced dynamically, very clean, perhaps not as detailed as some may like but very musical too. To me, the Tino is highly energetic, owning quite a lot of tonal contrast to my ears. I’d say it’s a nice mix of crisp and smooth as the dynamic drivers do a nice job of being a chameleon per the genre I’m playing. I certainly wouldn’t say that the Tino is all smooth, all the time. It most definitely isn’t. There’s some edge there, some real bite. This isn’t some lame dudd sound folks. Again, it’s at least partially energetic, it has some sonic tenacity, some drive to it. But above all else it is a musical sounding iem that is a nice option on the market as an all-rounder type set.
Condensed between the 20’s
However, with that slightly more contrasted sound are some deep thumping and thrumming lows which always seem to stay well kempt, tighter than anything else and well defined. You have some smooth and clean mids, not overtly recessed, musical. Also, you have a treble which is mostly non-offensive (watch your source; nothing too bright) but also has some sparkle to it, some shine. Really a nice balance in all of its dynamic presentation and a nice distribution of the frequency by Shanling. Details aren’t the best, musical over technical, separation too. Imaging is pretty nice though. Now, the stage isn’t the most vast, closer to the listener, decent depth though, some layering. Not bad at all.
Real quick…
*Note: one last thing before I dive into each area of the mix. Folks, I use a lot of words to convey what I hear, what I feel, and I do so a lot. My reviews are always too long, but that’s me. Anyways, the point is, please read those words with respect to the price point. If I say, “the sound is amazing”, what I’m really saying is “the sound is amazing for a set at this price point”. We reviewers use a lot of words with no context to the rest of the Audioverse. I know you all know this, but I felt I needed to verbalize it.
Bass Region
The low-end on the Tino has some oomph to it. Controlled oomph that is. It is definitely not a basshead set but there’s plenty of emphasis for stuff like bass guitars and kick drums etc. Now, I wouldn’t necessarily call the bass the “focal point” of this set, but rather “one of the focal points”. Certainly not bass dominant. Now that’s out of the way, folks, the bass hits with a very punchy nature. I love this style of bass. It has that hard and glass lined edge on attack which always offers a clean sound. Nothing fuzzy or pillowy here. It’s “density-meets-speed”. You don’t have a ton of lingering resonances like on so many iems. The Tino hits just right providing some very natural sounding lows with just enough gumption and authoritative emphasis to make it fun. If anything, you’d probably call this a sub-bass focused set, but I don’t 100% buy that. Not entirely anyways. The mid-bass slams just as well as the sub-bass drones. It’s a very nice mix with a sonic linearity between bass segments which offer an awesome low-end for a $79 iem. Attack is tight, hard edged, never soft while decay is fleeting, quicker than most DDs with a very clean approach. Nothing muddy about the low-end here. It has good slam, a solid robustness, and great impact which serves so many instruments well. Just a fine job by Shanling.
Sub-Bass
The sub-bass drones with some vibratory goodness and haptic charge whenever I play any track which features it. Tracks like “Groove” by Ray Wylie Hubbard will add in some haptic buzz on most any set, but the Tino goes a step further and actually sounds nice doing it. Not just a mishmash of deeply pitched bass. No sir, the Tino keeps that clean edge the whole time allowing other frequencies to play clean alongside it. However, the sub-bass does reach deep with some good extension into the lowest of lows. It isn’t the type of sub level bass which will muck-up the mid-bass adding too much bloat to the sound. Again, it’s clean, tight, and reasonably agile for a bass region under $100. I can hear an almost ductile style of agility in fact. You don’t hear those bloated tones which ultimately make the mid-bass less defined, as the sub-bass stays in its lane. Really a clean approach to a more emphasized area. Great job Shanling, you added some fun yet without the needed clean-up. Another set where I can confidently say… “Hello Fun, meet my friend Maturity”. Very nice.
Mid-Bass
Looking at the mid-bass, it is perhaps a hint lower in veracity and volume than the sub-bass, but like I said, I don’t hear some tremendous disparity between the two. I’m telling you, the mid-bass slams, and slams hard. The only difference between the Tino and other sets which also slam hard… is the cleanliness. It’s a faster and more well-defined mid-bass which resolves some macro level details very well. One thing you won’t hear is anything one-noted or sloppy (providing the track isn’t sloppy), and you won’t hear muddiness either. Now, there is some level of bass breaching the midrange which does provide a subtle warmth to the mids, but that encroachment is kept in control. I feel that Shanling made a conscientious decision to provide the midrange with some slight weight while keeping good clarity, and the bass is always a good helping hand in that regard.
Not too heavy, not too weak
Anyways, the mid-bass can flat out bang when called upon. It can also grumble in the gravelly, meaty depths which is great for providing pretty full bass guitar play too. Now, there are certainly other sets which provide a weightier bass guitar. However, the Tino provides what I’d call a “naturally weighted” sound. There’s a difference. For instance, the bass guitar sounds amazing in “Lone Star Lake” by Waxahatchee. It’s full, yet edgy, has depth, and stays in its lane. But mostly, it’s realistic. Not overtly colored or ballooned out of proportion. It’s natural yet slightly emphasized past that for a fun but mature sound. Also, with the Tino in my ears, Kick-drums always seem to have that snap on attack, that tacky initial strike followed by a usually deep hollowed boom. I love it. You can hear it in “Move Along” by The All-American Rejects, or “Billie Jean” by Weezer, or the immersive and totally gratifying kick drums & drums in “Glass House” by Kaleo. They all have that deep, penetrative and hollow crevasse of sound which resonates. It’s great. The Tino is a perfect set to replay those sounds. Not too heavy, not too weak. It’s just right. That’s the bass in a nutshell actually.
Downsides to the Bass Region
The only real downside that I can see would be for those who enjoy more of it, or those who desire less. That’s honestly it. I say that because as far as bass regions goes, the Tino has really done a superb job. However, bassheads aren’t going to jump for joy over this set. The bass is way too balanced across the mix for those folks to be happy. Also, analytical lovers who want far less bass, snappier, fine-lined, and less intrusive, will obviously not enjoy the low-end display on this set. Again, for everyone else the Tino will likely fit you like a glove. Really a perfect emphasis to feel deep and guttural thunder when needed, and it has the slam needed when called upon as well. I suppose I could see some folks wanting a more organic bass. As in, even more atmospheric, more earthy, less tight transients, longer decay. I could see that. The Tino has a pumped-up bass with a beautiful glide from its peak, down the mid-bass and slightly feathering into the midrange for a real organic and natural take on this region. Really nice for $79. However, this type of bass also isn’t unheard of in the price point as other sets can duplicate the sound, maybe. Although, that doesn’t make the Tino any less awesome.
Midrange
The midrange is more forward than I initially suspected with very good presence for both male and female singers, not to mention instrumentation. It all sounds rather natural to my ears yet with a slight forward highlight for vocalists. Maybe the midrange is a hint less airy than some would enjoy, or less detailed than some may like, but it is highly addictive for many tracks within my playlists. I would characterize the midrange’s note body as lean-lush, or semi-rich. It has a realistic note weight to my ears. Warmer toward the low-mids, cooler towards the upper-mids. Not too thick and not wide in presence, yet with this slight vibrance which accompanies most midrange notes. There’s zero veil over the sound, no sibilance, and very little glare. Unless of course a track features some heavily glaring passages, at which point you may get a small dosage. Nothing that bothered me, but perhaps those who are sensitive to it may find issue with the Tino in that regard. For example, I found a couple tracks like “Africa” by Weezer which gets a bit sharp when the chorus erupts. Actually, you can take many Weezer tracks and get the same result. However, those are very few and far in between for me.
Pointed snap
Honestly, that slight glare or levity is what helps the Tino’s midrange to stand out and feel energized. You get some pinpoint and localized sparkle. Like the pointed snap on attack from a hard snare drum, the resounding vibrance with piano, the lovely abrasiveness in the violin, and the way it portrays a female head voice flowering my music. Among a thousand other instances where a slight bit more emphasis adds much more than it takes away. There’s always a give and take in everything, especially in audio, and thankfully for me the Tino’s midrange is of high quality for the price.
Mids cont…
I enjoy how clean the mids are for a smoother overall sound. It isn’t the most transient tight midrange on planet earth which makes it all the more awesome that it has pretty decent detail retrieval. Relative to the tuning of course. Especially for a two DD set. Instrument separation isn’t going to impress those analytical lovers, though I have to say once again, the Tino still performs admirably for a $79 two DD iem. Perhaps the technical stuff isn’t the Tino’s strong suit, but the Tino has nothing to be ashamed of. In truth, the sound is more melodic, more liquid, less clinical and more engaging. The Tino’s midrange comes with a very nice tonal and dynamic contrast. This nice contrast is leveraged from its energetic style that it was tuned with, so as not to come across bland… at all. There’s some midrange pep, some zestiness, some upper-mid sparkle, and some shimmer too as detailed in the last paragraph. Macro-dynamics POP, sending controlled energy to my auditory cortex which then carves a pathway to my heart. Okay, I went a little too far there, but you get the gist. However, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea either. Let’s put it this way, the Tino is not as energetic and glaring as the Simgot EA500LM can be. That set is one of the best money can buy under $100. So, what does that say of the Tino?
Lower-Midrange
Like I said earlier, the midrange borrows a nice dosage of warmth from the bass region. Not so much that the sound becomes murky, or not as clean sounding. But enough warmth and weight that notes aren’t lean. I also don’t feel there’s some pushed-back recession in this region either. Stuff like male vocals have plenty of forward-facing energy with an etched-out display of a man’s voice. There’s some authority, some gusto, some density, and to top it off… the lower mids have decent sprightliness. Basically, they don’t come across humdrum and lifeless. Male vocalists don’t sound meshed together or bland as so many sets in the price point can do. For instance, Max McNown sings “A Lot More Free” with heavy hearted passion and his voice really embodies that with the Tino. His voice doesn’t really sway in pitch. There isn’t a ton of vocal contrast or undulating bravado. It’s a slightly raspy, breathy, and weighted voice. I love that the Tino puts a highlight on his vocals. There’s weight behind his voice, but also some fire behind it as well as the Tino adds to the song with some of that etched presence I was talking about. I find this with so many male singers where there’s a certain organic energy which adds the last little bit of vibrancy to the inflections within their voices. A few other sets perform similarly, so I’m not calling the Tino a unicorn or anything. But it’s a great quality, nonetheless.
Upper-Midrange
Now, female vocalists as well as instrumentation will have an even more forward poise and personality in the upper-mids. The pinna rise is not overbearing here. Shanling did a marvelous job tuning this set as they added just enough of a rise and just the right gradual uphill pinna climb to never really come across grating. It’s all very well controlled. Again, not to the point of those Simgot sets. Less vivacity and more controlled vibrance. Females really pay off as they have just enough weight to make vocalists substantive yet also just enough sparkle to bring those beautiful female accentuations to life. Norah Jones in her massive success “Don’t Know Why” sounds almost hauntingly seductive. I like how the vocals sit just in front of the rest of the melody. Leaner than the low-mids but still moist enough to aid the emotion within the song. Very pleasing to the ear. Another track is “High”, by Caitlyn Smith. It’s a nice track for testing female vocals. Anyways, the Tino can go from feather soft through the 1st verse, to sonorous and resounding in the chorus and both sections are still very tuneful. I should also state that there’s a lot of chaos happening in the chorus as well, and while the Tino doesn’t separate everything perfectly, it all sounds very musical and enthralling. Once again, there are other sets within the price point more geared toward vocalists, but those sets also miss out in some other key areas and I really like how Shanling put all of it together with the Tino.
Upper-mids cont…
Instruments also gain a lot from the way this set was tuned. First, they are crystal clear, perhaps not as precisely detailed, but very clean in a macro-detail sort of way. I won’t go into every instrument, but they usually will have some added shimmer, some luster, yet still have the note body to provide them with some tangible physicality. For me, I sometimes feel that instruments need that last tinge of luster at the crest of a note, to carry out different harmonics in a harmonious way. Thankfully the Tino adds just enough vibrancy to bring some of that needed luster. I know I described the Tino as mostly smooth, but there definitely are touches of crispness on the Tino when a track deems it necessary.
Downsides to the Midrange
The first thing I’d say is that anyone who is allergic to any vibrancy may not want to partake in this set. Again, I really don’t feel it’s a problem and is probably more realistic than anything, but I am friends with many of you who only want warm, weighted, and rich. The Tino is only partially that. So yes, there are occasions when the Tino gets a hair too bright. I don’t want to say artificial, because that is not what I hear. Just a bit brighter at times. Also, detail retrieval, separation of instruments and transient swiftness are not key features of the Tino’s midrange. This is not a technical lover’s dream set. Again, it’s musicality over technicality. However, within the Tino’s musical abilities it also doesn’t really dissatisfy technically. Confused yet? Listen, I love dynamic drivers, always will. I love how organic they can sound. Still, not all DD’s can replicate the exactness of a balanced armature driver, or a planar for instance, among other driver types. Yet even with that being true, the Tino can bring some of the subtleties (details) to the surface pretty well. Also, it isn’t some claustrophobic sound field that gets congested easily. It isn’t that. The Tino does have a slight bit of air between notes. It just isn’t as open as some more analytically tuned iems. That’s it. All things considered; I really admire what Shanling did with a two DD set costing $79. It is a solid midrange that will resonate with many folks.
Treble Region
One thing dynamic drivers are not known for is their biting, sparkly, or well extended treble regions, not all the time anyways. At least not in the budget space. Granted, that doesn’t mean that they can’t have those attributes, but it’s just less likely. Other drivers add those last little tones and modulations a hair better. Like a good EST, a solid planar, micro planar, or a nice balanced armature. Having said that, the Tino does a surprisingly nice job for a two DD set. Obviously, it has everything to do with the type of drivers chosen and the ability of the sound engineers at Shanling to coordinate the frequency the way they have.
Tino treble
Honestly, I find the Tino to have a nice treble region. No, it isn’t ultra brilliant, and it won’t be preferred by treble-heads, let’s just get that out of the way. What the treble does best is… it fits. I say this a lot in reviews because that’s what a treble region is supposed to do, at the least. However, you won’t hear a ton of openness and the Tino won’t drive a ton of midrange instrument separation. What it will do is add just enough levity to the overall sound. The treble is emphasized enough, just past the pinna. The lower treble area as well as the upper treble helps the overall tonal color of the Tino sound slightly brighter, more lustery (to an extent), with added sparkle, added snap, and crispness where needed. On the flipside, this is certainly NOT a dull or boring treble. It’s just not overtly brilliant and it doesn’t have a treble-head worthy sparkle and bite. It’s a smoother style treble with moments of crispness. You’ll hear some DD style bite, some decent treble body, but mostly it stays smooth. Beyond those points, the treble won’t cause undue fatigue and is mostly non-offensive and a reasonably easy set to listen to for longer periods.
Extension / speed
I would say that the Tino has good enough extension that cymbals aren’t rolled off. I still hear a nice and hard “chisk” (made up word) on a cymbal strike yet without that widened splash and “treble tizz” (another made up word, I think they work). That’s not to say you won’t hear any of that either as every recording is quite literally different. However, by-and-large the treble extension is good enough to obtain some solid info past 8k. There is a hair of a roll-off, but not enough to bury that info. Another thing which is at least marginally beneficial about the treble region is the speed of the driver. Now, this isn’t some planar, or EST (I keep needing to say this) but for a DD the speed isn’t bad at all. Listening to “Evil Twin” by Lindsey Stirling is a decent example. Many treble notes hit at different points, semi-speedy, but very easy to discern with the Tino. Each note was met with decent roundness, sparkle, and the timing is very good. The pitch and tone of the Tino was also very good. Nothing artificial sounding, nothing metallic, and I don’t really detect a huge amount of sibilance either. Yet the fact that the Tino can (at least marginally well) keep up with a faster treble track like “Ice Bridges” by Billy Strings says a lot. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Of course, this is also a $79 set. Is it better than many DD sets under $100? Now you’re asking the right question. The answer is, yes. It is a very solid treble for a DD not seeking to be over-the-top with its emphasis. No forced resolution, nothing like that. Timbre is nice, realistic enough too. Like I said, the treble simply fits.
Downsides to the Treble Region
The only real knock I can give the Tino here is that the treble probably isn’t as refined technically as some other sets in the price point. Maybe you might want a set with more air to the sound. I could see that. Perhaps, you desire those high frequencies to have an even more palpable and haptic treble bite to notes. I hardly feel that this would be a reason to not enjoy this set but some of you really love good treble. I get it. However, this is a $79 dual-DD all-rounder type set which cannot specialize in the treble region without affecting other areas of the mix to at least a partial degree. You’d lose so many of the great qualities that it has. This just brings me back to what I always say, “Nothing is for everyone”. I really appreciate what Shanling did here and how they were able to coherently tune this set with such nice timing, cadence, timbre, and controlled energy which never really offends. Not to the point that it is a hard “con”. To me anyways. I suppose another point should also be taken into account. That is, I’m… me and you are… you. We differ. To me the Tino is a fantastic set for the price and the treble most certainly is a huge part of what makes this set such a nice offering.
Technicalities
Soundstage
I find the soundstage to be appropriate. It’s not some huge and vast mega stadium. Then again, no iem is. However, it isn’t the type of stage which feels super expanded, aired out, and isn’t really a multi-level dimensional style stage. Honestly, it’s an average stage. It works. Which is a good thing. It would be utterly disappointing if the stage felt cramped, congested, or downright small. That would be a problem. Actually, the front layer of the Tino’s soundstage is closer in proximity to the listener. More forward, within reach, yet the stage is also tall, decent width, decent depth as well. It’s a solid stage folks, but just average in how expansive it is to the right and left. Really, it’s a very full sound field, covering the whole of my mindscape. Yes, it may not be as cavernous or stadium-like as some may like, but the Tino has a certain fullness, within the intimate style. We’ve seen a number of sets with similar stages of late and to be honest, I like this style better sometimes than the pushed back, distant and ultra-wide stage. At times anyways. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard some pretty awesome psycho-acoustically rendered stages. I simply don’t want to discredit a more intimate, yet also very full stage. It may not be “grand”, as in the traditional audiophile standard of what “grand” is supposed to mean, but it works very well for this set.
Separation
Instrument separation is not a technical lover’s dream, though I’d argue that the Tino is also not bad, not by any stretch of the imagination. It’s like everything “technical” on this set, it’s appropriate to the tuning. The Tino is on the musical side of the sound spectrum which doesn’t always bode well for stuff like separation or detail retrieval. Transients aren’t lightning quick, and the tuning doesn’t give you some super airy presentation either. The Tino simply wasn’t made to be a clinical, dry, and analytically tuned iem. However, in the same breath I could also make a case that the Tino separates elements within the stage pretty good. Good for a musical set, good for a set crafted to reach people in a fun way, in an emotional way, and to a slightly lesser degree… in a mature way. What the Tino has going for it is the cleanliness of the sound, well-defined notes, good clarity too. These sub-components all have a hand in helping the Tino to perform well for what it is. I still hear slightly above average note separation. Of course, a lot depends on the track too. Any track with a boatload of bass will slightly mask over certain frequencies as well as highly congested songs. That said, I will resort to the only thing which matters to most folks by saying that the Tino doesn’t sound congested, mushed together, and is actually pretty good.
Imaging
Now, Imaging is an area where I feel that the Tino does surprisingly well. Maybe “surprisingly” is a bad word, but the sentiment stands. I hear everything left to right in great placement. There are so many songs that the Tino never disappointed me in this regard. I haven’t tried, but I’m sure the Tino would be a solid set for gaming too. Imaging is solid folks. Another thing which makes it solid for me is the fact that I do hear some layering within the depth of the soundstage. The Tino does a nice job here.
Detail Retrieval
Again, detail retrieval is not the best in the price point. Nor should it be. Nor would I personally want it to be. What makes this set solid at $79 is the fact that Shanling didn’t do what it takes for the Tino to be a “detail monster”, so to speak. They know that musicality should come first. However, I go back to the basic theme of this set where technicalities are concerned… the Tino is pretty good. Average, to above average. Once again, bass heavy tracks may impede some of those tiny subtleties within my music as well as congested tracks. But nothing out of the ordinary. That should go without saying. Shanling did a solid job here, in my opinion.
Comparisons
Artti R1 ($60-$75)
Talk about an awesome iem. The Arrti R1 (R1 Review) is a triple dynamic driver earphone from the brand Arrti Audio which is a sister brand of Letshuoer Audio. Honestly, I love this set folks. I have a boatload of iems in my collection and the R1 is a set which seems to be with me in so many situations. If I’m using the Fiio UTWS5 what iem do I first put onto it? The Arrti R1. If I’m working around the house outside of a review what budget iem do I carry with me? That’s right, the R1. I just love the build, the design and the tuning very much. Now, the R1 is a very well-made triple DD, but is it up to the standards of the Tino? We shall see.
Differences
To begin, the Tino is built using resin while the R1 is all alloy (aluminum). The Tino is a bit lighter as the R1 is twice as heavy at 8.8 grams. Granted neither is very “heavy”. The design of the Tino will likely reflect more folks’ preferences but the R1 has such a cool design too. In my opinion. The deep green colorway, silver bordered square looking thing on the faceplates and the feel of the R1 make it pretty nice to look at. Still, the Tino is gorgeous. I think it would win a design battle. The Tino comes with better accessories across the board, much better modular cable, better case, better tips, better package altogether for the cost. The fit of the Tino will likely jive with more people too. So far, aesthetically, the Tino has the upper hand by a small degree in my opinion. When considering comfort, overall design, and packaging, it wins out. Though without question the R1 is the better built iem, seemingly more durable too. Both are nice though.
Sound Differences
To begin, the R1 is warmer in tonal color with a slightly different version of organic. Whereas the Tino has some coolness and brilliance in the upper portions of the mix. The R1 has a deeper, heavier and dare I say slightly muddier low-end. Certainly, the Tino has the cleaner and better-defined bass. More pointed in its impact and punch. Note weight is heavier in the R1’s midrange, but also its transients come across less tidy. I feel the Tino is a more technically adept iem, better midrange detail, separation, clarity. Vocals sound great on both sets. The Tino has more energy in the midrange, especially the upper mids and can be a hair more offensive in the right tracks while the R1 is slightly smoother. Neither set is what I’d consider recessed here. The treble region on the Tino has more energy, brilliance, sprightliness, better treble punch and bite. Extension reaches out better on the Tino. Both are on the smooth side in this region as well. The R1 is just as nice but a hair more subdued. One isn’t necessarily better than the other is what I’m trying to say. Just different. Both sets are about average in detail retrieval, maybe hair above, but the Tino does have the upper hand. Imaging is good on both. The stage of the R1 is a bit wider, and slightly less intimate than the Tino too. Both have decent depth and even some layering with the Tino having a slight advantage.
Final thoughts on this comparison
I never like comparisons. They are very deceptive at times. This set is better at this, this better at that. But really, you have to judge each set on who it’s for as well as judge them for the whole package. Honestly, the R1 is the more musical set of the two but is not as technically able as the Tino. The Tino is the more refined iem with more of a contrast dynamically. More energy, more exactness in its note delivery. However, the R1 has that alloy sound to it. It’s cleaner resonant, grander in stage size, easier on the ears, and again, more musically gifted. In fact, these two are almost a preference battle as they are different enough to fit two slightly different style listeners. I really like both of these sets. However, in my most honest opinion, the Shanling Tino is the better purchase. You just get more for the money, and also, it is the more refined iem of the two.
Simgot EA500LM ($89)
The EA500LM from Simgot (EA500LM Review) is very likely the universal king of the under $100 iems. For many hobbyists anyways, and for better or for worse. Let’s just call it that, and whether it is, or isn’t, it’ll help with this review. Also, I realize that it’s highly debatable. Personally, I think it’s a top five under $100 set. However, the EA500LM is adored by so many for its class, style, build, and wonderful tuning. Now, the EA500LM is a single dynamic driver earphone with a single 10mm lithium-magnesium dynamic driver along with a dual cavity/dual magnet setup. Just a beauty across the board. Perhaps as close to a perfect under $100 single DD as you can get with a brighter hue to the sound. At any rate, the EA500LM has had its share of accolades, deservedly so! I personally gave it some of the highest marks for an under $100 iem that I’ve given out. Let’s see how the Tino stacks up against this juggernaut.
Differences
The build of both sets is very good for what they were made to be. I mean, there’s only so many ways a brand can go. Mainly, it’s resin or metal. In this case, the EA500LM is made with legendary beauty, within its simplicity and it’s built like a tank made of all stainless steel. It’s dope. However, the Tino is no slouch (Build-wise), to craft an iem this lite, it has to be made of resin. One set is built with a more functional purpose (Tino), and the other is strictly ornamental, built to last, but also really heavy. The disparity is pretty large concerning the weight. Keep that in mind. The Tino and the EA500LM are both amazingly designed, and I cannot choose which I like better. I gotta say, the foil-burned faceplates on the Tino are quite awesome though. This is a toss-up. That says more for the Tino, trust me. Accessories are better with the Tino, better cable, cases are a wash, and the Tino has much better tips. I find the fit to be better with the Tino as well. I do have to fidget a bit to get the EA500LM to seal perfectly. Although, you may feel exactly the opposite of me so… grains of salt. Also, the EA500LM is a single DD while the Tino is a dual-DD. I believe having a well implemented dedicated bass driver should help to a degree, in theory. Simgot saw to it to add in two sets of tuning nozzles with the EA500LM which do make marginal changes to the sound. Lastly, the EA500LM costs about $10 more.
Sound Differences
To begin, both sets are extremely similar as far as tonality and timbre is concerned. These two are very close. Both have a very nice and natural playback, mostly organic, and both carry very nicely controlled energy. I’d say that both sets are either slight V-shaped iems or U-shaped. I wouldn’t argue about either interpretation of the sound. Both are highly engaging, good technically for their respective tunings, and both are very sharp with a nice tonal contrast. In fact, I have a hard time saying one is better than the other, but I will most certainly make my conclusion known at the end of this comparison.
Between the 20’s
Now, the bass is deeper on the Tino. It runs at a deeper pitch when needed, but the EA500LM has a wider bass presence, yet also a less robust sub-bass. The slam on the Tino is more authoritative, more exact, better defined, punchier. This takes absolutely nothing away from the EA500LM. Its bass is great, but this is where you are seeing the difference from a single DD to a set with a well implemented solely dedicated bass driver. I’d take the bass of the Tino every day of the week. The midrange of the Tino has better note density while both sets sit at that lean-lush style note body. I like the low-mids on both sets, very clean, well defined, and organic enough too. However, I do like the upper mids on the Tino a hair better (ask me tomorrow and I might change that). The only reason that I say that is the EA500LM has a slightly better chance at fatigue for me. Even though the Tino does have a couple DB bump over the EA500LM at the crest of the pinna rise. Perhaps it has something to do with all metal acoustic cavity. Who knows. Anyways, the treble on the Tino is smoother while the EA500LM has the more crisp, better detailed treble region. Extension is good on both sets. In reality, the EA500LM has the more brilliant, sparkly treble with a touch more air to the sound.
Technicalities
I’d say that instrument separation is a hair better with the EA500LM, but that is highly debatable. It’s sound is a touch airier, and open which does aid in this. Transient attack through sustain is relatively quick for both iems and I don’t think there’s some discernible difference between the two. Detail retrieval is probably a hair better on the EA500LM, but again, highly debatable. Layering is nice on both sets but imaging with the Tino does edge out the EA500LM. Looking at the soundstage, the EA500LM has a wider sound, but the Tino has a slightly deeper sound field. Really, both iems are more intimate but the Tino is a hint further forward.
Final thoughts on this comparison
Folks, how could I choose between the two of these Goliath sets in the under $100 price point? How can I? They are both really great iems for the cost. Both have their strong points, and both have their less amazing points. It may come down to cost for some of you. Maybe the accessories will sway your mind. Definitely the design & build can help people choose as well. Metal-versus-resin, heavy-versus-light, beautiful oranges, reds, brown, amber of the Tino verses that fly looking gun-metal high polish design of the EA500LM. These two go toe to toe. It may be the fatigue factor of the EA500LM that may bring your vote to the Tino side. Or you may want that last little bit of detail retrieval that the EA500LM can give you (still debatable). However, for me, personally, I would go with the Tino. Mostly because of the bass region but also because of the way the sound comes together as a whole and it costs less, better unboxing, better cable too. I hate saying that because I adore the EA500LM. Both are phenomenal iems and you won’t go wrong with either.
Is it worth the asking price?
I’ll make this section very short because it’s a very easy answer. That answer of course is a giant YES. Yes, the Tino is worth every penny. No doubt about it. The fact that this set is $79 sounds more like a great bargain than anything else. Shanling truly did a fantastic job, and I am more than happy featuring them and spending time with them. Folks, the competition is fierce in the under $100 crowded market. Trust me, I’ve reviewed a ton of them. Some of the best (Granted, I haven’t heard em’ all). I never would have expected to say this but, the Tino most certainly cracked my top five under $100. What’s even more crazy is that it’s seriously putting pressure on the rest for the top spot. Remember, for ME. This small, ultra lightweight set truly shines. Having said that, the Tino does have its issues. Granted, they would only be subjective issues personal from person to person. However, the Tino doesn’t really have any huge glaring issues which stand out, especially for $79. Anyways, I’m not going to go through my usual “The Why” section because the answer is… the entire package is the reason why the Tino is worth the asking price.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Fiio FD15 ratings below, that would be $50-$100 earphones of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $50-$100 is a very large sized scope of iems. So, It should be noteworthy to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
–Build Quality: 9.3 Unbelievably light, all resin.
–Look: 9.5 Love the look of this set.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.0 Fit and comfort is very good for me.
–Accessories: 9.8 One of the best under $100.
–Overall: 9.4🔥🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.4 Organic and clean.
–Bass: 9.5 Punchy, textured, deep, defined.
–Midrange: 9.1 Natural, nice note density, very clean.
–Treble: 8.8 Well extended, smooth, non-offensive, clean.
–Technicalities: 8.2 Mostly great for what it is.
–Musicality: 9.6 Very musical.
–Overall: 9.1🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
There’s a reason why the Tino was able to pull a “9.1” overall sound rating. Think about it. As I said in the above note, I am rating the Tino against any and all iems of any driver configuration from $50 to $100. Take a minute to let your mind go through the vast ocean of good iems in this range. I can tell you that I have too many right in front of me and each has a reason to be considered. I decided upon rating the Tino against every iem of any driver configuration because I honestly feel it can hold its own against any of them. Of course, this means the score won’t be through the roof. However, a “9.1” is very high for this type of rating. It’s the toughest rating to achieve a high score when I say, “any and all driver configurations”. This opens the pool to all of them. Multi-driver, hybrids, planars, BA sets, single DD’s… all of them. I listened to each set in front of me, which was quickly followed by the Tino on about six different tracks. Having said all of that, I still feel that a “9.1” is low. Sets which specialize in musicality will always have a harder time due to always receiving a slightly lower score in “Technicalities”. So, to see such a score is saying something.
Explain Yourself!!
In truth, there’s nothing to explain here. I feel the scores are pretty cut-n-dry actually and so I’m not going to go all out explaining my reasoning. For me, there’s a couple which could be a hair higher, and a couple which could be lower too. Now, you may totally disagree with me, and that is fine. It happens to be the thing which makes this hobby so great. Some may not feel the “Bass” is worthy of a “9.5”, or the “Timbre” isn’t worthy of such a lofty score, and I get that. Still, at the end of the day the Tino is a solid set for its price, no matter the driver configuration.
Final thoughts on the Shanling Tino before I conclude
Friends, I’ve had a blast with the Shanling Tino. What a nice surprise it has been while getting to know this set. To be honest, I was expecting something much brighter, flabbier bass, and some metallic tinge in the timbre. Coincidentally, I heard none of that. What I actually heard is a set which truly shines with a very nice balance across the mix, deep punchy bass, clear mids, and a non-offensive and fairly sparkly treble region. Add in the fact that the Tino is so lite, so comfortable and designed so well. Also, you have one of the best unboxings within the price point and certainly one of the better cables. Just a fine set for anyone looking for an under $100 iem. I can’t wait to see where Shanling goes next and how they build off of this set. I’m all for it friends. The Tino is an instant recommendation from this guy.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review and feature of the Shanling Tino I first have to thank the good people of Shanling for providing the Tino in exchange for a published review to mobileaudiophile.com. They have been nothing but great through the process and me as well as mobileaudiophile.com thanks you. Also, I thank you, the reader, for clicking the link to read any of my words. You will always be the most important aspect of these reviews. Without question. On the flipside, every click to our website is a wonderful thing to see and it means so much to us. So, thank you so very much and I truly hope this review has helped at least to some effect.
Other Perspectives
Friends, please check out other thoughts of the Shanling Tino. We (reviewers) are all very much different, as each one of us has our own ideals, likes & dislikes. Of course, we may have different gear, different hearing abilities and we all haven’t been down the same journey through audio. Each of these differences can help to skew our thoughts, for any particular product. It will be very beneficial to you if you just click a few more links. Don’t simply rely on me. I’m only one man, and while I do give you my absolute most honest take, the next guy may feel entirely different. So please check out other thoughts about the Tino. With that, I think I’m done folks. I hope you all are well and good. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless
