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Nicely tuned Harman-style Single DD IEM
Small, and Comfortable Unit Design
Decent Setup at Affordable Price
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Included eartips of subpar quality
Undisclosed sensitivity specs
TinHiFi C3 MKII :: $49.99 :: 1DD
Huge thanks to 'GoodSound Audio Store' for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.
> Link to original review in Korean
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TinHiFi is a Chinese earphone brand that was born in 2017, started by a company that has been making earphones for other companies for quite some time.
It's not an exaggeration to say that they've been around since the beginning of Chi-Fi wave. Their bullet-shaped T2 / T3 models have enjoyed quite a bit of popularity, even being sold at the DROP.
The TinHiFi C3 MKii is the successor to the C3 model launched back in 2023.
It is said to offer great sound from its newly designed 10mm LCP dynamic driver and is comfortable to wear thanks to its compact and lightweight design, weighing just 4.1g.
It's another IEM with 1DD configuration that has been a long-standing favourite of TinHiFi, and I was very curious to see if it can become another entry-level pick, especially since it's so affordable at a retail price of less than $50.
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Package & Build
This is the package of TinHiFi C3 MKii.
When you open the box, you can see all the accessories are inside a large case. This generously sized hard case is quite good in quality. It's not bad to have such a practical package without spending a fortune on it.
You'll get :
- TinHiFi C3 MKii Unit
- 6 pairs of silicone eartips
- 2 pairs of replacement nozzle filter
- Carrying case
- Warranty card
The accessories that come with the C3 MKII is quite decent at the price point.
There are six pairs of silicone eartips, two each in small, medium and large sizes. The outer walls are a bit too thin, which can make them feel a little flimsy, but overall, there are no major complaints about the shape or material.
The included cable is pretty good, with a thin, lightweight, easy-to-handle wire that's fairly comfortable to wear, and the quality of the various terminals, splitters, and other components is above average. For the price point, I think it's a pretty nice cable.
Like its predecessor, The C3 MKII emphasises the ‘small, lightweight unit design for superior comfort’.
You can see that they've managed to keep the unit as small as possible while remaining the area where the drivers are placed.
At the top of the unit, you'll notice a slight protrusion inwards. It will sit naturally inside your ear to keep the unit securely in place on the auricle.
It's a design element that some people may or may not like, but the protrusion isn't severe enough that it shouldn't be uncomfortable for most users.
It fits quite nicely in my ear, and I think rest of users will feel the same comfort.
Unlike its predecessor with carbon-fiber design, the C3 MKII has a more natural-grained carbon backdrop underneath, topped with a silver, shimmering star decoration.
I personally think it's a nice design that's neither too boring nor overdone.
The nozzle isn't made out of a separate piece, but is moulded from the same resin from the unit.
It has a metal sticker on the end to prevent debris from getting in, and is 5.2mm to 6mm thick, which shouldn't be a problem for matching custom eartips. The finish on the nozzle tips is a little rough, which is a bit of a bummer.
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Sound Impressions
Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) with 94dB(L)@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.
Following Measurements are available at silicagel.squig.link
In many ways, the sound characteristics haven't changed much from its predecessor, the C3. Overall, the tone is fairly close to the Harman target, with a moderately rich, full-bodied bass and crisply drawn treble, which is a nice balance that works well with a wide range of genres.
As would be expected, the C3 MKII's bass impression varies quite a bit depending on listening volume: at lower volumes, the bass has more warm and lush characteristics than being analytical and dry, but as I cranked the volume up to a reasonable level, I could hear the bass gradually revealing more detail and transforming into a reasonably punchy and clear bass.
TinHiFi didn't specify the impedance and sensitivity of this product, but I personally felt that the C3 MKii required some power to drive. Despite the fact that my normal listening volume rarely exceeds 90dB, I had to push the volume up to around 60 levels with 3.5mm SE, high gain setting on the FiiO JM21.
I don't usually say this, but the 4.4mm balanced cables might be a great choice for C3 MKii.
As it follows the characteristics of the Harman Target relatively well, the midrange sounded quite decent.
Vocals are presented with a just right amount of body and distance. It's hard to detect any masking of the mid-range at moderate volumes, and you can even feel a slight sparkle from a voice.
Compared to some of the 'meta-tuned' IEMs that have been proposed in recent days, some may find the treble a little brighter. However, I rarely found the treble to be shouty or sibilant, but rather crisp and clear in most genres. If you're into a slight V-shaped sound signature, you'll enjoy this set.
The soundstage is also quite good. The rooms aren't very spacious, but the elements placed within them are quite detailed. The separation is quite good considering the price, as I was able to pinpoint the position of the various instruments immediately.
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Conclusion
TinHiFi has been working with 1DD configurations for a while now, and I'm happy to say that the C3 MKIIs are a pretty solid product for $49.
A slightly V-shaped, Harman-style sound signature makes the C3 MKii an 'all-rounder', suitable for any genre of music.
Add to that the fact that the C3 MKII is positioned at a price point that anyone can afford, and with a design that's tiny enough to be used by those with small ears, I think the C3 MKII has all the charms to become a solid entry-level unit that I can recommend to anyone.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say the standard ear tips were a little disappointing, but I don't think that's too much of an issue in an age where you can get decent quality ear tips for cheap.
All in all, if you're looking for an affordable, all-round entry-level IEM with decent features and a comfortable design, I can easily recommend the TinHifi C3 MKII.
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To celebrate the launch, GoodSound Audio Store is offering a 10% discount, and 2 pairs of ‘7Hz 07 eartips’ for free at the time of writing this review.
If you're interested, please check it out at the Non-Affiliated link below.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005190314048.html
