Got to spend some time with the Winter II, first impression is really promising....it is my second favorite after the YU9 QUE. It is very underrated, It is really detailed without the usual BA/mPL shimmer/sparkle, it feels warm mid centric IEM with rich not so forward vocals...very good textured mids, mature treble no fatigue what so ever, punchy and controlled bass...really really underrated and punches way above its weight. Not to mention the full metal build, the amazing cable or the classy case, the eartips that it comes with are very underwhelming tho! And IEM itself requires a bit of tip rolling.

I tried it a bit vs TEA Pro, the Winter II is noteaceably warmer with more textured mids and richer vocals, bass is also more textured and rumblier, the TEA pro has more shimmer and zing of the BAs and more forward vocals...basically imagine the WINTER II as a RAW unedited image with good quality, while the TEA Pro is a tastefully sharpened image. Will do more in-depth comparisons and analysis later.

If youd like here is a video version: https://youtu.be/JEHqDtn-cO0?si=ZrXykpqU-F9\_9yvj

Meet the Fosi Audio IM4 — an open‑back in‑ear monitor designed to deliver a spacious, natural listening experience while maintaining comfort for long sessions.

10mm beryllium‑coated dynamic driver with N52 dual‑magnet design

Open‑back acoustic architecture for a wider, more natural presentation

Swappable aluminium & brass tuning nozzles for sound customisation

CNC‑machined aluminium shells with a lightweight 7g design

Sound? Open, balanced, and fatigue‑free — full review is coming soon.

Packaging feels thoughtfully curated with multiple ear tips and tuning options, letting you tailor the experience right out of the box.

This weekend's rotation is with Fosi Audio IM4. Open-back designed IEM. Chilling out with Comfortably Numb. Impression/Review soon.

What happens when effortless and naturalness come in one package and delivers one hell of authentic experience? How are you suppose to react to that? That's what I am feeling at this moment with Nightjar Singularity seating flush in my ears tickling my ears and intoxicating my music addeled brain.

I really don't know how to react to this. Words can't do justice to my exact feelings and how it's affecting me. At one point I am in disbelief what this set is delivering and next point I am asking myself is it true or am I under some influence that is making me believe this.

Every note every beat just feels too realistic and it's creating a wide grin on my face. I am in state where I can truly say that my audio nirvana is not far away.

If this continues I will reach it.

DISCLAIMER: The EPZ Audio team sent us the P40 IEM, free of charge, for review purposes. We are truly honoured and excited, as this is our first collaboration with EPZ Audio. We would like to humbly thank the EPZ Audio team for their generous support of Aural Cafe.

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe, we’re thrilled to present an in-depth review of the EPZ Audio P40, a tribrid IEM offering from the house of Shenzhen, China-based EPZ Audio. The P40 features a 9mm DLC Dynamic Driver, a 7mm Dual-magnet dual cavity DLC driver Composite Bio-Diaphragm Dynamic Driver, a Micro-Planar Driver, and a PZT (Piezoelectric) Tweeter.

EPZ Audio is a Shenzhen, Guangdong-based Hi-Fi brand, founded by a multidisciplinary team of acoustic, software, and hardware engineers. Established in 2019, the brand emerged from Shenzhen Yuzhou Electronics Co., Ltd. and is globally operated by Shenzhen Fengya Technology Co., Ltd. EPZ is relatively young as a consumer-facing brand, but it is backed by nearly two decades of industrial audio manufacturing experience. The name EPZ represents: E – Ear, P – Pageantry, and Z – Zeal. According to them, these values reflect its emphasis on listening, premium craftsmanship, and passion for audio. The team originally gathered in 2008 to conduct research and development in the demanding field of medical hearing aids. By 2013, the company expanded into developing tactical communication headsets and hearing protection equipment for military organisations. In late 2018, the parent company restructured and integrated its acoustic, software, and hardware development teams to establish a premium, standalone identity. This culminated in the official launch of the EPZ brand in 2019. Initially, EPZ was known primarily in China for custom IEMs. Since 2022–2025, it has expanded internationally with products such as: Q1 Series, Q5 and Q5 Pro, P40, P50 and TP35 Pro USB DAC/amp. Today, the flagship lineup has evolved from resin shells (EPZ 530) to full-metal builds (EPZ 550) featuring Knowles drivers. Among enthusiasts, EPZ has developed a reputation for strong build quality, careful tuning, competitive pricing, and leveraging manufacturing expertise gained before launching its own brand.

EPZ Audio P40 is an advanced tribrid In-Ear Monitor, featuring a complex driver configuration. The P40 consists of a 9mm DLC dynamic driver for handling the lower end, a 7mm DLC driver for handling the mids, a 2nd-gen micro-planar driver for trebles, and a PZT piezoelectric ceramic driver for ultra-high frequencies. Each driver is tuned through both electronic and acoustic crossover design, helping reduce interference and keep the sound more coherent. That acts as the brand's flagship statement piece for multi-driver technology. In spite of being a 160 USD item, EPZ Audio P40 arrived with dazzling Artistic faceplates inspired by the famous mother-of-pearl design, along with a hand-braided High-Purity Furukawa silver-plated Copper cable. The shells are also made of medical-grade resins.

As a multi-driver hybrid IEM, we at Aural Cafe understand the critical role of the acoustic chamber and crossover design. We're pleased to inform our readers and fellow audiophiles that the EPZ Audio team has implemented a precise, four-way frequency crossover design in the EPZ P40 IEM. The quad-driver configuration is meticulously housed within a precisely engineered 3D-printed acoustic chamber, designed to maximise each driver’s performance. It’s impressive to see that the EPZ Audio team has implemented a precise crossover system within the P40.

EPZ Audio P40 retails for 160 USD in the global market at the time of review.

Specifications: -

Driver: 2 Dynamic Drivers + 1 Planar Magnetic Driver + 1 PZT Piezoelectric Ceramic Driver

Impedance: 14 Ω 1kHz ± 10%

Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz

Sensitivity: 100dB@1kHz ± 3dB

Connector: 0.78mm 2-Pin

Cable: 1.2m Furukawa silver-plated cable with Interchangeable 3.5mm + 4.4mm plugs

Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-Pin

Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -

As you can see from our unboxing video (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ul3t2h2o5Ts), the EPZ Audio P40 arrived in a medium-sized black colour cardboard box wrapped with a black sleeve containing an embossment of a planetary system. The model name 'P40' is boldly printed in silver at the top right corner of the sleeve, while the brand name 'EPZ' appears in the same silver at the top-left corner of the sleeve. The back of the sleeve is notably minimal, featuring the frequency response graph followed by the technical specifications in Chinese, Mandarin and English. The right corner side of the paper sleeve followed the same positioning as the front for the brand name and model name. At Aural Cafe, we genuinely appreciate the thoughtful touch of giving the FR graph, as it provides an immediate insight into the IEM’s sound profile. On removing the sleeve, we are welcomed with a pitch-black textured cardboard box with the EPZ logo on top of it. On opening the box, we are welcomed by the white transparent butter paper, on removing which we finally come across the beautiful EPZ P40 IEMs being placed at the left half of the box with the help of the sponge cutout. The right half of the box is filled with a beautiful square-shaped sea-green carry case. On opening, we are greeted by the stock ear tips and the 4.4 mm plug for the modular cable of the EPZ P40. On removing the IEMs shells, we found another paper-box that includes two types of silicone ear tips, narrow bore and wide bore. Overall, the unboxing experience is pleasantly minimalistic yet thoughtfully functional. We at Aural Cafe especially loved the space-themed box with the sleeve, the placements of IEM shells and the carry case. We also liked the thoughtful idea of sticking the frequency response graph of EPZ P40 on the back side of the sleeve, as it provides audiophiles with a valuable first-hand glimpse of the IEM's sound tonality.

When it comes to design language, let's first apprise our readers and fellow audiophiles of the design language of the IEM. Staying true to EPZ Audio's artistic design language, the P40 IEM features transparent green colour shells crafted from medical-grade resin featuring standard metallic nozzles of 5.5mm in length. In spite of being a sub-200 USD IEM, the EPZ AUDIO team has employed high-precision 3D printing technology to craft lightweight and ergonomically designed shells for the P40. The unique round shape vents can be seen on the bottom side of the IEM’s shells to optimise the air flow inside the IEM. When it comes to the faceplate, the faceplate design of EPZ P40 is truly one of a kind. The dazzling faceplate design of P40 gives the set a unique appeal with a captivating glow when refracted with light. According to the EPZ Audio team, they called it ‘Star Trail Blue’. The edges of the P40’s stunning faceplate are further accentuated by an auxiliary metallic frame, giving the IEM a distinctive and premium appearance. The faceplate of P40 also featured EPZ, the brand name in silver, adding a touch of elegance with its subtle shine.

The EPZ P40 comes equipped with a braided modular stock cable. This four-strand stock cable of the P40 is crafted using high-purity Furukawa silver-plated wires featuring durable 0.78mm 2-pin connectors, along with a modular design for added versatility. The package includes interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm termination plugs, allowing users to switch between sources with ease. When changing the plug, an audiophile should ensure proper alignment by matching the cable slot with the small black dot located at the base of all plugs. As per the EPZ Audio team, the stock cable effectively improves the purity of sound by offering smooth signal transmission along with ultra-low internal resistance. The stock cable of the EPZ P40 merges beautifully with the subtle greenish faceplate of the IEM. When it comes to the ergonomics of the cable, we are pleased to inform our readers and fellow audiophiles that the cable offers just the right amount of flexibility, despite having a moderately weighty feel, which will really help while listening to music on the go. We would also like to add here that we didn’t come across any kind of microphonics during our testing of the EPZ P40 IEM. The P40 comes with two sets of silicone ear tips in standard S, M, and L sizes. One set features white wide-bore silicone tips, while the other offers premium sky-blue-stem narrow-bore silicone tips that closely resemble SpinFit ear tips in design and appearance. The EPZ Audio P40 comes with a high-quality, square-shaped sea-green PU-leather carrying case that outright complements the IEM shell design and colour scheme.

In terms of fit, we’re quite satisfied with the P40’s ergonomically designed, lightweight shells; we feel it might be a bit big for audiophiles with smaller ears, but it's just an assumption. As for sound isolation, the ergonomic design of the shells provides a decent level of passive noise isolation, effectively reducing external distractions for a more immersive listening experience. Overall, we at Aural Cafe are genuinely impressed by the decision of the EPZ Audio team to not only include a high-quality modular cable but also include a high-quality leather carry case. When it comes to design language, we totally love the lightweight shells of the P40 featuring a unique, dazzling faceplate with star trails alike textures.

Sound Analysis: -

The sound impression of EPZ Audio P40 is outlined after pairing it with the stock cable and blue-stem narrow-bore silicone ear tips, in company with a solid, neutral DAP. The following sound impression is drawn after keeping the P40 under a 50-hour burn-in period as advised by the EPZ Audio team. For insights into how aftermarket ear tips, cables, and sources affect the sound quality, please refer to the Synergy section of the review.

·         Tonality: - After testing EPZ P40 with some hi-fi DAPs and dongles across different genres of music, we at Aural Cafe like to state that the sound tonality of the P40 leans towards a unique, rich, neutral sound signature. When driven by a powerful source, the 9mm DLC (Diamond-Like-Carbon) Diaphragm Dynamic Driver handling the lows, ends up with just a hint of more bass without compromising the neutral sound signature. The very capable 7mm dual-magnet dual-cavity DLC driver focuses on the mids, helping reduce overlap between frequencies. The mids exude top-notch clarity while staying smooth and stable, while the highs are extended and airy without any kind of harshness. We’d also like to highlight the excellent crossover implementation by the EPZ Audio team. The integration between the dynamic driver, micro planar, and the piezoelectric driver is seamless and coherent, making it hard to tell you're even listening to a hybrid IEM. When it comes to timbre, instruments rooted in the higher end, like the violin, acoustic guitar, and cymbals, exhibit lifelike texture and realism. Instruments from the mid-range area, such as the saxophone and trumpet, sound particularly immersive and engaging. However, the timbre of low-frequency instruments like snare-drums, bass-guitar is just average at best. When it comes to the detail retrieval ability of EPZ P40, the P40 surprisingly retrieves micro details with absolute ease in a very effortless manner. With its rare, rich neutral sound signature infused with energy, the P40 pairs effortlessly with almost all genres. That said, we at Aural Cafe felt that the EPZ P40 truly shines with Instrumentals, Acoustics, and Jazz, delivering an engaging and emotionally rich listening experience. One of the highlights was from the Official Soundtrack from the movie ‘1917’, composed by Thomas Newman, ‘Sixteen Hundred Men’, which sounded absolutely captivating with the P40 at the helm.

·         Lows: - The lows of EPZ P40 are tastefully tuned using the very capable 9mm DLC diaphragm Dynamic Driver, which we have previously seen being implemented in many IEMs, even from premium brands such as Campfire Audio, Unique Melody, Sony, etc. The lows of the P40 are precisely boosted, keeping the neutrality closely followed the Herman 2019 FR in mind, vis-à-vis adding a touch of warmth and musicality throughout the lower frequencies. The P40 delivers high-quality lows that strike a perfect balance between deep, resonant sub-bass rumble and tight, controlled mid-bass. The transient response of EPZ P40 is truly agile and exudes the initial impact of a drumstick on a drum head or the plucking of a guitar string with absolute authority, all thanks to the stiffness and responsiveness of its DLC diaphragm dynamic driver. The sub-bass is precisely boosted, exuding deep rumble and resonance while staying immersive and intoxicating. It's rare to encounter such deep sub-bass performance from an IEM in this price range. We at Aural Cafe were especially surprised by the sub-bass layering of the P40, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to “Breathe” by the Prodigy. When it comes to mid-bass, the EPZ P40 delivers a controlled and clean mid-bass with impressive speed. The midbass leans on the faster side; however, one can notice a flatter response in terms of the dynamics. We at Aural Café would love to get a more punchier mid-bass with more dynamism. When it comes to timbre of musical instruments in this part of the frequency, the instruments such as bass guitar and kick drums showcase a natural timbre, but they lack body, which we noticed when listening to ‘Thunderstruck’ by the legendary Rock-Band, AC/DC.

·         Mids: - EPZ Audio has skillfully tuned the mids using another 7mm dual-magnet dual-cavity DLC dynamic driver, achieving an expressive and emotionally engaging presentation. The mid-bass doesn’t end up bleeding into mids thanks to a dedicated driver with a solid electronic crossover implementation, as a result of which the P40 delivers a clean midrange. At Aural Cafe, we also believe that the micro planar driver plays a crucial role in helping the EPZ P40 maintain ultra-low distortion and excellent clarity across the frequency range, particularly enhancing its midrange and higher-end transparency. When it comes to the positioning of the mids, the mids are somewhat in the centre stage. The lower mids stay stable and coherent, while the upper mids of the P40 are forward and end up being one of the strongest points of the IEM for the correct consumers. The upper mids of the P40 add a soulful energy and excitement to the overall sound frequency, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Sultans of Swing’ by the Dire Straits. When it comes to vocals, the EPZ P40 evince very textured and clean vocals with lots of excitements both in the case of male and female vocalist but we at Aural Cafe feel that the female vocals take a comfortable lead against male vocals when it comes to vocal texture, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ by the Latin American pop queen, Shakira. That said, while the vocals exude soulful texture, the note weight stays average at best, resulting in a leaner male vocal rendering. When it comes to the timbre of musical instruments in this part of the frequency, the timbre of the musical instruments, such as electronic and acoustic guitar, piano, saxophone and percussion instruments, showcases a life-like timbre and rich detail.

·         Highs: - The EPZ Audio P40 offers sparky, refined, and airy highs without a trace of harshness. While the lower frequencies to midrange frequencies are smooth and neutral, the P40 takes a step up in the treble and provides a very crisp and detailed listening experience. The micro details are excellently retrieved with the P40 at the helm. The overall highs are quite clean and refined with an excellent amount of air, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Echoes’ by Pink Floyd. The upper treble exudes delicate, soulful sparkle with lovely texture, all thanks to the discerningly tuned micro planar driver, along with the help of a piezoelectric driver. As for the timbre of instruments in this frequency range, instruments like Piano and Cymbal, especially Cymbal hits, showcase a precise shimmer, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by the Queen. The small micro planar driver minimises distortion, helping to maintain brightness, although those with sensitive ears might prefer a warmer source for extended listening sessions.

·         Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on EPZ Audio P40 is holographic and immersive, with a Soundstage width taking the lead in comparison to the Soundstage depth and height. At Aural Cafe, we thoroughly enjoyed listening to ‘The National Anthem’ by Radiohead. The P40’s immersive presentation pairs exceptionally well with genres like classical music and blues, as we experienced while enjoying ‘Vivaldi: Four Seasons’ played by Janine Jansen. When it comes to instrument separation, it is distinct and precise. We found the instrument separation on the P40 to be excellent, considering the price, particularly when listening to complex instrumental tracks, where the separation between instruments is excellent. When it comes to imaging, the EPZZ Audio P40 is very accurate. Its precise imaging made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience, particularly while listening to ‘Mausam and Escape’, composed by AR Rahman for the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

·         Synergy: - Given that the EPZ P40 features two dynamic drivers alongside a micro planar and a PZT driver, we at Aural Cafe recommend at least 50 hours of burn-in to unlock its full potential. After this period, the sound tonality becomes noticeably more refined and smoother, with significant improvements in Lows and Sound stage width and depth. In terms of driveability, we're pleased to report that the P40 is relatively easy to drive, performing well even with basic dongles. However, due to the presence of the dynamic drivers that love clean power, EPZ P40  truly shines and scales impressively when paired with hi-fi portable DAPs and desktop sources.

At Aural Cafe, we paired the EPZ P40 with a variety of DAPs, cables, and ear tips to unlock its full potential. Our testing lineup included several high-fidelity portable DAPs and desktop sources such as the iBasso DX320, Astell & Kern SP1000M, Dethonray DTR1+ Limited Edition, Listening M1, and Clarinet, along with the Aune A17 Pro and iFi Audio ZEN 3 DAC/Amp stack. To our findings, the P40 paired exceptionally well with warm musical sources such as Dethonray Pegasus SG1 Gold, iFi Zen Stack 3, as these hi-fi warm sources end up adding a bit of warmth and thump to the overall frequencies of the P40. In contrast, layering and soundstage improved a lot, making us feel that we are listening to more expensive IEMs when the P40 is driven by a hi-end desktop Amp such as Aune S17 Pro. When driven by these capable hi-fi setups, the P40 revealed a highly elastic sub-bass response and improved mid-bass punch. When it comes to portable dongles, we tested the IEM with a line of dongles such as iFi Audio GO Link Max, Go Bar Kensei, Aune Yuki, Celest CD20 and felt that the EPZ P40 matched at its best with iFi GO Link Max.

When it comes to cables, we would like to state that the stock cable is decent and pairs well with the EPZ P40’s rich, neutral sound signature. Out of curiosity, we at Aural Cafe paired the P40 with a variety of cables from brands like Hansound, Linum, PW Audio, Rhapsodio, Modular Workshop (copper cable), and Linksmith. Among them, the P40 synergised at its best with the Hansound Kula, which features OCC and SPC Litz wires in a coaxial structure. This pairing significantly enhanced the P40’s overall tonality, making it more musical and smoothing the micro-details, making it suitable for longer listening sessions for treble-sensitives. When it comes to ear tips, we felt that the EPZ P40 matched well with the stock white and turquoise blue silicone ear tips, definitely better than the stock wide-bore ear tips, which made the midrange a bit hollow. We also tested EPZ P40 with a number of aftermarket ear tips from brands such as Spinfit, Divinus, Symbio, Linksmith, E-Pro and felt that P40 sounded at its best with E-Pro propeller ear tips, which enhanced EPZ P40's low-end depth and soundstage width and depth without affecting the overall sound tonality of the IEM.

Conclusion: -

At just $160, the EPZ Audio P40 delivers an impressively refined listening experience that punches well above its price class in terms of detail retrieval and technical performance. With its rich neutral tonality, open and immersive soundstage, and tasteful midrange, the P40 stands out as a unique hybrid IEM that sounds technical. From its Star Trail-inspired faceplates and high-purity stock cable to its precisely implemented 4-way crossover, the P40 reflects EPZ Audio’s commitment to thoughtful design and tuning. While it may lack the mid-bass Punch needed for enjoying pop and rock tracks, it more than compensates with strong vocals, controlled lows, and a very clean and resolving sound signature that complements a wide range of genres. Whether you're a budding audiophile or a seasoned listener seeking details and looking for the technicalities, the EPZ Audio P40 stands out in the highly competitive sub-200$ segment and earns a strong recommendation from us at Aural Café. It is available for purchase globally through the following links (Non-Affiliated links are given below).

-          https://epzaudio.com/products/epz-p40-tribrid-iems

-          https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010730142827.html

Japan Evolution Star Moon III five-unit ring iron headphones

In the perception of most users, the current headphone socket on the market is basically 2PIN/MMCX/IPX as the mainstream. After the appearance of balanced output, the driving force, left-right separation, and S/N ratio in portable audio have greatly improved, to the delight of many fans and manufacturers, and have also become the standard for product design by major manufacturers.

From Japanese headphone brand Evolution presented a revolutionary, innovative concept, introducing a new headphone jack 4PIN structure, aiming to achieve Bi-Amp connection via 4PIN connectors and to achieve the purpose of active frequency division. This new technology is called a fully balanced dual power amplifier drive architecture, F.B.A (FULL-BALANCE BI-AMP SYSTEM). In the past, a 2PIN connection was difficult to achieve independent drive and signal management in each band, but it became realistic through 4PIN. By applying the most suitable amplifier for low frequency and high frequency, you can expect a leap forward in sound quality.

In addition, the previous headphones are "complete with sound tuning inside the headphones", and through the 4PIN structure, the headphone body does not need a built-in frequency splitter, but on the side of the playback device, for advanced electronic control and digital division, improving design freedom. If an environment where sound segmentation, amplification, and compensation is formed by the manufacturer according to its own concept, portable audio will not only be the function of "playing sound", but will turn to "building sound".

A whole lot of air in the frequencies and the instruments.

Meet the EPZ Audio P40 — a quad‑driver tribrid IEM engineered for clarity, separation, and technical performance.

🔹 2 Dynamic + Planar + PZT ceramic driver configuration
🔹 Dedicated drivers for bass, mids, and treble precision
🔹 4‑way crossover for coherent, interference‑free tuning
🔹 Modular 3.5mm & 4.4mm plugs for flexible setups

🎧 Sound? Clean, detailed, and technically capable — full review is coming soon.
📦 Packaging feels compact and audiophile‑ready — with modular accessories and a performance‑first presentation.

What's your favorite track? Mine is 'To Bid You Farewell'

Pros: 

• Excellent, enveloping bass.
• Very mellow and easygoing overall presentation.
• One of the best stock cables I have seen on a budget set.
• Super comfy shells with no long-wear issues.
• Smooth, relaxed treble that is easy to sleep with.
• Great accessory package for the price.

Cons: 

• Stock case is a bit small and needs the cable to be coiled tightly.
• Details are smooth rather than highly energetic.
• Not for trebleheads or people who want a bright presentation.
• Mids are warm and colored, which may not suit everyone.

Aful Explorer is one of those IEMs that immediately makes sense if you want comfort, smoothness, and a bass-led presentation without having to fight the tuning. The overall experience is mellow in the best way, and for me it lands as a very easy, very enjoyable listen with a strong sense of refinement for the price.

Disclaimer​

I got the Aful Explorer on loan from Narendhiran so huge thanks to him for letting me use it for literally a month. That said, all thoughts and impressions are my own and no biases whatsoever.

Design and Build​

The shells are super comfy, and I had absolutely no issues wearing them for long sessions. They sit in the ear in a way that just disappears after a while, which is exactly what I want from a daily driver. The stock cable is also outstanding for a stock cable, and it feels genuinely premium rather than like an afterthought.

The case is decent, but it is a little on the small side. Because of that, the cable needs to be coiled quite tightly to fit inside, so the carrying experience is not quite as effortless as the cable itself suggests. Still, the overall accessory package is very strong for the price.

Sound Impressions​

The bass is excellent and has that enveloping quality that makes the whole set feel immersive. It is strong without becoming messy, and it gives the Explorer a lot of its character. For me, this is one of the highlights of the tuning.

The mids are warm and a bit colored, which fits the mellow house sound very well. Vocals come across smooth and pleasant rather than dry or overly analytical. The treble is also very comfortable, and the top end is so easy on the ears that I can genuinely see myself falling asleep with these on.

Details are present, but they are presented in a smooth way rather than with sharp definition. That means this is not a treblehead’s IEM by any means, but it is very good if you want a relaxed and musical listen instead of a technical spotlight.

Song Impressions​

Grape by Vivanz Eden
The male vocals sounded especially sweet on the Explorer. The piano felt very natural and smooth, and the bass was excellent throughout the track. This was one of those songs where the Explorer just clicked with the mood perfectly.

Vowels by Capital Cities
This indie pop track sounded great with the Explorer because the rhythms came through nicely and the vocals still popped out well despite the mellow tuning. The mildly distorted guitar had a very pleasing texture, the stereo imaging was strong, and the bass sat exactly where I wanted it.

Overall Impression​

Aful Explorer is an excellent budget package that gives you great accessories, superb comfort, and a tuning that feels easy to live with. The bass is a standout, the treble is smooth, and the whole presentation is mellow in a way that makes it very relaxing to use. For me, this is an easy 5/5 recommendation at the price.

DISCLAIMER: The Tanchjim Fola unit was kindly provided to us free of charge by Tanchjim Audio for review purposes. We’re genuinely honoured and excited to get back into Tanchjim Audio’s products. Our heartfelt thanks to the Tanchjim Audio team for this opportunity and their generous support to Aural Cafe.

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe, we are reviewing the Tanchjim Fola, a dynamic driver-based High-Performance In-Ear Monitor from the Nanning, Guangxi, China-based Hi-Fi brand, Tanchjim Audio. At the heart of the Fola lies a distinctive 10mm dynamic driver utilising Tanchjim's 5th-generation DMT5 architecture, engineered to deliver clean and detailed sound.

Tanchjim Audio is a hi-fi audio brand under the umbrella of Nanning, Guangxi, China-based Nanning Heavy Hammer Technology Co. Ltd. Founded in 2015. The company was founded by an internal design team that collaborated with veteran acoustical engineers, some of whom had spent years developing high-end audio hardware for prominent legacy audio brands in Japan. Tanchjim gained global critical acclaim in the audiophile community with the launch of the Tanchjim Oxygen. The Oxygen became a benchmark for single dynamic driver IEMs due to its highly accurate Harman-neutral tuning and premium stainless-steel build. It was so popular and fan-demanding that they had to refresh and upgrade with a newer model following the same DNA, Origin. Following the Oxygen's success, the brand released popular mid-range models like the Hana, Kara, Darling, etc. During this era, Tanchjim solidified its clean, minimalist visual aesthetic and introduced its virtual anime brand mascot, Asano Tanch. They have also invested in developing their in-house portable source materials, such as Tanchjim Luna and Space Line-ups. We at Aural Café had the opportunity to review items like Tanchjim Origin, Kara, Space and Space Lite.

Tanchjim Fola features a 10 mm Dynamic Driver in a patented fifth-generation Dual Magnetic and double cavity acoustic chamber technology setup. The patented DMT-5 Acoustic Technology implemented in Tanchjim Fola resulted in not only pulling off the higher magnetic flux and stronger dynamics but also helping in achieving an ultra-low level of harmonic distortion at 1khz<0.056% at 94dB. The ultra-low distortion, along with the high-quality stainless-steel shell, contributed to cleaner tonal balance, accurate timbre, wider soundstage, imaging and separation. The story doesn’t just end here, but probably starts with the 10 mm dynamic driver, which features a specially designed DLC (Diamond-Like-Carbon) Diaphragm that is combined with a PU suspension edge to deliver a diaphragm that has high rigidity and equivalent compliance to achieve a hi-fi immersive experience and dynamics from the whole diaphragm.

Thanchjim Fola is also uniquely designed with a semi-open Helmholtz resonator rear cavity to optimise inner airflow, preventing ear-pressure fatigue during long sessions. The Helmholtz Resonance system makes way to Tanchjim Fola, which we have seen in Aria Ear Azuri and Sylva in recent times. Fola integrates a semi-open Helmholtz resonance chamber to precisely tune the upper-mid range and range of treble, where most of the harshness and shoutiness occur. This advanced acoustic system suppresses unwanted resonances that often mask upper-frequency detail, allowing the upper treble not only to shine but shine with natural brilliance. The result is crisp, airy sound with sparkle and openness, without any hint of fatigue or harshness.

The Tanchjim Audio team also implemented a replaceable conduit design on their IEM, Fola, to unlock more modes, which we have seen in the model like Tanchjim Origin. The high-quality replaceable tuning nozzles are easily unscrewed and replaced through the quickly disassembled thread structure, in our experience, while listening to different genres of music. The IEM comes fitted with Standard conduits along with Dynamic and Light conduits in the box. According to the Tanchjim Audio team, the inner cavity geometry of the three conduits of Fola is slightly different, bringing different resonance effects and unlocking more modes. The Fola comes with a rear cavity structure and a semi-open Helmholtz Resonator System to effectively manage air pressure inside the IEMs and to achieve immersive dynamics.

Tanchjim Fola is priced at US$ 199.99.

Specifications: -

·         Driver Configuration: 10 mm DLC Dynamic Driver with PU Suspension Cone

·         Impedance: 16Ω ± 5%

·         Freq Response: 2Hz-48Khz

·         Sensitivity: 126dB/VRMS

·         Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 1kHz <0.056% at 94dB

·         Cable: 1.2m OFC Plated Silver Wire in LITZ Structure

·         Plug: Modular 3.5mm, 4.4mm and Type-C DSP connector

Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -

As you can see from our unboxing video (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/M4S7PmHKANA), the Tanchjim Fola arrived in a compact white cardboard box with a printed Anime Girl on it. The brand name TANCHJIM is printed on the top-left corner of the box using their signature fonts. The back of the box displays the technical specifications of the Fola in multiple languages, along with the frequency response graph. Upon removing the outer sleeve, we found the gray-coloured box with a printed Tanchjim logo on it, which we have seen before when unboxing the other Tanchjim products like Origin and Kara. After opening the lid of the box, we encountered the Fola papers and leaflets first. On finally removing the papers, the presentation feels thoughtfully arranged. The Fola IEMs rest elegantly in the upper section along with the tuning nozzles, while the lower compartment houses a finely crafted white resin carrying case beneath a paper cover. Upon opening the carry case, we found the silver-coloured stock cable. On keeping aside the cable, we are welcomed by the modular plugs. Upon removing the top part with IEMs, we were finally greeted by the two types of ear tip sets: wide bore and narrow bore, available in S, M, and L sizes. Overall, the layout is thoughtfully executed with an emphasis on practicality and precision, free from unnecessary flair, and focused instead on functional design and quality accessories. The unboxing experience feels very refined, reflecting Tanchjim’s commitment to delivering a true high-fidelity in-Ear monitor rather than relying on flashy packaging. We really appreciate their ability to put so many things inside the small-sized box.

When it comes to design, the Tanchjim Fola features a CNC-machined high-density forged aluminium alloy shell, a 316L stainless steel top cover, and a mirror-finished sapphire glass faceplate. This ensures a compact, minimal design with a compact finish. These carefully engineered internals play a vital role in shaping the sound, while also ensuring consistent build quality and strict quality control throughout the process. According to Tanchjim, this optimised structural design further enhances durability, with the alloy shells and the sonic experience. The meticulously crafted Fola faceplate lives up to the legacy of Tanchjim, showcasing an aesthetic and generational approach that we have seen before on Tanchjim IEMs. The right faceplate displays the Tanchjim Logo branding, while the left showcases the name FOLA, both rendered in sleek silver accents on the shiny stainless-steel cover. We also noticed a small circular vent near the 2-pin connector socket on each Fola shell.

When it comes to the cable, the Tanchjim Fola is equipped with a modular OFC plated silver wire code cable with Litz structure featuring gold-plated 0.78mm 2-pin connectors. This stock cable aims at minimising interference and ensuring clean signal transmission, along with maintaining the tuning philosophy. The modular cable offers both 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs to maximise the pairing with multiple types of devices. It also offers to use the discrete DSP profiles with the given Type-C connector. One can use the Type-C plug to use it with a mobile phone and sync the IEM with Tanchjim’s proprietary companion app to unlock the Parametric EQ, Virtual Surround Sound, Multiple Tuning Presets, etc. The stock cable is impressively lightweight, making it well-suited for everyday portable use. During our testing, we didn’t notice any significant microphonics, contributing to a smooth and distraction-free listening experience.

When it comes to build quality, the Tanchjim Fola feels genuinely top-notch, thanks to its advanced CNC machining construction. The metal shells appear durable and surprisingly lightweight, ranking among the lightest metal IEMs we’ve encountered in recent times. Complementing this is the 316L stainless-steel top cover. We also like to add here that the Fola features a unique semi-open Helmholtz resonator rear cavity to optimise inner airflow, preventing ear-pressure fatigue during long sessions. Passive isolation can be tricky for those with large ears, as the form factor of the IEM is comparatively small. When it comes to Ear tips, Fola includes two sets of T-APB Air Pressure Balancing tips in standard S, M, and L sizes, neatly stored beneath the IEM compartment of the packaging. While both sets appear similar at first glance, a closer look reveals that one of them is wide bore and the other is narrow. We at Aural café feel that the wide-bore tips should offer a more transparent top end with a neutral presentation, whereas the narrow-bore tips should lean towards a more musical tuning with slightly fuller and firmer lows in comparison to the wide-bore Ear tips.

Overall, we're pleased to see that Tanchjim Audio chose to prioritise a functional unboxing experience, opting for minimalist packaging to help reduce costs. Instead of spending money on an elaborate presentation, we at Aural Cafe are pleased by Tanchjim’s decision to include a high-quality cable, a spacious carrying case, and an impressive aesthetic look for an item priced at 199.99$.

Sound Analysis: -

We would like to clarify that our sound impressions of the Tanchjim Fola are based on its use with stock narrow-bore silicone Ear tips and the stock 4.4 mm terminated cable, paired with capable, neutral hi-fi sources. Any changes in sound when switching to the stock wide-bore Ear tips and DSP termination have been discussed separately in the Synergy section, which we recommend referring to for a more complete understanding. We would also like to note that the unit was subjected to approximately 50 hours of burn-in, as recommended by the brand, allowing us to better experience the true potential of Fola.

·         Tonality: - After testing the Fola with various high-fidelity DAPs, desktop DAC/Amps, and dongles across multiple music genres, we at Aural Cafe like to state that its tonality leans towards a neutral sound signature with a hint of warmth. This results in a rich and well-balanced sound signature, with a touch of sub-bass bias. When driven by a powerful source, the 10mm DMT-5 Dynamic Driver housed in a metal shell ends up keeping the neutral tonality of the IEM. The sub-bass takes the lead over the mid-bass both in quantity and quality. The sub-bass provides the rumble without overpowering the others. The transient response of the Fola reaches new heights with high-end amplification, clearly indicating that its dynamic driver scales well with better sources. The mids take the centre stage and are the star of the show as Tanchjim Fola ends up delivering a natural mid with superb timbre, soul and emotion. The mid-section of Fola shows top-notch clarity, even though some may experience a bit of forward upper-mids. High frequencies are clean and detailed, without becoming harsh. When it comes to timbre, the timbre of the musical instruments from the mid region, such as electronic and acoustic guitar, piano, saxophone and percussion instruments, showcases life-like timbre and texture, also the timbre of the musical instruments from the low section, such as snare and kick drums and bass guitar, is very tight and clean. When it comes to the detail retrieval ability of Fola, the micro details come out cleanly. When it comes to us, we at Aural Cafe enjoyed listening to blues, acoustic and vocal-centric tracks with Fola at the helm, such as ‘Messy’ by ROSE from the movie ‘F1’. We would also add here that the DMT-5 Acoustic Technology setup has been implemented superbly in Fola, making it closer to Tanchjim Audio’s flagship single-DD IEMs.

·         Lows: - The lows on Tanchjim Origin are tuned keeping in mind its neutral signature. The Lows in Tanchjim Origin are precisely tuned and don’t bleed, but rather merge smoothly with the Mids. The sub-bass is the main focus in terms of low-end performance. It reaches deep enough but not exaggerated by any means. When it comes to Mid-bass, the Tanchjim Fola showcases a tight and clean mid-bass with top-notch texture. We at Aural Café definitely loved listening to ‘All the Stars’ by Kendrick Lamar feat. Sza. Keeping in mind the overall tuning, we at Aural Cafe were decently satisfied by the articulated groove and natural body of the lower end of Tanchjim Fola, but a bass-head might crave more out of it. The transient response is good, all thanks to the very capable diaphragm dynamic driver. The attack is fast and clean, while the decay is short, preventing bleeding into the mids. We enjoyed listening to tracks such as ‘Party Monster’ and ‘The Hills’ by the Weekend, but yes, we would love a bit more impact in the Mid-bass region.

·         Mids: - Tanchjim Audio has skillfully tuned the mids using the same 10mm DMT-5 dynamic driver with the PU suspension cone, achieving an expressive and emotionally engaging presentation. The tight and clean mid-bass doesn’t end up bleeding into mids, because of which the Fola delivers a clean midrange. At Aural Cafe, we also believe that the aluminium alloy housing plays a crucial role in helping Fola to maintain ultra-low distortion and excellent clarity across the frequency range, particularly enhancing its midrange transparency. When it comes to the positioning of the mids, some may feel the midrange is a bit forward. The lower mids stay stable and with a hint of warmth, while the upper mids of Fola are very controlled with a hint of aggression. The upper mids of Fola add soulful energy and excitement to the overall sound frequency, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Sultans of Swing’ by the Dire Straits. When it comes to vocals, the Tanchjim Fola evince detailed and smooth vocals with lots of soul and feel, both in the case of male and female vocalist but we at Aural Cafe feel that the female vocals take a lead against male vocals when it comes to vocal texture, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Skyfall’ by Adele. That said, while the vocals exude soulful texture, the mild warmth adds body to the notes. When it comes to the timbre of musical instruments in this part of the frequency, the timbre of the musical instruments, such as electronic and acoustic guitar, piano, saxophone and percussion instruments, showcases a good tonal correctness.

·         Highs: - The highs on Tanchjim Fola are tuned in a very neutral and balanced way. The high frequencies on the Fola are crisp and airy. It is energetic for a neutrally tuned IEM, yet controlled with an ample amount of sparkle present. The upper treble is decently extended ensures the openness. There is no harshness in high frequency, and thus it becomes suitable for a longer duration of usage. The treble is smooth with a decent amount of air. We had a good time listening to ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin on Tanchjim Origin on Dethonray Listening M1 with the Linum SuperBax cable. As for the timbre of instruments in this frequency range, instruments like Piano and Cymbal, especially Cymbal hits, showcase precise shimmer, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles.

·         Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on Tanchjim Fola is holographic and immersive, with a Soundstage width taking a comfortable lead in comparison to the Soundstage depth and height. At Aural Cafe, we thoroughly enjoyed listening to ‘The National Anthem’ by Radiohead. The Fola’s immersive presentation pairs exceptionally well with genres like progressive rock and blues, as we experienced while enjoying ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)’ by Pink Floyd. When it comes to instrument separation, it is distinct and precise. The instrument separation on Tanchjim Fola is quite good, and there are good amount of air between the instruments. Particularly when listening to complex metal rock tracks, the separation between instruments is excellent. When it comes to imaging, the Tanchjim Fola is quite accurate. The microdetails are also coming at very organic manner.

·         Synergy: - The Tanchjim Fola is an easy-to-drive IEM, but scales very high with powerful sources. The Single 10 mm DMT-5 composite DD in Tanchjim Fola loves powerful sources, and the Dynamics, Soudstage and Imaging reach to a different level with Sources such as Dethonray, Listening M1 and Honey H2. We would also like to inform you that the Tanchjim Fola responds well to the Source matching and merges really well with warm musical sources, Dethonray SG1 Gold in our case. So, if you are an audiophile who wants to test your portable sources' capability, then Tanchjim Fola can come in very handy in this case. When it comes to the dongles, Tanchjim Fola pairs really well with the iFi Go Link Max. When it comes to ear tips, we loved them with Divinus Velvet, and stock narrow bore tips over wide bore ear tips, although the wide bore adds a bit of air to the overall frequency of the Tanchjim Fola. When it comes to cables, the stock cable performs well considering the neutral tonality of the IEM, but the Linum Dualbax brings the mids a bit forward, while the Rhapsodio Copper Cable adds a bit more musicality to the whole sound frequency.

We would also like to talk about the replaceable nozzle in this part of the review. So, the Tanchjim Fola comes with three pairs of replaceable nozzles. The Tanchjim Fola comes with the Standard nozzle out of the box, along with a dynamic and Light pair of nozzles. We tested the effect of Dynamic and Light conduits on the sound frequency with the help of neutral sources such as Aune M1p, iFi Go Bar KENSEI and Dethonray Clarinet in our case. We would like to say that the Light pair of nozzles makes the soundtrack a bit more reference while the Dynamic pair of conduits adds a bit of dynamics and fun to the whole frequency and becomes handy and fun while listening to hip hop genre music, but we were ‘Comfortably Numb’ with the balanced Stock Standard conduits.

When connected via the Type-C DSP hardware plug, users can sync the IEM to the Tanchjim Companion App. The type-C DSP hardware plug doesn’t add anything special to the tonality of the IEM. But one can access tuning presets. The Quick-switch digital signatures, such as "Natural", "Balance", "Popular", and game-specific profiles like "Genshin Impact" applies the Auto-EQ to change the sound accordingly.

Conclusion: -

We would like to conclude this review by stating that we really enjoyed the neutrality with a unique sound signature using the same DMT-5 driver in Tanchjim Fola, considering the price range. The DMT-5 Acoustic Technology setup, which is no gimmick that we have already experienced in Tanchjim Origin, becomes even more mature with Fola at a lower price. The Soundstage, Transient response, Tonal balance, clarity and imaging are very precise. We also enjoyed Tanchjim Fola as it responds well to source matching, which becomes fun for Audiophiles like us. The added pair of Conduits is just a bonus and caters very well to the ever-demanding value-centric Audiophiles. We would also like to add that we would love a bit more mid-bass punch and texture along with a more natural treble, but if you are in this hobby and want to enjoy and experience top-notch technicalities without breaking the bank, then this IEM becomes an easy choice considering the build quality, premium accessories and sound technicalities. If anyone is willing to purchase, it is available for purchase locally and globally through the following links (Non-Affiliated link is given below).

-          https://www.amazon.com/TANCHJIM-Monitor-Distortion-Instrument-Earphones/dp/B0FNRWGC6B/

-          https://www.theaudiostore.in/products/tanchjim-fola-iem

Had a sudden itch to listen to TXN Sound Diamond, and then I remembered that going out on the public metro today.

Hence, the IFi Audio Go Pod Max came to the rescue. Although the soul of the Diamond remains intact, it really feels underpowered. Feels something is missing. We already knew about the rigidity of the diamond diaphragm. However, nice try, iFi Audio. Indeed, Go Pod Max can solve most of the power issues.