TinHiFi - TinHiFi C2

Hey are quite aggressively v-shaped. In that price range I'd go for the Tin C2 instead, which is a more neutral-ish U-shape and you can also tame the slightly zingy upper treble with Spinfit CP-100+ tips, if you find it is too much. It's also much higher build quality than the EW200 which has quite thin, flexible metal faceplates. I'd go with the older one, not the 2025 version, because the old one is cheaper and has a more neutral bass shelf. The 2025 has more sub-bass though, so you might want that; it's still not an over bloated level, just sounds a bit more v-shaped, but it's only about 1 or 2 dB different at most.

If you really need the mic, I think your only option is the Kinera Wyvern Pro, which is around $25-ish. The IEM is OK, but it has a big dip in the treble, which might affect imaging (hearing where sounds are coming from) so that may not be ideal for gaming. If you don't need the mic, Tin Hifi C2 is a better IEM. I don't use them for gaming, but I can confirm they are very good for music. They are also approved by GadgetryTech for gaming - no full review yet, but he gives a mini review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XynoXDaYCmY&t=2422s He's got the 2025 version there, which I believe is about $40 but there's also the older one which is about $20. I have both and the difference between them is tiny. The 2025 has a tiny bit more sub-bass and sounds a bit "fuller", but the older one is easier to get close to a reference neutral sound with the right tips. The shells and everything else are identical, both are great IEMs. You can also buy a separate upgrade cable with a mic. This [KBear one](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000272626428.html) is cheap and the mic is OK. Whether the mic will be up to your quality standards IDK, but it's a basic inline mic and not the worst one I've ever heard. You could probably get that KBear mic cable + the original Tin C2 in your budget. The Wyvern comes with a better mic, the C2 is a better IEM.

It's not 100% flat neutral (but nothing is in that price range), more U-shaped, but the Tin C2 is very good. It gets closer to neutral with Spinfit CP-100+ tips since those roll off the extra upper treble that they have, leaving it as pretty neutral with a slight bass boost. But they have very clean, well extended treble that IMO puts them quite ahead of the 7Hz Zero or Zero 2 for technical performance. Similar to the Simgot EW200 but that's a lot more v-shaped. Also the C2 has the best build quality out of any of those. The older one (which is now around $20) is closer to neutral than the 2025 version, which has a bit more sub-bass and sounds slightly more v-shaped. Both are very similar though. You probably wouldn't know there was a difference if you listened to them a day apart rather than A/B them side-by-side. If you want more of a bright-neutral with flatter bass, the Moondrop LAN is pretty good (around $40).

I wouldn't list the QKZ Hades, as it's pretty universally hated, unless you specifically mention that it's a *very* niche tuning most people don't like (even most bassheads). And even among people who like it at all, it's generally a one-genre set. I'd strike the Juzear Clear off the list because it appears to have [really bad unit variance](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1insj4z/some_thoughts_on_the_juzear_clear_and_myer_audio/). I still recommend it for the cable if it's on sale for $20, but only if you really want that cable (it normally costs about $15-20 on its own). It's not a highly recommended IEM anyway, it just had a brief period of hype as a basshead IEM. Rarely gets mentioned nowadays. Neither of my two units are true basshead sets (and one is quite bright), so clearly some golden units went out to reviewers. The Blon BL03 ii hasn't got particularly good reviews. It seems to be that if you care about tuning, the original is better. The new one has 2-pin but it has all the ergonomic problems that plagued the original, so I don't think it should be recommended at all, with maybe a nod to the original as being a classic if people are able to pick one up cheaply. I don't think the KBear KB02 is worth recommending unless you specifically want to know what a BC driver does, in which case it's the cheapest way to get one. I got one for that reason. It sounds pretty bad. All the reviews point out the same issue - there's some weird "springy" resonances, especially noticeable with spoken word. It also makes everything sound like you're listening through a cardboard tube. It's just weird, not good. Audio Amigo and Paul Wasabii both have good reviews btw, I agree with pretty much everything they say about them. I don't see the Tin Hifi C2 mentioned on your original list or the new one. That's a 2025 version out recently. I have both and they are both excellent. Lots of reviews out there, but fewer for the 2025 version. I'm not sure if the old one is being discontinued, but it seems to be still for sale for about $20 while the new one is closer to $40. The difference between the two versions is quite subtle. The Moondrop Starfield 2 got pretty universally terrible reviews. The Juzear 41t and the Flame are the same IEM, so I'd put them on the same line - the flame just has a different faceplate. I have the 41t and it's good aside from the annoyingly bad venting, but I'm hesitant about recommending it for the reasons mentioned in my post about the Clear. Since it's a hybrid it really *should* be fully vented and I now consider this an engineering flaw rather than "just the way it is". Every other manufacturer seems to be able to vent their hybrid IEMs properly. The 7Hz Timeless probably shouldn't be on the list because it's very outdated nowadays. It's only a classic because it was the first reasonably-tuned planar, not because it's good by current standards. It was still an early and not-very-refined version of a formula that's been iterated on continually since then. The AE is better but less widely reviewed. The 2 seems to be getting good reviews but I believe it's closer to $300.

If you want something that sounds like the 7Hz Zero there's the original Moondrop Chu. It has a poor quality, non-removable cable, but apart from that I'd say it sounds better than the Zero. The most direct upgrade from that is the Moondrop LAN, but it's about $40. It's worth it if you can stretch your budget, because it has a much better (and removable) cable than the Chu, and the tuning is more refined than either the Chu or the Zero. There isn't much else with a similar neutral-bright tuning until you get into the $200+ bracket. If you aren't set on neutral bright specifically I'd look at the Tin C2 which is more U-shaped, but is a far better sounding (and better made) IEM than just about anything else in that price bracket. It's also [approved for gaming](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XynoXDaYCmY&t=2422s) by GadgetryTech although he hasn't done his full review yet.

The C2 is a much better IEM than the Gate in just about every way. Better resolving ability (I'd put the driver around the same level as the EW200), more natural tonality (the Gate has somewhat gritty treble) and much better build quality. The C2 has outstanding build quality even compared to much more expensive IEMs. It's built like a tank, so it's the one I always recommend to people who end up breaking another IEM through carelessness (unless they're concerned about condensation issues with a metal shell). The only place where the Gate wins out is the stock cable, but the C2 cable is good enough for the price. I swapped out the cable on mine, whereas the Gate cable is one that I use on other IEMs (at least on ones I don't care about 4.4mm, which is what I normally use). Tuning-wise the C2 is definitely v-shaped but not quite as aggressive as the EW200. The build quality is considerably better than the EW200 as well. I also have the original C2 as well as the 2025 one and I was able to get that sounding relatively neutral with some tip-rolling, but from what I've seen/heard from other people there's some unit variance that means it's more likely going to sound v-shaped like the 2025 version, but the 2025 has a bit more sub-bass and sounds warmer. The C2 also has pretty good soundstage & imaging. It's apparently very good for competitive gaming, though I haven't tried myself (and don't generally play those kinds of games either). It got a very brief endorsement from GadgetryTech in the middle of a buying guide, but he never got around to releasing a full review unfortunately. All in all it's a pretty underrated IEM. One of the best ones around at its price. Also it does go on sale around $20 from time to time. I started recommending the OG version a lot when it was on near-constant sale at that price, but they sold out nearly everywhere, so it's usually just the 2025 version you see now. The box art is a bit different but otherwise it's hard to tell them apart, except the OG didn't have a black version, just grey. The tuning differences between the two are also pretty small - you can hear it clearly in an A/B, but if you were going from memory you'd probably say they're identical. I'd say the real competition for these is something like the Kefine Klean. The C2 is more detailed & resolving, the Klean is bassier & a bit more relaxed. Both have great build quality but the C2 is probably more robust long-term and easier to repair if needed.

There's quite a broad range. For example: * Aful MagicOne - pretty, but not overdone * Ikko OH10 - good looking, nature-based & reserved * 7Hz Timeless, Timeless AE, Simgot EA500 - minimalist * Tin C2, Dunu Titan S (black/red version), Truthear Hexa/Pure - industrial There's a whole load in the middle that are just random swirly colours which has become the default low-effort design. Something like the Thieaudio Legacy 2 does that well IMO because its just one colour with a bit of texture, not all the colours, all at once. If you want a plain black cable, look at the KBear ST12. There's lots of options out there. I notice the stock cables often don't match the IEMs very well, and intentionally or not, this most likely helps sell a lot of aftermarket cables.

Yes, i remember it winning Super Review's best budget IEM of 2022. Now that I have gotten my hands on its successor, which improved upon the groundwork that the original C2 laid, i could totally see the reason behind that decision.

Glad to hear that the original C2 resonates with you. If something does happen to your beloved C2 (i hope not), you can definitely get the new 2025 version as a replacement. The new version is basically identical, except for a tiny bit more subbass and a new black colourway. https://preview.redd.it/ewab7bsflt4g1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=b2338c7d7ecfd6c24dd1a18ca482b5bfb0259e13 (Graph source: audioamigo.squig.link)

My all time favourite iem after 2 simple mods! I love that thing.

The OG C2 is my all time fav iem, even after having tried some mid and high end iems (including some of the newer CFAs), I still wouldn't trade it for anything.  Incredible build, great comfort, and after modding a bit, very satisfying sound even without EQ.  The bass, treble quality and naturalness are my favourite aspects of their sound.  They're already 2,5 years old and used almost daily without issues. I don't really see myself getting another iem until something happens to my beloved C2.

Kz Edx Pro. I spent 2 months with it and bought the Tin hifi C2 at the time.

TRN and TinHifi have ridiculous build quality for the price.

Yeah, ive had a salnotes zero, prob the comfiest iem ive ever had, now using a Tin C2, also quite confortable. Ive already tried tip rolling with the T10, gets better, but nowhere near confortable for extended use

Kefine Delci or Tinhifi C2.