Tanchjim Nora Review : Warm and Jolly

Tanchjim, hailing from China is not a new name for most of us. Known for their high quality single DD IEMs they have emerged as one of the leading IEM makers in the lower mid-range price bracket. They already have a handful of IEMs in the range of $20 to $600. I am currently working on couple of DD only Tanchjim IEMs and I have to mention that both of them are on top of their tuning game. What this article is about is their latest lower mid range IEM, Nora. Placed just under the Fission, it borrows the same tuning tech as the more expensive single DD IEMs. It comes with a similar cable as the Origin but this time it’s modular and comes with a 4.4mm module too.

Priced at $200, it ships in only one color, as of now (they launched a black Fission while it was initially launched in only golden hue). It seems Tanchjim wants to create a brand identity with their shell designs but this time around we are getting a sapphire back plate with mirror finish, which definitely gives it a bit more character as it contrasts with the gunmetal finishing at some angles with the aluminum shell.

Get one from these links:

For our Indian buyers:

UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:

We get a small 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 pouch, cable, 6 pair of tips (narrow and wide bore sets) and the 3.5mm module end the list of accessories out of the box.

Here is my unboxing video:

BUILD QUALITY:

Nora looks very similar to the Fola but uses a polycarbonate shell and a glass back plate with metal rim around it. This is a small IEM and will fit most of the ears without any issues. Its lighter too, has a slightly wider but longer nozzle, offering good stability inside the ear. It doesn’t have a semi-custom type shell but has curves at the right places, giving it a comfortable fit inside the ear.

CABLE:

We have been getting good quality modular cables with IEMs under $150 and I have to admit, Tachnjim has done a good job here. Nora comes with a single core LITZ silver plated OFC cable. They have repurposed the Origin cable, added modularity with chrome finishing on the modules, complimenting the earpieces. The good thing is, this isn’t very bouncy but is a bit memory prone. It has little bit of microphonics but gets the job done and sounds good so.. I am not complaining.

PAIRING WITH SOURCES:

Nora is a happy go lucky kind of IEM. It doesn’t whine about the source. I paired it up with weaker sources like the Apple adaptor and Google DAC/amp and it barely sounded agitated or jarred. It definitely reflects the tonality and timber of the adaptor used. Yes, using a better source extracts much better output. Hidizs S9 Pro+ pairing sounds more open, dynamic and natural. I will say, use whatever source you have and Nora will play along, without any issues.

SOUND QUALITY:

In this industry of various driver combinations, I have to admit, this year has been dominated by dynamic drivers, especially under $200. I have worked on a handful of high quality single DD IEMs and Nora adds more substance to the above statement.

This dual chamber, dual magnetic dynamic driver borrows the driver tech from the more expensive IEMs and in my opinion does much better than the Fission. Nora sounds more effortless and fatigue free with no compression to worry about. Yes, it isn’t tuned to deliver class leading details but makes it up with an excellent musical and textured presentation. We are treated with a W shaped signature with a warmer undertone across the spectrum.

I am using stock tips and Hidizs S9 pro+ as source for this review.

BASS:

These single DD IEMs have come a long way. Earlier this decade we either had to deal with sub-par dynamics and resolution or spend north of $500. Nora offers excellent dynamics with very good body and weight behind the notes, when needed, it nicely shifts emphasis depending upon the track’s requirements. It can deliver punchy, rumbly, slowish notes with big body while tighten the body and weight, exhibiting excellent control and technical abilities accordingly. It has very good layered delivery with decent contrast of back and foreground instruments.

Nora has very good sub-bass extension and rumbles. Mid-bass is mostly tight but can offer punchy, deeper, full bodied slams when needed. Yes, the area lf impact isn’t big. It can move good amount of air and mostly has an in and upward firing direction. For a $100 IEM, Nora has one of the cleanest upper bass notes without any added softness to worry about. 

MID RANGE:

It’s not easy to distinguish Fola from Nora. Fola is slightly more revealing and less warm while Nora has a bit more cohesion and slightly slower decay, giving it a fuller and a bit sweeter feeling. Nora lacks a bit of Z-axis depth and isn’t as good as Fola with back and foreground separation.

We face no issues with lower mids as Nora maintains very good clarity and definition. Nora has the sweetest and most luscious vocals ever produced from a Tanchjim IEM. Vocals have very good textures. Male vocals have a bit of extra grunt and thickness with good finishing definition and throat emphasis. Female vocals are a bit taller with bit more precision and finishing definition. The only downside is, vocals are a bit closer. It offers superb tonality and timber which is warm, organic and fatigue free. There can be slight bit of vocal sibilance with some tracks but it’s not bothering.

Instruments around the vocals are slightly less forward but have the right kind of resolution and definition for the asking price. They have good transparency up top but aren’t the cleanest. Layering is good but separation is average. Yes, the micro details aren’t the best but it still has very good resolution and definition. Even though upper mids are slightly forward it’s fairly relaxed when it comes to sharpness.

HIGHS:

Highs are decent, a bit relaxed and smoother though. It has good sparkle, resolution and definition up till the lower and mid treble region. It maintains good transparency with macro details while micro details aren’t that well defined. It has decent extension, but I definitely would have liked a bit more energy in the upper treble region. Another thing to keep in mind is, Nora has a warmish undertone with fuller notes, and their bases are slightly wider than Fola, making it sound not as clean. It has below par air between instruments when compared to the competition. Layering is okay while separation isn’t the best. A bit more finishing energy would have made this sound cleaner and accurate though.

STAGE AND IMAGING:

Nora has a nicely expanded stage for a $109 IEM. It has very good width and height while Z-axis depth is slightly less developed. We get a nicely surrounded imaging but don’t have much presence upfront. Most of the instruments are projected sideways and around the back of head. We get very good cue placements and aptly intriguing sonics. It has the right kind of softness with background instruments. The good thing about this imaging is, it has very good projection both under and above the ears. Bass notes and vocals stay inside the head while some of the treble notes make it out of the head. We get aptly even instrument distribution too. 

COMPARISON:

VS Sivga Que UTG and EarAcoustics VSA V1:

CONCLUSION:

Brands like to experiment in the $100-250 price range, putting in a variety of drivers in similar looking shells but Tanchjim has been trying to perfect their DD tuning and I believe they have cracked the code with Nora. If not for multi DD or hybrid set-ups, they definitely have hit bull’s eye with this single DD tuning.

It has a well balanced, musical presentation while offering good details and very good textures. I am not sure if they are planning on using this single DD tuning with their upcoming IEMs but pairing this driver with a few BA drivers will definitely yield much better technical capabilities at a higher price point. But, at just $100, if you are looking for a soothing, pleasant sounding IEM, that isn’t overly bassy, going for the Tanchjim Nora makes a lot of sense.

So.. This is it. Cheers and enjoy!!