TINHIFI T5S VS Kiwi Ears ETUDE

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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TINHIFI T5S and Kiwi Ears ETUDE are in-ear monitors. TINHIFI T5S costs $129 while Kiwi Ears ETUDE costs $119. TINHIFI T5S is $10 more expensive. Kiwi Ears ETUDE holds a decisive 1.5-point edge in reviewer scores (5.2 vs 6.6). Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better mids with a 1-point edge, Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better treble with a 2-point edge and Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better dynamics with a 2-point edge.

Insights

Metric TINHIFI T5S Kiwi Ears ETUDE
Mids 5 6
Treble 3 5
Soundstage 6 6
Dynamics 5 7
Tonality 5.4 6.9
Technicalities 4.3 6.4

TINHIFI T5S Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

5.2

Mixed to Negative


Kiwi Ears ETUDE Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jays Audio Z-Reviews
Jaytiss IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

6.6

Cautiously Favorable


TINHIFI T5S User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Kiwi Ears ETUDE User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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TINHIFI T5S Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

4.6

Gaming Grade

C

Kiwi Ears ETUDE Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.6

Gaming Grade

B+

TINHIFI T5S Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C+
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

C-
  • Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
Mids C+
Decent midrange performance - balanced but unremarkable. Adequate clarity for most genres without notable flaws.
Treble D
Uneven treble response with noticeable peaks and dips. Can sound both dull and occasionally harsh simultaneously.
Dynamics C+
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Gaming C
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical.

Kiwi Ears ETUDE Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Mids B
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble C+
Decent treble with acceptable extension and detail. Can sound slightly unrefined but avoids being harsh or sibilant.
Dynamics A-
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

TINHIFI T5S Reviews

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Jaytiss 5.3 Reviewer Score
C- Tuning
D Tech
Great tonal balance, only lacks in imaging and highs.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: C+ Treble: D Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: B
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Price: $129

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Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Jays Audio 5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
B- Tech
A good bassy set. Great low-end texture and slam. Forward bass presentation (bass in your face). Heavier than Legato but not as well-controlled and open.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Kiwi Ears ETUDE Reviews

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Jaytiss 7 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
C+ Tech
This is a unique sound, for neutral I prefere Airoso.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: B Treble: C+ Dynamics: A- Soundstage: B
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Price: $119

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Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Jays Audio 6.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
Reverby, bouncy, and extended decay in the sub-bass. Unique bass play back and adds more texture to the low-end. Although reverb can bleed into the vocals - maybe the drivers work too well lol. A bassier 5+2 with better texutre and scaling.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Z-Reviews

2025-08-09
Z-Reviews 6 * score normalized

Reviewed by: IEMRanking AI

2025-07-12
IEMRanking AI 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech

The Kiwi Ears Étude offers a distinctive listening experience centered around its Kiwi Vibration Transducer (KVT), which adds a subtle tactile sensation to bass frequencies. This isn’t a gimmick—it lends sustained notes like bass guitars or synth lines an organic, textured quality that feels immersive without overpowering the mix. That said, the KVT can introduce mild reverb in lower-mid frequencies, occasionally coloring male vocals in podcasts or sparse tracks.

Tuning-wise, the Étude follows a mild V-shaped signature with an 8dB sub-bass lift and smooth, relaxed treble. The midrange remains relatively neutral, though vocals can lack body in acoustic tracks without bass accompaniment. While the beryllium dynamic driver delivers punchy kicks, the real star is the KVT’s physicality, which creates a holographic low-end that enhances EDM and hip-hop. Technical performance is competent for the price, with average soundstage width and decent separation, though imaging lacks precision.

Fit may be divisive due to the large shells housing the transducer, and the nozzle’s lack of ridges limits eartip options. Source pairing is critical too: the KVT scales noticeably with powerful amplification, unlocking fuller dynamics. Despite quirks, the Étude succeeds as a fun, genre-specific IEM that stands out in a crowded market.


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Price: $119

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TINHIFI T5S User Reviews

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