Spinfit CP100 2019 Ear Tips Review – Improved Fit & Sound

Pros – 

Promote a deeper and more isolating fit, Can effectively elongate nozzle for shallow fitting IEMs, A lot more transparent sounding than previously, Improved fit stability

Cons – 

Can make fit less stable on already long-nozzled earphones, Sound is still not perfectly linear

Verdict –

At an unchanged price, the ergonomic and sonic upgrades make the new Spinfit CP100 a much easier recommendation than its predecessor.

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Introduction –

Spinfits are one of the most diabolical IEM accessories released in recent years and have been the subject of much internet debate. Love them or hate them, ear tips are a very cost-effective means of transforming your IEM experience. They can provide huge benefits to ergonomics and some tailoring of the sound to bring it more in line with the listener’s preference. Spinfits exemplified this notion, offering an elongated stem for a deeper fit alongside an articulating stem that provides a more personalised fit. As such, many found them a godsend for ergonomically awkward IEMs. On the contrary, they offer a distinctly more coloured sound due to their swivel mechanism. Of the lineup, the CP100 is the most tradition in design, with a 4mm stem diameter and single-flange design. The updated model features a softer silicone revised geometry that promises improved sonic performance and fit. You can read more about the Spinfits and peruse their entire lineup here.

 

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Spinfit very much for reaching out and providing me with the new CP100 ear tips for the purpose of review. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the tips free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

 

Design & Fit –

The updated Spinfits resemble the previous models very closely. The articulating stem makes a return, hence, their name. As before, the stem is 1-2mm longer than most traditional ear tips, so users may want to size down as they produce a deeper fit. This is ideal for short nozzle earphones where they can greatly aid fit stability, seal and isolation. On the contrary, if the earphone already has a long nozzle, they can protrude further from the ear, and with the articulating stem, this can make the fit less stable. The stem itself is equivalent to a Comply T200 (4mm) but is very soft and flexible, fitting up to T400 size nozzles.

I personally get a great fit on both the new and old Spinfits. The key with the new design is the slightly grippier jacket that provides a slightly more stable fit, especially during movement. They are also more aesthetically pleasing as the old model were prone to yellowing and turning more opaque, the new design I’ve had for a few months and they have remained clear. I don’t feel a huge difference with the added length, the seal is excellent on both. I find Spinfits to offer middle of the road noise isolation that is heavily dependent on fit depth. They aren’t as good as foams but can isolate more than normal silicone tips when sized down.

 

Revised Construction –

Take note that these are my observations un-backed by Spinfit themselves, I am also not a professional on the matter but thought it may interest some readers. There were some pronounced changes between the new and old Spinfits that seemed larger than their outwardly identical design would suggest. The originals were not well received by audio purists due to the articulating stem that provided increased acoustic impedance. Essentially, this will increase bass presence and decrease treble, especially around the 5.5KHz region where detail presence is derived. This is no problem on already more detail-forward earphones but does limit synergy. Taking a closer look at the new model, there is a slightly larger aperture with a horn-like structure from the outlet of the articulating joint. This should effectively mitigate issues of treble truncation with the originals.

 

Sound –

Testing Methodology: Attached to Campfire Audio IO. Measured using Arta via IEC 711 coupler to Startech external sound card. Note that 7-9KHz peaks are artefacts of my measurement setup. Measurements besides channel balance are volume matched at 1K. Take this graph with a grain of salt.

 

Tonality –

And in listening, this is indeed the case. The originals provided a more engaging and vivid sound than standard silicone ear tips. The new Spinfits offer a less coloured and more coherent and technically proficient sound than their predecessors. As shown above, their frequency response is much closer to a standard silicone tip, in this case, Final Audio E-tips. They remain slightly engaging with a more impactful bass and enhanced clarity, but linearity is appreciably improved as is the retention of technical qualities of the earphone attached.

 

Bass –

Subtleties are more apparent within the bass and better linearity as compared to my preferred ear tip, the Final Audio e-tips, can be observed. Where the originals were quite skewed towards the sub-bass, the updated Spinfits have just a mild elevation here, providing excellent extension and enhanced slam but not a muddy or off-timbre sound. Control is also noticeably better with more defined notes through the mid-bass. Altogether, the low-end is slightly lifted but tonally clean and quality is retained much better than the originals in the process.

 

Mids –

The midrange too is more transparent, which makes them much more appealing for those who love their fit but prefer a purer sound. In particular, the originals provided a noticeably more forward and upper-midrange biased presentation that could make vocals sound thin and raspy. The new tips still bring vocals slightly forward in positioning and still aren’t quite as smooth and natural sounding as the E-tips. However, they are noticeably smoother and more natural compared to the originals, which rewards thinner when paired with sounding earphones.

 

Highs –

The top-end presentation is similar to the original, that being slightly thinner and crisper. However, they are perceptibly more detailed and less brittle sounding as there is better linearity between the lower and middle-treble; where, before, the lower-treble could come across as overly smoothed. Take note that my impressions here contradict my measurements, but this can also be related to fit depth in my coupler vs my ears. As the new tips showcase better linearity, they provide a cleaner sound, with better foreground/background contrast. As opposed to the E-tips, they are not quite as focussed in the foreground, and instrument body and texture is not quite as convincing. Detail retrieval remains excellent, nonetheless. Extension is also well retained as-is final octave sparkle and micro-detail retrieval on high-end IEMs. I see the updated tips as a very appreciably step up here over their predecessor.

 

Soundstage –

The soundstage is noticeably wider, but depth remains similar. Imaging is retained, with a strong centre image and sharp directional cues. The additional width aids separation, however, layers appear less defined. Overall, the presentation still comes across as coherent, with sharp transients and more accurate localisation than the original CP100.

 

Verdict –

Spinfits, despite their sonic impacts, remain one of the most popular aftermarket ear tips. The new tips improve upon the already excellent ergonomics of their predecessors while introducing a more transparent sound. They remain slightly coloured in terms of their more present sub-bass and thinner midrange, but bring equal benefit to soundstage width and detail retrieval. At an unchanged price, this makes the new Spinfit CP100 is a much easier recommendation than its predecessor. They are now widely available for international buyers online, just ensure you are purchasing the updated model as the name is unchanged.

Purchase links for the new Spinfit CP100 ear tips are available on Spinfit’s website. I am not affiliated with Spinfit and receive no earnings from purchases through this link