Tangzu x HBB Xuan NV

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Tangzu for providing this review unit.

The Tangzu x HBB Xuan Nv can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tangzu-xuannv (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 10 mm ceramic DD + 8mm PU + LCP DD
• Frequency response: 7 Hz - 20 kHz
• Impedance: 8.5 Ω
• Sensitivity: 98 dB
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; single crystal oxygen-free copper cable; 3.5 mm termination
• Tested at: $79 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:

- 3 pairs of wide Tang Sancai silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of balanced Tang Sancai silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 1 pair of narrow bore silicone eartips
- Cable
- Carrying pouch

For a sub-$100 set, the accessories are so so. We do not have a modular cable or foam tips, or even a semi-rigid/hard case, but everything included is nevertheless serviceable.




The wide Tang Sancai tips, as per their namesake, are wide-bore. These boost treble and air, and improve staging. The narrow-bore pair increases bass, albeit at the expense of soundstage. The balanced Tang Sancai ones are a midpoint between the two sonically.




The stock 2-pin single crystal oxygen-free copper cable is braided in a Litz design. It is very tangly, though with minimal microphonics. There's a chin cinch for stabilization during usage.




The leatherette soft pouch can prevent scratches on the IEM, but it may not survive a drop or knock.

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


BUILD/COMFORT



Featuring a beautiful gold motif on a red housing, the Xuan Nv's shells are 3D-printed from medical-grade resin.

While on the larger side to house 2 DDs, the earpieces are light, with a concha protrusion for added grip. Comfort is good in spite of the bigger shells, and Tangzu states in marketing materials that the shape of the housings were designed after accumulating numerous ear anatomies.

Being a vented IEM, isolation is bang average. I did not encounter any driver flex, which is a sign of good acoustic airflow.




INTERNALS

The Xuan Nv is a 2 DD set, packing a 10 mm ceramic DD and an 8mm PU + LCP DD.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Xuan Nv with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is quite difficult to drive in terms of headroom.

Due to the low 8.5 Ω impedance, it is best paired with sources with < 1.0625 Ω output impedance, due to the rules of eights. Pairing it with higher OI sources may make it overly bassy and mess with the frequency response.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the Xuan NV via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the Xuan Nv sports a warm U-shaped profile that is quite laid back.

This is a sub-bass focused IEM, with decent rumble down to 20 kHz. It isn't an outright basshead set in terms of quantity and thump though. The mid-bass is on the slower side, with some bleed and average texturing. This frequency band may smear during complex tracks.

The lower mids are on the thicker side, warmed by the bassy veil. Upper mids reach a climax of 8 dB or so, which translates to vocals being forwards but just lying at the edge. If underpowered or blasted at loud volumes, the Xuan Nv may on occasions hit shouty territory.

Sibilance is absent, and the treble is very smooth and polite, which should please the treble-sensitive amongst us. Conversely, this results in a lack of resolution and clarity, and trebleheads might find a distinct lack of pizzazz.

Timbral accuracy is organic and natural, no complaints on this front. In fact, this is one of the Xuan Nv's stellar aspects.

In terms of technical chops, the Xuan Nv is below average: it goes for a musical tuning over outright technical prowess. While soundstage is above average with decent imaging, micro-detailing and instrument separation are sub-par. This IEM gets overwhelmed when complex tracks with competing riffs appear.


COMPARISONS

The Xuan Nv will be compared against other DD containing budget gear. Hybrids, multi-BAs, and pure planars, which have their own pros and cons, are left out of the comparisons.




Kefine Delci

The Delci is a warm U-shaped set with more mid-bass. It has less upper mids than the Xuan Nv, but a more extended treble.

The Delci is clearly no technical tour de force, but still shades the Xuan Nv in technicalities, with the Delci having a hair better soundstage, imaging and micro-detailing.

The Delci is easier to drive, but has a less natural timbre.


Simgot EA500LM

The EA500LM is a more aggressively-tuned IEM with 3 tuning nozzles - these confer mostly bright Harmanish tunings, with a more jacked-up upper mids and lower treble. As such the EA500LM can come across as more shouty and fatiguing.

However, the EA500LM trumps the Xuan Nv in technicalities, with the former providing better imaging, micro-details and soundstage.

The EA500LM is easier to drive, but has a more metallic timbre.


CONCLUSIONS



The Xuan Nv is a musical dual DD IEM, which is quite relaxing and laid back. It is a suitable transducer for sitting back and chilling to, as the natural timbre and sibilant-free sonics are akin to being surrounded in a warm tub of honey. It can hence be used for longer listening sessions without much fatigue.

However, one may see it as a one-trick pony, as the technicalities on offer are sub-par, with a dark treble shaving off resolution. It struggles with complex instrumentation with competing riffs. To top it off, this IEM is one tricky customer to drive in view of the low impedance; source pairing and drivability may be an issue as such.

In the big scheme of things, the Xuan Nv lies at just below $80 USD, and at this retail price, the competition is really cut-throat. While not an outright bad set, customers have a wide array of more technical rivals to pick from. Verily, I'm not sure the Xuan Nv may still be talked about in a couple of months' time.

𝑻𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒁𝒖 𝒙 𝑯𝑩𝑩 𝑿𝒖𝒂𝒏 𝑵𝑽 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝑵𝑽𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕


|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

TangZu is back once more with another collaboration with HawaiiBadBoy for their all new Xuan NV. Priced at around $79, the Xuan NV sits nicely in one of the most competitive price ranges in our hobby.



Packed with a 2DD driver setup and sporting an elegant design, the Xuan NV may not pack the most amount or the most diverse driver setup, but this doesn’t make it a slouch either.


|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the brands I review and do not give out preview privileges.

This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both
parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

I don’t do rankings or tier lists as they can get outdated immediately as a reviewer can change their thoughts of a product to a certain extent. If you do want a recommendation then feel free to reach out so I can help out

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𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 TangZu Audio 𝗮𝗻𝗱 Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews 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 Linsoul Audio 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁. 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹.

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| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Typically TangZu packaging is still present on the Xuan NV. This means that the Xuan NV is packaged in a glossy box with a nice illustration on the front that has historic references of Chinese history.



It is pretty nice for TangZu to keep doing this on all of their sets despite the differing price ranges. The homage to historic figures in Chinese history is always a treat to encounter.



Sliding off the illustrated cover reveals the IEMs sitting nicely and is surrounded by foam for the shock protection. Underneath that is a neat little compartment that is holding TangZu’s own line of eartips. Another box is present containing all of the remaining accessories included in this package.

𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:
Paperwork
TangZu Xuan NV IEMs
Folding faux-leather pouch
4-core 2-pin cable(3.5mm)
TangZu Sancai Wide eartips (S/M/L)
TangZu Sancai Balanced eartips (S/M/L)

It is nice to see TangZu including not one but two of their own line of eartips, that being the Sancai tips included on the Xuan NV. I actually like these tips and have my own set of both for use on other sets. The provided case seems to incorporate some sort of origami-style folding which is almost similar to the one provided on the
TruthEar Zero Red I had briefly before.



So far so good but the real downside of this section for the Xuan NV is the cable, the quality is great, the chin slider works, and the cable behaves well for the most part, the only issue here is the bad rubber texture that I predict will be worn down as time goes on. You can always swap them out for other cables but it is quite a bummer that they didn’t have to make it like this from the get-go


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The overall build of the Xuan NV is amazing. I am notorious for gushing about resin-based IEMs and this one is one hell of a build. It feels quality in the hand and is very smooth overall. It is made entirely out of resin and only comes in this one flamboyant design.



Speaking of design, the Xuan NV is not scared to spread its wings and be as unique as possible. It has a red-translucent shell with golden accents on the faceplate. What really sets this apart like other TangZu products is the characteristically unique faceplate designs on their sets. The design is said to be inspired from butterflies which was a reference to HawaiiBadBoy’s Hawaiian origin but it also seems to suggest a design cue taken from wings of cranes.



Overall, the design is very flashy and elegant. I am quite fond of TangZu’s faceplate designs and this one is no exception to that testament.
In terms of the form, the Xuan NV has a bit of thickness to it although not much. It takes a more universal-type of fit with a minor wing for a snug fit. A single vent is located near the 2-pin ports at the top and another towards the inner part of the IEM near the nozzle. Speaking of the nozzle, it is made out of the similar resin material as the whole body. It protrudes decently well from the body and has a small lip for secure ear tip placement.



Equipped with a dual dynamic drivers, the Xuan NV not only covers the frequency range, but also produces sound that is very organic that is absent when working with other driver types and configurations


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

Blocking out sounds on the Xuan NV is just as effective as your average IEM. Given you have a snug and secure fit with the right eartips, the Xuan NV isolates the outside world well enough to focus on the music


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

Even for hours on end, I didn’t find myself in pain when using the Xuan NV, even with the presence of a small wing. With proper fitment and eartip choice, the Xuan NV sits well in my ear, nice and snug even in the most drastic of head movements. The occlusion effect is just as prominent as other IEMs, so talking with Xuan NV on might feel weird and uncomfortable.


**𝗞𝗶𝘄𝗶𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼 | 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 (𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴) | 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗭𝘂 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗶 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗲 (𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹) **


| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

Despite being able to run on my Apple dongle, the Xuan NV seems to be able to scale well the more power you give it. I suggest trying out pushing more power on to the Xuan NV to see for yourself.


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

Regarding sound performance, the Xuan NV stated that their approach being “warm and melodious, nimble and grand, delicate and smooth” which I think succeeded in achieving such a claim.

Another highlight about that sound is that even though this is a set tuned by HBB, it does not fit into the impression that it is a bassy set unlike most of his other collaboration

| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

The TangZu Xuan NV delivers a well-controlled bass response. The midbass is present and provides a decent impact with good speed and quickness. While the subbass is
there, it's not as noticeable, and the texture could use some improvement.

Despite this, the midbass delivers a satisfactory performance, maintaining a neat and tidy presentation.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

The midrange warmth is slightly affected by the less forward bass, resulting in a leaner presentation with less note weight. Despite this, the midrange performance is decent and acceptable even for those who are particularly picky.

Vocals sound airy and well-extended, along with instruments. However, sibilant vocals can present an issue of sibilance on the Xuan NV. The timbre is very natural and organic sounding, which adds to the overall listening experience.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

The highs on the Xuan NV are a standout feature. They are nicely extended, providing a taste of sparkle without being harsh or fatiguing. The detail retrieval is excellent, and there was never a time where the highs sounded splashy.

This makes the Xuan NV a great option for those who enjoy detailed and well-extended treble.


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

In terms of technicalities, the Xuan NV excels. The soundstage is wide, and the layering, imaging, and separation are noteworthy. They never sound congested, even during busier parts of songs. This makes them suitable for both analytical and immersive entertainment use cases.


| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 |

The TangZu Xuan NV offers a balanced sound signature with a well-controlled bass, decent mids, and standout highs. Its technical performance is impressive, making it a versatile option for a variety of listening scenarios



While there are minor issues with subbass texture and sibilant vocals, the overall performance is commendable, especially at its price point. If you're looking for an IEM that excels in both analytical and immersive listening experiences, the Xuan NV is definitely worth considering.

Xuan Nv is a celestial benevolent deity of Taoism as she is the goddess that taught the Yellow Emperor with some esoteric military arts to aid his cosmic conquest in the war of heaven. She is also known to be a divine entity that propagates the knowledge of Feng Shui, craftsmanship, shamanism, sexcraft and alchemy arts. In older texts, she was described as a woman with a body of a bird and will sometimes appear to help some heroes in need for protection.

It is quite unusual that TANGZU didn't name a model after a historical personality or an event in Tang dynasty era but rather to a Taoist deity. But I think that I get the general idea on why they named a set after this traditional philosophical-religious movement as Taoism became one of the major religions in Tang China along with Confucianism and Buddhism and all the imperial family claimed to be a descendant of Lao Tzu, the founder of the said religion.



This is TANGZU XUAN NV and this is their latest entry-level offering and their first model that features dual dynamic driver set-up. This product is also the second collaboration project with Chris Ballard a.k.a. H.B.B. (Hawaiian Bad Boy) which is a well-renowned audio reviewer in the YouTube space.



Inside XUAN NV, it has dual dynamic drivers of asymmetrical size as it consists of 10mm ceramic dynamic driver and an 8mm dynamic driver with a composite diaphragm made up of PU (Polyurethane) and LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer). The combination of the two dynamic drivers brings out a cohesive sound that is clear, lush, smooth and detailed quality but there's a caveat, Ceramic dynamic drivers are known for their rigidity and strength that requires even more power output similar to some planar magnetics (cough..cough...RHA CL1 and SIMPHONIO VR1).



The drivers were encapsulated in a 3D-moulded UIEM-style hypoallergenic resin shell chassis with a red colourway and a gold print of a butterfly wing on its faceplate. The design of its shell structure is quite ergonomic on how it fits to my lug holes and its aesthetics exudes a classy and sophistication as red and gold are one of the best colour combinations that makes it eye-pleasing. It is a good decision that XUAN NV implemented a 0.78mm bi-pin connector mechanism on this set as it makes cable swapping easier.



In regards to fitting, the XUAN NV provides a comfortable wear as it rests well into my lug holes without any issues and it also gives a proper sealing for better passive noise isolation.



The included stock cable of the XUAN NV is somehow decently good in my opinion as I've some pricey entry-level sets which have a mediocre stock cable. The cable consists of a Litz oxygen-free copper wire that was grouped and braided into 4-core structure with a straight gold-plated 3.5mm single ended termination plug. The cable itself will convey a seamless transmission of audio signal.



For an entry-level set, The XUAN NV is pretty well accessorised and TANGZU products are known for its well-designed packaging box. It elevates the unboxing experience of the TANGZU product to let their customers know that their choice who bought their product was well spent.



Here are the following contents inside of TANGZU XUAN NV's packaging box:

• Pair of TANGZU XUAN NV IEM transducers.
• Stock cable
• 3 pairs of TANG SANCAI wide bore ear tips in different standard sizes.
• 3 pairs of TANG SANCAI narrow bore ear tips in different standard sizes.
• PU storage case
• User's manual

As for its required amplification, I mentioned a while ago about the ceramic drivers and this set is definitely hard to drive as it really requires more power output just to power up its ceramic dynamic driver. To achieve an optimal power output to drive this set to its fullest potential, either we will use a USB DAC/Amp dongle, a DAP (Digital Audio Player) with medium and high gain mode, or desktop DAC amplifier.



The XUAN NV has a mild u-shaped sound signature with balanced-warmish tonality that makes it a more analogue-ish profile that will have a warm and smooth sound across its frequency spectrum.




LOWS/BASS:

This set has some characteristics to be a bassy one but a well-done bass emphasis which is absolutely coherent and authoritative not a muddy mess. It delivers a punchy, incisive and rumbly bass response that it complements well with its warm, analogue-ish tuning.

Certainly that there's a sub bass presence as I clearly perceived those resonance effects that were generated by some instruments like low tuned bass guitars and double bass, octobasses, drum machines and synthesisers. The mid bass is definitely well-textured that it gives a sufficient note weight on instruments and deep male vocals. The bass guitars have a definitive growl as they sound weight, sombre and broad that also shares with double basses too. Bass kick drums have those authoritative sounds as they sound full and sonorous. Male vocals like basses and bass-baritones have sufficient thickness, depth and warmer sound with rumbling and darker tone on their voices.


MIDRANGE:

The midrange presentation of this set is slightly recessed, but it has warmth, well-textured and richness on it that will give more plush and smoothness on vocals and instruments. The way it was tuned will give a more pleasant and organic timbre to some listeners who adhere more towards analogue-ish type of tuning.

Male vocals like baritones have smooth and lushness on their voices while tenors have brassy and ringing voice quality but I wish some tad of brightness for lighter tenors like leggero and lyric types. Countertenors seem to have a tender, smooth and light vocal characteristic on them similar to some mezzo-sopranos. On female vocals, contraltos will benefit more on how this set was tuned as it gives more rich, full and smoky voice while mezzo-sopranos have a tender and sensitive vocals to give that coppery characteristic. And then, sopranos have that satiny, sweet and sultry vocals in which are more suitable on dramatic and spinto which have emotive and rich voices rather on lyric and coloratura types which need more energetic and bright sound.

As for instruments, brasses and percussives will sound better on this set as it gives a full and rounded sound on trumpets, a brassy and full sound on trombones, and a velvety and warm on horns while on percussives, warm and resonant sound on tom-toms, a tad boomy and sombre sound on field drums, a hard and a tad muffled sound on snares and lastly, a boomy and substantial sound on kettle drums. String instruments sound a bit smooth and warm as it is quite noticeable that guitars have this meaty and “buttery” sound on them while violins sound full and austere, and then cellos have warm, weighty and sonorous sound on them. Woodwinds like concert flutes, piccolos and clarinets have mellow, soft and rich sound respectively but lack airiness and shimmer on them. Pianos have a warm and mellow tone as it sounds sweet and rich but some might perceive it as dull and veiled.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of this set is definitely smooth, even and satiny that I can assure that not a hint of harshness nor sibilance will occur on this type of tuning. It has a slight elevation on the upper mids and presence treble region enough to have an ample clarity and finesse on attack of both percussives rhythmic instruments.

The presence of airy extension on the brilliance part of the treble region is quite modest in my opinion as it also has a barely sparkle on it. Cymbals have a lustrous and undulating sound in them while hi-hats have a proper sound which has a short buzzing one albeit with an added warmth on it. Celestas have a velvety and soft sound, then glockenspiels have a lustrous and warm sound than the usual bright and shimmering sound that these instruments should have.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

It appears that the overall technical capabilities of XUAN NV is more of an above-average in terms of performance-wise. It doesn't have that spacious sound/speaker stage as it presents a more intimate presentation with an average width span, above-average height reach and good depth. The stereo imaging on this one projects a concave-like presentation in a sufficiently layered soundscape with surprisingly good separation of instruments and vocals for a dual dynamic driver set.

The cohesive performance of its dual dynamic drivers is pretty responsive and flexible that it executes a fast, fluid transient speed without any sort of issues like detached sound or distortion. And for resolution capabilities, as I don't consider it superbly resolving especially on micro-detail aspect as it doesn't have that sharp definition on retrieving some nuances and details in an audio track but it has a pretty solid on macro-dynamics after all.


PEER COMPARISONS:

TINHIFI T2 MK.II

• While T2 MK.II also has dual dynamic driver but it was encased in a rounded metal alloy chassis and it uses a MMCX-type of connector. While it doesn't have any storage case or pouch included, it has a decent cable and more choices of ear tips to choose from.
• This set has a neutral ish-bright sound signature which is quite in contrast with XUAN NV warmer sound profile. It has tighter bass response, neutral and transparent midrange and brighter and more airy treble presentation compared to the XUAN NV but it might sound too lean to some listeners and probably less-friendly to some treble-sensitive folk out there. Technical performance-wise, the T2 MK.II is a bit ahead on sound field dimension size and resolving capabilities compared to XUAN NV as it has a tad wider lateral span and more clearer and delineating micro-dynamics. And another thing is that the T2 MK.II is even easier to drive.

QKZ X HBB KHAN

• Another set that is also part of HBB's product collaboration, but this time with QKZ. Like the XUAN NV, it also has a dual dynamic driver set-up but it was also encased in a metal alloy shell. It also has a decent amount of accessories that we can choose from and a cloth sack storage pouch.
• QKZ KHAN like the previous models with HBB collaboration, it shares similar sound profiles, a V-shaped with a very warm tonality on it. Compared to its “half-sister”, The XUAN NV, it has an even warmer sound as it has more boomy and authoritative bass response but it really have a noticeable bass bleed across the mids, midrange presentation appears has warmth but a tad hollow sound vocals and instruments and a smooth and less sparkling treble response. On technical capabilities, KHAN is quite inferior compared to XUAN NV in all technical aspect categories from soundstage size up to the resolution capability but KHAN is easier to drive as it can be used on devices with decent power output.

CCA DUO

• This set is still one of my top favourite dual dynamic driver IEMs out there and also has some good quality dynamic drivers that KZ/CCA implemented there, but the DUO, like all KZ and CCA sets, has a QDC-type connector which I have some doubts on its structural integrity. Don't expect a quality and quantity of accessories on this one as it is quite meagre and its stock cable is pretty basic.
• The DUO has a mild u-shaped sound signature with more sub-bass focused bass response, a clean translucent and energetic midrange and a tad bright and some instances of being shouty and minimal sibilance. On technical performance, compared to the XUAN NV, this set has a bit narrower sound field but it is quite taller and it has more resolving on micro-detail retrieval. And also, the DUO is relatively easy to drive to than the XUAN NV.

As I put my conclusion on this assessment, this set is one of TANGZU's endeavours to diversify their product offerings as they try to be adaptive as fast as possible as the constant and unpredictable changes in the audio market on the evolving technologies available to utilised. By implementing such dynamic driver technology which has many potentials to deliver an exquisite tonal quality but at the expense of more power output just to drive it properly along with the collaboration with one of the most premier portable audio product reviewer in YouTube, this set truly performs on its intended tonal target as it delivers a smooth, cosy and harmonious sound quality. This is probably one of my favourite HBB collaboration sets for under $100/£80 and I will surely recommend it to audio enthusiasts who want a musical well-balanced IEM with smooth, inoffensive and a well-done colouration on its tonal profile for their listening pleasure.


TANGZU XUAN NV is now available in TANGZU's official store and LINSOUL, For those who are interested to purchase this product, I just put up some unaffiliated links below.


★★TANGZU XUAN NV - OFFICIAL STORE★★

★★TANGZU XUAN NV - LINSOUL★★


For more TANGZU products, you can click the links below.

■ TANGZU/TFORCE YUAN LI

■ TANGZU WAN'ER SG

■ TANGZU PRINCESS CHANGLE

■ TANGZU FU DU VERSE I

■ TANGZU XUANWU GATE

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: TANGZU XUAN NV
IMPEDANCE: 8.5Ω
SENSITIVITY: 98dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 7Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.25m
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (2) DYNAMIC DRIVER(S)


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.