Reviews by hitmaker
I have heard praises about Tanchjim IEMs in the community and they have garnered a sizable number of dedicated followers. But the ONE is the first Tanchjim IEM for me. All thanks to @gadgetgod and ForHiFi, I am reviewing both the DSP and the 3.5mm variants of the Tanchjim ONE
It can be found on AliExpress here - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805717722491.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt
It is a single 10mm dynamic driver IEM housed in a metal and plastic shell. It’s an easy to drive unit with Sensitivity of 126dB/Vrms and 16Ω Impedance. It’s priced at $25 or approx. ₹2300 so it’s entering a crowded segment. Can it survive the competition?
PACKAGE
Starting off with the package, it’s a statement piece as it tries to sell you an IEM without any Waifu material at the box front. ARE THEY CRAZY? Well guess not because it works fine. The accessories package is generous for the price. You get 6 pairs of eartips in a wide and thin bore variety and a decent carrying pouch.
The tips are of good quality but just a note, for this review, I used the KZ startline tips as they were more comfortable for my ears. The sound didn’t change with the different eartips much for me.
DESIGN
Let’s start with the design first -
Aesthetics are on point with a clean looking silver aluminum faceplate and transparent shells.
The design is special in a way that it’s a bullet shaped earphone but with removable cables. There are not many like this especially in this price range. Ever rarer are earphones with DSP and a removable cable. You can technically take the DSP cable and use it with any other IEMs which accept a 0.78 2-pin design.
This design makes it easier to wear it with both cables down or over the ear. I guess beginners will enjoy this as they are easier to insert in the ears. I have seen a fair share of people wearing their Over ear IEMs wrong so this will ease the pain. I do prefer the over ear design as it feels more secure and also reduces the cable microphonics.
It is a compact IEM which means comfort and portability is easy to find. They are small enough that I can sleep while wearing them with no discomfort. The nozzle is on the thicker side but most of my eartips fit easily.
The cable was better than expected. I definitely prefer it over the stock cables of KZ and CCA budget options. It is a slim single core design but it does not tangle easily. There’s some microphonics which can be avoided by wearing it over the ear.
One thing to note, the IEM is using a recessed connector, so not all cables will fit easily. So do note of it while cable swapping. My TRN T2 didn’t fit on this, for example.
SOUND
The overall tonality of the ONE is similar to most newer budget options. It’s targeting a balanced profile which is closer to a V-shape sound than a flat neutral.
Both the 3.5mm and DSP versions offer a different flavor of the same fruit. The 3.5mm offers a little more mid bass and upper mids presence and the DSP version applies a more Diffuse Field Corrected response. Both tunings are enjoyable for multiple genres. Let’s discuss it in details -
Bass
The bass on the ONE is clean and mostly precise. It does the job but will never attract attention to itself. For my personal tastes, it can do a little more sub bass but for the most part, I was satisfied.
The DSP version felt more accurate to my ears. It was more balanced in its bass delivery. The 3.5mm version has more mid bass but it also shadows the sub bass, which makes some bass heavy music to sound flat.
But on both versions, the bass was controlled and speedy. It offers texture and details which are above average for the price.
Mids
The mid range comes forward with a nice presentation. The vocals are clear and instruments sound mostly natural. The upper mid emphasis gives the vocals a sharp edge but in a good way. It’s like a sharpening filter for the photo folks… It’s done tastefully overall but in some tracks, which are not mastered properly, it can sound sharp.
The lower mids don’t sound thin. Cellos and other string instruments sound crisp. For my ears, the DSP version offers more refinement in the mids and is tuned more maturely. The upper mids cut help the vocals sound more natural. The 3.5mm version sounds a bit too in your face for me but it can be easily solved with an EQ cut.
Overall, the mids on the ONE are above average for the price. It sounds more “clear and open” compared to the Waner and is also much more natural compared to the KZ Krila or ZVX.
Treble
The treble on the ONE is a mixed bag for me. On one hand, it is open and energetic that it never sounds dull but on the other hand, there’s definitely some air emphasis which can affect some songs. This bit will be different for other people but for my ear, I am getting some resonance at 12KHz which can emphasize the boosted upper mids.
But the treble overall is good for the price. It’s not going to beat some mid range options but I surely prefer this treble over the likes of ZVX or the Waner. It is smooth and doesn’t sound congested. There's good extension which helps in staging and it never gets sibilant.
It’s tuned well, but it definitely lacks the micro-details which is acceptable for the price. The treble sounds similar on both the DSP and 3.5mm versions but the DSP sounds better, once again because of the cleaner lower mid range.
TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
In terms of soundstage you get more width than depth. The overall stage is average, on par with the other newer contenders in the price bracket.
The localization you get is good with accurate placement of the instruments and the vocals. The vocals could use more depth but the above average imaging helps it sound open and more expensive than it is.
Separation and resolution is above average and definitely the strong point of the ONE. It sounds mostly open and there’s a certain clarity in its presentation. It is “airy” especially the DSP version because of the tuning.
The bass or mids offer a good level of detail and don’t break apart easily with complex tracks. But the driver is not so advanced and in busy passages with lots of snares or crashes, it sounds grainy and unrefined.
For gaming, it performed really well and placement was mostly on point. The depth perception could be improved but I cannot complain much here.
Overall technically, it is a strong showcase by the ONE for the price
CONCLUSION
The Tanhcjim ONE left a positive impression on my ears. It is surely a great beginner’s IEM which offers a clean yet NOT BORING sound. It’s not perfect but for the price, it doesn’t have to be.
Between the DSP and the 3.5mm variants, my choice will be the ONE DSP just because it is slightly closer to my preferred tuning but the 3.5mm is a good option if you are still finding your own target curve. It’s more versatile too.
It can be found on AliExpress here - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805717722491.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt
It is a single 10mm dynamic driver IEM housed in a metal and plastic shell. It’s an easy to drive unit with Sensitivity of 126dB/Vrms and 16Ω Impedance. It’s priced at $25 or approx. ₹2300 so it’s entering a crowded segment. Can it survive the competition?
PACKAGE
Starting off with the package, it’s a statement piece as it tries to sell you an IEM without any Waifu material at the box front. ARE THEY CRAZY? Well guess not because it works fine. The accessories package is generous for the price. You get 6 pairs of eartips in a wide and thin bore variety and a decent carrying pouch.
The tips are of good quality but just a note, for this review, I used the KZ startline tips as they were more comfortable for my ears. The sound didn’t change with the different eartips much for me.
DESIGN
Let’s start with the design first -
Aesthetics are on point with a clean looking silver aluminum faceplate and transparent shells.
The design is special in a way that it’s a bullet shaped earphone but with removable cables. There are not many like this especially in this price range. Ever rarer are earphones with DSP and a removable cable. You can technically take the DSP cable and use it with any other IEMs which accept a 0.78 2-pin design.
This design makes it easier to wear it with both cables down or over the ear. I guess beginners will enjoy this as they are easier to insert in the ears. I have seen a fair share of people wearing their Over ear IEMs wrong so this will ease the pain. I do prefer the over ear design as it feels more secure and also reduces the cable microphonics.
It is a compact IEM which means comfort and portability is easy to find. They are small enough that I can sleep while wearing them with no discomfort. The nozzle is on the thicker side but most of my eartips fit easily.
The cable was better than expected. I definitely prefer it over the stock cables of KZ and CCA budget options. It is a slim single core design but it does not tangle easily. There’s some microphonics which can be avoided by wearing it over the ear.
One thing to note, the IEM is using a recessed connector, so not all cables will fit easily. So do note of it while cable swapping. My TRN T2 didn’t fit on this, for example.
SOUND
The overall tonality of the ONE is similar to most newer budget options. It’s targeting a balanced profile which is closer to a V-shape sound than a flat neutral.
Both the 3.5mm and DSP versions offer a different flavor of the same fruit. The 3.5mm offers a little more mid bass and upper mids presence and the DSP version applies a more Diffuse Field Corrected response. Both tunings are enjoyable for multiple genres. Let’s discuss it in details -
Bass
The bass on the ONE is clean and mostly precise. It does the job but will never attract attention to itself. For my personal tastes, it can do a little more sub bass but for the most part, I was satisfied.
The DSP version felt more accurate to my ears. It was more balanced in its bass delivery. The 3.5mm version has more mid bass but it also shadows the sub bass, which makes some bass heavy music to sound flat.
But on both versions, the bass was controlled and speedy. It offers texture and details which are above average for the price.
Mids
The mid range comes forward with a nice presentation. The vocals are clear and instruments sound mostly natural. The upper mid emphasis gives the vocals a sharp edge but in a good way. It’s like a sharpening filter for the photo folks… It’s done tastefully overall but in some tracks, which are not mastered properly, it can sound sharp.
The lower mids don’t sound thin. Cellos and other string instruments sound crisp. For my ears, the DSP version offers more refinement in the mids and is tuned more maturely. The upper mids cut help the vocals sound more natural. The 3.5mm version sounds a bit too in your face for me but it can be easily solved with an EQ cut.
Overall, the mids on the ONE are above average for the price. It sounds more “clear and open” compared to the Waner and is also much more natural compared to the KZ Krila or ZVX.
Treble
The treble on the ONE is a mixed bag for me. On one hand, it is open and energetic that it never sounds dull but on the other hand, there’s definitely some air emphasis which can affect some songs. This bit will be different for other people but for my ear, I am getting some resonance at 12KHz which can emphasize the boosted upper mids.
But the treble overall is good for the price. It’s not going to beat some mid range options but I surely prefer this treble over the likes of ZVX or the Waner. It is smooth and doesn’t sound congested. There's good extension which helps in staging and it never gets sibilant.
It’s tuned well, but it definitely lacks the micro-details which is acceptable for the price. The treble sounds similar on both the DSP and 3.5mm versions but the DSP sounds better, once again because of the cleaner lower mid range.
TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
In terms of soundstage you get more width than depth. The overall stage is average, on par with the other newer contenders in the price bracket.
The localization you get is good with accurate placement of the instruments and the vocals. The vocals could use more depth but the above average imaging helps it sound open and more expensive than it is.
Separation and resolution is above average and definitely the strong point of the ONE. It sounds mostly open and there’s a certain clarity in its presentation. It is “airy” especially the DSP version because of the tuning.
The bass or mids offer a good level of detail and don’t break apart easily with complex tracks. But the driver is not so advanced and in busy passages with lots of snares or crashes, it sounds grainy and unrefined.
For gaming, it performed really well and placement was mostly on point. The depth perception could be improved but I cannot complain much here.
Overall technically, it is a strong showcase by the ONE for the price
CONCLUSION
The Tanhcjim ONE left a positive impression on my ears. It is surely a great beginner’s IEM which offers a clean yet NOT BORING sound. It’s not perfect but for the price, it doesn’t have to be.
Between the DSP and the 3.5mm variants, my choice will be the ONE DSP just because it is slightly closer to my preferred tuning but the 3.5mm is a good option if you are still finding your own target curve. It’s more versatile too.
Attachments
Aful Performer 8 - The confident mid ranger
I got to try this $370 Performer 8 hybrid IEM thanks to the review tour arranged by Aful and @gadgetgod in India
It comes with a 1DD+7BA drivers config and is tuned for a balanced mid-centric tonality. Aful has implemented a lot of tech in this little IEM from crossover PCBs to extra long acoustic tubes. Spoiler alert - the tech works!!
AFUL got a strong fan following after the release of their Performer 5. It showcased the technical prowess and expertise of Aful. So it was no surprise people expected the higher end model to perform even better. Unfortunately I haven’t heard the Performer 5 so you will have to read reviews of it online.
DESIGN
Let’s start with the design and it was very comfortable for my ears! It’s a pseudo-custom style resin shell with a smooth finish. The color choice is not my favorite but the overall fit and finish is of high quality. The location of the vent is also clever where it will not be blocked easily.
I would consider my ears to be medium sized and it fit me without any issues. The pointy bit at the top did dig into my left ear a little bit while laying down. But other than that, it’s an all day IEM. There’s no pressure buildup as well. Aful advertises a special air pressure balance system so I guess it’s working as intended here.
The 4 core cable is durable and there’s no immediate need to replace it. It is soft and pliable. It is a little microphonic and the ear hooks were a little loose for my ears but nothing deal breaking.
The hockey puck leatherette case is the perfect size for the IEM and will easily handle some abuse.
As it was a review tour sample so I didn't get all the accessories
THE SOUND
The overall tonality or sound profile of the Performer 8 can be described as Balanced with emphasis on mid region. There’s a minimal pinna gain region that starts early which makes the mids take the centre stage. This tuning is very different from other harman like tuning available in the Market. This tuning should work with the majority of genres. Let’s discuss it in details -
BASS -
The focus is on the quality rather than the quantity. The emphasis is on Sub Bass but the mid bass is not far behind. The driver gives you excellent texture on real instruments but lacks the punch that you need for electronic drums or hip hop libraries.
It is fast, controlled and can rumble with confidence when required. It is well separated from the mid range giving it an open and clean profile. It’s not a lot, though.
It can sound a little soft on certain tracks which need mid-bass quantity. But for the most part, it will not disappoint you. It can be solved with a 2-3dB eq at around 90-120Hz.
MIDS -
The star of the show! It is thick, sounds full and still has the shiny and crispy nature to the vocals. It just sounds confident no matter if it’s female or male vocal, electric guitars or brass instruments. The clean mid range paired with the great layering gives a lot of space to vocals. They are distinct and put a smile on your face when the track hits just right.
The flatter pinna gain region is something that usually puts your vocals slightly farther away from you. But for my ears, it works great and the distance is just about right. This has one caveat though, you will need to play around with the volume to get the sweet spot.
I was especially impressed by how smoothly and confidently it portrayed the brass instruments. There’s a charm to it and they appear clean even on busy passages.
But the mid range has one problem - some female vocals can lack the sharpness or you can say, they don’t sound as forward. But it is very track dependent.
TREBLE -
The treble just took me by surprise. It is smooth yet you get lots of it. Controlling this much treble is usually not easy and there’s bound to be some harshness. But not here. There’s no sibilance as well.
Even with compressed and not so well mastered tracks, you never feel sibilance and it sounds smooth. It’s hard to explain but it feels real and not artificial. It’s also not overly emphasized and never draws attention to itself. But you still hear it clearly because of the clean mids and bass.
The lower treble can creep into the vocals but it does not sound bad. This adds a strong edge to the notes and it may be a bit unnatural but for most tracks, it is not an issue.
TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE -
In terms of soundstage you get more depth than width. The width is not bad but I was expecting a little more given how well behaved the treble is. But the depth you get is excellent and you get lots of layers. The reverb and size of the room can be felt through the Performer 8 and if your library consists of songs with live performances then you will be rewarded. It’s not holographic but the image you get is still respectable and you can feel the placement of the instruments.
I tested it with some movies as well and it has this forward, away from your face presentation that makes you surprised at times. The background score surrounds you and the dialogues are staged center. The center image is exactly dead center indicating excellent channel matching
Resolution is great and there is no lack of details. You hear every breath, string pull with clarity and confidence. It’s a repeating theme - the performer 8 has this confidence in it’s delivery that is hard to define. My non-audiophile friend explained it best - “It just makes you feel the singer” and I share a similar sentiment.
But improvements can be made. The lack of width in soundstage can make some tracks sound concentrated in the center especially if the song itself does not have a wide production and has a lot of treble.
Conclusion
You may have noticed I have used the word confidence a lot and it’s the best way I can describe the Performer 8. It just sounds good, smooth and musical. The build quality and overall sound quality makes you want to plug it in your ears for hours. It may not have the best and strongest bass or the widest holographic soundstage but yet whatever it has, it delivers with conviction.
I will be honest here, I am not an owner of high priced IEMs but I have listened to some truly TOTL IEMs. The Aful Performer 8 gets really close! Aful deserved an awful lot of respect for trying to change the price game.
Attachments
