Hang around the headphone world long enough and you’ll hear about Tin Audio. The Tin Audio T2s are some of the most well regarded headphones for the price. Today, we’re looking at their successor, the Tin Audio T2 Pros. Coming to market at only $59.99, they punch about their class with dual high resolution drivers per ear, a detachable cable, an an all metal construction - but is there a catch?
Specifications
- Current Price: $59.99
- Drive unit: Dynamic 10MM woofer + 6MM Tweeter (2DD drive unit)
- Earphone type: In-ear
- Impedance: 16 Ohm
- Earphone sensitivity: 102dB/mW
- Frequency range: 12-40000Hz
- Plug interface: 3.5mm Gilded
- Cable Length: 1.2m+/-3cm
- Cable: 1.25 5N oxygen free copper plating silver
- Earphone interface: MMCX interface
- Mic: No
- Warranty: 1-year
An Affordable Audiophile Favorite
It’s a stark reality is that it’s a minority of people that are comfortable spending $100+ on a pair of earbuds, yet we all want to get the most for our money. Turning to audiophile forums for the “best sounding” headphone often gets you recommendations in the multiple hundreds of dollars, so what’s a person to do? That’s where the Tin Audio T2 Pros come in. At only $59.99, they may just be the best cheap audiophile-grade headphone you can find.
I’ll level with you: before I began exploring the world of premium headphones, I’d never heard of Tin Audio before. Ironically, it was finding forum posts from users frustrated that the only recommendations they were receiving were for headphones well out of their price range that I discovered the T2s. Buried beneath the masses of “well if you just save up” posts, helpful users continually pointed to Tin Audio as an entry point to the world of premium audio.
If you’re looking to step up from Skullcandies or Beats, Tin Audio might just be a company you want to look into.
Exploring the Tin Audio: T2 Pros
Since we’re guilty of covering a lot of expensive gear here, I decided to reach out to Linsoul, the US distributor for Tin, to see if they might be willing to let us check out the T2 Pros. When they agreed and they sent them over, I expected simply packaging for what appeared to be a simple headphone. Imagine my surprise when the unassuming white box gave way to one of the nicest carrying cases I’ve come across. It’s sturdy and opens like a book and has a nice faux leather appearance. It is just a box, so I don’t expect it to stay in this condition after carrying it around in a bag for a week, but it’s a sight better than the usual nylon bag common to headphones three times the price.
The headphones themselves are made of metal, which I love to see. These are headphones that could withstand a drop. At the same time, they’re very simple. There’s no controls built in and in fact none whatsoever even on the cable. These are straight wired headphones, no mic included, which I would have preferred for taking calls. That said, the earbuds are actually detachable, so it’s entirely possible to upgrade to a cable that has this ability.
If the Tripowin TP10’s I reviewed yesterday had “one of the best” cables I’d seen under $60, the T2 Pros are the hands-down best. It’s not even a competition. The oxygen-free copper cable is coated in silver and tied in a beautiful tangle-free braid. The ends are also metal and the 3.5mm connection is gold-plated for long-term durability. I’m honestly not a cable guy but this one is just stunning, so I’m personally sticking with it. I’ll go without the mic.
Inside the box is also an assortment of different tips to get the best fit for each ear. I found this especially important with the T2 Pros. Without a good seal, they quickly become bass anemic. Tin also includes a set of foam tips which I found provided the best fit on top of being the most comfortable. Like all foam tips, though, they do have a lifespan so be prepared to replace them over time.
How do they sound?
Looks and build only go so far, the real question is how they sound. With a frequency response range of 12-40000Hz and a pair of drivers in each ear, they have the specs where it counts. Both of those factors should combine to create a headphone that’s low on distortion and high on detail - so long as the tuning holds up.
Thankfully, it does. The T2 Pros have a slight push in the lows, fairly flat mids, and a nice push in the treble. This is a common audiophile tuning, so I’m not surprised that community is a fan. It’s enough to provide a controlled and present low-end with a sparkling high end and vocals that sit in the middle of the mix. In short, if you like to hear small details like the texture of cymbals or how a guitarist strikes each note of his solo, this is a tuning you’ll be a fan of.
Listening to PVRIS’s Walk Alone, I found myself wishing for a little extra bass but absolutely adored the clarity of Justin’s hi-hat work and hearing each small tap. Switching to Andy James’ Equinox, the stereo imaging was just phenomenal. The harmonized guitars intricately playing between each channel, really enhanced the listening experience. With the foam tips, the bass was full and present; not as punchy as some other headphones, but enough to fill out the song, which makes me think these would be good for analytical listening on a budget.
For gaming, the scaled down bass isn’t the best for the cinematic quality of gaming, unfortunately. Big moments lack a bit of the gravitas a thicker headphone might provide. Competitively they offer excellent positionality thanks to the stereo imaging, so you’ll clearly pick up footsteps and hear your enemy before he rounds the corner. They’re an excellent option for plugging into the monitoring port of your microphone.
Final Thoughts
Even though I wish the Tin Audio T2 Pros featured an in-line mic, they feature an outstanding sound for the price. I really enjoyed listening to music with these. The treble-heightened tuning brought out detail that would otherwise be lost and the imaging on offer really enhances well-mixed music that utilizes dual channels. The bass may not be heavy enough for some but I found it just about right to fill out metal, pop, and modern worship music.
If you’re looking to make the jump from a gaming headset to an headphone that’s tuned for great sound, drops the RGB and trades it for superior build quality, the Tin Audio T2 Pros are definitely one of the best ways you can go.
Pros
- Excellent all-metal build
- Plentiful array of tips
- Excellent stereo imaging
- Dual drivers per ear for a full, highly detailed sound
- Very affordable
Cons
- No in-line mic
- Bass may be too light for some
The product described in this article was provided by Linsoul for the purpose of review.
