I received the unit off Hifigo bought with my own money during it’s early bird times, now TangZu Audio Shimin Li First Impressions or Mini Review. It’s news was here. Thanks to TangZu Audio too. And good luck on their emperor saga starting with Yuan Li who was the first of the Tang Dynasty. “The Tang dynasty or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705.”
Below we are looking at his (Yuan Li’s) son Shimin Li.
>Driver spec: 10mm.
>Distortion: <0.5%.
>Sensitivity: 109dB.
>Impedance: 18Ω.
>Channel difference: 1dB.
>Frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz.
This Shimin Li is a 1DD metal constructed and very light iem. His father Yuan Li wasn’t so. Having 2 pinned connections and a nice looking cable with metallic black first connector and Y split + chin guard, looks are completed in consistency
Below are 3 tracked first impressions or mini review and comparison with his father in the end. Youtube links are for your convenience.
Source is dx300 40/100 M gain. Tracks are my usual reference tracks.
Limehouse Blues: Live on stage transparency is nice..it’s pleasing that the bass ain’t booming and clarity remains so I can hear the background at a budget level. The clarinet and it’s dynamics give me a lively sound experience as well as the vibrato’s joyful touches are too. I don’t know you guys but if the vibrato is playing with energy, its joy for me.
Slight touches of the drummer and his metallic surfaces net in successful extensions. 3d imaging is nice too. But to be frank it’s dark timbre isn’t for everyone. However slightly brighter than Final e line and way brighter than BGVP Zero and Shuoer Tape Pro.
Driving: Soundstage is wide like this stadium. Instrument hits resonate in the air if you pay attention. All is getting it a refined listening session which I want to hear. Basses aren’t pounding also. So I didn’t observe bleed outs. 3D imaging continues in this live track too. You can roughly estimate the instrument’s material!
Centipede: No first impressions wouldn’t be complete with a dubstep track imo. After the clear introduction pharase and some tension WOW! I have an impressed face now and eyebrows raised up. 40/100 volume is a little much now. Wasn’t before at all live tracks. I know it’s the result of audio engineering on this track but at the same time these results are showing Shimin Li’s neutrality.
Electronic basses are strong and fill the baseline. So you can have rumbles beneath. With the already successful trebles, you are having a complete experience for only $35.
Shameless VS of TangZu Yuan Li and Shimin Li
From the very beginning of Limehouse Blues, the overall stage is more relaxed even though the clarinet isn’t reaching high notes as was in Shimin Li. But things change when the volume is raised up. Given more energy Yuan Li is shining at the clarinet, the vibrato, drum extensions and on stage transparency as well as at the soundstage. I know it’s unfair to compare two iems with x3 price difference but regarding that they are from the same brands I couldn’t stop myself. BTW with at least 1 years of difference between them, they must have implemented new techs and tuning interventions..thats what I was thinking prior to comparing those two. Hint: I’ll probably have a super fresh experience with the upcoming model. She is an empress. Unusual for that times. Let’s see how unusual it is for our day.
TangZu Audio First Impressions / Mini Review Conclusions
Relatively young TangZu Audio had released a fascinating budget 1 DD. Given it’s laid back nature, dark-ish timbre, successful extensions and wide soundstage both budget smooth jazz fanatics and electronic music lovers have a good choice now.
Here is the link I bought it from. You can choose to buy from here if you don’t wanna wait for a long review.