THE PLUS:
-Extremely versatile and coherent tonality
-safe near neutral tonal balance that isn’t boring or too lean
-dense lush natural timbre
-good note weight
-beautifull male and female vocal
-no instruments have wonky tone
-lively dynamic that never go screamy
-perfect IEM for piano lover (me!)
-bass quantity meet quality
-immersive non fatiguing listen
-great layering
-good planar technicalities
-smooth and tasty like butter
-best Planar tuning yet (subjective)
-sound value
THE MINUS:
-lack a bit of air and upper treble extension
-not the cleanest imaging
-not the biggest soundstage
-bass separation isn’t the best
-a bit capricious about power need-stability-clarity
-cheap construction that seem inferior to entry level Shimin Li
TONALITY: 9.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 7.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 9/10
INTRO
Tangzu is a rather newcomer into audio industry, it’s an earphones company from
THE PLUS:
-Extremely versatile and coherent tonality
-safe near neutral tonal balance that isn’t boring or too lean
-dense lush natural timbre
-good note weight
-beautifull male and female vocal
-no instruments have wonky tone
-lively dynamic that never go screamy
-perfect IEM for piano lover (me!)
-bass quantity meet quality
-immersive non fatiguing listen
-great layering
-good planar technicalities
-smooth and tasty like butter
-best Planar tuning yet (subjective)
-sound value
THE MINUS:
-lack a bit of air and upper treble extension
-not the cleanest imaging
-not the biggest soundstage
-bass separation isn’t the best
-a bit capricious about power need-stability-clarity
-cheap construction that seem inferior to entry level Shimin Li
TONALITY: 9.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 7.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 9/10
INTRO
Tangzu is a rather newcomer into audio industry, it’s an earphones company from China that have loose connection with Seeaudio. They begin as Tforce brand in 2021 and change to Tangzu in 2022. Their first IEM release, the Yuan Li, was well receive and offer a surprinsigly mature balanced warm soundsignature for a first tuned IEM by a new company.
Their second ultra budget release, the Shimin li, receive mixed review due to a brighter more neutral tonality that was more niche.
And their third release again take us by surprise, since it wasn’t a single dynamic driver but single planar driver earphones, the Zetian Wu.
The Zetian Wu use a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver and is priced 160$, which put it in higher priced range of planar IEM including Letshuoer S12 for ex.
Planar war is very intense lately with new release from lot of different chifi company near every week, so will the Zetian Wu will be able to demark itself from highly competitive crownd? Let see if it’s the case and what kind of tuning we get with this Tangzu Zetian Wu in my review!
CONSTRUCTION
In term of plain material of construction quality, let say the Wu doesn’t impress that much. Its made of alloy and plastic and look rather cheap, especially for the price and if we keep in mind the Shimin Li all-metal craftmanship quality that feel superior at 30$. Sure, Tangzu use resin plastic for 3D printing of precise acoustic chamber and ergonomic shape, but it feel a bit fragile nonetheless.
Anyway, it does inflict on the weight which is very light and comfort which is quite good even if earshell are thick and chunky.
In term of design look, the backplate is beautifull….but purple color of this type will perhaps not please everyone. Not an issue for me because at least they are comfortable and fit well for my ears.
In the other hand, the cable quality is very nice, its construction is very sturdy, its a thick 5N high purity copper cable with balanced plug. We can choose 3.5se or 4.4mm balance cable, which is nice.
Packaging is very well presented, with beautiful illustration. It include a generous amount of accessories. The case in particular is very impressive, it’s a BIG leather carrying case of excellent quality, that feel will be durable and have enough space for numerous audio accessories since even a DAP can fit in there. The eartips choice are good too, 7 pairs of more than decent silicone eartips including the very versatile KB07.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
In term of smooth and natural tonal balance, the WU is without a doubt the best of 7 planars I own. Imagine the Harman target with hint more mid bass and treble crunch, texture and snap and your not far from the ”Jack of all trades” tonality of the WU. This is one of these rare earphones that offer supreme tone versatility, since I listen to wide range of music and instruments and I never encounter wonky or artificial timbral or tonal imbalance. No out of place treble spike, no lipsy vocal, no unbalanced bass response: everything sound lush, lively, holographic, intimate and sweet.
This is one of those rare ”unboring safe tuning” too, since well, treble isn’t too dark and keep sens of edge enough.
We can call this balanced neutral or full bodied smooth W shape with softed upper treble on line with gently lifted mid range presence, this is an IEM that offer a mature hint warmed musicality with extra bass quality-quantity fun that captivate without stoling the show of anything else in sound spectrum.
Did after only one year Tangzu finally find it’s supreme balance target? It seem like it, since their some similarity with Yuan Li for bass and mids and Shimin Li for treble. Yes, they find best of both world and it merit applause even if it’s not that much of a bit change from Harman target as said.
I can’t handle instruments or voice that sound off or disembodied, and here Tangzu hit the sweet spot of everything: tone, timbre, presence, note weight and definition.
Yes, to my ears it’s that much of a big deal. Being able to enjoy my intensely diversify audio library that include lotta jazz, classical but soul, R&B, electronic, math roch, folk, rap too is something that keep immersivity of long time listening mesmerizing.
I was extremely surprise by both bass quality and quantity, not that its super boosted, far from being a basshead IEM here, but it’s full bodied and impactfull enough, with beautifull textured, natural hint euphonic timbre and nice but softed presence definition. Cello sound life like, with dense body and natural resonance, vibrant,fast and well define yet not too sharp in attack. Kick drum is warm and chunky, with good separation and articulation, note weight is there and tigh resonance after the hit too. Extension isn’t the most vibrant, linear or deeper, yet doesn’t feel lacking at all. When needed, the WU will rumble with authority, it’s a flexible and talented bass performance yet their this planar feeling to it too as if sustain of impact is warmed and thicken just a hint. Nonetheless, i’m confident to say it’s best bass performance I head from a planar IEM yet even if not the cleanest. This suit every music type since I can enjoy electronic as well as jazz and pop and rock, only basshead seeking for extra resonance and mid bass pressure immediacy might feel left hungry for more upfront slam since the bass keep its place in back of the bad, unless it go solo or the music in mastered another way.
And then the mid range: lush, smooth, wide and bodied in presence, softed in upper mids dangerosity so just a hint warm, where maturity meet musicality. A bit like Final E4000 mid range nothing feel forced, timbre is impressively natural for a planar and all instrument sound right. Saxophone have this air density in it, piano have it’s proper note weight and not ringing loudness in upper range common with planar, violin sound greatly resolve without sibilance or metallic sheen, it’s just so yummy and colorful. I mean, even electric guitar sounbd realist, we are into this kind of competency bravado.
It’s not overly lean yet well rounded in edge so I would not say it’s cleanest crispest most higly resolve mid range here, since in fact clarity is even a bit darken with hint of lower mids warmth it seem, just a beautifull thickness that permit to deliver good male and female vocal presentation where body and dynamic presence is more focus than texture and micro definition separation. So, this is not high definition mids that feel near analytical, its laid back yet full in presentation and dense it their layering, which permit good result even with busy track if the WU is well amped.
The treble is the kind i would call understated yet talented, we aren’t in spiky territory her yet we have hint of extra snap to make the percussions and instrument attack enough energic and captivating. With planar, highs go effortlessly fast, so lead attack energy seem easier to achieve than proper decay and sparkle, I would not say Tangzu change the planar sound projection yet they avoid any of their important drawback like splashyness, sibilance and ringing-treblyness without going into too dark territory. To me, that merit applause even if like the E4000, some will find it lack excitment on top.
What it lack to me it’s air. But why i’m suddenly negative? Since I love this treble so so much. Again, tone is right, timbre isn’t thin too, this isn’t just about brilliance peak to add fake clarity of one part of high range here but a full sounding treble. Again about percussions, it can go ultra snappy and mesmerizing, superbly detailed and well timed, like only good planar can do, listening to Bendik Hofseth, piano, guitar, percussions and drum all have dynamic bite to it, it’s captivating with great immediacy in attack and gentle crunchyness, so their an extra energy on top of this macro smoothness and it add this treble joyfullness. That’s the magic of the Ze Tian Wu, it can surprise you with rich detailing and sharp attack when needed, when the music ask for it, not the Wu.
TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Attack speed is better than control, but this doesn’t mean the WU go too resonant or uncontrolled but it have a smoothed sustain-release to it which stole a bit of clarity as if we have a 0.00000001% blur that make macro resolution more velvety-creamy….this is more evident with low and mids than low and mid treble and ths justify helping the WU to scale gloriously with clean source, like with SMSL SU9+SH9 THX amp which imporve attack timing sharpness.
Resolution while above average, is not to the level of Tinhifi P1plus for ex. It’s not crisp-clean with ultimate black background, this explain why WU is that versatile and even forgiving with music type and show it’s true talent with HD flac crisp recording. Yet, we never feel lacking details or sound info with the WU either, since it extract dynamically the sound layers and show them in a holographic way.
Spatiality is where i’m a bit puzzle, is it due to rather thick sound layers that it doesn’t feel that much wide open and deep? I mean, its not sounding in your head and tallness is good, while wideness is average not disastrous, deepness is more of an issue to me but at the same time it tend to push music at your direction and you never feel distant. Your in fact very near the musician stage with the WU, not in the middle tough, as if you have prime ticket place for all your fav artist!
Thankfully, imaging is more than decent even if presented in a slightly condensed manner with busy track it can keep enough dynamic layering and transparency to avoid confuse mudyness. Yet, it’s not this type of IEM that suddenly give you absolute hearing and magnify instrument placement with a sharp crispness, you need to concentrate a bit and be reward with very realist instrument positioning in limited space. Separation will be more about loudness different of instrument than static. In Jazz trio I listen right now from Dieter Ilg ”Parsifal” album, the piano is wel centered in the middle, take front stage, bassist is at right and project sound to the left a bit and drummer is in middle left, at least it’s kick drum and metallic percussions at the right lol…OK, hope you understand what I mean, i need to focus on dig into a richly musical spatiality and get rewarded with a realist positioning.
COMPARISONS
VS SALNOTES DIOKO
The WU is more neutral balanced while the Dioko more wonky U shape. Bass is more resonant in slam and less well rounded with Dioko that lack a bit of mid bass and lower mids presence, Tangzu have more controlled, fuller and more textured bass, with more natural tone and linear extension, which restitue both acoustic and electric bass line way better than Dioko.
Mids are fuller, lusher and leaner with the WU, less agressive in upper mids and notably denser and more natural in timbre, again their no tone issue unlike the Dioko, note weight is less tamed in dynamic too, edge is softed and their not timbral unbalance like Dioko. Dioko mids are brighter and more shouty, more compressed too.
Treble is sharper with Dioko, tending to put percussions more fowards and adding extra sens of snap in a agressive way, this inflict on extra air on top too. This can create wow effect until you go into busy music where it will go screamy and splashy, oversaturated with resonance. So, the WU choose to tame a bit the lower and upper treble instead of tweaking with the mid range, but keep a sens of snap too, their more natural crunch to texture and attack in general, violin sounding notably more natural and present, while percussions being less loud in brilliance. I do feel treble is darker and tend to let micro details in a slightly blurry background more with the WU, we can say it’s notably safer to the cost of extra energic captivation lost.
Soundstage is notably wider and deeper with the Dioko, here Tangzu have no chance since both the acoustic housing and tuning magnify spatiality. Yet, Tangzu seem strangely taller and more holographic-3D, as if center sound info of Dioko were too distant.
Imaging can seem better with Dioko at first listen until you discover that it’s all about treble region stereo positioning, so it feel unreal when you begin to try pin poiting instrument. This isn’t the case with Dioko that doesn’t force layering or modify static instrument position, so it’s easier to find their placement yet doesnt have same unrealistic spacing between them.
All in all, the Ze Tian Wu is more neutral and balanced, smoother with more natural timbre, so more a matter of tone sensitivity and tonal balance preference here….I guess. Since technically they are rather on par…
VS LETSHUOER S12
The WU are more neutral balanced and warmer. Bass is less boosted and less impactfull, yet it seem faster in attack, better rounded and separated. It’s less prompt to slight bleed too and feel more textured and well define. Bass line and kick drum are better separated too.
Mids are leaner and fuller, timbre is smoother and even more natural than S12, it’s more transparent and higher in resolution even if less edgy in attack. Male vocal seem more recessed than the S12 tough and female vocal too even if presentation is richer, wider and less compressed.
Treble is very different here, the WU extract more details yet doesn’t put it in your face, micro definition is cleaner and highs have a bit more sparkle and air making the S12 feel a bit half cook in this area.
Spatiality is even more open with the WU, hint wider and taller but notably deeper.
This inflict positively to imaging, which is more accurate and precise due to more transparent timbre.
All in all, while i think people will perhaps find the WU more boring, it’s more refined in balance, more neutral and smooth with slightly superior technical performance especially in imaging department.
VS TINHIFI P1max
The Max is notably more agressive W shape, with brighter tonality and slightly more boosted mid bass that hit harder. Again, like near all planar I own, the Max can’t restitute all instrument fairly and tone is off for piano, which isn’t the case for the WU, which offer natural piano presentation with better rounded definition, more body and note weight. The mids are lusher and fuller with the WU, while the bass is less boomy, so it will feel a bit less dynamic and present in busy track like jazz, yet extension dig deeper and their less resonance that veil upper bass, quality is better as well as control, and definition have more texture grip. In bassy track, Max hit hard but lack vibrant rumble and proper roundness. Mids are notably brighter and thinner with the Max, instruments like saxophone sound off with a metallic sheen to it, very bad mids imo. And treble is the most boosted part, puting micro details upfront, giving extra sens of air which the WU lack a bit yet highs are better balanced and not out of place like the Max. Still, this inflict on spatiality, so the Max sound more open and deep, taller wider too. When it come to imaging, i get the same center stage omition than Dioko but in a cleaner way….we have good space between percussions and higher range instrument but positioning is more accurate and realist with the less boosted in clarity WU.
All in all, Tangzu is again clearler better balanced and more refined and versatile in tuning, instrumental music like jazz and classical sure show Max limitation in tonal and timbral balance, yet its dynamic is more fun and lively, more bright V shape. Technical performance wise, tough less well controlled in loudness balance, these are on par and Max underline the soundstage limitation of this Tangzu too.
CONCLUSION
I think its evident i do love the Zetian Wu very much, and their multiple reason for this. I do think it’s the better tuned planar IEM out there, yet rather on par when it come to technical performance against all these 14-15mm planar IEM especially.
The difference here is that the Zetian WU offer a very versatile tonality with natural instrument rendition, it doesn’t sound off with any style of music I test with, and I listen to everything from classical to jazz to rock to electronic to folk, name it.
The Wu doesn’t try to Wow and choose a smooth tonal balance with full sens of dynamic and lush timbre, its rich in layers and details, yet warm as a whole. Perfect for long time listening session that is highly immersive yet not fatiguing.
This isn’t a dark sounding set, more of an harman target turn well, since it sound heavy in note weight and punchy in dynamic.
With the Zetian Wu we get best of both world, where good technicalities meet organic tonal balance and keep a sens of open musicality, this is highly addictive and rewarding listen, a mature yet not boring musical journey that feel like being home.
Safe-but-not-too-safe tuning and jack of all trade master of….everything?
One thing sure, highly addictive!
And highly recommended!
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PS: I want to thanks Tangzu for sending me this IEM after I manifest my curiosity about it. I’m not affiliated and get no money for this review. As always, i keep my integrity and these are my honest audio impressions.
You can buy the Zetian Wu for 150$ here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tangzu-wu-zetian?variant=43301859557593
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