Tanchjim Zero

TLDR :

If you're sligth neutral bright audiophile you can go for it just for 16$.
just try to pair with it Final Audio Type E Silicone Eartips & a warm source .


PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

Tanchjim Zero IEMs.
6x pairs of silicone eartips.
Fabric carrying pouch.





Sound Impression :

source: Dongle: xduoo link2 bal
desktop: (ifi zen dac v2+ ifi zen can)
(Smsl su9+ Cayin iha-6)





eartips rolling : using spinfit w1 , ZEOS Render Memory Foam Eartips,Final Audio Type E Silicone Eartips.

I got the best result with Final Audio Type E Silicone Eartips cause it elevated bass quantity.




[BASS]

By no means is the bass the kind you can feel in your chest, but it doesn't sound that thin , it's just little amount .
The lack of texture & definition in the bass is my primary complaint about it.
Leading edges are rounded off, & the majority of bass notes have a similar sound.
Although it can create a slight rumble, the sub-bass also feels weak.
with ifi zen stack just hitting x-bass give me that lackness in bass .
you can use final audio type e silicone tips to get out more bass that will help you a lot.

[MIDS]

The midrange is the strongest suite of Tanchjim Zero.
But it is still thin sounding ,not in a bad way though , but still i prefer more fill sound in mid range .
My initial impression of the mids was that, for such an inexpensive IEM, the overall resolution is decent.
The Zero doesn't sound very dark or veiled, but it also doesn't seem particularly clear either.
The loosened upper treble tuning is primarily to blame for this.
Although vocals & instruments sound close to realistic & have a pretty close to neutral note weight.
However, the upper midrange lift is executed well & sounds uniform.
There is a little shouting in the upper mids .

[TREBLE]

Zero's treble presentation sounds well-balanced & allows for good clarity & detail retrieval .
I find the extension to be fairly nice, & there is enough of air retrieval.
sometimes it hits pinna glare spot . But with Cayin iha6 i don't find any shoutyness.
Thin treble due to slight bright tuning

Technicalities:

Zero's soundstage is fairly wide for it pricing .
It's a little out of your head, a little short in height, but good in depth.
I have no trouble distinguishing the instruments, & the layering is also extremely good for its budget price.
I play csgo fps game oh my i can easily pick up the details , but gun shot sometimes seems very shouty due to bright tuning.


Rating:
Bass: 3.5/5
Mids: 3.7/5
Treble: 3.9/5
Imaging/Separation: 4.0/5
Staging: 3.8/5
Dynamics/Speed: 3.7/5




Conclusion :

The Tanchjim Zero is a superb option if you're looking for a neutral, technically-sounding IEM for under 20$.
You get excellent neutral bright tuning, lean bass, lean mids, lively treble, excellent soundstage imaging, & the capacity to scale extremely well with sources.
On first listen, it might not blow you away, but with enough persistence, it's guaranteed to grow on you.

(total 3 - 5 mins read)

Tanchjim Zero is Tanchjim's latest offering into the budget $20usd segment of IEMs. With so many budget IEMs being pumped out into the market nowadays (not to mention the sudden rise of IEMs named "Zero" being released), can Tanchjim Zero stand out enough to be considered over the other "Zeros"? Read on to find out.

UNBOXING​

The unboxing here is pretty simple, but provides you with everything you need. The box it comes with is small and compact, with Tanchjim's mascot as its cover. Upon opening the box, you get a carrying pouch, 3 sets of wide bore tips (S,M,L), 3 sets of narrow bore tips (S,M,L), and the IEM itself alongside its attached cable.

Sadly, the cable it comes with isn't detachable, which means once the cable breaks, you have to either get a new pair or get it MMCX modded. However, the Tanch Zero only cost $16usd so Im not going to make such a huge fuss about it.

Overall, other than a detachable cable, it comes with everything you'd need. No complaints.

FIT & COMFORT​

Fit and comfort are very much perfect for me. Unlike the Tanchjim Ola which has fitting issues with some people, I do not see most people having any issues with fit with the Tanchjim Zero. They wear cable down and fit very comfortably in my ears without much tinkering.

As for eartips, I went with the M-sized narrow bore eartips as those fitted me best and sounded best to my ears. The stock wide bore eartips do not sound good with Tanchjim Zero IMO as they cut down bass too much, which makes the Zero overly bright. YMMW as everyone's ears is different.

​

BUILD QUALITY​

As for build quality, no complaints. The IEMs are light and small, made completely out of resin (I think). The only complaint I have is the non-detachable cable, which might be an issue down the road if you aren't careful.

SOUND SIGNATURE​

In terms of sound signature, I would describe Tanchjim Zero as "neutral bright", with its emphasis shifting towards upper mids and treble. Bass here is lean and punchy, midrange is clean and flat, upper midrange is slightly forward, and treble is lively & engaging. If you are a basshead/someone who prefers bass, steer clear away from the Tanch Zero, as these are obviously not for you. However, if you are someone who prefers a brighter, leaner, more neutral sound signature (see DF-neutral, IEF neutral etc.), you are in for a treat.

AMPLIFICATION​

In terms of amplification, although I have no issues driving the Tanch Zero directly out of the Apple Dongle and Samsung S9 Plus, but since they scale so well with sources, I would recommend trying them with better sources. If you are a reviewer who review sources, I would recommend getting the Tanch Zero as these are great budget tools to have for testing out sources and A/Bing them.

Personally, I drive the Tanch Zero with my Aune x1s/iFi Zen DAC, paired with my iFi Zen CAN class A amp (with iFi IEMatch).

SUBJECTIVE SOUND​

Let's start by talking about Tanch Zero's midrange and treble performance. In my opinion, Tanch Zero's treble performance is exceptional for its price. Treble here (albeit slightly on the brighter side) is lively & engaging, yet not peaky nor harsh sounding. Detail in the treble region is very good for the price too. As a person who enjoys a lot of Rock n' Roll, metal, J-rock, and Punk Rock music, having such great treble performance at such a low price is such a joy to listen to. These are easily my favourite IEMs for treble at around the $20usd price range, with only the HZ HeartMirror and Tanchjim Ola beating it in the treble segment for both tuning and treble (keep in mind both HZ HeartMirror and Tanchjim Ola are $50usd IEMs).

The midrange here is clean and flat sounding, with no colouration. Vocals are clean and forward, with no "honkiness" or shoutiness. However, I do find the midrange to sound a bit thin for my taste (somewhat similar to how the HD600 sounds with solid-state amps), which negatively affects the timbre a little bit. Because of this, I tend to turn on "Xbass/Truebass" mode on my iFi Zen DAC/CAN to compensate for the lack of fullness in the bass & mids region.

"I think a bit of added warmth in the mid & bass region would improve the overall timbre and tonal balance of the Tanch Zero."​

Lastly, in terms of bass, it is pretty flat sounding, but for my preference, I find the bass here to be slightly lacking, especially in terms of "bass fullness". Overall, I find the bass here to sound thin. Although bass here is punchy and snappy with no bass bleed, I think a bit of added bass and warmth would make the Tanch Zero a much more versatile IEM, especially for bass lovers and for genres like Hip Hop/EDM etc.

For iFi users with the Xbass/Truebass option, I recommend trying the Tanch Zero with the Xbass option turned on. It makes the bass fuller, punchier, and gives the midrange a bit more body. No bass bleed or distortion whatsoever.


In terms of technicalities and detail retrieval overall, I think Tanch Zero blows it out of the park for its price. No, it will not beat IEMs at a higher price range like the HZSound Heart Mirror ($50usd), Tanchjim Ola ($50usd), Dunu Titan S ($80usd) etc...

but for its price, I have no complaints. Detail retrieval here is overall very good for the price, especially in the treble region.

Soundstage and imaging are great too. With an "out of the head" soundstage and imaging presentation. If you are into live orchestral music, the soundstage and imaging capabilities of the Tanch Zero really shine.

Transients are sharp and snappy too, especially when driven well. This contributes to the imaging being quite sharp and accurate, which makes them great for competitive gaming. However, I do not enjoy them for casual gaming as there is not enough bass to satisfy my bass-loving head.

COMPARISONS​

Tanchjim Zero ($16usd) Vs Truthear HOLA ($19usd)

Tanch Zero in comparison sounds brighter, livelier, leaner, and more open than the HOLA. In terms of technicalities, it is also better than HOLA. Soundstage is noticeably wider, imaging is more accurate, transients are sharper, and detail retrieval is also better than HOLA. However, bass is significantly weaker than HOLA, timbre is thinner, vocals/treble can be slightly bright, and noise isolation is noticeably worse.

Truthear HOLA in comparison sounds smoother, warmer, bassier, and is overall the much better all-rounder. Bass is significantly better than Zero with thicker punchier fuller bass response, midrange is warmer with thicker note weight, vocals are more relaxed and smooth, and treble overall sounds darker and smoother too. However, technicalities are not as good as Zero, transients and imaging sound blurred in comparison, detail retrieval isn't as good, and overall tuning sounds "duller" in comparison.

IN CONCLUSION​

If you want a neutral and technical-sounding IEM at around the 20usd price range, the Tanchjim Zero is an exceptional choice. For $15.99usd, you get great technicalities (for the price), neutral bright tuning, lean bass, lean mids, lively treble, very good soundstage imaging capabilities, and the ability to scale very well with sources.

However, noise isolation is bad, bass performance isn't great (too lean and lacks fullness), timbre is a bit thin, and some might find the tuning too bright/shouty.

Overall, still highly recommended for neutral heads, treble lovers, and those looking for good technicalities at a low price!





Thank you HiFiGo for sending over the Tanchjim Zero for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Interested in getting the Tanchjim Zero? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):
Hifigo link - https://hifigo.com/products/tanchjim-zero
Amazon link (slightly cheaper) - https://www.amazon.com/TANCHJIM-Zer...ture/dp/B0B8HYJKKD?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

Tanchjim Zero Review



General Info (Packaging/Build/Comfort)
I believe Tanchjim needs no introduction to anyone reading my review? They’re very famous for their Oxygen, a single DD IEM which is considered by most as one of the best single DD iem, I have not had the chance to hear it yet and hopefully one day I will be able to.
Packaging for Zero is quite good considering its asking price. It carries the usual Tanchjim styled packaging with the anime waifu as front cover. You get eartips and the IEM itself and a storage pouch, which is fair for the asking price if you ask me. Nothing to complain about.
Most people should have no issue with the fit for Tanchjim Zero, the nozzle is quite wide and a little short, so you might need to spend some time tip rolling if you’re having issues with the fit/seal. Overall, works well for me and no discomfort throughout the long listening session (3-4 hours in ear).

Source
Macbook Air M2 Apple Music/Tidal -> Tanchjim Zero
Macbook Air M2 Apple Music/Tidal -> iFi iDSD Nano Black Label -> Tanchjim Zero
Tempotec V6 -> Tanchjim Zero



Sound
Zero’s sound signature is leaning towards neutral and it is certainly not for basshead. I am using the stock eartips with narrow bore L sized, had to up size in order to achieve good seal and fit. Note weight is pretty good, however, if you switch the stock eartips to FInal Type E eartips, it has got thicker note weight and slightly meaty low end, also slightly wider soundstage and a little better in instruments separation

Bass

• Bass on the Zero is fast and tight, no trouble keeping up in Slipknot’s People = crap! It never sounded muddy nor bleed into the mids
• The bass quantity is definitely lacking but i am not a basshead, so it doesn’t really concern me and it works well with my library (Metal, Rock, Nu Metal, Jazz, etc etc)
• Sub bass rumble is there but lacking a little extension, it might not be that suitable for EDM track, something like the bass that’s coming out from a full range speaker without a dedicated subwoofer if you get what i mean
• The bass has got good enough texture but i do wish if there’s a little bit more in terms of quantity for the fun factor

Mids

• The mids sounded quite lush to my ears, timbre sounds natural to my ears and i’m honestly surprised that this is a 15$ IEM, Tanchjim’s tuning is no doubt doing an excellent job here
• Vocal positioning is not too forward nor recessed, just slightly few steps away from your face
• Male’s vocal does lack a little texture to my ears, female vocal on the other hand, sounded sweet and has got good texture, Anita Mui’s vocal sounds very sweet and pleasant to listen to
• Instruments in this range has got good note weight to it and i have to repeat that this is a 15$ IEM and i’m really surprised in terms of its performance
• The lower to upper mids transition is also pretty smooth and there is no noticeable harshness on the upper mids

Treble

• The treble response is never harsh yet it has got a good amount of energy to it
• The extension is quite good to my ears, plenty of air
• Detail retrieval is good enough for this price, anything else will just be nitpicking
• Overall the treble on Zero is very pleasant to listen to

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage on Zero is good, slightly out of your head, a little lacking in terms of height but good depth
• Imaging is surprisingly very good, especially at this price point, i don’t have any issue identifying the instruments and good layering as well

Driveability

• Zero is easy to drive but it does benefit from a good source to squeeze out that last few bits of performance
• It sounded good straight out from my Macbook Air M2’s audio jack, however when fed with Tempotec’s V6 DAP and iFi iDSD Nano Black Label, it exhibited better control in terms of bass and also slightly bigger soundstage
• Doesn’t seem to benefit much from extra amping power

Comparison (KBear Little Q)

• Slightly pricier than Zero
• It has got more bass quantity compared to Zero but still nowhere near to be classified as basshead IEM
• In terms of technicalities, they are more or less on par but the difference is more on the tuning and sound signature, Zero is more on neutral bright while Little Q is slightly warm and fun sounding
• Little Q is a bullet styled IEM so it can achieve a slightly deeper insertion, no issue on the comfort, as for Zero, the stock tips doesn’t work for me, but i guess it’s just my ears, so your experience might vary
• Which to go for if you ask me? Zero if you’re a purist, Little Q if you prefer your music to be more musical

Final Thoughts
There are several Zeroes in the market currently, namely the Truthear Zero, Salnotes Zero, and this Tanchjim’s Zero, i have reviewed both the Truthear Zero and Salnotes Zero and i like the two of them, the same can be said for Tanchjim’s Zero as well. It looks like it will be my default recommendation for those with tight budgets yet looking for a neutral signature with good technicalities.

*A big thanks to @shenzhenaudio as always for setting me up with the review sample in exchange for this review. All thoughts are of my own and I am in no way under any influence to produce this review.

Head over to the store if you’re interested in getting a pair
Tanchjim Zero - Non Affiliated

The Tanchjim Zero is a new ultra-budget ear-monitor designed and made to disrupt the present-day market. Tanchjim went and found recent DMT 4 Technology to trickledown into a more cost effective/smaller unit. Such an invention was a success, but with stipulations. The Tanchjim Zero is not well rounded, but when you feed it correctly it performs miracles showing just what this new 10mm DMT 4 Composite Technology is about. As you already know, most of the sound value is generated by the driver. So find the ultimate low-cost enclosure and put a revolutionary driver inside, and that's what they have done. Add to that a “waterproof/dustproof’ filter mechanism, and a custom Litz wound attached cable and we have what we have. Make it small so it fits everyone with supreme comfort. Make it lightweight and pretty........make it sound amazing and people will buy it, end of story.

First Impressions:
After 50 hours of burn-in I started to try the Tanchjim Zero out. Before putting them in my ears I took some mental notes about construction. First-off these are incredibly small. The Hidizs Mermaid MM2 large medium bore tips I choose were almost the entire length of the IEM. Such tips were truly the right choice as the length helped make the Zero fit even better. I made the mistake of putting them on “over-ear” then I looked at the writing on the left side and noticed it was upside down. So these have been designed to be worn with the cables down. Truly you could wear them anyway you want, but cable down does seem to feel best. They are close to nothing really, barely an IEM almost. But don’t let size fool you…….more on that to come. The Tanchjim Zero has a single 10mm composite diaphragm. Doing some casual research I found that this particular driver technology is trickledown from other Tanchjim ear-phones. The use of DMT 4 technology is found in the $42.99 Tanchjim Ola. So we have this “flagship” technology found in the humble Zero. Add to that the “waterproof/dustproof’ filter mechanism like found protecting the Ola. In fact I can see two really small filters. One more noticeable in the photos here, on top, but one almost hidden below the driver right about the cable entrance. Talk about cables, I’ve never owned a Tanchjim before but this Litz wound, anti-oxidation build is something to look at. Upon closer examination the cable is floating in a clear plastic sheath, but twirling inside showing both perfect symmetry of wind, and encapsulated entirely in rubberized plastic. Such a cable is nice to look at as well as handles fine. Upon inspection you can see there is a fixed application to the IEM body, as maybe the IEM is almost too small for MMCX or 2pin? Such extras as a cables slider and cable splitter work well, showing a black rubberized look which continues all the way to the 3.5mm gold plug. Even though the Zero loves power it’s impossible to use 4.4mm balanced amplification without breaking out the soldering gun.

Adding the Zero to the ear is helped by nozzle angle, which just happens to end with both a nice steel screen and functional lip. I had no problem with fit and was truly amazed at how ergonomic and comfortable the Zero was. We forget just how nice simplicity can be with attempting to get proper fit with the myriad of IEM shapes and sizes out there. Here the Zero has no choice other than to fit perfectly, and I would guess this would hold true for everyone. Nothing is touching the ear but the ear-tip, and you have control on which one you choose. The included 2 sets of tips, a total of 7 pairs all are included. Some offer a wide bore and some medium bore.



First sound impressions:
The size of the stage was surprisingly the first thing I noticed. Such a contrast is in direct contrast to the minimal size and weight? Not only that, but there was a nice forward sound that helped make the outer reaches seem that much further out. While not quite the same as the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, I kept getting the urge to compare the two.

Dead Can Dance
Anastasis
All In Good Time:
44.1 kHz - 24 bit

Really this was the perfect choice for first impressions. I want to go fairly light on the little Tanchjim Zero, as there is plenty of time (in the future) to cause it trouble. While the bass is fully delineated, as really it’s the first thing you hear in the song. Opening right at 1 second, we are then are witness to a style of circular synth washes which come and go actually farther out in the stage. The two instruments make a style of sonic cradle for the coming vocals. At 29 seconds Brendan Perry makes his vocal entrance. I’m starting to wonder if these are truly vocal IEMs? I mean what else would they be? The separation is there, the clarity is relatively there? How much more vocals do you really think you’re going to get for $15.99. Yep…..they cost a penny under $16.00 bucks, free shipping too when you purchase from Linsoul. That and a one year warranty. Though that may not include cables, and being this cable is permanently attached, I’m not sure how that would work out?

Anyway the sound is both warm and relatively laid-back. But more than that I can’t help but feel they are getting the very most out of this driver. Probably the reason I want to compare with the 7Hz Salnotes Zero is there is a way both introduce the bass and treble which doesn’t exactly seem like the upper treble and lower bass frequencies are removed, even though I know they are. This is the single full-range dynamic driver world we live in. Amazing really when you think about it. While obviously not present is the super tip-top treble display, but this song has a sound at 3 minutes 47 seconds which is a treble whisper like embellishment that works it’s way into the nicest outside reaches of the soundstage. Meaning…..I’m not bored…….not bored at all. And…..that's the kicker when you’re a reviewer and get stuff in the mail constantly...........then a humble $15.99 IEM shows up. I guess both you and I could be forgiven for judging stuff singularly on price. As really that’s how almost the whole world works…….extra cash gets you extra sound. But what if there was a style of trickledown technology and the correct application of it? Would that gift us with what we have here?

I don’t want whatever I’m experiencing to end, so I haven’t purposely gone into heavier music genres. If I could, I would just like to be left to this album……this whole album. Oh…..the album just ended and next up is the album Apocalypse and Chill by Delain. Strange how theses two albums are next to each other on the Sony WM1A, as they are both used extensively to demo IEMs, and I have 5309 songs on-board? Go figure?





Delain
Apocalypse and Chill
One Second:
44.1 kHz - 24 bit

Woman’s vocals here, it’s the first noticed thing.............. not bad, not bad at all, though the foundation of the song is taking a slight hit. Meaning the drums and bass as well as the guitar are missing some authority. Not a deal breaker by any means, but what happens is because the drums are taking a back seat as well as the bass frequencies, we are left with a more upper midrange focus. ………and that is what's there? The rhythm guitar lives there, but more than that this song isn’t everyday rhythm guitar. No…….it’s a jacked-up, over the top, heavily processed affair. Such tone is demanding interest through perfect distortion, polished to the harmonic hilt with glossy phase shifting and who-knows what else? Just like the whole image this band parlays, it’s tight, polished and flawless. Yet this guitar tone isn’t always reproduced correctly. And here is another example of it not being totally wrong but slightly thin and missing the lower frequencies. It’s more airy, less grounded and fast. Does it ruin the song? Not exactly, but the other (Head-Fi) members were right, these are not exactly Metal IEMs. But this is still relatively clear, because you take away a little of the lows and that’s what is left over. Still I can get into this style of reproduction, and find it enjoyable, In fact somehow some songs are actually better parleyed than others on this album. Normally I never listen for that and look at albums as sonic wholes when judging ear-phones? But here the 3rd song “Chemical Redemption” is great, there is more upper midrange action which the Zero is locking onto and showing in good form. Call me easy going, and maybe even not much of a reviewer but I can listen to this? I know in the back of my head through that the 7Hz Salnotes Zero will do this style of music better. My cohorts in IEM research were right, there is something left out here with Metal, though it’s a song by song affair almost?



Comparisons:
Moving right over to the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, I finally got my wish. And low and behold, it was set-up with the 7Hz Salnotes Zero cable so that everything could be equal, using the same ear-tips and same Sony WM1A 3.5mm unbalanced output. The lower midrange/bass was thicker with the 7Hz Zero, as well as the entire presentation was slightly, just ever so slightly warmer. This made the Delain songs more accessible as well as more realistic in replay than the first Dead Can Dance songs. So across the board the 7Hz Zero was the better IEM. This still doesn’t deter from understanding and cherishing the Tanchjim Zero for exactly what it is. Meaning there is still a place for what it does. Due to a pulling of the drums and bass back we are left with a complementary IEM to the 7Hz Zero. If I had to pick one it would be the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, but that still doesn’t mean the Tanchjim Zero is bad really, it’s just not as good with certain styles of music. Its cleaner and has better imaging in ways due to the reduced bass, leaving room for the midrange elements to shine, where the 7Hz gets slightly more compressed doing it all. What this boils down to is probably the 7Hz Zero getting more use due to being more rounded, with the Tanchjim Zero having a specialized use only better in certain areas with certain music. The feel and fit of the Tanchjim Zero is fantastic, it’s a third of the size of the 7Hz. Also if someone listened to singer songwriter stuff all day, and maybe needed an inexpensive IEM for work, the Tanchjim Zero would be the choice. There is so much to love about how the Tanchjim Zero goes about its business, there is an honesty about the tone, being the tune is so fantastic, it’s just not everything. It could be everything to a point, it just depends on your music genres of choice.





Continued sound impressions:

Nova Twins
Supernova
Antagonist:
44.1 kHz - 16 bit

Here there are a hodgepodge of influences. Truly this band has a specific sound, but it’s a mixture of many things.

Nova Twins are an English rock duo formed in London, England, in 2014, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South.Their most recent album, Supernova, was released in June 2022.

Musical style:
Nova Twins have been described by The Guardian as a "bass-heavy duo fusing grime and punk", and by themselves as "urban punk".PRS for Music called them "a genre bending amalgamation of raw punk energy, illegal rave electronics and unapologetic grimey attitude."

Here with the Tanchjim Zero we can hear every lyric and change-up. The saving grace results from the clarity of the vocals, though the backbone of this musical style is the bass. The Twins have made a career out of finding new ways to introduce the standard bass as an electronic instrument. Gone are the full harmonics and we are left with a trebly thin bass which travels up to upper registers the bass has no place in visiting. A fast switch of a floor-peddle and we travel back to known bass tones, only they are fully distorted and full of grain. Such is the creativity and talent, to ask of future listeners to forget all they know and understand about bass. Yet even with this new idea, we are left out in the cold. No, this doesn’t work at all. Nothing short of a portable transistor radio with-out headphones is the resulting tone. Truly the opposite of what anyone would want in replay! Does switching to the 7Hz Salnotes Zero make a difference? Absolutely, the change to the 7Hz was slight, but that’s how it goes, it’s like spices where finding the personal taste is the critical difference between success and failure. The next level was ditching the provided cable and joining a 4.4mm to get a bigger and broader 7Hz sound. Now whatever treble was going on was harmonically enriched and pushed-out to the sides, the bass was not only fuller and deeper.........the bounce was still maintained. Still this album is a novelty and not audiophile in any way, shape or form. It just barely gets there in the sonic department no matter what IEM you are using. Such facts of life reinforce the need for a thicker reproduction as an avenue for forgiveness regarding the Tanchjim Zero. Here is one of the worst cityscapes of sound we could find as one, the genre doesn’t fit or the recording quality fit. This is the album that goes to many levels of better listening with a warmer thicker sound.

So let’s do a 180 degree turn for the benefit of the Tanchjim Zero, shall we.

Yep, well this goes to show the Tanchjim Zero has an illustrious place in the world, and that not all is lost. The switch……to the bass heavy and thick Sony WM1Z. Not only is it more warm but it exudes the style of sonics missing from most pedestrian ways of driving the Tanchjim Zero. Of course there are many ways to achieve this style of sound, be it tube desktop, or EQ settings. But here we have found a style of sonic paradise. Though all is far from perfect as our try out of the Metal genre, it is still lacking, showing the described above deficits. Still with this next album and with the 3.5mm output of the 1Z, I’m in heaven! Oh……I forgot to include the music, as that’s 1/2 the equation.



Dead Can Dance
Dionysus
Sea Borne:
44.1 kHz - 24 bit

All tracks are written by Dead Can Dance (Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard).


The first thing we are met with is big round drums. More physical than the 1A, a bigger soundstage filed with enchanting spacial cues. The drums are rounder and fuller, deeper and maybe faster. Here is the way life is suppose to be, sounding nothing like a $15.99 IEM is suppose to sound, no way! Here the cymbal attacks are big and have decay, but they are reversed to so they have attack! The DD offers a rare glimpse into this style of music, by far better than the Tanchjim Zero has sounded ever. There is bounce and rhythm, form and a walking forward style to this track. The bells are ringing and everything is like clockwork. The vocals are probably sampled and in reoccurring statements. The sounds of the ocean are everywhere. We have handclaps and a world instrument of unknown origin. Truly this is fun, as the reasons for failure with past songs are the exact reason for success here. The violins are speaking and everything is coming back around from where it came. Really maybe this is not sampled vocals but they are a chorus and not as forward, being a style of unified support instead of the central theme. Nothing is too warm or out of place, everything is clear and almost priceless! There are high-pitched piano note accents, then lower ringing notes……it’s the low weight of the response that gets the pace found. The pace is the magic that all instruments reveal themselves under. Each instrument is almost like a percussive language, yet they hold actual notes.



The continuation of Act 1
The Liberator of Minds:
Dance of the Bacchantes:

The interesting thing is how this plateau is built upon, to go farther to an even more dramatic place. Now the middle-eastern strings are in full-effect. Lisa Gerrard’s contralto / mezzo-soprano range is just barely utilized as in past recordings, yet we will wait, as in the past they bring her vocal abilities in for the second-half often. Finally at 12 minutes 20 seconds she makes her presence known. The previous half of the first side was her playing instrumentals, as now she is in full-effect. Such is the tasteful blend of elements as the best performers know it’s about the song and not just the show of ability. We are actually waiting and curious about her input here. We are mentally looking for her as the album plays on.

Act 2


Finally she is back, why do I listen for her singing, as I know she will arrive......eventually?

Here with The Mountain, we are given the 100% full Dead Can Dance treatment, as they (both) have arrived in full blossom. The Tanchjim Zero is along for the ride, and perfectly exchanging the mood here. At 5 minutes 34 seconds Lisa Gerrard sets the stage, though I don’t think it’s just her but her and back-up? At 5 minutes 55 seconds a base drum and bass rhythm take the song forward. In the silence leading up to this point bells paint the sky. As always the Yanggin (a Chinese hammered dulcimer) leads the sound. The Yanggin has been used though-out her career, and if you’re wondering what she is doing when not singing, she is mostly on the Yanggin. Such wonders start to surface as at 10 minutes 30 seconds we have a beautiful tribal chorus. Combined with the background vocals this is as vocal-centric as any music found, and the Tanchjim Zero does vocals, probably better than the 7Hz Salnotes Zero wished it could. While we are purposely avoiding much of the lowest frequencies in playback, you would never know it as being transfixed with the present moment. And yes, the very top registers are left out but not missed at all. This is what full-range single DD is about, nothing more, nothing less……….really perfect. Would someone go to the trouble to bring the $15.99 Tanchjim Zero to the Sony WM1Z in real life? I think so…..I could gain some extra clarity and completeness with other (more expensive) ear-monitors, but it wouldn’t be exactly “this”.................and this IS special.






Conclusion:
The Tanchjim Zero is not everything, it doesn’t try to be. It does a couple musical genres really really well and surprisingly better than you would guess for the price. It’s far from perfect and with the wrong player or music it’s not much fun. With that said and with that understood, the Tanchjim Zero is remarkable. It’s tight, clean and offers up a surprisingly truthful honesty about what songs you feed it. Is it for everyone? Probably not, but if you like new age style music or singer songwriter stuff, you would be hard pressed to find anything better for the money. This review has been a rollercoaster, with drastic ups and downs, yet when I learned what the Tanchjim Zero was about and what it wasn’t about, a style of success was found. It was a long journey and filled with drama and failure, then success. The technology is finally here..............here to have a company like Tanchjim release a small IEM that looks and feels like nothing but produces a big and authoritative sound. That sound with the right signal and music will surprise you. I had no idea, and I wanted to not like the Zero due to my perceived/prior ideas as to the reality of audiophile sound needing to cost a lot. The Tanchjim Zero is no joke, with burn-in of 75 hours and the right source it comes alive. It’s just not a well-rounded player, but what it does do is almost without fault. Fit is easy, so if you have had trouble with IEMs being too big or had shape troubles in the past, there is 0% chance of such issues. Really the Tanchjim Zero fits everyone. The non-removable cable could be seen as an issue, but with the right source it’s not. This is the year of the ultra-budget IEM, this is the year of it all coming together for many manufactures. The 2022 budget builds are providing a never before seen value in the market place. Such is IEM life, manufactures make TOTL flagships but not everyone can afford them, so they make a simpler and smaller unit to parlay the technology to the masses. This is a numbers game, and due to the price to performance ratio here Tanchjim can’t loose. And for that matter you have nothing to loose either, as this is very much the epitome of a no-brainer purchase. You have nothing to loose.

TANCHJIM ZERO
HiFi Dynamic Driver In-Ear Earphone

• Entry-level Pricing Flagship Configuration
• Precisely Developed Cavity
• Dustproof And Waterproof Filters
• High Quality Cable And Microphone
• Lightweight And Comfortable

Specification
Model: ZERO
Origin: Dongguan, China
Color: Silver
Sensitivity: 118dB/Nrms @1Khz
Impedance: 32Ω土10% @1Khz
Frequency response range: 7-50kHz
THD: < 0.5% @1Khz 94dB SPL
Driver: 10mm composite diaphragm dynamic driver
Driver technology: DMT 4
Cable: 1.25M+3.5MM gold-plated non-magnetic
high-performance plug
The diaphragm material of Dynamic driver: Flexible
ultrafine fiber suspension +beryllium plated dome
Cable material: oxygen-free copper silver-plated core
Cable structure: Litz anti-oxidation


$15.99
Be sure to request the Zero with a microphone or without when ordering.
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tanchjim-zero?variant=43124310409433
Free shipping and one year warranty when you order from Linsoul

Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C

Disclaimer:
These thoughts and ideas are of one individual, your results may vary.

Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Kareena Tang from Linsoul for the opportunity to review the Tanchjim Zero IEM.

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

The Tanchjim Zero have been sent to me by Linsoul in exchange for the publication of this review. As always, they have not made any specific requests and I will aim to be as unbiased as possible, however, you should always factor in the fact that these IEMs have not cost me anything.

You can find a (non-affiliate) link to the Zero on Linsoul by visiting the version of this review posted on my blog.



Intro…

It has been a while since I reviewed anything from Tanchjim, yet the previous models I have reviewed have been sub 50€ IEMs which exceeded my expectations. The Zero is another set that is firmly inside the sub 50€ category, coming in at under 15€.

I have to say that there have been some very impressive entries around this price point lately, moving the quality bar of ultra budget IEMs higher and higher. The Tanchjim Tanya, a set that cost around 18€, was already a very good set of IEMs in this price range, getting a lot of praise from many, including myself, even if the sound signature wasn’t exactly something that matched my personal preferences.

The Zero aims for a completely different tuning to the Tanya, but I will get to that in a moment.



Presentation…

For a price of 15€ we can’t expect a lot and the Zero I feel includes more than enough to meet expectations.

Arriving in a white box with an anime character on the cover, inside the packaging we get the IEMs with a non-detachable cable, 7 sets of silicone tips (in two different styles), a small bag for storage and the usual user manual & documentation etc.

I feel that this is plenty for a set of IEMs at this price and the packaging looks a lot more professional than many other presentations at a similar price point.



Build and aesthetics…

The IEMs have a completely transparent plastic shell, with a faceplate that looks like it is aluminium. The shape of the shells is completely round and while they are slightly larger than something like the Little Q I reviewed recently, with a shallower fit, they are still small enough to fit inside the ears. The nozzles are aimed slightly forwards and result in a fit that I find very comfortable.

The cable is fixed, as I just mentioned, and although it is nothing special, it is good enough to not receive any complaints from me. It is fairly thin, yet does not seem to tangle, covered in a clear silicone type sleeve that is not sticky to the touch (something that I appreciate). The hardware used is also plastic but is again of good enough quality for me not to complain considering the price that we are talking about here.



Sound…

As I already said, the Zero is aiming for a sound signature that is quite different from the Tanya, with much less bass and more presence in the upper mids. Here is a graph of the Zero in comparison to the Tanjim Tanya and also my personal preference target for reference:



Let me say straight away that if you are someone who likes an elevated quantity of bass, you can stop reading now, that is not what you are going to get from the Zero.

The subbass does not lend itself to producing any kind of rumble in the lowest regions, with my usual subbass test track “Chameleon” sounding rather thin and polite in the lowest regions. There is some subbass there, just that it maintains the same level of presence as the midbass, which I will mention next, resulting in it sounding as though there isn’t much going on way down low.

The midbass is also very polite, without any kind of boost in these frequencies, making these something that I wouldn’t recommend if you are looking to add any kind of warmth or extra punch in the lows. EDM such as “Sun Is Shining” is not really something that is going to sound impressive on these IEMs.

However, although the quantity is not there, the quality is. The lower regions are very clean and can keep up the pace even with the fastest moving tracks. Complicated bass lines do not make the Zero suffer, making each note easily appreciated, with great definition.

Moving into the lower mids, there is obviously no bleed from the bass, due to the fact that there isn’t a lot of bass to bleed over, keeping everything very clean. I find that this clean and tamed low end does leave me wanting a little more warmth from acoustic guitars, such as in “Long After You’re Gone”. Listening to a some complex flamenco, although I did miss some warmth to the guitars, the Zero did a great job presenting all the small nuances of the guitar playing.

As we move through the mids, there is a slight reduction in presence before we start to climb (around the 1kHz) towards the 2kHz area that gives the presence to vocals and other mid centric instruments. As this area is more of a plateau, or shelf, rather than a peak, the Zero actually do a good job of not being too harsh and although my dreaded 5kHz mark is where there is most presence, due to the presence leading up to it, it doesn’t jump out and attack me as it does on many other set.

But… I do feel that the whole 2kHz to 5kHz is too elevated, which, combined with the reduced presence of the low end, does push the sound signature of these IEMs towards a harsher “high mid forward” presentation.

The Tanchjim Zero does do a decent job of extending up in the higher ranges, better than a lot of single dynamic drivers at similar prices, giving a decent sensation or air and clarity, which is obviously helped by the overall tuning.

I also find the sound stage and image placement to be above average on the Zero, lending itself well to the appreciation of multiple layers of details. These are not a spectacularly detailed set yet the tuning and the sound stage help give an impressive overall “picture” of the music.



Conclusion…

The Tanchjim Zero are a set of IEMs that aim for a very forward tuning, something that will please some people and not others. As I said at the beginning of the sound section, if you are someone who likes warmth or present bass, these are not going to be for you.

I don’t dislike the overall tuning, I just find that those upper mids are a little too forward in my opinion, slightly less in that area would have worked better for my personal tastes.

What the Zero does well is keep up with fast moving tracks, keeping well defined with all kinds of things going on. They also have a soundstage that I find above average, with decent image placement.

With music that has the vocals a little too recessed in the recordings, these will certainly bring those vocals forwards, adding clarity to the whole area.

I don’t think I can say that these are going to be for everyone based on the tuning but I will say that the performance is good and with some EQ (I used the XBass a fair bit with these), they turn into a very nice set of budget IEMs. Without EQ, then it is going to depend on your music preferences and how you like it presented.

(As always, this review is also available in Spanish both on www.achoreviews.com and on www.youtube.com/achoreviews)

All FR measurements of IEMs can be viewed and compared on achoreviews.squig.link

All isolation measurements of IEMs can be found on achoreviews.squig.link/isolation

Disclaimer:

• I bought this with my own money. Rest assured that this review will be free from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• -Hidizs AP80
• -VE MEGATRON USB DAC
• -Tempotec Sonata HD V
• -Cyberdrive Feather DAC
• -Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96, Samsung Galaxy A6 2018)
• -Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: Stock medium preinstalled widebore eartips, stock cable, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume, both high and low gain, with and without extra amplification.

Sound signature:

• The Tanchjim Zero is the closest neutral-sounding IEM on the budget that you can purchase. It does have a hint of a forwardness to its mids, making the vocals forward than usual. Despite being neutral, it exhibits a smooth, non-fatiguing sound.

Lows:

• The lows are definitely nowhere near basshead level or on the level that I would call them bassy, but they are enough for most tracks whenever the tracks need it. It is midbass focused, punchy and has an average that leans to a faster decay.

Mids:

• The mids here are clean, almost neutral with a hint of forwardness, particularly on both male and female vocals. The mids are almost not thick or thin to my liking, it is just right in terms of thickness. Male vocals still have a good rendition of emotions and texture. Upper mids are slightly elevated when compared to the lower mids and presents itself in an intimate manner. I am happy to report that there are no abnormal peaks, harshness or sibilance to be found here in the Tanchjim Zero, as long as the tracks and files are properly mastered.

Highs:

• The treble is well-extended and falls to the natural side. Cymbal splashes and crashes here are not too emphasized yet still have that satisfying feel to it. Detail retrieval is average and can present nuances pretty easily.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• The soundstage here is average, with an average expansion. It isn’t too wide nor too narrow - it gives me an impression that the stage here depends on the track itself but generally, it is wider than deep with a good amount of height. Separation here is also average and degrades depending on how busy the track is. Imaging is also average and exhibits good spacing between instruments and vocals on most tracks.

Pros:

• The “closest to neutral” IEM I have personally auditioned under 20USD.
• Neutral yet not thin sounding IEM.
• Controlled, punchy lows.
• Slightly forward mids.
• Non-fatiguing, decently extended treble.
• Decent technical performance for its price.
• Very good fit and isolation.
• Generous set of accessories and inclusions. Tons of eartips and a pouch!
• Visually pleasing packaging (subjective)

Cons:

• Intimate upper mids (subjective).
• This IEM needs at least 1 vrms of power, or a dongle to sound the best.
• A cable winder would be a treat for everybody (my nitpick).

The Tanchjim Zero is the most neutral-sounding IEM I have tried under $20, which is great because in previous years it has been nearly impossible to find a neutral-sounding IEM under $20, which has led many to want to spend a little bit more for a "neutral" sounding set. However, as long as the average user is fully okay with non-removable wires, they can enjoy using the Tanchjim Zero. For those looking for a decent, neutral sounding set for less than 20 USD, I would unquestionably suggest this. Oh, and it's also great for when you want to use earphones to go asleep because it's lightweight and cozy for extended listening sessions!

Pairing recommendation/s:

• Source: The Tanchjim Zero sounds decent with a phone, but will sound better with a dongle or an LG/V series phone. I recommend at least 1vrms, warm or neutral-sounding dongle for better results.
• Eartips: The stock eartips are more than enough for most of the time and very comfortable. However, you can always use your preferred aftermarket eartips.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos here: