TINHIFI C0 ELF: Reminiscing Its Tonal Trait
Elf/Elves are mythical creatures who have a humanoid features with strong affinity of magical energy and unsurpassed yet unusual physical features like pretty faces and elongated pointed ears in which J.R.R. Tolkien lore describes them although they were quite different from their counterparts in Norse mythology. These creatures remain to be one of the most popular races in fantasy literature.
Fellow audio enthusiasts out there, I have a product that was recently released by TINHIFI for the past few months. I'll skip an introduction of this company as I already did it before, just check out my review on TINHIFI T2 DLC if you want it to be so.
This is TINHIFI C0 ELF, it's a single dynamic driver IEM which has a bullet-style profile. It has a solid circular casing made of aluminium alloy and it is quite light too and knowing this particular material has some acoustic properties that are able to remove some unwanted resonance and vibrations generated from the driver. Also, it also seems that it has a semi open-backed design too.
The dynamics drivers that are implemented on this set are composite ones and they are in good quality as its polyurethane diaphragm was coated with titanium to have better elasticity and be firmer on its structure. These drivers will deliver a more dynamic sound that encompass the full range sonic spectrum for rigid bass and a clear and bright quality on midrange and treble.
With its rounded contours, wearing this set is quite comfortable if you pair it with the right ear tips that will seals well into our lugholes. You can even wear them in either an in-ear style or simply like an ear in which you can let it hang just like an earbud. It seems that its stock ear tips are fine as I don't encounter any fitting issues. Sound isolation is rather average when it comes to passive noise occlusion due to its semi open-back design as I was able to hear some external noises from the outside surroundings.
Upon ordering the TINHIFI C0 ELF, you can choose two types of termination plug that you prefer either a standard 3.5mm one or Type-C USB connector with a DAC chip implemented inside for mobile devices that don't have a headphone jack.
TINHIFI C0 ELF's product packaging is rather elementary and spartan; aside from IEM shell transducers, it includes a rather basic accessories for its fundamental necessities.
Here are the following contents:
■ Pair of TINHIFI C0 ELF IEMs
■ A black OFC stock cable
■ Extra pairs of wide bore ear tips in different standard sizes.
■ paperwork like Q.C. stub and instruction manual.
TINHIFI C0 ELF can be amplified well from sources with decent power output like from smartphones, tablets and other portable media devices. But pairing it with the devices with better DAC/amp will give even more dynamics and full range sounding in this set.
As for its tonality, it appears that C0 ELF has a V-shaped sound profile due to its more emphasis on lows and high frequencies while midrange was in a neutral and less forward presentation.
LOWS/BASS:
It seems that it follows the pattern of its progenitor, the original TINHIFI T2, when it comes to bass response. It has more focus on sub bass that I discerningly felt the rumbling and reverberations from certain sub bass instruments like low tone guitar, drum machines and synthesisers.
Mid bass has enough texture just to give some volume and depth on instruments like bass kick drum, bass guitar and bass-baritone vocals but I still perceive it as inadequate. Bass kick drums have a thudding and a tad softer on impact while bass guitars have a resonant and sombre sound on every strum, fret and slapping on its strings notations. And then on bass-baritones vocals, their voices have less depth and less darker tone to give that guttural and heft. Overall, with its good quality dynamic driver, it was able to give a fast and clean bass response.
MIDRANGE:
The midrange presentation of this set is quite recessed as some vocals and instruments are less prominent in the overall frequency range. But there are some advantages that this set was tuned for that most of the female vocals and on instruments like strings and some woodwinds will sound well-executed on this one. In general, the way that the midrange was presented is somehow neutral, transparent and energetic.
Some male vocals and a certain female vocal type, the contraltos have less heft, lack of richness and depth on this one that they sound less warmer and lusher on both baritones and contraltos and less brassy on some tenors. Countertenors, mezzo-sopranos and sopranos have a very expressive, vivid and harmonious sound from them on how they project their respective vocal qualities. Both countertenors and mezzo-sopranos have that vocal agileness, smooth and fiery sound characteristics from them while sopranos have a gleaming and silky sound.
On instruments, like I mentioned that strings and woodwinds would fare on this one. Guitars have a crisp and bright tone but there are sometimes that they sound a tad dry in my liking. Violins have a brilliant and metallic sound on every stroke on its bowstring. Flutes have silvery and penetrating sound while piccolos have bright and penetrating sound from it. Clarinets and saxophones have a lively and forceful sound from them. On brasses like trumpets and trombones, trumpets have such a brilliant sound while trombones have a penetrating and sinister sound from them. Percussives like snares and toms have a resonant sound although they sometimes sound dry and dead to my ears. Pianos seem to have a balanced to bright sound from them that gives me some euphonious feel.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
As I observe that it has a boosted upper mids up to the brilliance part of the treble range, this makes the treble of C0 ELF on a brighter side. It gives a good definition on some vocals and attack of instruments. It has fairly crisp and shimmer on it while maintaining a control on sibilance and jarring though sometimes I discerningly hear a tad hissing on some consonants and it is given that treble sensitives should be cautious on this kind of tuning.
I also notice that the brilliance part of the treble region has a moderate amount of air and due to elevation somewhere in the presence part that gives some sense of airiness and adds more sparkle but to my ears, it has only a modest extension in my opinion. Cymbals have a glistening and metallic sound while celestas have a shimmering sound on them, and then on glockenspiels, they have a bright and jingling sound.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
It's overall sound/speaker stage size, it has an average to above average proportions on how I perceived it on its axes. It has an average to above-average lateral span, a good vertical height reach and a decent depth between front and back that gives me fairly moderate head room within my aural sphere.
On imaging, its sound field projects a rather two-dimensional stereo presentation where I can locate the placements of instruments and vocals in both sides of their respective channels. To my surprise, that it has decently good separation and layering for its price and also the dynamic performance of its dynamic driver albeit the presentation of tonal frequencies of each instrument and vocals were stacked in two layers only instead of a multi-layered presentation but I won't budge about it as it is the limitation of a single DD.
It has an excellent driver coherency on how it performs that it delivers a very responsive and nimble on both transients and decay. Resolution capabilities are quite decent as it has a solid texture in its note weight while it has sharp definition in extracting an adequate amount of nuances and details from an audio track.
PEER COMPARISONS:
KZ LINGLONG
■ One of few KZ sets that takes bullet-style form factor but unlike C0 ELF, it uses a micro dynamic driver and non-detachable cable. It is also susceptible to driver flex whether I move my head or simply insert them to my lugholes. It should be noted that LINGLONG is way less cheaper compared to C0 ELF.
■ As for its tonality and sound profile, LINGLONG has a u-shaped sound signature with a more balanced-warmish tonality. It has more punchy bass, has a warmer midrange and less brighter and yet smoother treble response. Technicality-wise, they have similar performance with the exception that the separation and layering aspects of which LINGLONG isn't that well-defined. It is also noted that it is also a bit harder to drive too.
TANGZU CHANGLE
■ Another set with a bullet-style form, but like the KZ LINGLONG, it has a micro-dynamic driver and a non-detachable cable but at least, it has a more ornate aesthetic on its cylindrical shells. And this set is a bit less cheaper than the C0 ELF and its cable is prone to microphonics.
■ CHANGLE has a warm U-shaped sound signature as it has more punchy and slam on its bass response, a warmer and texture midrange which is more all-rounder to all types of vocals and a balanced and less brighter treble response compared to the C0 ELF. On technicalities, CHANGLE has a tad smaller sound/speaker staging and while on its imaging, separation and layering aspect are rather rudimentary and pretty basic in my opinion. This set is also harder to drive like the KZ LINGLONG.
TANCHJIM TANYA DSP
■ Both sets are comparable in physical aspect but there's a noticeable difference between them. TANYA has a USB-C connector as its termination plug and a smaller dynamic driver but it has more inclusions on its packaging box.
■ TANYA has a modified Harman target curve which is also u-shaped sounding. It has more slam and authority of its bass response while retaining its clean sound, a more texture and forward midrange and sufficiently bright treble response. On technical aspects, both have similar performance that there are only marginal differences like resolution capability as TANYA is excellent on macro-dynamics while C0 ELF is a bit better on micro detail retrieval.
As I concluded my assessment of this particular product, it seems that the way TINHIFI tuning this set is really harkened back to its popular product, The TINHIFI T2 Original in which I'm quite familiar with its neutral ish-bright tuning that really stands out of its time of its release. The TINHIFI C0 ELF truly does stand out on how it was presented, a bullet-style form with detachable cable feature and its tonal characteristics that will be distinguishable among the products in the same price range. If you are a fan of TINHIFI in-house and at an affordable and budget pricing, this set is certainly for you then.
TINHIFI C0 ELF is now available at LINSOUL, there's an unaffiliated link below for any interesting parties who wants to purchase this set.
For more TINHIFI product reviews, you can also check out my previous product review article links below.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: TINHIFI C0 ELF
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 104dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm, TYPE-C
DRIVER UNIT(S): 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER
PROS:
△ Solid yet lightweight metal alloy shell chassis.
△ Quite versatile on wearing it either on in-ear monitor style or let it hang just like an earbud (needs a better cable which is very very flexible and no ear hooks at all)
△ Finally, a detachable bullet-style earphone.
△ Good bass slam with substantial sub bass presence.
△ A bright and energetic sound to some female vocals to give more expressive and emotive character.
△ Crisp and lingering tone on strings, bright and silvery sound on some woodwinds.
△ Definitely it has a bright treble response.
△ Commendable separation and layering performance for its dynamic driver and price.
△ Quite comfy to wear them, not a hint any discomfort or wear fatigue.
△ It will reminds you the tonal characteristics of TINHIFI T2 albeit it has a slight deviation of its tuning.
CONS:
▽ Treble sensitives should be cautioned regarding the tuning of this set. Might be shrilly and fatiguing in their listening session.
▽ Not the best on passive noise isolation due to its open-back design.
▽ Need some ear tip rolling for better seal.
▽ Noticeable recessed midrange.
Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
P.S.
I am not affiliated to TINHIFI nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KAREENA TANG of LINSOUL for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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