Pros: Fun and coherent V-shaped tuning, Punchy bass, Controlled treble, Above-average imaging for the price, Comfortable low-profile shells, Hard carrying case, Excellent value

Cons: Basic accessories and ear tips, Intimate soundstage, Midrange can take a back seat, There is still a cap to its clarity and detail retrieval

Driver Setup: 1 x 10mm N52 Dual-Magnet Dynamic Driver + 1 x Custom Balanced Armature

Price: US$29 (US$23.90 at the time of writing)

Intro

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

TinHiFi is certainly no stranger to the budget IEM market, and the HUO sees the brand return with a very affordable 1DD + 1BA hybrid. Cheap hybrids can sometimes sound like the drivers are working separately instead of together, so I was curious to see if TinHiFi could keep things coherent at just US$29. The price is easily the most attractive proposition here, but as always, a low price only matters if the IEM is actually enjoyable to use.

After spending time with the HUO, I found it to be a fun, medium V-shaped set with a surprisingly seamless presentation. It is not trying to be neutral or reference-like. Instead, it delivers an energetic and easy-to-enjoy sound while keeping the treble under control. Without further ado, let’s dive right into the review.

Accessories

The HUO comes in very simple packaging and the accessory selection is quite bare bones. You get the earphones, a detachable 3.5mm recessed 0.78mm 2-pin QDC cable, a set of silicone ear tips and a hard carrying case. The case is the highlight here. It feels robust and is a much better inclusion than I would normally expect at this price.

The stock tips were less impressive and I found tip rolling worthwhile. Getting a secure seal is important for the bass response, and trying a few different tips can also help bring the midrange a little more forward. I would have liked to see another style of tips included, but given how inexpensive the HUO is, I can understand where the savings were made.

Build Quality and Fit

The HUO uses a low-profile shell with a metal faceplate. The design is simple and rather familiar-looking for a budget hybrid, but it feels sufficiently well put together. The recessed QDC connection also gives the pins a little more protection during daily use. I have no major complaints about the build considering the price.

The shells sit comfortably in my ears and do not feel overly heavy. Once I found the right tips, the fit was secure enough for longer listening sessions and commuting. Of course, fit is always personal, but the relatively conventional shell shape should work for most users.

Sound

Sources

• Fiio BTR7
• Aune M1P
• Lotoo Paw S2

Music listened to

• Jackson Browne
• Kingo Hamada
• The Carpenters
• Maroon 5
• Aladdin Broadway
• Kygo
• Chicago
• NEEDTOBREATHE
• Loud Luxury
• The Vamps
• The Eagles
• etc

Bass

The bass is one of the more immediately enjoyable parts of the HUO. The 10mm dynamic driver gives it a punchy and lively presentation with a satisfying amount of sub-bass extension. There is enough rumble to make EDM and pop sound fun, while the mid-bass brings some welcome impact to drums without completely overwhelming the rest of the mix.

For the price, the bass is controlled reasonably well and does not come across as a muddy mess. It is not the most textured or layered bass presentation, and faster or more complicated tracks can expose some of its limitations. Still, the quantity and quality strike a good balance for an IEM that is clearly going for an entertaining sound.

Mids

The mids take a slight step back as part of the HUO’s V-shaped tuning. Vocals remain clear enough and the overall tonality is pleasant, but they are not as forward or luscious as I usually prefer. Switching tips helped bring the midsection out a little and made the tonal balance more satisfying for me.

What impressed me more was how coherent the dynamic driver and balanced armature sounded together. Cheap hybrids can sometimes make vocals and instruments feel disconnected, but that is not a major issue here. The transition through the mids is relatively seamless, and vocals still have enough presence to avoid getting completely buried behind the bass and treble.

Highs

The balanced armature gives the HUO a decent amount of treble extension and air for the price. There is energy here, but it is controlled well enough that it never really got on my nerves. I did not find the HUO unnecessarily harsh or sibilant during my listening, which is important for a fun V-shaped IEM that could otherwise become tiring very quickly.

There is a useful sense of clarity and the HUO manages to reveal more detail than I expected at under US$30. However, there is still a cap to how much clarity it can provide. Fine details do not always come through with the cleanest definition, and complex passages can lose some separation. The treble helps the HUO sound lively and open, but it should not be mistaken for a genuinely analytical or highly resolving set.

Overall

The HUO has a somewhat intimate soundstage, though its imaging is above average for this price range. Positional cues are presented with decent accuracy and the sound does not feel one-dimensional. The tuning also remains surprisingly coherent across the drivers, which is one of the biggest wins for such an inexpensive hybrid.

Its technical performance naturally has limits. Separation and layering can get a little blurred once tracks become busy, and the ceiling on clarity becomes more obvious when compared with better IEMs higher up the price ladder. That said, those shortcomings are much easier to accept when the HUO costs less than many replacement cables. It delivers a fun sound without any glaring tonal issues, and that makes it versatile enough for casual daily use.

Conclusion

The TinHiFi HUO shows that a budget hybrid can sound coherent and enjoyable. Its medium V-shaped tuning is punchy and energetic, with controlled highs and imaging that performs well for the price. The hard carrying case and comfortable shells are also welcome touches, even if the rest of the accessory package is rather basic.

There is certainly room for improvement. The midrange can feel a little recessed, the soundstage is intimate and there is a clear limit to the clarity, separation and detail retrieval it can deliver. However, the price is the most attractive proposition here. At US$29, and especially at its sale price of US$23.90, the HUO provides a lot of enjoyment for very little money.

The HUO is suitable for anyone looking for a fun and affordable daily driver, or someone who wants to try a hybrid IEM without spending too much. It gets the important things right for the asking price, but it is not an instant or particularly memorable recommendation for me. I enjoyed my time with it without feeling especially strongly about it, and that places the HUO among the competent value options rather than the standouts of the category.

Overall Grade: B+

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