2022 will go down because the yr of planar magnetic IEMs. We’ve seen some wonderful releases this yr, from the 7Hz Timeless and Dioko to the Letshouer S12, Raptgo Hook-X, and DUNU Talos. Tangzu, sizzling on the heels of its Shimlin Li, is stepping as much as be a part of the fray with the Zetian Wu. Featuring a 14.5mm dynamic driver, placing purple earpieces, and a bass-friendly tuning, these earphones remind you that listening to music and video games needs to be enjoyable. And boy are they.
Join us, as we take a more in-depth look on this overview.
We wish to thank HiFiGo for offering the pattern for this overview.
Specifications
- Current Price: $154.52 (HiFiGo)
- Key Features
- Newly developed 14.5mm planar magnetic driver
- 4th Gen DLP 3D printed resin cavities
- CNC machined aluminum alloy face covers
- Professional tuning adjustment
- Artistic conventional design on the face covers
- Ergonomic and Comfortable design
- High-purity 5N OFC cable
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 100dB
- Distortion Rate: <1%
- Frequency response vary: 20Hz-20kHz
- Connector sort: 2-pin 0.78mm
- Termination plug: 3.5mm/4.4mm.
Tangzu Zetian Wu – First Impressions and Key Features
The Zetian Wu is Tangzu Audio’s (previously generally known as TForce) first foray into the world of planar magnetic IEMs. Previously, it launched the Shimlin Li, which I reviewed this summer season. The emphasis we’ve seen from the model thus far is delivering the most effective bang for the buck. Its IEMs aren’t the most affordable you’ll discover (the Shimlin Li was solely $35), however they’re on the inexpensive finish and ship higher audio and construct high quality than you’d often count on to see at a given worth level.m
The Zetian Wu is its costliest but, coming in round $150-160 relying on if it’s on sale. For that cash, you’re getting a excessive decision planar magnetic driver that kicks out loads of element, a tuning that can shock you with the quantity and high quality of its bass, and exquisite purple shells CNC milled from aluminum with conventional Chinese artwork depicting clouds.
The coloration they’ve chosen is uncommon within the IEM world and instantly attracts the attention. I occur to like wealthy royal purple, however you’ll should be a fan to really feel snug carrying these out of the home. The design isn’t audacious, however individuals aren’t used to seeing vivid purple earphones, so that you’ll doubtless need to discipline just a few questions on them. The internal portion of the earpiece is manufactured from 3D printed resin, modeled after hundreds of actual ear samples to find out a form that can work for essentially the most listeners.
Inside its daring shells are the planar magnetic drivers. They’re roughly the identical dimension because the drivers we’ve seen in different planar IEMs this yr (14.5mm on this case), however Tangzu has tuned them fairly a bit in another way than its opponents. That we’ve come to a time when planar magnetic IEMs are so extensively obtainable and accessible is a superb factor.
Planar magnetic drivers have lengthy been favorites of audiophiles attributable to their wonderful readability and ultra-low distortion. Planar drivers have a manner of crisping up particulars in what you’re listening to, supplying you with extra perceived readability and backbone to what you’re listening to. It’s a bit like leaping from a normal definition TV to excessive definition. Until this yr, planar magnetic IEMs have been few and much between and have been additionally fairly costly. Not any extra.
The Zetian Wu involves market in opposition to stiff competitors, so that they needed to do one thing completely different past simply the look of the IEMs. That distinction takes the type of a V-shaped tuning with heightened bass and treble. These earphones attain low and have wonderful physique, permitting them to work for mainstream music, motion pictures, and video games a lot better than extra impartial IEMs. Even with this added bass, you may nonetheless hear loads of particulars all through the remainder of the spectrum. Bass is massive, nevertheless it’s not bloated and stays in its lane.
Tangzu was additionally pretty beneficiant with the equipment it included right here. The bundle comes with a superb burgundy journey case, trimmed in fake leather-based. It’s too massive to hold in a pocket, however has room for some equipment on high of the cable and IEMs themselves. You’re additionally given a choice of silicone ideas to select from. Oddly, in my bundle, one pair of the guidelines was labeled as being foam after they have been silicon. I’m unsure whether or not retail items will even have foam ideas included or simply silicon.
The cable can be fairly good. Tangzu opted for a 5N oxygen-free cable that ends in both 3.5mm single-ended or 4.4mm balanced connections. It’s very tender and properly braided from 4 strands. There aren’t any microphonics, and the brown, coppery hue compliments the purple of the faceplates very nicely.
Tangzu Zetian Wu – Fit and Comfort
The Zetian Wu is a cushty IEM to put on over prolonged intervals of time. The internal facet is molded to nestle within the ear and even features a small wing to help in how securely it matches. I did discover that I needed to reseat them at instances if I had moved my head vigorously however general they have been snug and safe, even over 3+ hour listening and gaming classes.
Tangzu Zetian Wu – Listening Impressions
I examined the Zetian Wu utilizing the Hiby R5 Gen 2 digital audio participant and a 4.4mm balanced connection. Songs have been a mixture of Spotify streaming on Very High high quality and native lossless audio information.
Bass: Bass on this set may be very sub-bass centered. It reaches low. That means on songs like D.R.E.A.M. by Jonny Craig, you may nearly really feel the vibration of its underlying bass notes. The sub-bass emphasis provides songs loads of physique and texture. The bass tuning descends when it hits the mid-bass however nonetheless has loads of pound for kick drums and explosions. It’s very nicely balanced bass, so you may hear and really feel the feel of the bottom of the low notes and makes the earphones really feel extra performant general.
Mids: Mids are fairly a bit flatter than the bass, however vocals and mid-range devices nonetheless sound nice. Rosalia by Mandroid Echostar is a superb instance of this. The singer doesn’t come forward of the devices, as a substitute these devices are lined up and balanced with each other. This is ideal for rock and steel the place you actually need to hear every little thing the guitars are as much as. It’s additionally fantastic for string-driven classical music.
There is loads of element and richness on this vary. I used to be initially fearful mid-range element could be swallowed up by the bass and EQ could be vital, nevertheless it’s really something however. The earphones are by no means shouty or grating. Instead, Tangzu has smoothed out the mids the place they sound good throughout a number of genres.
Treble: Treble has good attain and is elevated to brighten the music. Tangzu didn’t push the highs, so the Zetian Wu by no means turned sibilant or harsh. Instead, you get loads of element and air to reinforce the soundstage. I did discover that cymbals have been affected by the roll-off nonetheless. The Suffering by Coheed and Cambria is an effective instance of this, the place the cymbals sound barely off as they decay. Overall, it’s not unhealthy, however one thing that stood out to me in my listening. Since the general tuning is so good, this actually didn’t hassle me very a lot in any respect.
Technical Performance, Soundstage, and Imaging: The Zetian Wu does a very good job with particulars, soundstage, and imaging for its worth level. Planar magnetics are typically nice at element retrieval (at the least, after they’re finished nicely), and that’s actually true right here. Micro-details, just like the sound of fingers on strings or the feel of specific cymbal strikes is definitely audible. As a guitar participant, I like listening for the feel of guitars and listening to what the artist could also be doing to realize their sound, and these earphones are nice for pulling out that stage of element. Layers are clearly separated so you may give attention to every particular person instrument/sound/vocalist and listen to precisely how your track comes collectively.
Soundstage on these earphones can be good. It’s a closed-back earphone, so that you’re naturally extra constrained than, say, an open-back pair of headphones. Compared to different closed-backs, nonetheless, the sound is pretty deep and pretty large. I understand sounds to be coming from barely outdoors of my head as a substitute of immediately into my ears.
Gaming: The Tangzu Zetian Wu are a very good IEM to recreation with. The sound signature is extra enjoyable and cinematic however doesn’t hand over a lot in the way in which of particulars and backbone. The soundstage is large sufficient that I might decide up the path of enemies earlier than I noticed them. For single-player video games, I wasn’t held again from getting engrossed in my recreation by an unnaturally constrained listening expertise. Still, as I nearly all the time suggest: activate Dolby Atmos for the most effective IEM gaming expertise.
Overall Impressions and Final Thoughts
The Tangzu Zetian Wu is a wonderful earphone. Among the entire present planar magnetics in the marketplace, that is the one which I’ve been reaching for. The tuning is great. Tangzu has centered on versatility, so you may take heed to every little thing from hip-hop to Mozart and nonetheless have an distinctive listening expertise. Audio fans typically get wrapped up in neutrality; that if a headphone isn’t completely flat, that it have to be unhealthy. The Zetian Wu proves that isn’t the case. This is a enjoyable earphone to take heed to, and on the finish of the day, that’s what counts.
The product described on this article was offered by the producer for analysis functions.
