Dethonray x Tangzu YuXuan Ji
Let's get started. Firstly, I wanna thank myself for the opportunity to review this beautiful bird. What I mean by that is that I plunked down my own $49.00 to purchase this directly from Tangzu. This is the third Tangzu IEM that I've purchased on my own, with the OG Wu Zetian planar (still firmly in my rotation and possession), and the Tangzu Wa'ner SE, which wasn't really my cup ' tea, so I sold them. As soon as I first saw the advertisements for this IEM, I was left intrigued. As soon as @baskingshark shared his impressions of it, I was PTT on this IEM the very next moment. Thanks buddy! So shipping from Tangzu was actually fairly quick, and I didn't have to wait too long to get my hands on this. So this review is 100% unbiased and my own heartfelt observations and thoughts. Secondly, I wasn't going to actually review this IEM, since I have some others that need my analytical attention, but the more I spent time with this animal, the more I became addicted to losing myself in the music as it was interpreted by the Ji. So I felt it deserved the attention, so here we are...
Initial unboxing was short and straight to the point. Now Tangzu alwways brings the beautiful art on it's packaging. They've come to be known for stellar designs and beautiful box artwork. Now aside from that though, it's fairly straight forward thereafter. The IEMs in their holder, the tips (Sancai narrows), the cable and a very cheap pocket case in a box. Now the cable is very similar to the rubbery and very thin cable that came with the Oriveti Lowmaster, aka it stinks! Not to mention this very cheap pocket case that pretty much was an afterthought throw in. We can see Tangzu and Dethonray decided to forgo any investment in the accessories, and focus all their attention and finances into the shells and the driver tech/tuning. This is apparent, and for $49USD, I'm totally ok with that! The Sancai tips, as is the case with all stock tips, are useless to me. My gigantic ear canals require large to XL sized tips (usually 14.0 to 14.5mm to fit well and provide a snug seal), so they stayed in the box. I settled on a pair of Spinfit CP100 XL, and the fit and seal couldn't be more comfy and immaculate. Perfect pairing for my ears. The cable is a 3.5mm XINHS HS128 mixed alloy cable. Perfect synergy once again, as this IEM has gold, as does the cable, and the sonics are a good match. The shells are very small, and quite comfortable. I was able to wear them for long listening sessions without any issues or fatigue, and the shells pretty much lose themselves in my earholes.
So how about we move on to the sound? Sounds good to me too. Before we do, let me show you some pertinents and specs? Ok?
THE SPECS :
Dethonray x Tangzu YuXuan Ji :
THE SPECS :
Dethonray x Tangzu YuXuan Ji :
Obligatory frequency response graph provided courtesy of @arcelo
PRICE : $49.00
Available for purchase at this location.
The Gear :
What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??
For this review, and for these sessions, I went with the Sony NW-A306 > iBasso DC Elite DAC > Power bank > iBasso CB19 interconnect. Also the Hiby R3 II > Little Bear B4-X tube amp > Lunashop s/c/g interconnect and finally the Cayin N3 Ultra (untethered, Modern Tube mode, No EQ, Fast roll off filter).
Music used for the review and all my reviews in general?
Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant to Be
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Hugo Kant - Far From Home
Alfredo Rodriguez - Coral Way
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel Trio - Dutch Weather
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Adon - Adon
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant to Be
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Hugo Kant - Far From Home
Alfredo Rodriguez - Coral Way
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel Trio - Dutch Weather
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Adon - Adon
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
Dynamics : 4
Resolution : 4
Details : 4
Instrument separation : 4
Imaging : 4.5
Sibilance : 2
Soundstage : 4.5
Overall score : 4
BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :
So we finally made it to the place we've all been waiting for! How do the YuXuan Ji sound? Alright, I'll spill the beans. So let's start with the bass then shall we? So the bass on the Ji is one of the most resolving, tactile, and quickly responsive bass responses that i've ever heard in a single DD at this price range. The topology driver contained within is definitely special, and obviously chosen with care by Tangzu x Dethonray to provide a type of bass that's punchy, present, but never bloaty or slow. It can dig deep and gives you decent sub bass, while on tracks like feature speedy double bass and kicks, able to easily decode those transients so that the bass never smears or gets blurry. That's the case with the whole sonic image, where the imaging and detail retrieval and spatial cues are fantastic and above average, but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Now the mid bass and lower mids is where it can get a bit for want? There is a lack of warmth in the lower mids/mid bass, as it is very separate of the midrange, and though there's punch in the mid bass, there's not much impact or coloration, so again, there's a lack of warmth in those frequencies, so what you get sometimes is a lack of body in the vocals and lower mids in general, and so it can come off as a tad bit dry or lacking note weight, so guttural vocals can come off thin, or female vocals lacking emotiveness or "drama", if you will. So if you primarily listen to vocal music, then you might have issues with this set? For me, overall, there's enough greatness going on everywhere else, that I didn't mind it at all, but of course, YMMV.
The midrange is clean, crisp, resolving, and has excellent spacial cues. Guitars have bite, piano has enough presence and good tonality, and details are not hidden, and come to surface to reveal themselves more often than not. Timbre is excellent, with an incisiveness that's very apparent upon first listen. This is resolute in a way that makes you take notice. There's a great balance in the midrange, with spatial cues that provide distance, space, separation, and correct positioning. Left/right is prominent, with a bit of depth. Where the stage is lacking is in the height. Not much of it, but that might be from the positioning of the midrange? It's mostly U shaped to very mild V, and this must affect the stage to present an orbital stage but keeps it from being immersive. Strong midrange presence and tone, but lacking weight/body in the lower mids due to minimal bleed.
The treble is special. It's got a shimmer and incisiveness that really is remarkable for a single DD. Usually, to get this type of response in a single DD, you need to spend $200.00+ to find it, but it's right here, present and accounted for, in a $49.00 IEM. The crispness does come with it's drawbacks, and the upper mids and lower treble can sometimes walk the line into crispiness, and though there isn't sibilance per se, it can come off as sibilance or crispy on some badly mastered tracks or modern production tracks, so it's not exactly a smooth transition, but a controlled transition. It's mature, but with a tendency at times to walk right up to the line of stridency, without going over, but it's close enough to make the more sensitive take notice, so make what you will of that. If it's a smooth safe treble and upper mids that you're after, then the Ji is probably not for you, unless you own TUBES! The reason I say this, is because if you use a source that has tubes or an r2r DAC, then you will not hear this crispiness or stridency, because it never goes into that territory. The tubes provide a rounding to the notes, to the overtones, and a much needed "warmth" that really matures the sound of the Ji to the point where you can lose yourself in the presentation and the treble them becomes wispy and bordering on ethereal, which again, is quite the accomplishment for a single DD configuration. So some of the hard edges that appeared on the DCE disappeared, and the tonality thickened up some on the B4-X and N3U. Because of this, I personally enjoyed the N3U more with the Ji than I did the DCE, though the DCE provided a more incisive (there's that word again!!) and fuller soundstage overall. The tradeoff was ok by me.
OVERALL :
The Ji has been in constant rotation in my ears since they landed for several reasons. One, they are very close to my preferred sound signature, and two, because I'm able to source roll so freely, I'm also able to enjoy shifts in the tonality just by switching to tubes, solid state, r2r, and filters. The Ji is very amiable to these sources, and can change like a chameleon without needing to resort to EQ, which I don't like to use if I don't have to. The tubes also provide some nice bass lift, and the Ji's technical performance is so high, that it most definitely qualifies for ALL-AROUNDER status, as it aptly delivers with any genre I threw at it, and this included jazz, reggae, metal, pop, rock, and funk. There's a breadth of precision and capability that belies it's budget range, and really sets the bar high for single DD's in the $30-$90 price range. This IMHO, is a gatekeeper IEM, a fantastic all-arounder, with a beautiful and comfortable shell, and easily one of my favorite new sets. I implore anyone who wants to get a taste for the mid-fi sound to start with the YuXuan Ji, and by doing so, you're already in the ballpark, without having to spend over a hundo to get there. I stand by my words and impressions, and I know you will to once you got this audio jewelry in your ears.
COMPARISONS :
Inawaken Dawn MS : The Inawaken Dawn MS is a direct competitor to the Ji. Priced at $50.00USD, it's also a single DD. The shells are a bit larger than the Ji, with longer and wider nozzles. Both have metal shells. The Dawn's bass has more presence, as the DD is positioned right up next to the nozzle, instead of the standard towards the back of the shell. This creates a bit more heft and punch, so though the sub bass is lesser than the Ji, the sheer weight and punch of the bass, and the transition to the lower mids, gives the Daen MS that body that the Ji is missing, but the bass isn't as resolving or incisive. You are more apt to hear individual notes and slaps and slides of the bass guitar with the Ji than the Dawn, and there's a visceral texture to the Ji that takes precedence over the Dawn. Midrange clarity is very similar. I'd say if anything, the midrange, in terms of technicalities, imaging, separation and transparency are running neck and neck. Where the separation takes place is in the soundstage, where the open back design of the Ji simply supercedes the stage of the Dawn MS. It's fuller, wider, and deeper. The treble is also much more tonally correct, as well as timbrally accurate with the Ji. as the Dawn MS can sometimes sound metallic, and the shimmer and air aren't as extended and controlled as the Ji is. So the Dawn MS is the more fun and safe tuning, while the Ji is more accurate and structurally sound as far as balance and technicalities.
KZ Saga : The Saga is about $24.00 less than the Ji, but is touted by KZ as being able to play in it's same playground sonically. So ok, let's see if they do? The Saga is also a single DD, that's a one of the latest generation linear drivers by KZ. It's also IMO the best DD KZ on the market. The bass is strong, resolving, and punchy. It's a fun bass, but a bass that doesn't get bloaty or bloomy. It's got more presence, sub bass depth, and mid bass presence than the Ji, so lower mids have body and heft, plus it can be as incisive and resolving as the Ji, where you can pick out individual notes. Point to KZ! Well done! Now this is where the comparisons end. The midrange just isn't as transparent, and the spatial cues aren't as broad with the KZ. The midrange, though warm, doesn't have the degree of technicalities, instrument separation, and detail retrieval as the Ji. That's not to mean the Saga stinks. It's just not up to the capabilities of the Ji, and then when we move to the upper midrange and the treble, the Saga is smoothed out and tuned to a very safe frequency response, so the bite and resolution are a tad bit blunted in comparison. Air and shimmer are also superior with the Ji, as well as tonality, as the Saga isn't as big an offender in the off tone that older KZ sets have, but the Ji simply has more correct tonality and the treble is far more resolute and crisp. The KZ is a really fun beater set, and I enjoy it for reggae, hip hop and funk, so if you want to save some bucks and get a warmer fuller overall fun sound, then the Saga would be a good buy, but if you can swing the extra $25.00, I implore you to just pick up the Ji, and don't worry, be happy.
CONCLUSION :
Personally, the YuXuan Ji is one of my favorite buys of 2024. This IEM plays in a land far above it's price tag, the shells are works of art, and the sound can adapt to most any genre, and play it back in a way that puts a smile on faces. Excellent punchy bass, a clean midrange that allows you to hear all the details present in your music, and a treble that's both airy and concise, and timbre that's natural and resolving. Yes, it does have a few drawbacks, but nothing is perfect, especially at $49.00, but when you look at how absurd that retail price is for the performance you're getting, it's the equivalent of buying a Porsche for the cost of a Ford Focus. Sure, you'll get better gas mileage out of the Focus, but man, which vehicle would you rather be driving, so you can overlook the small drawbacks. you're getting high performance and classy looks!! So I highly recommend the Ji, and I can stake my reputation on it, and lastly, you won't regret bringing this beauty home. It'll even make your spouse happy!!
Thank you so much for reading and remember to be water with your audio luv! When you do...AUDITORY ZEN UNLOCKED!