:
A well-built, minimalist unit
Comprehensive package with high quality eartips and carrying case
Smooth, warm and musical sound
:
Some may feel lack of treble
Tangzu X Divinus FuDu verse 1 :: $89 :: 1DD+2BA
Tangzu’s latest - FuDu is their first product under ‘Zen’ Hybrid IEM Series.
It is also the first product they have released in collaboration with other company, Divinus. - featuring two sets of premium eartips - Tangzu’s ‘Tang Sancai’, and Divinus’ ‘Velvet’.
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Driver Configuration : 1 Dynamic Driver + 2 Balanced Armature
Driver Specifications : 10 mm DD + 2 Balanced Armature
Distortion Rate : ≤1% at 1kHz
Sensitivity : 106dB ±≤1dB at 1kHz
Channel Difference : <1%
Impedence : 16 ohms
Frequency Response Range : 20Hz - 20kHz
Cable Type : 25*0.05 Silver plated
Cable Length : 1.25m
Interface : 0.78 2-PIN
Huge thanks to Divinus - a part of this collaboration and also, a long-time distributor of Tangzu in South Korea - for providing a sample unit for this review.
Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.
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Named after China’s one of the greatest poets, FuDu has a quite large package.
At the back, you can see the specification I wrote above.
Opening the package, you're greeted with some plenty of accessories.
* 3 pairs of Tangzu ‘Tang Sancai’ tips
* 3 pairs of Divinus' ‘Velvet’ tips
* Silver-plated Oxygen-Free Copper Cable inside the Carrying case
The two premium eartips that come with the FuDu are not cheap by no means - costing a total of $40 when purchased individually (Korean retail price), but when combined with the FuDu unit, they make a quite noticeable difference to the sound - bringing the joy of switching eartips.
Inside the carrying case, you’ll find a 4.4mm silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable.
It's not a shockproof hard case, but the overall build quality is pretty good, and it feels like it's been put together with a lot of thought, like a separate compartment for eartips and silica gel.
Personally, I already have a hard case for my earphones, so it was nice to have a pretty case that I could slip into my bag and carry around.
Included 0.05 x 25-wire 4-core silver-plated OFC cable comes with two options, 3.5mm and 4.4mm, so you can choose according to your preference.
I like the fact that we can choose the 4.4mm cable at no extra charge.
The cable is finished in a matte, rubbery material that feels soft to the touch, and the 2-pin connector that fits securely with the unit is a testament to its quality.
When you pull out the unit, you'll see that it's surprisingly equipped with a pair of standard eartips.
While they're not bad, they certainly look a little bit shabby compared to the two premium eartips that come with the unit. They're also only available in one Medium size, so it's unlikely you'll ever use them.
The black translucent resin shell that forms the unit was created using 3D printing techniques to ensure various drivers precisely fitted with minimal error.
And it is finished with CNC-machined aluminum plates and brass-coloured metal nozzles.
Compared to Tangzu's predecessors, FuDu has a more subdued and simple design, which is likely to appeal to a wider audience.
Frosted aluminum faceplate around the smooth triangle in the center is really attractive, regardless of price point.
Also, despite the 1DD+2BA hybrid configuration, the unit is fairly small and very comfortable to wear.
Thanks to this, the nozzle looks really long in the photos, but when you compare it directly to other products, you'll see that the nozzle length is about average.
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Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) with 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.
Following Measurements are available at silicagel775.github.io
This is a FR graph, measured with the pre-installed tips.
The sound is well-balanced overall, with a nicely pumped up bass above Harman Target, and a treble that's comfortably mellow without being irritating, thanks to a decent dip at 3kHz and 5-8kHz.
True to their name, Divinus' ‘Velvet’ eartips are micro-embossed for a unique, yet soft touch.
The special surface treatment makes it easy to remove debris and allows the earphones to gradually release pressure after some time in the ear.
Also, combined with its unique shape - which tapers towards the tip like a jar - allows for deeper insertion .
This is a comparison between the ‘pre-installed eartip’ measurement and the ‘velvet tip’ measurement.
The measurements don't show much of a difference except in the upper treble, because we control the insertion depth during the measurement.
However, as mentioned above, the unique structure of the velvet tip allows for a deeper insertion, which seems to slightly improve staging, and extend the sub-bass with better isolation performance.
Like the velvet tips, Tangzu's ‘Tang Sancai’ eartips are also quite unique.
They've got a really interesting pattern on the surface. It relieves pressure and, most importantly, reduces sub-bass when worn.
When we compare the ‘velvet tip’ measurement with the ‘Tang Sancai’ measurement, you can see that this characteristic has created a visible difference in the sub-bass.
It didn't make that much of a difference on a metallic ear simulator, but personally, it felt like the bass was being reduced quite a bit and the vocals and treble were being emphasized a bit more, resulting in a slightly more balanced sound.
This is the first time I've used Tangzu's ‘Tang Sancai’ ear tips, and while I don't feel like the seal is any worse than with other eartips, the reduction of the sub-bass was quite surprising.
It's fun to try different eartips depending on your preference.
A hybrid earphone with a minimalist design and exquisite tonal balance, FuDu is a compelling product in its own right.
Plus, the two premium eartips that come with the FuDu add to the richness of the package, giving you the satisfaction of unboxing them and the fun of switching between eartips to enjoy different sounds.
Whether you're an enthusiast who wants to experience the sound changes that come with different eartips, or a beginner looking for a pair of IEM with smooth, warm, musical sound in the $100 range, I can easily recommend this.
Thank you for reading!
