Tin Hifi is the starting point for some adult audiophiles today, and they are now with the Tin Hifi t2 DLC model. Let’s see if they show a good scene. Observing t3+, Live Buds 3 and p1 MAX, it’s natural to expect something.
Pros_
Balanced playback
Natural
Price compared to sound q
Cons__
Extensions aren’t great
Layering is having problems
Cable is mundane regarding other iems
Box, Tin Hifi t2 DLC and the cable
Box is both similar to and distinct from all previous Tin Hifi devices. All painted in black but kept its usual design language. There is nothing new in terms of package contents.
T2 DLC has some major updates in design. First is the use of a straight line in its shell design, which involuntarily helps in cable change. Second is the 2 pinned design. Kudos to Tin Hifi for seeing the convenience of the 2 pin .78mm design after sticking with MMCX since their start.
Cable is braided and slim in volume. There is nothing fascinating to speak about its cable. But zooming out; you see the usage of 2 .78mm pinned connectors and this is a wonder for Tin.
Sound
A fluid sound performance most of the time, I wish its bass punches were a little tamed down. I would expect softer bass punches in the smooth female vocal of Alison Kraus. However, there is no sibilance and staging is more airy than you expect from a closed back iem. Micro or macro details are easy to hear compared to its price tag. But I can’t say the same for guitar licks. Faithful to the track most of the time, and this neutrality is probably due to its DLC diaphragm is truly helpful if you have a large music library. The already good instrument separation is winning it a point in extremely fast recordings (154 bpm c’mon) or math rock (broken rhythms of multiple guitars and the drummer) and most surprisingly, you get tactile feedback from time to time.
Treble is the white belly of it. It’s lacking in shimmer. Extensions are only OK. I would have expected much more from the brand which sprung T2 out and wowed crowds with its tuning in treble.
But besides its good sides, it has some caveats too. First is the insufficient layering capacity to project what is below the 2nd line of any given track. This is hurting the satisfaction in complex tracks. Second is about the dynamics. It is slightly having issues in over vibrant tracks
Balanced Listen__
Clarity rose up, low end thinned down, soundstage widened up, vocals got crispier, the music gained edges that weren’t here before. Now tonality is the star of the show as well as the generous layering capacity that is adding FUN in some patriotic bands of rock with some old American flute and trumpets.. I am feeling happy for T2 DLC after dressing off its veil.
Comparisons__
vs Truthear Zero
Besides the obviously better TZ cable, low end emphasis is evident in TZ. And treble is a notch or two stronger at it.
vs Celest Audio Gumiho
While its planar and BA hybrid nature places it somewhere other than T2 DLC, the prices are the same, Gumi is forwarder, and everything is more bodied.
Tin Hifi DLC Review Conclusions
Here we have the silent and shy prince of King T2 with his fancy necklace. We wish it read some Shakespeare and added some dramatic elements with its tuning…Humor aside, having some spikes in the tuning wouldn’t hurt. But first impressions were quite promising https://mobileaudiophile.com/tin-hifi-t2-dlc-pre-review/.
