Tanchjim One

A ‘Futurefi’ IEM at a bargain price​

This is one of the most pragmatic devices I have bought in the past few years. It is effectively a 2:1 IEM for less than $30, by ‘default’ the Tanchjim One DSP has an excellent sound signature which for the price I would not complain about but then once you open up the App (Android only I am afraid) you have a series of very well specified alternative EQ based 'profiles', effectively giving you lots of variety without needing to get fully into the 'numbers' within the PEQ filters provided.

And then if you feel like you don’t need DSP with the Tanchjim One (which to be honest you don’t as it has an nice warm tuning by default), you can even use the Tanchjim One Cable with other IEM’s to change their sound signatures to your liking using the ‘magic’ powers of PEQ.

Note: I purchased the Tanchjim One DSP from Linsoul for the purposes of this review. If you wish to do the same here is a non-affliated (link)

So is the Tanchjim One DSP the IEM for you, read on to find out …

What’s in the box​

Upon unboxing, the Tanchjim One DSP Edition reveals an array of thoughtfully selected accessories.

These include a plush “velvet” bag, the ‘DSP’ cable and two sets of finely crafted tips encompassing a total of seven pairs. The inclusion of the manual and warranty rounds off the essentials, neatly presented.

Design and Build Quality​

The design and build quality of the Tanchjim One Shell is good for this price range but while the cable has amazing technology inside it is not the best quality cable, i imagine Tanchjim will improve the quality and feel of the cable but use and extend upon the technology within the usb-c connector.



The minimalist design ethos is evident in the metal faceplates, clearly displaying the brand name, while the transparent plastic offers a glimpse into the heart of the device – the 10mm Dynamic Driver.

Remarkably, all of this is offered at a price point under $30 USD, highlighting Tanchjim’s commitment to affordability without compromising on quality. Compared to the Tanchjim Zero, the One boasts an increased percentage of metal in the shell compared to earlier models, detachable cables, and a comfortable fit.

Here is a quick video to show how nice the IEM and where you can see the angle of the nozzle:

Comfort and Fit​

Comfort and fit have been significantly improved in the Tanchjim One DSP Edition. Gone are the sharp edges of the Zero, replaced with a more rounded and ear-friendly design. This change ensures a comfortable fit, allowing for prolonged listening sessions without discomfort. I liked the slight angled nozzle and the flexibility of wearing the cable either hanging down or wrapped around your ear give the One those options that allow people to find the best fit and comfort for them.

If you do decide to use the cable around your ears (IEM style) make sure to swap the Left / Right IEM’s as you are effectively wearing them ‘upside down’ - see the picture below:

Sound Quality​

In terms of initial sound impressions, the Tanchjim One DSP Edition offers a surprising auditory journey especially for those unused to EQ and DSP. The DSP cable introduces a new dimension to the sound, with more pronounced sub-bass and a three-dimensional soundstage that adds depth to the audio experience.

The convenience of the DSP, with its compact design and built-in DAC, offers a plug-and-play experience without the need for additional equipment.

Note: For these sound impressions below - I used the ‘Popular’ DSP present - which aligns the One close to the Harman target.

Bass​

Since this is close to the harman target there is a good deep bass and sub-bass with the upper-bass recessed. Subjectively I did feel the sub-bass wasn’t as clean as IEM’s like the Truthear Zero Red but that is more to do with the number of Dynamic drivers within the Truthear Zero Red, but compared to similar priced IEM’s this
has a bass performance that is more than acceptable.

Mids​

The Mid were excellent especially when using this ‘popular’ EQ filter really allowing the vocals to shine and providing excellent tonality with everything I played.

Treble​

While the treble was good with this EQ setting I did think this where the limitation of the 5 available PEQ filters is found a bit wanting (that the EQ presets like ‘Popular’ are made from), I would have like maybe 10 PEQ filters to tweak the treble a little more. I imagine in the next few years we will get similar usb-c ‘DSP cables’ but with a large number of filters.

Soundstage and Imaging​

With the ‘Popular’ present the intimate soundstage is complemented by excellent imaging, tight and controlled bass, a clean and crispy mid-range, and smooth, airy treble. This performance, especially considering the price point, is nothing short of remarkable.

Tanchjim Mobile App and EQ​

The real ‘futurefi’ aspect of this IEM is how well the implementation of the Tanchjim works when saving the EQ settings to the cable.

For those wondering why bother can’t you just EQ on your Smartphone, PC or Mac. There are many advantages when saving a ’tuning’ to an IEM cable:

1. Single EQ across devices
   Once saved to the device, that profile is then available across all your devices, so while I initially tuned the Tanchjim One DSP on my Android Smartphone, I actually used it extensively accross all my devices including an iPhone 15 Pro Max (due to Apples switch over to usb-c this works great) and my Macbook Pro.
2. Tuning alternative IEM’s with the cable
   Another key advantage is you can actually use the cable on other IEM’s, simpling changing the profile to your preference
3. Providing a “systemwide” EQ on IOS
   If you use various music apps on IOS (as I do), you will know there is no systemwide EQ. While some music apps have some EQ while others do not have any, so listening to a cable with ‘built-in’ is a huge advantage.

Android​

To give people a feel for the capabilities of the Mobile App I took a few screenshot to show how easy it is change EQ profiles.

So first the App recognizes the One is connected:



The clicking on the IEM in the menu you get the list of profiles:



I mainly used ‘Popular’ but as you will see in the measurements section all these profiles provide excellent and interesting alternative tunings.

Once a EQ profile is picked you can then click the ‘Custom Sound’ option at the end of the list of Profiles and then further tweak the profile:



You change the Gain on the upper set of 5 sliders and the Q values on the bottom set of sliders.

I would love to see this screen be extended with 10 or more ‘filters’ but the 5 available are an excellent start.

Comparison with other PEQ based Apps​

In the last few months I have been using the PEQ features of many audio products, so here are a few comparisons:

• Qudelik 5K
  If you are a total PEQ ’nerd’ get a Qudelik 5K as their Mobile App (both Android and IOS) has fantastic control over the PEQ and many other features to play with but IMO it is too complicated for most users and while I still use my 5K I feel other devices have overtaken it in audio quality.
• FiiO Control
  FiiO application is rapidly improving (both on IOS and Android) but still has many UI quirks and does not offer the simplicity of the presets that Tanchjim offer.
• Moondrop Free DSP
  While the FreeDSP cable definitely a set up over the Tanchjim usb-c cable, there application is at the time of writing this review a complete mess with confusing UI, odd limitations (e.g. can’t set PEQ for sub-bass or Q values can only be whole numbers). I do like their cable but at the moment it is incredible complicated to get the right settings for your own IEM, though Moondrop does offer some presets what you get with those presets is not obviously from their Application.
• Soundcore
  Even though it’s only for Soundcore Headphones and IEM’s their Mobile app does at least try to expose enough EQ power (not PEQ though) to compensate for their default ‘bass heavy’ tuning while still offering lots of presents for their headphones and TWS and its one of the best mobile Apps for TWS devices.

Overall, I feel the Tanchjim application is the right balance for most people of simplicity and power, here are my comparisons with other EQ / PEQ applications that ‘save’ their PEQ to their associated device

IOS and MacOS​

Due to some current limitations with iOS, you cannot ‘save’ settings to usb-c devices, so I therefore mainly used the Android version of the Tanchjim Mobile app to switch sound profiles and experiment with the 5-band PEQ offered with the One DSP. I believe this limitation will be removed soon as it is a legacy limitation from the time when Apple ‘controlled’ the ’lightning’ cable connectors.

On a Mac this is how the DAC is exposed when the usb-c cable is connected:Though there is no application currently available to configure the EQ filters.

Specifications and Measurements​

Specifications​

The important specifications:

Measurements​

Npte: For those interested I have published these measurements to the PragmaticAudio Squig [website] (https://pragmaticaudio.squig.link/)

Frequency Response:​

There is a slight channel imbalance of 1db but this affects the bass region so you will not hear an imbalance.

DSP ‘Presets’ Measured:​

I hope this graphs shows the power of the One DSP, each “preset” offers a great alternative frequency response. IMO, this makes the Tanchjim One DSP an amazing first IEM for someone getting into the hobby.



This is the most interesting set of measurements for the Tanchjim One DSP:

1. Stock Tuning ( using a non-DSP enabled cable)
   This provides a nice ‘warm’ sound for those who like a ‘fuller’ bass, so if that is your preference I suggest swapping the cable with a different IEM and possible tune that other IEM with DSP to your preference
2. Default This is the default DSP settings without selecting a given profile. Its mostly pretty balanced with a slightly fuller midrange.
3. Nature
   This tuning is the most dramatic, effectively reducing the bass to allow the midrange and treble to shine.
4. Balanced
   This as the name implies is a balanced sound - less bass and less treble more midrange focused for a balanced sound
5. Popular
   This is the one I mainly used it has that ‘harman target’ curve (as you will see below).
6. Musical
   This one is probably the nearest to my own personal preference as its like the Popular one but with a little less bass and treble. Basically 1/2 way between the Popular (i.e. Harman) and the Balanced ( i.e. Flat ) sound.

Distortion Measurements:​

With the DSP is enabled the 2nd harmonic is quiet high but less than the 1% audible range for ’even’ harmonics. The 3rd harmonic does creep up in the bass region when using the Popular (i.e. Harman ‘bass’) profile. But again the 3rd harmonic is below the 0.1% audibility range of ‘odd’ harmonics.

The 3rd harmonic while still in-audible distortions is no doubt a side effect of using single Dynamic Driver. Therefore, if Tanchjim used the same technology with more say a double DD (like the Truthear Zero Red) or a DD+BA hybrid the amount of work the single DD has to do would be limited and the distortion levels would go down. But since its below audible thresholds it is not really a concern especially at this price point.

Comparison to the Harman Target:​

As you can see from this graph the “balanced” profile is an excellent match for the Harman IE target with a slight roll off in the sub-bass frequencies:

Note: I would like to see a 10 band PEQ in the next generation of these devices as I feel that would help with tweaks in the treble frequency range.

Rating​

I gave One DSP as very pragmatic rating of 4.5 stars as I feel it is a glimpse of the future. I feel Tanchjim will ultimately release more expensive models with a better quality cable, more or upgraded drivers and an upgraded DSP with a 10 band PEQ but for less than $30 the One DSP is a glimpse of the future with an excellent implemented Mobile App.

Conclusion​

The Tanchjim One DSP is a fantastic IEM for its price, it has a great ‘default’ tuning but with the additional ‘super powers’ of DSP ‘profiles’ within the Tanchjim Android app you get everything you need to enjoy your music no matter what your audio ‘preferences’. It is a high recommended IEM for those who like to investigate different sound profiles.

"You have to be odd to be the number one."

~~ Theodor Seuss Geisel a.k.a. Dr Seuss, American author and cartoonist.

Let's talk about TANCHJIM, TANCHJIM is a Chinese audio company that was founded in 2015 in Nanning, Guangxi Region in the southern part of mainland China. The word “TANCHJIM” means Angel Jim as it is stated on the logo of the company that was printed on the shells of the TANCHJIM Oxygen. As I mentioned about Oxygen, I've actually tested around 2019 that on the first audition, I was really impressed by its well-balanced and almost neutral sound quality and became one of my favourite single dynamic driver sets up to this day.



This is actually my second review of their latest product line-up in the budget-level segment as I did a review on TANCHJIM TANYA DSP a few months ago. What I have here right now is the TANCHJIM ONE, like the TANYA DSP, it is also a single dynamic configuration but the difference that it has a detachable mechanism where you can replace the cable with other types of cable with bi-pin receptacle which makes it more available for source compatibility particularly on termination plug.



The driver that was implemented in this set is a 10mm dynamic driver with a diaphragm made of composite materials consisting of Polyurethane (PU) and Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) which are both thermoplastic polymers but offer different properties. With such a combination of their respective properties. PU offers a durable and flexible material while the PEEK has better tensile strength that will support it. Consequently, these materials will give very fast vibration and reaction on its overall to deliver a more rounded and throbbing bass response with better layout on other parts of the frequency range to achieve a clear full range sound while minimising some chances of distortion.



The drivers are enclosed in a bullet-style shell chassis made of composite materials. The shell structure consists of cylindrical shape cavity base aluminium alloy and half of it up to the nozzle is made of polycarbonate plastic. Its overall aesthetics give minimalist and well-compacted ergonomic design that really fits well to almost all types of ear sizes. Unlike the previous Tanya, TANCHJIM One has a detachable mechanism of 0.78mm 2-pin connector which extends the duration of usage on this set or choose a third party cable that suits and complement this set.



The stock cable that was included along this set has a USB type-C termination on its end and it also has a built-in DSP chip for audio decoding that can support up to 24-bit/96Khz PCM. On its stock tuning of DSP chip, it has a modified Harman target curve that TANCHJIM's espousing on which is a U-shaped sound on its sonic profile, and it has an HD microphone that also supports in-line control. The cable itself is made of o oxygen-free silver-plated copper wiring that was sheathed with PVC material for smooth, less microphonic and resistant on entanglement.



When it comes to fitting and comfort, TANCHJIM One gives me some of the comfortable wearing experience on how it sits well to my lugholes although I noticed that there is some minor driver flex that I've encountered for every insertion. It has a good passive noise isolation as it manages to block some noises from the outside surroundings.



The product packaging of TANCHJIM is rather basic with a rectangular box with a product illustration at the front while at back, some fine prints of basic specification and factory address. But it has a substantial amount of inclusions that covers the basic usage of this set.



Here are some following contents that were included inside of its packaging box:

■ Pair of TANCHJIM One IEM transducers
■ Stock cable with USB-C connector with DSP chip.
■ Three (3) pairs of wide-bored ear tips in different standard sizes.
■ Three (3) pairs of narrow-bored ear tips in different standard sizes.
■ Felt cloth IEM storage bag.
■ Paperwork like a user's manual and a card with QR codes.



As for its power scaling and amplification, in DSP type-C connection, it is quite power efficient that it will deliver a full-range sound with good amplitude scale. Same with 3.5mm SE mode, this set is really an easy to drive one that a decent output from device sources like smartphones and tablets are fairly enough.



In regards to its tonal aspect, TANCHJIM ONE has a warm U-shaped sound signature in both DSP mode and in analogue connection whether single ended or balanced mode. It has more emphasis on low frequencies and high frequencies while midrange is one a more neutral presentation.


(Graph was provided by @baskingshark , credits to him)


LOWS/BASS:

The bass response on this set is quite punchy, slamming with good authority on it due to its mid-bass oriented low frequency presentation. There was some slight presence of the sub-bass as I faintly felt those reverberations and resonance from sub-bass focus instruments like drum machines, low tone guitar and synthesisers.

Mid-bass is well-textured with some nice body on it as it give a hefty roar and growl on bass guitars sound menacing and weighty while bass kick drums have pounding and resonant sound on them although I noticed in some fast double bass drumming on an extreme metal tracks, they sound a bit sluggish but I still fine it as capable enough. On bass to bass-baritone vocals, it gives some full tone, booming and guttural sound on these particular vocals but here are some observable slight nitpicks, I notice that it produces a very minimal to no vibrato on some bass vocals and lacks a darker tone on it. And also, its bass response occasionally smudges a bit on the midrange.


MIDRANGE:

The midrange presentation of this one is quite recessed but due to some bass bleeds, it warms up a bit to give a richer and more dense texture notes on vocals and instruments while maintaining some clarity, evenness and energy.

Male vocals did benefit the warmth on the midrange as baritones have plush and rich vocals especially on dramatic, kavalier, verdi and heldentenor types have brassy, emotive and power on them as I listen to spinto and dramatic types like Luciano Pavarotti and Carlo Ventri. Countertenors have tender and smooth vocals as they project their falsettos. Meanwhile on female vocals, contraltos have a husky and lushness on their vocals, mezzo-sopranos have smooth, warm and rounded voices on them, and sopranos have creamy and satiny sound which will definitely work well with soubrette and dramatic type ones.

Instruments sound organic and engaging on this set especially on percussive and brasses. Strings like acoustic guitars have a buttery to midrange-y sound on every plucking of its strings while on violins, they sound full and lustrous to my ears that I wish a bit of brightness just to convey more emotion on every bow string grips. On woodwinds, piccolos sound a bit delicate and sweet which should sound at least bright in nature, while concert flutes have richness and mellow sound on them, and both clarinets and saxophones have sonorous and melancholic sound on them. Brasses like trumpets, horns and trombones have warm, full, ponderous and round sound on them respectively. On percussives, snares and tom-toms have hard, resonant and precise sound, while field drums have full and booming sound, and then on kettledrums, they sound booming and powerful. Pianos appear to have a warmer tone on them.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

Treble response on this set is quite smooth and relaxed as the upper-mids and some presence treble are just slightly accented just to give a decent attack on both percussive and rhythm instruments and enough clarity. I hear not a hint of harshness nor sibilance on this one but at it also have some drawbacks on this one like less shimmer, less crispy and less highlighting on details but at least it doesn't sound dull at all.

It is also quite noticeable that it has a modest amount of air and less sparkle. Cymbals have a soughing and undulating sound while hi-hats have their correct timbre with their familiar "chick" sound. And both celestas and glockenspiels have a lustrous, velvety and bell-like sound.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

On how this set projects its soundstage and stereo imaging, its overall sound/speaker dimensions is on average size as it has median width span, decent height ceiling but it has good depth on it that gives an almost congested feel within my perceived headroom.

Its imaging presentation projects a typical two-dimensional stereo soundscape as I was able to perceive the placement of instruments and vocals in both left and right channels but not in the most accurate way. It has fairly decent separation but the layering is somewhat not so well-defined on how the stacking and arrangement of each frequency and tonal layers of sound from specific instruments and vocals as in some case that it tends to sound shambolic to my ears especially on some complex musical composition from some music genres like jazz and orchestral ensemble.

As for its driver coherency, It seems that its composite diaphragm is able to perform well but as I mentioned a while ago on how the bass kick drum performs a bit sluggish compared to some of its competitors. And so, I consider its driver performance as moderately responsive. As for resolution capabilities, it has very solid macro-dynamics as I definitely hear quite solid notation attacks and note ends of its note texture but its micro-detailing definition is rather a bit blunted in my opinion but for its asking price, I would rather accept this shortcoming.


PEER COMPARISONS:

TANCHJIM TANYA DSP

● Another TANCHJIM product that is also in the budget entry-level segment. Like the One, it's a single dynamic driver but its on smaller diameter that it was considered as a micro-dynamic driver and was encapsulated in a bullet-style all-aluminium alloy casing. It has a non detachable USB type-C connector with DSP chip and it is susceptible to microphonics.

● As for tonal profile, like the One, it also has a U-shaped sound signature and with warmth on it. It has more sub-bass presence but a less textured mid-bass compared to the One, similar midrange presentation but a tad leaner texture and depth and a bit brighter treble but like the One, it has meagre treble extension. As for technicalities, they are quite very similar in all aspects from sound field dimensions up to the resolution capabilities.


TINHIFI C0 ELF

● TINHIFI"s latest bullet style IEM in the budget segment and like the One, it also has a single dynamic driver albeit its diaphragm is a titanium-coated PU material and it was encased in a solid aluminium alloy. Also, it has a detachable 2-pin connector just like the One.

● The C0 ELF has a V-shaped sound signature but it follows a TINHIFI's previous in-house sound which is on the brighter side of tuning. Compared to the One, it focuses more on the sub-bass as it bass response sounds more rumbly than authoritative, more recessed midrange but it has more crisper and energetic sound on vocals and instruments, and then on treble response, it sounds more brighter as it has more crisper and better detail definition and it has more sparkle and air though I still consider its airy extension as modest. Technicality-wise, it has average to above-average size of its overall sound field proportion, two-dimensional stereo imaging, good separation and noticeably better layering and the last but not the least, it has a solid fundamental on macro-dynamics and sharper definition on micro-detail retrieval.


It seems that once again, TANCHJIM releases a solid product that aims at casual listeners who want to try a well-rounded and versatile tonal performance that gives a pleasurable listening experience to them. With its feature that we could do some cable swapping with some cable of our choices and also, if you want to experience the TANCHJIM's in-house tuning as to hear a little bit of tuning from the all-time great Oxygen albeit it's a tad more coloured sounding, I will recommend this set without hesitation at all.

TANCHJIM One is now available on major audio distributors like LINSOUL and HIFIGO. Also, if you are situated in the Philippines, you could purchase this set locally via JYS+ Audio on Facebook. All links are guaranteed non-affiliated ones.



LINSOUL: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tanchjim-one

HIFIGO: https://hifigo.com/products/tanchjim-one

JYS+ AUDIO (Philippine distributor of TANCHJIM products): https://www.facebook.com/JYSAudio?mibextid=ZbWKwL


Checkout my previous review of a TANCHJIM product:

● TANCHJIM TANYA DSP

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: TANCHJIM ONE
IMPEDANCE: 16Ω
SENSITIVITY: 126dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 7Hz – 45KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: TYPE-C
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*


P.S.

I am not affiliated to  TANCHJIM nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to TANCHJIM & JYS+ AUDIO for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Sam Audio for furnishing this unit.

The Tanchjim One can be gotten here (no affliate links): https://samaudiosg.com/products/🎶sg-tanchjim-one-10mm-dynamic-driver-in-ear-headphone-iem
https://www.carousell.sg/p/🎶sg-tanchjim-one-10mm-dynamic-driver-in-ear-headphone-iem-1246841343/




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 10 mm PEEK (polyetheretherketone) & PU (polyurethane) suspension titanium dome dynamic driver
• Impedance: 16 Ω
• Frequency response: 7 Hz - 45kHz
• Sensitivity: 126 dB/Vrms
• Cable: 0.78 mm 2-pin; 3.5 mm termination; Litz OFC silver-plated + Litz OFC composite coaxial structure
• Tested at: standard non-mic version $24.99 USD; mic version $25.99; DSP version $27.99

Do note that there are 3 versions of the Tanchjim One available. There is a DSP version, a standard version with mic, and a standard one without mic. The version we are reviewing today will be the standard non-mic version with no DSP.


ACCESSORIES



Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 4 pairs of wide-bore silicone tips
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone tips
- Carrying pouch

For something retailing at $20ish bucks, the accessories are more than decent, no complaints here.



No foam tips are included, but Tanchjim has provided 2 types of silicone tips. The wide-bore ones boost air, treble and soundstage, whereas the narrow-bore ones increase bass at the expense of soundstage.




In this day and age, there are definitely pricier IEMs that do not even come with detachable cables. The standard 3.5 mm non-mic cable here is a Litz OFC silver-plated + Litz OFC composite coaxial cable. It lies on the thinner side and is somewhat tangly, though there are just slight microphonics. There's a chin cinch for added grip, and the left distal terminal has a dot to demarcate it as such.

Folks ordering the DSP version of the Tanchjim One will get an extra DSP USB-C cable, which does change the sound slightly (kindly read the impressions of our other esteemed reviewers for info on the DSP variant).




Lastly, we have a velvet drawstring pouch. This pouch is extremely soft, and will prevent scracthes on the IEM, though it might not withstand a crushing force.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock wide-bore silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The One is a bullet-shaped IEM with a wine-bottle shaped fuselage. It is fashioned from medical-grade polycarbonate, with an aluminum alloy cavity internally. The rear of the One is opaque, while the top is transparent, allowing users to view the internals in all their glory.

This IEM can be worn cable-down or over-ears - the latter form of wearing would necessitate swapping earpiece sides but keeping the cable orientation intact. Thus, this increases fitting options tremendously.




The One is very ergonomically designed and light. I had no issues using it for hour long listening sessions.

Isolation is average. Sadly, i noted driver flex on my pair, though this is partially dependent on ear anatomy and type of tips used.


INTERNALS

The One houses a 10 mm PEEK (polyetheretherketone) & PU (polyurethane) suspension titanium dome dynamic driver.



Tanchjim markets that the internal acoustic cavity is grounded smoothly, to minimize sound scattering - this supposedly improves acoustic transmission.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Tanchjim One with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Fiio KA13 dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is relatively easily driven, though amplification might allow slight scalability.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Tanchjim One (non-DSP version) via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz area is a coupler artefact peak.

The One is a warm Harmanish tuned single DD. This pleasant tonality is very consumer friendly, and should please the palates of most users.

The One is mid-bass focused, with bass north of neutral but not as true basshead levels. There is a slight sub-bass roll-off, with just a tickle of rumble heard in the lowest registers. In terms of bass quality, it lies on the mediocre side. Speed is a tinge slow, with below average texturing and some mid-bass bleed noted.

The lower midrange is warmed by the thick mid-bass bleed, adding a lot of note weight and a lushness to this region. Admittedly, we lose some transparency in the midrange, but the enveloping syrupy lower mids are quite addictive. With an 8 dB ear gain plus big bass, the upper mids are forwards without being piercing.

The One is fatigue-free in the treble. The upper treble rolls off early, thus providing a very smooth upper end. Sibilance is kept to a minimal, though we encounter some lack of air and sparkle, with a drop in resolution.

Timbre is very organic in keeping with its single DD heritage. Vocals and acoustic instruments are extremely natural, and this is one of the highlights on the Tanchjim One.

In terms of technicalities, the One is bang average when compared against other ultra budget single DDs. Soundstage is average in all 3 dimensions, with a lack of instrument separation. Music smears on complex tracks with competing riffs, and micro-detailing is veiled. Imaging is decently done for something in this price range though, and the One redeems itself slightly in this department.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made with other ultra budget single DDs. Hybrids and pure BA types were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.




Salnotes Zero

The Salnotes Zero is a neutral bright single DD. It has less bass quantity, but the bass is tighter and faster. The Zero has more treble extension, though it is much more sibilant and fatiguing.

The Salnotes Zero is thinner in note weight, sounding more analytical and sterile, and it also has a more metallic timbre.

Technicalities are easily won by the Salnotes Zero - it has superior soundstage, micro-detailing, imaging and instrument separation.

The Salnotes Zero may be ill-fitting for some, due to sharp perpendicular edges in the shell, though it also has a detachable cable.


Tanchjim Zero

Thought it shares a same name as the aforementioned Salnotes Zero, the Tanchjim Zero is totally different IEM. It is the predecessor of the One. This Zero is more neutral, with less bass quantity, and more air and upper frequencies.

Note weight is thinner on the Tanchjim Zero, causing it to sound more sterile. The Zero is slightly improved in technicalities and soundstage, though the upper midrange can be shouty for some.

The Tanchjim Zero's cable is sadly not detachable.


CONCLUSIONS



Costing about the price of a restaurant meal, the Tanchjim One is an affordable single DD with superb tonality and timbre.

Accessories are great for the coin, and it is easily driven. The ergonomics are top-notch, what with the over-ear or cable down form of wearing. The warm and pleasant soundscape, with a thick lush tone, is a sight and sound for sore ears, with minimal sibilance or shoutiness heard.

Unfortunately, there is some driver flex, and the technical chops are quite middling. Trebleheads might also need to look elsewhere due to the lack of air in the tuning.

Having said that, this IEM has solid price-to-performance ratio, and may be the "ONE" for folks new to the IEM game, or even as a gift, or for someone looking for a cheap daily beater set.