TinHiFi C2

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.

Maybe another EW200, or else the Tin C2 is similar-ish but whereas the EW200 is clearly v-shaped the C2 is slightly more U-shaped, with slightly less bass but a bit more enhanced sense of clarity & detail. On [a graph](https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Simgot_EW200,TinHiFi_C2_Mechwarrior) they look almost identical, and they certainly sound *similar*, but not quite identical. I would say the C2 build quality is a bit better, but the EW200 is a bit smaller. The C2 nozzles are slightly longer as well, which might be a good bad or indifferent thing depending on your ears. If you want to try a planar and can't stretch your budget to the Artti T10, the SGOR Luna comes pretty close and I believe it would be in budget. Both the Luna and the T10 need a somewhat powerful DAC/amp though so if you only have something like the EU Apple dongle or a basic JCally JM6 (non-pro) then it may not be enough, but the JM6 Pro is fine - it just needs to deliver more than about 0.75V. One thing to note about the Luna is that the shells are pretty large, much bigger than the EW200.

Super cheap: KZ Gale (~$5 but you'd probably want to add the QKZ T1 cable on for another $4-ish). Better build quality: EPZ Q1 Pro (~$35) or Tin C2 (~$30). Neither is strictly speaking neutral, but neutral IEMs don't exist. These are "neutral-ish" and tuned quite similarly with a balanced, slightly brighter tilt (which is what you need for soundstage & imaging). They all have good instrument separation as well (which is different to imaging). The C2 probably has the best separation & imaging, whereas the Q1 Pro probably has the widest soundstage. The C2 is fairly tip-sensitive and probably the brightest out of the box, with the stock tips, but you can tone that down if you're prepared to experiment a bit with aftermarket tips. The Q1 Pro is probably a bit safer otherwise.

Some particularly good budget IEMs: - **QKZ HBB** - not technically amazing, but really wall tuned warm, relaxing, surprisingly natural-sounding despite being quite bassy - **Tin C2** - mild U/V shape (possibly some unit variance at work there, but I have two and both sound good, just different) leaning a bit bright, but can be made closer to neutral-ish (with a bass boost) with some tip rolling. Very resolving, incisive and with great imaging for such a cheap IEM. Even more so when they were selling off the older model for $20, but those offers seem to be gone now. It's built like a tank too. The build quality of these can easily shame some $300+ IEMs. - **Ikko OH300** - similar to the QKZ HBB, but more energetic and vocal-forward, with exceptional imaging, but especially the sense of depth/layering. These knocked the Letshuoer S08 off my #2 favourite IEM spot because there's enough similarity in how they present sound, but these have better bass, so I tend to grab these over the S08 if that's the sort of mood I'm in. They're also much less tip-sensitive than the S08. The S08 does have a few unique aspects of its own though. - **Artti T10** - just ridiculously good value for what it costs, very resolving with a fun tuning that isn't fatiguing (unlike some more expensive planars). - **TRN Shell** - another one that's insane value for money when it goes on sale around $40, especially given the accessories package. A really well done hybrid that sounds much more expensive than it is, with a really good sense of texturing in particular, without being bright. The OH300, HBB and Shell in particular are IEMs I listen to a lot, despite having many other more expensive IEMs. There isn't really a direct correlation between price and sound quality, but if you ignore the ones that are not worth the price, you do tend to get more of the good aspects together and fewer trade-offs as you go up in price, due to better drivers etc. The HBB is cheap, but tuned perfectly to its driver limitations: it doesn't need to be highly resolving, because it's not an analytical tuning. It has a big weakness, but while I wouldn't say it turns that weakness into a strength or anything that clichéd, I would say that it makes it so that the weakness isn't that important. It just works and achieves what it is trying to achieve. That's something not all IEMs do, regardless of price. I wouldn't say any of these made me "reconsider" any of my more expensive IEMs, because those are generally good too. But I probably spend more time listening to my under-$50 IEMs than my over-$200 ones. A lot of IEMs that I've bought as "a better version of X", or "Y without such-and-such issue" have usually not worked out as well as hoped. Whereas the ones I've ended up liking the most have often just been a pure fluke. Like I bought the OH300 on a whim because it was on sale and I thought the glass faceplate was cool. Also I've kind of lost count, but I have something like 8 or 9 planar IEMs now, and the one I like the most is one that I initially returned because it was too bright, and re-bought it again because (a) it looks cool and (b) was massively reduced to clear. Turns out it can sound *incredible* with some tip-rolling, although to this day I don't know if that's only in my ears or if the same tips would have the same effect for anyone else.

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.

Dude, you steered me wrong with Mechwarrior C2. That was the brightest and most unpleasant I ever listened to. haha. But at least you were right on Thieoaudio Legacy 2.

I'd be careful of the Tin C2 Mechwarrior. That was a very unpleasant sounding IEM, extremely bright. Returned it that very day.There seems to be some variation in tunings too. The one I got wasn't good.

Usually the Tangzu Waner, TINHiFi C2 and Salnotes Zero are the safest choice and my experience on giving and letting some people test out my sets these have the tuning most of the people prefer from my peers. (Moondrop CHU is a good choice as well but having a Moondrop KATO and this set, the brass nozzles are prone to patina/discoloration/corrosion if that's a concern for you). Tho would recomend the Tanchchjim Bunny DMT4 personally as well (but the fit could be an issue to some) If you're using the IEMs on a stationary setup (like only be used on a desktop), would rec to get the CVJ HATO 2 cables as well for the boom mic for the IEMs above, or the Kinera Celest WYVERN Pro that has the boom mic included in the IEM with the double mic/boom mic option/version If you do not need that boom mic, and only fine with using the inline cable the Kefine Klean will be my to go to.

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

TRN and TinHifi have ridiculous build quality for the price.