Gears On Fire!
Pros: Interesting shell design
All-metal shells
Dynamic, clear sound
Airy yet sibilance-free treble
Clear, detailed midrange
Impactful, extended bass
Cons: Heavy shells
Basic accessories
Some may want a warmer tonality
Shell design and fit: 4/5: Handsome but heavy.
~The all-metal shells are nicely finished, and the little window faceplate that reveals the fake gears looks quite cool. If you look closely, you can see some blue accents and even below the gears, a shiny red underlayer inside the shells. [Using a flashlight helps see the details.] This is one of the better shell designs I’ve seen, especially on a budget set, in 2025.
~The included ear tips work just fine, but I found the Spinfit CP145 tips provide better long-term comfort and seal.
~The shells are somewhat heavy and remind me of the KZ ZS12 Pro X shells. But with the tips I suggested above, they remain reasonably comfortable. That being said, I had to tip roll quite a bit before settling on the CP145, so they aren’t very universally comfortable.
Bass: 4.5/5: Clean yet powerful.
~This is a budget set, so you might not find your endgame bass response here. It’s not the most textured or detailed bass, but it is clean and crisp while simultaneously delivering truly impactful punches to your eardrums.
~Sub-bass extends low and has satisfying rumble. I feel all but the neediest of bassheads will be satisfied with the sub-bass response. I certainly greatly enjoy it, and it does not feel weak or rolled-off, which is a pet peeve of mine. Quiet sub-bass drones are not lost in the mix, nor are they artificially elevated.
~Mid-bass is magically dynamically impactful while not being warm, muddy, thick, or intrusive. It stays in its place like a true sub-woofer. It can rattle your windshield eardrums without corrupting the rest of the frequency response.
~Realistically, the bass is 5/5 for the price. Expensive sets might have slightly better detail or texture in the bass, but the TianGong really delivers bass to my ears in a way I feel is essentially perfectly-tuned and balanced between fun and professionalism in quantity.
Mids and vocals: 4/5: Clear and precise.
~Mids stay clean and clear despite the exuberant bass response and has decent detail and separation in busy tracks.
~Honestly, the level of clarity and detail of the IEM in general is quite impressive, especially due to the fact that the bass isn’t diminished to accomplish that.
~That being said, I’m sure that lovers of warm, organic tonality will complain that the CZ10 is too sterile or dry. I beg to differ. Sure, it’s not a warm blanket for your ears, but neither is it sterile or dry. I’ve heard plenty of IEMs that sound like someone trying to sing with a parched throat. The CZ10 is not one of those. The mid-bass, while it doesn’t really bleed into the midrange, is of sufficient quantity to alleviate any true dryness in tonality.
~Vocals are very good, but not the highlight of the IEM. They are clear, accurate, well-staged, but not the most emotional or rich that I’ve heard, hence the 4/5 score in this bracket.
~That being said, the vocals are not harsh or sibilant, unlike the ZS6 I compared the set to. They are perfectly tuned to alleviate sibilance and still sound clear as a bell. People who want warmer, richer vocals, however, should look for a warmer IEM.
Treble: 4.5/5: About perfect for my tastes.
~It’s well-extended with sufficient air. Only trebleheads who have hearing like a bat would maybe say it could be even more extended.
~The treble has the detail, crispness, and sparkling tonality I look for in good treble. It’s not the best treble I ever heard, but for the price, it probably is. Very few sets in this price bracket achieve this level of detail and clarity while not being harsh or sibilant at times. KZ needs to take lessons from the TianGong!
~Treble details are almost holographic at times. I’m very impressed, which brings me to…
Soundstage: 4.5/5: Sparkly surround sound.
~I rated this bracket just to leave room for even better sets, but realistically, the CZ10 has astonishing soundstage for the price.
~It’s practically an orbital stage. Honestly. The famous “Bubbles” track by Yosi Horikawa truly immerses you while ping pong balls fall all around your head.
