Tanchjim Oxygen

More reviews at www.perrivanaudio.com


Driver Setup: 1 Dynamic Driver


Price: 280 USD


Intro






Disclaimer: This review set is a demo set graciously lent to me by Daniel at Oardio and the review is written of my own accord and all thoughts are my own. The Tanchjim Oxygen is available for purchase from Oardio through their website should you find yourself interested in a pair.


This is a review for the Tanchjim Oxygen the older brother of the Hana, the "yin" of the "yang" that we reviewed previously. The Oxygen was Tanchjim’s earliest flagship model and established a name for itself with its tuning and sonic performance. With the Hana, we shall see how the former fares against the new kid in the block as well.


Accessories and Build Quality (Score: 9/10)









Very similar to the Hana except for the colourway, the Oxygen also comes in a cube-shaped box which also follows the concept of the Oxygen itself that lies within. The overall unboxing experience felt rather premium but slightly less fancy than the Hana which I do not really fault it as it was an earlier model. It comes with a nice leather case, 2 sets of ear tips and 2 sets of cables which I appreciate a lot as they really do feel like a complete package and everything you might need.


Build wise, the IEM itself is made out of metal and definitely capable in terms of durability and toughness when it comes to knocks and bumps but however, it is quite susceptible to scratches which may affect its aesthetics but in terms of quality, tanky-ness, and quality checks, the Oxygen scores!


Fit (Score: 7/10)

As per majority of the people that had the Oxygen, I too have some fit issues and that is primarily due to the physical shape and design of the IEM itself. Its housing gets in the way of my Tragus (a physical part of the ear) which was my main source of discomfort, followed by the relatively shorter nozzle which can be solved by tip rolling. Although it is not a deal breaker, it certainly took off some points in this region and of course, shorter listening sessions due to how my ears gets physically tired from wearing these for longer periods. I would even classify this issue as the infamous achilles heel of the Tanchjim Oxygen which you willl see in many other reviews as well.


Sound (Overall Score: 8.5/10)

I find the Oxygen to be one of the better tuned IEMs that is somewhat harman-ish, having a natural presentation, an above average soundstage as well as accurate imaging capabilities really impressed me whenever I listen to them.





Sources used

- Ibasso DX120

- IPhone XR

- Atom DAC and AMP


Music and Albums, I listened to

- Alan Walker

- Billie Eilish – When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

- Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture

- Cigarettes After Sex

- One Republic – Dreaming Out Loud

- Kodaline

- Keane – Fears and Hopes

- Nino Rota – The Godfather OST

- Fedde Le Grand – Cinematic

- ARTY

- Halo 2 OST

- Halo 1 OST

- Czardas

- Lauv

- Scary Pockets

- Hans Zimmer

- Aladdin OST


Bass (Score: 8.5/10)


You can really feel the sub bass rumbling away on the Oxygen, giving that deep baseline that creates that feeling of being “filled” and not lacking in any way. Mid bass is also well articulated, punches and hits are impactful and agile at the same time. Listening to “Halo 2 OST”, drums are bass guitars really shine on the Oxygen where there aren’t any bass bleed, good punch and rumble that goes well with epic wartime genres. The Oxygen’s bass performance (details and separation) is impeccable, and I really enjoyed listening to it! Good job Tanchjim!


Mids (Score: 8.0/10)


The mids on the Oxygen doesn’t sound recessed or whatsoever, vocals still sound natural and spacious in the sense that they don’t sound distant but having that panorama effect. I would like to point out the Oxygen’s attention to detail here which might make it sound slightly sterile. Another plus point that really made the Oxygen an absolute joy to listen to is partly due to a relatively balanced upper-midrange gain which unlike many other offerings, does not have an overly emphasised pinna gain that makes it overly shouty. Again, it is a matter of preference, but it is one of the traits I appreciate on the Oxygen.


Treble (Score: 8.5/10)


Treble performance is applaudable as well as it possesses great extension, well refined as well as an airy presentation. I did not detect any sibilance nor harshness in this region, but I do feel that its attention to detail tires me out after an hour or so. Not really a con but just my thoughts to you readers that may help you understanding more about the Oxygen. I would classify its treble as energetic, detailed and refined that will satisfy most audiophiles’ cravings for treble.


Overall







The Oxygen nailed most areas right and on top of that, they have an impressive soundstage and imaging capabilities that you can find in higher priced offerings. Tonality and balance wise they do sound balanced and doesn’t sound too skewed to either ends. Timbre wise I do feel that brass instruments especially trumpets may sound too forward sometimes and hence unnatural when listening to “The Godfather OST”. To sum it up, it is one of the best single dynamic driver IEMs that I heard so far.


Comparisons

Vs Tanchjim Hana






Although the Hana resembles much like the Oxygen, it does sound brighter in its upper midrange and hence more likely to cause fatigue after longer listening periods. Although the Hana is significantly more affordable, I would prefer the Oxygen purely due to sonic preferences and a more robust tuning. The Hana is no slouch here in terms of other sonic attributes, but I do prefer a less fatiguing upper midrange which the Oxygen has which explains my choice here.


Vs Sony MDR EX800ST






Against one of my favourites, the EX800ST does have a much better fit, causing much lesser discomfort as compared to the Oxygen. The lows are not as refined on the EX800STs, but they are very competent in terms of tonality and linearity as compared to the Oxygen. The mids of the EX800ST are relatively more forward and sounds more accurate and detailed in its midrange/vocal’s capabilities as compared to the Oxygen. The Oxygen does beat the Sonys by a mile in its treble, having more extension and sounds way more refined/less grainy as compared to the EX800ST.


I find myself stuck in deciding where do I lean towards between the Oxygen and the EX800ST as I much prefer the flat tuning of the EX800ST but at the same time an adoration for the treble of the Oxygen. To summarise, I would prefer the EX800ST due to fit issues but at the same time, I would disagree with myself because of how well the Oxygen sounds.


Conclusion





In conclusion, although much pricier as compared to the Hana, the “YIN” manages to hold its ground and maintain its status of equals in terms of price to performance with the Oxygen being better tuned as compared to the Hana. The Tanchjim Oxygen was truly an enjoyable experience with good sonic capabilities and versatility that can satisfy most critical listeners and handle most genres but only to a fault in its fit issues where it causes some discomfort. If you can overcome the fitting problem, you might be looking at a winner here with great packaging, build and sound which sets many other IEM makers to shame.

Disclaimer: I bought this at my own expense during the 2020 august sale for 180 usd

Price: 270 usd (non-sale, will judge it at it´s normal price)

Specifications:

Diaphragm: carbon

Frequency range: 10Hz — 40kHz

Impedance: 32Ω

Sensitivity: 110dB

Distortion: <0.2%

Noise reduction: 37db


Accessories:

S/M/L wide bore silicone tips

S/M/L narrow bore silicone tips

Black cable with-mic

Silver cable no-mic

Tanchjim emblem

Carry case

Replacement filters



Cables: Both cables are pretty bad both in measurements (mic = 0.43 and no-mic = 53) and in build quality. Plastic connectors at the 2pin, metal for the divider and 3,5mm connector. Non-working chin-slider for the no-mic cable. They are quite thin too, recommend switching to a 3rd party cable. Wished they sent just 1 higher quality cable instead of 2 bad ones.







Build: Very high-quality build with stainless steel. Feels solid and compact. The nozzle has a lip and a cloth mesh. The 2pin connector is recessed so that might cause some cables to not fit it, if the 2pin isn’t protruded.

Fit: I have no problems with the fit, but It is a short nozzle so that might be a problem for some.

Comfort: Pretty comfortable for me, it isn’t very big or small. It is pretty cold when you first put them in after a while though.

Isolation: Average isolation, it does cover most of my ear but there is a vent.

Setup: Ibasso DX160 (low gain, volume around 36), Faaeal litz copper cable, Final audio Type E LL tips

Lows: Low quantity (if the song has bass, you will get bass if not then you get no bass, but overall, on the lower side) but high quality. Overall, it is on the tighter and faster side with good texture and good extension so it is a clean bass. Sub and mid-bass are pretty even.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), very clean due to the speed and tightness, but lacking in quantity and texture. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper sounds very detailed and clean.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), tight and fast so it is very clean, texture also feels very good but needs more quantity.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), Extends very low but needs more rumble. The punch is pretty tight, fast and textured but needs more quantity.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), clean and powerful but needs a bit more texture along with some more speed/tightness.

Mids: Female vocals are extremely natural and very clean (although they can be sharp and sibilant on some tracks), very forward too. Male vocals are not on the same level both in quality and quality, since there is some lack of warmth that makes it less natural but still very clean and detailed.

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), very clean/detailed and sounds extremely natural due to the tonality (not too bright or too warm and note weight is very good for it).

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), Same as on OldToday, these tracks on the oxygen sounds amazing.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), sharp vocals and sibilant.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), sharp vocals and sibilant.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), Very clean/detailed but it is a bit too bright for the vocals and lacking some warmth although the note weight suits it well.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Same as above, but this one lacks even more warmth and also some thickness too.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), the electric guitars are very sharp.

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), too bright and shouty.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), both the cellos/violins are very detailed and textured, but the violins are a bit more natural sounding due to the tonality while the cellos lack a bit warmth.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), very natural and detailed and cymbals are very clear.

Soundstage: Extremely wide soundstage and depth is also very impressive.

Tonality: Bright-neutral and exceptional timbre for the acoustic instruments like pianos, guitars and violins however warmer instruments like cellos are bottlenecked by the tonality being too bright for them. And electric guitars tend to be sharp, especially on rock/metal tracks.

Details: Extremely detailed.

Instrument Separation: Separation is extremely good but imaging is exceptional.

Music: For the most part Hiroyuki Sawano songs aren’t that good for the oxygen due to it lacking some bass quantity for his songs. The exception to that is his live albums, where the bass texture, timbre, soundstage, imaging/separation and clean sound matches extremely good for it.

Songs that highlight the IEM:

Good genres: Acoustic songs, OST, orchestral, Live

Bad genres: EDM (not enough bass quantity and rumble), Hip-hop (too bright and not enough bass quantity), R&B (too bright and not enough bass quantity), Trance (too forward female vocals and not enough bass quantity), (rock/metal can have sharp electric guitars but otherwise no problem)



Comparisons:

IEM: Tanchjim Hana

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), Extremely similar but a tiny bit lower extension in the Oxygen and also overall a bit cleaner sounding (but it is very close and is just splitting hairs).

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), Same on both, no difference.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), Sam on both, no difference.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocals are a bit brighter and also more fatiguing on the Hana, so the oxygen sounds a bit more natural.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit sharper on the Hana.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), more detailed and cleaner on the Oxygen, sounds a tiny bit warmer on the Hana.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), Much sharper electric guitars on the Hana.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), The cellos are equal but the violins are much cleaner and tonally correct on the oxygen, the oxygen has better treble extension and sounds airier.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), Very similar but less sharp on the oxygen and a bit more detailed.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), extremely similar but a bit more detailed and better instrument separation along with timbre (due to it being too sharp on the Hana). Soundstage is similar.

Overall: The oxygen is overall a more refined sounding iem and while both are on the brighter side and sometimes fatiguing, the oxygen isn’t as sharp as the Hana is.

IEM: Moondrop Blessing 2

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extension and rumble are very similar but is much tighter and a bit faster and a bit more texture on the B2. Quantity is a bit higher on the Oxygen.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), quite a bit more quantity and also more textured on the Oxygen but is tighter and faster on the B2.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), tighter and faster on the B2 but more quantity and texture on the Oxygen. The individual bass strikes are more easily heard in the Oxygen since the B2 has way too little bass quantity here.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), a bit more detailed and cleaner on the B2, but much more natural on the oxygen. The B2 with it´s BA´s gives it´s timbre some more “BA flavor” so it sounds unnatural in comparison.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit sharper on the B2.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), a bit more detailed and cleaner on the B2, but much more natural on the oxygen due to it being a bit warmer and thicker.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), both have sharp electric guitars.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), a bit more textured cellos on the B2 and overall a bit more detailed on it. But the violins are much more natural due to the timbre. Similar treble extension and air in both.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit more detailed and cleaner but more natural on the Oxygen.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is a bit wider on the B2 but is a bit deeper on the Oxygen. Details and instrument separation are better on the B2. But timbre is much better on the Oxygen and much more natural overall.

Overall: Bass is a tie with the Sub-bass being better on the B2 and mid-bass better on the Oxygen. Mids and treble sounds more natural on the Oxygen while it is a bit more detailed and cleaner on the B2. The technicalities on the B2 are one step above the oxygen (except the timbre).

But If you want a clean but natural iem I would recommend the Oxygen over the B2, but if you want as clean and detailed as possible then the B2 could be the better choice (at the sacrifice of naturality and a much bigger physical size).



Conclusion: Very good iem with a very clean but not boring signature and exceptional technicalities amongst the single DD´s I have heard. For the genres that the Oxygen is good for it is in its own league and while it does have genres it isn’t very suited for (not very versatile) they aren’t exactly terrible and it can play them, just that there are other iems that will satisfy you more in those genres. Thanks for reading.

Ranking: S

Reference/test songs:

Rating: 9
Sound: 8.8


Intro
Am I an audiophile? I think that's in the eye of the beholder and depends mainly on who I compare myself with. Compared to my girlfriend, I am audiophile to the power of 10, because she is happy if music sounds out of her headphones at all, no matter in which way. Of course, I assume here that there is simply no comparison and, moreover, no will to classify what is heard in terms of sound. If I now compare myself with someone who is always striving to take his audio pleasure into new spheres through constant expansions, detailed adjustments and connections, which is usually accompanied by record-breaking sums of money, then I am again small with a hat on. Likewise, I wouldn't claim to have particularly analytical ears, but a broader musical understanding and the gift of being able to identify and compare even subtle differences.

What am I getting at? The HARMAN curve reflects, among other things, an "ideal" signature, which is supposed to do justice to the majority of the music consuming population, so it can be called mainstream.
So am I a mainstream consumer when it comes to sound reproduction? I think so and I stand by it. What distinguishes me, however, is the fact that I look beyond my own nose, what still exists and what might broaden my preferences, or even change/adapt them.
According to this, the TANCHJIM OXYGEN should be the jackpot for me, but
did he really?



Handling
A bit the QXYGEN reminds me of some 64 AUDIO models, concerning the rough shape. I like this simple design very much, also in terms of comfort.
The IEM name engraved on the full metal case (left) and the company logo (right) are of course a matter of taste, but I like this design. Apart from that, the faceplate is ground and therefore matt, only the engravings are "polished" and therefore stand out. The OXYGEN is also available in black.

As far as the workmanship is concerned, TANCHJIM cannot be blamed at all. Valuable, robust, stylish and above all focused more on the usability than on abstract ear warmers.

The scope of delivery is quite lavish, with a selection of silicone tips, two 2-pin cables (copper and silver, I like the silver one better haptically, but it doesn't have a micro), a hardcase and a golden small plate with the company logo. The whole thing comes in a nice square package.

The isolation is ok, but it needs music to be able to really isolate yourself from the outside world.



Sound
The good Mr. HARMAN has added his mustard here and so well that I would say that the OXYGEN hits the curve except for slight deviations and to the same extent, as for example the Moondrop KXXS, or STARFIELD, as well as the KANAS PRO, which was my favorite single dynamic IEM with Harman style until now. Was, because the OXYGEN is for me one more small upgrade and has conquered my HARMAN-infested heart.
So, enough with HARMAN, because even if I would call myself a mainstreamer, I don't agree 100% with the curve (which is always adjusted)

Let's get straight to what the OXYGEN does really well and that is the bass. Plenty of sub-bass level without neglecting the mid-bass, respectively there is a slight focus, which is a bit contradictory to HARMAN. In the upper bass it drops a bit, with a smooth transition to the midrange. The bass has punch, body and is also noticeable when the track delivers it. Due to the choice of drivers the dynamics are also a clear advantage and one never has the feeling that there is a lack of bass, but also not that it is too much. Just right for me, to the point and naturally. Subjectively, I find hardly any tonal errors in this area and also overall with the OXYGEN. The bass doesn't steal anyone's thunder, but doesn't put itself under a bushel either, but it could create a bit more pressure.

When talking about the HARMAN curve, the somewhat brighter tuning in the mids and also the accentuation of some instruments and partly the voices are sometimes "criticized", which can become unpleasant in the worst case. Well, the OXYGEN can't be denied this, but the question is also how the driver handles it technically and I find that this bothers me much more, for example with the STARFIELD. The OXYGEN gets by with the same signature with less negative hardness and sounds more relaxed, despite the same tuning. I find voices on the OXYGEN absolutely correct in tone, even if they can seldom be a bit demanding. Here one should have the volume in mind.
The voices are placed in front of the mix, but in the panorama they are wonderfully enclosed by the instruments, with a realistic separation. The mids manage to combine lightness, volume and naturalness with a slight bright alignment, which makes the OXYGEN appear very airy and spatial. This all sounds very positive, but through the Pink Glasses I can still see the somewhat too researched upper mids and I would like to exchange some of the relaxedness for a little more assertiveness of the lower mids.

The highs are very resolving and transparent, but can tolerate and forgive weaker sources without losing detail and naturalness. Nevertheless, I'd like to go a bit more directly to the point here, even though I appreciate the smooth but competent manner just as much. I think in the high frequencies most minds are divided and it is always difficult to make everyone happy. Before I have to take the in-ear out again after 5 minutes with an earache, but I can imagine that I've heard every micro detail, I prefer to swim in more relaxed waters and accept a couple of deductions. Please don't stone me now, I am also aware through my own experiences that a high resolution high tone is not immediately accompanied by earache and migraine, but here one quickly finds oneself in a completely different price range. The highs perform extremely well for their class, don't hide anything and surprise you with fine micro details every now and then.

Concerning imaging I am really impressed. Everything seems to harmonise perfectly and to build up on top of each other, side by side and one behind the other, with enough space in between to easily locate and focus on even single details.



Outro
The OXYGEN is the first IEM I was allowed to hear from TANCHJIM and even though I approached the sound with many expectations through the tuning I had heard before, I was not disappointed despite the weaknesses I was just as aware of.
Now, what would I miss to my happiness if we took the HARMAN curve as a reference? Well, maybe a bit more warmth, fuller lower and tamed upper mids, and a My more definition in the trebles. But these are my own preferences and also when it comes to OXYGEN grumbling on a high level. Who loves the HARMAN CURE will also love the OXYGEN and with it you get one of the best single dynamic IEMs with this signature on the market.
Even though TANCHJIM is a bit higher priced than MOONDROP with their comparable models, I think that with the OXYGEN you get a small but nice upgrade in terms of sound and technology. I guess at school you would have been scratched close to 1- with the OXYGEN, but in the end you'll be happy to get a well-deserved 2+ in terms of sound!



Thanks to OARDIO for the review unit.
https://www.oardio.com/earphones/tanchjim/tanchjim-oxygen-silver.html?___store=default

___________________________________________________________
More reviews: CHI-FIEAR
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHIFIEAR/