Introduction​

Space Travel is the latest budget TWS from Moondrop, it only costs around 25 bucks, which is an absolute steal for what you will be getting. However, it’s certainly not the best when it comes to packaging and the overall unboxing experience. But it doesn’t even bother me a bit, because I’m buying this for the sound alone, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

And most importantly, it fits perfectly in my ears, meaning that I don’t have to bother switching the stock tips to third-party ones. Also, it was a seamless experience to connect this thing to my iPhone 11 through Bluetooth, it’s just so easy. The connection is also pretty stable in most cases.

If you want to see my ranking list, you can access it here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15FKnagMKxWUSA5DNRIoFAAwpUCSuceocMoMJGIPUqo8/edit?usp=sharing

Features​

I’ll focus this review on the sound of the TWS itself, and I won’t go deeper into the features that it offers. All I can say is that the ANC mode is not a gimmick and it works decently well. When I turn it on. it eliminates the sounds of the loud fan that I have in my room. On the other hand, the transparency mode is almost useless, I’d prefer not to have this mode at all. It just adds a considerable amount of noise floor, and it doesn’t help me to listen to the outside noise better than the normal mode. As for the low latency mode, I haven’t tried it at all since I don’t game with TWS, so I can’t really say much if it really works or not.

Sound Quality​

Going on to the sound, Space Travel is what I would consider to be warm sounding, leaning towards the low-frequency side of things, but what’s amazing is that it doesn’t sacrifice the rest of the soundscape. It still sounds extremely balanced and natural without the bass being too overwhelming.

Starting from the bass, it is quite impactful with a lot of thumps and slams, especially in bass-heavy songs. It has great bass rumble and a pretty decent texture to it. But the good thing is, it doesn’t bleed into the mids most of the time. if not at all.

That aside, I don’t think the bass is thick and impactful enough to satisfy bass heads, at least on the default preset. But there’s actually a workaround if you think the bass is not enough, because you can always change the EQ preset on the Moondrop Link App from Reference to Basshead.

However, this type of bass doesn’t really fit my preferences. It doesn’t mean that the bass is bad, it’s just I’d prefer a deeper and tighter bass for my IEM and TWS. The bass on the Space Travel is more of a thick and thumpy kind of bass, it is not that tight and deep. It can come as slow at times, which is not suitable for rock and metal track that needs a fast bass.

To be honest, I think the vocals are where Space Travel really excels. It sounds extremely balanced, whether it is the male or female vocals. Also, it sounds very smooth without sacrificing the overall clearness and energy of the vocal. Male vocals sound thick as they should be, and female vocals sound sweet and heavenly. Not to mention, the overall mids sound natural without any hint of sibilants and shoutiness. I’m in love with the vocal presentation of this TWS, and I’m all for it.

Of course, the good things don’t end there, because the treble also sounds very well with any type of song. It has a decent treble extension, and it gets airy enough when the cymbal hits. Most importantly, the treble still sounds natural and fatigue-free. There are no hints of sibilants at all that I can literally sleep with this thing on my ear.

As for the technicality, I think that it’s fairly decent for its price range. Obviously, it can’t beat wired IEMs at the same price or even below such as the Chu and Tanya, but for a TWS, it is good enough that I don’t even bother about it. The separation and layer are enough for busy tracks such as Wagakkiband. The overall soundstage is not that holographic and wide, but the imaging is enough for me to know where the instruments are coming from. The clarity and resolution are good enough, but not as clear as the aforementioned IEMs or even the famous Nekocake.

Comparison (vs. Nekocake)​

Even though the Nekocake is twice the price of the Space Travel, I do think that the Space Travel has a more polished and mature tonal than the Nekocake.

As for the bass, I’d choose the Nekocake slightly over the Space Travel, because the bass on the Nekocake sounds more well-controlled and cleaner. Space Travel sounds muddier and more congested in comparison, but only by a small margin.

For the rest of the frequency, however, I’d prefer Space Travel all day. The vocals sound more lively and energetic but without being shouty. The Nekocake can sound too smooth at times, and the female vocals can’t reach that high due to the dip around 3kHz, resulting in more lifeless and less energetic upper vocals.

Space Travel is also a clear winner when it comes to treble performance. It is more extended and sounds more airy than the Nekocake, especially when I listen to songs that have a lot of cymbal crashes.

As for the technicality, I feel like they’re both on the same level, but the Nekocake has the edge when it comes to overall clarity and resolution, but the rest is almost identical.

Conclusion​

All in all, I genuinely think that Moondrop Space Travel is the best bang for the buck when it comes to TWS. For $25, you will be getting a lot of useful features such as ANC and Transparency mode. And if you want to game on this thing, there is a low latency feature for that. Tonal-wise, you will get a balanced and natural tonal that is an allrounder, versatile for any type of track. The technicality also doesn't disappoint either, considering its price range. I'd recommend Moondrop Space Travel for those of you who want to get a taste of Nekocake's sound but at a cheaper price.

Notes/Disclaimers​

The unit of Moondrop Aria that I tried belongs to a friend of mine, and I got the chance to hear it for myself. Keep in mind that I've tried it for quite some time, enough for me to make a review out of it. With that being said, I'll be going to skip the unboxing and accessories stuff. Last but not least, you can take my review with as much salt as you want because the unit that I tried has already been paired with a third-party cable (TRN cables if I'm not mistaken). Also, I didn't use the stock tips to audition the unit. I used Final Audio Type E instead.

For this review, I'm using iBasso DX160 with Lurker add-ons as my main source. You can also check out my IEM Ranking List to see where Moondrop Aria stands. You can also see the tracks that I usually use as benchmarks.

Low/Bass​

Based on the frequency response, Moondrop Aria has a good sub-bass extension. But when I have actually heard it, I have to say that bass is where Moondrop Aria falls short when compared to the other sets that I have. Don't get me wrong here, Moondrop Aria has a good bass texture and rumble, and not to mention, it doesn't get bloated to the point where it overwhelms the midrange/vocal. However, the biggest concern that I have when it comes to the bass is the overall depth. When I play tracks that are supposed to give this very deep bass such as Kitty Cat Adventure by Inori Minase and Himawari no Yakusoku by Motohiro Hata, Moondrop Aria doesn't represent the deepness and punchiness that I seek. It certainly lacks authority when it comes to that.

Mid/Vocals​

Moondrop Aria really excels in this department, especially when it comes to female vocals. On tracks such as Hikari by Lilas Ikuta, Moondrop Aria can represent the sweetness and heavenly vocals of the artist really well. Not only that, but they are also natural. Despite that, it doesn't have the most organic female vocals, because I can still notice some shoutiness in the vocals occasionally. Sometimes, it is very noticeable on emotional tracks such as Again by Beverly.

The vocals on the Moondrop Aria lean on the upper side, so male vocals come across as a bit thin and lack thickness. So at the end of the day, the part where Moondrop Aria really shines is within the female vocals.

High/Treble​

The treble on the Moondrop Aria is what separates it from other sets with harman-ish tuning. No, the lower treble is not being pushed, and it doesn't sound fatiguing at all. But as there is a boost in the upper treble area, you will notice that the treble on the Moondrop Aria can get airy, which is very unique and sometimes addicting. Cymbals don't sound artificial, and it has a good natural timbre. No metallic timbre can be found. Despite that, as it pursues a harman-ish tuning, Moondrop Aria still lacks a bit of treble extension.

Technicalities​

There's nothing impressive about Moondrop Aria when we talk about technicalities except the staging. The staging can get really wide when I play tracks such as Hotel California by Eagles (Live on MTV). The details are also pretty good but not that special. And for the rest (separation and imaging), it is fairly decent.

Comparisons​

Moondrop Aria ($80) vs Tin T2 Plus ($60)
I actually like the tuning on the T2 Plus more than the Aria. The bass is deeper and punchier, and the treble has better extension and also better airiness. Aria didn't give me the same open and spacious sensation that I get on my T2 Plus. However, when it comes to the vocals, Aria has better texture and control. Tonality aside, the technicalities on both are pretty much on the same level, except that Aria has wider staging and slightly better details.

Quick Introduction​

First and foremost, I didn't buy this unit. It is actually a demo unit in a local audio store near my place, which is called 'Beyond The Music' located in South Jakarta. I gave a listen to the unit for almost an hour straight, and I can already get a grasp of what 64 Audio Tia Trio has to offer.

If you wanna see my IEM Ranking List, you can access it for free here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15FKnagMKxWUSA5DNRIoFAAwpUCSuceocMoMJGIPUqo8/edit?usp=sharing

Build & Fit​

The overall build is great and the shell feels sturdy. My only problem with the build is within the cable quality. It certainly doesn't feel premium and gets tangled too easily. Not to mention, the fit was a bit awkward. I can't use it for a long period of listening, because I simply feel uncomfortable wearing this. I think it's due to the size of the shell for being too big and bulky for my small Asian ears.

Frequency Response (Source)​

64 Audio Tia Trio is a neutral-ish sounding IEM with a considerable amount of bass boost.

Sound Quality​

Source: Tempotec Sonata E44, using the 3.5 single-ended port, with music playing on USB Audio Player Pro through my Samsung Galaxy A32.

Tonality/Tuning​

Low/Bass​

The bass of 64 Audio Tia Trio is simply amazing without being too overwhelming. It has a great punch, but it's more of a mid-bass-oriented kind of punch. That said, the bass doesn't really hit that deep and lacks a tad of sub-bass impact. Fortunately, it's the only downside of the Tia Trio in terms of bass for me. For the rest, it simply does the job really well. It has a great texture and is also well-controlled, leaving the vocals untouched. The bass also has a decent speed for a dynamic driver when listening to rock tracks such as Step Up by Inori Minase or The Rumbling by SiM.

Mid/Vocal​

The mids of 64 Audio Tia Trio is also great. It's smooth, organic, sweet, and also natural at the same time. Although there's some smoothing going on, the vocals remain clear and also clean without sounding veiled or congested. Not to mention, it is very well-controlled and well-defined too. There are no hints of sibilance when listening to poor recorder tracks like Kamisama Hajimemashita by Hanae.

The vocal balance is also great on this thing. It can represent the thickness of male vocals and the sweetness of female vocals really well. I tend to listen to female vocal songs lately, like Hikari by Lilas Ikuta for example, and 64 Audio Tia Trio has represented the heavenly vocal of the artist really well.

High/Treble​

Last but not least, let's talk about the treble. If there are two words to describe the treble on this thing, it would be airy and extended. When listening to tracks that have a lot of percussion such as Wonder Caravan by Inori Minase, I immediately noticed that the treble of Tia Trio is very extended and also being airy at the same time. This kind of treble makes the overall sound spacious and open.

The good thing is that it represents the airiness of the treble without being harsh or fatiguing, and the reason is that the treble presence around 4-6 kHz is not being pushed/boosted. 64 Audio Tia Trio can give you just the right amount of sparkle of the treble without being harsh or unnatural sounding. But still, if you're a treble-head, I doubt that the treble on Tia Trio will satisfy you enough.

Overall, the tonality of 64 Audio Tia Trio is warm neutral that is smooth and organic. I'm sure that the safe tonality of Tia Trio will suit a lot of people. Despite that, the Tia Trio can still be an energetic and fun-sounding set. Truly all-rounder.

Not to mention, 64 Audio Tia Trio is highly coherent despite running a hybrid configuration.

The sound of 64 Audio Tia Trio is simply complete. Do you want punchy bass? Tia Trio has it. Do you want organic, smooth, and sweet vocals? Tia Trio has it. Do you want an extended and airy treble with the right amount of sparkle? Tia Trio has it.

Technicality​

When it comes to technicality, 64 Audio Tia Trio is no slouch either. When listening to tracks that have a lot of instruments such as Queen of the Night by Wagakki Band and also Campanella by Kenshi Yonezu, all of the elements of the song are represented really well. The separation, especially layering, is definitely one of the best if not the best I've ever heard. The 3d imaging is also great, I can easily pinpoint instruments and notice where they are coming from. The soundstage of the Tia Trio doesn't disappoint either, because it has a good depth and width.

Not to mention, 64 Audio Tia Trio has a good retrieval. For example, in the track, Cinderella by Cider Girl and Campanella by Kenshi Yonezu, I can hear a lot of details, mainly percussions, that I didn't notice on my beloved Tin T2 Plus.

Quick Comparisons​

64 Audio Tia Trio ($2300) vs Thieaudio Monarch MKII ($1000)​

Both of the sets pursue the same sound signature, which is neutral with a bass boost. However, the bass on Thieaudio Monarch MKII has less quantity than 64 Audio Tia Trio. However, Monarch MKII has a deeper bass but with a less mid-bass punch.

The mids are similar between these two. Both have a smooth, sweet, and organic kind of profile. However, the female vocals of Monarch MKII are more forward and clear but with the price of male vocals. The male vocals sound thinner on Monarch MKII, while the Tia Trio has more thickness to it.

When it comes to the treble, they are different from each other. Monarch MKII has more air on the treble than Tia Trio (although Tia Trio is already being airy). However, the treble of Tia Trio is more forward and sparkling, while Monarch MKII has more smoothing but oddly has more micro details.

Not to mention, since the treble of those sets is done by different types of drivers, I hear a different sensation between those two. The treble of Monarch MKII has represented the timbre of electrostatic drivers really well. It's super airy with high speed but lacks weight notes overall. On the other hand, I can't seem to notice the plasticy treble timbre of a poorly-tuned balanced armature that can be seen in many hybrid KZ sets, which is a plus point for Tia Trio. Due to those differences, the treble of the Tia Trio still sounds more natural to my ears, while the Monarch MKII is more incoherent sounding because of the noticeable electrostatic timbre.

When we're talking about the technicalities, I believe that Thieaudio Monarch MKII is better in almost every single aspect, but not by a large margin. The biggest difference that I notice is that the Monarch MKII sounds more transparent, open, and spacious at the same time. That said, Monarch MKII gives a more sense of space and holographic soundstage, and also better 3d imaging as well. Moreover, due to the open and clear sound of Monarch MKII, it does a tad better in terms of resolution than the Tia Trio.

I noticed that Monarch MKII has a better detail retrieval than Tia Trio.

The transient speed of Thieaudio Monarch MKII is also superior to the Tia Trio when listening to violins and flutes. On the track called The World's End by Yui Horie, it is very noticeable. However, on the same track, I feel like Tia Trio has better layering than Monarch MKII. On the Tia Trio, the bass and violin sound very well separated, while on Monarch MKII, I can still notice that those instruments are a bit jumbled together.

Conclusion​

All in all, I think that the 64 Audio Tia Trio is a very excellent set to have. It sounds very organic and smooth, which is a great candidate for those of you who are looking for an IEM that is safe for long listening sessions. Despite that, the Tia Trio can still be energetic and also fun-sounding for EDM, pop, or rock tracks. That said, the Tia Trio is an all-rounder that can suit almost all genres you're listening to. Not to mention, 64 Audio Tia Trio does a great job in terms of technicalities as well.

However, you might want to consider buying this. At this point in time, there are a lot of IEMs that are technically better but with a lower price such as the Thieaudio Monarch MKII. But still, if you're into the sound signature of the Tia Trio, it is very worth the buy, but don't expect it to be the best price-to-performance set out there.

Note: I purchased this unit with my personal savings. You can expect an honest review from me.

Let me just get right into it, Tempotec Sonata E44 is the only DAC that I will ever need, and I think it will be my end-game when it comes to dongles.

When I first unboxed this unit, I was impressed by the overall package of it. The experience was totally premium. Straight out of the box, you will be greeted by a 3.5mm adapter, a USB-A adapter, a HI-RES sticker (if you care), and the unit itself.

My user experience when using Tempotec Sonata E44 is simply flawless. Unlike my previous DAC, the E44 actually remembers its hardware volume when I replug the unit. That way, I don't have to control the volumes all over again when I want to listen to my favorite songs ever again. Also, the unit doesn't get hot easily, even after a long period of time of using this continuously. However, there's one thing that you need to consider if you want to primarily bring the E44 with you when going outside. Having the E44 plugged into your phone when you're bringing it outdoors is simply not practical and convenient enough. The reason is that the cable is long, especially when you use the 3.5mm adapter. Not to mention, the unit is a bit on the heavy side.

Now, let's talk about sound impressions. I paired Tempotec Sonata E44 with my Tin T2 Plus running on a balanced 4.4mm cable. The first thing I noticed when I plugged this DAC into my Samsung A32 with UAPP is that the power on this thing is exceptional. I literally need to lower the volume down by a large margin using the hardware buttons on the DAC itself. As for the tonality, E44 is fairly neutral without any coloration whatsoever. It doesn't alter the sound of the cans that you have, meaning that the sound that you will hear through your IEMs is exactly what it is supposed to sound like. Not to mention, the E44 also stays true to the timbre of your IEMs. Moreover, the Tempotec Sonata E44 sounds organic and transparent at the same time.

For example, when I paired this with my CCA CRA, it portrays the sound of the unit so well. The bass is deep and punchy but never lacks speed, the mid is neutral and natural at the same time without any colors to it, and the treble is sparkling with very good extensions. Also, when I plugged in my Tanchjim Tanya into the E44, I can still hear the mid-bass focused sound, the organic and sweet vocals, and the smooth treble that the Tanya possesses. However, I did notice that the E44 lacks a bit of air in the treble area when paired with something that has an airy treble sound profile like the Tin T2 Plus.

Another thing that I like about the E44 is that it has a dead silent black background, even in my sensitive cans.

Given the points above, I can safely use E44 as my reference/benchmark dongle to test out my units. However, there's one important thing that you need to know. Please note that the E44 makes your IEM sound a tad more edgy and aggressive overall, but it is barely noticeable so I don't see any problem regarding it. All in all, when it comes to tonality, I have to give the E44 a solid 5/5.

Tempotec Sonata E44 is no slouch when it comes to technical performance either. It paired really well with my Tin T2 Plus (the best unit I currently have in terms of technicality) and they complement each other really well. I can hear a lot of macro and micro details. Not to mention, the imaging of the E44 is exceptional. I can easily pinpoint instruments even in busy tracks such as Queen of the Night by Wagakki Band. On the same track, the E44 did a very great job in separating the instruments. Last but not least, Tempotec Sonata E44 is also great when it comes to resolution, transient speeds, harmonics, and also dynamics. Overall, Tempotec Sonata E44 is really capable when we talk about technicalities.

If I have to nitpick on Tempotec Sonata E44, I would say that it doesn't have the widest soundstage I've ever listened to. Compared to something like the CX-Pro or Cyberdrive Aura, the E44 lacks a bit in width. Despite that, I don't really have a problem with it, as it can still give me a sense of space and headroom for my listening experience enough and it simply never lacks.

Last but not least, if you want to really bring out Tempotec Sonata E44's maximum potential, you should try pairing it with your IEMs that are rocking a balanced cable. It will make the sound neater and refined overall. The bass will also profit from this, as it will get more punchy and deep at the same time. Also, using the balanced output will give you a slight technical performance increase if compared with the 3.5mm output, especially with the separation and detail retrieval.

Overall, I think that Tempotec has once again created an exceptional dongle that offers you a quality that exceeds its price. The E44 surely follows the steps of the successful Sonata HD Pro, but this time, we are given a balanced output instead of a single-ended one. Also, instead of one CS43131 chip, the E44 has two of them. What more could you ask for? Just buy this, and experience what the best has to offer.

When I first started out in this hobby, I saw Jcally JM20 but I didn't even take a slight interest in buying them. And now I already get a grip on what the audio world has to offer. I decided to purchase Jcally JM20 at last, thinking that it will bring me a huge upgrade from my previous DAC dongles and that the Cirrus Logic CS43131 would be a great deal at this price range. However, when I first listened to this thing, to be honest, I was greatly disappointed.

In terms of tonality, Jcally JM20 is very close to neutral with a little boost on the high frequencies. With that said, it doesn't change the tonality of the IEM itself that much. If your set is fun to listen to, then Jcally JM20 will represent that kind of sound with no problem. Vice versa, if your IEM sounds cold and analytical, then your IEM will sound boring the way it is.

Jcally JM20 has a decent bass response. It punches fairly deep, with good rumbles and textures. Jcally JM20 does not alter the mid frequencies at all, there's no smoothing or boost going on here. The vocals sound lively while being natural at the same time. When it comes to treble response, Jcally JM20 has a slight boost in the treble area which makes the treble more sparkly. However, when I pair it with something like the Tin T2 Plus, which has an airy treble that I personally love, Jcally JM20 reduces the amount of air from it, but not by a large margin.

The biggest downside of Jcally JM20's tonality is that it has a dry texture on every frequency, which I personally dislike very much, even to the point where I can't stand to hear them in a long period of time. This kind of sound approach changes the timbre of your IEM which could be bothersome if you're sensitive to that. Also, with the sound being dry, my IEM may sound a bit barren, sterile and lifeless. It certainly doesn't sound organic. I may be rough on this one, but I do think that Jcally JM20 is not a great contender when it comes to tonality due to the characteristics of the sound.

Not to mention, Jcally JM20 lacks a bit of transparency to the sound if compared to something like the CX-Pro Audio CX31993 and Cyberdrive Clarity Aura.

Now, let's talk about the technicalities. This is where all the bad things continue. Jcally JM20 does a poor job when it comes to separation and layering. The instruments come across a bit jumbled together, even in my Tin T2 Plus, which I consider to have a great separation and layering performance. Soundstage and imaging-wise, it is fairly average. Luckily, I have no problems with it, because I can still tell where instruments are coming from and pinpoint them.

What Jcally JM20 does best is within the detail retrieval and black background. It has a good amount of both macro and micro details. Not to mention, it has a very clean black background, even in sensitive IEMs such as KZ EDX, KZ EDX Pro, and CCA CRA.

In conclusion, Jcally JM20 is not the type of dongles that I'm seeking. But when I consider the price it offers, I can't really ask that much. But what disappoints me is that it is priced slightly higher than something like CX-31993 and Cyberdrive Clarity Aura, which I consider to have a better sound in almost every aspect. If you already have a DAC with you right now, keep it and don't even bother to buy Jcally JM20. It would not be an upgrade of any sort, and it may even sound worse than your previous one. Save up more money and buy something like the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro or even save up more to buy Shanling UA2 or Fiio KA3.

Quick Introduction​

No, CCA/KZ didn't send this unit to me. I bought it by myself with my own personal money, although I would love to receive a review unit from them Anyway, the unboxing experience of CCA CRA was totally standard and doesn't hold anything special by any means. You will only get three pairs of ear tips, the cable, and the IEM itself.

If you want to see my IEM Rank List, you can access it here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15FKnagMKxWUSA5DNRIoFAAwpUCSuceocMoMJGIPUqo8/edit?usp=sharing

Build & Fit​

The first thing I noticed when I pull my CCA CRA out of the box is that it looks damn cool. I ordered the silver one, which suits my liking. The shell is made from resin, but there's an aluminum faceplate with the CCA logo written on it. The cable was pretty nice too, different from what you would get in this price range. Although, I would like mine to be more flexible so it would be easy for me to insert it into my case.

As for fit, I think that they're very comfortable, even for long listening sessions. I could easily wear this for 3-4 hours without feeling any discomfort whatsoever. The tips that came out of the box are also nice. I wear the medium-size ones, as they fit my ears better. If you have tried something like the KZ EDX before, CCA CRA has the same type of fit overall.

Frequency Response (Source)​

CCA CRA has a v-shaped kind of tuning, where there is an emphasis on the bass, especially sub-bass, and the treble area around 4-6 kHz. What I personally love about CCA CRA is that it has a good extension on both ends. The bass extends well, the same goes for the treble. However, CCA CRA still possesses the peeks around the treble area just like the other KZ/CCA products.

Sound Quality​

Source: Cyberdrive Aura DAC and Jcally JM20, with music playing on USB Audio Player Pro through my Samsung Galaxy A32. I also used my phone alone with Apple Music to listen to CCA CRA as they are fairly easy to drive.

Notes: CCA CRA tends to produce some white noise when I connected it through my Cyberdrive Aura DAC at low volumes. So, make sure you DAC is capable of driving sensitive earphones with low noise.

Tonality/Tuning​

Low/Bass​

Not gonna lie, but CCA CRA has one of the best bass performances under $20. It punches really deep due to the extension of the sub-bass. Usually, KZ iems with this of bass have bad bass control, but CCA CRA is a different breed. Although it has a great bass depth, it doesn't get boomy to the point where it's bleeding into the mids. The attack is pretty fast for a single dynamic driver, which makes it suitable for listening to literally all music genres that you like. It also has a good rumble when listening to bass-heavy songs. Not to mention, it has just the right amount of bass quantity. I had a pleasant experience listening to this with EDM, J-Pop, and rock tracks. But, I don't suggest you listen to tracks with double pedals as CCA CRA would have a hard time catching up with them. Personally, I really love this kind of bass approach, and CCA CRA has portrayed that really well. For what it's worth, I use CCA CRA on a daily basis because of the bass itself.

Mid/Vocal​

As it pursues a v-shaped kind of tuning, the mids on CCA CRA are a tad recessed and fall behind the bass and treble. However, the mids especially vocals on CCA CRA are clean and clear with good detail levels. However, due to this sound approach, the mids can be harsh at times, and there's a slight hint of sibilance when listening to badly mastered tracks. I have no problem with it, as I can still enjoy listening to the vocals with lots of enjoyment.

High/Treble​

Just like the bass, CCA CRA is probably one of the best IEM under $20 when it comes to treble performance. The treble on this thing is exceptional. It has a really good extension, even my Tin T2 Plus became shy if compared to CCA CRA. Also, the treble has just the right amount of spark so I can easily listen to this for a long time without any fatigue. It also has some airiness to the treble, which makes it a perfect candidate for orchestra tracks. However, I can't help but notice some metallic timbre when listening to cymbals. The texture can still be harsh at times, but luckily my ears can accept that. If you're sensitive to high frequencies, then I'm afraid that CCA CRA is not exactly what you're looking for. But if you can withstand sparkling trebles, you will appreciate the treble on CCA CRA as much as I do.

Technicalities​

Separation​

CCA CRA has a decent separation, especially in its price range. Instruments are separated really well, with a good amount of micro details.

Soundstage​

The only downside of CCA CRA when it comes to technicalities lies within the soundstage. It is below average and can be cramped to some people. For me, I have no problems with it, considering the fact that I don't listen to live tracks that often. Although I would like more headroom for my listening experience.

Imaging​

Just like the separation, CCA CRA is average if we're talking about the imaging. I could still pinpoint instruments and know where they're coming from. However, due to the soundstage, the instruments come across in an almost cramped space. Though once again, I have no problems with it.

Quick Comparisons​

CCA CRA ($14) vs KZ EDX ($10)​

In short, the CCA CRA completely destroyed KZ EDX, both tonality and also technicalities. The bass on the KZ EDX doesn't punch that deep, and sometimes it bleeds into the mids. The mids are sibilance, to the point where I can't bear listening to the EDX for a long time. Last but not least, KZ EDX has some serious metallic timbre and it can get very harsh at times. Tonality aside, KZ EDX does not compete with CCA CRA when it comes to technicalities as well. CCA CRA is one step ahead of the KZ EDX in terms of separation and imaging, although they have the same level of soundstage.

CCA CRA ($14) vs Tanchjim Tanya ($23)​

If we're comparing these two, it all comes to personal preference. CCA CRA is more fun to listen to and has a more edgy sound overall, while the Tanchjim Tanya has a laid-back kind of tune with a lot of smoothing going on. CCA CRA has more punch and most importantly, it's deep. The vocals sound more open, clear, and detailed but can be harsh and sibilant at times. The treble also has more sparkle and air to it. Tanchjim Tanya, on the other hand, does the exact opposite. Tanchjim Tanya's bass doesn't punch that deep and has a good amount of mid-bass punch. The mids sound more natural, smooth, and sweet. There's some smoothing going on in the treble area. It lacks sparkle and lacks airiness to it.

In terms of technicality, both are on the same level, but CCA CRA has more details, while Tanchjim Tanya has a wider soundstage. For the rest, they come pretty close to each other.

Conclusion​

For under $20, CCA CRA is a must-buy. It is a fantastically tuned v-shaped iem with a good amount of details. The bass is deep, punchy, and extends well, the mids are open clear, the treble is sparkling and airy at the same time, and most importantly, it is very extended. CCA CRA is a true all-rounder set that can fit any type of genre that you're listening to. Do you like rock tracks? Buy CCA CRA. Do you like orchestra tracks? Buy CCA CRA. Do you like EDM tracks? Buy CCA CRA. Do you like J-Pop tracks? Buy CCA CRA.

Quick Introduction​

To start things off, I'm not an expert in the audiophile world of any sort. I simply enjoy listening to any kind of music, but I tend to enjoy J-Pop tracks more these days. Also, this is my first take in reviewing an IEM, so don't expect anything grand out of my words.

For what it's worth, I will not include my thoughts on the package and accessories unless there's something special about it that's worth mentioning. In this case, Tanchjim Tanya doesn't have something like that, and my unboxing experience was totally standard. The one thing that has caught my attention is that Tanchjim Tanya comes with a pouch, but mine was lost not long ago.

Build & Fit​

For an IEM that's below the $30 price range, Tanchjim Tanya has a decent build, but at the same time, it doesn't hold anything special by any means. To be blunt, sometimes it feels cheap whenever I switched from my other IEM that's twice the price of the Tanya, which is the Tin T2 Plus. I'm not sure what material that the shell has. However, it feels quite strong yet lightweight at the same time. On one side, it's a good thing since I can carry this IEM all day with no worries. Not to mention, I can wear this for a long period of time without feeling any discomfort whatsoever. But on the other side, due to the lightness of the weight, once again Tanchjim Tanya feels cheap when it's actually not.

Also, Tanchjim Tanya doesn't come with a detachable cable, and to make matter worse, the cable feels once again cheap and thin, and it got me thinking that it might break at some point easily.

One thing to take notes from is that Tanchjim Tanya does not come with the best stock tips. I have tried both the M-size and S-size tips, but none of them are comfortable enough for me. I changed the tips to AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal, and it fixes all of the problems I have with the stock ones. Very comfortable, and it doesn't build up air pressure in my ears, unlike once again, the stock tips.

Frequency Response (Source)​

Tanchjim Tanya (Blue)​

Tanchjim Tanya (Blue) vs Moondrop KXXS (Green)​

Tanchjim Tanya (Blue) vs Tin T2 Plus (Red)​

Sound Performance​

Source: Samsung A32 4G (USB Audio Player Pro) with Cyberdrive Clarity Feather DAC

Tonality/Tuning​

Low/Bass​

The bass on Tanchjim Tanya is quite good and satisfying for its price range. It has a good amount of texture. However, the bass also comes with minor problems that don't suit my liking. In fact, the bass is where I found my biggest concern. As can be seen in the frequency response, Tanchjim Tanya has some differences compared to other Harman tuning IEM such as the KXXS. You can see that in Tanchjim Tanya, there is more boost on the mid-bass rather than the sub-bass, meanwhile, KXXS comes as the opposite. That said, I feel like the bass on Tanchjim Tanya doesn't punch that deep, and not only that, sometimes it bleeds into the mids. I'd like more punch in my IEM, and the bass on Tanchjim Tanya is surely not what I'm seeking for.

But ironically, although Tanchjim Tanya has an emphasis on the mid-bass, it doesn't have enough rumble to satisfy bassheads for sure. I'm not a basshead in any way, but I notice that Tanchjim Tanya lacks rumble when I listen to bass-heavy songs such as Joji's.

Tanchjim Tanya's bass response is not that quick, but at the same time, it's not slow to the point where it's boomy. That said, it's not that great for rock tracks that require a fast type of bass, as Tanchjim Tanya can't keep up with the double pedals.

From what I've heard of other reviewers, Tanchjim Tanya is by far one of the warmest Harman tuning that you can find in the market up to this day, and once again, it's all due to the extensive amount of mid-bass that the IEM possesses.

Mid/Vocal​

Despite coming short in terms of bass performance, I feel like the Tanchim Tanya has a strong point when it comes to vocals. It has a good tonal balance, so both male and female vocals shine equally. Male vocals don't lack thickness, and female vocals don't lack any spark whatsoever. Not only that, the vocals have a smooth and sweet texture on literally every vocal song that I listen to. And most importantly, sibilants and shouts are non-existent in this IEM. I can easily listen to this IEM all day with enjoyment due to the devoid of any peek on the mids.

The vocals on Tanchjim Tanya have a natural approach in terms of timbre, as it has a pinna gain from 1kHz to 3kHz area, just like the other Harman tuning IEM. It's not shouty in any way although it has a boost in the 3kHz region, because Tanchjim Tanya has just enough boost to be natural sounding. I'm not great at this kind of stuff, but it is at least from what I've heard from many reviewers out there.

High/Treble​

There's nothing worth mentioning in the treble area. It has the same treble response as the other Harman tuning IEM. There is a treble roll-off as it can be seen in the frequency response, and it certainly lacks airiness. It doesn't mean that Tanchjim Tanya is a dark IEM. The treble is still there, and you can still notice them in tracks, but it doesn't stand out that much, overshadowed by the thick bass and mids.

Technicalities​

For under $30, Tanchjim Tanya has a decent technicality. The instrument separation on this thing is above average, but the soundstage and imaging are fairly average. However, I do feel that the Tanchjim Tanya doesn't have enough clarity due to the emphasis on the mid-bass and treble roll-off. It's not the most transparent and clear-sounding IEM out there. It can be improved with tips rolling, and I found that AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal did a great job in that matter. It reduces mid-bass bleeds, and it also improves clarity by a tad bit.

Quick Comparisons​

Tanchjim Tanya ($23) vs Tin T2 Plus ($59)​

The bass on Tanchjim Tanya and Tin T2 Plus has a different approach although both of them have an emphasis on the mid-bass. Tin T2 Plus has more punch, rumble, and texture, although Tanchjim Tanya has more bass quantity and overall has a thicker bass. I'm leaning towards the Tin T2 Plus in terms of bass performance.

However, when it comes to the mids, I think that Tanchjim Tanya does an exceptional job if compared to Tin T2 Plus. I find that Tanchjim Tanya has a thicker, full-bodied vocal than the Tin T2 Plus. Therefore, Tanchjim Tanya is more versatile when it comes to vocals, as has a good vocal balance, while the Tin T2 Plus is leaning more on the higher mids and lacks power on the low mids. Tanchjim Tanya has also a more smooth texture in the mids, while Tin T2 Plus is harsher and can be shouty at times when listening to poor mastering tracks.

Last but not least, Tin T2 Plus is a clear winner when we're talking about the treble realm. I find that the Tin T2 Plus does an exceptional job in the treble area. It's airy, well-extended, and most importantly, only leaves a slight hint of sibilance in poor mastering tracks. Tanchjim Tanya, on the other hand, does the complete opposite of what the Tin T2 Plus offers. It's overall more smooth and has no traces of sibilance, but at the same time, it's rolled off and does not extend well with orchestra tracks.

The sound output on the Tin T2 Plus is overall cleaner and more transparent sounding than the Tanchjim Tanya. It has more spark on the treble area, therefore it gives a good amount of clarity. Also, when it comes to instrument separation and details, Tin T2 Plus is one step ahead of Tanchjim Tanya, and due to the airiness on the treble region, it gives a more sense of space when listening to live tracks. Although in terms of imaging, I feel like that both do come pretty close to each other.

Conclusion/Verdict​

Overall, for under $30, Tanchjim Tanya is a no-brainer. I recommend this to all of you who are looking for a relaxed-sounding IEM. Moreover, it's lightweight and has a great (bullet type) shell which makes them easy to carry and comfortable, even to the point where you can use it while sleeping without feeling any discomfort. The sound output also compliments the comfort of the design, and therefore, Tanchjim Tanya is a very great choice in that matter.

However, due to this sound approach, Tanchjim Tanya is not a great candidate for listening to orchestra tracks with a lot of instruments, and not suitable for rock tracks that has double pedals in them.

Favorite Tracks​