The TIN HiFi Audio T3 are decent critical listening in-ears that have a great build quality with a detachable and replaceable cable. This model resembles the previous TIN Audio T2 headphones, and they perform quite similarly, but with noticeably more bass. They are also made to be worn with an ear-hook design. They can be decently comfortable if you can find the right tip option for you and come with foam tips as well. They isolate better than the T2s, which makes them slightly more versatile for commuting and at the office. Unfortunately, they don’t have any control scheme as they lack an in-line remote, but their wired connection is great for watching video content without any latency issues.
Okay for mixed usage. Their audio reproduction is slightly hyped in the bass range and they are very sibilant around 10kHz. On the upside, they have great isolation performance and will be a better option for commuting and the office than the previous TIN Audio T2. Unfortunately, they aren’t the most comfortable in-ears to wear for long periods of time, but will be fine for working out thanks to their stable ear-hooks and breathable design. They won’t be great for watching TV, as you won’t have the range to watch from your couch, and they don’t have a microphone for online gaming.
Decent for neutral listening. They have an extended, powerful, and consistent bass, with a well-balanced mid-range, but with an overly sharp treble on S and Ts (sibilant). Also, their bass is slightly thumpy, which some may like, and a bit boomy. The mid-range is also a bit overemphasized, which brings a bit of thickness and clutter to vocals. When compared to the T2 model, the T3 have noticeably more bass with silicone tips.
Okay for commuting and traveling. While they have good noise isolation and block a decent amount of low-frequency noises like engine rumbles, the T3 aren’t very comfortable and won’t be great to wear for long periods of time. Also, they don’t offer the freedom of wireless headphones, but if you don’t mind that or if you want to watch video content on your phone without any latency, they will be a good option for this use case.
Decent for sports. These headphones are very stable due to their ear-hook cable design and their buds are small enough to be very breathable and portable. However, they don’t have an in-line remote with control options for when you’re working out. You might also not like having a cable in your way during physical activity.
Ordinary for the office. These wired headphones aren’t as convenient as a wireless pair of headphones, but on the upside, you won’t have to manage battery life. They have very good isolation against ambient chatter and A/C system noises, which is nice. Unfortunately, they aren’t the most comfortable in-ears, so you might feel soreness quickly and won’t be able to wear them during your whole shift.
Sub-par for gaming. They don’t have the longest cable and they don’t have a microphone for online games. On the upside, they can be a good option if you’re not looking for customization options and only want to play offline single player games.
The T3 are very similar to the T2 model in style, but don’t come with flashy blue foam tips that add color to the design. However, the overall feel is the same with nice looking metal earbuds that have a high-end design. The braided cable is transparent with gold accents, which gives a nice premium finish to the headphones.
The TIN Audio T3 aren’t the most comfortable in-ears we’ve reviewed so far. You can wear these headphones with the cable hanging down or hanging over your ears. However, they have a different fit than the previous T2 model. They come with a good variety of tip options, including foam tips, which most people seem to find more comfortable. Unfortunately, the nozzle of the headphones is still larger than average, and some may feel it as they enter your ear canal.
These headphones do not have an in-line remote or a control scheme.
These headphones don’t come with a case to protect them when you’re on the move.
Like the T2s, the T3s are very well-built headphones. They look and feel premium thanks to their metal buds which shouldn’t get damaged if accidentally dropped. Also, their cable is braided and detachable, making it easy to replace it if it gets damaged. It is also a bit thicker than the T2's cable, giving it a sturdier feel. They have a high-end build and the replaceable parts make them even more durable.
These headphones are very stable, especially since the main difference in design between the T2 and T3 is that the orientation of the T3 buds indicates you should be wearing them with an ear-hook design. There is also a coating around the cable near the earbuds, which encourages the ear-hook fit. They shouldn’t pop out of your ears during physical activity, but you might find their cable to be in your way sometimes. Also, since the cable isn’t easily detachable, the headphones can still be yanked out of your ears if it gets stuck on something.
Update 02/25/2021: Due to user feedback, we have reexamined the elevated bass response we received during our tests. We ran a pass with both the small silicone ear tips and the foam tips. The small silicone ear tips had much lower bass, while the foam tips had a significant increase in the bass-range. You can see a comparison of our results here. As a result, our results have not changed, but we have clarified the test settings used to achieve these results.
The TIN Audio T3 have a bass-heavy sound profile. They deliver a touch of extra thump, rumble, and boom. However, some users may find them a bit muddy. Vocals and lead instruments are accurately reproduced but are a bit veiled.
The bass performance of the TIN Audio T3 is great. LFE (low-frequency extension) is down to 10Hz, which is great. The response throughout the range is flat and even, but it is slightly hyped and overdone. The 3dB overemphasis in low-bass will make it slightly more thumpy, which some people may prefer. Mid-bass, responsible for the body of bass guitar and kick instruments, is well-balanced, but high-bass is hyped by more than 3dB, which will add a bit of boominess to the bass.
The T3's mid-range is great. The response is very even and flat throughout the range, which results in a well-balanced reproduction of vocals and lead instruments. However, low-mid is overemphasized by about 2dB, which is the continuation of the overemphasis in high-bass. This adds a bit of thickness to the vocals and a bit of clutter to the overall mix.
The treble performance of the T3s is okay. The response before the 8kHz region is flat and even but gets overly sharp and piercing (sibilant) around 10kHz. This will be most noticeable on vocals, lead instruments, and especially cymbals.
The stereo imaging is excellent. Their weighted group delay is at 0.12, which is very low. The group delay graph also shows that the entire response is well below the audibility threshold. This ensures a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Also, the L/R drivers of our test unit were well-matched in frequency, amplitude, and phase response. This is important for the accurate placement and localization of objects (voices, instruments, video game effects) in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit and yours may perform differently.
The soundstage is poor. This is because creating an out-of-head and speaker-like soundstage is largely dependent on activating the resonances of the pinna (outer ear). The design of in-ears and earbuds is in such a way that fully bypasses the pinna and doesn't interact with it. Also, because these headphones have a closed-back enclosure, their soundstage won't be perceived to be as open as that of open-back earbuds like the Apple AirPods, Google Pixel Buds, or the Bose SoundSport Free.
Update 02/25/2021: We have updated the test review settings for Tip/Pad to 'Foam (small)' to match the original test settings.
These are the settings used to test these headphones and our results are only valid with these settings.
The isolation performance of the T3 is great. They surprisingly performed much better than the similar T2, especially against bass noises. In the bass range, where the rumble of airplanes and bus engines sit, they achieved more than 8dB of isolation, which is okay. In the mid-range, important for blocking out speech, they reduce outside noise by more than 22dB, which is very good. In the treble range, occupied by sharp S and T sounds and air conditioning noise, they isolate by more than 51dB, which is remarkable.
Note: We tested the headphones with the foam tips.
The leakage performance is excellent. They basically do not leak, so there's no need to worry about disturbing people around with your music, even if you listen at very loud volumes. With the music at 100dB SPL, the leakage at 1 foot away averages at 21dB SPL and peaks at 25dB SPL, which is roughly as loud as a whisper and way below the noise floor of an average office.
Note: We tested the headphones with the foam tips.
These headphones do not have a microphone.
These headphones do not have a microphone.
They do not have a battery.
They don’t have a companion app to customize the sound to your liking.
The TIN Audio T3 are wired headphones and aren’t Bluetooth compatible.
Since they have a wired connection, these headphones practically don’t have any latency and will be suitable for gaming and watching video content without any delay.
These headphones don’t have a dock or a base. For gaming headsets with one, you can look at the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless for a dock with customization options, or look at the Astro A50 if you want a charging dock. However, they won’t be as portable as the T3.
The TIN HiFi Audio T3 are decent critical listening headphones that are fairly versatile and stand out due to their great and durable build. However, their audio reproduction isn’t the best and they can be somewhat awkward to fit inside some ears. We suggest looking at our recommendations for best sounding wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds under $50, and best earbuds and in-ears.
The TIN Audio T3 and TIN Audio T2 models are very similar with slight differences. The T3’s cable is noticeably thicker and it encourages an ear-hook fit, while the T2’s is thinner and can be worn normally, hanging down from your ears. Also, the T3 get noticeably more bass if you don’t block the ports on the T2. Additionally, they isolate a bit more ambient noise than the T2. On the other hand, the T2 are less sibilant in high treble, but that’s about it. Overall, the two models are very similar.
The KZ ZS-10 are better critical listening headphones than the TIN Audio T3. Their audio reproduction is more accurate, and you’ll be able to wear these headphones for a longer period of time due to their fairly comfortable design. On the other hand, if you want to listen to music during your commute, the T3s isolate more ambient noise, so they might be the better option for traveling.
If you like bass-heavy music, the TIN Audio T3 will be a better choice than the Sennheiser IE 40 PRO. Their sound profiles are fairly similar, but the low-bass of the T3 is more accurate and doesn’t lack thump like the IE 40 PROs. The TIN Audio T3 are also better-built and feel more durable. Their bud design creates a better air-tight seal and will isolate against ambient noise very well.
The 1More Triple Driver have a better sound than the TIN Audio T3 and are also more convenient as they have an in-line remote with controls and a microphone. The 1More audio quality is decent and neutral. On the other hand, the TIN are better-built headphones and feel more durable than the 1More. The TIN also isolate more ambient noise and will be better suited for commuting.
The Beats urBeats3 Earphones are better-wired in-ears than the TIN Audio T3. They don’t sound as sharp as the TIN, and they have an in-line remote with controls and a microphone, which the TIN is lacking. The stability fins of the Beats could be helpful for a more secure fit inside the ear for sports activities. On the other hand, the TIN headphones are better-built and their detachable cable is a nice feature since it's easy to replace if broken.
The TIN Audio T3 might be a slightly better option than the BGVP DM6 for people who prefer an exciting sound. The BGVP has bass roll-off, while the TIN ’s bass is slightly overemphasized. Both headphones perform similarly in pretty much every category. The BGVP are very comfortable if you can find a good fit, which is difficult for some. They also have a unique style and come in multiple colors, but they are slightly more expensive.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are better headphones than the TIN Audio T3. The Samsung are more comfortable, and they have in-line controls and a microphone, unlike the TIN. Both headphones have a little extra boom in the bass range, but the Samsung have a more neutral sound than the TIN. However, the TIN are better-built, more stable, and leak less noise.
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