Thanks to Tangzu Audio for developing Changle, and welcome to the Tangzu Audio Changle review.
90/100 (for its price)
PROS
- Relatively balanced and semi open backed
- Almost perfect harman sound signature
- Best for organic music
- Lovely vocals
- No sibilance
- Price
CONS
- Not, I repeat NOT for huge hall music
- You are exactly in the center point of your music
- Bass resolution is disappointing and can get messed up
- Not so clear background
- Cable is not retractable or modular
Tangzu Audio has always been after models that are different from the rest. We covered most of them before. Despite the famous Red Shiminli Encounter issue in their recent history, they are looking forward to it, and this Changle is the recent model after that embarrassment or foul play. I wish all of their iems were like Yuan Li. It was remarkable for its price. And what they had managed with 1DD was awesome.
Company Overview
The engineers at TangZu Audio are passionate about making high-quality in-ear monitors (IEMs) for music lovers, so they’re a relatively small team. A wide variety of models are available to meet the needs of customers with varying tastes and budgets, and all are created to provide an exceptional listening experience. Each in-ear monitor (IEM) is made with precision using premium components and cutting-edge technology to ensure a snug, secure fit and excellent noise cancellation. Because of their dedication to quality, TangZu Audio has won the hearts of many music enthusiasts around the world.
Technical Specifications
- Form: IEM
- Drivers:
- 6mm micro DD
- Impedance (Ohm): 16 oHm
- Sensitivity (dB): 95.5 dB
- Removable Cable: No
- Source Jack: 3.5mm
- Cup/Shell Jack: N/A
Packaging
A slim package only slightly bigger than the i14pmx. Embellishments greet you both on the outer and inner boxes. It’s a nod to EA500.
In the box
- Princess Changle Earphones x 1 pair
- Silicone Ear Tips (Balanced) x 3 pairs
- Silicone Ear Tips (Low-Frequency) x 3 pairs
Cable
Braided thin 4N silver plated cable under PVC rubber sheathing. The connector jack is slim and metallic. The Y split is the same too.
Design
Being an actual semi open bullet shape iem and the placement of its non retractable cable makes it an actual BULLET style iem (imagine using S sized eartips with it). Without the monitor-like insertion potential, its shell features an artistic CNC engraved aluminum alloy. Counting the box’s nice appearance and the state of the art shells, this is can look like a non ultra budget iem. No boy.
Comfort
The iem in question is a good example of a perfect fit. And the more compact the eartips are, the more comfortable it is.
Internals
6mm micro DD explains it all. And its a semi open shell and some foamy material is used as dampening pieces.
Tangzu Audio Changle Sound
With i14pmx, the timbre shifts from warm and dark to neutral. This little princess’s vocals are one of the things that immediately stand out about her. For the price, transparency is excellent. Madonna’s back vocals can be heard. However, a recessed midband is a minor issue here, especially when it comes to the vocal parts of any song. Speaking of vocals, I’m pleased to report that I heard no sibilance. I pushed it to its limits with my sibilance test track, but nothing happened. The textures are a little shallow, but adequate for the price of $15. These were recorded using only low-end enhancing silicone eartips.
Now it’s time for the balanced eartips. The sound isolation is like %75 after the eartip change. Instruments gained more body. Even though the soundfield ain’t that huge, the weirdly immersive playback is fun to experience. Because I can pinpoint every band member’s exact location with it. Me at the center, a guitar groove on the forward right, and so on.
Bass
The bass of Changle is strong, but not too strong to bleed into other frequencies. It provides a solid foundation for the music without overpowering the other instruments. Additionally, it adds depth and richness to the overall sound. At least, it’s respectful to others, based on a consumer point of view. My reviewer senses hints at tiny bleed outs here and there. Bass guitars are fun to listen to. And bands with a strong bass guitar emphasis too. And having no squared bass hits are adding up to the comfort of its sound. A touch of the LG V30 with its DAC mode on is helping its bass greatly.
Midrange
I believe that the term “a little reserved” is the one that most accurately describes the princess midrange. Not loud and aggressive in tone. Just in the role that her elders assigned to her. To earn the title of princess, one must possess certain characteristics: Changle sings quietly (short dynamic range, low efficiency, low audible shelf) and transparently, as her price tag allows. Transparency is helpful in live recordings too, so you can hear tiny background details at the same time. The strong tonality rating makes it a good player in my eyes. Overall, Changle’s singing style is well-suited for intimate performances and recordings. However, it may not be the best choice for larger venues or more dynamic musical arrangements.
Treble
I can’t say that it’s treble is dull and nonexistent. But the hints of harmonics spread to my left and right. This is unbelievably delightful. However, it places me directly in the middle of the center mass of the music, and I am hearing small details (micro details) from the far right and left speakers that I hardly noticed before. If there were no smooth jazz with nice cymbals etc, it would be OK.
Comparison
vs Truthear Hola: Thanks to her semi-open back shell, Changle offers one of the largest soundstages among the IEMs. Despite its dynamism, it appears that it cannot accompany fast-paced and harsh tracks. However, bass guitars, even when played in their most natural state, manage to succeed even when layered up to two times. The soundstage is somewhat close to Changle, and Hola is better at managing crowds. Going along with the fast pace is less of a problem than she is. But in terms of layering, they all deliver for the price. Here, a miracle shouldn’t be anticipated. At Hola, the vocals stand out in contrast to the busy background. With a solo vocalist or a small band, Changle is better. But in the end, they both have somewhat recessed midsections.
Where to Buy
Conclusion
Organic, controlled, bass are the three keywords to define Changle. Although not great at performing music, its SQ is between OK and good depending on your perspective. However, its 15$ makes it a sure shot, an essential piece in many inventories of personal music fans.
