Tanchjim, hailing from the land of china has been making some high quality DD based IEMs in the budget to lower mid range. They had IEMs as cheap as $30 to as high as $600. Their expensive IEMs aren’t that popular but their budget offerings have caught the imagination of both buyers and reviewers. Back in the days, Oxygen was one of the best DD one can buy and even till this day they are making some high quality single DD IEMs. I very recently reviewed their Fission which is using their latest driver tech (borrowed from the more expensive Origin) and is a more reference sounding IEM. While the Origin used to hold the flagship title for DD IEMs they have recently launched their flagship DD only IEM, Force!! (Lost Manore is Launched now).
Why DD only? Because it has two Dynamic drivers in each ear piece. Force has the signature Tanchjim looks but incorporates one 8mm and another 10mm DD in a semi open shell. That’s not all, Tanchjim has collaborated with Effect Audio for this cable too. And unlike most IEMs that offer modular cables, Force has a DSP module too, offering something that is rare at this price range, freedom from dongles. Okay.. Enough of this, let’s dive deeper.
Get one from Linsoul:
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
We get a large box with good amount of information about the IEM on the back. This unboxing experience is nothing out of ordinary if you already own a Tanchjim IEM but I have to admit that it definitely is better than other brands. Lift the upper cover and we are greeted with a set of documents placed in a paper envelop. Lift that up and we have the earpieces stuffed in foam. I like this presentation. Underneath are the carry case, cable, 6 pair of tips (narrow and wide bore sets), 3.5mm and type C modules end the list of accessories out of the box.
Here is my unboxing video:
BUILD QUALITY:
How can Tanchjim offer a lot of customizations and high quality accessories while keeping the price down? They saved on the design. This looks exactly like a few of their lower mid range IEMs but has slightly more premium build with a vented aluminum back plate and a resin shell. It’s not big or heavy and has no issues with fit or balance. We do not get tuning nozzles with this but they are long enough to offer very good stability inside the ear. We have curves at the right places for good comfort. I barely have any issues with the ergonomics either, it’s not the most comfortable IEM in this price because of its slightly bigger shell but doesn’t leave a lot to be desired either.
CABLE:
We have been getting good quality modular cables with IEMs under $150 but I have to admit, Tanchjim has done something special here. This Effect Audio, silver-plated Litz copper cable with silver foil shielding not only minimizes interference, it looks aesthetically pleasing (this is definitely one of the most beautiful looking cables with an IEM priced under $150), complimenting the earpieces and comes with a DSP module too. It’s not bouncy or memory prone but the thicker cores definitely have some memory issues. It has no microphonics though.
The good news is, this cable not only looks nice, it sounds very good too. I paired it with the Origin and was able to extract bigger stage and better air between instruments.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
Hmm.. it comes with its own DSP module and that sounds very good but we are talking about the wired 4.4mm version here and to my surprise this IEM doesn’t feel that picky. Unlike the Fission which was a bit screechy with weak sources, Force is willing to comply with various sources, both warm and neutral without sounding unnatural. I used it with Shanling UA6 and Hidizs S9 Pro+ and I have to admit, it does respond in kind to the different signatures offered by them and never sound bad with any.
SOUND QUALITY:
There are two sides of this IEM. It will be mostly the analogue one but we can’t forget the DSP part here. Unlike the Fission DSP, Force’s response is much better to this DSP module. Before we dive deeper into the analogue side, let’s do away with the digital side.
DSP SOUND QUALITY:
I won’t dwell into what the Fission DSP sounded like because these two IEMs are totally different from each other, both price and signature wise. Force DSP is a bit more balanced than the analogue version and the overall presentation is slightly smoother too. It doesn’t resolve as much, slightly lacks with note depth and texture but offers warmer, analogue and cohesive notes. We get equally impressive extension at both ends, which is a plus.
It has very good sub-bass depth and rumbles, mid bass has slightly smaller body than the analogue version but offers slightly more rounded notes. This definitely isn’t as technically capable either but is less attention seeking too with very good dynamics and contrast between notes. Mid range is where the main difference is at. Overall its less resolving, lacks finer details and the finishing definition isn’t as accurate but definitely has a bit more soothing presentation. Slightly more rounded notes result into a warmish tonality and organic timber. Vocals are warmer too. It’s the Z-axis depth that feels slightly lacking but no such issues with Z-axis layering or separation.
Highs too have the same difference, they are slightly softer yet offer equally impressive layering and separation with very good cue placements. It’s the imaging that impressed me the most here. Stage isn’t very tall but it’s wider than most IEMs under $300. We get superb sonics and the background notes have the right kind of subtlety to offer a more 3D like stage.
Here is my DSP video review:
ANALOGUE SOUND QUALITY:
Let’s get going. I have used the narrow bore tips for this review, because.. The L sized wide bore tips don’t fit my ears that well, they are smaller than the narrow bore L tips!! Never mind. Let’s focus on SQ here. We are getting a bit more W shaped signature here but it’s more resolving too. Tonality and timber are as neutral as they should be. Let me elaborate.
BASS:
I heard a few of my friends complaining about the lack of bass body but.. I am baffled here beacuse Force is not lacking at all, what it has done is, it has controlled the decay in such a way that it doesn’t go boom until the track asks for it and when it goes boom it definitely offers superb definition and layered notes without sounding bloated or muddy. Yes, this is not a bass head IEM but not lacking by a good margin.
We get above average body and the slam is deep too. It moves in ward with a gradually increasing Volume (area). Force has class leading sub-bass extension and rumbles but the mid bass is tight and cleaner, it can definitely feel like a bassy IEM at times but it’s control is much better than bass head IEMs so.. I won’t label it as one. It doesn’t lack with clarity or technicalities, in fact this tighter body enhances these attributes. We get superb layered delivery and excellent textural definition. Dynamics and contrast are superb too. No issues with upper bass clarity either.
Force even though sounds like a bassy IEM, doesn’t go all out but offers high quality definition and micro details, much better than other competing IEMs.
MID RANGE:
I was listening to the Force and Origin side by side and I have to admit, the Z-axis depth and transparency with micro details are better with the Force. It definitely uses the dual DD drivers efficiently, offering improved micro dynamics. Tonality and timber are a bit on the dry side yet have one of the most accurate decay, retaining excellent texture and reverb effects. This IEM doesn’t sound smooth or warm but balances the energy of each note in such a way that it’s not tiring either. Separation of back and foreground instruments are much better than any other single DD IEM under $300. Both male and female vocals offers natural tonality, male vocals have the right amount of thickness and slight bit of extra sharpness while the female vocals are precise, taller and aptly sharp. Instruments around the vocals are slightly less forward but offer very good clarity and resolution while maintaining right amount of finishing definition and energy. It has the bite and leaves a lasting impression too so if you are looking for something smoother, get the Fola. It does have a slight more energetic upper mids but they are not tiring or annoying unless you are sensitive to a bit of extra energy.
If I look at the bigger picture, this whole mid range could have been slightly more damped to iron out the extra energy but that’s actually is the beauty of this IEM. Offering excellent mid note texture and extra sense of details are it’s USP.
HIGHS:
I barely have any dual DD IEMs in this price range and I have to admit, Force could have been tuned to be slightly calmer. (slightly smoother maybe) but that’s not Tanchjim, they have to offer superb end to end extension, transparency and energy and Force is no exception either. Notes are agile, aptly sparkly up till the end. It sounds clean clear and crisp with the right amount of dampening.
It has one of the best treble extensions I have heard from an all DD IEMs and unlike the Fission this is not clumsy, sounds more open with plenty of air between instruments. Layering and separation is top notch with accurate cue placements. One note worthy point is the natural and organic nature of the instruments. They have refinement and the right amount of finishing energy. It renders the whole scene cleanly and precisely.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Unlike the Origin, Force comes with a clean slate (nothing for reference) and offers one of the best imaging and nicely expanded stage under $300. it has a more 3D like imaging when compared to Fission or even the Origin. This stage has a spread out imaging with equal presence both infront and back of the head, it doesn’t have much presence under the chin though. It has very good height, width and class leading Z-axis depth too. Most of bass and mid range notes generate inside the head while some treble notes generate outward. Force has one of the best sonics under $300, transient effects of background instruments has the right kind of subtlety to them. It has one of the most accurate and clean cue placements too.
COMPARISON:
vs Origin:
This is an interesting comparison, Force uses the same 10mm DD + another DD which definitely helps with better clarity, definition and resolution across the spectrum.
Force has better sub-bass body and rumbles with bigger overall bass impact. It’s not mid bassy like Origin. Mid range is where the Origin sounds a bit more organic and cohesive but Force offers better clarity and details. Vocals are more natural on Origin. Tonality and timber are better on the older IEM too. Force pulls one back with better treble consistency and evened energy. Origin can be slightly moody and lean which is not the case with Force. Force has a bigger stage and better Z-axis depth too.
There are no doubts that Force is a better IEM with a better, modular cable.
VS Hidizs MK12 :
MK12 is a tonality master class and nearly flawless but Force still shows it’s supremacy when it comes to details and clarity.
Sub-bass extension are very similar on both but MK12 lacks a bit of control and technical abilities while Force has better dynamics and contrast, has cleaner presentation. Mid range is kind of different as MK12 is simply a more accurate and precise sounding IEM with excellent body and Flagship like tonality, Force has better resolution and micro details while being decent with tonality too. High end is where Force again pulls ahead with better extension and definition. It has better treble imaging too. Layering and separation are better with better air between instruments too. Stage again are very similar, MK12 has a more rounded stage with a slightly less flexible feel, Force is more dynamic but is more wider than taller.
Both are excellent, Force has the upper hand when it comes to details , MK12 is on a different level when it comes to vocal accuracy.
CONCLUSION:
Tanchjim Force isn’t just winning me over with it’s tonality or timber but by maintaining excellent engagement energy which enhances its cohesion factor. But yes, this is a marginally dryish IEM, if you prefer juicy and smoother notes, aren’t looking for higher details, opting for the upcoming Fola makes more sense.
That’s it!! Enjoy!!
