TANSIO MIRAI Land

The first thing you realize is there is a new level of information, and in fact that information “world” has stratifications and delineated forms of life. This life has been there all along yet never revealed or visited. These details are in the form of reverbs and cymbal tails...among other life forms. Such existences illuminated and spread across the horizon for inspection. These would be considered bright headphones, yet the LAND challenges everything you have grown to understand about the abilities and characteristics of bright. Because there are two styles of bright. One would be staring directly into the sun, and the other a million point light sources reflecting the sun off of water. The LAND is the second example. Such a tune reintroduces you to all your music. But not looking into the sun, but rather millions of reflections. Such found reflective elements go ahead to introduce timbre, tone and full-on shapes. This of course is not without expense or trade. You can’t have midnight light and lunchtime light simultaneously. Though you can embrace sun-set light as the example of such compromise. As such the character is the LAND, a fabulous example of a sparkling sunset, hence the faceplate.

This single IEM may be my retirement monitor? When I heard about it I knew I’d love it. Of course we all believe possible delusions of IEM grandeur, most of us ARE searching for the promised LAND. I learned a few years ago that I don’t have a preferred FR target curve.

Why would you limit yourself to a single FR response curve? We are experiencing music that music was mixed in mix-down studios at loss for standardization. So…….it’s anyones guess if playback is correct or not. Yet the LAND does something else……because of the EST drivers, in addition to BA drivers and the tonal-tilt, it becomes holographic. This stage seems bigger than the Sony IER-Z1R, it’s touted as bigger than anything offered by TSMR, and frankly the biggest soundstage I have ever witnessed.

Just wait a moment and let that sink in.

Yep, it’s all that…..the stage has a forward and back, a side-to-side and top and bottom. It couldn’t do what I’m about to explain to you with out doing all four metrics concurrently. The LAND immersions you....................such realities present themselves as fact.

Who is Tansio Mirai (TSMR)?
Tansio Mirai is a Chinese manufacturer who currently makes a number of specialized IEMs. TSMR or TANSIO MIRAI was registered as an IEM maker in China by the Beijing Tang Song Bouyan Technology Company in 2016.

The TSMR name is actually a play on words originating from the English language translation of “Tang Song era”. The Tang Dynasty and The Song Dynasty was an era of immense social change, scientific, agricultural and artistic progress. The Chinese invented gunpowder during that time as well as the printing press and the magnetic compass. The first paper money was invented in Song Dynasty in China during the 11th century. The name TMSR is in remembrance of such eras, ultimately bringing such values and dynamics into the future.

TANSIO MIRAI production as of today 10/25/2022
TANSIO MIRAI ZODIAC - 12 BA Flagship $1349.00
TANSIO MIRAI TSMR 8 SPACE - 8 BA $729.00
TANSIO MIRAI TSMR 6 - 6 BA $529.00
TANSIO MIRAI TSMR 5 - 5 BA $419.00
TANSIO MIRAI TSMR 4 PRO - 4 BA $319.00
TANSIO MIRAI TSMR 3 PRO - 3 BA $219.00
TANSIO MIRAI TSMR 2 - 2 BA $169.00
TANSIO MIRAI TSMR 10 - 10 BA Flagship $1029.00
TANSIO MIRAI Spark - 4 EST 7 BA Flagship $1499.00
TANSIO MIRAI Land - 2 EST + 3 BA + 1 Dynamic Driver $599.00
TANSIO MIRAI Akiba - 7BA + 4 EST Hybrid $1550.00
TANSIO MIRAI Sands - 1DD + 3 BA Hybrid $319.00

Navigating the LAND:
The only way we will be able to navigate this narrative is through songs. No simple descriptions or random concepts will work. So let’s start.


The Cure
Faith
“Primary”
44.1 kHz - 16 bit



My first favorite Cure song. Such vibe was the 1980s in vibrancy and up-beat pace. A study in studio trickery. Was all this detail truly necessary to put into an album? Well it’s there for us to partake of, so let’s jump-in and start swimming! At 4 seconds in we hear a crash cymbal double accent. But this is new, all these years (of hearing it) and the accent is now separated from the regular track of the cymbals……..it is also given the extra dose of reverb (for only that accent moment)…..yet it holds a space all its own. Of course this was always there, but never shown for what it was/is. Speakers in a room never quite did what I’m hearing? Because speakers are upfront and we have gone swimming in the sonic aquarium of the LAND replay. It’s around us, but only obedient to the songs potential, I would guess this is accurate, as a first……I’m without reference.

“Primary” is the lead single off Faith and the second charting in the UK. The song is unusual in that both Simon Gallup and Robert Smith play bass, with the effects pedals on Smith's giving the leads a unique sound. There are no guitars (other than bass) or keyboards played in the song.

So while the bass is everything here as far as string instrument examples, the (bass) signal processing showcases sonic embellishments and new found treasures. This is a tandem of musicians, with one centered and one to the right. They are able to get a full-sound due to the tone processing, and you tell me if anything more is needed. At 24 seconds in the phase shift is an instrument all unto itself. What more do you want from the LAND when effects character starts to showcase creativity beyond the instruments, as a gateway into this full-on new world?

Already we are clued-in that something is different here…..and the fact I can put this into words makes me grateful!

The innocence of sleeping children
Dressed in white and slowly dreaming
Stops all time
I slow my steps and start to blur
So many years have filled my heart
I never though I'd say those words
Further we go
And older we grow
The more we know
The less we show
The very first time I saw your face
I thought of a song and quickly changed the tune
The very first time I touched your skin
I thought of a story and rushed to reach the end too soon
Oh remember
Please don't change
And so the fall came thirteen years
A shiny ring and how I could forget your name
The air no longer in my throat
Another perfect lie is choked
But it always feels the same
So they close together
Dressed in red and yellow
Innocent forever
Sleeping children in their blue soft rooms
Still dream

The vocals here start at 35 seconds. This is the perfect example of Robert Smith in his prime, with a new six string bass to boot. As such we are taught..........taught the endless possibilities of creation with simple rock templates and structures. Taught first the simplicity of an art piece. Such complexity or actually lack of complexity would go to stylize the early 1980s, showing the world that a new breed of performer had arrived and this striped-down attitude was now needed to clean house from all the eccentric over-indulgences of the 1970s. What we find is this production suits the LAND fine. We can simply place each element into the soundstage and enjoy tonal balance. In fact the simplicity shows each reverb for the full character it contains. Each additive has a new shape, and we can choose our volume levels. In fact the whole song is a simplistic exercise in adding and taking away……waiting for the opportunistic moment to come-in and go-out. At 58 seconds the chorus starts………

And older we grow
The more we know
The less we show

When heard (the prior) starts to take on a (possible) prophetic wisdom. We realize there is also a back-up heard as a subtle synth, yet so sparse but crucial to the song. Way off to the right…..it is miles away from the rest of the instrumentation. This is where (maybe) the LAND name came from…..the sheer size of it all. The same instrumentation from the start is always with us…..reminding us of this simple/genius at work.

“Other Voices”
This next song has bass effects all in a row! The first show of such creations is at the 20 second mark. And while other IEMs would go ahead and introduce this bass deeper, there is a level of detail and instinctual satisfaction that sedates……….leaving us with-out a want.

Whisper your name
In an empty room
You brush past my skin
As soft as fur
Taking hold
I taste your scent
Distant noises
Other voices
Pounding in my broken head
Commit the sin, commit yourself
And all the other voices said
Change your mind you're always wrong
Come around at Christmas
I really have to see you
Smile at me slyly
Another festive compromise
But I live with desertion
And eight million people
Distant noises
Of other voices
Pulsing in my swinging arms
Caress the sound, so many dead
And all the other voices sing
Change your mind, you're always wrong

And just like the previous song, this is the first time I've heard it this way, though somehow totally correct? Ahh an IEM that makes a song sound correct and new? A song I have studied for 40 years? It’s simple really, if we introduce the elements at a spread out placement, we will be able to identify more (in-depth) character and textures. It’s the reason the statues have space to walk around at the museum. Seeing the statues from a-far brings a new and dramatic visual experience.

“All Cats are Gray”

I never thought that I would find myself
In bed amongst the stones
The columns are all men begging to crush me
No shapes sail on the dark deep lakes
And no flags wave me home
… In the caves, all cats are grey
In the caves, the texture coats my skin
In the death cell, a single note rings on and on and on…….

Here we are profoundly amused at simple drum tracking. And while again there is a simplicity here, the LAND goes a head and makes speedy transients and pans. Such percussion somehow sounds more real. All these years I thought it was a sampler or drum machine……but now the opposite of guessing what clarity would show? The tone is as I remember it, no messing with that…..in fact it’s just right, not showing any BA timbre or sheen. But of course it’s a step-up in tone-profile and partly (the bass part) questionable as to quanity? Yet I’m in, all in to where this is taking me. The bass notes show more variation in emphasis……..which again is the opposite of what common sense says less bass is capable of providing? Seeing it as a new world for the first time.


Ear-tips:
Finally a switch to medium UC (Ultra Clear) ear-tips made by Softears, I reached a state where maybe in some ways the soundstage was ultimately too expanded............as such due to my constant use of low-profile “donut” wide-bore tips. Now I was taking a step-down in size from (L to M) to accommodate the “High Liquid Permeability” Liquid Silicone Softears ear-tip. Due to construction as well as the LAND’s ultra-wide nozzle diameter, I reached a balance in size. Though it should be noted, I was ultimately getting an even deeper fit, making the distance shorter from the nozzle-end to the eardrum. Such a deep fit accentuated the bass combined with the medium orifice (ear-tip) nozzle diameter.

Now the ultimate bass test:

DCD
Anastasis
"All In Good Time"
44.1 kHz - 24 bit

Fit and comfort is now 10/10. There was some strange crinkling sound of the tips forming inside my ear, like rubbing a balloon, yet that’s gone away. The amazing thing is how the LAND is somehow held in place by the ear-tips. The PAC480 cable also has relaxed ear-hooks which generate a high level of ergonomic reliability.

The bass starts at 00.00 and is it a treat. Somehow coming in with even more texture and pure detail. This possibly is the texture covered-up by regular thicker Dynamic Driver slowness? Here the bass is both indicative of the synth source, yet holds textures anew!

Keep in mind I’m also getting synergy by catering to the LAND’s weaknesses. By using the PAC480 cable, Softears ear-tips, the Sony Walkman WM1Z and the dip-switches on the LAND 1 down, 2 up and 3 down......the stock setting. Such attention has proven to result in the ultimate IEM experience! The bass has a breath that almost precedes it, this may be in fact be perception of details inside the transient response. Such attack of notes becomes truly welcome and shows both note fall-off and decay to be correctly accentuated. This bass has full round notes and fascinating volume differences in emphasis. The bass truly comes off as natural, but missing slight authority due to FR emphasis. I have no complaints, only realization momentarily of the fact. It’s kind of like wondering and discovering, then confirming the bass quality (amount) then moving-on undisturbed. This style of bass seems to generate added detail across the board due to bass perspective forming analogue pulses............synthesized.

Vocals:
At 28 seconds the vocals start. Such separation from the mix is enjoyable. This separation gives life and dimensionality to everything in the song display. It's a blank canvas, with the bass and synth washes becoming the backdrop for vocals. Brendan Perry’s Voice has never sounded better. Better because it’s now shown for every detail and fluctuation contained. He has about six characteristics to his vocal replay, which are the detail of the embellishment painted across the canvas. To hear all this is to hear the song anew, even though I play it (lately) every day. The sound (after-effects) processing has been used in good-taste to give a separate feeling to the vocals.

There is no-covering up of talent here, only accentuating the mood of the experience due to his voice. Along with the vocal-echoes there is a form of either multitracking or vocal processing to make Brendan’s voice a chorus of Brendans. It is the rhythm of such echoes, along with synth washes and bass, which adds to the song’s pace as no other form of rhythm has been introduced.

All your ships
Have left their moorings
Cast adrift
On the Sargasso Sea
Waiting for the wind
To set your sails free
When you reach
The end of your rainbow
Chasing shadows
And down on your luck
Look for the sign
Look for a sign
As you rise to the very top
Of your mountain
Just remember those
Poor lost souls
On their way down
You taught me patience
Was a virtue
I took my time
Let Nature take her cause
All was revealed
All in good time
Turn back your clocks
Open up your memories
Beneath the veil
Where time stands still
You showed me a sign
You showed me the sign

The rainbow word has an exquisitely sung tremolo, and the LAND lets us hear such in effortless form. These are vocal specialist IEMs, and just like the TSMR Sands I recently reviewed, you know they were tuned by the same person. The PAC480 cable, the Walkman…..all cater to the LAND and Sands IEMs identically. Such a simplistic song has left room for details to be found. The effects which seem to hold the same amount of creative input as the actual notes and vocal adds. The LAND’s soundstage and tonal focus accentuate such sonic life-forms and bring them into motion traveling across this sound-field. This softness through detail makes the whole event take-on an expensive indulgence. Like your teeth biting through expensive chocolate, you simply hold on to the moment.

TSMR Sands Universal IEM vs TSMR LAND Universal IEM

For the sake of simplicity the exact same equipment parameters were used as in the sound demo above. Here the LAND is slightly bigger in ear, but despite the size difference, both fit great, with that slight extra low weight feeling a the Sands gets you.

These two IEMs were probably made by the same design team and tuned by the same designer/designers.

TSMR Sands:
1 dynamic driver + 3 balanced armature

1) 10mm custom dynamic driver for low frequency
2) 2 Sonion balanced armature for middle frequency
3) 1 Knowles balanced armature for high frequency
4) 3-way crossover, 3-channel design


TSMR LAND:
1 dynamic driver, 3 balanced armature and 2 ESTs

1) 10mm custom dynamic low frequency driver
2) 2 balanced armature intermediate frequency driver
3) 1 balanced armature high frequency driver
4) 2 electrostatic high frequency driver
5) 4-way crossover 4 channel design

Due to the polish and detail enhancement and the added sound tube and drivers bring, the LAND offers close to the same tune, though the bass is slightly forward with the Sands. Such differences could be from trying to drive all the drivers in the LAND with the same volume? Yet noticeable is the way wider soundstage and itemization of sound elements included. While I love the Sands, for you Sands owners (already) who were wondering...............there is no reason to ever revisit it, after you have experienced the LAND.

In this PM quote Dsnuts goes on to educate me on the Sands tune:

“Sands have a treble shelf from 7Khz to 9Khz the most sensitive portion for trebles. A shelf. Most IEMS have a mild spike in the region for treble presence, mostly focused at 8 to 9 Khz. A shelf that covers that entire range is uncommon. This is the reason why every single treble note will be heard easily.
One of the headfiers that bought those early was initially disappointed with them and then I talked him into trying out some different cables and then he started to enjoy them. Turned that person into a cable believer. Lol.”

Such is the tune we are dealing with. While I reached success with the PAC480 cable and Walkman, many may have to provide some footwork before entering the charms of the TSMR LAND/Sands. And even then, possibly the sound signature is not for everyone. In comparison of the Land/Sands there is no better place to side-by-side the additional qualities the LAND brings to the table. There is a primal quality to how the Sands displays the notes, yet those notes are (in-comparison) are fully drawn-out and sculpted with the LAND. The result is actual timbre improvement due to improved sound color; in fact this case is the very definition of timbre. Literally a more realistic LAND replay due to the higher level of timbre definition, relating to distinction of heard instruments and voices due to better tone timbre! Experienced folks could guess this as a natural occurrence due to comparison of two IEMs of the same tune but different driver count! Here of course we are dealing with the intrinsic qualities of added drivers expressing the same general FR. It’s just the general character of ESTs showing, and probably the best example of EST win in my experience! Though it’s interesting that the two LAND/Sands bass drivers are creating the same tone, though you can tell they didn’t use the same DD model number. That’s right, the detail included with the LAND's 10mm is a whole different ball of wax. Seemingly stepping back to throw out a whole different level of detail, while representing the very same musical note. Such bass notes are in essence the very definition of refinement, yet only with side-by-side tests do you totally witness such improvements. So to summarize the comparison, same FR, different technicalities.

Build:
The LAND comes with the feature of different dip-switches. Normally I’m never game for such tom-foolery, except the bass switch on the DUNU SA6. But the LAND changes are more involved than a simple bass switch. Note this whole review was done in 020 (balanced) just because that’s how I roll. I have always felt this “defacto” setting was the tune the IEM was built around. The medical grade resin shells feel comfortable in contact with your ears. And the 0.78 2 pin connects work flawlessly. But to state my favorite feature. It’s that the LAND never ever moves out of place once it’s been set into ear-fitment. This shape success may not fit everyone, but it works for me?




Tuning mode instructions

0 means push down, 1/2/3 means push up
Mode 1:
100: Bass enhancement mode
120: Mixed tuning
Mode 2:
020:All balanced mode
103: Mixed tuning
Mode 3:
003: high frequency enhancement mode
023: Mixed tuning
123: Mixed tuning (lowest impedance)

Remember this test involved extreme bias due to happiness in the 020” balanced mode. Your excursions into sound profile changes could easily result in finding gold and staying with the new “un-balanced” setting.

Seven variations, yet only six as a departure from stock.

100: Bass
Yep more bass, actually this is a lot of bass?
120: Mixed
020: Balanced
103: Mixed
003: High frequency
This seemed to make the soundstage even bigger! Yet the vocals lost physicality and started to edge on sibilance, not sibilance but going that direction. But really not bad, not exactly good either? I’m surprised, as I thought I’d be a fan (only) of the 100 Bass?
023: Mixed
123: low impedance mixed
Maybe more vivid, still I miss home……….with 020.

All and all this dip-switch stuff is pretty easy to do. I used the wax-removal brush wire loop end. The switches make a noticeable click into place with out a doubt of positioning. And while balanced mode is where I am, I do have a curiosity to fulfill going into bass mode after the review is finished. Remember these switches are simply an addition to the whole set-up. Being Cables, DAP, Ear-tips, EQ (I don’t do) and actually the variations of sound files arranged for playback, if you really want to get down to it!


Now that we have that out of the way lets concentrate on sound values:

Treble:
With most IEMs concentrating on the boost at 8Khz to 9Khz, here we have a 7Khz to 9Khz shelf. Such aspects go to delineate a whole level of forwardness in treble. This has been thoroughly addressed as an entity and dealt with by both Dsnuts and I though the PAC Cable change out. Such a polish and smoothing out, is simply the way to go for most listeners. With the included Sands cable and the included LAND cable being lesser examples of the cable art in this particular case. We are gifted with substantial harmonic complexity and clarity. But you may be thinking I just meant treble clarity, yes? Well it’s a balance of everything, so pace clarity is also component too...................which obviously centers on bass speed and midrange focus. This is not complicated stuff, as it is simply trying the various tone changing abilities you have at hand until a balance is arrived at. Such a balance is totally subjective. The creative arraignment here offers a new window into music you listen to all the time. Normally such (borderline higher) tone can be limiting in both listening time and volume used, due to treble intensity. Though here the goal is to find entertainment, constant entertainment, with-out focus on replay, but to transcend the methodology and get lost in the music. Though often I will chose a small percent of lesser volume to reconfirm the relaxation of the tone. The LAND (laughably) will never be the one you turn-up to find the midrange. And just like all really good IEMs, there will be a place in your listening moments when that audio illusion takes over and makes the entire replay almost sound like midrange! That’s when you know you have reached the PROMISED LAND. And……….even when you have arrived at such a local, file quality is still mandatory to success. Why? Due to the critical resolve we have achieved. The files now are under a microscope and seen for ultimately what they are. This sword is two sided, as thin low-res files will often become unenjoyable, yet at the same time, full-featured files will open-up to show you more than you ever dreamed possible. That’s the magic of the LAND. I can pretty much guarantee you there are attributes to your music you haven’t found yet. Remember the (previous) talk of looking into the sun vs seeing a sunset? When you have dialed the LAND in you will be experiencing the sunset with your best of files. Just sparkles of light……and a romantic sunset tone, full of detail yet digestible.



Midrange:
GIANT TEXTURES:
I’m not even going to call it the midrange, no…………..I’ve chosen to view it as textures only. Remember rewinding (a file) back to hear a favorite part of a song, a part which the music conveyed a sound that was startling? Why does this happen? It’s like viewing into slightly a different world, the next step into sound playback which takes place when everything comes together.



Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL
Batman v Superman OST
“New Rules”
96 kHz - 24 bit

Here we are exploring the LAND midrange with file content. You see, most of my words about this particular IEM only relate to specific song files. There is a reality present which can only be seen when a song file is directly connected to an IEM. And this track does it for the LAND. Reason being is that it’s a full-featured TOTL playback scenario! The fact that the song is well produced, and offers a dynamic contrast that the LAND eats-up. First off, I don’t seem to notice a metallic timbre, but it must be present? The addition of EST drivers reduces this effect by a large amount, or at least helps cover it up, up-top? But the endearing factor is how far the drums seem to exist? The sheer size of this playback is like full-size head-phones almost. When folks are explaining soundstage (with various different IEMs) I can’t help but think, the LAND offers up a new baseline to which all IEMs will be compared to. In my history this is by far the biggest soundstage. Bigger than anything I’ve ever heard or owned. Why am I speaking of soundstage in the midrange section? Because of the fact they are endlessly intertwined. Often add midrange ability and you add soundstage ability.

The next level that’s going on here has to do with increased levels of soundstage detail outside of what is normally found. As an example, the 3 minute 11 second air sound hits right before the songs climax. “New Rules" shows us sonic fireworks in playback. Such song is really more emphasized in low-end and treble sounds, but offers beautiful midrange none the less. A vocal song was not needed here as we already went over how great of a vocal IEM we have here. Just super-fast transient ability and noticeability of transients due to the FR focus! This is the very definition of fast replay, there is no low-end playing catch-up to our signature........thus the lows go right along with the program. To call this a technical beast, is an understatement. Actually there is no comparison in my experience, though remember this whole detail focus is partially due to cleaning-up the low-end involvement so it can be witnessed. Thus you trim the bass and make the treble provocative through ESTs! The two intermediate BAs in addition to the 3rd high BA, under the ESTs give substantial body weight to the mids as well as pin-point imaging and tonal accuracy.

Bass:
A DD first for TSMR, that’s right, the first ever TSMR utilized dynamic woofer….then the Sands came out and added a DD woofer model. Before such inventions TSMR had only bass BA IEMs. The fascinating realization was the comparison of the Sands bass to the LAND bass. Where the Sands promoted a simpler bass texture, it was slightly more forward in nature. It was less detailed, yet almost seemed to add a slight bit of extra bounce. Where the underage Sands was unrefined slightly in the bass department, the sophisticated older/pricier LAND shows experience and character not even attempted with the Sands. Such bass plays detailed and well imaged inside the stage. Such character is also benefiting from being full toned. Meaning even though some may say the bass is reserved, it still holds a full amount of frequency display, creating a realness where ever it goes. Turning to my EDM I was surprised to find that due to full-frequency and DD, the LAND remained exciting and robust. It’s just that many genres use pure bass emotion as their focus, often drowning-out the character of other frequencies to introduce such a stance. And here the LAND will then try and make sense of such off-kilter music and sophisticate it too much. So it makes your EDM files into what I guess would be called a refined and spacial sidestep, often filled with wonderment as to the treble and midrange imaging.



Flowjob EP
"Fall From Space"
44.1 kHz - 16 bit

Here we are truly amazed at the treble imaging. Though maybe in two places it showed to be almost too much. Electronic cymbals are often boosted even higher than normal to balance the lows. And while the bass is there, it’s obvious the BOOM-BOOM-BOOM is not a genre this IEM fully excels at. It’s more of a boom-boom-boom, yet totally entertaining and listenable none-the-less!





The box opening experience:
While minimal stuff is included, I’m guessing most will find this ample. Though the case is a little difficult to place IEMs into after putting these giant cables on. Included are 9 pairs of ear-tips, a switch-tool X2 as well as a cleaning brush. The silver-plated OFC cable will maybe be quickly replaced to go balanced, yet if someone wanted to use the LAND with the included cable (and phone) it’s super easy to drive.

• Driver 2EST + 3BA + 1 Dynamic driver
• Impedance 15Ω@1kHz
• Input sensitivity 110dBL/mW
• Passive noise reduction 26dB
• Frequency response range 10-70KHz
• Connector 2Pin 0.78mm
• Plug 3.5mm

Conclusion:
Holding a special place in my heart, the LAND goes to show new uncharted places to visit. Greeted by vivid textures and an other-worldly soundstage, such technicalities make for an exciting phenomena. Big and often spacial reverb imaging goes the extra mile to guarantee you’ve never been to this town before. And while this IEM would be considered bright by most definitions of the word, it’s much more than that simple descriptor. Fine-tuning the LAND, just like the later released Sands, created a balance, a balance that brought a connection and involvement rarely discovered. For it is upon such experiences that fun and awe are found, that we become a traveler right at home, in our own house. To reach these horizons in replay we would have never guessed. While $599 USD is a lot of cash, the six-drivers playing create what could be interpreted as a deal. While on the larger size, the LAND has size in all the best places, and while I am only curious about the tuning switches, there may be a few owners who adore them.

Though beware:
Such detail and resolution levels offer zero forgiveness for bad files. Yet, if that’s the worst of problems, I can deal with it. And while the bass is incredible, there is still the placement of balance in relation to the mids and highs that may leave EDM searching for more? Yet big/heavy OSTs like TRON Legacy by Daft Punk end being one of my favorite experiences on the LAND. The LAND brings the bass emotion and feeling due to a DD. The LAND brings the timbre for the strings and clarity for the synths…….really I am 100% satisfied with playback……………..but more than that...........I’m speechless? There is a level to describing the playback I am not able to convey. So I’ll leave it at that………..I will leave you to the PROMISED LAND.

$599.00 USD
https://penonaudio.com/tansio-mirai-land.html

$49.50
The PAC480 cable. “Your’e going to need this.”
https://penonaudio.com/pac480-iem-cable.html
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-pac480-iem-cable.25228/reviews#review-28808

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the LAND review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 4.4mm/3.5

Tansio Mirai LAND

Tansio Mirai has been busy making some of the best all Balanced Armature earphones in the market, and I was very much surprised when hearing about the LAND as it is their first foray into making an earphone with more than just BAs. The LAND introduces 2 EST Sonion drivers and a 10mm dynamic added to 3 BAs they are using in the mix for the LAND. The tribrid formula has been done by other manufacturers but is a first time for the Tansio Mirai group. I am lucky enough to hear the progression of their previous models. TSMR-2, 3 pro, 4 pro, 6, and the under the radar TSMR-10 model which I bought without reading a single review about them. I knew it was going to be a great IEM and it turned out to be just this. Still remains my favorite all BA iem. Now with the LAND, Tansio Mirai seems to be exploring more driver types. The LAND houses no less than 3BAs. 2 for mids, 1 for treble, 2 Sonion ESTs both for upper trebles, and a nicely done 10mm dynamic driver inside a compact medium large all resin semi customized shell with 3 tuning switches, bass, mids, treble, which is on all their earphones.

I was more than intrigued by the new move toward a tribrid. I had to find out for myself about the LAND. I would like to post my gratitude to Tansio Mirai for the review sample. I consider all review samples the rightful owners are the folks that provide the samples. I have used the Land exclusively for the past 3 weeks with a good burn in. You can read more about the Tansio Mirai earphones here. And if you would like to purchase a set for you. You can buy one here.

The LAND comes in their compact black box. A smaller compact square white colored zip up case. 4 sets of silicones, a set of double flange tips and a standard 8 core silver plated OFC cable in single ended. The accessories package is certainly OK, nothing outstanding or really missing; it's just that this is one area they can improve. A set of foams and a 2ndary set of silicones would have been better. The included case is a bit on the smaller side. If you plan on using a thicker aftermarket cable it will hardly fit with the included case. The stock cable while is a good cable is nothing special and certainly does not optimize the sound of the LAND. The LAND could have used a good copper cable vs the OFC cable they provide and I will get into cable effects for the LAND later on in the read but just know you can do much better for cables here and it is almost a necessity that you look up a better cable. Again I will get into why more so on the read.

A premium build.
The shells of the LAND is an all resin build they incorporate on all their earphones but this time around the shells incorporate a distinctive golden glitter motif for the outer shell design. Splashy in looks yet most definitely looks premium. Solid resin means you're gonna get really good passive isolation 26dbs to be exact. Which is above average in earphone passive isolation. The LAND tested outdoors is an excellent companion for walks and commuting. It seems Tansio Mirai is not one to really experiment with something new. All their earphone models look alike with the same tight build quality and attention to detail. Each model with a gradual upgraded quantity and quality of drivers, mostly BAs with different tuning tweaks. Land is a departure from their all BA offering so it was very interesting to hear the LAND.

Sound testing was done using the stock cable in single ended and numerous other cables I have used on the LAND with my Fiio M15, Shanling M6 pro, M5s, M3s, IBasso DX160, Sony ZX300, Fiio X3ii, Crying N5ii, Fiio E12a amp, Ibasso PB3 amp, IFI Black label.

Out of the box
The sound was huge and the dynamics of the sound was attention grabbing as I wasn't used to a Tansio Mirai model having a dynamic with that physical bass presence but here we are. It is Tansio Mirais coming out party. Dynamics do bass like it should, moving plenty of air from that vented 10mm dynamic. Expectations be damned, we are talking a full bodied low end rumble here and yes this is new to Tansio Mirai. AS a bass connoisseur, this immediately put a smile on my face. Tansio Mirai has previously used Sonion bass BAs to do bass chores on their previous all BA models and while BA bass has come a long way. BAs just don’t rumble like a well vented dynamic. Sure I own a few BA based IEMs that do bass extremely well but that last bit of authority and physical rumble that reaches for the abyss is just not the same.

PIC next to the MEST

The size of the shell is not exactly large but not really a medium in size either, the LAND is somewhere in between and a touch thick due to the sheer number of drivers it is housing. The nozzle incorporates 4 bores from each set of drivers they are attached to using a 4 way crossover design that gives a cleaner separation of music notes yet with very good cohesion at the same time to your ears.The design is ergonomic and comfortable for my medium sized ears but it is borderline bulky with a thicker nozzle. While the included tips work well I do notice the widest silicone tips provided covers the outer perimeter of the nozzle bores a bit. For most folks the stock tips work just fine but I did find that using a wider mouth tip brings about no interference of the 4 bores on the nozzle. Specifically Azla senda fit tips, 4 bores simply requires a wider tip. The other nitpick is the included cable.

The cable the LAND comes with is your garden variety silver plated oxygen free copper thinner 8 cored cable in single ended. While the cable is adequate and will give you a good idea what the LAND is about it is by no means optimized to bring out the best of the LAND. I am an admitted cable junkie so I have way better cables on hand to use with the LAND and in trying out a few. I feel more copper based cables matches up well with the LAND and or even an upgraded SPC variety. Will get into this more so toward the end of the read. LAND is very efficient being 15ohm and is easy enough to drive from even a cell phone but due to the higher resolving nature of the sound tuning. Your better more powerful musical sounding sources will be a great match up for the LAND.

The finer details
The LAND has a surprising reference type energetic tuning which is a bit of a departure from their BA iems where mostly focused on mids tonal character with an overall balanced presentation . The sound profile of the LAND is more of a U type frequency tuning where lower bass and upper trebles comes into play. Expect a large wider soundstage with reference level of details from the LAND.

LANDs tonal balance is influenced from the upper half of the sound spectrum. Detail presence and precision comes from these regions and LAND is clearly dealing with details for your tracks. Micro details come easy on the LAND and I noticed it has a panache for the smaller details due to the EST tweeter drivers that your average BAs don’t do in the same manner. EST treble seems to sound more spacious, more dimensional in character to my ears with better refinement in tonal characteristics with an upgraded precision vs your standard BA drivers. The LAND here is no different, nuanced micro details are not only clearly heard but also has its own space to work with. Airy with a forward energy and plenty of sparkle. Treble fans should be delighted with how the LAND produces treble at a high detail level. It is clearly obvious that the dynamic bass and the EST treble is where the LAND separates itself from a lot of their previous offerings. It clearly has an energetic roomy treble bias which brings the tonality to be on the slightly cooler side.

Mids tonal clarity flows with the energetic detailed treble performance of the LAND and here we see mids having an ideal clarity with the advantages of that BA precision in the process. Mids has a dimensional character with enough body and weight highlighted by a natural tonal character. Mids takes a slight step back from the treble which has more energy in presentation vs the mid bands. What makes the LAND presentation seamless however is that the mids bands have a broader wider imaging in scope vs your average earphone presentation. With the mid switch on and the bass and treble switch off this gives the best balanced presentation while the mid bands are not exactly forward in the mix it has plenty of presence for both female and male vocals to have plenty of space to work with. Mids also exhibit good air with clean separated notes. Nuanced in sound projection I have never heard a Tansio Mirai with mids that don’t deliver.

Musical transitions are seamless and while cohesion is what you would expect, the LAND clearly shows in each section of the sound bands to excel at their given points. Imaging is a standout on the LAND with its clear energetic airy treble notes which highlights the clean smooth mid band notes and shows outstanding technical ability. This is what I mean by reference. To put it simply, the definition to the overall tonal character, the sound of the LAND has a whole lot going on to immerse you into your tunes. I have much higher end sets and these are easily comparable to which I will do some comparisons on the later portion of the review.

Dynamic bass
Is new to Tansio Mirai, in a surprising move right before the inevitable release of their newest flagship earphones the SPARK which will incorporate 7 BAs and 4EST drivers. The LAND is the only Tansio Mirai model using a dynamic driver. If you owned any of the previous versions of the TSMR earphones. How's about a nice 10mm capable dynamic driver for your TSMR earphone. This is something I have wanted ever since hearing their TSMR-2. LAND incorporates a custom tuned 10mm dynamic that does all the bass duties. I know some folks like their dynamic bass more so than BA bass and here we have an outstanding capable bass end of the LAND that portrays everything you love about the low end of your music.

Punchy fast full on bass notes are to be had and here we have bass notes with a fairly quick decay and a deep reaching textured rumble. No roll off was detected on my end and the capable full on bass is incorporated with a masterful tuning of the LAND that throws out every bass note with the type of presentation you would expect from a higher end earphone. Throwing the bass switch on gives a slight bump for the mid bass and this in turn makes the LAND street ready. With the bass switch off more of the mids and treble comes through in the balancing with even more clarity and a slight expansion of stage. The switches implemented on Tansio mirai models all boost or take away 2-3 dbs of emphasis. The switches make subtle impact on the sound tuning and will depend on how you like your LAND to sound.
On a personal note I prefer the bass and mids switch on with the treble switch off. Some like their sugar and cream so that will be up to you how you like your LAND.

Stage presence and that crazy instrument separation
LAND has a larger energetic sound presentation flowing out of its 4 bores in the nozzle. The sound has dimensions, it has articulation in a higher level, It has a clean separation of musical notes and treble seem to swim across your music canvas. Bass that is bold punchy and rumbles with good authority. The right amount of technical and musical the LAND is showing it is every bit the tribrid I expected from the Tansio Mirai group. If you have never tried a Tansio Mirai or take affinity to dynamic bass. Just the fact that these are the only model that uses a dynamic driver is one aspect but then it also uses a higher end EST drivers that delivers a wide immersive energetic experience for your music. If that sounds like an ideal earphone for you. I would highly recommend giving the LAND some serious consideration.

Cables! WARNING. No reading if you're not a cable believer cus stock cable will be pimp enough for you tough guy!

As I stated before the LAND is limited by the stock cables that was provided. The bulk of my review was based on the included tips and cable but do know that that is far from optimizing the LAND sonic ability. Here I will post some cable combinations that truly optimizes the sound of the LAND. First off is Penons newest cable The PAC480. These are on sale right now as you read this for $49.50. Not all that expensive in the scheme of things but believe it or not this cable is exactly what the LAND needs to bring out a fuller, more immersive sound. Bass has full ability and treble notes sound cleaner even more refined using this cable. Mids sound more forward in the mids with an expanded stage. You can thank me later if you end up getting this cable for the LAND.

ISN SOLAR.
Now we are dealing with premium cable match up on the LAND. My rule of not spending as much as the earphones the cable it is attached to still applies but barely. Priced at $399 these cables further refine the sound tuning and imaging of the LAND. With the Solar, vocal notes has even better distinction, Better note separation, Silkier and finer treble notes, a blacker background which results in even better imaging. A tighter more defined bass notes and sound separation is ideal using these cables. I have to say while a cable does not change the base tuning of the host earphone. The synergy of the Solar on the LAND makes them sound TOTL. Every thing heard on the LAND gives better distinction and separation. The gold base on the Solar helps to add a bit of richness to the tonal character of the LAND. These cables make the already very good LAND sound way more refined and therefore if you can afford it and want something that will clearly be worth your hard earned pay to optimize everything about the LAND sonic ability. ISN SOLAR is it. I will give sheer value to the PAC480 cable previously noted but for the absolute best refinement and synergy. Solar is playing at a completely different level here vs the PAC480.

Absolute best match up here with the PENON Totem as it goes one step further over the Solar pair up with a massive expansion of stage in every direction on top of what the Solar does. This pairing I won't talk about much as this one clearly goes over the price of the host earphones. But just know the LAND scales extremely well to cable changes and cable levels which shows me just how limiting the included cables really are. By the way the stock cable retails for $40. Which gives you a good idea of the level of cable that is included. Not bad but not great. The PAC480 again is way more optimal and if you want to get an upgraded cable right away as the LAND does not come with a balanced solution. GET THE PAC480 my vote for value cable of the year.

VS. In this section I will compare the LAND with some comparable earphones.

VS Volt.
Volt is an easy one to compare with since it is using a very similar driver configuration with the Volts using 4 EST drivers instead of 2ESTs in the LAND. I do notice the extra BA that the LAND uses here makes a bit of a difference especially for the energetic lower treble notes.
Both have comparable technical ability but it is the presentation that is different.
Volt has a more organic smoother, richer tonal characteristic for the foundation of the mids on them and therefore sounds more refined and more mids focused vs the more energetic slightly more dryer mids presentation of the LAND in comparison. Treble is also different on both. Upper treble is more refined and smoother in general on the Volt but the LAND does not fall to far behind. Treble however does have more energy and sparkle on the LAND vs the smoother richer upper treble extensions of the Volts. Land has more bass quantity but the quality of the bass are very comparable. Both earphones sounds great with upgraded cables. Stage of the These two I found very similar with the LAND sounding slightly more wider due to lesser mid range presence. Folks that are looking for more of an energetic sound vs the rich organic musical presentation of the Volt the Land is the Yin to the Volts Yang.

VS IBASSO IT07.
These two earphones have very similar level of SQ and the IT07 is clearly a bang for buck flagship for Ibasso. IT07 has a bit more forward and even mids presentation vs the LAND. LAND has more treble energy vs the IT07 but both have comparable sparkle and refinements in the treble in general. I feel the LAND exhibits better extension for the treble notes therefore having a leg up in air and ever so slight edge in detail. IT07 mids definition and presence is where they have an edge over the LAND and while both do bass well the IT07 subbass deep lows is abysmal and very authoritative. It is clearly using a superior dynamic bass driver vs the LAND but again when you hear the bass quality on both sets they will trade punches for bass supremacy but I feel the IT07 has a slight edge there. Both have excellent comparable wider stage with the LAND having a bit better depth and height of sound.

VS UM MEST.
UM MEST 1st Gen has become a classic among headfiers and for good reason. The tuning of the original MEST share some similarities to the LAND. Both having some detailed and energetic treble and bass. Mids are slightly more forward on the LAND. MEST has one of the best 3dimensional spacious presentations for earphones and while the LAND has a similar way of presenting its sound. The MEST sounds more spacious possibly due to having a bit less mids presence, mid notes have better separation and sounds broader in scope vs the LAND. LAND has a bit more lower treble emphasis with more air from the upper treble extended notes in comparison to the MEST. Otherwise both are very similar in how they present the treble with similar sparkle however I feel the LAND wins in the treble extension showing a bit more dimensional qualities vs the MEST. With the lower treble having more presence this in turn has vocals sounding slightly more edgy for the LAND vs the more relaxed vocal presence on the MEST. Bass is bold and punchy on both earphones but here is the other surprise: the LAND digs just a bit deeper with a bit more authority in the sub regions. Sub bass has a slower decay vs the bass notes on the MEST with the MEST bass being a tad more faster. The MEST overall has more refined presentation for stage and dimensional aspects of the sound but the LAND actually has the upper hand in both bass and treble extension vs the MEST with a slightly more present mids. Yes folks the MEST I paid $1400 for. You figure out which one of these are a better value.

Product Page : https://penonaudio.com/tansio-mirai-land.html
Price : 599$

Fit, Build & Isolation​

The Land feature a lightweight shell and the build quality is excellent and I do feel one step up from the Zodiac (seamless joints of the faceplate, resin quality). The inside of the transparent grey shells show the craftsmanship is very good up to the switches system with tight tolerances.


The fit is perfect with lightweight shells that you quickly forget once you wear them. The included tips are high quality, a good thing because the stem of the Land EST is on the bigger side (slightly bigger than the Zodiac already big e.g >5mm) and this means not everyone of your tip collection will fit. The fit is not too deep either which make the Land quite comfortable especially for those who don’t like deeper fits. Like Zodiac the isolation is only average but that should be an issue only for those listening in noisy environments with moderate volume like I do.

Introduction​

I must confess I hadn’t heard much about Tansio Mirai before I reviewed the TSMR-5 but I am very happy that my fellow headfiers mentioned it as a brand to get a look into. Just like Fearless Audio, Tansio Mirai is one of the chinese brand to keep tabs on as they are getting quite a bit of traction among audiophiles that want to get high sound quality at affordable prices.

The TSMR-5 review clearly put Tansio Miraï on the map for me as a strong contender with great build and tuning knowledge. I didn’t get to audition TSMR-8 and TSMR-10 but those have a strong reputation in the audiophile world. When I reviewed the Zodiac, I was quite impressed at how well Tansio’s flagship fared against a highly competitive landscape and it’s still one of my favorite all BA IEMs.

As you know the landscape has changed a bit with the generalization of EST drivers and the flourishing offering of tribrids, especially in the mid tier segment. Tansio Mirai didn’t rush things and took its sweet time building the Land EST and when it was announced I was quite excited at the prospect given their track record of price to performance ratio as well as tuning mastery.

The Land didn’t arrive first at the tribrid party for sure, but I do expect Tansio Mirai is able to provide a strong contender!

Does this hold true? How does the Land fare in a ferociously competitive landscape?

Let’s check it out!

Sound​

This is will all switches to ON, which was my favorite setup with Zodiac. This will be my baseline for the Land. I’ll go into switches combination in the details bass, mids and treble sections.

The Land feature powerful and balanced bass with excellent speed, an intoxicating midrange that strikes a superb balance of transparency and fullness with excellent bite and a highly refined treble that packs some excellent energy. Soundstage is excellent with great width, excellent height and good depth. Vocals are forward and clear with just the right touch of sweetness.

Bass​

Bass switch to ON
The Land features a powerful bass with excellent sub bass power, the 10mm driver definitely brings additional physicality compared to the Zodiac excellent BA bass, the subs can be felt. My usual test track Aphex Twin “Ageispolis” brought thunderous subs with excellent density and power. On Phanee de Pool “Amstram” the Land really impressed me with the short burst of subs that provide the rhythm of the track, the weight of the notes was among the best I have heard it especially contrasting with the upper treble extension does justice to the extremely high contrast between the subs and highs. This is combined with an excellent recovery speed between the bass burst, note start and stop on a whim with excellent performance for a dynamic. I had a similar experience with Marian Hill “Differently” where the sub notes contrast with the treble beautifully, against a pitch black background. Vivid.

The mid bass slam is excellent, the Land with the bass switch to ON is clearly a fun IEM but not at the expanse of technicalities. The Land is actually pretty impressive in terms of control and speed as revealed on Lucy Dixon “Stormy Weather” where the drums snappy sequences are perfectly rendered. Textures are rich, detailed and layered, there is clearly a family of tuning with Zodiac and this is a good thing in my book given how high I rate the Zodiac mid bass. In Ted Poor “Emilia” the drums are perfectly portrayed with both power of the flow tom and bass drum and nuances one can easily pick out the snare drum, high and medium Tom. I highly recommend Ted Poor’s whole album “You already know” on the Land.

Worth noting, while powerful bass is really well integrated into the overall signature, it doesn’t overshadow or bleed into the mids while providing great pace and rhythm.

Bass switch to OFF
I was surprised at the sub bass presence which honestly is a bit attenuated but not by much the Land still provides excellent power and rumble. The bass switch seems to be affecting mainly the mid and upper bass with a leaner bass presence. The bass is faster and cleaner but on the flipside the Land looses physicality and becomes drier, less textured and full. This could appeal to some in the sense that it’s a purer bass that is not devoid of power and physicality in the sub bass.

Mids​

Mids switch to ON
The Land midrange is quite intoxicating and Tansio has found a rare balance there. It’s not quite as transparent as the Zodiac midrange, but it’s fuller with a quite a bit more body to the instruments, it’s really a very subtle balance of transparency and fullness that I already loved with the Zodiac but the Land offers me a nice variant there.

This level of transparency combined with a full bodied midrange is pretty intoxicating to my ears. When I listen to Gerry Mulligan “Chelsea bridge” with a huge smile on my face, something is happening and not many IEMs can provide the level of nuances and engagement that I found with the Land. Gerry’s saxophone sounds soulful and provides so many levels of nuances and that’s what gives this track its full flavor with the Land : the ability to convey the minute nuance of interpretation makes all the difference. Sorry to keep on raving about Jazz tracks but the same goes for tracks like Houston Person “Everything must change”. This is a soulful interpretation and honestly not many IEMs have given me chills like the Land has and in this price range it’s simply quite unique.

The Land midrange fullness is combined with the right amount of bite in the upper mids as well. The Land passed the Hank Levy “Whiplash” test with flying colors : Land has good bite and takes me to edge on the cymbals but never crosses the threshold. It’s an energetic midrange but a safe one. This is a delicate balance which is hard to find.

Vocals are clear, both male and female reflect the nice balance found between the lower and upper mids tuning. Male vocals have satisfying power and female vocals have a sweetness that I find adds naturalness without going to far and timbre while not dead neutral is respected. Positioning is a tad forward emphasizing the performer and vocals are energetic and highly engaging.

Switching from Hiby R6 2020 – which is my main source for this review – to Shanling M8 takes the Land even further up the ladder of special midranges to me. Cable rolling to Penon Totem took me to heights I didn’t think a mid tier IEM could take me. Color me impressed, although it might not be a coherent setup for most as the Totem is more expensive than the Land it still pull off every bit of greatness the Land can deliver and show how it scales with sources.


Mids switch to OFF
I wasn’t sure how the mids switch would go. Less upper mids could have been a choice but it was clearly apparent from the moment I turned the switch off that it affects mainly the lower mids region. The Land sounds significantly brighter and leaner on this setting. Gone is the fullness of the midrange that I find so intoxicating with the switch to ON. Take the bass switch off as well and the Land sounds almost hollow. I really didn’t care that much to put the mids switch to off and unless you really like leaner and brighter mids I am not sure I would recommend it.

Treble​

Treble switch to ON
I was really curious at how the first EST powered Tansio would sound? Well, it’s a pretty impressively mature EST tuning from Tansio and hints at what heights their upcoming Spark could reach. Tansio took time to release its first EST but it did right.

The lower treble section is always the one I check with EST arrays. It’s the weakest part of EST drivers to me and the first EST IEMs on the market lacked luster here. Not with LAND. I am pretty impressed at the lower treble energy with the switch to ON. Note weight still can’t really match the best BA setup but still, very close. The chimelike Kalimba in Vaiteani “How they call it” and the percussions in Stan Getz “Maracatu Too” both sound spot on and energetic with good weight to the strokes, and both track imaging are impressive with a very holographic image. I also enjoyed Stefon Harris “Let’s take a trip to the sky” dreamy vibraphone intro.

The upper treble is just impressive as EST done right can be with impressive extension and a sense of air and a resolution and fast transients that other technology fail to deliver. I have become a huge fan of EST tuned right and it’s hard to match. The Land is no exception and it performs really well, surpassing it’s older brother the Zodiac… until the upcoming 4 EST Spark comes out in a couple of months.

Treble switch to OFF
The treble switch seems to be aiming mainly the lower treble section, as turning the switch to OFF clearly takes away some of the lower treble energy while not affecting the upper treble extension. The treble has more of an upper treble tilt and the Land looses quite a bit of energy. I could see the appeal for those who are treble sensitive depending on sources and personal preferences of music genres but I do again prefer the switch to ON.

Verdict​

I must confess that when I heard that Tansio Mirai was releasing a mid tier tribrid I got pretty excited at the prospect as I have always been impressed by the coherence and refinement of their tuning. I was really curious to see how they would implement a dynamic and the EST and how it would benefit both the bass and treble.

The dynamic definitely adds physicality to the mix and I must say I am almost a bit disappointed that the upcoming Spark flagship won’t feature one, although again Zodiac has superb BA bass I do love a physical sub bass and the slam that a dynamic can add. The EST technology really did bring a lot to the table for the Land, providing a level of performance that benefits Land resolution, separation and imaging greatly. It manages to surpass Tansio’s previous flagship the Zodiac at half the price. This being said despite the benefits of a dynamic down low and the EST up top, Tansio manages to also pull off a very intoxicating midrange with a pretty exquisite tuning, technology is not all!

I am nitpicking but The only minor gripe I would have is I would have liked a three position tuning switch system : it would have opened interesting variants like a more fun bass, more lower mids and less upper mids or more treble energy for example. Right now you can have a leaner bass, brighter mids and a less energetic treble. As it is, I am sticking to all switches to ON just like I did for the Zodiac.

This is a sweet time to be an audiophile and despite the insane price rise in the flagship segment thanks to EST becoming widespread there are some gems in the mid tier segment now and Land is a very strong contender there.

If you’re looking for an IEM with an intoxicating midrange, powerful textured and fast bass and impressive air and resolution at a reasonable price then the Land is one of top alternatives in a crowded segment with tough competition! It does so with a really singular combination of transparency, engagement and refinement crediting a real tuning mastery from Tansio Mirai.

Listening notes
I spent approximately 40 hours with the Land, listening on Hiby R6 2020using the stock cable, Penon OSG, ISN Solar. I also tested the Land with Shanling M8 and DX300 with Penon Totem.

Special Thanks
Thanks to Tansio Mirai for providing a review unit of the Land. As usual, this review is my honest opinion. No incentive was given for a favorable review.