Today we will take a look at TinHIFI T2 DLC IEM which is an updated version of TinHIFI’s well known T2. The unit for today’s episode was kindly provided by Linsoul in exchange for my honest review. As always I’m not paid to say anything in particular about the product and all thoughts and opinions in today’s episode are my own.
TINHIFI T2 DLC is an upgraded version of classic T2 IEM and it uses a 10mm Dynamic Driver with a 4th Generation DLC Composite Diaphragm driver. The headphones come in black carton box, on the front of the box there is a T2 branding, on the back of the box there is a number of QR codes. Inside the box we have another book style black box. The same box comes with original T2, but it’s in blue.
In the box:
- TinHiFi T2 DLC IEMs
- 5N 8-core silver-plated cable
- 6 sets of silicone ear tips (one of which comes pre-installed on the IEMs)
- 1 set of foam ear tips
- Contacts card
- And a user manual.
The impedance of TinHIFI T2 DLC is 32 Ohm, sensitivity is 111 dB/mW.
Design, build, comfort
Design-wise there is almost no change from the original T2 and it still retains the classic T2 bullet shape. The TinHIFI T2 DLC shells are medium in size and are made from Aviation-grade aluminum. The face plates has a Tin Hifi logo in blue. The IEMs have two vents – one on the side and one the inside part of each IEM. The nozzles are made from metal, they are on a shorter side and a bit thick. There is a metal mesh at the end of each nozzle and also a small lip that helps with ear tips retainment
The shells are medium in size and they have quite ergonomic shape. The nozzles are on a shorter side, but finding a good fit & seal is not a problem at all. The stock silicone ear tips are quite ok too.I was using this pair for extended periods of time and they are quite comfortable.
The IEMs use 2-pin connectors and the socket on the right IEM is red, which allows you to quickly identify left/right channel when you pick up the IEMs. TinHIFI T2 DLC comes with 6 sets of silicone ear tips, one of which comes pre-installed & 1 set of foam ear tips. All the tests in this review have been performed using a stock silicone ear tips.
The cable that comes with TinHIFI T2 DLC is good. It’s 1.2 meters long, 8 core silver plated cable with a straight 3.5 mm connector on one end, and two 0.78 2-pin connectors on the other ends. It also features Y-splitter, pre-molded ear hooks and a plastic chin slider. Overall the cable quality is good, it’s low in microphonics and I particularly liked the 3.5 mm connector.
TinHIFI T2 DLC sound overview
Please note that all sound impressions that I’m sharing on my channel are completely subjective so please take them with a grain of salt
TinHIFI T2 DLC sounds neutral with some upper mids presence, bass boost and some dip in the mid-treble region and this results in a bit uneven tonality, thought it still makes this IEM a good all-rounder.
The bass on pair is elevated, so it’s far from being neutral. It’s quite fast, thick and detailed. Sub bass extension is good and mid-bass provides a good amount of punch. The pair handles bass heavy music really well.
The lower mids on T2 DLC are a bit recessed. The upper mids are boosted though they are not harsh or sibilant. The timbre of instruments is good, overall mids sound smooth. But vocal performances sometimes lack note weight, and depending on the recording it makes vocals sound a bit distant.
Treble is not the strongest aspect of T2 DLC, but it will be appealing to treble-sensitive listeners. The treble extension is lacking, and despite the fact it provides a fair amount of details, I can’t call this pair particularly crisp. Treble also lacks air and sparkle and because of that the treble presentation is a bit dull for my personal taste.
Soundstage size is about average, imaging is okay for the price, instrument separation is above average. Overall clarity is good, detail retrieval is average, and micro-details retrieval is average as well. In terms of technical performance, the TinHIFI T2 DLC is ok for it’s price, but it can’t compete with some other IEMs in this price range.
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Difference between TinHIFI T2 and TinHIFI T2 DLC
First of all there is a change in configuration. the T2 DLC has just 1 dynamic driver while the classic T2 has 2 dynamic drivers
Both models have identical shell chassis which is made of aluminium. Origin T2 has a MMCX connector while T2 DLC has a 2-pin connector.
Tonality-wise, both have slight differences in tuning. Original T2 has more of a reference-neutral type of tuning. It also has a better focus on mid range and treble as well as more detailed bass.
In terms of resolution the T2 DLC is in my opinion a step-up. Technicalities-wise, the original T2 has more details overall, but in terms of sound stage and layering both pairs are practically identical.
Conclusions
In my opinion, T2 DLC is a good all-arounder IEM that provides a good bass response, fair instrument separation and clarity in it’s price range.
Pros:
- Good design & solid build
- Mostly neutral sound
- Low frequencies have a good energy
- 2-pin connector which in my opinion is more durable than MMCX
- And IEMs are comfortable for long listening sessions
Cons:
- Not enough sparkle & air in the treble
- Vocals lack note weight and sometimes sound distant
- Average details retrieval in this price range
Now to the main question. Should you get T2 DLC if you already like myself own the original T2?
It really depends. I wouldn’t necessarily call TinHIFI T2 DLC an upgrade to the original T2 in terms of the sound, but if you want more bass and smoother treble in the same form factor, T2 DLC might be a good side-grade.
If you don’t have the original T2, T2 DLC might be a good option if you are looking for engaging sounding IEM with smooth treble and warm sound signature. In addition, I think that 2-Pin connectors that are installed on T2 DLC are more practical in a long term.
And that concludes my review for today. If you want to see more content like this consider subscribing to my YouTube channel for future updates. Thank you for joining me, and until next time, goodbye!
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