Disclaimer:
Good morning, MBA readers. I was contacted by TIN HIFI, and since I’ve never had the opportunity to review one of their products, I accepted the offer of a slightly older model that I was still interested in. The TIN HIFI T5S MARS is a single-driver IEM with truly high build quality. The single driver also appears to have a unique, super-linear diaphragm.
Table Of Content
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy who likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music. I fall into the audio enthusiast category.
So I’m not going to use super technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
Tech Specs:
- Driver Unit: 10mm 32ohm speaker
- Sensitivity: 103 ±1dB @1kHz 0.126V
- Frequency Response: 10-20kHz
- Impedance: 32 Q±15%: 10-40kHz
- Rated Power: 3mW
- Max Power: 5mW
- Max Distortion: 1% @1k Hz 0.179V
- Interface: Gold-plated 2P connector
- Conductor/Cable: 4-core copper-silver hybrid cable (black) with oxygen-free copper 2 cores + silver-plated 2 cores (0.06*28)2 + (0.0554)*2, customized PVC outer sheath. Length: 1.2 meters
Packaging:
The unboxing experience is remarkable; the packaging is high-quality, and the accessories are decent, although I would have preferred something different in certain areas.
Inside are:
- Several eartips (many pairs, including a pair of foam ones)
- A 3.5mm cable similar to the Letshuoers
- High-quality hard case
- Little brush & tweezers
- Manuals and warranties
Overall, the package is well-made, but the eartips could have been higher quality and the cable could have been modular. In my opinion, a balanced cable is more suitable.
Design/Build Quality:
The TIN HIFI T5S Mars have a very minimalist design, but the build quality rivals the best IEMs on the market, demonstrating the brand’s potential. This is a very serious IEM in terms of aesthetics; the shells are minimalist but made of machined aluminum, enhancing the overall quality. As mentioned, this is a single-driver IEM featuring a Next-Generation Ultra-Linear Diaphragm driver. The shells feature two ventilation holes at the rear and before the nozzle. Overall, the IEM is very solid and well-assembled. The nozzle, however, is a bit bulky compared to the competition.
This IEM doesn’t stand out for its aesthetics, but for its simplicity and well-made construction.
Initial sound impression:
I didn’t know what to expect; I didn’t want to read any reviews. But upon first listening, I heard very accurate bass reproduction, perhaps with some texture gaps. However, I immediately noticed the mids aren’t the main focus, but are positioned behind both the bass and treble.
Another thing you immediately notice is that this IEM tends to be sibilant and become spicy in the upper midrange when you turn up the volume, which isn’t exactly a desirable characteristic.
The treble, on the other hand, doesn’t have the extension to allow for much air.
However, the soundstage is good, and the driver’s resolution is quite high, which makes up for some tuning shortcomings.
Equipment used for testing:
Device:
- MacOS
- Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G
Software:
- Amazon Music UHD 24-bit 96kHz
DAC:
- Fosi Audio K7 (Nice sound response & warmer)
- Creative X5 (Brighter response)
Comfort & Fit:
In terms of ergonomics, the TIN HIFI T5S Mars shells are well-made, and the material provides excellent passive isolation.
The nozzle is a bit large, but with the right eartips, it shouldn’t cause any problems. The stock cable is good quality, but given the specifications, I think a balanced cable is necessary to get the most out of it.
I haven’t noticed any wearability issues, but listening isn’t the most relaxing.
Eartips Sensitive:
I noticed that sibilance was significantly reduced by “lengthening” the nozzle with long eartips. In this case, the S&S DUNU significantly reduced the sibilance, while the Divinus Wide Bore increased the bass but kept the sibilance unchanged. I therefore conclude that they are very sensitive to the nozzle placement in the ear. I recommend testing as many models as possible.
The ones in the photo are silicone BGVP eartips, and this model is extremely comfortable and stable in my ears. So, the final choice fell on those.
Final sound impression:
The sound of the TINHIFI T5S Mars has great potential, but perhaps it hasn’t been fully exploited in this particular model. My final impressions are based on a very respectable setup consisting of the Fosi Audio K7, Effect Audio Ares II balanced cable, Dunu S&S eartips, and BGVP silicone earbuds.
Overall, the sound improves when switching to the balanced model. I find the sound fuller and more balanced than with the stock cable. Changing the eartips further improves the sound.
Bass
I have to say that the bass is quite satisfying with a nice punch, abundant in quantity, and decent extension. It adds substance to the presentation, with some warm notes, making for a fun yet analytical sound. In some circumstances, they seem to lack resolution, but in others, they seem to abound, so it could be related to the mix on the track.
Midrange
I find them a bit timid and recessed; very natural and well-crafted, but unfortunately, they’re a bit hidden. If you’re looking for an IEM that emphasizes or emphasizes the mids, you’re not in the right place. This part of the range lacks energy, and instruments in particular sound a bit dull, but this is where we can notice sibilance in some tracks. The upper midrange easily becomes spicy, so listening at very high volumes, as can be done with some IEMs, isn’t possible here unless you listen for short periods. It’s not always noticeable and is very relative to the tracks.
Treble
It’s not that there’s a lack of extension, but the presence of air isn’t as massive as it might seem. There’s no issue with harshness or annoying peaks in the treble; in fact, they’re particularly well-executed in my opinion. For example, when listening to cymbals, I’d say the sound reflects reality very well, but it’s slightly veiled. The details are all there, not lacking in quantity or quality at all.
Soundstage and Imaging:
The driver manages to deliver a soundstage that’s overall well-crafted and expansive; I’d say it’s average. As for imaging, the driver has no problem delivering a clear representation with excellent separation of the various sounds and musical instruments.
Comparison:
This model is practically two years old, and I should perhaps compare it to the Simgot EA500LM, which are more balanced and free of sibilance. But I have to admit that the build quality is superior on the TIN HIFI. There are so many IEMs in this price range on the market right now that I honestly wouldn’t even know which to choose.
But if I were to consider the last single driver I listened to, namely the Fosi Audio IM4, the comparison wouldn’t hold up. It would be like comparing a two-year-old phone to one released yesterday.
Conclusion:
As with anything involving technology, two years is a long time, and a ton of IEMs have been released in the meantime.
These TIN HIFI T5S Mars have a sibilance between the upper midrange and lower treble that makes them a bit sharp on certain tracks and frequencies. This can be mitigated to a large extent with the right eartips and, if desired, a bit of EQ. I’m not used to using EQs, but I can tell you that after a few hours of listening, your ear gets used to it. As always, if you’ve been using very safe IEMs and switch to one with a few more peaks, you’ll notice the various harshness and sibilance more.
Like any IEM, this one definitely has some musical genres where it performs better than others. I’m a bit of an electronic and modern music fan, so sometimes I have to listen at a lower volume than usual (which isn’t a bad thing) to prevent any harshness and ear fatigue. At calm, safe volumes, it performs well.
Overall, the IEM is a good product, but you also have to take into account the mids, which are slightly recessed and therefore don’t shine.
I’m happy to have been able to try this model of theirs but I hope that in the future they will send me a more recent model to understand their evolution and improvement over time.
7,5/10
Pros:
- Super Good Build Quality
- CNC Shell
- Nice unboxing experience
- Bright tuning
- Nice BASS punch
- Stock cable looks like Letshouer
- Detailed soundstage with a nice image
Cons:
- Sibilance Alert at moderate volume level
- Sliglty Recessed Mids
- Stock Eartips can be improved
- Better on balanced cable
- No Modular Cable
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