SuperTFZ FORCE1

TONALITY: 7/10
TECHNICALITIES: 7/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 7/10

INTRO

SUPERTFZ is a sister brand of TFZ which is known for making bassy sounding earphones with dynamic driver that deliver intense energy.
Today I will review for the very first time an IEM from this company, the Force1.
Priced 80$, the Force1 use a ''tesla magnetic dynamic driver with berylium coated diaphragm''. It promise a ''high resolution sound with powerfull dynamic''.
Let see in this review how these sound!

Specification

Model: FORCE1

Driver: 10.2mm dual magnetic Tesla magnetic group Beryllium coated diaphragm
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 105dB
Frequency response: :5Hz-40kHz
Cable length: 120cm
Plug: 3.5mm stereo straight plug
Connector: 2pin 0.78mm

CONSTRUCTION



Construction is very impressive since this is the type of heavy resin one piece molded IEM that really feel invincible. They are very beautifull to look at and the ergonomic organic shape is rather comfortable even if the nozzle is long.
Some complaint about driver flex with these, i didn't have this issue but they sure seal intensely, as well isolation from outside noise is high.
The 2pin 0.78 seem tighter in one IEM, not sure why, but they are solidly embeded in housing, promise long durability too.


When it come to packaging, its very minimal, it come with 6 pairs of basic silicone ear tips i dont care to use and a carrying pouch.



The cables is very decent, and I like the fact that it's unique in design. Ive never seen a rectangular 3.5mm plug of this type. Funny description, they call it HD plated cable, which in other word mean silver plated cable that inflict on brightness perhaps. Anyway, you'll get same result than a KZ spc cable. Not a bad cable, quite OK.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

Here we have a very bally V shape signature, but with a balanced W dynamic twist to it since it's not too sharply V'ed where mids will be too recessed or thin nor too boosted in upper mids, it's a Basshead warm W shape with slight extra crispness on top to avoid pure darkness oblivion.
Basshead iem you say? Take this away from my! I'm an AU! Dio! Phile! This is for kiddo!
Really? Well, not at all here since we talk about a Well Balanced V shape, with big chunky bass that add head shaking fun to beat heavy track yet slide into lower mids gently, in a warm way that add density to the timbre.
Sure it's not a very technical set, but we will talk about this later.

Bass is big quantity over well define and separate quality, it's a bit warm in resolution yet well rounded in body and most importantly not too resonant or boomy, it have an heavy slam, not the fastest in speed yet the flexibility is there too so it's possible to have both kick and sub bass line playing, like we often find in IDM, and they are well layered enough, again, in a soft, dense and warm tone. Juicy bass we can say, with lot of physicality to it that can surprise sometime since rumble can go very heavy like having a sub-woofer between 2 ears. For ex, track KurrEncy from IAMDDB move some air and is such a fun basshead ride, flexibility of low end is well shown since rumble bass line stay in the back while digital chunky kick drum hit very hard, what surprise is the vocal staying rather in front, sure it's not well define in separation but far from feeling distant. It's about this thick sustain that mid bass slam have, which avoid long blurry resonance.


Again, I'm surprise the mid range isn't that bad with these, especially in vocal presentation where female vocal feel bodied and fowards enough yet prompt to slight sibilance and a bit rough in timbre. Sure, its overall mids are bit recessed compared to bass but quite on par with treble even if I would never consider the Force1 as L shape tuned. Let say it embrace upper mids and treble in a natural way, yet, tone is slightly bright with warmed lower mdis that add density to a fuzzy timbre.
Definition is a bit blurry, but dynamic note weight while blunted in edge isn't too light, nor instrument too lean. These aren't refined sounding mid range, and resolution is poor, instrument like piano will sound distant unless in low or high harmonic register. When it come to male vocal, it sound thin, distant and dry, so not suggested for that nor for anything but female vocal it seem. But what can we expect with this type of tuning? It could have been way worst, way more veiled, so it more than passable for big beat electronic, pop, rap, R&B and anything that dont have acoustic instruments like classical or jazz (tough for guitar jazz trio it can be enjoyable).

Treble, where is the treble? Some would surely say due to it's slightly dark nature that lack micro details. But it doesn't mean it's not lively on top, far from it in fact and you got some crunch and snap to add percussions energy. So, while mostly tamed in edge, the treble is a bit spiky but not particularly sparkly, airy or extended. Violin will have energic presence, but slight metallic sheen to it and lack of natural resonance and sens of openess, pecussions are a bit half cook, in the sens some are louder than other in dynamic.
Let say the treble tend to boost fake resolution to the cost of proper micro definition of every instrument, it's not very refined yet not disastrous, but I would not suggest the TFZ for classical music or any instrumental music that need crisp neutral presentation and rich resolution. It does lack brilliance and sens of lead in impact. Spiky but not edgy, perhaps we are in shouty slightly trebly territory but in a dryish way that will be understated when listening to beat driven music. As well, using a copper cable can smoothen those highs peak, which in first place are rather well balanced within the bassy W shape signature. It's the kind of highs boosted in presence energy that are hit or miss depending the music you play, but what do you expect with a basshead IEM? To make Pierre Hantai Clavichord playing sound mind blowing? It surely not, but I will not even care playing Goldberg Variations on these TFZ yet it have enough energy and brilliance to make acoustic guitar fowards.

SOUNDSTAGE is impressively wide and out of your head, tallness is good too but it really lack a sens of clean deepness to make spatiality 3D like, so more like a wide wall fo sound here.
IMAGING is rather mediocre. Blurry and unprecise, its not realist in rendition nor accurate or clean enough to permit proper positioning. With bass, instrument separaiton will lack clean spacing too.

SUBJECTIVE MUSICALITY APPRECIATION

These are plain banger basshead IEM that doesn't try to do alot of compromise, yet aren't resulting in supreme boomy blurry mess. I do find the Force1 very fun and enjoyable with R&B and RAP that ahve female vocalist, not so much when its male rapper since it feel too distant. With electronic, it depend of complexity, but i do shake my head quite often, feeling like gangsta badass with those, it seem to make me younger yet make my hearing age faster!
In the sens, the intense bass pressure inflict hearing fatigue and depending of music dynamic loudness variance, i need to lower the volume and then highen it to hear mid range better and then...
No doubt it's guilty pleasure and its not the type of IEM i would bring at audio meeting with snobbish audiophile since I will be judge as immature and non worth of audiophile title.
Yet, i'm not ashame to enjoy big bass time to time, even if quality is questionable, because these still have slight W shape twist to their dynamic that permit the Force1 to avoid too dark warm or laid back boomy musicality.


COMPARISONS

VS FIIO FD3 (1DD-100$)

Both of these are Bassy W shape, but TFZ is warmer and more U shape and sub bass boosted. FD3 sound more technical and bright, timbre is more textured and bass have cleaner separation.
Imaging is more precise too with FD3.
For the bass, quality seem better yet less impactfull and rumbly, less rounded in physicality and with longer resonance, sub bass is less thick too.
Mids while brighter and more detailed seem a bit leaner and more recessed but upper mids push scream their presence more, yet timbre of TFZ is more natural making overall darker vocal more pleasant and natural, less prompt to sibilance yet not as well separated and lacking a bit of bite for instrument like violin. Overall mid range is more bodied and wide in presence yet dark in texture with TFZ, piano have more note weight but less decay and less edgy definition.
Treble isn't mesmerizing with both these IEM, but FD3 is notably clearer and more detailed on top, have more crunch and sparkle and overall higher resolution, yet it's more agressive than TFZ and can feel too boosted for percussions that take front stage....while it's opposite with TFZ, having darker treble and just a hint of snap.
For the soundstage, TFZ offer wider presentation and FD3 have this strange taller and deeper presentation.

All in all, the FD3 have a less cohesive organic tonality which is more energic and superior in technical performance like imaging, attack control and crisp definition. Both of these are guilty pleasure for different reason, but it's easier to enjoy the more laidback basshead musicality of Force1 due to less abrasive timbre and fowards upper mids.


VS IBASSO IT00 (1DD-80$)

Ok, firstly i wanna note that my Ibasso have defective MMCX at arrival, so built quality is mile better with SuperTFZ since it feel invincible and use 2pin connector.
But this doesn't mean the dynamic driver is superior too. Again, technical performance are clearly superior with the IT00 that deliver a crisper U shape signature with leaner sub-bass extension and less packed punch.
So TFZ is an overall warmer and darker Basshead take on a similar tuning balance.
Bass hit harder with TFZ and feel a bit lacking in mid bass body for the IT00, but separation is better and doesn't mix in a thick organic macro resolution.
Mids are brighter in presence, more artificial for female vocal and less wide and upfront with IT00, so thinner but more detailed and well define are instrument and vocal in general.
Treble is more extended and snappy, more airy too as well as more precise in definition with IT00, underlining the dark highs of the TFZ which cruallly lack air on top.
Soundstage is about same wide but taller and deeper with IT00, imaging is crisper and more accurate with cleaner space in separation.

All in all, well, hum, it's more and more evident that technical performance of the Force1 are underwhelming since here we have a case of fuller crisper tonal balance and superior technicalities with the IT00, which i'm not really afound of due to this mid bass scoop and not as lush warm timbre as TFZ.

VS HZSOUND MIRROR PRO (1DD-80$):

Lets begin by saying the PRO is miles ahead in term of plain technical performance...it can't even be compare since attack speed and control as well as resolution and treble extension is just from another league.
Saying that, the tonality isn't the same too, as expected the Force1 is notably bassier and offer a more radical V shape with way bigger slam and more vibrant-resonant sub bass rumble, its proper basshead weapon vs bassy balance W.
Bass of HZpro is a bit similar tough, i mean, in mid bass boost that affect definition edge, it hit hard but deliver less wide explosive boom and tend to keep mid range cleaner and more detailed, it's more balanced let say and textured too, with less boosted sub bass that tend to be better separated and offer more kick drum separation while Force1 mix mid and sub bass and concentrate the impact in a warmer, denser way.
Mids reoslution is higher, transparency, separation and layering all better and upper mids are more softed with HZpro, while the Tforce have more recessed and dakr mid range, yet offer enough female presence and note weight.
Treble is polar opposite here, Tforce being way darker, with hint of crunch from upper mids bite but no sharp snap and airy extension like the HZpro wich is notably crisper and more sparkly as well as less dirty in attack sustain. With Force1 the treble roll off rather fast while it keep its clean extension with HZ whatever the type of music or number of bass.
Soundstage wise the Force1 seem a bit wider, but doesn't have any deepness to it, unlike HZ which its one of its highlight.
Imaging is near inexistent with Force1, while ultra precie accurate and crisp with HZpro unless for bass and lower mids instrument positioning and separation.

Even basshead would prefer the HZsound Hearth Mirror Pro I think, since its very superior in technical performance and better balanced as a whole due to less recessed and warmed mid range. But it have about 10db less bass boost, and its sharper so who know what die hard basshead will conclude?

CONCLUSION



The SuperTFZ Force1 might be the most intense basshead IEM I test yet, and it wasn't as disastrous as expected.

Sure, the ''high resolution'' promise are far from being fullfill here, since clarity is questionnable and the Force1 are these kind of earphones with an intense dynamic energy that make you struggle to conclude if they are warm or bright. Bass and mids are warm up to upper mids where brightness and crunch help to add a sens of fake clarity and tiny bit of air.

Let's not beat around the bush, those are aimed for basshead that doesn't enter critical listening approach to their big beat and in that regard, the Force1 deliver a fun and engaging sound with intense dynamic impact that can create brain and ears damage, so be cautious about volume level of your music!




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PS: I want to thanks Penon for sending me this review unit. I'm not affiliated to this audio distributor and truely surprise to receive anything from them since my critical listening is far from being a good marketing strategy for products like this. Respect for that, Penon!

You can buy the SuperTFZ Force1 for 80$ here:https://penonaudio.com/supertfz-force1.html

You can read more diversify audio reviews on my No Borders Audiophile website HERE

SuperTFZ Force1 ($79)​

TFZ is a very well-known chifi brand which has been making audio products for quite some time. They have come out with many iems over the years that have been very well done in their respective price points. I have owned many of them myself. In fact, the TFZ No. 3 still holds up against budget V-shaped iems even today. The TFZ Live 3 as well was, and is, a very well-done big bass banger of a set.

So, as I do, I begin checking what’s out there, scrolling through different markets looking for iems to check out and I come across this very cool looking, blingy, almost trippy looking iem. I then noticed the brand… “SuperTFZ”? What?! I came to find out that SuperTFZ is in fact a sister company of TFZ. I had to laugh because the naming schemes of chifi borders on being ridiculous. This isn’t just TFZ, no… its “SuperTFZ”!! TFZ isn’t “super” enough I suppose. Anyways, I came across the Force1 which is flat out striking in appearance. As always, curiosity got the better of me and I hit the “Buy Now” button.

There really isn’t much that I could find across the Internet as to why TFZ went this route. I did learn that this is supposed to be a more upscale style focusing on the best quality in each of the models’ price points. From what I found this line of iems is meant for stage use as well as recreational listening. I don’t really know how well these would fit a person on stage other than, spoiler: there is only one tiny little vent which helps a lot in isolation. I’m not going to guess though and lead astray. Also, I do believe that SuperTFZ also has a more expensive unit, the Force5. Let’s get into this review and stop mindlessly blabbering.

See how the Shells of the Force1 refract light so well.

Gear Used

–Zooaux Dongle Dac
–IFi Go Blu
–Fiio Ka3
–Ibasso DX240 w/ Amp8 MK2

Left to Right: Fiio KA3, Ibasso DX240 w/ Amp8 Mk2, Ifi Go Blu, Zooaux Dongle Dac

Later Comparisons: Whizzer Kylin HE01, Moondrop Aria, Fiio FD3
Full Review: https://www.mobileaudiophile.com/supertfz-force1/

Packaging​

I gotta say, SuperTFZ puts together a nice unboxing presentation. The Force1 Box is a vertical rectangle cube with the lid covering the greater portion of the package. Just pull the top off and the beautiful Force1 iems sit glistening in the plastic insert. Right away you can see the colors change as light hits this set from different directions. Under the plastic holder you will find two sets of silicone ear tips, both narrow and wide bore of decent quality (I use KBear 07s). SuperTFZ added a small drawstring carry bag to protect your new iems. You also will receive the 4 core SPC cable (more on that further ahead) and some boring paperwork.

Not a bad set of accessories compared to similarly priced iems. Certainly not luxurious but the unique unboxing is pretty cool. You can tell a lot of thought went into the layout of the unboxing. I realize most of us are like children on Christmas day and we want to rip and tear, but also, it’s nice to open a well put together package. That said this is not the most robust and plentiful of packages. Still, not bad.

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Build/Durability/Design/Isolation​

Look​

The Force1 is something else! An absolutely gorgeous design. Every slight movement reveals new colors in the crystal looking transparent Shells. At some angles the internal driver almost has a zoomed in effect and is always easily visible. Yellow, pink, turquoise, blue, purple and more are the colors which dance and refract when the iems move under light at different angles. Really this is a very unique and cool looking design. The Force1 actually looks like colorful gems. SuperTFZ… A+, nice job.

Graphic imaging and wording appear on the Faceplate area and are laid out in an elegant way. I say area because this set doesn’t really have a Faceplate to be exact. On one earphone you get the winged person (TFZ Logo), I don’t know, maybe an angel of sorts and on the other earphone it simply reads “SuperTFZ”. Even these small graphics refract and change colors. It truly is a stunning and resplendent display of craftsmanship.

Isolation ​

Isolation is fantastic. It’s very difficult to spot any vent holes anywhere in the housing, nozzle or Faceplate area. However, if you really search, you’ll find an extremely small vent towards the back of the shell. I mean… extremely small. A small tube runs from the backside of the Driver and out the vent hole. The only other venting is through the actual nozzle itself. Obviously, this lack of openness creates great passive noise isolation. When a good seal is had the Force1 seems to drown out the outside world so very well. Much better than your average in-ear monitor.

There is a downside, you may get some driver flex and crinkling of the driver. I don’t get this every time I put them in because I try to take my time. The way around this is to slowly insert these into the ear and even pulling up on your ear helps to alleviate some of the suction on the driver. I know some of you folks detest driver flex so you may want to stay away from this set. As for me I’m not bothered at all, I just take an extra second or two and insert…slowly.

I can see the benefit here for stage purposes. SuperTFZ truly did create an iem which does a great job at attenuation outside sounds. The other benefit is these cancel out enough noise to not need to listen as loudly to your music.

Build ​

Another win for Force1. The build is extremely well done. One chunk of molded resin covers the entire iem. The design is a universal design and at least for me is perfectly fitted to my ear. I mean spot on! The Force1 hugs my ear as though it was shaped and molded to me. I’m sure this will not be the case for everyone. The nozzle appears to be a brass nozzle with a quality metal filter mesh.

Durability​

I can’t imagine a world where this set is not completely durable, just look the Force1, feel them. Like a perfectly sculpted smooth chunk of crystal. All one piece, no seams at all. A very well crafted and imagined set of earphones which really invoke a sense of peace in their durability.

What’s Inside?​

Inside of these nice-looking shells is a Dual-Magnetic, Dual-Tesla, Beryllium coated Single10mm Dynamic Driver. Sound tubes run from the driver to the nozzle. Not much to say here except the layout of the internals and the visual of them is very nice.

Dual magnetic circuits-dual sound cavity 4K cinema sound system
The well-designed fourth-generation Dual-Magnetic force system makes the sound extremely natural and full, picks up all kinds of subtle information, and restores the sound effects of blockbuster level. Completely complete, coupled with strong low frequency flexibility, it is comparable to 4K-level high-definition visual effects.
Hi-Res high-resolution audio design standard
The reference-level dual magnetic circuit dynamic system, the sound field bandwidth is powerfully improved, the performance in music quality and sound reproduction is incisive, the experience is completely refreshed, and the ultra-clear atmosphere of the live performance is truly felt, and the resolution is outstanding. It is the brand of SUPERTFZ Dynamic earphones with a leap in performance.
TFZ PROMOTIONAL

Click to expand...

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Force1’s Cable​

The included cable is a 4-core Silver Plated Copper and is white in color. This is a 2-pin cable with a 3.5 single ended jack. For the price this cable is quality. I would pit this against any cheaper chifi upgrade cable. It’s not bad at all. SuperTFZ used rectangular silver metal blocks at the 3.5 connector Jack and the cable split. It kinda goes along with the theme of this set; Quality meets art, meets luxury.

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Drivability ​

The Force1 is pretty easy to drive at 32 ohms and 105 DB sensitivity. I was able to bring them to good volume and fidelity even from my Zooaux Dongle Dac. I do have to say that everything tightens up with more power. For instance, moving up to the IFi Go Blu using a balanced cable was an immediate upgrade. Not by much but that extra power does certainly tighten and add a certain dynamic flare. Same thing with the Fiio KA3. Same story.

Using the Ibasso DX240 with Amp8 Mk2 on medium gain and volume around 50/100 was the best synergy of any pairing. The added power scaled my listening session a bit more as well. Bumping up to high gain proved that these Beryllium coated drivers can handle more and respond with a better sound. Beryllium is one of those metals which seem to always be a bit hungrier than most. In my experience anyways. They just seem to love more energy thrown at them.

I certainly don’t think one would need a desktop situation with this set. Truth be told even a low powered dongle dac sounds really nice. I only use more power because I have more. If all I had was the Zooaux dac I would be more than happy.

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Sound Impressions ​

The Force1 is a warmer, south of neutral deep V-shaped iem. This is a transparent sounding unit with coloration at both ends of the spectrum. Supposedly the Force1 was created for recreational as well as stage use. I would venture to say that stage use would relegate to only certain Instruments as the low-end hits hard on this set. Hard and pretty quick is the bass, with boatloads of impact. The Midrange does have a recession, though not to any great detriment. There is no veil over the sound as the Force1 has nice clarity. In fact, the upper midrange is actually more forward and energetic against the rest of the midrange. This helps to bring some shimmer to the mix and female vocals. The Force1 treble area has a big presence and a nice downward trajectory with good extension to my ears.

Some areas of the mix are better than others for me but as a whole I hear a very fun, dynamic and expressive iem. Big sound, big bass, and dynamism emanates from the Force1, yet at the same time this bad boy can get a tad bright up top. Like I said, this set is dynamic to the core! Bold is a word that comes to mind when describing this set. I gotta spell this out so nobody is confused… this set is not for everyone… AT ALL! If you have audiophile dreams, then I’d suggest moving along. Ha! This isn’t the iem for you. This is energetic all the way through at a basshead level. The bonus is this… For a bass head earphone, the control is very nice. Especially compared to other bass head level iems. Let’s call it audiophile bass head. I am only half kidding though.

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Bass ​

Sub-bass​

Ooh those sub-bass drops hit with authority! You can feel as well as hear the rumble down low. The texture to the sub region is pretty darn good. I hear rounded and sonorous notes here which stand out on the Force1. “Paradigm” by the Head and the Heart begins with a very deep bassline. The Force1 began showing me why they named this set… Force1. The sub-bass rumble has a juddering vibration in this song, especially listening with this set. Leading edge attack is well defined in the sub bass with a natural decay for a great atmosphere. Like I said, this is bass head territory, but the rest of the mix is not forgotten.

Sub-bass dominates​

The sub-bass is most certainly the dominant part of the low-end. Every Instrument which plays in this area is presented forward and full. Some may not like the large quantity here, but I enjoy it. Remember… Just for fun. Bass guitars growl deep and bass drops are big and bullish. There isn’t anything that I would call too sloppy here, but instead controlled in this region for the size.

Is it too much?…​

One con would be that some would probably consider the sub bass too much as it can encroach on the other areas and even make the bass area sound a bit one dimensional. It really all depends on the track being played. Only on congested tracks with multiple basslines and even then, it isn’t all the time.

Other than that, I hear good control. I am reviewing from a fun perspective by the way. In no way did I first hear this iem and think I was going to critique it in any other light. However, fun doesn’t have to be uncontrolled and sloppy. So far, the Force1 has decent control taking advantage of the beryllium plating and the tech houses within. You could make a valid argument that the sub-bass presence is a bit too much but that is a matter of taste.

Mid-bass​

Mid-bass is also on the larger side and does bleed over into the mids a bit. Nothing which washes out other frequencies but enough to add warmth and fullness. The mid bass is on a fast slope down into the mids so to not congest too much yet still has plenty in quantity. I wish I had a graph to confirm what I hear but there is a big presence with this iem.

Attack/Decay​

The mid-bass is very punchy as it slams pretty hard when asked to. Kick drums boom with roundness and decay quicker than one may be used to for a larger bass profile. Not fast, but not slow as the Force1 decays in a way which sounds appropriate to my music. The attack is fast and forceful coupled with a decay which shows nice sustain and sounds as natural as possible considering the size of the bass. Attack only slightly lacks true definition. The leading edge in the mid bass does have an ever-so-slight fuzz to it yet still maintains that forcefully blunted BOOM! Nothing even close to hollow or pillowy. In fact, this is the exact opposite.

The potential of a Beryllium coated driver used for a big V-shaped bass is on display here. For a budget single Dynamic with a huge bass presence, I would say that the SuperTFZ have done a nice job. Especially considering other noteworthy basshead competitors in the price point. Granted we don’t often see these unicorns anymore.

Bass in a nutshell​

It’s big and bold with a ton of energy! Instruments which play in the low end have solid weight and are forward. The bass can be a tad on the one-dimensional side on certain tracks, but this only pertains to tracks with a lot going on. Note edges are not too soft in this area also. Obviously, there is coloration in this region, but the timbre is not so out of whack. There is evident warmth yet not so much to throw off the whole spectrum. The only other downside is the bass can overtake the soundstage in bass heavy tracks. The treble area is enough to fight back a bit against this occurrence, but I have to point this out. I must say it… This set is not for everyone.

Midrange​

Lower Mids​

The lower mids are helped a bit by the slight bleed into this area from the bass. Male vocals are recessed but still have decent clarity and heft. This recession is done well for a V-shaped signature as it plays great with the rest of the mix. What I mean is, nothing sounds muted or too distant. In fact, the weight is quite nice which gives a tonal balance to the sound as a whole. I’ve certainly heard better but of course this is not the highlight of the Force1.

Larry Fleet’s voice in “Where I find God” has some nice definition and a certain plumpness to it. He sounds a bit warm but not unnatural or veiled. In this song there happens to be a fairly deep bassline (55 seconds in) and Larry’s vocals cut right through without issue or bloating. The mood and emotion of the song is easily captured. I think the deeper bass is a great touch and adds emphasis to the memory Larry is talking about. The Force1 does well to express this gratitude within the song with meaty vocals and a crisp edge to his voice.

Upper Mids​

The Upper-mids have an almost natural and slightly brighter tonality. Females are pushed forward more than the rest of the midrange. Sopranos sound very clean and have a subtle shimmer to them. I think note weight thins out a hair in the upper mids, but also resolution is enhanced and there is more energy here to add some gleam to my music.

Take “Almost” on Jewel’s newest album. Her voice sounds forward and has an emotional tilt. Her voice sounds elegant and natural, with a textured edge to it. That said, her voice does come across a bit thin. There is a give and take with a budget iem which should be expected. I should also add that at higher volumes the upper areas of the midrange can almost reach shout. A lot depends upon the song being listened to, and the volume you listen at, and the ear tips you choose, the source you listen with, etc. etc.

Midrange as a whole​

The midrange is average to me. Nothing too exciting. Which in the grand scheme of things may translate to a con. I guess that all depends what sound signature you enjoy. On the plus side, there isn’t anything to call bad. There is some recession in the Midrange but nothing that takes away from my music. It also doesn’t enhance my library either. I hear no shoutiness at all and no sibilance. Nothing to cause horrible fatigue for me. The technical side of things is lacking in the Midrange a bit but again, nothing which takes away from my music… Another plus is the imaging, it isn’t bad at all in the Midrange, more on that later.

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Treble​

The treble is actually… pretty nice. There is some shimmer and shine up top. I do hear a peak around the presence region. I cannot confirm this using a graph unfortunately. Instruments don’t suffer too often from any odd tonality and mostly veer more on the natural side. Though at higher volumes and on complicated tracks there are some metallic artifacts which only slightly show their face. I am being extremely petty here. Please make a note of that. All in all, the treble region adds much needed levity in the overall sound.

Extension is actually quite good giving a nice trail to cymbals. Violins sound correct enough for a budget iem as well as flutes and other instruments. What the Force1 adds is nice clarity which leads to a more technically adept playback in the treble. I still hear some decent representation in the air region which does lift up the overall sound.

The only real issue occurred in the song “In Bloom” by Nirvana. Right at the opening of the song you are hit by straight chaos. Cymbals crash with heavy guitars blaring and on the Force1 the cymbals are slightly drowned out by the low end and upper mids. A situation such as this is the only issue on this set.

Not bad TFZ or… SuperTFZ. Not a detail monster, but for what it is, the Force1 really isn’t bad. Just enough lift for macro and even some micro details to be floodlit to the surface. So long as the track isn’t really congested. I’d say these are average to even above average for the price point in this area.

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Soundstage/Imaging/Technicalities​

Soundstage​

For a mostly isolated and stage ready experience due to a single teeny-tiny vent, the soundstage is actually not bad. I hear average width, slightly outside my ears. Height is above average, and depth is about average. The rendered psycho-acoustic image is accurate to me. Not quite 3D or holographic (whatever the that means), but the stage is enough to properly lay out a band and different instruments with a decently sized field of audio. All I really need is “appropriate”. I don’t care if it’s big or small, it just has to make sense. I don’t want to hear anything stuffy or congested and the Force1 is definitely neither of those two things.

The biggest con in the soundstage happens to be the overwhelming bass presence at times and in heavy bass tracks. This sometimes causes the stage to sound a bit smaller or confined as the field of sound is filled with low end boom. Other than that, the soundstage could probably be considered average to slightly above.

Imaging​

Imaging is above average hear. If there was a bit more depth, I think these would have been outstanding. Voices and instruments are positioned accurate to the track being played. Separation is very good for a budget iem which aids in the many layers to music. In complicated tracks things can get a bit blurry (not unlike most single DD budget iems), but for a single dynamic I’d say these do very well. The great majority of the time I hear correct positioning and seemingly correct partitioned off areas for each element on the stage.

Technicalities/Details​

The most overused word in the Audio world… technicalities. However, I think we all have the gist of what we are talking about. Basically details, separation, layering Yada, Yada, Yada.

Obviously, these are not technical masters of anything. They aren’t the most open and airy or refined. That said, the Force1 actually fare pretty well where details are concerned. Not all areas of the mix, however. From the upper-mids and up through the treble, things are nicely illuminated, and details have the perception of being brought to the forefront. Also, the low end is also pretty resolute in its playback and pick up some nice details as well.

Most certainly there are many iems which specialize in this area and do deliver more easily identifiable details. Truthfully though, like I’ve said a bunch of times already, the Force1 doesn’t take anything away from my music in casual listening. This is not the specialty of the Force1. I think the Force1 is more emotional in delivery rather than calculated and dry. The low end is textured and resolute, the mids are smoother & more digestible, and the treble is illuminated and with good resolution as well. As a whole you have a fine V-shape for the price. Of course, there are better iems for technicalities but anyone buying the Force1 for its detailed playback there are other iems I’d direct you to.



Left to Right: Whizzer Kylin HE01, Moondrop Aria, Fiio FD3, Supertfz Force1

Comparisons ​

*Note: Choosing comparison iems I mostly try to find some similarity as purchasing decisions normally are based around a few variables; Price, sound signature and Driver type and implementation etc.*

Whizzer HE01 ($79)​

The Whizzer HE01 is a slightly underrated iem. If not, it’s definitely a forgotten one. There was a very brief period where it got some love but that came and went like the breeze. However, I was one of the people who picked this set up and I do enjoy it quite a bit.

The HE01 features a high magnetic circuit, metal Composite 10.2mm Single DD. This little gem is another pretty looking iem.

The Force1 has a much more V-shaped approach whereas the HE01 is closer to the Harman Target. The HE01 has snappier bass across the low end. Of course, it is also less in quantity. The Force1 has a lot more authority for bass drops and more of a guttural growl listening to bass guitars. The Mids of the HE01 sound more forward and truer. Details are more readily discernible in the Mids on the HE01 as well. Treble on the Force1 is brighter and more technical sounding. The Force1 also has a bit more perceived extension and detail retrieval.

Between the two the HE01 is the more laid back and an easier set to digest over long periods of listening. I do think if you are after a fun listen then there’s no doubt the Force1 would fare better. If a bigger Bass is what you are after both of these sets will suffice. Still the Force1 simply has more in quantity.

Moondrop Aria ($75)​

The Moondrop Aria needs no introduction but for the sake of those who have been living under a tree stump… the Moondrop Aria everyone.

Aria is another single DD. A 10mm LCP Diaphragm single DD actually. The Aria is created after the Harman Curve and follows that trend very closely. Truthfully these are two entirely different animals with entirely different tuning. One is absolutely fatigue free while the other is exciting and big and bold.

The Force1 has a lot more in the low end with a snappier attack and much bigger Bass with a more forceful punch. The Aria has almost a pillowy bass yet still has enough punch to carry most genres. The Mids of the Aria have no contest here as the midrange can be lovely on this set. More forward and more of a full sounding and complete midrange. The Aria is simply more resolving and transparent in the Midrange. Simply put… Mids go to Aria. The treble of the Force1 is more detailed and has more of a lively energy. The Aria has great extension but simply doesn’t carry the same expression and lift like the Force1. Not that the Aria is missing anything in this area.

What is it friends… lively, fun and dynamic or easy going, inoffensive and melodic. Imaging and technicalities mostly go to the Force1, but that even handed and versatile sound of the Aria is stuff of under $100 legend. The Force1 is a certain contender for V-shaped iems in the price point. Again, two different animals and truthfully two separate listening styles all together. More often than not I would reach for the Aria as it is just so very well done as a whole.

Fiio FD3 ($99)​

I bounced around adding the Olina instead of the FD3, but the FD3 simply is closer in sound to the Force.

The FD3 has a very large 12mm DLC Diaphragm boasting a 1.5 tesla magnetic flux unit and using a semi-open acoustic design in the small shells. One of my favorites at the price point. It has interchangeable sound tubes, built wonderfully and has fantastic accessories, the whole nine yards. Really a well-tuned iem and a beautifully crafted aluminum magnesium shell material.

The bass region of the Force1 is simply bigger as a whole. More authority. However, the punch in the attack carries more of a rounded edge on the FD3. I suppose like anything this is a matter of taste. There is good clarity in both bass regions, yet I do enjoy the FD3 quite a lot. Both iems have nice texture but the added air of the FD3 helps to sound a bit more open. Again, neither disappoint in the low-end, both offer plenty of thump.

The midrange of the FD3 has a more believable and detailed replay and simply sounds more refined. Thicker note weight in the lower mids of the Force1 sound hefty but the FD3 have better resolution in this area. On the flip, the FD3 have a thicker note weight in terms of female singers. Both iems have a more forward upper-mid area but again, the added feeling of air caters to a better sound on the FD3 to me.

The treble area of the Force1 is extended and bright. The FD3 has a good extension as well with similar definition and details. The FD3 sounds a bit more subdued with less of a shimmer though. Please don’t take this as a rebuke of the FD3 as the highs play off the rest of the mix very well. This doesn’t mean the FD3 completely lacks shimmer as it is there just less in quantity. This is more a testament to the top end of the Force1. SuperTFZ’s product does sound a bit more resolute in the treble region.

The stage is more open on the FD3 which gives the impression of a larger field of sound. Layering is a bit more evident on the FD3 as well. The FD3 is like a Harman set with a bass boost. Very well done and non-fatiguing. The Force1 is a classic V-shaped iem with good internals that is meant for fun and guilty pleasure. Take your pick.

​

Conclusion​

This set really surprised me. I was looking for a banger of a set for certain genres. Truthfully, I’ve always loved big bass. Growing up on Gangster rap and rock n’ roll I’ve always had a guilty pleasure craving for a bit more on the low end. Since then, I have shifted to different music but that want to sometimes escape to a more fun playlist still lives on. I have refined my listening the last 5 to 6 years to crave more quality over quantity but at times it is very nice to feel my eyeballs vibrating inside my skull. This set can get me there. As far as budget V-shaped iems go the Force1 is a promising set with many good qualities. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include that this set is absolutely not for everyone.

Great isolation, transparent for the style and price and beautiful to look at, the Force1 is a great addition to the TFZ family. I think if your collection needs a more fun and dynamic and immersive earphone to compliment the rest of your iems then this is one to consider. Under $100 the Force1 can really stand out for what it offers.

People I say this in every review. Please don’t simply take my word for it. Gather other ideas and thoughts about this iem. Read or listen to other perspectives. This is one of, if not thee most subjective hobbies on planet earth as we are all different. I cannot stress this enough. I’m quite sure there will be many whom vehemently disagree with me, and you know what…they aren’t wrong. This is the one hobby where we are all right, all the time when it comes to how an audio device sounds to our subjective experience. We all have different likes and dislikes, maybe different libraries, different gear and that all takes part into our listening experience and opinions. So please, before you hit the “Buy Now” button…check out another opinion.

I want to thank anyone who took the time to read the words that I write. It will always mean a lot to me. I greatly enjoy putting my thoughts to digital ink as it can be very therapeutic for me. Music is what all of this is about, and I believe this is a shared interest between us all. We try to find the absolute best way to hear that music with what we can afford. I realize not everyone has a billion dollars burning a hole in their pocket and many people have to save for quite some time to get what sounds good for them. So, with that said, I do hope this helps even one person in some way. Thank you very much and take care.

Introduction: TFZ, obscurely and inexplicably known as The Fragrant Zither, is a fairly well-established ChiFi company. Despite their prolific nature I actually have never heard any of their IEMs, and don’t know much about their back story. What I do know is that they have recently launched a sub-brand (or perhaps more accurately a super-brand) called SuperTFZ, as well as their first model under this branding, the FORCE1. It’s a single dynamic driver that asserts itself as being “positioned between ‘high-definition stage level’ and ‘metaverse fashion.’” While I am neither a stage musician nor a metaverse fashion model, I still agreed to review the FORCE1 when Penon Audio offered to send me a sample unit. You can purchase a copy for yourself here at an MSRP of $79.

The specifications are as follows:

• Driver: 10.2mm dual magnetic Tesla magnetic group Beryllium coated diaphragm
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Sensitivity: 105dB
• Frequency response: 5Hz-40kHz
• Cable length: 1.2 m
• Plug: 3.5mm stereo straight plug
• Connector: 2pin 0.78mm

Packaging & Accessories: I’ll certainly say that SuperTFZ has employed a very unique style of packaging for the FORCE1: it comes in a tall cardboard cube, the top of which slides up to reveal the IEMs in a black plastic tray. Underneath the tray reside the remainder of the accessories, to wit: a 4-core SPC cable with 2-pin connectors and a 3.5mm termination, two sets of S/M/L white silicon tips (one set in wide bore, one in narrow bore), a carry bag, and some documentation.



The included tips seem like they would be fine for most people, but the FORCE1 has a long nozzle leading to a deep enough insertion for my ear anatomy that none of them would fit (I have small canals), and so I resorted to SS-sized SpinFit CP145s for my listening. As for the cable, it’s well-constructed with a nice tight weave, but ergonomically it is pretty terrible for me. The ear hooks have an extremely aggressive curvature that yanks the IEMs out of my ears, and both the splitter and the termination are heavy metal blocks for some reason. I guess maybe some people may find it cool-looking; I simply find it impractical.



Build & Comfort: The FORCE1 is the only single-DD I can recall off the top of my head that goes full-on semi-custom resin for its shell design. This makes sense given its designated purpose as a stage monitor, however, and I found the fit very comfortable and giving very good isolation (especially since, again unlike most single-DDs, it has only one vent and an extremely small one at that). The shells do protrude quite a bit from my ears, rendering slide-sleeping out of the question.

Aesthetically, these things are crazy. The resin body is completely clear (you can easily see through it to read the SuperTFZ branding on the driver itself), but the faceplate is some kind of crystalline surface that is translucent yet refracts the light to create any color of the rainbow depending on your viewing angle. Especially combined with the cable, it’s a very blingy presentation that honestly isn’t my cup of tea, but others may well like quite a bit.



The FORCE1 has a normal impedance and sensitivity and has no trouble being driven off just about any source.

Signature: Despite the abundant mentions to “reference sound” in the product description, I can’t say that I find the signature to be that “reference,” at least in my understanding of the term. While the FORCE1 does manage to avoid coloring the sound much, it nevertheless remains a slightly warm, mild-to-moderate V-shape to my ears with emphasis on the sub-bass and upper mids/lower treble. With that said, it’s a mature and versatile take on a V tuning, and I find it to be pretty versatile for most of my library given its sub-bass bias and very mild bleed into the lower mids; treble is somewhat peaky but well-tuned (at least for my sensitivities) and decently well-extended for a budget single-DD. I don’t normally gravitate towards V-shaped signatures but I really do enjoy listening to the FORCE1.



Bass: The bass on offer here has very good extension, with a nice physicality that manages to convince even though it stops short of rattling any heads. Even better, the texturing is extremely nice throughout the entire low end. The mid-bass takes on a lesser role compared to the sub-bass (which is according to my personal preferences), but still has a bit of punch to it and avoids the overly dry presentation to which some sub-bass heavy implementations can fall prey. Overall there is very good tightness, speed, and control, with a just slightly slower decay which serves to add a bit of atmosphere.

Mids: There is as I mentioned a slight bit of warmth that bleeds into the lower mids from the bass, which I prefer since it helps give proper body and note weight to male vocals. The true mids are of course somewhat recessed given the V signature, but they’re definitely not buried and I was able to enjoy them for their pleasant and natural tonality despite the fact that there is not an abundance resolution or micro-details in this region. The upper mids receive a healthy push, hence female vocals are relatively forward in the mix and violins have a good amount of energy; however they stop short of shoutiness, and sibilance was a non-issue for me.

Treble: The treble region of the FORCE1 is in some ways typical ChiFi, with a response characterized by notable peaks and valleys (especially a substantial clarity boost around 4-5K). However in my opinion it is judiciously done, and at no time did I find it offensive or fatiguing. There is above average resolution for a budget single-DD (helped of course by the perceived detail from the clarity boost), and there are some microdetails present. Extension is also somewhat above average with an adequate amount of air.

Soundstage & Technicalities: The technicalities of the FORCE1 are just as well-executed as the tonality. The soundstage possesses very good width and height, although unsurprisingly the sense of depth is minimal as is usually the case in this class of IEMs. Imaging is above average for the class, with fairly good localization although it does not reach the levels of accuracy that BAs or even the best single-DDs can provide. However layering and instrument separation are excellent, even despite the mild warmth to the presentation. Resolution is a mixed bag, being above average in the bass and treble regions but only average in the midrange. Timbre is generally quite good, although the clarity boost does cause a bit of a metallic sheen on some tracks that keeps it from being superlative.



Select Comparisons:
vs. Moondrop Aria: The Aria remains one of the heavy hitters at this price point. Its tonality is closer to the Harman target than the V-shaped FORCE1, and in general I think tonal considerations will be the main differentiator between them. I do think that the FORCE1 pulls ahead slightly on the technical front, especially regarding imaging which I found to be unimpressive on the Aria. It is of course a more engaging and energetic listen, avoiding the rather anodyne treble response of the Aria but on the other hand losing out on the fuller midrange of Moondrop’s offering. Fit, comfort, build, and isolation go firmly to the FORCE1 for me, but in these matters especially YMMV.

vs. Dunu Titan S: The Titan S is one of my personal favorites in this bracket, and in this case the tonality is even further from the FORCE1 than the Aria’s. The bright-neutral Titan S wins out on resolution and detail and has a more balanced tonality with better timbre, but the FORCE1 beats it solidly on imaging, layering, and instrument separation (especially on busier tracks). I found the Titan S more comfortable but it has poorer isolation. Accessories are much better on the Dunu.

Conclusion: The FORCE1 completes its assigned mission: to take the V-shaped ChiFi character of TFZ’s prior offerings and elevate it with superior execution and driver performance. It is a measure of its success that I found my time with it extremely satisfying despite the fact that it is far from my target frequency response, and given its tonal choices it really doesn’t do anything wrong. For those in the market for a sub-$100 V-shaped single dynamic, the FORCE1 surely must be high on the list of candidates.