Pros: Bass Punch, Fit, Build Quality, Fun Tuning

Cons: Highs can be a little tinny, Coloured and not the most accurate tonality

Driver Setup: Dynamic 10mm Woofer + 6mm Tweeter (2DD drive unit)

Price: $69 (Discounted at $49 at time of writing)

Intro

Disclaimer: The TinHifi T2 MkIII was provided to us at no charge courtesy of Linsoul. However, this was done with the understanding that I would provide my honest thoughts and opinions on the T2 MkIII. The T2 MkIII is available for purchase here, should you find yourself interested in a pair, or feel free to use your links.

It has been years since I picked up my first IEM, and among the ranks of my Shure SE215 was the original Tin HiFi T2, which was one of the first few “Chifi” IEMs that really got me hooked into this hobby. It had such a unique design and presented a well-tuned and well-built IEM at a price point that was simply too good to be true at the time. Fast forward years later, and I have not come across many other TinHifi IEMs since then, and none have really wowed me the same way. Imagine the surprise when I was approached to try some of the new products, and among them, the fabled T2 was back… In a MkIII. This was the IEM I was most excited to try without a doubt. Without further ado, let’s take a look at it.

Accessories

To my surprise (and much nostalgia), TinHiFi has kept most of the packaging design largely similar. The cable is a twisted braid that seems alright for the price. Nothing too amazing to shout about, but it does look decently well-made and should have no reliability issues. It suits the industrial aesthetic of the buds as well.

It comes with a spread of tips; I find the silicone tips that come included much better than the original T2, and I enjoyed the fit they provided out of the box. I recall having to switch to the iconic blue foam tips on the original T2 due to the poor fitting and seal. I didn’t face the problem this time, but almost like an easter egg, the MkIII comes with the same blue foam tips.

Build Quality and Fit

As expected from a T2, the build is fully brushed grey aluminium in a cylindrical shape. That said, there have been slight changes from MkI through to MkIII whereby fit has gradually improved. Having tried all 3, this is definitely the best fitting of the lot. The choice of materials also feels really nice in the hands and definitely exudes a quality product.

The buds themselves aren’t heavy and don’t need any readjustment or refitting when using them for longer listening sessions in the office. They disappear in the ear and don’t give any discomfort at all. This is quite a big improvement, being able to retain the design DNA without compromising on user experience.

Sound

Sources Used

• Aune M1P
• Lotoo Paw S2
• Protocol MAC (CRINEAR)

Music listened to

• The Weeknd
• The Carpenters
• Shaboozey
• MAAPS
• NEEDTOBREATHE
• The Eagles
• Noah Kahan
• John Mayer
• Michael Buble
• etc

Bass

Bass was a mixed bag on the OG T2, but I would say it is definitely the star for me on the MkIII. The sound has changed quite a bit, and if it were a blind test, I would not have found much similarity between the 2 pairs of IEMs. The MkIII have superior isolation, and hence this makes the bass greater in quantity and yet a little more intimate in breadth.

There is quite a satisfying midbass punch, and this keeps things really fun, especially for Pop or EDM genres. I like the decay and the texture of the lower end. It is natural and not too muddy, giving a rather crisp and yet not overly dry response.

Mids

The mids have good space and relatively good detail here. The T2 does well in creating a fun and engaging midrange, which complements the punchy midbass well. Tonal accuracy of the mids is not the most accurate, and this came through on acoustic tracks and tracks with more instrumentals. Vocal lines also sound a little warped and not what I am used to. So, as far as accuracy and analytical listening are concerned, I wouldn’t say the T2 MkIII would be the way to go. It is definitely more of a playful tuning that keeps it exciting

Highs

There is good extension and detail in the highs. However, it can get a little crowded in the highs and become a little fatiguing on more treble-heavy tracks. That said, it is overall still rather pleasant and not to the stage of sibilance. My gripe here would be the tinny nature of the treble, especially on hihats and certain synths.

Overall

The T2 MkII has a good soundstage. The treble extension lends itself to the sense of space, and there is also decent breadth. The separation of melody lines can be better. On certain tracks, I find that the different melody lines can become a little overly crowded and saturated. Also, the tonality is not as accurate as I would like. I initially thought it was perhaps due to a specific source/genre pairing, but playing around with different playlists and sources, I found similar results. It is especially noticeable in the mids and not accurate, especially on instrumentals and vocals.

Conclusion

The TinHifi T2 MkIII is quite an interesting IEM release in 2025. It has all the nostalgic outer package reminiscent of the original T2, but packs a relatively different tuning. Quirks like retaining the mmcx connectors in an age of 2-pin connectors, and the dynamic driver setup are what retain the original DNA of the T2. However, tuning-wise, there is quite a different tuning in the MkIII. It has quite a punchy and dynamic sound signature, but has quite a coloured tuning. This is my biggest gripe with it; the combination of the coloured and unnatural midrange, as well as the slightly tinny highs, makes the tuning a little hard to reconcile with in this competitive price bracket.

That said, the T2 MkIII is overall still a fun IEM to have for anyone wanting a little nostalgia, and a warm and punchy bass that works well with pop and EDM, but just don’t expect it to be a “re-released T2 but better”. While the T2 MkIII is a decently built, designed and tuned IEM, its current price tag of 69 USD, in my opinion, is a little pricey considering the competition currently.

Overall Grade: B

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