Tanchjim Space

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Disclaimer:

• - I bought this unit with my own money, without any Tanchjim’s knowledge or intervention. Rest assured that this review will be free from any form of bias/s as much as possible.
• - I have not tested this with MQA files or MQA streaming since I don’t use MQA at all.
• - The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• - No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• - I have only tested this with earbuds and IEMs and earbuds.
• -Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 10 days.

IEMs/Earbuds/Source used:

• - Etymotic ER3SE
• - Simgot EM6L
• - Letshuoer DZ4
• - Tanchjim One
• - Temperament X6
• - Simgot EW200
• - Sony Xperia X Compact
• - Aiwa XP-V710C CD Player (12 sec. EASS)
• - Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96)
• - Desktop PC, Laptop.
• - Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

Setup configuration: Tanchjim Space paired with phones/laptop/pc.

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Essential Product Specifications:

• - Headphone port: 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal
• - Input port: USB Type-C
• - Frequency response: 6hz-85kHz
• - Background noise: 1.3uV(BAL), 1.1uV(UNBAL)
• - Dynamic-Range: 132dB (BAL), 127dB (UNBAL)
• - THD+N: 0.00017% (BAL), 0.00019% (UNBAL)
• - Output power: 4Vrms (BAL High), 2Vrms (BAL Low), 2Vrms (UNBAL High), 1Vrms (UNBAL Low)

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Sound signature:

• - The Tanchjim Space exhibits an analytical, reference, transparent/uncolored sound that focuses more on utilizing the gear and the audio file’s optimal sound quality. This also means that this DAC is a “revealing” set, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on the user. It will reveal how wide or narrow an IEM/earbuds sound, how well layered the whole track is, how muffled or clear the files played with it, and the likes. I can clearly hear how compressed Spotify sounds, and how “rich” or clean Deezer, Qobuz, and my ripped CDs sound on this dongle. YouTube Music sits in the middle in terms of sound quality, and is the most practical among the file types/streaming platforms I’ve tested to my liking.

Build Quality:

• - I personally like what they did with the Space - it is very light in weight without skimping on the build quality. The design exhibits a sturdy,industrial-type of motif in a sleek, minimalist, gray color. It is also smaller in height and a bit wider in width as well, which makes it more portable compared to other dongles I’ve tested and loaned.

Device Compatibility:

• - Just like the Fosi Audio DS1 which is my current daily driver for a year and a half, this dongle does not need any proprietary app to sound in its optimal sound quality, making it very easy to connect across all of my android and windows devices. Hardware volume control is also detected in UAPP, and is easily detected on UAPP, Hibymusic, and Eddict player.

Battery Consumption:

• - This dongle is quite average in terms of battery consumption. It drains about 6-10% of battery in an hour when paired with a smartphone at most, depending on the file type and gain that you are using.

Power and volume:

The Tanchjim space was sufficient (and even more than enough at times) on delivering power and volume on all of my IEMs and earbuds. It has a high gain mode on both BAL and SE connections. Here are some IEMs and earbuds I have tried with their respective listenable/ enough volumes (do take note that the volumes indicated are only based on adjusting the hardware volume buttons to 5 steps from its factory hardware volume setting, with the software volume variable. 100% = 100% max software volume):

• - Etymotic ER3SE - 30/100
• - Temperament X6 - 35/100
• - Simgot EM6L - 20/100
• - Tanchjim One - 25/100
• - Simgot EW200 - 15/100
• - Letshuoer DZ4 - 25/100

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Who is the Tanchjim Space for?

• - For those people who want an analytical, uncolored sounding dongle.
• - For those people who want a distortion, jitter free-sound.
• - For those people who wants a dongle with a detachable cable.
• - For those people who want a very lightweight usb dongle on-the-go.
• - For those people who do not want to mess with any app or setting just to achieve optimal sound quality.

Why should you not buy the Tanchjim Space?

• - If you want a dongle that forgives recording/setup flaws.
• - If you are looking for a warm-sounding dongle.
• - If you mainly use easy-to-drive IEMs (The Tanchjim Space Lite sounds about the same to my ears but with only one SE port, 2vrms max output and no hardware volume buttons).
• - If you need a dedicated app for your dongle.
• - If you care about MQA too much.

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Pros:
- An excellent reference/analytical, transparent-sounding DAC under 100 USD!
- Clean, pitch-black,noise and distortion-free, spacious sound (literally).
- The most “revealing” DAC I’ve used under 100 USD.
- Well-done, powerful output (230 mw @32 Ohms).
- Offers two modes of gain.
- Offers SE and BAL ports.
- Independent hardware volume controls!
- Detachable cable!
- Does not require any app to sound in its optimal performance! (There’s an app but it is buggy as of this moment)
- Does not get too hot unlike most USB DACs.
- Minimal yet intuitive LED indicators!
- Quite tiny in terms of form factor!
- Excellent build quality!
- Visually pleasing appearance!
- Visually pleasing packaging! (subjective).
- Average power consumption.

Cons:
- Having a revealing, transparent sound is a double-edged sword. (heavy emphasis on this one)
- Having an independent volume control also requires at least an - indicator or a tiny screen for me to see what volume step I am in.
- Some people may ask for a well-done, properly-functioning dedicated app for this dongle (I don’t need that as it works excellent without it, still subjective though).
- Cable is visually aesthetic and very durable, but it is quite stiff to my liking.
- A pouch or a carrying case would’ve been nice if included for its price, to prolong the dongle’s overall life span.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos Here:

TANCHJIM SPACE​

Introduction: -

Tanchjim is highly reputed for its unique design for IEMs and DAC/Amps. They’ve started their journey with IEMs followed by the dongle DACs and now they’re producing desktop grade DAC/Amps as well. Tanchjim Space is a very well-built dongle with a full metal body with volume buttons on the side to control the volume with ease on the go and an attractive semitransparent panel on the top to give you a sneak peek into the world of high-quality circuitry inside. Due to its unique Cirrus Logic tonality, we feel it will synergize well with warm tonality IEMs and headphones. We would also like to inform you that Space is very energy efficient all thanks to the Cirrus Logic chip.



Specifications: -

• DAC Used: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43131
• Output Power: 4Vrms (BAL High), 2Vrms (BAL Low)
• 2Vrms (UNBAL High), 1Vrms (UNBAL Low) Impedance: 27Ω
• THD+N: 0.00017% (BAL), 0.00019%(UNBAL)
• Dynamic-Range: BAL - 132dB, UNBAL - 127dB (AES17 20Khz, AWT)
• Background Noise: 1.3uV (BAL), 1.1uV (UNBAL)
• Headphone Out: 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal
• Input port: USB Type-C
• Size: 4.1x2.1x1.2cm Weight: 14.8g

Disclaimer: -

We have received Tanchjim Space, a DAC/AMP Combo from Tanchjim Audio for a considerate discount in exchange for a review. We are thankful to Tanchjim Audio for the same. However, the review reflects our honest opinion.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The Tanchjim Space comes in a small-sized box with the DAC/Amp and all the accessories. The unboxing experience is premium. Removing the box lead, we have the manuals and quick guides. After that, we found the DAC/Amp in an assembly. The Space comes with a USB Type-C to Type-C male cable connection and a USB Type-A male to Type-C female adaptor. All come under the price tag of US $89.99 only.




Build & Design: -

Tanchjim Space features a small and compact building. The DAC features a transparent window design that looks like glass and allows users to see the insides of the dongle. The DAC is lightweight, small, and has a compact design. The housing is made up of high-quality aluminium material with top-notch machining quality. The cable supplied is also sturdy enough.

Sound Analysis: -

Tanchjim Space the name itself depicts the sound quality it is trying to offer. It is one of the cleanest and most reference-sounding dongles we have auditioned or have in our Aural Café’s bank. One of the best things about Space is its neutrality with very good imaging and separation. The soundstage is decent with more depth when we compare it to the other dongles. We believe that the team has achieved it because of the dual path decoding architecture which is supported by two powerful Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips. One more interesting thing about Space is that it doesn’t try to colour the sound and no frequency jumps on you abnormally. The sound presentation is unique with a very slightly warm tonality and pitch-black background. The Tanchjim Space non-linear volume control really helps especially with in-ear monitors and the onboard 4.4mm balanced output with 4 Vrms of output power can drive the most demanding IEMs and also drive the less demanding full-size headphones. This review will not do justice if we don’t write about the high-quality OTG cable the Tanchjim space is bundled with. The OTG cable is made up of two parallel strands of single crystal copper silver-plated material which are properly shielded leading to a more efficient power supply to support its dual path decoding architecture resulting in a pitch black and clean background.

Another footnote we want to add here is that the Tanchjim App is available for both Android and iOS devices and this dongle can be fully controllable with the App.



Conclusion: -

We at Aural Café can happily assure you that if you are in the market for a well-built portable DAC/Amp at a competitive price then you cannot go wrong with Tanchjim Space because of its unique and user-friendly design topped up with a seriously built dual path decoding architecture leading to a unique, organic, and original sound experience within the gigantic Dongle Universe. Also, we got it’s sibling called Space Lite, so stay tuned for that review as well.

Non-Affiliated Links: -
- https://www.amazon.com/HiFiGo-Space-Amplifier-High-Performance-Headphone/dp/B0BN3ZBVFC/
- https://hifigo.com/products/tanchjim-space

Tanchjim is famous for its IEMs like Oxygen and Hana 2.0 for their life-like sound at an affordable price point. Tanchjim released their first Dongle dac, Tanchjim Space on Dec 16, 2022, for $89.99. At the core, Tanchjim has equipped a dual DAC arrangement housing two CS43131 high-performance 32-Bit DAC chips. Let’s see how it performs and fairs against the competition.




Disclaimer: -
I got the Tanchjim Space from Hifigo and they were kind enough to give me some Discount on it. I have no monetary benefit with this review, neither am I influenced by anyone to write positive or negative about the pair. All thoughts are based on my usage consisting of mostly Bollywood, EDM, Hip-hop, Alt-rock, and Modern music. I am no professional reviewer, just sharing my thoughts. If interested, you can check out more information on the Hifigo website from the link below(non-affiliated).

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

Design & Build:-
Space is made out of Aluminum with a Single bolt holding the front and back frame. It has a Slopping curve-like cutout with a Glass window through which shows the internals of Space, you can see the mechanics of the volume toggle, status led, Type C jack, and the Dual CS DAC chips. The status indicator blinks blue once you connect to the source device and a very very very faint Red Led keeps showing that the Device is working (But you can also check that by connecting your earphones). One side is empty, and the other side has the Digital volume toggle (I would’ve loved a volume wheel but it’s still more than fine) on the front It has TANCHJIM written on it, and on the back, it has SPACE written. It’s a solid tiny and lightweight device at under 15 grams. On top/Right it has a type C input and on the other end, it has a 3.5mm Single-ended and 4.4mm Balanced Output. It has some sharp edges which could feel uncomfortable and can get tugged in your pocket but for the size, functionality, and power this tiny device has it’s just a small gripe. In the box, it comes with a Type C to Type C cable and a Type C to USB Converter.



Technical Specs
Weight: 14.8 Grams

Dimensions: 4.1cm X 2.1cm X 1.2cm

Headphone port: 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal

Dac Chip: Dual CS43131

Input port: USB Type-C

Frequency response: 6hz-85Khz

Background noise: 1.3uV (BAL), l.1uV (SE)

Dynamic-Range | BAL: 132dB

THD+N: 0.00017% (BAL),0.00019% (UNBAL)

UNBAL: 127dB (AES17 20Khz, Awt)

Power Output: 230mw@32ohm and 54mw@300





IEMs & HPs I have tested with Space:-

I extensively used/tested Space over the time of almost 2 months, I tested it with IEMs from every range, be it the entry-level CCA CRA or the flagship 64audio Tia Fourth. Space implements Dual CS43131 and the implementation here is a little different than other Dongles with CS DAC chips. Space synergized well with almost everything I had given it, here are some short notes on my favorite pairings.


Etymotic ER2XR + Tanchjim Space:-

This is an absolute bliss, This pair is my daily driver and I use it every time I wanna listen to music, watch movies, youtube, etc. ER2XR on its own sounds a little boring but with Space the bass gets tighter and it makes the treble extended and gives new energy to my listening.

Kiwi Cadenza + Tanchjim Space:-

Cadenza is more of a warm Balanced IEM, with an overall top-tier tuning. With Space, it’s sounds dynamic, fast, and punchy but a little bit dry sounding.

Tangzu Shimin-Li + Tanchjim Space:-

Shimin-li is also a very well-tuning IEM which sounds mostly balanced but tilts a little toward brightish side. With Space it sounds pretty much the same but that added treble makes them a bit fatiguing for my taste.




Apart from these above-mentioned IEMs, I have also used Space with IEMs like UM Mext, 64 audio U12t Oriolas Isabella, and with most of these IEMs being fairly balanced this pairs well.

Sound Performance:-

How do I expect my sources to sound? IMO they should synergize well with my IEMs, they should have a transparent, clean sound that brings the true performance of any IEMs/HPs out there. Well, in my experience, this is what the Tanchjim Space sounds like. This little baby here has got a transparent sound signature with ultra-low distortion and clean, noise-free background in the output signal. Even with sensitive stuff it maintains its clean presentation. In particular, Space doesn’t push any specific frequency except some Upper Treble.

Tonally, Tanchjim Space gives a Detail oriented and rich tone to its output. Dynamics like note definition, staging, layering, and imaging, are reproduced beautifully with the Space. Let’s discuss a little about different frequency segments separately.




Lower-End/Bass Response: -

Space presents a clean and precise lower end. It doesn’t overly exaggerate the bass response for any given set. For the IEMs I tried, It makes the bass a bit tighter and more impactful with added control. Space allows IEMs to go deep into the lower end and deliver quality extensions.

Mid-range:-
Space greets the listeners with a lovely midrange. It’s spacious, airy, and has a clean texture. Vocals sound phenomenal, both the male and female vocals convey emotion with their well-textured clean presentation. Space maintains a good balance between lower mids and upper mids. You won’t notice vocals getting shouty even at louder volumes on vocal-focused tracks or instruments losing details in any given genre. But at times with some stuff, It can get a little dry.

High-Frequencies/Treble:-

Space maintains its agility in the treble region, with most of my IEMs sounding on the smoother side, its added treble makes them sound agile and detailed without losing control and smooth for most cases But with some IEMs with a little treble boost it can get a little harsh and fatiguing.

Dynamics:-

In terms of dynamics, Space handles dynamic swings pretty well, keeping a good control over and maintaining the agility.




A Few Things That Can Be Improved:-

Space is near perfect, It’s tiny, lightweight, and pushes loads of power. Sound-wise it’s dynamic, lively sound and usually synergizes well with almost everything I have given this beautiful DAC/AMP. But there are a few things that could be improved with the Space.

Firstly for some, the digital volume control could be a bummer as many want their volume control to be master control but here I believe the Digital volume gives you the ability to preciously control the volume.

Secondly, the treble is a tiny bit pushed for my liking which makes its sound tilt towards bright neutral and pairing with bright neutral stuff fatiguing. (But also pairing with dark neutral or dark sounding or harman tuned items like Tanchjim makes this dongle pair like a charm)

Apart from these two points, I can’t think of any other issue with the Tanchjim Space.




Short Comparison Against xDuoo Link2 Bal:-
Link2 Bal is a highly-capable DAC/AMP from xDuoo. It delivers a punchy sound performance that brings life to most of my earphones and headphones and it pairs especially well with Planar headphones. It is very much comparable to the Tanchjim Space in its presentation but I would say Xduoo with its more life-like and ear-pleasing sound. Space is not that far and in some cases exceeds the Link2 bal in some cases and with some IEMs. Space has better Bass, faster transients, and a tiny tiny bit more detailed presentation but with neutral to bright stuff its treble push makes them less comfortable for longer listening. The midrange is sweeter on Space but Xduoo gives life to your mids the primary difference comes in the treble with Link2 bal being smooth like butter but not at all vailed and Space is a little bit pushed but still neutral to its response. In terms of Power as well Link2 bal takes the cake with pushing 10-15 % more power and giving a little bit more functionality with its gain switch, USB switch, and play pause button.


Tracks used for testing
My playlist consists of Anime/jpop tracks, Hip-Hop, Jazz, R&B, and some Bollywood.

• Shinunoga E-Wa · Fujii Kaza
• 夜に駆ける · YOASOBI · Ayase
• KICK BACK · Kenshi Yonezu
• NIGHT DANCER · Imase
• Fire · Queen Bee
• Suzume (feat. Toaka) · RADWIMPS
• Royals · Lorde
• Low · SZA
• Sign of the Times · Harry Styles
• A glimpse of Us · Joji
• Until I Found You (Em Beihold Version) · Stephen Sanchez
• Under the Influence · Chris Brown
• Starboy · The Weeknd
• Creepin' · Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage
• Do It Again – Pia Mia feat. Chris Brown and Tyga
• Collide (feat. Tyga) · Justine Skye
• Don’t gamble with love – Paul Anka

Final Words:-
These new dongles especially with CS dac chips are pushing well above the price point and I won’t mind saying in terms of pure performance these dongle dacs are performing better than most mid-tier Digital players. I’ve tried multiple Dongle days but Space sounds special with its more detail oriented and dynamic sound signature, For the price of $90 it’s better than most of the Dongle dacs specially if you pair it with dark or dark neutral or harman tuned IEM. Tanchjim Space with its impressive performance gets a special place in my heart. I absolutely adore the impressive sound performance of the Space, it sounds phenomenal throughout the frequency band. Not to mention, the transparent glass window adds 100 points to its great design and looks!! Well, that’s about the Tanchjim Space and I’d gladly recommend it !!

Tanchjim Space Review


About Me:

Hi, I’m fugu (KillerLab). A student currently completing studies in Canada. I have been an audiophile for almost 2 years, although I have had interest in audio for a duration much longer than that. I love listening to J-Pop (yes, J for Japanese), J-Rock, OSTs, and occasionally, Electronic/Dance and Folk. My reviewing style (and the way I define certain terms) are largely inspired by crinacle and Precogvision.



Prelude:

I remember reading L7AudioLab’s (WolfX700) article on the Luxury & Precision W2 (CS43198), and claims that it is, by far, the best measuring dongle on the market. Soon afterwards, the market started to be saturated by more similar high-performance dongles, such as the MoonDrop MoonRiver 2, Dawn, Quloos MC-01, W2’s successors and our star of the show, the Tanchjim Space. Yet, the Space is amongst the cheapest “high-performance” dongles you can get, coming in at a cool 89.99 USD.

*A high performance dongle is hard to define, but for me it is: SINAD ~115dB (BAL), Dynamic Range/SNR ~130dB (A-weighted), low and linear IMD, ~-130dB Multitone, ~-150dB 12k FFT with little to no spikes, 4VRMS and ~200mW of output (BAL). I know that some audiophiles don’t believe how measurements correlate with sound quality, but to me, a good measuring DAC at least guarantees transparency and cleanliness, with low coloration, and those are things I want for my sources. If you’re interested in these measurements for the Space, see: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/tanchjim-space/ (do note that the unit L7 tested is a prototype, not a production unit like the one I have).


Unboxing:

Even though unboxing experiences for these products (DAC/Amps) are often quite generic, I still think it’s important to address this, as an unboxing experience is the first impression of a product. It shows how much effort a company is willing to put into their products to make the user feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. And Tanchjim has done a pretty nice job here. The Space comes in their signature-styled package, a grey, patterned rectangular box with a white sleeve. Inside reveals the instruction manuals etc., and underneath that is the Space itself along with a dual USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A adapter, all neatly assorted in white/grey compartments. For DAC/Amps, this is actually one of the better unboxing experiences, as most other DAC/Amps come in a generic black/beige cardboard box with simple black foam cutouts.



User Experience:

The Space is actually really useful, in many ways. First of all, it’s incredibly small. The Space might as well be the smallest dongle that has a swappable cable system on the market right now. Secondly, it has its own volume control. It offers ~50 steps of volume adjustment (haven’t really counted this), which is much more accurate than the volume rockers on your computer/smartphone (those often have less than 15 volume steps). Tanchjim’s marketing material also says that the volume increments get smaller when nearing normal listening levels, to avoid the volume being either too loud or too quiet. I have no trouble powering any IEM with the Space. Gain is adjustable between High and Low, by pressing and holding the two volume buttons at the same time. Do note that the default gain is High, and the Space will always revert to this once disconnected then reconnected.

Build quality is great for the price: the Space sports a medium-fine sandblasted aluminum frame, with an acrylic board that shows the logic board, a nice design only few others use. The board also features a LED, which flashes blue once only when a device is connected. The volume button is not loose, unlike the MoonRiver 2, which is more than double the price, and has a good, tactile feedback. Even though there is a visible seam in the middle, running my finger along the sides shows that it is well-polished, to a point where the dongle feels like it’s a unibody construction.

The Space does exceed my expectations for a sub-100-dollar dongle, in terms of both usability and build quality, yet it is not perfect. Both the 4.4 and 3.5 sockets are not aligned in the center, the two edges near the USB-C port are very sharp, the USB-C port itself is also very shallow, allowing around a quarter of the USB-C plug to be exposed (they say this is for other aftermarket accessories, i.e. a case…but I haven’t seen something like that yet…), the stock cable is flat, having limited flexibility, and the USB-A adapter is generic and cheap. But that’s just me nitpicking around. Again, the Space’s build quality exudes confidence and quality at just 90 bucks.

However, after taking a look at the reviews below and others online, it does seem like certain Space units have actual build quality issues, i.e. loose buttons and loose internal screws. Maybe I just got lucky, so buyer beware.


Equipment:

ddHifi TC05, MFi06S connected to said DAC/Amp and to either a MacBook Pro 2021 or an iPhone 11
All IEMs are connected via 4.4 BAL output



Sound:

Do note that I don’t have a lot of experience in reviewing DAC/Amps, thus I’ll be mostly writing about some noticeable differences in the sound that I think I hear.

Tone:

The Space can generally be described as a neutral-bright sounding DAC. The general frequency spectrum is quite flat and linear. The bass doesn’t sound boosted, yet remains relatively good texture (punch and rumble), working well with my OST and folk tracks. For pop and rock, sometimes I do want a bit more bass, but am still generally satisfied with the Space’s bass. The midrange is probably one of the most uncolored out there. There’s really no detectable vocal boost, unlike most other DACs I have heard, which just have a very slight emphasis on female vocals. The treble, however, sometimes sounds a bit bright to me, often around the 6k region, inducing a small boost in sibilance. While not to the level of fatiguing, it is a bit annoying and uncomfortable to listen to for too long. Another slight boost in the treble occurs around the 10k region, where hi-hats also sound a bit harsh and sharp. Timbre on the Space is probably where this DAC falls flat. The Space not only sounds quite thin, despite having no audible boost in the midrange, it also presents this slightly abrasive, digital edge at times. With considerably thin IEMs, such as the Variations, vocals get this glassy, nigh grating texture. The Space may not be for everyone and every IEM as its tonality isn’t truly neutral, but brain burn-in might as well solve this issue.

Tech:

The Space sounds just like what I expect from a well-measuring DAC, clean and detailed. To the very least, it allows the Gaea to resolve all the existing macrodetails in each track. The Space does expand well in terms of width, providing an adequate sense of space. Layering and positional accuracy are great. I wouldn’t complain much about the Space’s imaging capabilities. One minor issue is probably dynamics. The Space does struggle a bit to put forth certain microdetails, thus in some ways, sounds dynamically compressed in the upper mids and treble. But its macrodynamic contrast is still good enough. The Space’s technical performance is simply excellent, to a point where I really can’t nitpick much even in absence of its price. Within dongle-fi, the Space is probably one of the cheapest options for a highly resolving DAC.


Pairings:

SoftEars Twilight: The Twilight is source-flexible, very source-flexible. It basically can pair with any DAC and still pump out great sound. This is probably due to how its tuned, a warm, slightly thick tone with an open presentation, which masks unwanted artifacts and note weight bias a DAC may generate. The Twilight indeed hides many of the Space’s tonal problems I mentioned above, making this probably the best pairing amongst these IEMs.

SoftEars RSV: Not much of a difference from the Twilight actually, as the RSV is basically a Twilight with less mid-bass and mid-treble. Do note that the RSV does have very low impedance, thus a source with high output impedance can generate a noticeable change in sound (although the Space doesn’t seem to have this issue).

DUNU Vulkan: From the two sets above you probably can tell that tonally-pleasing, warm-ish IEMs work well with the Space. And the Vulkan only justifies this. Thanks to the Space’s good imaging properties, you just got a pairup that you can probably kick back and listen to hours on-end.

Sennheiser IE 600: Probably one of the worst combos on this list… The IE 600 is sharp, bright and thin to boot. Slap on a DAC that only amplifies these problems, well you just took borderline-fatiguing to actually fatiguing.

MoonDrop Variations: The Variations can be considered as a tamer IE 600 in some ways, thus the issues mentioned above are generally less concerning. But still, the Variations’ thin midrange sounds even drier with the Space. This isn’t my go-to pairing, but I wouldn’t really hesitate using it to listen to OSTs and Electronic music, as its technicalities still pair well with the Variations.

EA x EA Gaea: About the same impressions as the Variations and the IE 600, drier midrange, more unwanted tonal artifacts (some graininess), and a slightly zingy treble. Yet interestingly, I use this combo to play games, as the laser-precise-imaging properties of the Gaea and the brighter signature generated by the Space are all things that actually work well with this use case. With the very compact size of the Space, you are looking at a great portable gaming set.


Comparisons:

Shanling UA2: When I swapped from the UA2 to the Space, I immediately noticed a jump in separation and overall clarity. However, I wasn’t able to pick up much tonal differences between the two (bass sounds a bit meatier on the Space). Overall, these two are quite similar in terms of sound. In terms of build, I actually would say that I really love the UA2’s sleek yet rounded build. It probably has the best handfeel out of any dongle, as there are no sharp edges, and it’s so thin and light to a point you barely notice it. The Space is thicker, and has sharper edges, thus doesn’t feel as smooth as the UA2’s shell, but nevertheless, it’s still a very sweet compact build.

ddHifi TC44C Blue: The TC44C is still my go-to DAC. I use it on my way to school, use it while enjoying music in my room, use it while travelling. And that’s because the TC44C features an ovular build, not dissimilar to the UA2, and a very nice stock leather case which provides a very premium feel. Can the space replace the TC44C’s unmovable position as my most-used DAC? Yes and no. I love the volume and gain controls on the Space, but am more concerned about its sharp edges scraping my phone case and pants/bags. Sound-wise, the TC44C sounds like dead-neutral with no treble oddities and no emphasized bass. The Space, as mentioned before, has slight colorations in its treble response. Other than that, the two are considerably transparent DACs. However, A/B testing does show that the TC44C has a more 3D presentation, and sounds just a bit clearer with more microdetails. Honestly, I’d prefer the TC44C, but the Space’s usability still attracts me to use it.

ddHifi TC44C Green: I really wanted to test the Space against one of my favorite DACs of all time. Unfortunately, I lost this while travelling, thus will only share some impressions via memory. The TC44C Green is bassier, warmer than the Blue version, and subsequently, the Space. I do remember that the Green was a step down in terms of resolution compared to the W2, but not sure if its inferior to the Space (probably around the same level). I’d prefer the TC44C Green’s tonality over the Space, but not sure if its other qualities are marginally better. Both TC44Cs do offer a more pleasing socket alignment (both sockets are centered), and generally a nicer, finer aluminum finishing (the case is great too!).

Luxury & Precision W2: Even after 2 years of using the W2 (and hearing numerous others), I’d still maintain that it’s still amongst the best DACs out there, regardless of price and configuration. The W2 has an incredibly clean and neutral timbre, with a dash of sweetness, mildly similar to LP’s expensive R2R DAPs. This is the one property I keep coming back to the W2 for. And the Space, just serves to prove my point on how special the W2 sounds to me. The Space’s thin tonality just sounds generic, probably heard it elsewhere a million times before. While its technicalities are no slouch, I still think it lacks the borderless soundstage expansion of the W2 and microdynamics. But remember, the W2 is a 300 dollar dongle and the Space costs 90 bucks, so hearing a difference like this isn’t unexpected. Where I think the Space does much better is its form factor. The Space is about two-thirds of the W2’s size, while offering the most useful function that dongles should have, a precision volume rocker. The W2 is larger as it has a screen, but honestly, I don’t find it too useful, as I barely change the other settings. I can perfectly have a W2 without a screen and use it just as much. Indeed, the W2 is too bulky for me to carry with me, which is why the Space is, along with the TC44C, my two “outdoor” DACs. If the Space carried the timbre of the W2, it might as well be the only DAC I’ll ever use.

MoonDrop MoonRiver 2: MR2 is basically a bigger, more expensive Space. With minor differences in terms of power output (MR2 has 20mW more power output at 32 ohms, maxing out at 250mW), DAC chip (2x CS43198 for MR2), aesthetics and build quality. The MR2’s build quality is not excellent, featuring very sharp edges around the bottom side, and floppy, loose buttons for the volume rockers. The volume rockers also don’t have the 50-step precision volume control like the Space, they are no different from your phone’s buttons. The middle section of the MR2 also feels quite fragile, only about 6mm thick, while the Space exudes more confidence in its stouter, thicker build. In terms of sound, the Space does emphasize vocals more than the MR2, or in other words, the MR2 sounds slightly laid-back. The MR2 does sound slightly thicker due to this, and lacks the slightly glassy, digital quality the Space does. However, I do detect the same 6k and 10k peaks on the MR2, just somewhat less intense. Technical performance is about the same on both, but I’m inclined to give MR2 the edge for clarity across the entire frequency range. Honestly, the MR2 makes the Space seem like a bargain, offering ~90% of the performance at a fraction of the size and cost. This is how the audio market is working nowadays, more expensive products are being undercut by cheaper alternatives again and again. It’s getting harder to justify major price gaps, because the lower-end markets are getting saturated with equally-competitive products.

iBasso DX170: “Why the hell are you comparing a dongle to a DAP?” is probably what some of you are screaming. Well, they both share the same purpose, translating digital signals into analog ones that are then transmitted to the transducer(s), thus I don’t see a particular reason why this comparison isn’t effective. The major difference is that dongles need to piggyback another device to power it and feed it the digital signals (a.k.a. music), while DAPs can be used independently. The DX170 does have a 100-step volume control, more accurate than the Space’s 50-step, and has loads more power, making it suitable to drive big cans. According to my calculations, the DX170 can reach an astonishing 1300mW according to the official 6.4 VRMS output voltage at 32 ohms, yet this value will almost always be lower, as power is limited by current output at low impedance levels (to get an exact power output, we need real measurements). Speaking of sound, I actually find the two to be quite similar. Consider the DX170 to be Space in DAP form, both are equally dry and digital-sounding. The DX170 does sound just a bit crisper in the treble. The Space, in some ways, makes even mid-range DAPs seem quite overpriced. It offers comparable sound at 1/5th of the price, and once you hook it up with a modern smartphone, you get an experience that smokes all DAPs (whether its screen quality, user interface fluidity, portability, and the capability of doing things beyond playing music), losing out only in terms of power output and controls.


Conclusion:

Honestly speaking, I am impressed by the Space. While it’s not the perfect DAC, as it has a rather thin and more analytical signature, it has the technical performance that comes eerily close to more expensive dongles and DAPs. It has the build quality and functionality that makes most other dongles seem like people are not putting enough into making their products more usable and premium. It has everything you need at a mere 90 bucks. It’s a DAC that doesn’t necessitate an upgrade, unless if you want that last 5-10% of performance while paying the “audiophile tax”. To me, the Space is the ultimate starter’s dongle, and it can take you a long way.

Hi there, before i even start this review, let me first apologize for my weird English and grammatical mistakes.
The Tanchjim Space Dongle is purchased with my own money and this is purely my subjective opinion.

Unboxing
First off lets start with the Build of the Dongle.
The dongle case is made from what i believe Aluminium (CMIIW), there is also glass on the front panel to show the Internal of the dongle, I found the glass rather easy to scratch, though it looks beautiful.


I also found Some Issues with the Build on 2 units of the Tanchjim Space dongle.
The 1st unit has rattle and loose volume button, I immediately exchanged it to the local Indonesian seller,
the 2nd one for several day works perfectly, but then somehow the internal screw on the PCB is loose, I can feel the inside is moving everytime i plug / unplug the type c / 3.5mm / 4.4mm connector

sorry for potato quality and weird EN sub lol



for the cable it looks and build pretty good, though the included C to A adapter won't fit the included cable (the C to A adapter is too tight)

Sound
the Sound is tested after using the device for around 2 weeks.
plugged directly to my Redmi Note 9 Pro Potato Phone and my PC, tested using offline FLAC files and Apple Music Lossless files.

Tonality
I found the Space to be smooth, natural, with some midbass coloration, not too analytical but also not super musical (WARM / DARK sounding)

the midbass of the Space is somewhat colored, like its having extra weight (compared to my E1DA 9038D)
midrange is lush, nothing stands out and no extra body / weight is added
and for the treble I found it to be rather smooth but not lacking any details.

Technicality
Staging on the space is quite "Spacious" like its name, especially if you use the 4.4mm connection,
Imaging and Positioning is also decent for its price, its not the most "popping and razor sharp pinpoint intense" type but it presents sounds in more natural / smooth manners
Detail retrieval is also decent, it's not the most detail extracting dongle ever but it also didn't lack of details

the difference on tonality between 3.5mm Single Ended and 4.4mm Balanced is minimal but on the 4.4mm I found the Space having more expansive stage and more dynamic and of course more power.

Power
The Space has no problem pushing every IEM that I test and even pushing my Sundara on both 3.5mm and 4.4mm port, it has black background, and free of RF Interference

Comparison

E1DA 9038D
The E1DA 9038D is far more analytical sounding compared to the Space.
It has leaner sound compared to Space, I also found the treble on E1DA 9038D to be more bright and stands out compared to the Space.
Technicality wise, the E1DA 9038D easily beats the Space, it has sickeningly large soundstage and overall more detailed sound
though, I cannot recommend the E1DA 9038D if you plan to use it with your phone because of RF Interference issues (2G,4G,5G)

Moondrop Dawn 3.5mm
The Dawn 3.5mm to my ears is a touch more warm compared to the Space, it only has 3.5mm single ended port, but have companion app to set filters, volume, and gain.
Technicality wise, the Space is better on staging (larger, wider, taller) and Space is having more power just in case you want to plug some headphones.

Moondrop Dawn 4.4mm
The Dawn 4.4mm to my ears is a touch more leaner compared to the Space, it only has 4.4mm balanced port, but also have companion app like the Dawn 3.5mm.
Technicality and power wise, I could say its pretty identical to the Space, I suspect it shares same internal with Space, but who knows.

Conclusion / TLDR

The Space is Recommended if :

• You're in need of a natural sounding dongle
• Need dual port (3.5mm and 4.4mm)
• Want a beautiful looking dongle
• You love "Gacha" and have great lucks

The Space is NOT so Recommended if :

• You want the most analytical presentation / super detail / technicalities
• You didn't really care about looks (better off buying other dongle because the glass is easy to scratch and potential weak point)
• Have a bad luck (Questionable Build)

thats all for now, thanks for reading this far and again, sorry for my weird English / grammatical mistakes.



-littlenezt.

TL;DR
Just get one.

Package
Device, Cable, USB adapter, manual, etc2.

Build
Smooth silvery metal. Cool to touch. Awesome. I think it's aluminium?
There's a volume knob the '+' and '–' are joined together. The one with the bump is a '+' but it doesn't say or have any indication on it. There are two modes of operation. One is individual clicks which is responsive without lag (usable for small volume adjustments). The other is push and hold, not as responsive and has a bit of lag (usable for big volume adjustments).

Did I mention this knob + operation is exceptional? This is by far one of the best volume knob, if not the best for a USB dongle. Why? Because it's literally the same as a desktop device version. It has small steps volume adjustments, the knob feels good and plus the operation mode.

Accesories
Silvery looking sleek. Stiff but still flexible and it actually has two wires inside. You can actually see it. Very good cable. The supplied USB adapter doesn't work so if you're looking to hook with a PC, you may need to find 3rd party adapter. Mobile usb-c connections not an issue.

First thought/What to expect
It's Tanchjim...

Temperature
The device is stone cold when unoperational. Only gets to warm or hot-warm, depending on ambient temperature, after 1+ hours of use. No issue here.

SOUND
This is definitely not your standard device. The sound is transparent but with added sauce. So I wouldn't call it neutral. Depending on the IEM, you may either hate it or love it. I will elaborate on this later. I don't hear anything special on the mids, as in extra sauce but they are definitely around in the bass and treble region. Not by much though, just enough to make it kinda noticeable. But the biggest surprise is the tech area. The device will try to alter/distort or remove the soundstage and boost the details/micro details. Yep, you heard that right. Alter/distort or remove the soundstage!
Enough of that and let's go to real life test/comparison.

IEM TESTS
Raptgo Hook-X
Haven't used it in yonks so decided to give this long dusted junk IEM a go. And well well well... I'm in for a big surprise. It totally sounded different than the last time I used them. It's not bland any more, there's an actual soundstage kinda, bass is better overall, treble also the same plus added details. It basically overcomes most of the shortcomings the IEM, without compromising the mids. Due to this, decided to listen to it more a few days later. Planned to spend an hour and actually spent 1.5 hours. It could've been more really. Forced myself to stop. So yeah, this is it, the game changer.

Intime Sora-2
Overall there's a subtle improvement across the board.

Intime Cocoro
This is where it gets intriguing. Let's use Usher – Yeah. The song has a distinct pointy? sound in the background. It should be located in the back, a bit to the right and it hits periodically based on the melody/rhythm. The sound should be about level to the vocal, in terms of loudness. That should be the norm. On Tanchjim space, the sound position is still the same but the coordinate is not. It's actually outside the back of the head. It also sounds louder than the vocal and actually overpower and swallows the vocals and probably distort the overall scene to a certain extent. So there you have it.

Comparison
vs Tempotec E44. Better build, better buttons, better cable? worse USB adapter. Sound colour about the same since they both use same chips. If E44 is neutral then Space isn't because it has added sauce, for better or worse. Space may also sound a tad cleaner but not to sure about this.

Closing thought
Ladies and Gents, we have a new winner. Good build + exceptional volume knob = insta-buy. Sound quality is good, added sauce is not much of an issue. Extra details are always welcome. Only the soundstage adjustment can be a hit/miss. So there you have it. More plus then minus.

Verdict
11.5/10

P.S The volume adjustment thing should really be called buttons instead of a knob, but since they're joined together, knob it is.