TINHIFI P1 Max II

TONALITY: 7.5/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8/10
TIMBRE: 7.5/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 8/10
IMAGING: 8/10
MUSICALITY (subjective): 7.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8/10
SOUND VALUE: 7.5/10

Tinhifi is a well known IEM maker from China that has released very popular budget IEMs like the Tinhifi T2 and T3plus as well as a good amount of planar IEM.

I still consider their P1plus as the best sub-200$ planar for technical performance, but the housing design makes the fit cumbersome so I don’t tend to use it often for this reason.

The first P1max improved the design ergonomy for smooth fit and comfort but chose a warmer neutral tonality than the more vivid and resolved P1plus.

Today I will review the P1max successor humbly called P1max 2.

Priced 140$, the P1max II is supposed to use an upgraded 14.2mm planar driver and promise a ‘’wider soundstage, clearer sound and crystal clear note’’.

Let's see in this review if these planar earphones offer a worthy musicality and performance among the numerous other planar offerings under 200$.


CONSTRUCTION&DESIGN



The construction is made from 3D printed high precision resin plastic. It’s lightweight and very smooth. The ergonomics are very same as the first P1max but use a different back plate design which is really beautiful.
The nozzle is on the short side which means no deep insertion possible.
On top of housing we have a non recessed 2 pin connector that feels solidly embedded.

The included cable is of nice quality but comes in single ends which isn’t the best choice for planar IEM that benefit from extra power or balanced output. It’s a 4 strands silver plated braided cable that fits well the overall IEM look.



In terms of packaging, it’s cute and minimalist. The accessories are minimalist too since we don't have carrying case. So we have the cable and 5 pairs of silicone eartips and 1 pair of memory foam. This is OK for the price but a carrying case would have been appreciated.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS



Overall tonality can be described as bright V shape with thick thumpy bass that feel speedy and round, forward upper mids that favor presence over substance but doesn’t sound overly thin and sharp, vividly crunchy treble that add sense of air but don’t offer a lotta sparkle and clean brilliance.

This is quite a big departure from smoother and more warm neutral P1max and crisper more analytical, clean and lean sounding P1 Max.

In fact, we are in rather common V shape territory here, since the Max2 sounds very similar to Letshuoer S12 and doesn't offer anything new or particularly special to planar games which feel stagnant lately. Yet, it doesn’t mean these are bad, technical performance is still excellent for the price and they are easier to drive than S12 as well as a notch bassier, more dynamic.

So, we have a fast euphonic bass boom that offers both punch and speedy rumble. It’s not the cleanest bass since we have hints of warmth that glue kick drum and bass line in the same sound envelope. This adds slam weight and dynamic heft, which is very weighty and tactile.
The sub bass is vibrant, a bit compressed in extension which make bass line thick but not very accurate in note release extension, which is more an issue for double bass with lean reverberation that will go suddenly louder and more boomy than cello which will earn lushness and appealing density to it’s attack sustain.
Simply put, the bass favors the impact over its fine resolution and positioning, the kick drum sound colored in timbre but gain in punch, so these are good contenders for rock, pop, R&B.

The mids are warmed by bass, this makes male vocals full sounding while it steals air and definition edge sharpness, yet both male and female vocals are still bright and edgy enough due to upper mids boost that forwards their presence.
This can make female vocals a notch intense in loudness and borderline shouty. But at least it doesn’t sound thin and it’s abrasive in texture, which impacts transparency negatively. We have a bit of planar fuzzy grain that adds noise to air.
There is no clean air around the instrument which affects positioning clarity.
Tenor instrument and vocal will sound more natural and lush, cello being at top of its game here as well as saxophone while for violin planar timbre and harmonic intensity affect timbre fullness by favoring the attack bite.


The treble is focused on the lower part and boosts mostly the presence grain and edge of instrument and percussion without achieving proper snap and sparkle or a clean crispness that will add a well perceived variety of timbre polyphony.
Past 10kHz, the treble seems to roll off rather fast, so highs offer more thick attack crunch than fine speedy snap and bite that would sharpen attack lead impact and add macro dynamic amplitude variety. In that regard, P1max 2 sure isn’t feeling W shape, dynamic has 2 steps to it, bass in package+upper mids and highs in package.
Think about balanced armature highs and you get similar attack sustain-release as well as diffuse euphonic timbre. It’s no end game in terms of treble refinement here and shows to what price range this planar IEM belongs.


The soundstage is very wide, average, tall and not deep. It’s not very holographic and open sounding and acts like a wide sound tapestry with lively dynamics that go towards center stage, where all sound info concentrates to the point of stealing all air in the space.

This means imaging is average too, instruments lack proper clean space between them but can be layered fastly without mixing in overtone (apart bass). Classical quartet is easier to read than Symphony which goes blurry in fine instrument cutting, percussions can get lost in the mix due to sustained blur, bass is warmed by its impact which make it hard to pinpoint precisely too. In other words: these aren’t adequate for monitoring purposes.


COMPARISONS



VS NICEHCK F1pro

The F1pro is more W shaped and bright, the treble is spikier and airier, the timbre is more noisy and typical planar like…

The bass is more boomy and resonant, less round and warm and thick than Max2 which has more vibrant and colorful rumble too with less scooped upper bass-lower mids so transition into mids is warmer and more natural. Max2 has more mid bass punch and weight and it's less boosted in sub bass, less resonant and wide in slam, thigher but warmer too.

This means P1max feels more mid centric even if balanced V shape and darker on top, we don’t have this extra treble edge that negatively texture balance and put harmonic overly forward, this makes both male and female vocal smoother, lusher and more natural and bodied. F1pro mids are thinner but crisper and more open sounding, it can’t handle a wide variety of vocal style due to scooped lower mids so it's more about bright presence boost, this makes resolution and layering cleaner, less colored with warmth that affect transparency of Max2 more. Edgier and harsher are the mids of F1pro, smoother and wider and denser in presence and as well as more weighty in note impact is the Max2.

Treble is smoother, leaner and more organic in balance but not as sharp, airy and crunchy. Percussions are thinner, brighter and more spoil with planar timbre with F1pro, it sounds half cooked while round and full but not as upfront with the Max2. Highs are spikier and harsher with F1pro, it tends to add unwanted sound info in mids instruments too. Treble heads will prefer F1pro while those seeking lush balance and fluid musicality will prefer Max2.

Soundstage is wider and deeper with F1pro, in that regard Max2 feel intimate and overly compressed in center stage, you are into music with Max2 while center stage is more recessed U shape way with F1pro.

Imaging is superior with F1pro, sound layering is more transparent so macro dynamics don’t feel as mushy and dark.

All in all, musicality and warm tonal balance as well as timbre naturalness go to Tinhifi P1max2. NiceHCK F1pro is more technical but more unpleasant musicaly, timbre is thinner, dryer and harsher, vocal can be sibilant more easily and percussions are overly forwards due to spikier treble response.

VS HIDIZS MP145

The MP145 is more U shape, crisp and airy in tonality, what hit first is how more open and gigantic the soundstage is and how cleaner and more holographic the imaging is.

The bass is faster and thinner, more transparent, less thick and more energy in slam and punch which is wider, more transparent and resonant. Bass lines are better articulated and deeper. Their less lower mids warmth and slam is better layered. Max2 feels quite muddy bass wise compared to those and the mid bass definition is more mushy.

The mids are edgier with MP145, timbre is thinner and brighter, less smoothen in sibilance, less lusher and warm than darker and thicker mids of Max2 which again feel mushy and lacking in air and proper definition but we have more lower mids and male vocal are more upfront and fully bodied with the Max2, that's about only advantage it got since mids are more open and crisp yet not too thin with Mp145.

The treble is notably airier, sparklier and snappier with the MP145, percussions are sharper in definition and more energetic in attack, we have more micro details and texture info, we have more air around instruments, we have more attack lead accent and well everything feel less dark and foggy.

The Soundstage is way wider, taller and deeper, no competition here.

Imaging is superior due to more space between instruments as well as more transparency and space between sound layers levels, again non competition here.

All in all, the MP145 is superior in both tonal balance and technical performance and feels from another league as if MP145 was mid tier planar and Max2 an entry level one.

CONCLUSION



The Tinhifi P1max II are more than decent sounding planar IEM but come a bit late in the game and doesn't represent consequent performance upgrade among other planar offering.

If you were hoping for a more V shape and energic sounding P1max, this could be the musicality sidegrade you were waiting for.

As well, the wide soundstage promise aren't achieved by this IEM, so if you seek very open and spacious musicality, it's not the IEM I would suggest, for that regard, Hidizs MP145 still is the benchmark.

The P1max2 is a fun and bassy sounding earphone with thick bass and mids and a well rounded tonality that is cohesive and free of harsh spike, and at 130$ it might not be as competitively priced as Artti T10 but still is a valuable contendor for audio enthusiast.

Semi Recommended.

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PS: I want to thanks Tinhifi for sending me this review sample. As always i'm not affiliated in any form to this company and these are all subjective audio impressions and opinions.

Introduction:
TinHifi is one of the old players amongst many chifi brands. They were known for selling iem at quite an affordable pricing, as well as experimenting with a lot of different tunings.
There are quite a few products from their catalog that manage to earn the recognition of many audiophiles as well as casual music enjoyers like their 1 dynamic driver lineup: The T2, T3 Plus, C2, C3 as well as their planar lineup: The P1, P1 Plus, P1 Max.
And now, after 2 long years, they have release their latest planar creation: The P1 Max II. P1 Max II is said to be the successor or upgraded version of their P1 Max, which was released back in 2022 and was known for its near neutral yet still musical tuning.


I would like to give a special thank to TinHifi for providing this unit of P1 Max II in exchange for an honest reviews. This will not affect my evaluation of this iem. Everything i said in this review is my subjective opinion only.

Packaging

The P1 Max II comes in a relatively simple box.
Together with the iem, it comes with a few pairs of eartips (6 pairs of silicone tips + 1 pair of foam tips) and a really nice quality cable.


Truth be told, I wish they could've included a small case in the accessories, especially for the 140$ price tag.

Design/Build quality/Comfort

The P1 Max II has a 3d printed resin shell in a black color way, with a 14.2mm planar driver housing inside of it. The iem feels really light in the hand, 3.8 grams according to the marketing material, yet it doesn't feel flimsy.

The faceplate on the other hand looks really nice. It has this sort of 3d wavy design in a gray-ish color way with actual depth to the pattern. The faceplate looks simple and minimal enough yet still looks great upon closer inspection.

Comfort wise, i think it’s alright. It’s not too small nor too big. It doesn’t have the most ergonomic design ever (no bulbous, rear wing design) but it does provide decent isolation.

The cable is a 4-strand silver plated OFC cable with a 3.5mm termination. It feels quite nice in the hand, soft and supple, has no memory and no microphonics. It’s quite a decent cable for the price.

As for tips, the provided tips did not provide me with sufficient seal as well as sound performance. I have opted for the Divinus Velvet tips instead. The following sound impression will be made with the Velvet tips.

Sound impression:

*Test gear:
Source: Poco F3, Dell laptop
DAC/Amp: Chord Mojo, Ibasso DC04 Pro, E1DA 9038D, Hiby FC6
Eartips: Divinus Velvet
Cable: Stock

Tonality: Mild V-shaped

Bass: 7.25/10

It’s fast, punchy, rumbly, has good extension. It’s subbass over midbass as the graph would imply. The midbass slams are easily felt with good heft to it and it’s not weak by any means, nor is it too boomy. Like the characteristic of planar driver, the bass has a very quick attack and decay characteristic however that “quickness” of it do makes me miss that lingering sense of the dynamic driver. As a trade off, that quickness gives the P1 Max II a very well defined bass notes during complexed tracks.

Personally, i’d enjoy a bit more midbass for the additional thumps and hit. Drums and bass guitar would have more body to it. Stock bass is absolutely fine, but because this is planar, i do think the P1 Max II would benefit from a bit more bass to compensate for that quick decaying nature of planar.

In “Strong and Strike” of Naruto OST, the drum hits, although sounding quite distinct, do lack that very bit of oomph to it. Or during many more fast pace tracks, the P1 Max II can keep up with no problem.

Mids: 7/10

With how the bass was done, the midrange is a bit on a leaner side. Even with the so-called “bass bleed” on the graph, the midrange actually sounds clean. It’s on the bright and energetic side yet doesn’t sound shouty at all. Vocals are relatively forward sounding, nor is it too recessed. Male vocals like Michael Buble and Frank Sinatra sounds fine, though like i said, they do lack that very bit of weighty sense to their voice.

With female vocal like “All by Myself – Celine Dion”, her voice sounds vibrant yet not harsh sounding. The high notes hitting from 2:30 onwards just sound emphasized enough.

Or for example with “Nee – Maiko Fujita”, her voice sounds just as angelic and lively as ever. Her voice does stand out more from the mix compared to the rest of the instruments.

At a high volume though, female vocals in general does sound more intense and fatiguing.

Piano and violin sounds natural in tone, but not exactly satisfying in its note weight

Treble: 7/10

The treble part is... fine. I didn’t get wow by it. It is crisp, airy and well extended. Together with the boosted bass, it gives me this slight V-shaped sense to the whole tonal balance.

In “Caravan – John Wasson” , cymbals and hihats has its basic properties like the attack and the shimmering decay. However, the decay or the tail notes of those percussion instruments sort of disappear a bit too fast, like it’s not lingering around or emphasized enough.

There is also some weird sense of sibilant to it. I do notice this at higher volume.

Tech: 7.5/10

Soundstage wise, it’s actually quite decent. Yosi Horikawa’s Bubbles and Wandering sounds great with the P1 Max II. I can feel the spatial cues hitting me from left to right and back and forth like it should. However, the height is quite subpar to my ears with the P1 Max II, which makes the soundstage quite flat.

Dynamic is also good with the P1 Max II, although i’d say microdetails aren’t its greatest strength.

Layering is nice, although it doesn’t have the sharpest layering between instruments.

Source pairing:

From my limited amount of DAC/Amp, i enjoyed the Chord Mojo and Hiby FC6 the most with the P1 Max II.

The Mojo has the best synergy with the P1 Max II as it has the best control over the planar driver, which in turn provides a very dynamic and full sound reproduction.

The FC6 on the other hand provides a bit of warmth and musicality with their R2R tech. The bass seems to have a bit more lingering sense to it, which makes the P1 Max II sounds more organic.

The DC04 Pro on the other hand was a bit too neutral and the E1DA 9038D was definitely too bright for the P1 Max II

=> Conclusion: The P1 Max II does benefit from a bit more current/power from a better and maybe a bit warmer DAC/Amp.

Comparison:

Vs 7hz Timeless

The 7hz Timeless was one of the first planar iem that manage to capture the hearts of many comsumers as well as started the first “Planar war”. At the time, it was famous for its technical performance and the value it brings. So how does the P1 Max II, a three years later product, different from the first planar iem king?

Comparing the two, the 7hz Timeless has a full aluminum housing, have better accessories, which includes a full metal carrying case as well as better stocking tips. The stock cable looks higher quality too. But this is to be expected since the retail price of it was 200$, comparing to P1 Max II’s 139$

As for sound quality, the P1 Max II has many improvements compared to the Timeless. The Timeless sounds brighter than the P1 Max II, yes. But the midrange on P1 Max II sounds way more natural with better texture. The Timeless’s midrange sounds more uneven in comparison.

The timbre is wayyyyyy better on the P1 Max II because of this. The P1 Max II has nearer timbre to a dynamic driver, whereas the Timeless still has that famous planar timbre. The timbre on the Timeless has this metallic and almost aggressive sense to it.

Detail wise, the Timeless does have more details than the P1 Max II, but in hindsight, the detail on the Timeless feels a bit too artificially boosted and almost fake, whereas the P1 Max II sounds more natural and less harsh.

Vs Hidizs MP145

Hidizs MP145 is one of, if not the most widely enjoyed, allrounded planar i’ve ever seen. At the point of its release, it has captured the heart of many audiophiles around the world due to its almost unprecedented performance for the price, which is around 100$ when it was first released on KickStarter.

So as a new planar contender in the planar iem market, the P1 Max II from Tinhifi does have a big shoe to fill. What does it have in its arsenal to go up against the MP145?

Well first is the price. The P1 Max II has a retail price of 139$, as opposed to the MP145’s current retail price of 159$. Outside of sound, the MP145 does provide a better overall package, which includes a better cable, more varieties of tips and a carrying pouch. The iem shell is of higher quality too. So MP145 wins in terms of overall package

Second is the sound. To my ears, the MP145 has a warmer overall tonality, more bass centric with smoother vocals and better treble. Instruments sound more dense with the MP145. The treble on the MP145 sounds more emphasizes, airier and crisper. The timbre is more natural on the MP145.
The P1 Max II on the other hand sounds leaner, brighter and more vocal/treble centric.
Female vocal sounds noticeably more forward and energetic.
Stage wise, i think the P1 Max II has better stage. On Yosi Horikawa’s songs, i heard and felt spatial cues better with the P1 Max II. Many people have commented on the MP145’s giant stage, but i personally didn’t hear it, part of which i think is due to the third part: The SIZE.

The P1 Max II is definitely smaller and easier to fit than the gigantic shell of the MP145. Even if the MP145’s sound more align to my liking and perhaps to a lot more people’s liking, i sold the MP145 in a heart beat due to how uncomfortable and hard to fit it is.

If you like a warm, bassy planar set with great technicality AND a big set of ears, the Hidizs MP145 would be a better choice. However, if you like a brighter leaning set with great stage as well as having an average size ears, the Tinhifi P1 Max II would be a logical choice.

Conclusion

Is the P1 Max II a great iem? In short, yes. I would say it is definitely a successful product from TinHifi. However, it does not stand out much compared to the rest of the market. It does compete with them, but not outstandingly so. It is not a truly “for everyone” type of product and it boils down to your preference and your library.

Library wise, i think the P1 Max II is suitable for US/UK Pop, K-Pop, orchestra and maybe some EDM. Rock and metal doesn’t sound the best with the P1 Max II. But this is of course just my personal taste, as i’m usually more of a soft bass head.

If you’re looking for a neutral iem, or iem with a warm, dense noteweight, relaxing treble, or you’re the type of person who listen to iem at a higher volume, then the P1 Max II might not be the iem for you. However, if you’d like a colorful, energetic sounding planar iem, yet still maintain a reletively balance tonality, then the P1 Max II is a great option for you to choose.

That’s it for my review and thank you for reading.

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.

The Tin HIFI P1 Max II can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-p1-max-ii (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

Driver configuration: 14.2 mm planar driver
Frequency response: 10 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance: 16 Ω
Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW
Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; 4 stranded oxygen-free copper silver-plated mixed cable; 3.5 mm termination
Tested at: $139 USD


ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 1 pair of foam tips
- Cable

While the eartip spread is decent - we even have foamies here - it is disappointing to note that there is no carrying case, or even a pouch. Gear at this pricing usually also comes with additional goodies such as a modular cable for example. If this were a sub-$30 USD set, the provisions would be acceptable, but in this case (no pun intended), for a $100ish set to lack a case is not acceptable.




The foam tips tame treble the most, and furnish the best isolation. Of the 2 types of silicone tips, the wide-bore ones boost treble and improve soundstage, whereas the narrow-bore ones increase bass but with some compression in the staging.




Thankfully, the oxygen-free copper silver-plated mixed cable is quite good. It is well braided and supple, with minimal tangling. Microphonics are also dampened, with a chin cinch for added grip. However, it only comes in a 3.5 mm termination, with no modular option.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock narrow-bore silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The shells are fashioned from Heygears' 3D-printed resin. The faceplates have an eye-catching whorled appearance, and only weigh 3.8 g apiece. Coupled with no awkward protrusions along the internal aspects, this set is very comfortable to use in the ears.



This IEM is heavily vented, and this results in below average isolation. The vents however, assist with acoustic airflow, and there is no driver flex noted.


INTERNALS

The P1 Max II houses a 14.2 mm planar driver, which has an ultra-thin 2-micron diaphragm. This is paired with dual N52 magnets within a dual-chamber design.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the P1 Max II with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

With a sensitivity of 98 dB/mW, this planar is not the easiest to drive. While one can get adequate headroom from a weak smartphone, this IEM will scale in soundstage, dynamics and bass tightness when adequately amped.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Tin HIFI P1 Max II via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the P1 Max II has a bright V-shaped profile.

This IEM is sub-bass focused. There is a healthy rumble and descent to the lowest registers. Bass quality is the star of the show, with a clean, textured and fast bass heard. There is no mid-bass bleed even on tracks with complex bass movements.

As per the V-shaped signature, the lower midrange has some recession. This won't be an IEM for mid-lovers as such. While there is no bass encroachment to muddy this frequency band, this area does lack heft and some note weight. Ear gain hits around 9 dB in the upper mids, and there are instances of shoutiness for female vocals especially at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve).

The P1 Max II is a treble-head's dream, with good air and sparkle on tap. Sibilance is however present, and high hats and cymbals may be a tinge hot. The included foam tips or a warmer source pairing may mitigate this area to some extent.

As per most planar IEMs, timbre is not a strong suit. There is a metallic tinge for acoustic instruments, with nasal vocals noted. Timbral freaks best keep to single DD types in general, if timbre is a priority.

Technicalities are where the P1 Max II redeems itself. Soundstage width is good, lying just beyond the ears with amplification, though depth and height are average. There's great clarity and micro-details heard. Imaging is quite accurate too, with clarity in abundance.


COMPARISONS

The P1 Max II will be compared against other $100ish planar IEMs. Single DD, hybrids and pure BA setups are omitted as the different transducer types have their individual pros and cons.


Letshuoer S12 Pro

Graph of the Tin HIFI P1 Max II versus S12 Pro via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

The S12 Pro is more V-shaped, with greater bass and treble emphasis. The S12 Pro has a more sedate upper mids pinna gain rise.

The S12 Pro is bassier, but the bass isn't as tight with bleeding noted. The lower midrange is more recessed in the S12 Pro, and it is also more sibilant in the treble region.

The S12 Pro has a weaker soundstage and poorer micro-detailing.


Hidizs MP145

Graph of the Tin HIFI P1 Max II versus MP145 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

The MP145 has 3 tuning nozzles to spice up - and give variety - to the frequency response. Across all nozzles, the MP145 is bassier, with less upper mids glare.

In technical aspects, the MP145 has a larger soundstage, with better layering, though micro-detailing goes to the P1 Max II.

The MP145 has a thicker note weight and sounds more natural in timbre, though it has a bigger shell, which may cause potential fitting issues.


CONCLUSIONS



The Tin HIFI P1 Max II has solid technicalities, with bass quality a highlight. Those liking a transparent and detail-oriented signature will appreciate Tin HIFI's latest creation. Ergonomics and build are well-done too.

However, some tonal flaws hold it back from greatness - the upper midrange and treble may be divisive, especially for our treble-sensitive brethren. The omission of a case - or even a pouch - at its > $100ish asking price is also not acceptable in this day and age. The below average isolation and relatively power-hungry requirements are also possible blemishes.

In the big scheme of things, amongst the ultra cut-throat planar IEM market, the P1 Max II doesn't exactly sink, but it isn't class-leading in any department to stand out from the tough competition. In such a hot market, being average is actually similar to being forgettable, as next week promises a new IEM release to capture the hearts, ears and wallets of audiophiles.