Tanchjim ONE Review – Angelic Bliss

Disclaimer:

The Tanchjim ONE DSP was sent to me as a review sample from Tanchjim, for which I thank!

I was very happy to have the opportunity to try the heir to the Tanchjim Zero. The Tanchjim Zero still has a sound that many are unable to achieve. If you didn’t like the first ones due to the lack of low frequencies, the Tanchjim One finally showed off some pleasant bass. Of course, they’re still leaning toward neutral and focused on the vocals.

However, the review will still be 100% honest and in no way biased.

I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.

So I’m not going to use super technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.

All my photos are taken with my phone with the use of external lenses.

TANCHJIM ONE Packaging:

The Tanchjim ONE packaging is similar to Zero but more sturdy and serious. The packaging has become more robust and serious. There is no longer Asano but simply a representation of the One.

Inside, we find various accessories, such as:

• “Velvet” bag
• DSP Cable (I’m not sure the standard cable is included in the DSP version.)
• 2 sets of nice tips (7 pairs)
• Manual and Warranty 

I’m a little sad to find out that the Lego Asano Bundle is a reviewer-only bundle. I know that many are not interested in gadgets, but I think just as many would like to find that special bundle on the market.

TANCHJIM ONE Design/Build quality:

They have a minimalist design; on the metal faceplates we find the brand, and from the plastic transparency we can see the DTM4 driver in all its glory. The quality for less than 30 USD is awesome! The Tanchjim One is built much better than the Zero.

In terms of shell, the step forward is already evident from the photos! The design has been slightly revised, and finally, they are definitely comfortable to wear. The Tanchjim Zero had somewhat sharp edges, which annoyed some. The percentage of metal in the shell has increased, and finally, we also have the detachable cable. As for the DSP, the cable is identical to the standard 3.5mm jack.

Comfort/Fit:

As I anticipated, the Tanchjim ONE also solves the wearability problem. The Zero was shorter and the corners were not rounded, so when worn, it remained more inside the ear, and its angle obviously pressed lightly on the ear, creating some pain.

Initial sound impression:

I state that I initially listened to it immediately with the DSP. So at first, it seemed really strange to me. I immediately noticed the bass that was latent on the Zero before; now it was definitely felt—I would say more sub-bass presence. Obviously, I’m not talking about exaggerated bass, as the tonality is inspired by the previous one.

However, the feeling of strangeness comes from the sound, which, through the DSP, is more three-dimensional than the 3.5mm jack. It would seem to add depth.

Tanchjim ONE Final sound impression:

Equipment used for testing above.

Device:

• iMac
• Redmi Note 7 – Snapdragon 
• Poco M4 Pro – Mediatek
• Hotwav P8 – Tablet T606

Software:

• Foobar2000 24bit 192khz (iMac)
• Amazon music UHD 24bit 96khz (Both)

DAC:

• F.Audio KS01 3.5mm (ESS ES9038Q2M)
• EPZ TP20 3.5 mm (Dual Cirrus 43131)
• Hidizs XO 3.5mm (Dual ESS ES9219C)
• EPZ TP30 (Dual ESS)
• Less Da1 (AK)
• Less Da2 (AK)

After 60 or 70 hours of burn-in, I started listening to them again.

Before jumping to final impressions, know that your ears need some burn-in too.

I’m not listing the tracks because they’re too many, but the ONE is more genre-open.

My impressions are given using the original accessories.  

Their sound quality is surprising considering the cost. The Tanchjim ONE has a balanced and natural sound profile, with an intimate soundstage but quite good imaging for my taste. The bass is tight and controlled; finally, it has more presence and body and is precise, fast, and defined. The mid-range is clean and crispy, and the treble is smooth and airy. For the price it is sold for on the market, it is surprisingly good. I couldn’t imagine more at this price, to be honest.

Tanchjim ONE DSP or 3.5MM:

This is a great question! I would advise you to look above at the graph courtesy of Practiphile on Squiglink.

As you can see, using the DSP, everything seems smoother;  the soundstage seems to gain extra depth, and the sub-bass becomes more pronounced.

  As regards the mids, the presence of the voices seems to me to be more marked. At first glance, they seemed strange to me using the DSP, but after getting used to them, I must say that they are not bad at all, but for personal taste, I think I prefer them on 3.5mm.

Personally, on 3.5mm, they sound more similar to Zero with added bass and therefore less different….Even if it doesn’t look like it from the graph.

However, the DSP has a crazy convenience. Being so compact and designed to make them sound their best, you don’t have to bring any DAC, which I would recommend in the case of 3.5mm (You need some energy to make them shine). Another thing that definitely surprised me is the total compatibility found on my devices; it also worked on a Hotwav Pad 8 tablet with a Unisoc T606 chip, on which audio via Type-C shouldn’t work.

Bass

Tanchjim One’s bass is more noticeable but still completely unobtrusive. They barely interfere with other frequencies and are quick and precise. When using DSP, the sub-bass is significantly more audible than when using regular cable. They still, in my opinion, have a very balanced and excellent sound despite the nice addition.

Mids

The voices sparkle and sound quite natural, and I believe the mids sound very similar to those of Zero. Artists with vocals that are physically in front of you and have the ideal level of silkiness literally have their voices in front of you. In this pricing bracket, their performance is completely exceptional. I’m not referring to either fantastic male or female vocals; both are.

Treble

Speaking of high frequencies, however, the situation, in my opinion, has been made more pleasing to the masses. The highs remain of extraordinary detail and airiness, enviable for many headphones costing much more. They are not harsh or sibilant. Very smooth and pleasing to my ear.

Tanchjim ONE Soundstage and Imaging:

Keep in mind that the soundstage is quite intimate but has decent depth. Imaging is super precise. 

They could improve the soundstage aspect of TWO if it is ever produced.

I have listened to Jazz, R&B, Pop, EDM, and Chill music, and I think it is also the most suitable for this genre.

On very complex tracks, they lose some refinement.

Comparison:

vs Tanchijm Zero

From the photos, the DTM4 driver seems different. If you prefer neutral-sounding IEMs, this is absolutely for you. Obviously, the bass is much more natural (just a hint of subbass in the background), but what amazes me is the absurd level of detail. The highs are extremely polished, and the female vocals have that silkiness. Wider than average soundstage and precise imaging. They are two IEMs with completely different targets, but they are definitely a set to have. It seems the Zero got more air and stage, but the vocals seem slightly better, and of course the bass hits are completely different on the One.

vs CHU II

The target of Moondrop CHU II is entirely different. The sound is enjoyable and has a lot of bass. They fall drastically below against the Tanchjim One on the technical front, though. The CHU II is a fantastic affordable option if you’re looking for something captivating but the details and the airiness are not even comparable.

vs EPZ Q5

This is one of the best-sounding IEMs on the market right now, for the price. There’s no doubt about that. My review is coming soon, but this is the best entry-level I’ve ever heard! His single DD is pure magic. Its sound remains quite natural, , making this model very versatile for any type of musical genre.

vs Blon Z300

The Blon Z300s have a warm and very pleasant tone. Details are very good despite the rounded highs. So if you love warm-sounding IEMs, these are absolutely for you. Obviously, they totally differ from the targets of the Tanchjim One, which are more brilliant and natural.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the ONE is a ZERO that finally manages to reproduce more marked and satisfying low frequencies in a natural way. The mids and highs have had a slight improvement, making them smoother but with a slight loss of airiness. All in all, the result is an improvement in terms of sound that is sure to be appreciated by many more people. As far as comfort is concerned, however, the improvement is drastic. Finally, I don’t have any more pain with the edge of the Zeros, but since I continue to love them and, in certain genres, their extra airiness is phenomenal, I will certainly continue to use them intensely. Having said that, I recognize the ONE as the heirs of the previous ones, and given their absolutely affordable price, they are a must-have not only in my collection but also in yours.

9/10

Pros: 

• Good build quality
• Improved comfort and fit
• Nice packaging (I got a special edition)
• Removable cable
• DSP wide compatibility 
• Nice quality tips
• More comfortable than Tanchjim Zero 
• Improved Bass and Sub-bass 
• Silky voices
• Good details
• No harshness or sibilance
• Quite easy to drive (you don’t need anything expensive but a DAC is reccomended )

Cons: 

• DSP could sound weird
• Loss of refinement on complex tracks
• The special Asano bundle isn’t available

Where to buy (Clean links):

• Hifigo Official Store
• Aliexpress Hifigo Store