Hidition T-100 Review – GG EZ

Comparisons –

Moondrop Aria ($79): The Aria provides a higher contrast sound with similar midrange tuning. It has much more bass overall, especially sub-bass which gives it a fuller, more powerful sound. However, it also sounds muddier and lacks separation. The T-100 delivers this in spades alongside being faster and more separated, it offers a far more detailed mid-bass. The Aria also has a natural and well-presented midrange. It’s a bit fuller, a bit more extended.

The T-100 sounds a touch thin but otherwise, has a slightly more natural timbre to my ears, with the mod that is. The T-100 has better resolving power and layering while the Aria is a bit more forgiving in its tuning. The Aria has a nice bite in the lower treble. It actually sounds a bit thinner than the T-100 as it lacks the same top-end extension required to flesh out notes and details. The T-100 is brighter but also more extended and resolving. It has a larger stage and sharper imaging to boot.

Fiio FH3 ($129): The FH3 offers a similar midrange tuning with more bass and less treble. It is executed in a good manner with predominately sub-bass emphasis. The FH3’s hybrid design offers far better sub-bass extension and kick. It has a thicker, fuller bass that feels more balanced overall. The T-100 has a faster, more defined mid-bass and less bass overall, it has better separation but feels much leaner, you really need an adjustment period between the two. The FH3 has a slightly fuller and less even midrange presentation.

The T-100 is cleaner and clearer, more transparent and more resolving. Meanwhile, the FH3’s midrange sits a step further back and is more easygoing. While both sound natural, the T-100 has a slightly more refined voicing to my ears. The treble is more even on the FH3 while the T-100 has more lower-treble bite and crispness. The T-100 is more detailed, it both brings details further forward and picks up more fine detail. The FH3 lacks the same aggression and has better long-term listenability. The T-100 has a noticeably larger soundstage and better imaging.

Shouer S12 ($169): The S12 is a far higher contrast earphone with more of a W-shaped sound signature. It sounds less natural but is also more engaging. It immediately has greater bass kick and extension. Bass is more present both sub-bass and mid-bass. It sounds a little rounded out but overall is quite tight and defined. The T-100 is cleaner and flatter. It lacks the same rumble and power but has a tighter, cleaner mid-bass. The S12 has a more laid-back midrange that is smaller, a bit more nasal and fuller. It is relatively forgiving and nothing is glaring in terms of timbre.

The T-100, that said, is more natural and noticeably more resolving. It sounds more layered, and vocals are overall more transparent and balanced. The top-end is brighter on the T-100 and more forward mod or not. The T-100 has a more aggressive note attack and better fine detail retrieval. The S12 has a bit more sparkle in its top octave but overall isn’t quite as precise as the T-100. In return, it sounds a bit more natural here with the T-100 being sharper and thinner. Soundstage dimensions are similar on both, and imaging performance is also good on the S12. I feel the T-100 has a slight advantage when it comes to layering.

Verdict –

The T-100 is a very interesting and well-thought-out product from a company with a history of delivering quality products. The design is superbly comfortable and offers excellent passive noise isolation. While the cable’s rubbery jacket leaves to be desired, it sports a clear in-built microphone and remote and is also removable should it irk. When it comes to balancing both music and gaming use cases, I find myself conflicted. The isolating design means they feel stifling when using Discord or voice chat. The bass to midrange tuning is wonderful and can truly be considered reference-class however, the bright top-end pushes them too far bright for music listening. When modified, technical performance takes one step back, but the tonality is genuinely inspiring, providing Etymotic-like detail and balance in a far more comfortable form factor. The soundstage is also substantially better than those models. While such a lean tuning has somewhat fallen out of fashion, it was nostalgic to return to such an analytical and detail-focused signature. There is charm in a tuning that is so focused on delivering on one particular measure whereas modern earphones assume more of a jack-of-all-trades approach. Either way, I do wish Hidition would include filters or a tuning switch to streamline this process as I do think achieving excellence for both gaming and music are perhaps mutually exclusive.

The T-100 is available from Hidition Gaming (International) for $129 USD at the time of writing. I am not affiliated with Hidition and receive no earnings from purchases made through these links.

Track List – 

Billie Eilish – dont smile at me

Bob Seger – Night Moves

Courtney Barnett – Rae Street

Cream – Wheels of Fire

Dire Straits – Communique

Dirty Loops – Next To You

Eagles – Hotel California

Elton John – Honky Chateau

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

H.E.R – I Used To Know Her

Jasen – BYE

John Mayer – Continuum

Kanye West – Ye

Missy Higgins – The Sound of White

Radiohead – OK Computer

TALA – ain’t leavin` without you

The Beatles – Abbey Road

The weeknd – After Hours

Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride