Enjoy the DX180 it a great player without any real shortcomings.
And now for something fun 
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Snagged a mint pair of Dynaquattro for $214USD. Very nice mid-bass attack. Compares quite favorably with the Volume S across the boardâŚearly days though. Definitely needs all the gain it can get.
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Nice thatâs a lovely power pig!
DX180 has enough though, yes? Iâm only at 33 of 100 on high gain on R6 III 2025. Plenty of volume for me but of course I donât know what I missing without more V to pump into them.
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The DX180 is fine I was running out of juice on the R6
@ToneDeafMonk I have the OH700VB to listen to, you were right - itâs a very good set. Great imaging, level of detail, great subbass and treble. The level of detail and the scene is very good and you donât feel the timbre BA. Unfortunately they are too big for me. I wonât be able to listen to them for long⌠I have to look for other, smaller ones⌠Can you advise what other ones to consider?
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Maybe find a used UM Mest MKII
Here is a comparison of shell size and they are smaller , I just donât know in what way you need them to be smaller?
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Itâs hard to describe, Dynaquattro are on the verge of size, but they are a bit of a pain. Estrella, KE4, Supermix were comfortable.
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Try using a larger umbrella tip and donât insert as far. Once the tips have warmed up, take it out just slightly and reseat. I find this makes the âtoo largeâ feel go away.
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Well there is something special about the 4DD in the Dynaquattro (or 3, whatever). At the moment Iâm preferring it to the Vol S. Perhaps Iâm hearing the BA timbre of the Vol SâŚdonât know.
Nice review of the K Bear KB02. Now theyâre only $30 USD. Canât help but have a pair for âriskyâ use.
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Shanling Tino - Musicality First
PREAMBLE:
Shanling is no stranger to many of us in this hobby. They are a manufacturer of quality audio gear for a number of years now. The Tino is their iem offering which lands in the crowded $80-$100usd price range.
Internally the Tino boasts a dual dynamic driver setup per side with a 10mm LCP and an 8mm with a Carbon diaphragm. It is an attractive iem whose size and low weight many will find comfortable. A big bonus is the included accessories, in particular the high-quality cable which is of a modular design and while a little stiff is a keeper. I ordered the Tino with the 4.4mm option and the iem was shipped with a separate box containing the 4.4mm head, the 3.5mm having already mounted on the cable end. Switching the end was super easy and secure with its tightening screw.
Soundwise the Shanling Tino offers a Neutral tuning with some warmth. It lends itself well to any genre of music. It is also fairly easy to drive and as such could be used when driven by most capable devices, although I am an advocate for better sources.
PACKAGING/ACCESSORIES
The unboxing experience with the Tino was well done.
The box itself is small and the included items are packed very well. For an iem at this price, the retail presentation is done well and adds to the overall felling of quality without going too far.
The Tino itself has a resin shell that is finished perfectly. This is a good looking product adorned with a classy faceplate adding to the quality feel. The iem is smaller in size and has a nozzle that protrudes enough that I could easily get a comfortable and well sealed fit in my ears. Longer listening sessions were easy without any discomfort noted.
As mentioned above the included cable is the star of the accessory bundle. I can see myself using this cable on different iems and being quite happy doing so. The included high quality tips, cable ends and hard case round out what is included in the retail package of the Shanling Tino. Nicely done Shanling.
SOUND:
Bass:
The BASS has a pleasing thickness/roundness to it without sacrificing detail or slam. âInside Stuffâ by Wayman Tisdale highlighted the versatile nature of the bass. Tight and clean when needed and thick and weighty when the track calls for it. The bass guitar in this track had wonderful twang and speed which was nicely relayed by the Tino. When listening to âStellaâ Gerald Simpson, the deep driving bass notes were placed so nicely in the mix it was a pleasure to hear. Same could be heard on âEkuseniâ by Caiiro, with clean tight driving bass.
Moving to âNo Worriesâ by The Robert Glasper Trio the Tino once again attributed itself well on the acoustic double bass in this track. The bass was easy to follow with ample organics, weight and tautness.
The Tino is not a âBassheadâ iem, it just offers a bass that has excellent weight and above all is a musical foundation to the rest of the frequency range. Well done.
Midrange:
The Midrange is well paced, clean and balanced with more macro than micro details present. Detail retrieval is actually quite good though and combined with the touch of warmth and a somewhat lush presentation. Detail freaks may not be overly impressed but those whom prioritize musicality will be in for a treat. The mids here are a wonderful balance of tone, dynamics with great timbre combined for a very engaging listen. Pinna gain is apparent but kept in check, again reducing the potential for harshness.
On âProtectionâ by Massive Attack Tracey Thornâs were slightly more forward in the mix but without any harshness. What was very apparent was the clarity and natural sonics. Male vocals on âTenderhearted Loverâ by John Stoddart also had the vocals a touch forward in the mix but again the natural delivery was clear.
The Tino handled transients well, arguably not as crisply as with a BA setup, but noteworthy again for how natural everything sounded. Timbral accuracy was above average, the Tino being more organic sounding than many of its competitors in this price range.
Separation and layering on the Tino is possibly not the top performer when price is considered. That being said musicality and organics are obviously the top priority here and the Tino still does exceptionally well.
The Shanling Tino has a midrange that can easily draw the listener in. With its natural and organic presentation, the Tino really suits my listening preference and is well suited for longer listening sessions. The midrange is a win imho.
Treble:
The Treble is reasonably well extended with good definition. Extension is not class leading but goes far enough that cymbals for example do not feel rolled off. Treble sparkle and air are definitely adequate but some treble-heads may ask for more.
The beauty of what Shanling has achieved here in the treble is having tuned it to have sonics that are not overstated and consequently do not detract from the overall sense of balance and cohesion that the full frequency range enjoys on this iem. I rarely if ever though that I was missing anything once I settled in for a listen, and this is coming form a lover of bright/neutral sets of which the Tino is not. It is NOT lacking is sufficient brightness, it just offers a more musically balanced experience in this regard.
SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING:
The Tino offers up a moderately sized soundstage that leans to the side of being more natural in presentation. If nothing is obvious in this review by now, it is that the Tino is tuned for organics and musicality as opposed to being standout in any one technical aspect. The same bodes true of its imaging and soundstage which never did have the Tino sounding constrained. Note separation and layering were commendable and really added to the immersive qualities of the Tino without being overembellished sounding. Instrument position and soundstage dimensions are clearly defined and the image is rock stable.
CONCLUSION:
The Shanling Tino is quite an impressive iem. I applaud Shanling for producing an iem that focuses on being organic and natural as opposed just highlighting one of just a few technical aspects of sound. To say I am impressed is not saying enough.
The Tino allows me to listen for the sake of the music. It is this music as relayed to my ears by the Tino that has over and over again pulled me in. This makes reviewing a piece of gear more difficult but with the Tino, and the rare products that done this, it is more than worth it.
The Shanling Tino gets a very positive recommendation for anyone who prioritizes musicality. Everything else that it offers is just icing on and already tasty cake.
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I have a feeling after this review that this may be a smaller alternative to Dynaquattro. @ToneDeafMonk sorry to ask again but can you confirm this? Isnât this the same organic and sound quality as Binary?
That´s the NiceHCK Himalayas in the top image, not the Mecha.
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Thanks for Sharing Bennet 
Just a FYI Bennet is also a member of Canadian Canucks Audioholics Anomomous Review Group with myself and Kevin.
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Todayâs impressions; caveats, I use stock tips if they are the size and shape I know fit me, otherwise Spinfit W1 M or L. No EQ or DSP effects enabled.
NiceHCK Himalaya - refined. Vocal forward but well done. Worth more of my time but not sure it will differentiate itself enough from the Dynaquattro or Vol S. All 3 could be minor EQâd to sound like each other. But the Himalaya do hit harder across the lower octaves vs the other two.
Aful Explorer - Ok, not bad at all but no vent is a no go for me. Darn. How can they not vent IEMs these days, just AwfulâŚI can see how sealed system is easier to tune and if the listener doesnât care or notice, all good.
Pula Anvil 114 - At first I thought these must be out of phase or mono. Nope. Completely unlistenable for me. Seems there is nothing below 500Hz like the DD/BCD arenât connected internally. Zero stage, zip. All dead center in the head. Curious to me how others can hear them so differently unless of course I have a defective set.
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I could not say the same , mine nearly caught fire. Aside from that, sure a fine little player
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Yikes thatâs not so good was it replaced?
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Bummer on the Anvil , we all hear differently.
Itâs all in limbo. Hifigo at the helm⌠fk me. A bunch of children have my unit almost 3 months already. BTWâŚHFG not authorized sellers.
My bet is eventually they will tell me that it is no longer covered, likely never was ( because they donât have a system for warrantying items they are not supposed to be selling).
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