You know there is war above called: Planar Wars and this somehow huge iem Tin Hifi p1 MAX Panda is Tin Hifi’s answer to the call after Shuoer s12 and 7Hz Timeless. I got the Tin Hifi p1 MAX with the assistance of HifiGo. My fairness and unbiased review remain.
Pros
Relaxed and detailed experience
Good transparency
Bodied and neutral presentation
Very good resolution at vocals
Nearly life-like
Forgiving of track quality
Slight amp requirement
Very nice OB cable
Huge net looks but comfortable in the ear
Cons
Bass can’t go down to sub bass levels with a neutral source
Vocals can sound shouty if you raise the volume up
In the box there is the usual Tin Hifi cushion covered plate and various documents. Within the box there is its 2 pinned strong looking cable. Back in the time I used to see these with the likes of BGVP DM8 but after Faaeal’s introduction of tough looking (and functioning) cables and low prices and Tin Audio’s follow up (t3) a new dimension opened up 🙂 Outside the cable box there are carrying pouch and MANY eartips. Interesting box interior design selection.
>Impedance: 16Ω±15%.
>Frequency response range: 10Hz-20kHz.
>Sensitivity: 98±3dB@1kHz.
>Rated Power: 5mW.
>Max Power: 10mW.
>Max distortion: 3%@1kHz.
>3.5mm balanced gold-plated termination plug.
Below you’ll be reading critical listening and subjective results separated from each other. Source is dx300 L gain Neutron. Volumes are stated within the review.
Timbre is neutral to somewhat bright. Presentation is between laid back and forward for me. On stage transparency is high even though not the highest. 3d imaging is one of the most noteworthy features so far. Speed is high. Extensions sound pretty life-like too. Hearing the clarinet near the microphone alone and apart from the customers is a positive point. Clarity is nice despite the fact that I didn’t hear the famous cash register cling in a 3d body in front of me. Or the short old dialed telephone ring recessed at Lady, be Good – Jazz at the Pawnshop. Tonality factor is very good at P1 Max.
Subjective Part;
Bass is “good enough” in short words. But mid bass is prone to messing up and booming in smooth jazz if you listen to it with something other than a reference grade source. However while Daft Punk forced me to raise the volume to 75/100 the Panda showed no congestion yet. The “good enough” of it’s basses show signs of sub bass at appropriate recordings. Sign: Daft Punk and Tubular Bells of Mike Oldfield but you never get a growl of rumbling basses beneath.
Mid in general what it is built for. Clarity and layering of the vocals are very good to great. 8K Peak at its frequency graph and I can tell what the singer is saying even if it is an electronic song full with effects. Digitized vocals at the Doin’ it Right is another proof. Besides the good side at its vocals, I can’t say it’s shouty unless you don’t raise the volume up near 80/100. Seeing this as a minus is completely up to you.
Treble is reminding me the legend of HM. It means they aren’t shy and clear, kinda harsh and full of life which is good for a balanced listen.
Comparisons
Tin Hifi p1 MAX (M) has a laid back soundstage than Shuoer S12 (S) and 7Hz Timeless (T). And the basses of T are the least sub bass capable plus they are not weighty like M.. However T wins over P in little nice treble moments such as the glockenspiel of Tubular Bells. P had the most quantity but not quality at trebles. It’s a draw between S and T.
T’s live on stage clarity is 2 notches better than P as well as bass resolution too. But bass wise S is saying the final word. Although none of them are capable bass pumpers, sub bass and underlying bass are S’s territory Telephone ringer in the background test getting T and P almost the same results. S is the best at unneeded background details by giving out audible brief ring of the dialed telephone of the 70’s. But I can’t deny that T is sharper than M. S is just in the middle
T’s mids powered with edgy characteristics at violin instruments give it a huge boost of musicality. And is clearly above M. It is good for T unless S enters the scene. Now you hear the word “refined”. It’s as if instruments dance around each other like the dynamic swirl of woman and man at tango..I am getting shivers at Gardel: Tango – Por Una Cabeza.
Tin Hifi p1 MAX Panda Review Conclusions
Within this Planar Wars, Tin Hifi is making it’s move with p1 MAX. Laid back, detailed, fast and lifelike can summarize it in short. Despite having a huge looking shell, it is comfortable in the ear.
You can purchase the p1 Panda either from this link or this one. Links are not affiliated. Please stay comfortable if you are sensitive.
