Looking back at Tanchjim with the 4U, Bunny, and Fission
Renaissance through Refinement
With the end of the year approaching, I thought it would be interesting to look into a particular selection of IEMs from a brand that has had a long history in the IEM world. A brand that, despite all of their recent success, still feels underrated and underappreciated.
This is the story of Tanchjim (my brand of the year) and how they entered, in my opinion, a renaissance period with their same refined design philosophy, this time with new drivers and a focused approach to sound. I feel like there is no better selection to consider than their similarly shaped Bunny, 4U, and Fission (Black).
Pre-Renaissance - Never enough
For those that don't know, Tanchjim is a Chi-Fi brand that became popular around 2019. They are often thought of as a close friendly competitor to Moondrop. Their first release to get a lot of recognition was the Oxygen, a 1DD that was tuned really well for its time. The design was subtle but also premium, and in general it was well received.However, this release remained somewhat of a cult favorite and was overshadowed by Moondrop's releases such as the Kanas Pro. Throughout the years, the same pattern would repeat, with Moondrop being in the spotlight.
Following the Oxygen, Tanchjim released a few more products, each being well received but never being the default recommendation. While people often bought them, they were never as popular as some other heavy hitters like the Moondrop Starfield or Aria. The Tanya was as close as they could get, with other releases like the Darling or Prism being too niche and pricey.
The same would happen with subsequent releases again and again. It seemed like they could never pierce into the larger market; the Ola was tuned with a strange bass roll-off and the fit was strange, while the Kara was also controversial due to its tuning and departure in terms of fit, opting for a large shell with an equally long nozzle. Thankfully, things were about to change.
Time to change...what?
It is important now to consider what were the strengths and weaknesses of Tanchjim. What allowed them to remain in the market, but never reach the heights of it's sister?For all of their releases, their design language was always very minimal, clean, and often described as "medical". Each product always had that "Tanchjim" charm (or boredom depending on taste), with sleek shapes, minimalist cables, and simple colorways. With such a consistent line of products, Tanchjim offered what was at the time an understated yet still elegant option for enjoying your music.
However, two major factors limited their popularity: the sound of their products, and their fit. The former is most obvious with their most recent products to this point. Remember, the Oxygen was their most lauded IEM, so much so that their Hana and Hana 2021 were similarly tuned, while their recent releases were received less positively, if at all. All of their other products did not have the same universal sound. The fit for most of them was also questionable at best; even the Oxygen was often criticized for having short stubby nozzles.
So the recipe to success seems simple, right? All Tanchjim has to do is improve the fit and develop a universally likeable sound, and packaging it all in their usual "medical" style.
Renaissance - Revolution and Refinement
1. DSP
The Tanchjim One is what I consider to be their defining renaissance marker. While it seemed like a simple bullet IEM, it had angled nozzles for better fit. The sound was also more reminiscent of the Oxygen, a bright energetic V-shape sound. It was great and loved, and yet it was, in my opinion, incredibly underrated because it was, to my knowledge, the first IEM to include a DSP cable with PEQ, something that was unheard of at that time. And when Moondrop released their DSP implementation later, the attention garnered was much more despite the implementation being more limited.
2. Ergonomics
Following this, they released the 4U, an IEM with a brand new shell but also a tuning switch system. I'll be the first to admit: the switch isn't useful. Only the default and up directions are viable, the rest drop the bass way too much. However, the shell itself is well built and has what is arguably the best Tanchjim ergonomics, with its small universal shape allowing for easy fit with various ear tips. It is very reminiscent of Moondrop's own small form factor IEMs like the Chu and Lan, but Tanchjim's are a bit larger which helps with large ears.
The sound is also excellent and goes back to what made them popular in the first place. At this point in time, the tuning has spread everywhere but the 4U still has that special V-shape refinement that the Oxygen had. The vocals are put front and center as the tuning leans a bit bright, but don't be mistaken; the bass is still present with a good amount of rumble and impact. From my testing, the 4U is the logical optimization of Tanchjim's Oxygen and Hana line.
The sound is also excellent and goes back to what made them popular in the first place. At this point in time, the tuning has spread everywhere but the 4U still has that special V-shape refinement that the Oxygen had. The vocals are put front and center as the tuning leans a bit bright, but don't be mistaken; the bass is still present with a good amount of rumble and impact. From my testing, the 4U is the logical optimization of Tanchjim's Oxygen and Hana line.
3. Breakthrough
After this release, Tanchjim gained back a bit of steam but not as much as with the Oxygen. In comes the Bunny, their budget release and a companion to the One. Again, the same small and comfortable shell is used, this time with a completely new tuning, borrowed from the Origin released before. Instead of going for the traditional V-shape, Tanchjim opted for a tuning that prioritizes naturalness and bass tone rather than pure sub bass rumble. The sound was different, but just as universally likeable as the previous. Based on the feedback from the Origin and Bunny, this type of tuning would become the norm for Tanchjim and, in my opinion, the golden standard for 1DD tuning.The Bunny itself was a bit unrefined compared to the Origin, but still had the hallmarks of such a radical change. The timbre is pleasant, the vocals are well articulated, and while bass rumble and physicality is missing, the warm tone of it made the Bunny a very compelling package. Combined with the option of getting the DSP cable with PEQ, the Bunny became (and still is) my and many others' default recommendation at its price point, offering an excellent stock and modifiable tuning, all wrapped up in a safe shell.
4. Refinement
Finally, to end this history post, it is impossible to ignore the Fission, the most complete Tanchjim product ever released. Modular DSP cable with great handling, tuning switch and nozzles, comfortable all metal shell with a hard to scratch glass faceplate, flagship driver, and improved tuning. All of this for only a bit more than $100. Is Tanchjim crazy? Yes, even if they didn't include a hard case or other tips.
Seriously, the Fission has received a ton of praise and I would argue that it deserves all of it and more. The sound is basically the Origin, but in a better fitting shell, with Tanchjim's best stock cable to date. Don't forget, Tanchjim's own Cable X costs about as much as the Fission. The normal Fission has the now standard Tanchjim sound, bright and detail oriented offset with perfect bass warmth and punch. The Fission Black is very similar but tames down upper midrange and treble a bit, making it an excellent alternative to the usual Tanchjim sound if that's too bright. The bass comes forth even more, and has the rumble and punch of other top IEMs without sacrificing anything else. The cable collaboration is also great, and the whole thing is a unique departure from Tanchjim's usual medical aesthetic.
TL:DR
Tanchjim Bunny: Uses the feedback from the Origin's sound and the 4U's shell to craft a perfect budget contender, accompanied by possible DSP/PEQ freedom. If you want the safest introduction to the hobby, this one is it.
Tanchjim Fission: Most complete Tanchjim package, with flagship sound, driver, features, and shell. Top notch comfort, top notch sound, top notch Tanchjim. If you want the defining Tanchjim experience, this one is it.
Detailed reviews and measurements for all three are also available!
Afterthoughts
But that's not it, is it... After all, there's still the Origin, Nora, and Fola line. And what about the bullet IEMs? Or their TWS which offered PEQ adjustability before everyone else? Or even their source gear that ooze that Tanchjim design mastery? There are a lot of Tanchjim products I have lying around that will have their own reviews in the future, while a lot of the newer ones I haven't had the chance to try yet.I hope you enjoyed this small history lesson! The Tanchjim brand is rather unique in the IEM landscape, opting for continual and steady refinement and improvement. When you think of Tanchjim, there is a consistent image that probably appears. Medical, natural, sleek, clean, etc., and because of this, it's easy to tell a compelling and easy-to-follow story. I am quite tempted to make other similar posts for other brands, some famous, others infamous. If you're interested in more, let me know!