Dynasties are synonymous to age-old Chinese folklore that doesn’t fall short of granting us with notable Imperial figures spearheaded by Genghis Khan, often referred to as the greatest conqueror of the world alongside Alexander the Great. I’ve had my fair share of being immersed into the Chinese culture after studying in a Chinese school for most of my formative elementary years and have heard the word “Emperor” more times than “King” and after watching Imperial movies, the word Emperor has then evoked a sense of authority dominated by dread rather than luxury which the word King conjures.

I purposely brought the sentiments I had since what we have now to realview is an IEM from an audio company named ToneKing, based off Guangdong, China. The very land known for Emperors than Kings has at least gave me an idea as to how this specific company approaches their ideals. ToneKing already has numerous audiophile product offerings from their MusicMaker series which were a hit for earbud lovers way back late 2017 and early 2018. ToneKing has then diverged from releasing earbuds and has now released a collection of IEMs such as the BL1, T66S and the T88K.

What we have now to realview though is ToneKing’s mid-tier offering, the T4 which is currently priced at $171-190 depending on website sales. This review sample was sent and provided by Linsoul Audio and DD Audio store in exchange for an honest review and no monetary factors were involved. You can check the ToneKing T4 from the official Linsoul Audio website and from DD Audio store’s AliExpress store front.

Spec’d out with 4 balanced armatures (Knowles 30017 + 30265) per side with a 15Hz-25 kHz Frequency Response, 108dB Sensitivity and 18Ohms Impedance. The ToneKing T4 in paper already looks promising, is that promise worthy of $171? Let’s find out.

Packaging and Build Quality

Coming in on a rectangular black cardboard box with a small cutout on that upper front portion for a transparent plastic cover to show the ToneKing T4. The back portion featured nothing apart from the usual minimal product details. Opening up the box reveals a foam cutout protecting the IEM itself with an M sized red-bored gray translucent ear tips with the stock cable also attached to it. On the lower portion of this foam cutout is the included round metal case which is lined with black rubber which contains the rest of the accessories specifically a shirt clip and a collection of ear tips (2 pairs of blue and red foam tips, 6 pairs of red-bored white silicone and gray translucent ear tips).

The ToneKing T4 has a UIEM design which has been used on other ToneKing IEM offerings as well making it somewhat of a ToneKing staple. By virtue of having a UIEM design, the T4 is made of acrylic resin which when paired with an all BA configuration equates to a must not drop IEM. There are 2 color options available for now, one being black with a smoked black shell and the other being blue with smoked blue shells, I have the blue version. The T4’s overall IEM build is great with evenly polished and smooth surfaces all over, devoid of cosmetic blemishes. The faceplate is highlighted by an embedded silver ToneKing logo and branding laid on an almost abalone looking surface which reflects light differently depending on lighting, the smoked shells also allows for a subtle peek into the internal workings of the T4 and its BA configuration. The T4 also features a gold-plated MMCX connection.

The T4’s stock cable is a 6N 99.99% purity single crystal OCC silver-plated copper which sheathed in clear PVC. It utilizes the usual round-braid and has moderate tension to aid which is great for both storage and tangle-free usage. The MMCX male housing and the Y-split is made from hard plastic with a matte silver finish to compliment the cable, an over-ear memory guide is also present as well as a cable cinch for a more secure fit, at the tail-end of the stock cable is the gold-plated 3.5mm plug with a glossy silver housing adorned by a black carbon fiber strip for additional aesthetic appeal. There is minimal microphonic use on this specific cable and all the joints has ample strain relief. A no-nonsense cable that does its job well.

Tonality and Isolation

A smooth and soft midrange is the ToneKing T4’s cup of tea. It emanates a slight lean on the bright signature with its midrange being a pitch higher than I’m accustomed to which I found enjoyable. The inherent UIEM design of the T4 allowed for a great isolation performance and with the right ear tips, this can block a lot of low frequency noise on a daily basis. I opted for the Medium sized wide-bored Sony hybrid ear tips along with the Sony CAS-1 off my MSI GF62-8RE laptop and the Sony A46HN music player using various FLAC files which I will indicate throughout the realview.

Lows

I decided to stick with Deftones for the low frequency test of the ToneKing T4 using their Lucky You track in 16/44 FLAC. The subsequent sub bass drops on the track is being rendered in a fast manner with distinct emphasis on body, it doesn’t sound boxy and decay is fast as well. Bass delivery progresses smoothly with a soft but full-bodied impact that once again dissipates fast and doesn’t push through the succeeding frequency. The T4 gives just the right amount of bass, one that doesn’t thump your chest but still make one interested enough to consider it.

Midrange

Indulging the ToneKing T4’s midrange performance is Bruno Mars’ Versace on the Floor in 16/44 FLAC. Lower midrange instrumental tones were registered in a definite and distinct manner with great clarity. The T4 is able to highlight Bruno’s vocal prowess which was quite intelligible and has accurate timbre coupled with an airy feel that doesn’t feel thin. The upper midrange was easy to the ears and made the overall frequency enjoyable with a kick of energy that sways one’s head softly.

Highs

The ToneKing T4’s high frequency is its chink in the armor despite being not really performing badly. Angela Bofill’s Angel of the Night in 16/44 FLAC churns out a good deal of treble which the T4 renders with ease in a delicate manner. Sudden treble bursts are devoid of shrills and no annoying sibilant tones are observed. Instrumental tones have modest snap to them which coincides nicely with the upper midrange aspect of the T4. I personally would have loved a more daring approach for the T4’s treble but for now, they are playing this frequency safe.

Soundstage and Imaging

The hand in hand cooperation of the upper midrange and high frequency performance of the T4 allowed for a detailed and distinct imaging that has instrumental sounds sounding crisp and easy to spot. There is great left to right and right to left panning as well. The T4’s soundstage is rather wide for a CIEM-like design but not the one to sing praises with. It has more focus on depth capability than width.

Conclusion

The ToneKing T4 is indeed a king and not an emperor by virtue of approach towards its sound. It tackles all frequency to an enjoyable level that doesn’t overstep its reach. There is great reason to adore the soft and clear midrange while the overall high frequency output is a thing to look forward to towards the succeeding ToneKing releases. I personally love how ToneKing interprets the color Blue with how the T4’s blue version looks as it doesn’t overdo the shimmer and luster but still enough to be eye-catching. For $171, the T4 is easy to recommend for those looking for a great midrange frequency performer, unless of course you already have a similarly sounding IEM.