TangZu Audio Fu Du

A quick disclaimer
I am a reviewer from the PC Help Hub content team. I am glad to be able to bring you this review of the Fudu that I am doing as a part of the content creation program. The website is currently out of order, so I am publishing it here for now.

You can join our discord here!
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Introduction:
I don't think anyone needs an introduction to who Tangzu is and where they came from, as I am already quite late to the party.
But I purchased this set myself, mostly because I was curious to as how it would sound, and also because I really wanted those awesome eartips.



Unboxing Experience:





Accessories:
So as we all know, the Fudu comes with 3 sets of Tangzu Sancai Wide Bore and Divinus Velvet eartips.

These eartips are highly regarded in the community as excellent eartips, for their comfort and quality. Which, after trying them for myself, not only on the Fudu but also my other IEMs(S8, Oracle, S12, Galileo) I can say that these eartips are definitely great for most people.

Except for the fact that my ears didn't like the shape of the Divinus. The rounded shape pressed against my ears, which caused it to hurt overtime, and this was the case for all my IEMs.

Sancai, on the other hand.. was super comfortable. I love the texture, although after wearing it for a longer period of time, sweat can make them a bit slippery but its not too bad.

I personally use the Sancai now on my S12's.

Now with all the GOOD accessories out of the way, let's get on to the rest..

First of all, the cable.

The cable is the absolute worst cable I've ever tried. It looks nice on pictures, but in reality, it's the lightest, most fragile, cheap feeling POS. Even my old stock cable for my Moondrop Starfield was better.

And lastly, the pouch.
It's a bit on the cheap side, and it's just a bit too small to use properly.

Comfort:
Good, given you have the right eartips on. If you use the wrong eartips, it might feel really loose on your ear, and the long ish nozzle base is the cause of that. Also the nozzle is a bit on the thick side.

Sound:
Sources used:
Ifi Zen Can Signature
Ifi Zen One Signature
Qudelix 5k
Running with a 4.4mm balanced cable

For the sound, I'll be comparing the Fudu against my Galileo, which are my 2nd favorite IEM to date.


Bass:

So first of all, the bass is nice, it's present. It hits nice and hard. Although, bass kicks don't have much texture to them. I can imagine someone coming from something like a Sony WF1000XM4 or AirPods, liking the bass on the Fudu, as it's nice and immersive. I wouldn't call the bass too controlled, because it does mess a bit with the mid-range. Subbass kicks feel satisfying and the midbass can certainly be heard, but it's not really too much.

To conclude the bass: Nice and thumpy subbass, and midbass could use some more strength

Midrange:

The midrange sounds mostly alright, unless you're talking about the upper mids. Just judging from 300hz to 1khz, it's alright, but as soon as you enter the upper mid range, things will sound wispy, it almost sounds as if the bass bled into the upper mids somehow, knocking down clarity and resolution by a few notches. Which is unfortunate. One thing I did notice is that female vocals didn't really sound pronounced. They were forward yet the Fudu didn't really give them any feeling.

Treble:
Average resolution for a price-range all-rounder, it doesn't really have a lot of air, the treble is not really fatiguing. Although it's still somewhat on the bright-ish side of things, but it's not really special either. If you're looking for a set with sparkly treble, this one isn't for you. There's also the treble wispiness I noticed, it's uneven and generally doesn't sound impressive and definitely is the biggest downside of this IEM.

Technical Performance:
What I immediately noticed when I heard the Fudu was the stage and separation. It wowed me because I didn't think it could get this good for under 100 bucks. The separation and soundstage pushes beyond its price point, meanwhile the imaging is only above average, but still good enough to not let down the other good things about the techs.

What is a shame though, that even though it has these qualities, the detail retrieval of the Fudu is below average, more in line with modern 50~ buck sets like the Zero:Red, 7hz Sonus, and EW200.

And because of all these technical quirks, the Fudu becomes an excellent set for gaming, comparable to even the Simgot EM6L, except the EM6L sounds more high-res and is just on the clearer side of things, meanwhile for gamers, the Fudu would be a more immersive sounding set due to the bass response.

Compared to Galileo:

A quick comparison to the Galileo results in this:

Female vocals are much better, much cleaner, they give you a feeling of involvement.

The amount of bass is reduced, but it's still reasonable, but not something that would please most due to the lack of volume. Despite that, the Galileo's dynamic driver is faster and has better bass quality. Lower midrange sounds less full and could be interpreted as thin by some people, but that is due to the reduced bass amount.

Treble on the Galileo is smoother, more well done, but noticeably more relaxing, and resolution is about the same, and cleaner sounding due to having a cleaner overall signature and a more competent treble response, while also lacking air.

The imaging and separation is slightly better on the Galileo's, but the stage is much more intimate, and technical performance is only slightly better as well, as the Galileo aren't exactly a resolving and technical set to begin with.

Conclusion:

I think that in 2024, you could pick up the Fudu, but it's not exactly the best pick you could make. If I had to give it an award, it would be "a good first iem" because the Fudu could help you figure out what you want more or less of. And it already comes with good ear tips so you won't need to buy any more of those if you're just starting out.

Review Of The TangZu Fudu Verse​

Introduction​

TangZu is a Chinese company that has gained widespread recognition for its audio products. One of their most popular products is the Wan'er S.G, which is an ultra-budget set of in-ear monitors. Other sets that have become popular include the Zetian Wu and Princess Chang Le. TangZu has also released a range of assorted eartips. Recently, they launched their flagship IEM, the NehZa. Today, I had the opportunity to review another recent release from TangZu, the Fudu Verse. This product is a collaboration between DIVINUS and TangZu. Yet, prior to that, I have to specify some details.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by Pritam Halpawat from Audio Store, I am very grateful for this opportunity. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to the IEM as “Fudu”
*I am using various eartips and sources for better judgement and versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Fudu. based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The Fudu in-ear monitors feature a multi-hybrid driver configuration with a single dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers, all custom-made by TangZu. The 10mm dynamic driver is responsible for handling the bass, while one of the balanced armature drivers handles the mid-range and the other handles the highs. The shells are made of medical resin, which feels sturdy and of premium quality. The faceplate is made of metal, and the comfort and fit are really nice as the shells are smaller than expected. The left side faceplate has DIVINUS printed on it, and the right side has TangZu printed. The IEMs come with a 4-strand high-purity silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable, which has a matte-colored rubbery texture that may feel cheap to some users. Other than the cable, the IEMs also come with other accessories like three pairs of Sanchai Eartips, three pairs of DIVINUS eartips of different sizes, and a carrying pouch. In terms of technical specifications, the Fudu IEMs have an impedance of 16 Ohms and a sensitivity of 106dB. The frequency response ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz, and the total harmonic distortion is less than 1%.

Sound​

I was surprised by how well-balanced and richly tonal the Fudu's sound is. After hearing the first song, I was certain that these IEMs, which had BAs in the vicinity of this price range, did not have any BA timbre. It sounds quite calming and pleasant thanks to the FUDU's outstanding range balance. Naturally, there are enough details to highlight subtleties. However, they have a greater proportion of those rounded notes and a dense response that is precisely adjusted to make the top frequencies seem wide and light rather than peaky or sibilant, while the bass notes sound thick. While most IEMs at this price range don't offer the same tuning or, if they do, they don't sound as smooth and pleasant as this one, the response seems real and spontaneous. Naturally, the technical specifications aren't exactly comparable to those of other items in this price bracket, but more on that later. Let's examine the sound more closely.

Treble​

While the Fudu verse sounds expansive, airy, and natural with enough details to bring nuances forward in the mix, most IEMs in this price range have bright tuning or dark response, which makes it seem sharp and detailed. The sounds aren't particularly sophisticated or detailed, of course, but they sound as authentic as possible without being offensive because to the rounded tones. Overall, the musical presentation is enhanced by the upper treble, which stretches quite far and seems airy enough to make the voices sound bigger and clearer. The instruments sound slightly muffled but cleaner than ambiguous. Both the instrumentation and the vocals have a clear, uncluttered tone without any hotness or peakiness. The lower treble adds more energy, but it doesn't come across as aggressive or forward in the mix; instead, it gives the notes enough room to sound tonally pleasing and more detailed and clear. Because of the peak in the 4k region, the instruments and voices provide a more forward approach than the treble, where the voices of the male and female balance. As a result, the treble region is presented in an expansive, airy, and musically pleasing manner overall.

Mid Range​

When it comes to the mid range, it sounds the smoothest of all the IEMs in this price range that I have heard. The notes in this range have a texture that is both detailed and silky, which keeps the notes from straying and preserves their integrity. The response is more forward in the higher mid range, yet it feels as though the same amount of energy is produced as in the lower treble. It sounds smoother thanks to this cogent answer that retains all the subtleties and doesn't sound grainy. Despite the female voices sounding a little "wisping," I think the vocals in the upper mid-range and lower treble sound balanced and attractive because of the 3k dip and the small peak in the 4k region. I do think that the notes have a less sharp and more dense response, but overall, the vocals' slight forwardness makes the instruments complement them. The vocals and instruments sound open and spacious, which helps them to sound mature and separate. Note dynamics also help individual instruments sound fuller and realistic. Because it adds warmth to the top frequencies and creates a rich, genuine tone, the lower mid range sounds hazy and dense—exactly how I like it. The instruments and voice feel warm and heavy, lacking any sense of expression. As a result, the mid-range region has an open, smooth, and organic appearance overall.

Bass​

To put it simply, the bass is warm and rich but still controlled. Although the bass's sound is not very smooth or textured, it does have an impact on the mix because of its useful approach. When listening to bass-heavy music, the emphasis is in the sub bass zone, which extends pleasantly and deep enough to cause modest, subtle rumbles in the ear canals. Punches are introduced by the sub bass, and while they don't hit hard or feel potent, they are sufficiently strong. The mid bass, on the other hand, has a more meaty presence and produces distinct, albeit weak, slams and thumps. The response, in my opinion, is neither very crisp nor soft, but it does contribute to the warmth, which reminds me that the mid bass also extends into the lower mid range. Ultimately, the bass area has a warm, meaty, and soft appearance overall.

Technical Performance​

Let's take a closer look at the Fudu's technical performance. It feels fairly mediocre because it doesn't excel in imaging or details, but its resolution, stage, and separation are excellent for an IEM in this price range.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The stage is sufficiently large and open to create a feeling of spaciousness, with the left and right sounding more like a 3D response than a stereo response. The response feels tonally natural, therefore it's a positive thing that the picture is clear but not very sharp or clear. The sound source is clearly separated and far away, as I can pinpoint its location.

Speed & Resolution​

The resolution is better than I had anticipated because the large elements are very expressive but the micro details struggle a little to show the response. The majority of the mix is extremely rich and bright, but it lacks vibrancy. The notes' attack and decay have a good pace—not too quick to elicit a definite answer, but not too slow to leave a disorganized one either.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - It sounded more expansive because the WM1A's sound was more soothing and pleasant, which made it possible for a more roomy and expansive response. Although it smoothed out the subtleties where they weren't as interesting, the treble made the sound more authentic. Despite being expressive, the midrange had a harmonic sound. Not much, but the bass felt more dynamic. Naturally, though, depth was much better.

Tempotec V6 - The sound was generally crisper and more dynamic while using the V6. To be honest, the vocals and instruments in the higher frequencies seemed forward and a little chaotic, but the bass felt more powerful and forceful. Unless the audio is really simple, I think I like the WM1A more since the bass gets really loud when the notes get louder and more distinct. Thus, it's a suitable response.

Tracks​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

In summary, the Fudu Verse is an extremely well-balanced IEM with a warm, open, and airy sound. This IEM seems to be perfect for those who like a stagey yet subdued response. To be honest, this IEM checks all the boxes for those searching for a safe tune. It seems to me that this IEM has a clear, natural sound. If I had to compare its sound to anything, it would be the Moodrop Aria, which has a more pleasing midrange and superior treble. I therefore recommend this IEM.

TLDR version on YouTube: TDLR - Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1

The Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1 have been sent to me by Linsoul in exchange for the publication of my review. Linsoul have not requested anything and, as always, I will do my personal best to be as unbiased as humanly possible.

You can find a link to the Fudu Verse 1 via Linsoul by visiting the version of this review published on my blog (link at the end of this review).

As with all the links I publish, it is a non-affiliate link, meaning I do not receive anything in exchange for clicks or purchases via the link.

To avoid being repetetive in my reviews, you can find all the info about how I create the reviews, equipment used, how I receive the products and how to interpret my reviews by visiting: About my reviews



Intro…

Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1… that is certainly a long name! Tangzu seem to have a tradition of adding verses and chapters to their IEMs, so my guess is that there will be a follow up to these IEMs (which I am going to refer to as Fudu for brevity).

I originally reviewed Tangzu before they were actually Tangzu (they were called T-Force at the time) and I have to say that they have made some interesting sets. I felt that the Tangzu Wan’er were a great set of IEMs in the sub 20€ bracket, well, they still are, although there is a lot of competition in that price bracket.

The Fudu are in a slightly higher bracket, selling for around 80€ on Linsoul at the time of this review, and while this puts them outside my personal ultra budget limit of 50€, they are still not an expensive set of IEMs.

The Divinus part of the name comes from the collaboration with the brand (Divinus) who make ear tips. I have never tried, or heard of, Divinus tips (until now) but it seems that they are well known amongst other IEM users.

So, let’s take a look at this latest release from Tangzu and see what we get from the brand that has given me positive vibes in the past.



Presentation…

Tangzu is pretty generous with the contents of (most of) their models, with packaging that usually focuses on traditional Chinese decor. In this case, we still get a hint of that Chinese traditionality on the box but much more subdued than their usual packaging.

A rather large black box is covered with a black sleeve showing greyscale clouds and birds in the background and white model name and branding on the front. This simple presentation does give the packaging a bit more of a more elegant look (in my opinion) than many other presentations from the brand.

Opening up the box, we find the IEMs in a cardboard and foam cutout in the center, with 3 sets of Tang Sancai tips and 3 sets of Divinus tips to the left. On the right we get a (faux) leather case with zipper closure that reminds me more of my grandmothers coin purse than an actual IEM case. Inside the case (purse?) we find the cable which, in my case, is terminated with a 4.4mm balanced connector, although 3.5mm unbalanced is also available.

The presentation in general is not remarkable but is good, with a selection of contents that may not be the most vast at the price point but does seem to be of quality.



Build and aesthetics…

The IEM shells are 3D printed resin with a very dark tint, allowing just a hint of the internals to be seen. On the front of the shell they feature a metal faceplate that shows Tangzu on the right earpiece with Divinus on the left.

The IEMs are small and light, using a pretty generic shape, which should work for the majority of people out there. Personally I have not experienced any discomfort. The faceplate has sloped surroundings that aim to a triangle in the center (where the branding is shown in white). I can’t say that they are going to win any prizes for their beauty but they are not overly dreary, just a little simple.

The included cable works fine but does have a bit of a cheap feel to it. It is also a little bit “springy”, although this may reduce over time with use. As I have been using them at my desk, the cable hasn’t really moved a lot, so it still has that new springyness to it.

The included Sancai tips are tips that I received with a previous set and find quite nice. They have a textured finish to them and, while they are not my number one preference, I have found that they work well with some IEMs that I find overly bassy. The Divinus tips have been a pleasant surprise and I feel that they work well with the Fudu (I haven’t tried them on other IEMs yet), improving the sound at both ends of the spectrum (to my ears).



Sound…

All tracks mentioned are clickable links that allow you to open the reference track in the streaming service of your choice (YouTube, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, etc.)

There is a noticeable difference between the 2 kinds of included tips, with the Divinus moving a bit of the low end presence towards the subbass region instead of the midbass (although midbass is still very present) and seemingly giving things a bit more sparkle in the upper ranges. These have been my preferred choice for the Fudu.

My measurements, as always, are taken with foam tips to keep consistency between models, so the frequency response will not match exactly with the included choice of tips but is still pretty close:



Starting off with the low end, here I found the tips to play quite a large role in the presentation. Well, tips always play a big role, but in the case of the Sancai vers the Divinus, I found that the latter placed a little more emphasis on the subbass ranges, making the midbass area seem a little less prominent, whereas the Sancai took a little away from the subbass, making the midbass be more of the center of attention in these low ranges.

Using my typical “Chameleon” as a test track, there is enough subbass with both of the tip choices, yet, as the Divinus move the attention a little further down, it doesn’t seem to be as overpowering as with the Sancai tips. Overpowering is maybe the wrong term, as it is not like these IEMs are bass monsters, but as someone who prefers a less boosted midbass range, I found the Divinus to work better in this regard.

The same goes for more electronic focused tracks, with things like “No Sanctuary Here” being more to my preference with the Divinus tips.

In general the bass range is rather smooth and relaxed rather than fast and detailed, something that holds true for the rest of the frequency ranges also, with these IEMs giving a more relaxed and rounded presentation in general.

I don’t find the midbass to be overly boomy but it is still a little north of my preferences on tracks like “Crazy” by Daniella Andrade. The bass region of the guitar is pretty smooth and while I would like a little more detail on other tracks, for this kind of music it is not something that stands out.

The midrange is pretty decent until we start to get into the higher end of it. There is a climb in the upper midrange frequencies that serves to bring the presence a little forwards, however, at the 2kHz mark it stops climbing, even rolling off a little, until suddenly we have a peak around the 4kHz mark.

The issue with this is that it brings vocals forwards so they are not lost (counteracting that additional midbass), however, that isolated peak at the 4kHz mark, followed by another prominent dip, makes vocals sound fragile to my ears. I found this to be the case both with male vocals, such as John Mayer in “Free Fallin’”, and female vocals, such as Daniela Andrade in the song “Crazy” that I already mentioned. In fact, on “Billie Jean” by The Civil Wars, both vocals (male and female) sound a little thin and fragile, even impacting the higher ranges of the acoustic guitar.

As we move into the higher frequencies, this is another point where the tips are most noticeable in their changes. Here I once again preferred the Divinus with the Fudu, as they make things sound a little airier and spacious in these ranges. With the Sancai tips I would say that the upper ranges are a little too rolled off for my tastes, yet with the Divinus I feel that they are much better balanced.

Sound stage is also improved with the Divinus, becoming quite decent for a set of IEMs. It is not a huge difference from the Sancai but it is noticeable and I would say that they are on the higher end of average with these tips.

One thing that is noticeable throughout the whole spectrum is that detail is not the forte of the Fudu. They have used that 4kHz peak to make things a bit clearer and also the Divinus tips help by making the upper ranges seem more alive, however, this just adds a false sensation of detail.



Conclusion…

I can’t say that there are any glaring issues with the Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1 (I’m glad I abbreviated it to Fudu throughout the review ) but I can’t say there is anything spectacular about them either.

They are a decent performing set of IEMs but, in my opinion, they have tried to make up for a lack of detail by using that 4kHz peak, along with a couple more peaks throughout the treble.

I really don’t think it was necessary for them to do this, as I don’t feel that all IEMs should be detail monsters. Sometimes we just want IEMs that are musical and provide us with enjoyment and I think the Fudu would be great for this if it wasn’t for things becoming “fragile” with that intent to seem more detailed.

Again, I can’t complain about them, I think they are a set of IEMs that can be very enjoyable with just a little tweaking of EQ (or maybe some kind of filter in the nozzle to tame that peak) but I also can’t say that they are amazing.

____
As always, this review is also available in Spanish, both on my blog (www.achoreviews.com) and on YouTube (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

Tangzu X Divinus FuDu verse 1 :: $89 :: 1DD+2BA

Tangzu’s latest - FuDu is their first product under ‘Zen’ Hybrid IEM Series.

It is also the first product they have released in collaboration with other company, Divinus. - featuring two sets of premium eartips - Tangzu’s ‘Tang Sancai’, and Divinus’ ‘Velvet’.

---

Driver Configuration : 1 Dynamic Driver + 2 Balanced Armature
Driver Specifications : 10 mm DD + 2 Balanced Armature
Distortion Rate : ≤1% at 1kHz
Sensitivity : 106dB ±≤1dB at 1kHz
Channel Difference : <1%
Impedence : 16 ohms
Frequency Response Range : 20Hz - 20kHz
Cable Type : 25*0.05 Silver plated
Cable Length : 1.25m
Interface : 0.78 2-PIN

Huge thanks to Divinus - a part of this collaboration and also, a long-time distributor of Tangzu in South Korea - for providing a sample unit for this review.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

---




Named after China’s one of the greatest poets, FuDu has a quite large package.

At the back, you can see the specification I wrote above.



Opening the package, you're greeted with some plenty of accessories.

* 3 pairs of Tangzu ‘Tang Sancai’ tips
* 3 pairs of Divinus' ‘Velvet’ tips
* Silver-plated Oxygen-Free Copper Cable inside the Carrying case

The two premium eartips that come with the FuDu are not cheap by no means - costing a total of $40 when purchased individually (Korean retail price), but when combined with the FuDu unit, they make a quite noticeable difference to the sound - bringing the joy of switching eartips.




Inside the carrying case, you’ll find a 4.4mm silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable.

It's not a shockproof hard case, but the overall build quality is pretty good, and it feels like it's been put together with a lot of thought, like a separate compartment for eartips and silica gel.

Personally, I already have a hard case for my earphones, so it was nice to have a pretty case that I could slip into my bag and carry around.



Included 0.05 x 25-wire 4-core silver-plated OFC cable comes with two options, 3.5mm and 4.4mm, so you can choose according to your preference.

I like the fact that we can choose the 4.4mm cable at no extra charge.

The cable is finished in a matte, rubbery material that feels soft to the touch, and the 2-pin connector that fits securely with the unit is a testament to its quality.



When you pull out the unit, you'll see that it's surprisingly equipped with a pair of standard eartips.

While they're not bad, they certainly look a little bit shabby compared to the two premium eartips that come with the unit. They're also only available in one Medium size, so it's unlikely you'll ever use them.



The black translucent resin shell that forms the unit was created using 3D printing techniques to ensure various drivers precisely fitted with minimal error.
And it is finished with CNC-machined aluminum plates and brass-coloured metal nozzles.



Compared to Tangzu's predecessors, FuDu has a more subdued and simple design, which is likely to appeal to a wider audience.

Frosted aluminum faceplate around the smooth triangle in the center is really attractive, regardless of price point.



Also, despite the 1DD+2BA hybrid configuration, the unit is fairly small and very comfortable to wear.

Thanks to this, the nozzle looks really long in the photos, but when you compare it directly to other products, you'll see that the nozzle length is about average.

–--

Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) with 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link



This is a FR graph, measured with the pre-installed tips.

The sound is well-balanced overall, with a nicely pumped up bass above Harman Target, and a treble that's comfortably mellow without being irritating, thanks to a decent dip at 3kHz and 5-8kHz.



True to their name, Divinus' ‘Velvet’ eartips are micro-embossed for a unique, yet soft touch.

The special surface treatment makes it easy to remove debris and allows the earphones to gradually release pressure after some time in the ear.
Also, combined with its unique shape - which tapers towards the tip like a jar - allows for deeper insertion .



This is a comparison between the ‘pre-installed eartip’ measurement and the ‘velvet tip’ measurement.

The measurements don't show much of a difference except in the upper treble, because we control the insertion depth during the measurement.
However, as mentioned above, the unique structure of the velvet tip allows for a deeper insertion, which seems to slightly improve staging, and extend the sub-bass with better isolation performance.



Like the velvet tips, Tangzu's ‘Tang Sancai’ eartips are also quite unique.

They've got a really interesting pattern on the surface. It relieves pressure and, most importantly, reduces sub-bass when worn.



When we compare the ‘velvet tip’ measurement with the ‘Tang Sancai’ measurement, you can see that this characteristic has created a visible difference in the sub-bass.

It didn't make that much of a difference on a metallic ear simulator, but personally, it felt like the bass was being reduced quite a bit and the vocals and treble were being emphasized a bit more, resulting in a slightly more balanced sound.

This is the first time I've used Tangzu's ‘Tang Sancai’ ear tips, and while I don't feel like the seal is any worse than with other eartips, the reduction of the sub-bass was quite surprising.

It's fun to try different eartips depending on your preference.



A hybrid earphone with a minimalist design and exquisite tonal balance, FuDu is a compelling product in its own right.

Plus, the two premium eartips that come with the FuDu add to the richness of the package, giving you the satisfaction of unboxing them and the fun of switching between eartips to enjoy different sounds.

Whether you're an enthusiast who wants to experience the sound changes that come with different eartips, or a beginner looking for a pair of IEM with smooth, warm, musical sound in the $100 range, I can easily recommend this.

Thank you for reading!

Introduction!
Today in our review we’ll talk about the latest hybrid product from Tangzu worth $89!
The headphones are delivered in a medium-sized box with a rather pleasant and dark mystical design on the front there is the model name Fudu and the inscription Tangzu and Divinus since this is their collaboration.
And as usual, the technical characteristics of the headphones are indicated at the back, and one dynamic and 2 armature drivers are responsible for the sound in this model, and the sensitivity of the headphones is 106 dB and they have a 16ohm impedance.

Let's take a look at what's included!
And here we are first greeted by a box with such a beautiful picture of headphones!
And in my opinion, they look pretty good, they have a matte black color and their front panel is made of aluminum alloy, and it also has the inscription Divinius on the left earphone and the inscription Tangzu on the right there is also a letter marking the right and left earphones nearby!
And according to the standard, they have a 2-pin connector here, and two acoustic holes on the inside of the earphone, which is very smooth and transparent, and you probably noticed this very elongated nozzle, and this is good because the headphones are submersible enough deep into the ear canal!

Accessories.
And of course, friends, where without accessories and believe me, there is something to talk about here, Tangzu made a very right decision by collaborating with Divinius, since their ear pads are not so easy to get, but here, when buying these headphones, we get two excellent sets, branded Tangzu Sancai tips in three colors which are actually very comfortable and I really liked them, I’ve been wanting to try them for a long time.

And of course, these are the divinius ear pads that completely surprised me, despite the narrower hole, they stretch perfectly and fit all my headphones, really cool and tactilely smooth ear pads, and they noticeably boost the low frequencies and the farthest highs.

Well, that’s not all friends, the kit also comes with a leather case with a zipper!

And inside this good case there is such a copper cable, it is 4-core, has black braided connectors, 2pins, and a balanced 4.4plug in my case, but you can also choose a standard 3.5, but it is worth saying that it is a little tangled, but it is very light and has excellent formed earhooks, so in terms of convenience there is complete order, but if you don’t like it, you can change it without any problems.
How do these headphones sound?
Well, now let's talk about the sound of this model, how these headphones sound!
Low Frequencies :
And let's start in order with the low frequencies, which in these headphones turned out to be quite weighty and massive,the sub-bass is deep, and the mid-bass is a little dominant over the lower mids, it doesn't sound excessively booming, but the lower mids are just a little tighter and it even suits some instruments and voices for good.
But the textural development is at a fairly good level, that is, various harmonics are quite clearly audible, it is also worth saying that the attack of the bass does not feel overly relaxed and imposing, on the contrary, we have a clear attack-focused blow with a more pronounced punch due to the obvious mid bass accent.
To some extent, these headphones can even be considered basshead headphones, since the bass here is really very good and you can feel it, so hip-hop and various dance genres where bass is really important are revealed as they should.
Mid Frequencies :
But the mid frequencies here rightfully turned out to be very warm neutral and analog, and despite such a very smooth and even presentation of this area, in fact it does not feel overly relaxed, there is good energy in the vocal part, and a sufficient amount of air and transparency due to which instruments and vocals sound separately and do not merge into a single whole!
Separately, it is worth praising Tanza for the fact that when tuning they did not overdo it with the upper middle area and made a very small accent due to which the drums do not come out ahead of everything else and sound very calm and unobtrusive, and the female vocals will not tire you when listening, and in the end we have a rather bold, emphasized presentation of this area with a very comfortable upper midrange.
High Frequencies :
Well, the high frequencies here, similar to the middle ones, have a very warm analog smooth presentation that is devoid of any sibilants and retains fairly good resolution, and as a result, all the percussion cymbals and various overtones are presented very smoothly and accurately, very slightly complementing and emphasizing the rhythm in the music.
And it’s worth saying that, first of all, the presentation of this area relates to the musical comfortable side, and the headphones don’t try to show you, look how technical and analytical we are and now we will show you all the details in this track and what you haven’t heard before, in my opinion this model does not have such a task and therefore these headphones are not particularly demanding on recording quality and even reproduce field recordings without problems, and yes, this kind of presentation in these headphones is not the most common in recent times but on the other hand, this is a rather interesting different experience and I know that many are looking for headphones that can play music just like that!
Stage and stereo panorama :
The sound stage is wide enough and has good depth.
My conclusion on these headphones :
Tangzu Fudu headphones costing $89 have an excellent package with really high-quality ear pads and a good cable, but the most important thing is their unique sound and tuning, which is actually rare now, very smooth, calm, not tiring, and rightfully analog presentation for lovers of casual, relaxed sound, but Of course, there will be enough competitors in this price category, but in any case, I think everyone will choose something to their liking without any problems!
Link where you can buy them!
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tangzu-fudu-verse-1
Icygenius was with you, I will be glad if you subscribe to my YouTube channel and watch this full review on Tangzu Fudu:

TANGZU FUDU
Redcarmoose Labs September 21, 2023

TANGZU FUDU VERSE 1
So here I am and I get a few IEMs in the mail. Actually at this point I’m slightly jaded. I mean how am I going to get my thrills………..maybe not from another $89.00 IEM. Meaning I’m happy to hear this new IEM, but the look on my face is one of casual boredom………this is probably just like all the other sub $100 IEMs from China. Yet I forgot my very own history here……that’s right I reviewed the $149.00 TANGZU Wu Zetian…and I loved it. I reviewed the $19.00 TANGZU Wan'er S.G, and again it was price-point leading, hence getting a great score. I reviewed the $15.00 TANGZU Princess Chang Le, and loved it for what it was. So why am I not more excited here?

Then I remembered what the TANGZU FUDU VERSE 1 was, it was a 10mm DD, in addition to 2 custom BA units. Wait a minute? I have never heard TANGZU do a hybrid up to this point……and hybrids are my favorite methodology to make ear-phones. Now I have left something out in this story…..I put them in my ears forgetting all the above.

Then I heard them. Yep, Wait what? The bass was fantastic, the midrange and treble too, this was insane. Insane because of how good these little guys were. I should have known, mix my favorite way to make IEMs, then have the tune designed by new legends of the industry…….of course this was going to be pay-dirt. Sold gold……really really special. I mean just like that the TANGZU FUDU VERSE 1 jumped ahead of all the others in my review schedule. This was going to be a super easy review to write…….I simply need to put down my experience in writing…..easy.

Build:
Let's start with how these are made. At only 4 grams a piece, they are a joy to wear. Somehow there is really good noise occlusion, even though they have two vents on the bottom side. A CNC metal faceplate is then topped upon a resin 3D printed shell. Such a shell is somewhat see-through showing the 10mm driver and some foggy views of sound tubes. The nozzles are metal with very good tip lips which hold my favorite ear-tips on perfectly. Also at times I can’t use my ear-tips as the nozzles are too short, but here they are perfect. Some reviews call the FUDU cheap due to a plastic build, where I am totally opposite finding the construction first rate? Now the question is do these fit close to the ear even though not being a semi-custom shape? Now my guess is it is the size in regards to fit, because they are a little semi-custom if you look, just not having any drastic fins, making them feel simply normal. To me they don’t feel cheap at all. Very low-key, even the cable is understated, flush for the 2Pin and I eventually got the 2Pin to join flush with the IEM, not like some of the pictures show. Also note how well done the nozzle filters are....as they are permanently set in place! Metal nozzles hold my favorite ear-tips on really well and are of the correct length, so fitment shows exceptional.

Let’s get into the music!

Disclaimer:
Before I get started realize that an IEM of this caliber will only do so much in comparison to (some) way more expensive examples of ear-phone build art. So no matter how great I describe the FUDU to be, just simply keep this in mind.

https://www.linsoul.com/products/tangzu-fudu-verse-1

Meaning it’s $89.00, and in that realm compared with other under $100.00 IEMs it’s great, but by no means equal to a $400.00 or a $2000.00 IEM. The reasons why you may like it anyway are due to balance/tone and simply getting involvement by listening to your favorite songs. But the more I review and the more products pass my desk, I am able to generalize things. The one main generalization is size of replay. So no matter how great the FUDU is made out to be with my descriptions, just keep in mind that typically more expensive IEMs are generally going to offer a bigger stage to encompass more of your perception. Literally stuff in the (grander) stage will often be closer and farther away. Imaging is bigger (and often) more detailed to project items farther outwards with more expensive examples. These are just the facts of life!

Later after the music section, I will get into the general sound properties of the FUDU.



Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawcznski
Grand Turismo OST
And We’re Off
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
Wow, the start of this OST has it all. Great violins and chorus showcase this particular start-off. Deep plentiful bass hits, and just like that……….this game leads up to the adventure at hand. Being this is the start, it could in-fact be also the ending of the movie in theme. At 02:26 life gets slightly more emotional and subdued, yet the pace is still catered to by the bass. At 03:06 there is a breakdown and we are given silence from the rhythm. Anyone who knows this style of music knows that there may be quietness before the storm. At 03:14 fast drum hits take place, yet the FUDU makes everything simply accessible and not harsh. At 03:20 we are brought back inside the mix………..full-on. The FUDU makes sense of this song and its myriad of additives. My favorite part is the accent that is basically the feeling of race cars traveling by, only it is done with a synth that travels incredibly fast from the right to the left ear. I would go on, except we have a lot of music to cover here, proving just how well-rounded and special our little FUDU is.



Klangwelt
Here and Why
Cold War Child
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
This is the song that blew my mind and showed me really what the FUDU was ultimately about. At 00:37 the piano is totally accurate as far as timbre. And to be vocal here these are some of the very best non-named (neither Knowles or Sonion) BAs I have ever heard? It is both how the tune is done, but also the very careful timbre that simply sounds real. It sounds musical and involving due to the correct tone. At 00:52 the bass metronome hits……and I got chills from hearing this. Again I don’t get chills that often anymore, but I did here. It was maybe the separation and pace of the bass, the overall tone of the bass? I don’t know, why? There is a place in this song where you truly start to understand the soundstage you’re working with. At 01:26 the simple use of the keys along with the bass makes this presence of stage known, and appreciated. The FUDU is just too good to be under $100…………..end of statement.





Hans Zimmer
DUNE OST
Ripples in the Sand
48 kHz - 24 bit
Here we are gifted with a naturalness that allows a song that I have numerous times heard on more expensive gear, sound correct this time, but more than correct the flamboyance is what we came for. Surprisingly the bass in this song is often mixed just at the threshold of our hearing, yet the FUDU goes there, the FUDU brings it, it brings it all. At 02:08 there are vocals being sung, and deep lows enhancing the contrast at hand, yet it is all these ultimately detailed variations in lower tones that sounds like (so much more) IEM? Over here at Redcarmoose Labs, it’s the bass transients that are making my day.

There is more going on than at first guessed. At 02:46 there is a string instrument that is full-on enhanced with effects, but also it is traveling across and back into the stage. This element has a way about it, just like the race car sound in the previous Grand Turismo OST track. But then there are these knocks……….at 02:54……….these knocks are well separated (of course Hybrid) this is what hybrids do naturally….they simply delineate the music, especially when you have highs and lows going on at the same time like the present. But it is slightly more than that…….the tune? The technicalities of this little FUDU have me shaking my head……I’m simply surprised the FUDU can take on this music at this level and pull-it-off. At 03:05 the bass size (the drop) is enhancing the stage, and of course the stage size (brought into reality) due to bass presence. It’s big, it really is……bigger than you would first guess, by reading this?



Hans Zimmer
Wonder Woman 1984 (sketch)
The Monkey Paw
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
Here we are shown a stage and bass speed that up-until the very last song in this review sequence, was thought to be coming from the FUDU. Little did I know, the source is supper important here. So with my Sony WM1A it’s wonderful, in fact the FUDU grabs hold of the speedy bass transients and makes it work-out. At 01:06 this heart beat style drum takes the pace. Outside of that there are small noises of random thought. Then a waltz starts up. A syncopated rhythm with this wonderful bass laying below….and each note of that bass follows a timing…..walking back and forth to the notes. And while not the most detailed, the FUDU has the musicality down in this number. As violins travel out to the sides and add the required contrasts, there is a slow progression into the fact that this song really goes nowhere, except I’m sure supports the visuals well. Oh, that's right, this is only a sketch!

Intermission:
The previous songs were done with the Sony WM1A with included cable and my regular wide-bore ear-tips. The only slight advantage from a stock WM1A would be the aftermarket firmware provided by MrWalkman. For the next song I will change to the MacBook Air/Shanling UA3 (in 4.4mm) combo, as an attempt to learn more about the FUDU. Also in use is the included cable and ear-tips. Computer software is Colibri 2.0.2.


Ray Lynch
Deep Breakfast
Celestial Soda Pop
44.1 kHz - 16 bit



In many ways this is like the Klangwelt song above, though the one difference is it is from another older generation of synth ideas. Kind of a home brew style of creation, selling 72,000 copies in 1984 from his apartment before going platinum a few years later. Using a few home-made musical tricks upon release, Deep Breakfast went to show there are really many ways to make music fun and intriguing. The TANGZU FUDU takes and creates a wonderful head-stage, and for many this was one of the first popular albums in its day to showcase headphone imaging……besides Pink Floyd of course. Here there is this simplistic joining of a few musical elements into a correct and calm style of (new age) fantasy music. Around the 00:43 second mark the minimalistic drums appear……….and somehow even though stripped down the song goes to add (additional) elements one by one. It’s that everything goes by a balance and while this does sound like Ray is using different overall volume levels to alter intensity, still it all works out in the end. Really this song comes from a time when playbacks were not monitored, hence as an early listener of such music we never knew when the song was ending……there were no digital sound counters on vinyl replay or tape players. One of the tricks here is what seems like the song’s ending, just to go about one more charming verse. Just like the FUDU in its creation, this is only FUDU verse one, as verse two will arrive at some point in time to signal a new addition to the TANGZU family. What will the second verse of FUDU be like, your guess is as good as mine, and that is part of the fun, as not knowing everything has its charms.




The Shanling UA3 conclusion, plus FUDU generalizations:
This was surprising and not in the planned review sequence. Why? While the FUDU is thick and harmonically rich, it is still increasingly dependent on source for that richness. Here the Shanling UA3 was simply just getting us by. What I mean is it started me off on a tangent of trying a bunch of music and devices. And I learned that somehow the FUDU really does express what thickness you give it. What that means to you as a consumer is that while always audiophile and well balanced, the TANGZU FUDU will only offer so much thickness/stature from a Dongle or Phone. This is in contrast to the last two IEMs I’ve just reviewed, that while (they were) way more money, they also made phone playback slightly better……..more well rounded and full sounding. It doesn’t mean the FUDU sounds cheap, except there will be times in use when truly a Dongle of Phone will not emphasize the size of stage or depth of bass, that and the extent of the stage. Going to a higher quality source the FUDU will scale and show a better demeanor. Now this in itself is an interesting facet of FUDU playback. It means that yes, it has the quality to verify source level, but also plays a little different out of each source. The inevitable outcome of such skills or lack of skills depending on how you look at it…………. is a spectrum of takes on playback. This means the TANGZU FUDU wasn’t as well rounded as first guessed. Still, there is a quality obtained through playback, yet in a way it needs to be catered to…….to reach those quality levels.

Remember those DAP reviews when the reviewer was stating that the DAP made the IEMs ear-candy, well this is that style of IEM that will scale up to ear-candy but will also not become that inspiring if you power it wrongly.

This may in fact be due to the driver count, or design……I mean it is only made up of three drivers 1DD and 2 BAs…..so? To summarize this paragraph, while great, the FUDU has its limits of what it chooses for sources. Where there can be other IEMs both higher priced and lower priced that are in general more well rounded to source. At its worst the FUDU will sound thin and even reserved to contain an authoritative bass, while still smooth, there may be times when the thickness needs enhancing from a thicker source. At the same time get the FUDU what (source) it asks for and be amazed at what sound this little IEM can shoot for. At Head-Fi this basically means there will be (other) conflicting reviews to a point, where some reviewers simply don’t realize just how far this FUDU can change with source. The fall-out of such means the FUDU may actually get interpreted many ways, at least that was even my very own (mistaken) first take on playback, finding the deep bass emotional and moving, yet what I didn’t realize is the speedy bass transients were (obviously) coming from upstream with my DAP, as the FUDU was simply playing what was there. Yep, get it a thin source and find out just how thin the FUDU will go. It never goes to a really bad place, except scales back depending on the signal, and character of that signal.

Sound design:
While smooth and complete the above critical aspects about replay need to be addressed. As in my testing there have been a few better IEM all-rounders that seem to make note-weight out of thin-air, which we don’t have here, yet at the same time there is an honest transparency that allows the FUDU to scale to an extra beautiful level. Inside that level (which can even be obtained with a DAP) a complete natural and correctly even response can be obtained.

Bass:
While carefully set-back the FUDU 10mm DD produces well defined and clear examples of bass replay. Never going out of character and overshadowing the midrange or treble, we are gifted with completeness and while not class leading, there is a composure to the bass that is unarguable? A tone that seems to go the extra mile to almost not sound like a disjoined separate driver?


Graph of the Tangzu Fu Du via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artifact peak.

Mids:
Now interestingly enough the mids get their personality starting at a lower energy 2kHz peak, then finding focus at 4kHz…..bypassing little of the 3kHz energy. Such a way goes with standard thoughts by balancing out the low-end energy with almost an exact 4kHz placement, and that’s how it sounds.

Treble:
Going with a subtle 5kHz peak, the 8kHz is measuring tool resonances. Once again here we are never in danger of getting an unnatural hyper treble creating outstanding detail, thus what details are there seem to blend with the character provided by the whole? That softer line is a path that may in fact be responsible for our appreciated lack of BA timbre. I mean really the tuning was a goal of cohesive balance without the brightness, making big stage reaches or subsequent inherent heat. Keep in mind about the transparency here, meaning get the FUDU a bright source (lacking bass presence) and discover (strangely) just how resolving three drivers can be in the end to show source. Though for myself it was nurturing note-weight as a path to success, regardless of just how much bass was obtained.

TANGZU FUDU VERSE 1
HIFI IN-EAR HEADPHONES 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER + 2 BALANCED ARMATURE IN EAR MONITORS EARPHONES

• Elegantly Crafted CNC Metal Panel
• 3D Printing Resin Cavity
• Powerful 10mm Dynamic Drivers
• Two Customized Balanced Armature Drivers
• Gold-plated Headphone Plug
• High-purity Oxygen-free Copper Wire
• Exquisite Accessories

When ordering make sure to chose 4.4mm or 3.5mm plug

Packaging:
Interesting as this particular IEM came with a thorough packaging set-up. Probably way more elaborate than with other examples in the price-point. Along with the incredibly special designer Tangzu Tang Sancai ear-tips you also get the black Divinus Velvet silicone ear tips. Plus one extra (M) set on the IEM, which are different all together….sorry I didn't get a picture of the two (extra) ear-tips. So S,M,L of both Sancai and Divinus ear-tips and one set of medium generic ear-tips. It should be noted that TANGZU also just introduced new wide-bore Tangzu Tang Sancai ear-tips, but those are not included. Besides the IEMs themselves you get a great cable and a pouch. A super nice big-gold-zipper works well in dark lighting to help with case use. TANGZU has their own faux leather work which successfully covered other cases in the past, only this black color is new.

The Cable:
Both the splitter and chin-cinch are aluminum as is the actual 4.4mm plug. When you order your only choice is if you want to go with 3.5mm or 4.4mm. Much of the time I need to change-out cables to access the 4.4mm better amp in my players, but once again TANGZU provides the win-win here, allowing me to complete this whole review with a dynamite cable! While after so many aftermarket cables (in my testing) the included cable may seem on the thin size.....though sonically it’s great and the ergonomics are fine. Interesting too there is no branding anywhere to be seen. The only words are on the IEM faceplates, next to a very small R or L marker.................And the whole shebang works out here, it really does. The 2Pin barrels came designated with red or blue painted rings showing a nice ear-hook design. Probably my favorite aspect of the cable choice is just how maneuverable it truly is. Such a cable goes into a small coil and easily gets put away into the pouch. When out and about such a cable lays very well, keeping microphonics to a minimum. There is no fight here with this cable, only love!

Conclusion:
First my plans were to think this was like any other sub-$100 choices out there. And while the FUDU is not price point leading as far as technicalities, there is an understated and smooth quality that seems to never escape this IEM. And if you’re on-board with just how this frequency response is placed, there will be no looking back. Yet also the FUDU is very reactionary of source, so reactionary that you hear past the IEM into the very nature of the source you have chosen, quite the accomplishment for the price-point. That is supposed to be good, at least it sounds good to read, except if you don’t have the magic source on hand you may find yourself with less than optimal playback. That less than optimal may center around note-weight…..maybe possible stage, even bass depth. Such a Chameleon means that this beast is a little harder to review, because I’m not sure what source you have. So, the scalability is real and present.

Accessories:
The FUDU still comes in incredibly complete accessory wise. Yep, the swanky case, the silky smooth yet understated cable, the clear Tangzu Tang Sancai ear-tips, the Divinus ear-tips. The presentation in how all these goodies are introduced to you, the fact that every FUDU made comes with its very own serial number. The IEM themselve, the way the BAs have zero off BA character, the 10mm dynamic driver which together creates a Hybrid listening experience, a first for TANGZU! The understated markings on the IEMs themselves and the unique faceplate design. You see what has been given is the complete package with attention to detail…..even simply the no-fuss way the cables attach to the IEM and the ergonomics resulting due to only 4 grams a piece. The fact that they are actually super small a point that I have should have emphasized sooner, and finally the sound is spectacular and totally coherent.

Desktop:
I mean I did something crazy here. I hooked up the FUDU to my reference system as a way to discover if truly there was an undiscovered genuine quality about playback. But the little secret is that the Sony TA-ZH1ES desk-top holds superior note-weight. Yep, that and the fact that the bass isn’t too shabby either. I can’t help thinking this was in-line with equipment used in FUDU design at TANGZU headquarters? At least here we are truly discovering the true personality of TANGZU’s latest creation. Joining the TA is the Sony WM1A's (black background) file player, and the Sony Walkman holder as a mount. Transfer takes place with the AudioQuest Carbon USB, and we are shown the FUDU in the best of light.

Take it to the Max:
To maximize all this potential sound quality a file was chosen. While everything matters in playback, many audiophiles believe the quality has to start at the top. I can truly say that the tone was both detailed and natural, holding exquisite positioning, reminding me how Hybrids are my favorite way to go. Now obviously the FUDU isn’t everything, I mean even in this set-up I could understand the drawbacks in relation to TOTL IEMs. Still I have to say the FUDU doesn’t ever try to be more than it’s not……not trying to boost the treble into a bright unnatural way to obtain detail, same as the bass where it’s not earth shaking or too much. What we are presented with is balance, balance and note-weight. Yet with this a careful musicality that holds a quality that is unarguably correct and wholesome.

TANGZU
I mean it’s a TANGZU, so you already know the tuning style, and in their 2 long years of life TANGZU is introducing their house sound again and again, reflecting off different driver methodologies. DDs, a Planar, a Hybrid…..and who knows what the future holds for them? Though I do know one thing, TANGZU hasn’t skipped a beat with every creation, continuing the tradition of excellence as a form of artistic expression. And while there are no surprises here, nothing is boring either..........as TANGZU has produced another workhorse of an IEM.

$89.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tangzu-fudu-verse-1


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:
I want to thank Kareena at Linsoul for the love and the TANGZU FUDU review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

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

Disclaimer

• Huge thanks to Tangzu for providing the opportunity for me to review the Tangzu Fudu via a tour. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Price(MSRP)

• $89.99

Source(s)

• Jcally JM6 Pro
• Truthear Shio

Ear tips

• Dunu S&S

Packaging

• Comes with a good amount of accessories
  • IEM.
    • Attached to 1 pair of generic silicone ear tips (M sized)
  • Soft pouch.
    • Leather-ish texture.
  • 2 different sets of premium ear tips!
    • 3 pairs of Tangzu Tang Sancai (Balanced) silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
      • Personally, I find this quite comfortable, they are much softer than expected and fits into my ears comfortably.
      • However, I have some friends who owns them but they find the Sancai tips slip out easily and unable to grip to their ears.
    • 3 pairs of Divinus Velvet silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
      • Very comfortable, adds a touch more air and openness.
      • Has the potential to be one of my favorite tips.
  • High-purity Oxygen-free Copper Wire Cable
    • Subpar, quite rubbery, not smooth at all. Tangles up quite often.
    • Ear hooks also doesn't rest well

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598816374113975871/4808979248566879276#

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598816374113975871/4808979248566879276#

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598816374113975871/4808979248566879276#

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598816374113975871/4808979248566879276#



https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598816374113975871/4808979248566879276#

Build Quality

• Plasticky, lightweight shell with matte finish but doesn't feel cheap at all.

Fit

• Nozzle has average width but longer than average.
• Fit is decent for me, but not great. Able to insert quite deep and snuggly but the ear hooks doesn't rest on my ears at all.

Tonality

• Warm, bassy, mild L-shaped.

Bass

• Quite balanced between the sub bass and mid bass, both are pretty monstrous in quantity but sub bass is slightly more prominent.
• Impactful, meaty, plenty of slam and rumble but definition and texture are not the best.
• The bass also sounds a little boomy, and it bleeds a little bit into the midrange.
• Speed and decay is on the slower side but acceptable as long as the tracks are not super busy. Still decent for genres like rock.
• Quantity of bass is huge, may even be sufficient for some bass heads!

Midrange

• Midrange is warm, and slightly recessed.
• Male vocals are lush and thick, and slightly more forward compared to female vocals.
• Female vocals are also thick but I noticed a slight huskiness in them, and they are laid back but have just enough energy to not sound too pushed back.
• Instruments and timbre are surprisingly good and natural, considering that this is a hybrid IEM of this price, I expect at least some sort of thinness or metallic timbre but there were almost none of it.
• Overall note weight and density are thick and hefty.

Treble

• Treble is quite relaxed, a little on the darker side which does lack a bit of sparkle.
• Smooth, almost no sibilance or sharpness can be perceived in my case.
• However, upper treble roll off is quite apparent to me, lacking the sense of airiness.
• Details are also not as revealing as the overall treble isn't as forward as other ranges. Sounds rather blunted.

Technicalities

Resolution

• Resolution and detail retrieval are a little subpar, considering that there are many products in this price range that can easily outshine the Fudu in this department, such as the Truthear Hexa, Letshuoer DZ4, and others.

Soundstage

• Soundstage is average, nothing much to talk about, perhaps slightly narrow in terms of width but depth and height is alright.

Imaging

• Imaging and accuracy is decent, I am able to tell the placements in terms of left/right but struggle a little in terms of other directions.

Separation

• Separation and layering is also slightly subpar.
• Instruments and vocals are does not have a clean separation among each other, and most of the time, they sound slightly mushed and blended together.

Conclusion

• As a conclusion, the Tangzu Fudu is a decent set if you're looking for a warm, relaxing signature with big, fun bass.
• If Tangzu did not include the premium ear tips ... I think this is a really mediocre set especially at the very competitive price range of $89.
  • But with the premium ear tips included (around $30), it becomes a much easier recommendation, since the Fudu will then be judged within the range of $60.
• However, if you're looking for a more neutral and analytical signature, without the need for extra ear tips, I suggest you search for something else.

Thanks for reading!

Note to moderators: I'm aware a lot of people are starting to talk about this IEM, so I hope some of them would value a first 24 hours impression of the Verse 1. If you don't feel it properly constitutes a "review", do obviously take it down. I'll follow this up with a more conventional review after spending a few weeks with the IEM. Thank you


This is just a Day One first impressions. More to follow, including photos and suggested test playlists.

===

Definitely old school / analogue. Think tubes and valves rather than bits and bytes. Immediate good example is from 02:55 >> on Waiting for Love by Avicii, co produced by Martin Garrix with vocals by Simon Aldred. Marvellously analogue, never heard the track sound quite like this before.

I've developed a pretty huge master playlist for testing IEMs, on TIDAL, that came together over the Covid-19 downtime, and was speed skipping tracks throughout the day to arrive at first impressions.

It'll take weeks and most likely months for me to get the full measure of the Verse 1, however some quick takeaways:

This is not a good choice for most people as their first entry into the world of IEMs. It won't offend anyone, but it's also wonderfully idiosyncratic, opinionated and surpringly intolerant of poor recordings and certain genres.

I don't have anything that sounds quite like it. In that sense it's a welcome complement to what I own already. It's not better, just markedly different.

This is quite a daring tuning at this price point. Suspect the collaboration with Divinus ultimately meant more hands on involvement than we might imagine with the overall design and development of this IEM, beyond merely contributing a handful of nice tips.

Out of the box with stock tips already attached, insertion depth, seal and comfort are by far the best I've experienced (emphasis on "straight out of the box"), even including the A3000/4000/5000 that are exceptional in this regard. Without this benchmark level of fit and seal, I doubt the Verse 1 would be as competent as it is at this price point.

Tony/Akros was, as often, totally right in calling out the Verse 1 recently as an IEM worth looking at. It's definitely "seductive" , but at the same time opinionated and characterful in a way you seldom see brands attempt below the 300 bucks price point (except for maybe the 200 dollar Campfire Satsuma and Honeydew).

And that's something I think we can all applaud, even if we don't all like the result.

I'm cautiously rating this a 4.0/5.0 based solely on my preferences, an early take without much burn in time, my shape and size of ear etc etc.

More to follow!

Thanks to all for taking the time to read my miscellaneous dribbles.

Deano

===
IEMs >>
PEARS SH3 (2), Campfire Andromeda, Campfire Honeydew (2), Aür Audio NEON Pro, FATfreq Maestro Mini, FATfreq TSURU, EPZ 530, IMR R1, Hidition Viento-B, Final Audio B1 / A5000, FiiO FH1s / FH3 / FA7 / FA9 / FH9, Truthear Hexa / Holà

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Tangzu for furnishing this unit. The Fu Du can be gotten here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005935589924.html (no affiliate links)




INTRODUCTION

As per Tangzu's convention of naming IEMs after historical Tang Dynasty figures, Du Fu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Fu) was one of the eminent poets of that era; indeed, after his death, his poetry continued to influence future writers even from outside China.

Divinus is a boutique Korean brand, and they have done a collaboration with Tangzu for this Fu Du IEM, which we will be reviewing today.


SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x 10 mm dynamic driver (DD) + 2 x custom balanced armature (BA) drivers
• Impedance: 16 ohm
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 106 dB
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm, Oxygen-free copper silver-plated cable. Choice of 4.4 mm or 3.5 mm termination
• Tested at $89 USD

ACCESSORIES



Other than the IEM, the following are included:
- 3 pairs of Tang Sancai balanced silicone tips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of Divinus velvet silicone tips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Leatherette carrying pouch

The accessories are pretty decent for a sub-$100 USD set, and everything is serviceable.




While no foam tips are included, we have 2 variants of silicone tips. The Tang Sancai balanced tips have a narrower bore and boost bass with some compression in soundstage. The Divinus ones have a wider bore and increase the upper frequencies and furnish a more expansive soundstage.




The stock oxygen-free copper silver-plated cable is quite thin, with microphonics in abundance. It is tangly too, though there is a chin cinch for added stability. Honestly, I've seen better cables included in other budget IEM packaging, but it is no biggie swapping an aftermarket cable in should you wish to do so. When placing an order, one can opt for a 4.4 mm or 3.5 mm termination, depending on your source requirements. The 4.4 mm/3.5 mm terminal is gold-plated, which is a nice touch.




Unlike the run of the mill semi-rigid cases we see in CHIFI packaging, Tangzu has decided to provide a black leatherette zipper pouch. It has a lychee skin pattern, with compartments inside this pouch, though it might not withstand compressive forces or a drop. Nevertheless, this elegant addition is quite appreciated.

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


BUILD/COMFORT



The housings are fashioned from 3D printed using resin, with a black CNC aluminum alloy panel faceplate- this has a matte frosted finish in a pyramidal design, which Tangzu says is inspired by Zen minimalism. However, they do feel a tinge cheap and not too robust.




The inner aspects are smooth with no awkward protrusions to poke the ears. The shells are ergonomic and light, with no discomfort during usage.

For budget IEMs, 2-pin connectors are always a plus in my book, as they tend to be less fragile than MMCX ones with frequent cable changes.



There is a slight driver flex during insertion, but this is partially dependent on type of eartips used and ear anatomy, so YMMV. Isolation is average in view of the dual vents on each housing.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Fu Du with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 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 easily driven, amplification is not truly required.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Tangzu Fu Du via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the Fu Du sports a U-shaped balanced tuning that lies on the warmer side. This tuning choice is quite pleasant and consumer-friendly, and should suit most genres out there.

This IEM is sub-bass focused, with the bass north of neutral but not at outright basshead levels. There is quite deep sub-bass extension with a husky rumble. Bass has moderate speed, though there is mid-bass bleed and poor texturing - the low-end can sound a bit one-noted at times.

The mid-bass does meld a bit into the lower midrange, adding heft and warmth, though there is some loss of transparency. This region isn't too depressed, and is quite euphonic and lush. The upper mids are safe with a 5 dB ear gain, and there is no shoutiness or fatigue here.

The lower treble peaks at about 4 kHz, adding some resolution and clarity to this frequency band. Thereafter, the treble rolls-off, and the Fu Du isn't very airy or sparkly - it is generally quite safe for treble sensitive folk. Sibilance is mild, with not much splashiness in high-hats or cymbals. Having said this, the choice of eartip will influence a lot on treble perception, in addition to volume played at (Fletcher Munson curve) and hearing health.




In terms of timbral accuracy, there's a very small hint of BA timbre (which isn't unexpected for a BA containing set), but the Fu Du nevertheless has surprisingly authentic timbre for acoustic instruments, and there are way worst offenders in other BA containing hybrid rivals.

While discussing technicalities, the Fu Du is arguably bang average, and this department is nothing to write home about. Micro-details, clarity and instrument separation is middle-of-the-road for a sub-$100 USD hybrid. Soundstage width is average, though there is decent height and depth.

With the unexceptional technical chops and laid-back tonality, the Fu Du is definitely a "musical" IEM, rather than an analytical set for critical listening.


COMPARISONS

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




Truthear HEXA

The HEXA is a neutral hybrid with a sub-bass boost. The HEXA has less mid-bass, though the bass is tighter and cleaner. The HEXA also has a more extended treble and can be more fatiguing. It is much thinner in note weight, and sounds more anemic than the Fu Du.

The HEXA has a less natural timbre, and is harder to drive. However, in technicalities, the HEXA is ahead, with better micro-detailing, clarity, imaging and instrument separation. The HEXA has a smaller soundstage though.


Simgot EM6L

Graph of the Simgot EM6L versus Tangzu Fu Du, via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, both IEMs are on the smoother side, though the EM6L has a bit more upper mids, and vocals are more boosted in this region, especially at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve). The EM6L has a bit more upper treble and air.

In timbral accuracy, the EM6L is a step behind, and sounds more artificial for acoustic instruments.

The EM6L has a more expansive soundstage, but slightly weaker instrument separation. Micro-detailing and imaging are similar, and not class-leading.

TLDR: The Fu Du and Simgot EM6L are sidegrades.


7Hz Sonus


Graph of the 7Hz Sonus versus Tangzu Fu Du, via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

The Sonus is a U-shaped hybrid. It has less bass, though the bass is more textured and clean. Upper treble is also more extended on the Sonus, though it is a bit more sibilant.

The Sonus has a more artificial BA timbre and thinner note weight. In technicalities, the Sonus is superior, with better soundstage, imaging, micro-detailing and instrument separation.


CONCLUSIONS

The Fu Du is a decent entrant to the ultra-competitive budget hybrid market. It brings to the table a sedate U-shaped sonic profile that is smooth and fatigue-free, with outstanding timbre for a BA containing set.

Comfort, ergonomics and accessories are superb, and the Fu Du is easily driven, with no stringent amplification requirements.

Unfortunately, the Fu Du loses marks in my book for its middling technicalities and an untextured bass. But by-and-large, the Fu Du's organic timbre and consumer friendly tonality does vindicate the overall tuning, and not many sub-$100 USD hybrids can ace timbre. The Fu Du should be in the conversation for folks searching for a "musical" budget hybrid, but probably not if you are looking for something analytical or technical.

INTRODUCTION:​

Alright, my fellow audio adventurers, buckle up and prepare for another riveting review journey! Here we are again, diving into the world of Tangzu goodies. But hold onto your headphones, because this time I'm skipping the company backstory - trust me, we've had our share of Tangzu tales. Instead, let's plunge headfirst into the main act, none other than the star of today's show: the FU DU Verse 1! Yep, that's right, a delightful collaboration with the mysterious Divinus.

Now, picture this: I've just laid hands on the Fudu, practically a few heartbeats ago. And let me tell you, the auditory enchantment that's currently serenading my ears is on a whole new level of WOW. So what's a music aficionado to do? Well, naturally, I had to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) pronto to capture all the warm fuzzies the Fudu's giving me.

Hold onto your ear tips, because here comes the tech stuff: the Fudu is riding the hybrid train, sporting 1 dynamic driver and 2 balanced armatures. Oh, the nostalgia! My audio journey began with a hybrid beauty, the Bqeyz KC2. It's like my heart knew from the start that hybrids were my jam, a preference that's still grooving strong even after more than 24 months of sonic exploration.

A quick pause for a special note: As much as I relish weaving intricate tapestries of words and explanations in my reviews, I'm taking a pit stop here to serve up a dose of brevity. Why, you ask? Well, life's tossing a whole symphony of responsibilities my way: a bun in the oven (yep, you heard that right, a little audiophile in training), a weekly serenade commitment with my band, juggling house recording sessions, and, of course, a never-ending battle with household chores. With my listening window being tighter than a drum, I'm not exactly setting speed records for consecutive reviews.

Alright, let's raise the curtain on the main event, shall we? Grab your sonic snacks, folks, because we're about to set this show in motion!

FOREWORD:​

• The gear on hand has undergone at least 10-15 hours of use before it was assessed.
• No EQ is ever applied in my reviews.
• For the sake of convenience, I try my best to use a stock setup. Not everyone has access to personal ear tips or cables. If personal ear tips, cables, or accessories are used, you will be notified.
• As I try to be objective, my claims inevitably will be subjective and biased to my personal preference. I cannot stress more that you should take this with a grain of salt for we have different perceptions to sound and what we hear.

SPECIFICATIONS:​

Brand: Tangzu
Model: Fu Du verse 1
Drivers: 1 x 10mm DD, 2 x Balance armatures
Sensitivity: 106db
Impedance: 16 ohms
FR range: 20hz - 20khz
Plug type: 4.4mm
Termination plug: 0.78mm 2-pin

PACKAGING:​

Picture a sleek, matte black rectangular box resting in landscape mode. It's the epitome of simplicity, exuding a sense of mystery and professional charm. As you turn to the back, you'll find the specs lined up like eager notes on sheet music.


But that's not where the excitement ends! Slide open the inner box, and there it is – another layer of minimalistic elegance awaiting your attention.

Right at the center, the words "Tangzu x Divinus" stand proud, making their statement without any flashy magnetic gimmicks. A gentle shake is all it takes for the lower part of the box to gracefully join the party.

Now, let's venture deeper into this packaging treasure trove.

Imagine a trio of goodies, each with its role to play. On the left, the ear tips sit patiently, ready to make their musical debut. In the center, the stars of our show, the Fu Du, stand ready to deliver their sonic performance. And on the right, completing the ensemble, we have the case and cable, ensuring we're equipped for our sonic explorations.

EAR TIPS:​

Let's dive into the world of ear tips, where Tangzu has laid out a generous feast for our sonic senses. And guess what? They've gone above and beyond by skipping the generic fare and serving up two distinct flavors. It's like a buffet for our ears.

First up on this menu of musical delights, we've got the Tang Sancai ear tips. Oh, how I adore these gems! It's like they've struck a balance between being a solid backbone and delivering a punch of energy to the lows. And that's not all – they bring a dash of sonic landscape improvement to the party. Talk about a tip that knows how to groove!

But wait, there's more. Brace yourselves for the all-black wonders – the enigmatic Divinus tips. These babies sport a wide bore and a tube pathway that's as stiff as a rockstar's posture on stage. Now, usually, wide-bore tips are all about being as soft as a lullaby, but not these bad boys. They're here to make a statement and, if I'm reading the sonic tea leaves right, they're aiming to amp up the bass game.

CARRYING POUCH:​

Personally, I'm all about the convenience factor. Slip this pouch into your tiny bag or even your pocket, and voila – you've got an instant shield against scratches and minor mishaps. But hey, let's be real, it's not going to perform miracles against a Hulk-level impact. It's like trading off full armor for the agility of a ninja.

Now, let's talk dimensions. This pouch is the Goldilocks of storage – not too big, not too small, but just right. It's like a cozy home for a single pair of IEMs. And here's the kicker: the Fu Du's cables can stretch their metaphorical...cables. Not legs, mind you – we're talking about music, not aerobics!

Oh, and the pouch even plays host to a smaller sleeve inside, perfect for all those bonus accessories you've got up your sleeve. And the star of the show, the Fu Du, gets its own designated pocket. All dressed in black, embracing that oh-so-chic minimalist vibe that's just right up my alley. And let's not forget the pièce de résistance – the trusty zipper that keeps everything snug and secure.

CABLE:​

Now, fair warning, folks – the cable that comes bundled might be on the thinner side. But hold the disappointment for just a moment! Remember, we're hanging out in the $100 neighborhood, so a leaner cable isn't exactly a plot twist.

Now, let's talk aesthetics. The colorway? Oh, it's a classic choice – all dressed in sleek black with a rubbery texture. Now, I've got to be honest, it's a touch generic for my personal taste. But hey, for all you cable aficionados out there, go ahead and roll those cables to your heart's content.

Now, here's where things get a bit technical – the cable is silver plated. Brace yourself for a mini lesson: silver tends to bring a pinch of brightness to the sonic table compared to the warmth of copper. But wait, don't get your audio swords ready for battle! I'm not here to ignite a cable debate. These are just my personal findings, the musical breadcrumbs I've picked up along the way. And if you're keen on keeping the Fu Du's sonic signature in check, you might want to hunt down a cable that shares the same material.

So, to sum it up, the cable might not win the award for most unique, but it's as easy to carry as a tune in your heart. And just so you know, this cable struts its stuff with a 4.4mm plug type.

FU DU’s APPEARANCE:​

This beauty is the epitome of sleekness and minimalistic allure. But hold your horses – before you get caught up in the photographic reverie, there's a little surprise waiting. You see, at first glance, you might expect a grand entrance from metal, but alas, the reality is a bit more...plastic. And no, I'm not throwing shade at its appearance – it's got that good looks game on lock. But the kicker? It doesn't quite have that premium feel. It's like a movie set with an A-list cast but B-list set design.

The faceplate? Oh, it's a work of art, curved to perfection, embracing every ear's unique contours. And don't forget, this piece is lighter than a feather's sigh. Look to the right, you've got the suave "Tangzu" logo making its appearance, and to the left, it's "Divinus" stepping into the limelight. And what about that base, you ask? It's like a smoky mystery, revealing the dynamic driver at the heart of things. Now, here's a twist – despite all the lighting tricks, those balanced armature drivers are playing hide and seek. But hey, let's give Tangzu the benefit of the doubt, shall we?

Moving down the lineup, the base rocks a matte finish, a canvas for our oily ears to leave their mark like eager fans at a concert. And the faceplate, oh so minimalist, is like an artwork waiting to happen – just remember, it's not exactly scratch-resistant. So, a word of advice: give these beauties a bit of extra TLC to keep them looking as fresh as a melody.

All in all, the Fu Du has got that "sick" and "dope" factor in the looks department. It's an artistic triumph, a visual symphony that plays the minimalist card like a pro. But, here's the scoop – when it comes to tactile impressions, the premium essence might be a tad elusive.

COMFORT:​

When it comes to comfort, the Fu Du is the equivalent of sinking into a cloud-soft pillow. No caveats, no complaints – it's a win on all fronts.

Slipping these gems on is like sliding into your favorite pair of jeans – effortless and snug. Now, I know the curves and contours might not be giving your ears a bear hug, but the magic lies in their weightlessness. It's like they've mastered the art of invisibility once they're in place. You might as well forget you're wearing them – it's that kind of comfort.

And here's a bonus – the seal and fit game is a walk in the park. No acrobatics needed, no need to wrestle with ear tips like they're your arch-nemesis. Just pop 'em in and let the music take the lead. I've lost count of the hours I've spent wearing these bad boys – they're that easy on the ears. In fact, if comfort had a medal, these would be wearing it.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS:​

Kudos for making it this far! We're now diving into the heart and soul of this review – the sound itself.

The Fu Du finds itself paired with my trusty Fiio M11 plus LTD dap, complemented by Divinus tips and the stock cable. Keep in mind, I'll be sure to keep you in the loop if I stumble upon more revelations with different pairings across my array of sources. But for the time being, my steadfast companion remains the Fiio M11 plus LTD, offering up its 4.4mm balanced output.

Let's talk sound stage. It's not the widest I've encountered, nor the narrowest. The Fu Du serves up a sound stage that's in line with the expectations of an IEM – no surprises here, just a straightforward 2D affair. Think of it as a reliable canvas for the musical masterpiece. However, the plot thickens with certain well-mastered tracks, where a faint sense of depth creeps in, lending that subtle touch of holography to the presentation.

As for imaging, it's a strong suit, boasting precise instrument placement. Though I must confess, there's no radical shift in where my favorite instruments appear on the canvas.

Now, let's talk timbre – and oh boy, it's a shining star. The Fu Du presents an organic, true-to-life quality that's nothing short of impressive. No artificial notes sneak into the mix, just the authentic sound of instruments in their natural habitat.

Speed? The Fu Du's got it in spades. It's nimble, it's agile, and it tackles complex tracks with a grace that rivals a ballet dancer. Whether it's the swift attack or the rapid decay, this set delivers a level of note definition that's the envy of the town.

But let's pause and give credit where it's due – the real MVPs here are the layering and separation. This is where the Fu Du flexes its technical muscles, impressing with its ability to dissect the sonic landscape. Without any hint of exaggeration, I'm convinced that these little marvels can hold their ground even against sets twice their price. Each instrument gets its own spotlight, and you can practically see every musician's role in the track. It's like the ultimate front row seat to a musical extravaganza.

BASS:​

This pair slightly tilts towards the bassier side, nudging away from the realm of perfect balance. And when the sub bass takes the stage, it doesn't hold back – there's a delicious extension that can summon a satisfying rumble from the depths.

Now, let's talk about the fun factor – the bass is like a tightly coiled spring, ready to unleash its punchy prowess at a moment's notice. A prime example? Let's take a groove-filled jaunt with "Last Summer Whisper" by... well, I can assure you, it's a city pop Japanese track that's got all the right vibes. The bass guitar and drum kicks? They're the true stars, showcased in a presentation that's tighter than a well-practiced drumroll. The texture and details are nothing short of impressive, and the bass's attack? It's stepping into the limelight, but never veering into a struggle for dominance.

Now, let's tackle quantity – it's a little south of neutral, making it clear that this pair has a sweet spot for bass enthusiasts. For those who aren't on a bass-centric quest, the quantity might feel like a bit much. But fear not, the quality is where the magic happens. Even though I'm more of a neutral aficionado myself, I found myself in sync with the bass elevation. It's presented with utmost cleanliness and precision, leaving no room for muddiness or ambiguity.

In a nutshell, the Fu Du's bass realm is an exploration of tightness, punchiness, and a dash of rumble. It's like a bass-driven symphony that stays crisp, precise, and remarkably well-executed.

MIDRANGE:​

Before diving into the graph, something caught my ear – a certain forwardness in the midrange that seemed to give life to instruments like guitars, pianos, and brass. And guess what? The graph tells a story that echoes this observation, with a climb that stretches from 1kHz to 2kHz. It's like the blueprint behind the curtain, explaining the captivating drama unfolding on the midrange stage.

Graph courtesy of Paul Wasabii

I have a soft spot for forward mids. And thanks to this climb, my midrange fascination was sent into overdrive. For those who bow down to the temple of midrange, the Fu Du deserves a prime spot in your audio arsenal. Speaking of vocals, they've got their time to shine within this range, and there's no trace of that pesky recessed nature. What's in the spotlight here? Clarity, my friends. It's the keyword that defines this sonic act, unveiling details that might have remained in the shadows, lost amidst the rhythm section.

Now, let's tip our hats to Tangzu's tuning prowess. Despite the elevation, they've managed to dance on that fine line between enhancement and ear fatigue. As someone who's no stranger to wielding a musical instrument or two, I couldn't help but fall head over heels for the midrange's spotlight performance. It's like a spotlight that captures every intricate detail, casting a warm glow on every note and every timbre.

TREBLE:​

Similar to the bass, there's a commendable reach towards the upper frequencies. It's like the set's stretching its wings to embrace the heights, and depending on the musical journey you're on, it can treat you to a dose of vibrant treble. Think sparkly notes, an airy ambiance, and a shimmering presence that never wears a veil.

But hold on, what about those with ears that are slightly more sensitive to the higher frequencies? Well, I'd say a cautious audition might be in order before you take the full plunge. However, in my own experience, I found the treble to be more about revealing intricate details than piercing through. The Fu Du strikes a balance that avoids the extremes – it's not a warm embrace, nor is the treble holding back. And the best part? It doesn't veer into the realm of overly bright either.

This is where the Fu Du showcases its prowess – it's walking a tightrope between presentation and restraint, and it's doing so with finesse. It's a testament to the set's control that the treble never feels like it's running wild. Interestingly, that substantial bass elevation we discussed earlier plays a part here too. It's like a musical seesaw, with the bass and treble taking turns to keep the equilibrium just right.

COMPARISONS:​

Hold onto your ear cushions, because we're about to dive into the ultimate IEM showdown! Picture this: I've got a dynamic duo in my collection that I consider the gold standard in the $100 realm. Get ready to witness the clash of the titans as we pit the Fu Du against the Simgot EA500 and the Dunu Titan S. Now, before you cry foul about the single dynamic driver setup of my opponents, let's toss fairness out the window and dive into the sonic brawl anyway.

versus Simgot EA500​

Straight out of the gate, let's talk EA500 – and boy, does it come in blazing like a firecracker. This set leans towards the brighter side of the spectrum, a territory that comes with its own caveat: the potential for listening fatigue. Now, prepare for a plot twist, because once the Fu Du steps into the arena, it's like slipping into a cozy sweater. I've got Al Green's crooning classic, "Let's Stay Together," queued up for this showdown.

The bass on the EA500 brings its A-game – it's got more heft and density, like it's flexing its musical muscles. As for the midrange, it's got that fiery punch that's hard to ignore, and the treble? Well, let's just say it's bringing some serious heat to the party. Now, cue the Fu Du, our sonic knight in shining armor. It waltzes in with a sense of control that extends across the entire frequency range, making it a prime pick for those with ears that demand sensitivity.

When it comes to technical prowess, the two contenders square off on level ground. And would you believe it? The EA500, with its single dynamic driver setup, manages to hold its own and then some. It's like the underdog that's packing a punch that even hybrid setups might envy. Treble enthusiasts, this one's for you – the EA500 is still waving its flag high, beckoning you to take the plunge into its treble-rich realm.

The technical finesse of the EA500, despite its single dynamic driver, continues to baffle my audiophile sensibilities. It's like finding a hidden treasure trove of sonic wizardry in an unexpected package.

versus Dunu Titan S​

Let's set the stage with a mesmerizing city pop track titled "Bay/Sky Provincetown 1977." As the music envelopes my senses, it's time to unravel the sonic tale of the Titan S.

Brace yourselves, because the Titan S isn't just warm – it's warming things up to a whole new level. It's like a cozy blanket on a chilly evening, the warmest of the trio, perhaps even donning the crown as the darkest of them all. But let's talk technical flair, where the Fu Du strides forward like a maestro at a grand symphony, meticulously etching each note and transient with remarkable precision.

As for the Titan S's sonic symphony, the bass takes on a gentle demeanor, while the midrange wraps you in a blanket of warmth. The treble, on the other hand, maintains a sense of restraint, like a seasoned orator pausing for emphasis. Now, if your ears are ultra-sensitive, the Titan S might just be the one to sweep you off your feet. But here's the kicker – the Titan S flaunts its secret weapon in the form of an expansive sound stage. Picture a spacious hall where the music unfurls, and every instrument finds its own distinct voice. The sense of direction is palpable, like a musical GPS guiding you through the sonic landscape.

The Titan S, with its solo dynamic driver prowess, touts a natural timbre that's hard to ignore, with a mere 5% edge. Now, don't let that overshadow the Fu Du's own natural and organic allure, despite its hybrid DNA. It's like a harmonious dance of sound, with the Titan S showcasing a different spin on natural timbre, while the Fu Du follows closely, holding its own with a touch of hybrid magic.

TEST TRACKS:​

Here are some tracks I usually listen to when reviewing:

That’s the way of the World by EWF
Africa by TOTO
The Girl in the Other Room by Diana Kral
Balmorhea album All is wild, All is Silent
Sila by Sud
Smooth Escape by D’Sound
Never too Much by Luther Vandross
P.Y.T by Michael Jackson
Ain’t no Sunshine by Eva Cassidy
Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC
Another one bites the Dust by Queen
Good times bad times by Edie Brickell
Alice in Wonderland by Bill Evans
Ain’t it Fun by Paramore
Redefine by Incubus
Far Away by Nickelback
Lovesong by Adele
Lingus by Snarky Puppy
Harvest for the World by Vanessa Williams
Love Bites by Def Leppard
No Such Thing by John Mayer
As by Stevie Wonder
Whip Appeal by Babyface
Ain’t Nobody by Chaka Khan
Futures by Prep
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Every Summertime by NIKI
SADE tracks
AC/DC tracks
Queen tracks


And many more… I always listen to High resolution format, being the least quality 16bit/44khz FLACS be it offline or online.

VERDICT:​

In the ever-evolving landscape of audio technology, hybrid IEMs with affordable price tags are emerging as the latest contenders in the arena. And let me tell you, the Fu Du has turned the spotlight onto itself in a manner that I couldn't resist – it's as if it tapped me on the shoulder, rousing me from my auditory slumber and compelling me to put words to paper. As anticipated, the Fu Du delivers an impressive showcase of technical prowess, staying true to the expectations set by hybrid IEMs.

But let's talk about what really sets the Fu Du apart – that spotlight on the midrange, a realm of sound that tugs at my heartstrings. With a modest price tag in consideration, pinpointing flaws in the Fu Du becomes a task akin to finding a needle in a haystack. This isn't just an IEM; it's a sonic canvas that warmly welcomes audio enthusiasts into the fold, offering a taste of what the hybrid world has to offer.

From the moment it graces your ears, the Fu Du leaves no stone unturned – from the feather-light comfort it offers during extended listening sessions to the bass that packs a punch, a midrange that shines like a gem, and a treble that's held in perfect equilibrium. It's like a musical equation that's been carefully balanced. So here's the scoop – the Fu Du is more than just an IEM; it's a harbinger of what's possible in the hybrid domain. If you're just stepping into the enchanting realm of audio, consider the Fu Du your golden ticket to the world of hybrids.

And mark my words, this might just be the benchmark that future contenders aspire to meet in the $100 hybrid category. As for the future, the name "verse 1" hints at sequels, and I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the musical journeys they hold.

My heartfelt appreciation extends to Tangzu for granting me the opportunity to experience this auditory marvel, and my fellow co-reviewers, whose generosity has left an indelible mark on my audio exploration. Their support is cherished beyond words.

"News comes from nowhere"

~~Du Fu, Chinese Poet


Du Fu was a Chinese poet during Tang Dynasty, he was also known to be an astute politician and a civil servant in the imperial court during Emperor Xuanzong's reign. His stylistic and content innovation on composing his poems gives him that reputation as a groundbreaker poet, his literary works have influences on some of other Far East regions and left an indelible mark on Chinese, Korean and Japanese literary works.

TANGZU Audio is an audio company that does not need further introduction as they already have a good reputation and earn some respect and acceptance from the audio community with their well-made products. They are also known to specialise in using a single driver set up on their products, either it is a dynamic driver or planar magnetic driver. But this time, things are quite different.


Presenting TANGZU FU DU Verse I (I just call this one as a FU DU for the whole duration of this review), this is TANGZU's first attempt at implementing a hybrid driver set-up on their product. It seems that this will be their latest series line-up, a theme specifically for Tang dynasty era's poets and philosophers aside from their monarch series. And it also noted that this model is a collaboration with another brand, Divinus. Divinus is a Korea-based audio accessory brand that specialises with their velvet eartips and they also sell a TWS earphone in which I did a review on it a few years ago.



Like I mentioned, this set has a hybrid driver set-up as it consists of a single dynamic driver and two (2) balanced armature drivers. It uses a high performance 10mm driver dynamic that delivers a deeper, natural and even more potent bass response with faster transient speed without any distortion. The two custom-made balanced armature drivers (either a new gen from Bellsing or simply from E-Audio) handles the midrange and high frequencies for clarity, accurate and natural sound reproduction and smoother yet airy treble.



These internal drivers are housed in a modified UIEM-type of shell chassis made up of composite materials. The cavity base part of the shells are made of 3D-printed moulded resin while the faceplate is made of CNC-milled aluminium alloy with a minimalist aesthetic yet exudes sophistication which gives the FU DU a solid build quality and at the same time, a lighter weight. There are two vent holes on each shell to release excess air pressure generated from its dynamic driver. Unlike the cheaper Wan'er, The FU DU uses a proven 2-pin connector as its detachable mechanism for ease of cable replacement.




When it comes to fitting, it looks like that FU DU's shell contours rest well into my lugholes with any particular issue either ear fatigue or discomfort that might hinder listening experience.



As for product packaging, it was packed in black-coloured rectangular box while the inclusions inside are well-presented and organised as we unbox it. Ear tips have their own compartment as the same with IEMs and other accessories.



Here are the following contents inside the box:

■ a pair of TANGZU FU DU IEMs.

■ a 4-core high-purity OFC silver plated cable with 4.4mm balanced termination plug.

■ Three (3) pairs of TANGZU SANCAI balanced ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ Three (3) pairs of DIVINUS velvet ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ a faux leather zippered IEM storage bag.



As for power requirement and scalability to amplify this set, TANGZU FU DU is actually an easy to drive set that even a smartphone with just decent power output will be able to power it properly. Just a moderate amplitude level is enough to deliver a dynamic and a full range sound impression on this one.



Regarding its tonality, TANGZU FU DU has this balanced-warmish, U-shaped sound profile that reminds me of some vintage headphones from Sony that will give you that analogue-ish vibe on it but due to balanced armatures, it added an tad amount of sparkle and shimmer on highs. It has more prominent low and high frequencies and a notch midrange presentation.




LOWS/BASS:

The first thing I noticed on the bass response of FU DU is that it is incisive, tactile and borderline boomy that gives more heft and authoritative sound on mid-bass focused instruments on which I will elaborate later.

I certainly felt those reverberating and rumbling sounds produced from sub-bass filled instruments like synthesisers, octabass and drum machines. Mid-bass is the most dominant frequency in the bass region as it gives more note weight on certain instruments and male vocals particularly on bass baritones. Bass guitars have a weighty and resonant sound on every pluck on its strings while a sonorous and rumbling on bass kick drums timbre from attack to resonance. On bass-baritone vocals, it has a darker tone and more guttural sound to give a dense and deep vocals on the singers like Barry White, Andrew Eldritch and Peter Steele. It should be noted that it has some slight bass bleed across the midrange frequency but still on a manageable level.


MIDRANGE:

Despite a tad recession on the presentation, It doesn't sound lean nor dry but rather on a warmer side. The fact that vocals are well-textured and somehow forward while instruments have a natural and good attack particularly on rhythmic one and percussions.

On vocals, let's start with male ones first. Baritones have a warm, "coffee-like" and fuller characteristics that give us that deep and modulated voices from Eddie Vedder to Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Tenors seems to sound great in this one as it gives a tangy and brassy tone on Robert Plant, Justin Timberlake and the famous "Three Tenors" in the operatic scene. Both countertenor and mezzo sopranos share almost the same tonal characteristics as they have this full, velvety and smooth sound from it as I listen to either Andrea Corr or King Diamond. I almost forgot to mention about contralto vocals on this one as they have this strong and heavy tone from their low chesty register. For soprano vocals, FU DU was able to deliver the silky, rich and emotive quality of a dramatic soprano but for coloratura soprano I noticed that it is quite less energetic and agility at least they still sound articulate to my ears.

On instruments, it seems that they all sound natural as both percussive and rhythmic ones are able to project that almost correct timbre. Guitars have a tad crisp and bloomy effect as I was able to perceive every pluck on its notation while violins' sounds have this lustrous sound from them. Pianos seem to have this warm to balanced tone from it while celestas have a more velvety and sweet sound than a bright and bell-like one. Trumpets have brilliant and full sound then trombones have a rather solid and rounded tone. Percussive like field drums, toms, timpanis and snares have these sonorous, warm, boomy and rustling tones respectively. As for woodwinds, flutes and fife have these mellow and rich sounds while clarinets and saxophones have these warm and velvety timbres.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of FU DU is surprisingly balanced as it doesn't sound dark and dull or too bright and intense. It has some emphasis on the upper mids just to have enough sheen for sufficient clarity, detail and an ample crisp for attack of vocals and instruments. There are some parts of the treble region especially the presence part that were smoothed a bit for the purpose to remove unwanted harshness and sibilance. Overall it has a smooth and pleasant treble quality that treble sensitives will be able to enjoy.

Cymbal sounds have a rather lustrous but it has good sizzle to determine that it has adequate treble extension with acceptable amount of sparkle. Hi-hats seems to have that distinct chick sound as it has a short buzzing tone. Glockenspiels appears to have that lustrous quality rather than having a bright and shimmering sound.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES

It has a modest sound/speaker stage proportions based on how I perceived its overall sound field dimensions. It has an average to above average span on lateral cues, good depth and higher than average height ceiling which give me that moderate head room within my perceived spatial sense.

Imaging presentation is fairly presented a typical two-dimensional stereo field as I was able to locate the position of vocals and instruments with decent accuracy. Unexpected its a good separation and fairly decent on tonal and frequency layering as it able to have a decent stratification within its sonic field that it able to render some complex tracks like jazz ensemble in satisfactory manner but it somehow struggles on multi-instrumental orchestral tracks.

Cohesive performance of its hybrid drivers is quite reasonable given how each drivers able to deliver that competent transient speed, less distortion, no out of phase issues and good clarity.

It seems it has contrasting aspects on its resolution capability between macro-dynamics and micro-dynamics. It has a solid and consistent volume on macro-dynamics then on micro-dynamics, it has rather a decent detail retrieval as it able to extract some nuances and subtleties of data from a track. So I can safely say that it is quite average but at least its definition is not blunted and mushy that is detrimental to notation attack and sonority within its sonic canvas.



PEER COMPARISONS:

CVJ MEI

● Compare to FU DU, this is a much cheaper set and it also has a similar material built on its shell chassis with comparable classy aesthetics. And it has a working tuning toggle for choices of preferred sonic profiles but on both quality and quantity of inclusions, all in all, Mei is inferior on those categories.

● Tonality-wise, CVJ offer four types of sound profiles although the single DD mode is one of the worst tuning that I've ever encountered in recent memory. Ill compare it with FU DU to 1 DD + 1 Knowles BA + 1 Custom BA settings. The bass is punchy enough but compared to FU DU, it lacks of depth and less authoritativeness. On midrange, it has brighter, more detail and more energetic that is beneficial towards more female vocals and other instruments which makes Mei more favourable but at the expenses of having a slight sibilance. Both are comparable in treble quality but Mei has more crisper and better sparkle on presence up to brilliance treble region albeit the treble air is somewhat similar on extension.

● Both are almost alike in technical performance but there is one thing that CVJ Mei have an edge, it has better micro-detail retrieval as it has a much sharper attack on definition that it was able to extract more details and nuances compare to FU DU.


HIDIZS MS3

● Another set with similar drivers implementation on its transducers but MS3 is way more pricey due to its more premium BAs inside. Its overall shell chassis is made of CNC-milled aircraft-grade alumium alloy albeit it is tad heftier compare to FU DU. The thing that makes the MS3 standout was its detachable tuning filters. While both have impressive product packaging presentation but MS3 has better stock cable, more ear tips to choose from and other tuning filters, although I prefer FU DU's faux-leather IEM storage bag.

● Due to its tuning filter system, MS3 is way more flexible when it comes to sound signatures in which it offers a variety of tuning from U to V. The red filter is comparable to the FU DU's tuning although the former has a noticeable more recessed midrange presentation but on Rose Gold and Silver tuning filters, it shows a more refinement, better detail and a crisper tone of MS3.

● On technical performance, almost similar sound/speaker stage dimension but MS3 has better height reach. Imaging seems to have a concave presentation with more improved separation of elements and better layering capabilities. MS3 has a much better resolution capabilities especially on micro-dynamics in which it edges out the FU DU in terms of definition and a sharper attack and loudness as it able to extract more details.


Since this is TANGZU's first foray on hybrid driver set-up IEM. It looks like they are taking a step coming out of their own bubble as they try to innovate and are willing to take a risk to deliver a different product from their usual offerings.

TANGZU FU DU won't pretend to be that its a very technically competent set nor an analytical sounding one. But instead, it offers a fun sounding, quite engaging and an analogue-ish tuning that will let you experience the Hi-Fi nature of the previous decades like from the 70s and 80s era. That's indeed the beauty and strength of this set.

TANGZU FU DU is now available at TANGZU's official store, check out the link below:


★★TANGZU - OFFICIAL★★


And also, you can checkout my reviews of other TANGZU products:


★★TFORCE YUAN LI★★

★★TANGZU WAN'ER S.G.★★

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: TANGZU FU DU VERSE 1
IMPEDANCE: 16Ω
SENSITIVITY: 106dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 4.4mm BALANCED
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (2) BALANCED ARMATURE 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*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **


P.S.

I am not affiliated to TANGZU AUDIO 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 the TEAM TANGZU for sending this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.