TANCHJIM BUNNY: Affordable Balanced Sounding One

What's up, Doc!

~~Bugs Bunny, a major Looney Toon character.

Bunnies commonly known as Rabbits are small herbivore mammals belonging to the order, Lagromorphs which also includes hares and pikas. They are known for their sexual activity in nature that they can reproduce quickly and a preyed animal in the wild. Bunnies/Rabbits are known for their docile and adorable nature that makes them a good pet but in some cultures, they are considered as a livestock for meat source. Rabbits have strong symbolism in both Western and Eastern folklore as that it is one of the main celestial animals in a Chinese Zodiac and also there are some personalities that strongly associated with rabbits like Chang'e, the Moon Goddess in Chinese Mythology and Kaguya-hime of the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

We in the audio enthusiast community know the reputation of the TANCHJIM as an audio company as they are quite exceptional in producing some of the best entry-level sets in the market. Their old model, the Oxygen, is still among one of my favourite single DDs of all time on how I truly impress its well-meticulous tuning and excellent build quality.

What I have here right now is their latest entry-level set, The TANCHJIM BUNNY and this model is somewhat the affordable version of their previous model, the TANCHJIM 4U in which I rate it highly in my review due to its neutral tuning and an option to switch other types of tonal profiles by adjusting its screw-style mechanism via small philips screw driver. Like the aforementioned 4U, this one also equipped a similar single dynamic driver technology that TANCHJIM self-developed.

The dynamic driver that was implemented here is a DMT4 Ultra which has some modification from the original DMT4 that was used on the 4U. While its retains a 10mm dual-chambered design but it uses a different material on its diaphragm as it uses a  composite diaphragm made of a PET material reinforced with titanium coating that offers better tensile strength and elasticity that delivers rich bass and a clear and detailed vocals and instruments in a full range sound quality. Aside from the driver, it also implemented an acoustic maze structure on its acoustic chamber to improve the overall quality of its bass response.

The driver was then encapsulated in a bunny-inspired shape profile made of a hypoallergenic-grade polycarbonate plastic shell structure along with a brushed stainless steel faceplate in a tear drop shape. The shells are quite compact and offer an ergonomic fitting that will be versatile to all ear sizes. Like all TANCHJIM sets, it uses a 0.78mm bi-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism.

When it comes with fitting and comfort, the BUNNY with its bunny-inspired form factor on its shell design, offers a relatively snuggly fitting into my lugholes that gives a passive  noise isolation that is able to block some external noises coming  from the outside surroundings.

The stock cable of the BUNNY is somewhat decent for its price which is an oxygen-free silver-plated copper in a parallel structure with a 3.5mm termination plug on its end. It also has a HD mic with a single button for single command. The cable is quite pliable and has some resistance from entanglement and offers a very minimal amount of microphonics. There's a type-C with DSP chip option where you can choose it upon ordering this product.

As product packaging, TANCHJIM BUNNY is fairly loaded with quantifying amounts of accessories given it was packed in a compact packaging box.

Here are the following contents we can find inside of its packaging box:

• Pair of TANCHJIM BUNNY IEM transducers.
• Stock cable
• Felt cloth carrying pouch
• Three (3) pairs of balanced bore silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• Three (3) pairs of wide bore silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• Paperwork like an instruction manual and a postcard.

Regarding power scaling, the BUNNY is on the side which needs a bit better power output to amplify it optimally. A proper power output shows that this set is capable of delivering a full sound quality with good dynamics on it. So pairing it with headphone amp dongles, DAPs or other devices that could deliver a better audio output would be a better choice for this set.

When it comes to tonality, the BUNNY has a mild U-shaped sound signature which highlights the elevation both on both the low and high frequency for the overall tonal profile.

LOWS/BASS:

The bass quality of this set is rather balanced as both sub bass and mid bass have a presence on the low frequency region. With a balanced bass presentation, it delivers a punchy, incisive and clean bass response.

Sub bass can be fairly felt as it has some grumbling and reverberation that were generated coming from certain instruments like synthesisers, drum machines, and from low tuned bass guitars and double-basses. The mid bass has an adequate texture enough to give an ample note weight on some bass-clef instruments.

The bass guitars have a resonant and enough weight on their sound while the double-basses sound broad yet sustaining, bass kick drums have a thudding and resonant sound on every stroke in its drum head. On male vocals like bass and bass-baritones, while they have the resonant and sufficient depth, they don't sound dense and  as it is lacking that dark timbre that makes them sound less dusky and wool-like.

MIDRANGE:

While the midrange presentation of this one is quite a bit recessed on its overall sound quality, it still presents a pretty balanced and natural sound on vocals and instruments as it has a neutral with sufficient warmth, a bit transparent and a tidy sound.

The male vocals have an ample note weight as the baritones sound smooth and warm, tenors have a clear and full sound on their vocals and countertenors have those tender and emotive characteristics for their distinctive falsetto to have that captivating and pleasant sound. Meanwhile on female vocals, contraltos have some plushiness and smoky sound although not that heavy and  husky, mezzo-sopranos have that velvety and an ample fullness with enough gleam on their vocals, and then sopranos have a clear and creamy sound characteristics that suits well with dramatic and lyric types of sopranos.

When it comes to instruments, on string ones, guitars sound more balanced and sort of midrange-y, violins have a sweet and sensuous sound on every motion on its bowstrings and cellos sound mellow, gentle and sweet. As for woodwinds, concert flutes sound mellow while piccolos have a rather soft and delicate sound rather than intense and brilliant, clarinets sound gentle and a bit rounded and saxophones sound velvety and mild. The brass instruments like the trumpets, trombones and horns, they sound rounded, full and dull respectively as they will sound pretty well on a bit accentuated upper mids. On percussive instruments, snare drums have a precise and clear sound, tom-toms have a resonant sound with some warmth on it, field drums have a sonorous sound and kettledrums sound mellow and dull. Pianos apparently have a more balanced to mellow tone as it has that resonant, sweet and rounded sound although I find it sometimes a bit dull and flat in my liking.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

To determine its treble quality, the treble response is on the balanced and smoother side as it doesn't have those jarring peaks on the upper-mids and presence treble section but it will sound a bit dull and veiled to treble heads. It has a decent clarity and definition for vocals and attack of instruments and there’s not a hint of sibilance, shrill or tinniness.

On the brilliance part, it has a modest airy extension with less intensity on its sparkle. Cymbals sound lustrous and undulating while hi-hats sound a bit soughing on its distinctive chick-y sound, glockenspiels sound less shimmering and celestas have a soft and mellow sound.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

The BUNNY projects a decently above average sound/speaker stage as it has at least an above par width on its lateral span, and also good height reach and depth as it will be perceived as fairly spacious head room within my aural perception.

Stereo imaging of this one is rather a linear, two-dimensional stereo presentation with fairly decent layering and separation in which  I can pinpoint the placement of instruments and vocals in a soundscape.

Driver coherency of this one is quite excellent of how it performs with its nimble transient response on executing a fast bass speed and crispiness of the overall sound quality without any distortion issues at all.

On its resolution capabilities, I consider this one as fairly resolving as it shows some solidity on it macro-dynamics while its micro-detail retrieval appears to be less sharper but a bit blunted on highlighting some nuances and subtleties from an audio track like vocal ends, reverb tails and distinctive notation attacks from instruments.

PEER COMPARISONS:

SIVGA QUE

• The QUE has a single dynamic driver on its composite shell chassis made of wood and metal alloy.
• It has a beryllium-coated diaphragm on its 10mm dynamic driver.
• It has a better stock cable and carrying case.
• The sound signature of this one has a U-shaped tonal profile that if it will be compared to the BUNNY, it has more vigorous and impactful bass response, more recessed and energetic midrange presentation and bright and airy treble response.
• On technical capabilities, it has an above-average sound speaker stage with good depth, well-layered soundscape and a sharp definition on micro-detail retrieval.

7HZ G1

• Like the BUNNY, it has a single dynamic driver encased in a solid metal alloy shell casing.
• It implemented a 10mm dynamic driver with DLC-coating on its composite diaphragm.
• It has a bit better carrying case and probably stock cable.
• This one has a U-shaped sound profile that aligns with Harman-style of tuning which makes this set sounds more sub bass-focused with less mid bass texture, lean and yet midrange and bright and airy treble response compared to BUNNY.
• The technical performance of this set is somewhat its strongest assets as it has a marginally above average sound stage size, good layering and separation on its stereo imaging and sharper definition on its micro-detail retrieval.

TRIPOWIN VIVACE

• TRIPOWIN’s latest entry-level single driver with a shell chassis consisting of composite materials.
• It uses a 10mm dynamic driver with a PET diaphragm.
• It doesn't have any carrying case for storage with a rather average stock cable similar to BUNNY’s albeit different build and materials.
• The VIVACE has a U-shaped sound profile with balanced-warmish tonality on them that it has sub bass-focused bass response that sounds rumbly and precise, adequately warm and well-balanced midrange and a bit energetic yet smooth treble response.
• On technical capabilities, the VIVACE is quite an average in terms of overall technical performance as it has fairly intimate soundstage size, a typical linear two-dimensional stereo imaging with decent layering and separation, and a less sharper definition on its micro-detail retrieval.

TANCHJIM once again prove themselves that despite a very competitive audio market, they are able to release a competitive and affordable entry-level set that sounds closer to an almost neutral-sounding that is quite uncommon in the portable audio market segment. It is noticeable that they still need some polishing touch on its tuning like clarity and resolution, and also for this type of tuning would not give that engaging factor to a casual listener who wants a more coloured and fun sounding tonality on their listening session.

But despite its flaws, the BUNNY is overall a good product with good build quality, smaller shape profile and a tuning that most sets could have and usually price at around US$100/80 and I can still recommend this one.

TANCHJIM BUNNY is now available on HIFIGO, I just provided a non-affiliated link below.

LINK:

https://hifigo.com/products/tanchjim-bunny

For more TANCHJIM product reviews, here are some of my reviews of their previous products.

■ TANCHJIM TANYA DSP

■ TANCHJIM ONE

■ TANCHJIM 4U

■ TANCHJIM MINO

■ TANCHJIM MINO ASANO TANCH EDITION

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: TANCHJIM BUNNY

IMPEDANCE: 30Ω

SENSITIVITY: 123dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 8Hz – 48kHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m

PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S):  (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER

PROS:

● Very affordable that suit on budget 

-conscious audio enthusiasts 

● Light and ergonomically-designed composite shell.

● Fairly well-accessorised on its product packaging.

● It offers a comfortable fitting that also provides good passive noise isolation.

● It has a quite a balanced sounding

● A sufficiently punchy bass response 

● Well-balanced with sufficient warmth  midrange presentation.

● Almost natural sounding vocals and instruments.

● Surprisingly smooth and a bit relaxed treble presentation.

● Not a hint of sibilance nor harshness.

● Decently above average soundstage size.

CONS:

● Needs a bit more power output or needs to increase more volume level just to have its optimal audio quality.

● Not for bass heads due to its less vigorous bass quality.

● And also, not for treble heads due to its less bright response with modest airy extension.

● Wishing for better resolution capability.

TRACKS TESTED: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *

Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*

Type O Negative - Black No.1 *

Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **

Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *

Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to TANCHJIM nor receive any monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to MS. HERMINE QIU & KERWIN WU of HIFIGO for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.