HifiMan TWS800 Review: great in-ear sound for under €300

We tested the TWS800 Bluetooth earphones from HifiMan, the more advanced version of the TWS600 in-ear monitors. This is a model priced at around 300 euros, equipped with integrated mini-amplifiers that adopt the Topology Diaphragm (a proprietary technology of the Chinese company). The earphones feature passive noise cancellation, low latency (an interesting factor for those who want gaming earphones), a declared battery life of 31.5 hours including the charging case, and a sturdy metal case for charging and carrying the devices.

Here are the official specifications of the TWS800 earphones:

• Bluetooth version: 5.0
• Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
• Music playback time: 4.5 hours + 27 hours
• Earphones charging time: 1 hour
• Charging case time: 2 hours
• Case weight: 74.4g
• Weight of each earphone: 6.9g
• Standby time: 140 hours

The in-ear monitors from Hifiman come with small blue and red LEDs and touch sensors. The outer metal surface, finished with the company logo, looks attractive and the earphones feel solid to the touch. The metal housing has a dual purpose: on one hand it improves sound performance according to HifiMan’s design model, and on the other it ensures excellent durability.

The package of the TWS800 includes a glossy metal USB-C case, very practical, a charging cable through the case, a velvet pouch to carry everything, and eight pairs of replacement silicone tips in different shapes and sizes. We recommend testing them immediately to find the ones best suited to your ear (all of them fit inside the case, even the larger ones). External isolation, especially with longer tips, is truly remarkable.

Bluetooth connection stability is very solid and holds up even at twenty meters from the source without obstacles or with thin obstacles such as drywall walls. Naturally, the range decreases with thicker walls, but overall it offers excellent range and stability.

Although the audio quality of the HifiMan TWS800 is the main point of interest for enthusiasts, these devices also offer several functions and features worth understanding in order to fully appreciate their build quality and how they actually work.

TWS800: functions and features

To begin with, the TWS800 are dynamic driver earphones with “Topology Diaphragm”, meaning the driver is coated with a special nanoparticle layer that, according to the manufacturer, helps achieve sound performance previously unattainable. In the image below you can see an exploded view of the speaker structure.

It is worth noting that the earphones are IPX4 certified, resistant to dust and water—excellent for those worried about splashes and further proof of their build quality.

On the battery life side, there is enough to satisfy even those who want devices used for hours every day: a single charge provides four and a half hours of playback, but the case acts as a power bank with up to 31.5 hours of total charge. This means that even while on the move, once the earphones are placed back in the case they start recharging, and once worn again their battery is replenished. The risk of running out of power during the day is therefore effectively eliminated.

Let’s now look at how the TWS800 touch controls work:

• Single tap: play/pause
• Double tap right: increase volume
• Double tap left: decrease volume
• Triple tap right: next track
• Triple tap left: previous track
• Press and hold for more than 2 seconds: activate voice assistant

TWS800: how they sound

Let’s get to the key point: how do the HifiMan TWS800 sound? As mentioned, sound performance is the strong point of these earphones, explicitly designed for audiophiles (although they may also interest gamers using a separate microphone or playing single-player games). The integrated amplification does its job well, and this is immediately noticeable from the bass impact and overall dynamism of the playback.

Considering the price range, we find an energetic sound, with good detail, good balance, and a tendency (typical of many HifiMan products) toward a natural reproduction.

Vocals and choirs are particularly well rendered, with excellent detail in tonal nuances, and the reproduction of bass frequencies is truly satisfying. Low frequencies are detailed, precise, energetic, with a good “hit”, well integrated with full-bodied lower mids, offering performance above average for this price range.

Upper mids are controlled and highs are clean, not overly sharp, and very musical especially in vocal reproduction. In the mid and high range, separation between instruments and voices is clearly appreciable.

To this is added an excellent perception of the soundstage, certainly above average for this category. The soundstage is airy, open, with good width and depth and solid instrument placement.

After many hours of listening, we can confirm that in terms of sound performance, few in-ear devices in the entry-level range can keep up with the TWS800. These earphones perform well across all genres, with a special mention for acoustic instruments and voices.

Conclusion

The HifiMan TWS800 are solid, durable earphones, with average battery life and a case/power bank for both home and on-the-go charging that ensures long autonomy. They include all basic features of in-ear monitors in this category, are comfortable to wear (also thanks to the many included tips), and offer excellent Bluetooth 5.0 connection stability.

What truly makes them unique, however, is the sound quality, which is oriented toward a natural and dynamic presentation, with a wide and airy soundstage, good detail, and strong instrument separation. Particularly impressive is the bass and vocal reproduction in the upper mids. Although positioned in the entry-level segment, their sound performance is clearly superior to devices in the 200–250 euro range, and the price of just under 300 euros is more than justified for enthusiasts who want to enjoy their music with naturalness, liveliness, and precision. Therefore, we recommend the TWS800 to anyone who does not want to compromise on sound quality while enjoying the convenience of earphones, as well as to those who want isolating and comfortable devices for watching TV without disturbing partners or neighbors (or being disturbed), and to gamers who do not need an integrated microphone but want energetic and immersive sound.