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u/Competitive-Rub3243

r/IemReviews r/inearfidelity r/iems
Image 1 — NiceHCK Tears Review - Balance to the Letter
Image 2 — NiceHCK Tears Review - Balance to the Letter
Image 3 — NiceHCK Tears Review - Balance to the Letter
Image 4 — NiceHCK Tears Review - Balance to the Letter
▲ 5 r/iems

NiceHCK Tears Review - Balance to the Letter

Head-Fi Rating: 4.5/5 (inclusive of price to performance)
Personal Tierlist Rating: 6.6/10

Pros:

- Excellent tonal balance for the price

- Clean and forward vocal presentation

- Airy presentation (Upper treble emphasis)

- Great comfort (Small shells, lightweight)

- Great cable handling, does not tangle easily (see Cons)

Cons:

- Modest amount of bass, while it’s a sub-bass over mid-bass presentation. Not much rumble & thump.

- Cheap-feeling cable, 90 degrees terminations and no chin-slider (nitpick)

- IEM build quality feels cheap (nitpick)

DISCLAIMER:

NiceHCK sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

Let’s be real. The $25 price bracket is insanely saturated. We have the 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero:2, the Moondrop Chu 2, Tangzu Wan’er SG II, Truthear Gate, Tanchjim Bunny, etc.

The NiceHCK Tears received a lot of hype, so of course, I had to try it.

The NiceHCK Tears utilises 1x dynamic driver on each side. The product page does not matter the size of the dynamic driver, not the material.

The NiceHCK Tears retails for $29 USD, but is going for $24 (3.5mm, no mic) on discount at the time of writing.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 5 pairs of eartips, S, MS, M, L, XL (medium-bore)
  • Black faux leather carrying case
  • 3.5mm Cable – Non-detachable terminations, 2-core Silver-coloured cable, 90 degree (right-angle) termination. I like this cable, as it doesn’t tangle easily, not stiff, and has a working chin slider.
  • Leather clip for cable
  • The NiceHCK Tears IEMs themselves.

         

BUILD & DESIGN:
They feel like a budget IEM, cheap and lightweight. Not an issue for me as it’s a $25 IEM after all.

It’s shape is a pentagon, and unique for sure. It’s a small shell.

COMFORT:
Due to the small shell and rounded corners, comfort was great. The stock eartips (M size) worked well for me. I wore it for hours in multiple gaming sessions and forgot that they were in my ears.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO Balanced), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 60% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening. They scale with volume a lot, so this set sounds exceptionally better at louder volumes.

General Sound Signature:
Mild V-shaped. Modest bass, forward midrange. Treble has sparkle and decent extension and non-fatiguing.

BASS:
Tears uses a sub-bass over mid-bass approach, but there’s just a modest amount of sub-bass. So, neither does it rumble nor does it thump. Bass is just… there and does not draw any attention. ‘Clean’ is a word that I’m going to be using a lot in this review. Due to all of this, bass remains very clean and does not muddy up the mix at all.

MIDRANGE:
Vocals on the Tears just sound really good. Once again, lower midrange is tucked in, so instead of a warm/lush vocal presentation, vocals and instruments in the midrange stand out and are of a more clean/neutral presentation. They sound natural though a little sterile.

TREBLE:

Treble is non-fatiguing in general. It rolls off slowly from the lower-midrange onwards, until the upper treble, which affects detail. Music sounds slightly airy in general, while still remaining natural. Once again, the Tears masters tonal balance and something that is rarely found at this price, apart from something like the Tanchjim Bunny.

Timbre: Natural. Everything sounds correct.

Details: Average for the price. General detail feels a little bit diminished, but still decent nonetheless.

Imaging/Separation: Average, still good. Nothing really stood out.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average, due to the natural and extended treble. Soundstage is wider than it is deep.

Conclusion:

This beats out every sub $30 IEM for me in the current market. This is just what I’m looking for as a relaxing, easy-to-listen-to IEM that sits comfortably. If it just had a touch more bass, it would be near perfect for the price. It goes into my recommendation list with my top pick label. Great job, NiceHCK!

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

Here's the AliExpress link (Non-affiliated): https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005010414508304.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2fra

u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 11 hours ago
▲ 9 r/inearfidelity

NiceHCK Tears Review - Balance to the Letter

Head-Fi Rating: 4.5/5 (inclusive of price to performance)
Personal Tierlist Rating: 6.6/10

Pros:

- Excellent tonal balance for the price

- Clean and forward vocal presentation

- Airy presentation (Upper treble emphasis)

- Great comfort (Small shells, lightweight)

- Great cable handling, does not tangle easily (see Cons)

Cons:

- Modest amount of bass, while it’s a sub-bass over mid-bass presentation. Not much rumble & thump.

- Cheap-feeling cable, 90 degrees terminations and no chin-slider (nitpick)

- IEM build quality feels cheap (nitpick)

DISCLAIMER:

NiceHCK sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

Let’s be real. The $25 price bracket is insanely saturated. We have the 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero:2, the Moondrop Chu 2, Tangzu Wan’er SG II, Truthear Gate, Tanchjim Bunny, etc.

The NiceHCK Tears received a lot of hype, so of course, I had to try it.

The NiceHCK Tears utilises 1x dynamic driver on each side. The product page does not matter the size of the dynamic driver, not the material.

The NiceHCK Tears retails for $29 USD, but is going for $24 (3.5mm, no mic) on discount at the time of writing.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 5 pairs of eartips, S, MS, M, L, XL (medium-bore)
  • Black faux leather carrying case
  • 3.5mm Cable – Non-detachable terminations, 2-core Silver-coloured cable, 90 degree (right-angle) termination. I like this cable, as it doesn’t tangle easily, not stiff, and has a working chin slider.
  • Leather clip for cable
  • The NiceHCK Tears IEMs themselves.

         

BUILD & DESIGN:
They feel like a budget IEM, cheap and lightweight. Not an issue for me as it’s a $25 IEM after all.

It’s shape is a pentagon, and unique for sure. It’s a small shell.

COMFORT:
Due to the small shell and rounded corners, comfort was great. The stock eartips (M size) worked well for me. I wore it for hours in multiple gaming sessions and forgot that they were in my ears.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO Balanced), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 60% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening. They scale with volume a lot, so this set sounds exceptionally better at louder volumes.

General Sound Signature:
Mild V-shaped. Modest bass, forward midrange. Treble has sparkle and decent extension and non-fatiguing.

BASS:
Tears uses a sub-bass over mid-bass approach, but there’s just a modest amount of sub-bass. So, neither does it rumble nor does it thump. Bass is just… there and does not draw any attention. ‘Clean’ is a word that I’m going to be using a lot in this review. Due to all of this, bass remains very clean and does not muddy up the mix at all.

MIDRANGE:
Vocals on the Tears just sound really good. Once again, lower midrange is tucked in, so instead of a warm/lush vocal presentation, vocals and instruments in the midrange stand out and are of a more clean/neutral presentation. They sound natural though a little sterile.

TREBLE:

Treble is non-fatiguing in general. It rolls off slowly from the lower-midrange onwards, until the upper treble, which affects detail. Music sounds slightly airy in general, while still remaining natural. Once again, the Tears masters tonal balance and something that is rarely found at this price, apart from something like the Tanchjim Bunny.

Timbre: Natural. Everything sounds correct.

Details: Average for the price. General detail feels a little bit diminished, but still decent nonetheless.

Imaging/Separation: Average, still good. Nothing really stood out.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average, due to the natural and extended treble. Soundstage is wider than it is deep.

Conclusion:

This beats out every sub $30 IEM for me in the current market. This is just what I’m looking for as a relaxing, easy-to-listen-to IEM that sits comfortably. If it just had a touch more bass, it would be near perfect for the price. It goes into my recommendation list with my top pick label. Great job, NiceHCK!

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

Here's the AliExpress link (Non-affiliated): https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005010414508304.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2fra

u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 11 hours ago
▲ 2 r/IemReviews

NiceHCK Tears Review - Balance to the Letter

Head-Fi Rating: 4.5/5 (inclusive of price to performance)
Personal Tierlist Rating: 6.6/10

Pros:

- Excellent tonal balance for the price

- Clean and forward vocal presentation

- Airy presentation (Upper treble emphasis)

- Great comfort (Small shells, lightweight)

- Great cable handling, does not tangle easily (see Cons)

Cons:

- Modest amount of bass, while it’s a sub-bass over mid-bass presentation. Not much rumble & thump.

- Cheap-feeling cable, 90 degrees terminations and no chin-slider (nitpick)

- IEM build quality feels cheap (nitpick)

DISCLAIMER:

NiceHCK sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

Let’s be real. The $25 price bracket is insanely saturated. We have the 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero:2, the Moondrop Chu 2, Tangzu Wan’er SG II, Truthear Gate, Tanchjim Bunny, etc.

The NiceHCK Tears received a lot of hype, so of course, I had to try it.

The NiceHCK Tears utilises 1x dynamic driver on each side. The product page does not matter the size of the dynamic driver, not the material.

The NiceHCK Tears retails for $29 USD, but is going for $24 (3.5mm, no mic) on discount at the time of writing.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 5 pairs of eartips, S, MS, M, L, XL (medium-bore)
  • Black faux leather carrying case
  • 3.5mm Cable – Non-detachable terminations, 2-core Silver-coloured cable, 90 degree (right-angle) termination. I like this cable, as it doesn’t tangle easily, not stiff, and has a working chin slider.
  • Leather clip for cable
  • The NiceHCK Tears IEMs themselves.

         

BUILD & DESIGN:
They feel like a budget IEM, cheap and lightweight. Not an issue for me as it’s a $25 IEM after all.

It’s shape is a pentagon, and unique for sure. It’s a small shell.

COMFORT:
Due to the small shell and rounded corners, comfort was great. The stock eartips (M size) worked well for me. I wore it for hours in multiple gaming sessions and forgot that they were in my ears.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO Balanced), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 60% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening. They scale with volume a lot, so this set sounds exceptionally better at louder volumes.

General Sound Signature:
Mild V-shaped. Modest bass, forward midrange. Treble has sparkle and decent extension and non-fatiguing.

BASS:
Tears uses a sub-bass over mid-bass approach, but there’s just a modest amount of sub-bass. So, neither does it rumble nor does it thump. Bass is just… there and does not draw any attention. ‘Clean’ is a word that I’m going to be using a lot in this review. Due to all of this, bass remains very clean and does not muddy up the mix at all.

MIDRANGE:
Vocals on the Tears just sound really good. Once again, lower midrange is tucked in, so instead of a warm/lush vocal presentation, vocals and instruments in the midrange stand out and are of a more clean/neutral presentation. They sound natural though a little sterile.

TREBLE:

Treble is non-fatiguing in general. It rolls off slowly from the lower-midrange onwards, until the upper treble, which affects detail. Music sounds slightly airy in general, while still remaining natural. Once again, the Tears masters tonal balance and something that is rarely found at this price, apart from something like the Tanchjim Bunny.

Timbre: Natural. Everything sounds correct.

Details: Average for the price. General detail feels a little bit diminished, but still decent nonetheless.

Imaging/Separation: Average, still good. Nothing really stood out.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average, due to the natural and extended treble. Soundstage is wider than it is deep.

Conclusion:

This beats out every sub $30 IEM for me in the current market. This is just what I’m looking for as a relaxing, easy-to-listen-to IEM that sits comfortably. If it just had a touch more bass, it would be near perfect for the price. It goes into my recommendation list with my top pick label. Great job, NiceHCK!

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

Here's the AliExpress link (Non-affiliated): https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005010414508304.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2fra

u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 11 hours ago
▲ 10 r/IemReviews

Fosi IM4 Review - So Close, Yet So Far...

Personal Ranking: 7.7/10 (Overall)
Head-fi Ranking: 4 out of 5 Stars

Pros: in a whole package (in my opinion)

  • High midrange clarity while maintaining a non-shouty ear gain
  • Authoritative, plentiful, and very thumpy bass
  • Cable has good behaviour, working chin slider
  • Pseudo-custom shell shape and venting, providing truly excellent comfort
  • Good selection of eartips

Cons:

  • Messy upper midrange-treble, creating an unnatural vocal timbre
  • Mid-treble bordering on sibilant

DISCLAIMER:

Fosi sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

Ever since hearing my favourite IEM at $100, the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant, people in the audio community have been telling me that the Fosi IM4 sounds better in some regards. Of course, I’m interested to compare the two, to see which really is the benchmark of $100 IEMs.

The Fosi IM4 utilises 1x 10mm PU + beryllium-coated diaphragm dynamic driver on each side. Essentially, PU plastic surrounded by beryllium, which increases driver rigidity, supposedly presenting a more technical sound. Let’s see whether this is the case below.

The Fosi IM4 retails for $99 USD.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 3 pairs of Balanced eartips, S M L, (wide-bore)
  • 3 pairs of Bass eartips, S M L, (narrow-bore)
  • 3 pairs of Deep Bass eartips, S M L, (narrowest-bore)
  • Blue faux leather carrying case
  • Brass Nozzles, more treble than the stock Aluminium Nozzles
  • 3.5mm Cable – Non-detachable, 4-core Silver-coloured cable, Gold-plated plug. I like this cable, as it doesn’t tangle easily, not stiff, and has a working chin slider. At this price though, having a detachable termination would be a huge plus.
  • The Fosi IM4 IEMs themselves.

BUILD & DESIGN:

They feel really good in the hands, due to the 6063 CNC Aluminum Alloy. The metal feels soft to the hands, yet durable. They also don’t attract fingerprints. I received the silver (or as they call Galaxy) version and also comes in the black (Obsidian) version. It does not feel cheap in the hands.

The faceplate has a couple of small cutouts with the orange mesh vent below. This is the open-back design of the IM4. Despite having a lot of vents, it provides just about the same amount of isolation as a ‘closed back’ IEM. So don’t except anywhere near the same amount of transparency as a pair of open-back headphones. The vents still prove useful and contribute to comfort, which we will discuss below.

COMFORT:

The shell is a pseudo-custom shape, so no sharp edges, and contours well to my ears, which provides excellent comfort. It’s also lightweight.

Stock eartips provided worked for me as well (in particular the Bass – Medium ear tips) in terms of comfort. I usually don’t see a need to swap them out if they work well.

Zero pressure issues due to the abundance of vents on the shell.

This is without question one of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve ever tried.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.
  • Tuning Nozzles:
    • Brass Nozzles – Makes treble a little spicier, bringing out a bit more sparkle at the cost of more sibilance. I’d just stick to the Aluminium Nozzles.
    • Aluminium/Black Nozzles (Stock) – Provides the most balanced listening experience in my opinion. This would be my pick.

General Sound Signature:

V-shaped. Lots of bass, forward midrange. Treble has some sparkle and decent extension. Almost Harman-like but with a ton more mid bass.

BASS:

Dynamic and punchy, with a satisfying physical slam, thanks to the very elevated mid-bass. Sub-bass is deep but isn’t soul-penetratingly deep compared to something like the Thieaudio Hype 4. The effect of which is that bass guitars have a ton of presence and to the point of my noticing it interestingly, even on songs that I’ve heard thousands of times.

MIDRANGE:

Instruments/Vocals in the midrange sound very forward and clear, almost Harman-like. On first listen, everything sounded fine, good even. However, as I started to listen more closely and analyse the sound, I realised that the upper midrange/lower treble has a ton of peaks and dips, and female vocals can sound a bit jagged or sharp, and so timbre suffers, a little bit unnatural. Male vocals are really good on this though. Lower midrange is not emphasised due to the contrast between the elevated bass and the upper midrange for the V-shaped sound signature.

TREBLE:

Due to the strange mid treble, there is a borderline-sibilance and sharpness to female vocals, however after the 10khz region, the treble roll-off is well done. It has good extension and sounds natural. So, cymbals and other atmospheric elements sound very natural.

Timbre: Upper midrange a little unnatural, other than that OK. Lower midrange and upper treble sounds natural.

Details: Average for the price. Still good though, just not exceptionally detailed in the good way.

Imaging/Separation: Average, still decent. Nothing really stood out.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average, due to the natural and extended treble. Soundstage is wider than it is deep.

Conclusion:

It was a tough choice deciding between this or the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant as my top $100 IEM pick. It took me at least 2 weeks of critical listening to both to really decide on my favourite.

Here is the bottom line: The Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant sounds better, and more natural as a whole. However, the Fosi IM4 provides far superior comfort, one of the best I’ve ever tried in fact, great accessories, and sound that I think the average audiophile will like better. Hence, the Fosi IM4 is just better as a complete IEM package.

Yes, I’ve been shilling the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiants for a long time, but finally, the Fosi IM4 has come to take the throne.

If you’re looking for the best sub-$100 IEM in a whole package (in my opinion), the Fosi IM4 is likely the one for you.

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 20 days ago
▲ 19 r/inearfidelity

Fosi IM4 Review - So Close, Yet So Far...

Personal Ranking: 7.7/10 (Overall)
Head-fi Ranking: 4 out of 5 Stars

Pros: in a whole package (in my opinion)

  • High midrange clarity while maintaining a non-shouty ear gain
  • Authoritative, plentiful, and very thumpy bass
  • Cable has good behaviour, working chin slider
  • Pseudo-custom shell shape and venting, providing truly excellent comfort
  • Good selection of eartips

Cons:

  • Messy upper midrange-treble, creating an unnatural vocal timbre
  • Mid-treble bordering on sibilant

DISCLAIMER:

Fosi sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

Ever since hearing my favourite IEM at $100, the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant, people in the audio community have been telling me that the Fosi IM4 sounds better in some regards. Of course, I’m interested to compare the two, to see which really is the benchmark of $100 IEMs.

The Fosi IM4 utilises 1x 10mm PU + beryllium-coated diaphragm dynamic driver on each side. Essentially, PU plastic surrounded by beryllium, which increases driver rigidity, supposedly presenting a more technical sound. Let’s see whether this is the case below.

The Fosi IM4 retails for $99 USD.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 3 pairs of Balanced eartips, S M L, (wide-bore)
  • 3 pairs of Bass eartips, S M L, (narrow-bore)
  • 3 pairs of Deep Bass eartips, S M L, (narrowest-bore)
  • Blue faux leather carrying case
  • Brass Nozzles, more treble than the stock Aluminium Nozzles
  • 3.5mm Cable – Non-detachable, 4-core Silver-coloured cable, Gold-plated plug. I like this cable, as it doesn’t tangle easily, not stiff, and has a working chin slider. At this price though, having a detachable termination would be a huge plus.
  • The Fosi IM4 IEMs themselves.

BUILD & DESIGN:

They feel really good in the hands, due to the 6063 CNC Aluminum Alloy. The metal feels soft to the hands, yet durable. They also don’t attract fingerprints. I received the silver (or as they call Galaxy) version and also comes in the black (Obsidian) version. It does not feel cheap in the hands.

The faceplate has a couple of small cutouts with the orange mesh vent below. This is the open-back design of the IM4. Despite having a lot of vents, it provides just about the same amount of isolation as a ‘closed back’ IEM. So don’t except anywhere near the same amount of transparency as a pair of open-back headphones. The vents still prove useful and contribute to comfort, which we will discuss below.

COMFORT:

The shell is a pseudo-custom shape, so no sharp edges, and contours well to my ears, which provides excellent comfort. It’s also lightweight.

Stock eartips provided worked for me as well (in particular the Bass – Medium ear tips) in terms of comfort. I usually don’t see a need to swap them out if they work well.

Zero pressure issues due to the abundance of vents on the shell.

This is without question one of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve ever tried.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.
  • Tuning Nozzles:
    • Brass Nozzles – Makes treble a little spicier, bringing out a bit more sparkle at the cost of more sibilance. I’d just stick to the Aluminium Nozzles.
    • Aluminium/Black Nozzles (Stock) – Provides the most balanced listening experience in my opinion. This would be my pick.

General Sound Signature:

V-shaped. Lots of bass, forward midrange. Treble has some sparkle and decent extension. Almost Harman-like but with a ton more mid bass.

BASS:

Dynamic and punchy, with a satisfying physical slam, thanks to the very elevated mid-bass. Sub-bass is deep but isn’t soul-penetratingly deep compared to something like the Thieaudio Hype 4. The effect of which is that bass guitars have a ton of presence and to the point of my noticing it interestingly, even on songs that I’ve heard thousands of times.

MIDRANGE:

Instruments/Vocals in the midrange sound very forward and clear, almost Harman-like. On first listen, everything sounded fine, good even. However, as I started to listen more closely and analyse the sound, I realised that the upper midrange/lower treble has a ton of peaks and dips, and female vocals can sound a bit jagged or sharp, and so timbre suffers, a little bit unnatural. Male vocals are really good on this though. Lower midrange is not emphasised due to the contrast between the elevated bass and the upper midrange for the V-shaped sound signature.

TREBLE:

Due to the strange mid treble, there is a borderline-sibilance and sharpness to female vocals, however after the 10khz region, the treble roll-off is well done. It has good extension and sounds natural. So, cymbals and other atmospheric elements sound very natural.

Timbre: Upper midrange a little unnatural, other than that OK. Lower midrange and upper treble sounds natural.

Details: Average for the price. Still good though, just not exceptionally detailed in the good way.

Imaging/Separation: Average, still decent. Nothing really stood out.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average, due to the natural and extended treble. Soundstage is wider than it is deep.

Conclusion:

It was a tough choice deciding between this or the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant as my top $100 IEM pick. It took me at least 2 weeks of critical listening to both to really decide on my favourite.

Here is the bottom line: The Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant sounds better, and more natural as a whole. However, the Fosi IM4 provides far superior comfort, one of the best I’ve ever tried in fact, great accessories, and sound that I think the average audiophile will like better. Hence, the Fosi IM4 is just better as a complete IEM package.

Yes, I’ve been shilling the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiants for a long time, but finally, the Fosi IM4 has come to take the throne.

If you’re looking for the best sub-$100 IEM in a whole package (in my opinion), the Fosi IM4 is likely the one for you.

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 20 days ago
▲ 2 r/iems

Fosi IM4 Review - So Close, Yet So Far...

Personal Ranking: 7.7/10 (Overall)
Head-fi Ranking: 4 out of 5 Stars

Pros:

  • High midrange clarity while maintaining a non-shouty ear gain
  • Authoritative, plentiful, and very thumpy bass
  • Cable has good behaviour, working chin slider
  • Pseudo-custom shell shape and venting, providing truly excellent comfort
  • Good selection of eartips

Cons:

  • Messy upper midrange-treble, creating an unnatural vocal timbre
  • Mid-treble bordering on sibilant

DISCLAIMER:

Fosi sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

Ever since hearing my favourite IEM at $100, the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant, people in the audio community have been telling me that the Fosi IM4 sounds better in some regards. Of course, I’m interested to compare the two, to see which really is the benchmark of $100 IEMs.

The Fosi IM4 utilises 1x 10mm PU + beryllium-coated diaphragm dynamic driver on each side. Essentially, PU plastic surrounded by beryllium, which increases driver rigidity, supposedly presenting a more technical sound. Let’s see whether this is the case below.

The Fosi IM4 retails for $99 USD.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 3 pairs of Balanced eartips, S M L, (wide-bore)
  • 3 pairs of Bass eartips, S M L, (narrow-bore)
  • 3 pairs of Deep Bass eartips, S M L, (narrowest-bore)
  • Blue faux leather carrying case
  • Brass Nozzles, more treble than the stock Aluminium Nozzles
  • 3.5mm Cable – Non-detachable, 4-core Silver-coloured cable, Gold-plated plug. I like this cable, as it doesn’t tangle easily, not stiff, and has a working chin slider. At this price though, having a detachable termination would be a huge plus.
  • The Fosi IM4 IEMs themselves.

BUILD & DESIGN:

They feel really good in the hands, due to the 6063 CNC Aluminum Alloy. The metal feels soft to the hands, yet durable. They also don’t attract fingerprints. I received the silver (or as they call Galaxy) version and also comes in the black (Obsidian) version. It does not feel cheap in the hands.

The faceplate has a couple of small cutouts with the orange mesh vent below. This is the open-back design of the IM4. Despite having a lot of vents, it provides just about the same amount of isolation as a ‘closed back’ IEM. So don’t except anywhere near the same amount of transparency as a pair of open-back headphones. The vents still prove useful and contribute to comfort, which we will discuss below.

COMFORT:

The shell is a pseudo-custom shape, so no sharp edges, and contours well to my ears, which provides excellent comfort. It’s also lightweight.

Stock eartips provided worked for me as well (in particular the Bass – Medium ear tips) in terms of comfort. I usually don’t see a need to swap them out if they work well.

Zero pressure issues due to the abundance of vents on the shell.

This is without question one of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve ever tried.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.
  • Tuning Nozzles:
    • Brass Nozzles – Makes treble a little spicier, bringing out a bit more sparkle at the cost of more sibilance. I’d just stick to the Aluminium Nozzles.
    • Aluminium/Black Nozzles (Stock) – Provides the most balanced listening experience in my opinion. This would be my pick.

General Sound Signature:

V-shaped. Lots of bass, forward midrange. Treble has some sparkle and decent extension. Almost Harman-like but with a ton more mid bass.

BASS:

Dynamic and punchy, with a satisfying physical slam, thanks to the very elevated mid-bass. Sub-bass is deep but isn’t soul-penetratingly deep compared to something like the Thieaudio Hype 4. The effect of which is that bass guitars have a ton of presence and to the point of my noticing it interestingly, even on songs that I’ve heard thousands of times.

MIDRANGE:

Instruments/Vocals in the midrange sound very forward and clear, almost Harman-like. On first listen, everything sounded fine, good even. However, as I started to listen more closely and analyse the sound, I realised that the upper midrange/lower treble has a ton of peaks and dips, and female vocals can sound a bit jagged or sharp, and so timbre suffers, a little bit unnatural. Male vocals are really good on this though. Lower midrange is not emphasised due to the contrast between the elevated bass and the upper midrange for the V-shaped sound signature.

TREBLE:

Due to the strange mid treble, there is a borderline-sibilance and sharpness to female vocals, however after the 10khz region, the treble roll-off is well done. It has good extension and sounds natural. So, cymbals and other atmospheric elements sound very natural.

Timbre: Upper midrange a little unnatural, other than that OK. Lower midrange and upper treble sounds natural.

Details: Average for the price. Still good though, just not exceptionally detailed in the good way.

Imaging/Separation: Average, still decent. Nothing really stood out.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average, due to the natural and extended treble. Soundstage is wider than it is deep.

Conclusion:

It was a tough choice deciding between this or the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant as my top $100 IEM pick. It took me at least 2 weeks of critical listening to both to really decide on my favourite.

Here is the bottom line: The Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant sounds better, and more natural as a whole. However, the Fosi IM4 provides far superior comfort, one of the best I’ve ever tried in fact, great accessories, and sound that I think the average audiophile will like better. Hence, the Fosi IM4 is just better as a complete IEM package.

Yes, I’ve been shilling the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiants for a long time, but finally, the Fosi IM4 has come to take the throne.

If you’re looking for the best sub-$100 IEM in a whole package (in my opinion), the Fosi IM4 is likely the one for you.

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 20 days ago
▲ 0 r/iems

Fosi Audio MD3 Dongle DAC/AMP Review - Plug-and-play Portable Powerhouse

My Head-fi Rating: 4/5

Pros:

-  Strong magnetic backplate, holds well via Magsafe

-  Transparent sound quality

-  Zero noise floor for sensitive IEMs

-  USB-C charging passthrough

-  100-step volume control for fine tweaks

-  Nice addition of a substantial screen for volume display

-  Lightweight

Cons:

-  No adjustable PEQ

-  Less power than competitors at this price range

-  Software could use improvements

-  3.5mm jack sits a little too close to the USB-C port

DISCLAIMER:

Fosi Audio sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

I’ve been eyeing these for a while, but the relatively high price tag of $150 USD MSRP threw me off, especially with the departure of traditional screen-less and bulky dongle designs, I was not sure if the MD3 was just a cheap novelty or an actual practical product, especially since the specs didn’t wow me at first, such as the low power output compared to its competitors. We’ll talk more about that below.

Unboxing:

-  1x Fosi Audio MD3

-  1x Right-angled USB-C to USB-C cable (charging supported)

-  1x Straight USB-C to USB-C cable

-  1x USB-C to USB-A adapter

-  1x Adhesive magnetic ring

-  Manual

Design and Build Quality:

I think the MD3 looks pretty slick. For a full-sized dongle, it remains very lightweight, and exceptionally thin (12mm), so I had no issues stuffing it in my pocket stuck at the back of my phone.

It’s built with CNC-machined aluminium alloy, not just plain aluminium that cheaper products use, which can get scratched/dented easily. So the MD3 is able to remain lightweight but feels robust and more scratch-resistant.

There are 3 buttons on the side, the top one is a volume + button, then the volume – button, and finally the menu button. The button at the front is called the ‘Vista’ button, which just allows you to turn the screen off, change the screensaver, and acts as a back button for the menu.

On the flip side (or the magnetic side which sticks onto your phone), sits a nice orange synthetic leather, which I think is a good design choice as it won’t scratch the back surface of your phone. The magnet holds strong to my phone as well.

Display:

The 1.28-inch circular LCD display seems to be very well thought out. Not only does it allow for volume display, but the menu allows you to rotate the display orientation, according to how you stuck it onto your device. I just wish they added an actual VU meter in an upcoming update.

Connectivity:

At the top, we have a single USB-C port that is meant for the charging passthrough, while the bottom USB-C port is meant for firmware updates and connecting to your device. Besides the bottom USB-C port, there is a 3.5mm audio jack and finally a 4.4mm audio jack. Unfortunately, the 3.5mm audio jack sits a little too close to the USB-C port, so if you’re using cables with thicker termination housing, it might not fit next to the attached USB-C cable.

Interface and Software:

The user interface is simple, so all it requires is an up/down click, the Vista button acts as a ‘back’ button, or you can scroll down to the ‘back’ option, then click the Menu button, which acts as the ‘Enter’ button.

I think the addition of the 8 filters is nice-to-have, although it doesn’t audibly change the sound quality to me.

It allows you to control how long for it to enter screensaver mode/turn the display off, as well as adding your own images/GIFs, although even after formatting my selected GIF through their website, the MD3 continues to display an image error, so I hope that Fosi fixes a few of the MD3’s bugs through software updates.

I also hope that Fosi adds user-adjustable PEQ in a future update, as most of its competitors around this price range already have PEQ, so it’s becoming more of a basic/expected feature rather than a ‘new’ feature.

Power consumption:

For a dongle, the Fosi Audio MD3 doesn’t drain my phone’s battery that quickly. That’s due to the lower output power. If you leave the display off, your phone will last a good while.

Sound Quality:

Noise Floor: Practically inaudible. It’s Topping-levels of low. <1.7uV for 3.5mm and <2.7uV for 4.4mm. This is excellent and makes the MD3 sound transparent.

SNR/THD+N: 116dB SNR good but average for the price, and distortion is excellent.

Power Output: Below average, at only 80mW@32ohms for the 3.5mm output and 180mW@32ohms for the 4.4mm output. It’s sufficient to drive ALL IEMs and headphones, but I can tell the MD3 is catered more to IEMs. I tried driving my Fatfreq Scarlet Mini through the 3.5mm output. And I had to turn it up to 80/100 on High Gain, with my phone set to maximum volume for decent listening volumes. and only 90/100 was borderline deafening. So, I would prefer it if there was a little more headroom through the 3.5mm port. On the flip side though, it contributes to the relatively low power usage.

Compared to competitors at and below this price range, such as the Crinear Protocol Max, iBasso DC04 Pro, and even the EPZ TP50, have at least almost twice the power output and similarly have excellent noise floor.

Sound Signature: It sounds… Clean, & Transparent. I doubt there is any colouration whatsoever and FR to me sounds flat in the audible frequency range. Also, thanks to the pitch-black noise floor.

Conclusion:

The MD3’s main asset is its form factor. It’s small, it’s lightweight, it has a nice screen, and it has a magnet at the back. Unfortunately, it also suffers from a few drawbacks, namely the low power output compared to competitors around and even below this price range, as well as the lack of software PEQ. Still, it’s undoubtedly a unique and commendable first from Fosi.

I would recommend this to anyone whose top priority is a small form factor. There’s nothing that comes close for this purpose.

Thank you for reading, and catch y’all in the next one. 👋

u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 21 days ago
▲ 2 r/inearfidelity

Tanchjim Bunny Review – High Fidelity Isn’t Costly

Head-fi Rating: 4.5/5

Pros:

  • Fantastic, smooth midrange
  • Authoritative, meaty bass
  • Above average detail, airy treble (see Cons)
  • Cable has good behaviour, working chin slider
  • Small shells, good comfort

Cons:

  • Mid treble bordering on sibilant
  • Upper treble peak affects timbre
  • Cheap shell/cable build quality overall (nitpick)

https://preview.redd.it/vhzlstbito4h1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d056b573c0b21a2ef2c3ed5c2f7b53f1a1961fc0

DISCLAIMER:

Tanchjim sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

I’ve owned and used the Tanchjim Bunny for about a year, and they have been on the market for a while. They’ve been on my recommendation list for a good few months, but I never really bothered to review them, until Tanchjim reached out to me, offering to send me another set of the Bunnies, asking me for my honest review.

The Tanchjim Bunny utilises 1x 10mm PET titanium-coated dome diaphragm dynamic driver on each side.

The Tanchjim Bunny retails for $20 USD.

https://preview.redd.it/s6phju1kto4h1.jpg?width=1534&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95511ca905a63b520d51ef95a444ef853295f70a

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  1. 3 pairs of Narrow Bore Eartips (S, M, L)
  2. 4 pairs of Wide Bore Eartips  (S, S, M, L)
  3. Carrying pouch (Soft felt material)
  4. 3.5mm Cable (not the DSP version) ‘Litz copper with silver-plated woven parallel structure’ – A little stiff, doesn’t hold memory. Tangle-resistant.
  5. The IEMs themselves.

https://preview.redd.it/wy87itouto4h1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c567e11b3b0197607e9e5e7705594ac2424868af

BUILD & DESIGN:

They feel like how you would expect a $20 IEM to feel. It’s light plastic, they call it ‘Medical-grade, transparent PC housing’. I think they’re fairly durable though. If you take care of your IEMs, they will last a couple of years at least.

I REALLY like the design. It’s different for sure; they nailed the bunny design in my opinion.

COMFORT:

It’s lightweight, and the shell shape is nothing offensive, no sharp edges. Just note that the nozzles are a little wide, so wide bore eartips are my go-to. For example, the Dunu Candy eartips which are narrow bore barely fit onto the IEM nozzles, while my favourite eartips, the Final Edge Series Type E eartips, could be easily put on the nozzles.

The only issue I have with the fitment is that the shell extends very far back horizontally, so for my average sized ears, the back of the shell does rub against the inner portion of my ear, which isn’t inherently uncomfortable, but if you move around a lot in them, you might encounter issues with the inner back part of your ear.

Stock eartips provided worked for me as well in terms of comfort. I usually don’t see a need to swap them out if they work well.

SOUND:

Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max

Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.

Tuning Nozzles:

Nil. I’m glad there aren’t any tuning nozzles, so I don’t have to measure and listen to them multiple times. 😃

https://preview.redd.it/mq7w9hgwto4h1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50bab4292ebd042f172985582bdd9582b2c16689

General Sound Signature:

Slight V-shaped with added upper-treble emphasis. Yep, that’s the Tanchjim house sound for you.

BASS:

Sub bass is punchy and deep. Mid bass is thumpy and authoritative and is elevated in the 80hz-300hz region. It pushed the the kick drum pattern in ‘Patterns – Taiki Nulight’ to the centre of attention, perhaps the best example of how punchy the bass is on this set. However, it’s not close to being a basshead set though, as it is very balanced by the relatively forward midrange.

MIDRANGE:

Instruments/Vocals in the midrange sound very smooth are presented just a touch forward in the mix, contrasting with the weighty bass. Ear gain is nicely controlled. Alfie Boe’s voice in ‘Bring Him Home’ just sounds sublime, and it is placed a correct-sounding distance from the head. No complaints at all, not even one to nitpick.

TREBLE:

While the rest of the frequency response is a rather standard V-shaped sound signature, the Bunny adds flair and airiness with the enhanced upper treble, as can be seen by the peak after 15khz. Some people sensitive to treble will not find it very pleasant. Instruments like hi-hats stands out in the mix more than they usually do in ‘Mmm Mmm Mmm- Crash Test Dummies’. But this accurately nails my preference, as I like other IEMs like the Kiwi Ears Astrals and Thieaudio Oracle Mk3 which also do have an elevated upper treble. So, it sounds airy, and vocals can sound a touch breathy.

Unlike the Bass and the Midrange, I can easily pick out something to complain about the treble though. The Mid treble is bordering on sibilant to my ears.

Timbre: Overall, natural. Well done.

Details: Both macro and micro details are emphasised due to the upper treble elevated tuning. Sounds ‘high-fidelity’ in my opinion as details are heard without being overbearing.

Imaging/Separation: Above average. More width than depth in the soundstage. So L/R is positioned well but distance from the head could be a little restricted. For $20 it’s among the best I’ve heard.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average. Due to emphasised upper treble, adds airiness and the spaciousness effect.

Conclusion:

This is among my 2 favourite sounding IEMs at $20: namely, the Tanchjim Bunny and the Moondrop Chu 2. It works well with any genres I threw at it. Everything sounds correct/natural (timbre-wise) and just a touch of spiciness in the upper treble aligns with my preferences, competently.

If you’re sensitive to treble, this set will not be for you. If you’re tired of airy-sounding IEMs - if you don’t like Planar IEMs in general, then this IEM will also not be for you.

So, overall, I would recommend this IEM to anyone starting out their IEM journey as their first IEM. It sounds as ‘high-fidelity’ as a $20 budget goes to my ears. Good job, Tanchjim.

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

reddit.com
u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 1 month ago
▲ 7 r/iems

Simgot EW300 Review – Technical Beast on a Budget; Gaming Extraordinaire

My Overall Rating: 4/5 (Head-fi), 7.1/10 (Personal Tier List)

Pros:

- So. Much. Detail, but never sibilant. Highly and technical and well-executed V-shaped IEM, second to none in this price range.
- Outstanding instrument separation and directionality, especially in busy tracks
- Good shell build quality (aluminium alloy)
- Punchy bass that does not bleed into the midrange (Overall, optimal driver implementation)
- High quality stock cable
- Comfortable to wear

Cons:

- Upper treble has slightly metallic timbre
- Midrange/Vocals sounds a little thin and unnatural
- Only 1 pair of ear tips provided
- Potential channel imbalance issues (on review set)
- Not for those sensitive to treble, treble quantity might be a bit too much.

DISCLAIMER:

Simgot sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

https://preview.redd.it/h6uw8dnefh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8fdfa5aab1d9722621ae8b948eb6ef6b799d31d

INTRODUCTION:

The EW300 isn’t a new product, and I was already familiar with the name a year ago, and at first, I was skeptical that an IEM company would put BOTH a planar driver AND a piezoelectric driver in a single IEM shell. On paper, it sounded like it would be treble murder. However, I only first listened the Simgot EW300 DSP at e-earphone in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2025. First impressions were already positive. I didn’t have time to really judge the sound, but it was already balanced enough, nothing struck me immediately as ‘wrong’, so it subverted my expectations for a huge amount of treble.

I am thankful to Simgot for sending me these to review, as I’ve been wanting to have one for a long time

The Simgot EW300 has a 1x 10mm Dynamic Driver handling the bass/lower midrange, 1x 6mm Planar Driver handling mid/high midrange and treble, and finally a Piezoelectric Driver handling the upper treble. (My speculation, there is no official description.)

The Simgot EW300 (Standard Edition, 3.5mm) retails for $80 USD on Linsoul’s official website. Let’s talk about in detail below.

https://preview.redd.it/fs67bq4hfh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8546eb3bb75fce63f18466527eca3f623186d8b

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 3 pairs of 1 type of Silicone Eartips
  • 6x foam filters
  • 8x O-rings
  • 1 pair of Gold Nozzles (with Pink O-ring), 1 pair of Silver Nozzles (Red O-ring) (installed stock)
  • Black carrying case (hard shell)
  • 2-core OFC Silver-plated cable (0.78mm 2-Pin) – Cable handles well and is light too. No microphonics and does not tangle easily nor retain memory. Non-swappable terminations. Chin slider stays in place.

https://preview.redd.it/wz133anifh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=efd3cbcf08bb998d1a0e20863c3f1f9c9db14e04

BUILD & DESIGN:

Fairly light shell, made of sturdy aluminium alloy, so it doesn’t scratch as easily as conventional aluminium shells. Much lighter than the Hidizs MY LIN in my previous review. I’m sure these will last for years given good care.

The design though, is a hit or miss for certain people. I mean, I get it. There is a cross on the left faceplate and a heart design on the right faceplate. I personally couldn’t care for the design, but I don’t dislike it. It just doesn’t interest me enough.

https://preview.redd.it/le5rbu3kfh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4028655f3a0d03bbf44b5a5a3f6ace2968ff5729

COMFORT:

I was surprised at how comfortable the EW300s are. Sure, it’s easy for an IEM at this price to be lightweight. But the shell shape doesn’t have anything offensive, nothing sticks out physically to cause discomfort. It doesn’t seem like it was designed with ergonomics in mind, as can be seen by the conventional shell shape. Rather, the proportions of the IEM in terms of shell shape just work for my ears. I can wear them for many, many hours at a time without any discomfort, sometimes forgetting that it is there.

Eartips provided worked for me as well in terms of comfort, though I wished they had provided at least another type of eartips, either Liquid Silicone, or different bores. I switched to the Hidizs Sea Anemone just because they were a slight bit more comfortable.

SOUND:

Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max

Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.

Tuning Nozzles:

  • Silver Nozzles (with Red O-ring) provides a more vocal forward signature, which I think is appropriate for my taste.
  • Gold Nozzles (with Pink O-ring) relaxes vocal forwardness in the upper midrange. I don’t really like this as vocals are pulled weirdly behind the mix. But it’s not inherently a bad tuning change, just up to your preferences.
    • My measured graph reflects the audible differences as well. Note the only difference is in the upper midrange region (1-4khz).
    • * Note that there was channel imbalance in the bass (>1dB) and upper treble, which reflected consistently in multiple measurements. I was a little disappointed as usually brand-new IEMs don’t exhibit this amount of channel imbalance. I understand though I have to lower my expectations as it is a budget IEM after all. If I saw this in a $500 IEM I would have major complaints though.

https://preview.redd.it/rgb274xmfh2h1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=5cc3a3384f4b9d058f71816cba5795c7f75c3147

^ Note the channel imbalance above for a new IEM. ^

General Sound Signature:

V-shaped with added upper-treble emphasis. To me, they are a fun, but uniquely analytical listen. The below sound signature impressions will be according to the Silver nozzles (with the O-ring).

https://preview.redd.it/kr39wk9qfh2h1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=5f3b02ca35816553505c10f72313f1ccd6fcadb9

BASS:

I would describe it as a moderate amount of bass in general. The bass quantity plateaus out in the sub-bass, but what stands out is the generous amount of mid-bass. This makes bass guitar plucks very satisfying, especially in ‘The Workout – Paul Jackson, Jr.’ and provides the ‘oomph’ that I’m sure the general audiophile population will enjoy. Bass speed to me has average technicalities. It can feel a bit lost, like it’s struggling to catch up to high paced bass heavy tracks such as ‘Rumble – Skrillex’. I’m really nitpicking at this price.

MIDRANGE:

Instruments/Vocals in the midrange sound very clean, and it is lacking a bit of warmth. Why is that so? The lower midrange is audibly scooped off, as they had to make space for the emphasised mid-bass somehow, to create a bigger contrast between the emphasised bass and the rest of the midrange. Leaning vocals sounding thin, but the rise in the upper midrange has just a touch of forwardness but still completely balanced, making vocals sound almost clinical. The guitar in ‘I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance – Diana Krall’ has a very natural midrange timbre, but Diana Krall’s vocals in the same song lose a little lushness. I see this issue of the lack of warmth of midrange in other reviews as well, and I can see why.

TREBLE:

We can’t talk about vocals without talking about the treble, as both the midrange and the treble contribute to the ‘naturalness’ of vocals. The upper treble is emphasised, reminding me of previous 1PLN driver IEMs. Where naturalness is sacrificed for detail. Hence, vocals have a little too much air, or upper treble, for my liking, leading it to sound artificial.

In instrumental tracks, hi-hats and cymbals have a ton of presence, and I could hear every detail down to the individual notes of hi-hat rolls in ‘Neurotica – Polyphia’ with a high level of clarity.

This also affects the spaciousness of the sound, which will be discussed below.

Timbre: Slight PZT metallic timbre in the upper treble. Midrange sounds mostly correct, though a little thin.

Details: Both macro and micro details are emphasised due to the treble elevated tuning and the driver configuration. Probably the most detailed sub $100 set I’ve heard to date.

Imaging/Separation: Great. Every instrument has its own space in the mix, nothing sounds muddy. I can picture each instrument’s location with high accuracy. Had a Battlefield 6 marathon recently with this IEM. Absolutely sublime experience hearing enemies from various distances from my head. Would recommend this for gaming.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average. Due to emphasised upper treble, adds airiness and the spaciousness effect.

My Preferred Configuration: Silver Nozzles (Red O-ring)

Conclusion:

Very unique, very fun, very technical, and a very balanced sound profile. These are 4 adjectives I rarely describe any IEM with, much less anything under $100. I still can’t believe Simgot managed to pull this driver configuration off. It’s the ‘best’ IEM for gaming under $100 in my honest opinion. The imaging and detail is stellar and has exceeded my expectations. It’s not just a lot of detail, it’s detail tuned with finesse. Apart from gaming, I think this IEM works best with instrumental genres such as Funk/Jazz. I wouldn’t necessarily get this for EDM/Electronic music, as upper treble from hi-hats might get a little too much even for me. Maybe something warmer with less detail will work.

If you’re sensitive to treble, this set will not be for you. If you’re tired of airy-sounding IEMs - if you don’t like Planar IEMs in general, then this IEM will also not be for you.

So, overall, I would recommend this IEM if you like treble/technicalities. The value proposition is really good.

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

reddit.com
u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 2 months ago
▲ 5 r/inearfidelity

Simgot EW300 Review – Technical Beast on a Budget; Gaming Extraordinaire

My Overall Rating: 4/5 (Head-fi), 7.1/10 (Personal Tier List)

Pros:

- So. Much. Detail, but never sibilant. Highly and technical and well-executed V-shaped IEM, second to none in this price range.
- Outstanding instrument separation and directionality, especially in busy tracks
- Good shell build quality (aluminium alloy)
- Punchy bass that does not bleed into the midrange (Overall, optimal driver implementation)
- High quality stock cable
- Comfortable to wear

Cons:

- Upper treble has slightly metallic timbre
- Midrange/Vocals sounds a little thin and unnatural
- Only 1 pair of ear tips provided
- Potential channel imbalance issues (on review set)
- Not for those sensitive to treble, treble quantity might be a bit too much.

DISCLAIMER:

Simgot sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

https://preview.redd.it/a9i78pq0gh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=714658ab2e77b4e61eec56ef6ab8233bf1b2bc82

INTRODUCTION:

The EW300 isn’t a new product, and I was already familiar with the name a year ago, and at first, I was skeptical that an IEM company would put BOTH a planar driver AND a piezoelectric driver in a single IEM shell. On paper, it sounded like it would be treble murder. However, I only first listened the Simgot EW300 DSP at e-earphone in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2025. First impressions were already positive. I didn’t have time to really judge the sound, but it was already balanced enough, nothing struck me immediately as ‘wrong’, so it subverted my expectations for a huge amount of treble.

I am thankful to Simgot for sending me these to review, as I’ve been wanting to have one for a long time

The Simgot EW300 has a 1x 10mm Dynamic Driver handling the bass/lower midrange, 1x 6mm Planar Driver handling mid/high midrange and treble, and finally a Piezoelectric Driver handling the upper treble. (My speculation, there is no official description.)

The Simgot EW300 (Standard Edition, 3.5mm) retails for $80 USD on Linsoul’s official website. Let’s talk about in detail below.

https://preview.redd.it/exyuepl2gh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f80b36bd68083f12c8f49759eb2e4646ca9dadc

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  • 3 pairs of 1 type of Silicone Eartips
  • 6x foam filters
  • 8x O-rings
  • 1 pair of Gold Nozzles (with Pink O-ring), 1 pair of Silver Nozzles (Red O-ring) (installed stock)
  • Black carrying case (hard shell)
  • 2-core OFC Silver-plated cable (0.78mm 2-Pin) – Cable handles well and is light too. No microphonics and does not tangle easily nor retain memory. Non-swappable terminations. Chin slider stays in place.

https://preview.redd.it/54pemcx3gh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=506985724dc248fac1303bf2d6188452f70d0edc

BUILD & DESIGN:

Fairly light shell, made of sturdy aluminium alloy, so it doesn’t scratch as easily as conventional aluminium shells. Much lighter than the Hidizs MY LIN in my previous review. I’m sure these will last for years given good care.

The design though, is a hit or miss for certain people. I mean, I get it. There is a cross on the left faceplate and a heart design on the right faceplate. I personally couldn’t care for the design, but I don’t dislike it. It just doesn’t interest me enough.

https://preview.redd.it/o53h3pp5gh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e03b543d64a8ff70c1a95cb81a472452c4697bf

COMFORT:

I was surprised at how comfortable the EW300s are. Sure, it’s easy for an IEM at this price to be lightweight. But the shell shape doesn’t have anything offensive, nothing sticks out physically to cause discomfort. It doesn’t seem like it was designed with ergonomics in mind, as can be seen by the conventional shell shape. Rather, the proportions of the IEM in terms of shell shape just work for my ears. I can wear them for many, many hours at a time without any discomfort, sometimes forgetting that it is there.

Eartips provided worked for me as well in terms of comfort, though I wished they had provided at least another type of eartips, either Liquid Silicone, or different bores. I switched to the Hidizs Sea Anemone just because they were a slight bit more comfortable.

SOUND:

Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max

Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.

Tuning Nozzles:

  • Silver Nozzles (with Red O-ring) provides a more vocal forward signature, which I think is appropriate for my taste.
  • Gold Nozzles (with Pink O-ring) relaxes vocal forwardness in the upper midrange. I don’t really like this as vocals are pulled weirdly behind the mix. But it’s not inherently a bad tuning change, just up to your preferences.
    • My measured graph reflects the audible differences as well. Note the only difference is in the upper midrange region (1-4khz).
    • * Note that there was channel imbalance in the bass (>1dB) and upper treble, which reflected consistently in multiple measurements. I was a little disappointed as usually brand-new IEMs don’t exhibit this amount of channel imbalance. I understand though I have to lower my expectations as it is a budget IEM after all. If I saw this in a $500 IEM I would have major complaints though.

https://preview.redd.it/kbvvn937gh2h1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=1dca452c9f278935a20f5432bf2533d38c3864bf

^ Note the channel imbalance above for a new IEM. ^

General Sound Signature:

V-shaped with added upper-treble emphasis. To me, they are a fun, but uniquely analytical listen. The below sound signature impressions will be according to the Silver nozzles (with the O-ring).

https://preview.redd.it/lybebmn8gh2h1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=75c6e7ba2a239bc3e51696a6ee2be440a07386a1

BASS:

I would describe it as a moderate amount of bass in general. The bass quantity plateaus out in the sub-bass, but what stands out is the generous amount of mid-bass. This makes bass guitar plucks very satisfying, especially in ‘The Workout – Paul Jackson, Jr.’ and provides the ‘oomph’ that I’m sure the general audiophile population will enjoy. Bass speed to me has average technicalities. It can feel a bit lost, like it’s struggling to catch up to high paced bass heavy tracks such as ‘Rumble – Skrillex’. I’m really nitpicking at this price.

MIDRANGE:

Instruments/Vocals in the midrange sound very clean, and it is lacking a bit of warmth. Why is that so? The lower midrange is audibly scooped off, as they had to make space for the emphasised mid-bass somehow, to create a bigger contrast between the emphasised bass and the rest of the midrange. Leaning vocals sounding thin, but the rise in the upper midrange has just a touch of forwardness but still completely balanced, making vocals sound almost clinical. The guitar in ‘I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance – Diana Krall’ has a very natural midrange timbre, but Diana Krall’s vocals in the same song lose a little lushness. I see this issue of the lack of warmth of midrange in other reviews as well, and I can see why.

TREBLE:

We can’t talk about vocals without talking about the treble, as both the midrange and the treble contribute to the ‘naturalness’ of vocals. The upper treble is emphasised, reminding me of previous 1PLN driver IEMs. Where naturalness is sacrificed for detail. Hence, vocals have a little too much air, or upper treble, for my liking, leading it to sound artificial.

In instrumental tracks, hi-hats and cymbals have a ton of presence, and I could hear every detail down to the individual notes of hi-hat rolls in ‘Neurotica – Polyphia’ with a high level of clarity.

This also affects the spaciousness of the sound, which will be discussed below.

Timbre: Slight PZT metallic timbre in the upper treble. Midrange sounds mostly correct, though a little thin.

Details: Both macro and micro details are emphasised due to the treble elevated tuning and the driver configuration. Probably the most detailed sub $100 set I’ve heard to date.

Imaging/Separation: Great. Every instrument has its own space in the mix, nothing sounds muddy. I can picture each instrument’s location with high accuracy. Had a Battlefield 6 marathon recently with this IEM. Absolutely sublime experience hearing enemies from various distances from my head. Would recommend this for gaming.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average. Due to emphasised upper treble, adds airiness and the spaciousness effect.

My Preferred Configuration: Silver Nozzles (Red O-ring)

Conclusion:

Very unique, very fun, very technical, and a very balanced sound profile. These are 4 adjectives I rarely describe any IEM with, much less anything under $100. I still can’t believe Simgot managed to pull this driver configuration off. It’s the ‘best’ IEM for gaming under $100 in my honest opinion. The imaging and detail is stellar and has exceeded my expectations. It’s not just a lot of detail, it’s detail tuned with finesse. Apart from gaming, I think this IEM works best with instrumental genres such as Funk/Jazz. I wouldn’t necessarily get this for EDM/Electronic music, as upper treble from hi-hats might get a little too much even for me. Maybe something warmer with less detail will work.

If you’re sensitive to treble, this set will not be for you. If you’re tired of airy-sounding IEMs - if you don’t like Planar IEMs in general, then this IEM will also not be for you.

So, overall, I would recommend this IEM if you like treble/technicalities. The value proposition is really good.

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

reddit.com
u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 2 months ago
▲ 4 r/inearfidelity

Hidizs MY LIN Review - Competent Warmth for just $89 USD?

Overall Rating: (3.5/5 Head-fi, 6.7/10 Personal Ranking)

Pros:

  • Uniquely warm sound signature under the $100 price point
  • Immersive, impactful, and deep bass
  • Excellent shell build quality
  • Good accessories (especially if you are into waifus)

Cons:

  • Vocals can come across edgy and metallic
  • Slight BA timbre in the treble
  • Soundstage is rather intimate, not airy sounding and micro-detail retrieval suffers due to diminished upper-treble
  • Questionable shell fitment (Subjective)

DISCLAIMER:

Hidizs sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

https://preview.redd.it/t73txi710u1h1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6193e8a520d0be9211bfe51ed99b6a8bddc682a2

INTRODUCTION:

I first heard the MY LINs personally at Canjam Singapore 2026 on 16 May. First impressions were not very impressive. Sure, bass was absolutely the star of the show in these IEMs, but the midrange sounded a little metallic and I could tell there were weird peaks and dips, so overall timbre suffered.

However, when I brought the review set back home on that day. I tried the different nozzles. I swapped out the stock Red nozzles with the Black, which toned down the peaky upper midrange, making it sound normal again. So that's what I would recommend, swapping the stock Red nozzles to the Black ones immediately upon receiving this IEM. It went from me dismissing it as a viable option, to me actually recommending this as probably one of the most well executed warm-tuned sets under the $100 budget.

We also know that this is supposed to be an upgrade from the original MS2 Pro.

The MY LIN has an MSRP of $129 USD, and comprises of 1 full range Dynamic Driver (DD) and 1 Balanced Armature (BA), while it is currently on discount at $89 USD on their official website at the time of writing. And my experience with Hidizs is that it is usually stuck at the discounted price, so let's take $89 USD as MSRP instead.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

  1. 2 Types of ear tips, 3 pairs of each type (Vocals - wider bore, Bass - narrow bore)
  2. 2-core silver-coloured cable that doesn't hold memory, so it handles well. Non-swappable terminations.
  3. Carrying Pouch (Fake leather, the clasp at the top is a little too tight for my liking, so it takes quite a bit of effort to open it up)
  4. 3 sets of tuning nozzles ('Charm Red' - Balanced, 'Midnight Black' - low frequency, 'Crystal Clear' - high frequency)
  5. MY LIN Acrylic Stand
  6. MY LIN Cleaning Cloth (If you're into that sort of thing)

https://preview.redd.it/j5meba070u1h1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4f0aa5b52fcd4febc81850cf2f0a3df2fb0d704

https://preview.redd.it/ryzc8td80u1h1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db80bf9e2ef53188acaae57fa8b34a9c142d4c20

BUILD & DESIGN:

High quality and sturdy feeling ZA12 Zinc Alloy, not your typical Aluminium, they feel hefty and for $89 USD I'd be hard pressed to find anything that feels more sturdy in the hands. Backplate design is mostly black brush strokes with specks of blue and pink on it, and apparently it is Carbon Fibre, which again is something you just don't see anywhere near this price. It goes really nicely with the overall waifu theme.

https://preview.redd.it/d5pzn9bk0u1h1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c56f583836b59ce5131d79cc134ba704f3ff572

https://preview.redd.it/5aslk6hk0u1h1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e4213543244fcbf94b6b713604e1ede98c20393

COMFORT:

Comfort was alright, nothing amazing. The issue is that if you push them into your canals enough, the corners of the shell might rub against your ears, making it feel uncomfortable.

Also, none of the stock eartips provided the most secure fit in my ears. After a while they slid out of my ears although I got quite a good seal initially. I ended up tip rolling to the Final Audio Edge Series Type E - which seems to work with most IEMs for my ears.

SOUND:

Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max

Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 70% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.

Tuning Nozzles:

  • 'Charm Red'/Red - Balanced
  • 'Midnight Black'/Black - low frequency
  • 'Crystal Clear'/White - high frequency

Based on my measurements below, the filters don't really do much to the sound. Audibly, the Black nozzles brought down the eargain a little and made it a more palatable and relaxing listen, while the Red nozzles made the midrange a bit too forward and metallic sounding. Silver nozzles are a no-go as it creates weird peaks and dips in the midrange. We will also go more into detail below, using the Black nozzles.

https://preview.redd.it/ed3gys5e0u1h1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=7cef76a100a42b631d5e3a7b3cf5f0e43b22130c

General Sound Signature:

Slight V-shape with elevated Bass. To me, they are a warm, relaxing listen. Something not usually found at this price range which is usually dominated by aggressive V-shaped IEMs with lots of treble or upper midrange/ear gain energy.

BASS:
It's elevated. There is lots of bass. On the more immersive/quantity side, over being technical. So when you listen to sub bass, it fills up a large listening space. It's also thumpy due to the mid bass, but can sound a little bloated, so I wouldn't call it punchy and technical. Kicks in EDM such as 'Tycoon - Kuhlosul, Neomade' sound insanely satisfying. I think bassheads will enjoy this IEM a lot. Whereas in instrumental tracks, such as 'Got that? - Greg Spero', the acoustic kicks and bass guitar do overshadow the midrange a bit. Hence, this IEM is suited more for electronic genres rather than orchestral/instrumental.

MIDRANGE:
Vocals and other instruments sitting in this region of the Frequency Response (FR) graph are well placed, and not too intimate, yet not too far away, due to the very linear rise in the upper midrange. Despite the bass bloat, it doesn't seem to bleed into the midrange. Vocals can come across slightly metallic, which is likely due to the dip past 4khz, based on the track 'Bring Him Home - Alfie Boe'.

TREBLE:
To my ears the ear resonance peak appears at 11khz instead of the measured 8khz. So there is a bit of weirdness especially with certain female vocal artifacts or cymbal strikes, where timbre-wise just sounds a little off. Other than that, it's rather rolled off, and even more rolled-off towards the upper treble. In other words, it doesn't sound spacious, and soundstage is rather intimate, unlike the MP145 Pro counterpart, another newly released Hidizs IEM.

Timbre: Metallic timbre in the treble and midrange. Overall not very natural and true-to-life, but it's not trying to sound natural anyways, and instead offers a fun bass-heavy presentation.

Details: Macro details are present, due to the peak in the presence region. Upper treble is rolled off and microdetails will get lost in busier tracks.

Imaging: Positional imaging/accuracy are below average at this price point. Imaging can get blurred in busier tracks, seems as if the DD can't keep up with all the track elements. Even in FPS games like Battlefield 6, when a lot of sound effects are going on it's hard to really pinpoint the enemies' positions.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Soundstage feels like it cuts off after a middle point. Vocals can get a decent distance from the head, but feels rather limited and even a little intimate.

My Preferred Configuration: Black nozzles + Bass eartips. (Or Final Edge Series Type E if you have one)

Conclusion:

Overall, one of the few warm-tuned IEMs at this price range (sub $100), and does it well. It's a competent IEM, with fun, bass forward but maintains balance in the midrange and treble, at the cost of soundstage and micro-detail retrieval. The MY LIN is good, but has room for improvements sound-wise. And the build quality would lead one to think they are three times as expensive at least.

I personally wouldn't purchase this at the original MSRP $129, as it competes with the likes of the Aful Explorer, which in my opinion has a better warm-tuned execution overall.

This does remind me of the QKZ x HBB which is warm, but the MY LIN is much more balanced and actually has some decent midrange, so I'd consider the MY LIN a direct upgrade of the QKZ x HBB.

https://preview.redd.it/6gt1e8eh0u1h1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=6157283cb19eaeb5c1840de43aa0f1ee50330f18

Compared to the MS2 Pro, which is the MY LIN's predecessor, the MY LIN possesses more BASS and refined treble timbre (after listening to both personally), though it could still use some improvement with the BA implementation.

This gets good recommendation from me if you like bass and looking for a more relaxed listen, at just $89 USD. Thank you for reading!

reddit.com
u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 2 months ago
▲ 3 r/inearfidelity

https://preview.redd.it/vvc11gln2jyg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75c28dc7f216f51164362f00367c8db74d5c5a6f

Pros:
- Inoffensive, safe, smooth-sounding V-shaped IEM (Pink nozzles), accurate Harman representation (Green nozzles)
- Multiple tuning options with tuning nozzles that make a big impact to sound
- Abundant accessories (replacement foams, filters, liquid silicone ear tips, etc.)
- Stock cable has secure screw-on terminations, good to see at this price

Cons:
- Memory-prone stock cable + loose ear-hooks
- Stock eartips fitment
- Planar treble timbre
- Treble might be too rolled-off for some
- Tuning of Black nozzles cause upper mid-range and treble be too peaky, causing discomfort at louder volumes for me
- QDC terminations (Why are we still using these in 2026?)

DISCLAIMER:

TinHifi sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias due to human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself**.**
Big thanks to TinHifi about being so chill with the review process and letting me be free to say anything in my reviews.

INTRODUCTION:

The TinHifi T6 was released on January 22, 2026. They comprise of 1 Dynamic Driver and 1 Planar Driver (1DD + 1PLN), though TinHifi doesn't mention it on the official product page, it seems to be a micro-planar driver (mPLN), as can be see on the product page image below. So it's safe to assume that the planar driver in the T6 handles the highs, while the dynamic driver handles the lows and mids.

https://preview.redd.it/dwv0wifj2jyg1.png?width=903&format=png&auto=webp&s=7528a23c6f00f510876a93f5f5dcd4805e5dc0c7

I personally think that the 1DD + 1PLN driver configuration is the optimal one for IEMs on the more budget side, as is the T6, coming in at $119 USD MSRP. Why's that? I simply can't do without the visceral thump of the bass of a DD, and as we know midrange on DDs is very potent as well, looking at releases from Dunu. Treble taken over by mPLN drivers provide the missing technicalities and sparkle from a conventional DD. Let's see if the configuration of 1DD + 1PLN is implemented well in the T6.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

https://preview.redd.it/n0tweqfj2jyg1.jpg?width=902&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b1c674490e73fe8aa6faedf0def262251fef5ea

 

  1. 3 Types of Eartips in a Eartips Case (Foam - 1 pair, Silicone - 3 sizes, Liquid Silicone - 3 sizes) None of the eartips worked for me. Usually I wear size Medium eartips, and both the Silicone and Liquide Silicone Medium size eartips were too big for my ears, and subsequently the Small sized eartips were way too small. I eventually settled on the Final Audio Edge Series Type E eartips.
  2. 4-Core Silver-coloured Cable, this cable holds a lot of memory and is stiff. When I unboxed this IEM, the cable didn't want to come out straight, it retained the coil that it was packed as. Earhooks were loose and kept feeling like it was about to fall off my ears. "Heating them with a hairdryer" shouldn't justify the poor behaviour of a provided cable. The cable feels very high quality, and having a screw-on interchangeable termination is awesome to see in this price range. One of the only other IEM brands that provide screw-on interchangeable terminations at this price are the Dunu Titan S and S2.
  3. Large Yellow Carrying Case. This feels high quality, with a magnetic latch that felt solid in the hand. It's on the larger side though, and will not fit into most pockets.
  4. 4.4 Termination.
  5. A bunch of filters and foams for the Tuning Nozzles.
    1. APC™ Acoustic Filters × 4
    2. Nozzle Filter Mesh × 12
    3. Nozzle Filter Foam Inserts × 6
  6. 3 Sets of Tuning Nozzles. (Green - Harman, Pink - Gaming, Black - 'Hifi Reference') We'll talk about this more in-depth below.

https://preview.redd.it/2y1rkgvq2jyg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9af8c4def1721d720b0758a5fa9554bfe95bc9ab

BUILD & DESIGN:
High quality and sturdy feeling aluminum build. 'CNC-milled aerospace aluminum' according to the product page. Shell size is average and fit in my average-sized ears without any complains comfort-wise. The faceplate looks really good, 'Natural solid wood', but it's actually lacquered so it's shiny and feels smooth like marble. I really like the faceplate design of this, it's quite subtle and understated.

https://preview.redd.it/btu6jzfj2jyg1.jpg?width=902&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac9c645c844dde8eb9970303abf23b6f022184c7

COMFORT:
As mentioned above, the shell is average in size. The nozzles are long and the wings do not fully fit into the concha like they're supposed to. So, It isn't uncomfortable but isn't the most ergonomic either. My ears are average sized and have had no issues wearing the T6 for a couple of hours.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.
  • TinHifi does not state the impedance and sensitivity of the T6 for some reason. Every single claim to these specs I found on Google gives me varying answers from 10-32ohms and 102-108db/mw of sensitivity. Regardless, they are easy to drive.

General Sound Signature:

The three tuning nozzles make the tuning very audibly different so have a look at the measurements of my review set of the T6, which my ears can concur with.

https://preview.redd.it/hqinzkfj2jyg1.png?width=903&format=png&auto=webp&s=d6fcb56497d64fbabb047aa69524835a28c5a300

Bass:
- Very thumpy and authoritative, due to the elevated mid-bass region.
- Not the most technical or 'fast-sounding' bass, but it sounds meaty and thick. 808s in electronic tracks that I listen to are presented to me in full meaty glory. (e.g. Tears by Skrillex, Joker, Sleepnet)
- Mid-bass while elevated does not bleed into midrange.

Midrange:

- Pink Nozzles: Warm lower midrange, recessed upper midrange so vocals are presented a little behind in the mix. (e.g. Bring Him Home – Alfie Boe)

- Green Nozzles: More forward upper midrange, while maintaining warmness and mid-bass elevated more than Harman IE2019, so it’s an interesting listen. I would pick this if I wanted just a little more engagement with the vocalists in the music I’m listening to.

- Black Nozzles: Increases ear gain to the point of discomfort, very shouty. Presence region is way too elevated and vocals sounds edgy and metallic. Air region is also increased so it’s a combination of odd peaks which I don’t see anyone using for ‘Hifi-reference’ style listening.

https://preview.redd.it/x3pfhlju2jyg1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8dec0418cb111e9ce8651ca7a7088020037f2841

Treble:

- Treble is rolled off in general and very smooth sounding. It extends very well all the way to 20khz but it’s just not emphasised.

- I think it’s great for those who are sensitive to treble as they won’t feel fatigued by it, while still being able to hear the full range of treble, it still does have a little bit of air.

- In my personal preferences, I would prefer more treble air to increase spaciousness like the Kiwi Ears Astrals, but have no issues at all with the treble presentation in the T6.

Timbre: Metallic timbre in the treble.  
Details: Above average, while somehow maintaining smooth-sounding treble.
Imaging: Positional imaging/accuracy is just average at this price point.
Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average soundstage, sounds more like being in a large, enclosed concert hall where the treble is slightly rolled-off, rather than an airy Hall Plate-styled soundstage.

My Preferred Configuration: Pink Nozzles + Final Audio Edge Series Type E eartips.

Conclusion:

This IEM is just a safe recommendation that most people will like the sound of and is great for almost any genre. It can sound relaxed with the pink nozzles, or it can sound more energetic with the green nozzles, while you can just forget about the black nozzles. It’s also comfortable and I’m sure anyone could wear this for hours and just forget that it’s there after a bit.

It’s one of the best implementations of a DD and PLN driver, and it’s cool to see some innovation at this price point. Nice one, TinHifi!

This gets good recommendation from me if you're looking to upgrade your $30-70 IEM, at just $119 USD. Thank you for reading!

Feel free to drop any thoughts or questions below! And catch y'all in the next one. 😆

reddit.com
u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 2 months ago
▲ 3 r/iems

https://preview.redd.it/i4ipktw81jyg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d50e223f1f836a759ebdf9c0791952df43524598

Pros:
- Inoffensive, safe, smooth-sounding V-shaped IEM (Pink nozzles), accurate Harman representation (Green nozzles)
- Multiple tuning options with tuning nozzles that make a big impact to sound
- Abundant accessories (replacement foams, filters, liquid silicone ear tips, etc.)
- Stock cable has secure screw-on terminations, good to see at this price

Cons:
- Memory-prone stock cable + loose ear-hooks
- Stock eartips fitment
- Planar treble timbre
- Treble might be too rolled-off for some
- Tuning of Black nozzles cause upper mid-range and treble be too peaky, causing discomfort at louder volumes for me
- QDC terminations (Why are we still using these in 2026?)

DISCLAIMER:

TinHifi sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias due to human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself**.**
Big thanks to TinHifi about being so chill with the review process and letting me be free to say anything in my reviews.

INTRODUCTION:

The TinHifi T6 was released on January 22, 2026. They comprise of 1 Dynamic Driver and 1 Planar Driver (1DD + 1PLN), though TinHifi doesn't mention it on the official product page, it seems to be a micro-planar driver (mPLN), as can be see on the product page image below. So it's safe to assume that the planar driver in the T6 handles the highs, while the dynamic driver handles the lows and mids.

https://preview.redd.it/8p49yljc1jyg1.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=8b468e30e67d00f6d0e331239f1cab7531ceed60

I personally think that the 1DD + 1PLN driver configuration is the optimal one for IEMs on the more budget side, as is the T6, coming in at $119 USD MSRP. Why's that? I simply can't do without the visceral thump of the bass of a DD, and as we know midrange on DDs is very potent as well, looking at releases from Dunu. Treble taken over by mPLN drivers provide the missing technicalities and sparkle from a conventional DD. Let's see if the configuration of 1DD + 1PLN is implemented well in the T6.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

https://preview.redd.it/14cgxvwe1jyg1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2c6423b41e5aba9f9cf07e210445607f8512221

  1. 3 Types of Eartips in a Eartips Case (Foam - 1 pair, Silicone - 3 sizes, Liquid Silicone - 3 sizes) None of the eartips worked for me. Usually I wear size Medium eartips, and both the Silicone and Liquide Silicone Medium size eartips were too big for my ears, and subsequently the Small sized eartips were way too small. I eventually settled on the Final Audio Edge Series Type E eartips.
  2. 4-Core Silver-coloured Cable, this cable holds a lot of memory and is stiff. When I unboxed this IEM, the cable didn't want to come out straight, it retained the coil that it was packed as. Earhooks were loose and kept feeling like it was about to fall off my ears. "Heating them with a hairdryer" shouldn't justify the poor behaviour of a provided cable. The cable feels very high quality, and having a screw-on interchangeable termination is awesome to see in this price range. One of the only other IEM brands that provide screw-on interchangeable terminations at this price are the Dunu Titan S and S2.
  3. Large Yellow Carrying Case. This feels high quality, with a magnetic latch that felt solid in the hand. It's on the larger side though, and will not fit into most pockets.
  4. 4.4 Termination.
  5. A bunch of filters and foams for the Tuning Nozzles.
    1. APC™ Acoustic Filters × 4
    2. Nozzle Filter Mesh × 12
    3. Nozzle Filter Foam Inserts × 6
  6. 3 Sets of Tuning Nozzles. (Green - Harman, Pink - Gaming, Black - 'Hifi Reference') We'll talk about this more in-depth below.

https://preview.redd.it/tgz9pari1jyg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d3a9c2558a7cae5a9fe763860ca6717f11352ec

BUILD & DESIGN:
High quality and sturdy feeling aluminum build. 'CNC-milled aerospace aluminum' according to the product page. Shell size is average and fit in my average-sized ears without any complains comfort-wise. The faceplate looks really good, 'Natural solid wood', but it's actually lacquered so it's shiny and feels smooth like marble. I really like the faceplate design of this, it's quite subtle and understated.

https://preview.redd.it/x1duer2i1jyg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5238b6a400ae857cf34e5332651eb8dcca9a2160

COMFORT:
As mentioned above, the shell is average in size. The nozzles are long and the wings do not fully fit into the concha like they're supposed to. So, It isn't uncomfortable but isn't the most ergonomic either. My ears are average sized and have had no issues wearing the T6 for a couple of hours.

SOUND:

  • Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO), QKZ TC Pro Max
  • Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 75% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening.
  • TinHifi does not state the impedance and sensitivity of the T6 for some reason. Every single claim to these specs I found on Google gives me varying answers from 10-32ohms and 102-108db/mw of sensitivity. Regardless, they are easy to drive.

General Sound Signature:

The three tuning nozzles make the tuning very audibly different so have a look at the measurements of my review set of the T6, which my ears can concur with.

https://preview.redd.it/su5b7qlk1jyg1.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=fafa208124636ef050053569aecb76038d8ca8f3

Bass:
- Very thumpy and authoritative, due to the elevated mid-bass region.
- Not the most technical or 'fast-sounding' bass, but it sounds meaty and thick. 808s in electronic tracks that I listen to are presented to me in full meaty glory. (e.g. Tears by Skrillex, Joker, Sleepnet)
- Mid-bass while elevated does not bleed into midrange.

Midrange:

- Pink Nozzles: Warm lower midrange, recessed upper midrange so vocals are presented a little behind in the mix. (e.g. Bring Him Home – Alfie Boe)

- Green Nozzles: More forward upper midrange, while maintaining warmness and mid-bass elevated more than Harman IE2019, so it’s an interesting listen. I would pick this if I wanted just a little more engagement with the vocalists in the music I’m listening to.

- Black Nozzles: Increases ear gain to the point of discomfort, very shouty. Presence region is way too elevated and vocals sounds edgy and metallic. Air region is also increased so it’s a combination of odd peaks which I don’t see anyone using for ‘Hifi-reference’ style listening.

Treble:

- Treble is rolled off in general and very smooth sounding. It extends very well all the way to 20khz but it’s just not emphasised.

- I think it’s great for those who are sensitive to treble as they won’t feel fatigued by it, while still being able to hear the full range of treble, it still does have a little bit of air.

- In my personal preferences, I would prefer more treble air to increase spaciousness like the Kiwi Ears Astrals, but have no issues at all with the treble presentation in the T6.

Timbre: Metallic timbre in the treble.  
Details: Above average, while somehow maintaining smooth-sounding treble.
Imaging: Positional imaging/accuracy is just average at this price point.
Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average soundstage, sounds more like being in a large, enclosed concert hall where the treble is slightly rolled-off, rather than an airy Hall Plate-styled soundstage.

My Preferred Configuration: Pink Nozzles + Final Audio Edge Series Type E eartips.

Conclusion:

This IEM is just a safe recommendation that most people will like the sound of and is great for almost any genre. It can sound relaxed with the pink nozzles, or it can sound more energetic with the green nozzles, while you can just forget about the black nozzles. It’s also comfortable and I’m sure anyone could wear this for hours and just forget that it’s there after a bit.

It’s one of the best implementations of a DD and PLN driver, and it’s cool to see some innovation at this price point. Nice one, TinHifi!

This gets good recommendation from me if you're looking to upgrade your $30-70 IEM, at just $119 USD. Thank you for reading!

Feel free to drop any thoughts or questions below! And catch y'all in the next one. 😆

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u/Competitive-Rub3243 — 2 months ago