Tanchjim 4U is an in-house developed DMT4 featuring dynamic driver IEM that offers a wide sound experience to the user, with a sound signature that nods to the Zero in its stock condition (with the tuning switch facing up). If you’re wondering how you could achieve a sound quality that goes beyond the Zero, evaluating the performance of the 4U provides a clear answer. Overall, it’s a highly competitive option for its price, delivering impressive performance across different music genres. Here’s a detailed review of the Tanchjim 4U.
Thanks to Tanchjim, HifiGO and AG for the Turkey tour loaner.
Unboxing Experience
First of all, unboxing isn’t the same old Tanchjim unboxing. This means, rather easy and convenient.
Technical Details
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Driver Diaphragm Materials: Polyurethane (PU), Liquid crystal polymers (PCL)
- Earphone Connectors: CIEM 0.78mm 2 pins
- Cable Connector: 3.5mm jack
- Frequency Response: 8Hz-48kHz
- Impedance: 32Ω ±5%
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.05% @ 1kHz, 94dB
- Sensitivity: 122dB/Vrms
- Cable Conductors: Silver-plated copper Litz wire
- Cable Shielding: Silver-plated platinum
Sound Characteristics
Bass
In stock settings, the bass of the Tanchjim 4U is not particularly powerful but is tight and fast. Especially when used in low gain mode, the bass is quite enjoyable. It has a sort of “Don’t come at me!” attitude, which provides a good performance particularly in genres like drum’n bass and electronic music. However, it’s clear that deeper insertion is needed for the bass to come out more prominently. Alternatively, by turning the tuning switch to the right, you can further lighten the bass, increasing speed, but you must also deal with a similar lack of bass.
Midrange
The midrange might be the most impressive aspect of the Tanchjim 4U. It offers a high-resolution and fluid performance, particularly in smooth jazz instruments. The general tone is slightly dark and clear. In the track “Mozart Meets Michael,” it demonstrates a performance that, although slightly congested, represents the full range of the keyboard and strings well. The 3D imaging in vocals is quite pronounced and stands out clearly, but this clarity becomes more noticeable with DAP usage.
Treble
Regarding treble, the Tanchjim 4U offers a high level of resolution even in stock settings. While the extension of the cymbals can sound a bit metallic with the overall tone, it provides high resolution and fast response. In the rock genre, although there aren’t strong slams, the cymbals’ higher-than-usual resolution allows for decent playback. However, to be honest, in the stock tuning setting, it might not be my first choice for rock music.
Tanchjim 4U Tuning Settings and Experiences
To experiment with the performance offered by the different tuning settings of the Tanchjim 4U, I made some changes using the mini tool included in the box. There are noticeable changes in the sound character with different settings:
- First Tuning Setting: The bass is quite light but the speed has increased. This setting is not very preferable, especially when used with high gain, as the lack of bass is significantly felt.
- Second Tuning Setting: Compared to the stock setting, this adds a bit more ‘body’ to the sound, but the treble becomes slightly metallic. This setting is only tolerable in low gain mode, as the tuning feels a bit harsh with higher gain.
- Third Tuning Setting: This setting is close to the stock tuning, providing a fun and monitoring-capable sound as much as under $100 allows. It offers high resolution and dynamics. The speed seems to have decreased in milliseconds. Even though my initial impression was that it nods to the Zero, here it is hard to maintain that thought; the tonal color warms up and separates itself from the stock tuning.
- Fourth (OG) Tuning Setting: This setting significantly lightens the bass and increases the speed. The default configuration of the 4U is retained above. This setting is enjoyable with high gain but would not be my preference with such a lack of bass. It offers some ‘meat’ to the sound compared to the previous setting but ends up making the tonality slightly tinny.
Impressions with Cayin N8ii
When used with a more advanced DAP like the Cayin N8ii, there is a significant increase in the analytical level, with all the details—big and small—becoming clearer, especially with the 3D imaging in vocals. However, the resemblance to the bigger flagship Zero of the same brand becomes more evident, not entirely meeting performance expectations.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- High-resolution midrange and treble performance.
- Customizable sound character with different tuning options.
- Impressive detail and instrument separation for its price.
Cons:
- May not satisfy users looking for powerful slam and deep bass performance.
- It can be challenging to reach its full potential with stock eartips; different eartip trials may be necessary.
Tanchjim 4U Review Conclusion
Tanchjim 4U stands out as a price/performance-oriented IEM for sound enthusiasts, capable of offering a broad range of experiences with different genres and tuning options. It has the potential to take its place alongside the Zero, Cadenza, and NUO. However, to bring this IEM to its full potential, a bit of effort is needed, perhaps trying different eartips. Enjoy it to the fullest!
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