Reviewed by Jamsblast

Hi there, folks!

First, a big shoutout to TINHIFI for giving me this set to test it and give my sincere opinions.

The TinHIFI C1 is a new addition on the successful formula initiated by TINHIFI with the C2 Mech Warrior and C3, launched back in 2022, and its new iteration the TinHifi C2 2025 and C3 MK II respectively, but this time with a set pointed to bring a well done tuning and driver into the budget market, the C1 is driven by a 10 mm DLP dynamic driver, with a minimalist and comfortable design featuring an ABS plastic shell with a metallic (aluminum) faceplate, the C1 delivers a tuning that’s highly enjoyable for music, movies, and gaming, all without straining your wallet. As a budget option priced at 30 USD or less, it stands out as a capable and interesting choice, making it a compelling contender in its segment. You can find it on Aliexpress and other retailers online.

TDLR; An exceptional contender for the 30 USD or less segment who offers an engaging, balanced and kind of brighter experience, who maintains a neutral and natural tonality, supplemented with a generous bass, engaging musicality, an energetic character, and a strikingly clean presentation.

The box shows its minimalistic and well done character, the TinHIFI C1 sent to me is color gray with a 3.5 mm single ended cable without a microphone, but there’s an USB-C version available.

Nice packaging by the way, consisting on the IEMs itself, 4 pair of narrow bore eartips (1S-2M-1L) one of the pair comes installed on the IEMs, a warranty card, another card with links to the TINHIFI’s official website, the cable that is 4 core braided, 3.5 mm singled ended plug, QDC 2 pin connection, with good quality and zero microphonics or tangling.

Technical specs:

- Driver Unit: 10 mm full-size DLC diaphragm

- Sensitivity: 106 ± 3 dB @ 1 kHz (0.179 V)

- Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz

- Impedance: 32 Ω ± 15 %

- Rated Power: 5 mW

- Maximum Power: 10 mW

- Maximum Distortion (THD): 3% @ 1 kHz (0.126 V)

- Connector: Gold-plated QDC 2-pin

- Cable: 3.5 mm jack on 4-strand silver-plated wire

The set with its cable looks very nice, the cable looks well-built and match with the shells, I think you can use it as it is, but if you want to change it, I recommend to you to have in mind its QDC connection to find a matching replacement. The IEMs itself is made of ABS plastic, with a mate silver metallic (made of aluminum) faceplate who look very minimalistic and nice, it seems that is not prompt to scratches or so, more like a “beater” set, with plastic nozzles as well with a little lip to eartips grip and fit with even small ears to assure a nice seal as well because of its small nozzle (5.5 mm of diameter), very comfortable for using it on long sessions.

How the TINHIFI C1 sounds?

The TinHIFI C1, driven by a 10 mm DLC dynamic driver, presents a balanced and articulate sound signature based in the Harman target, delivering a refined neutral character with a tasteful subbass and midbass boost. Its timbre leans organic and airy, making it effortlessly musical across a wide array of genres while enhancing some immersion in cinematic and gaming scenarios. Though its technicalities sit at a modest tier, offering an average resolution and a soundstage of worthy width and depth, the TinHIFI C1 imaging remains nicely coherent, allowing for a convincing separation and spatial cue reproduction. At its less than 30 USD MSRP, it charmingly punches above its weight, earning its place as a serious contender in the budget IEM landscape.

The sound of the TinHIFI C1 is similar to its ‘older’ brother the C2 2025, but taking in consideration the C2 2025’s more capable driver, the C1 shows a considerably more organic and less technical yet musical and balanced character over the expensive C2 2025, with a lift on the subbass region offering that nice thump, extension, presence and cleanness, with a nice V-shaped tuning entering into a mid-bass who punches in your ears like a subwoofer.

Talking about that V, the lower mids have a little bass bleed to sound very natural, the male vocals are a bit recessed but not veiled and with a charming presence, not tin at all, with an energetic pinna gain offering enough presence, with clean and resolving mids, and offering an also energetic upper mids display, going to be a little sibilant at high volumes.

With a pleasant treble shelf, the lower highs in conjunction with the upper mids offers an instrumental enjoyment, the TinHIFI C1 has a 5khz peak, so you can still feel those plates and cymbals, with a well done 6khz dip, so if you have mild treble tolerance, you can crank the volume a little more but not at very high volumes.

Finally, going into the upper highs and air, there’s not much of it but enough to enjoy the music at its fullest, and here’s a thing to consider again with that treble tolerance I mentioned before, this TinHIFI C1 tends to be spicy at high volumes so look another option if you don’t like that kind of tuning, or you don’t like to mess with equalization, anyway, that treble extension is average but well displayed, offering enough of air.

In the technicalities, the TinHIFI C1 is a good IEM with an enough soundstage more wide than depth, with an excellent separation of sounds and a remarkable layering of instruments.

The TinHIFI C1 distinguishes itself as a captivating choice in the budget IEM space, offering a well-balanced, clean, and organic sound signature with a neutral character yet offering plenty of musicality. Its tastefully tuned bass and organic and natural tonality provide to those who value an engaging yet precise listening experience. From relaxed music sessions to immersive gaming and even some analytical use, the TinHIFI C1 brings an energetic and enjoyable character without compromising on detail retrieval.

That said, caution is advised with the spicy treble of the TinHIFI C1: While it enhances the sense of air and clarity, it might come across as a touch too sharp for those sensitive to high frequencies. Enthusiasts of a bright, energetic tuning will likely find the upper mids and treble particularly engaging, but listeners seeking a smoother, more relaxed presentation may benefit from pairing it with warmer sources or narrow bore tips to temper the spicy treble. Still, at under 30 USD, it remains an appealing option for budget-minded audiophiles and beginners into the hobby in search of a high-fidelity sound without breaking the bank.

It is a recommendation? Maybe yes, it is a good option and is one of my most beloved budget IEMs at the moment. Happy listening!

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