Tangzu WAN ER SG

Hoping to shake up the ultra-competitive budget IEM market, the new Tangzu Wan'er SG packs a surprising sonic punch for its paltry $20 price tag. This compact single-dynamic driver earphone goes for an enjoyable, musically engaging sound rather than ruthless technical prowess.

Aesthetically, the Wan'er SG keeps it simple, with a lightweight plastic build in smooth or transparent flavors. The angular shape offers a secure and comfortable fit for long listening sessions. The included cable is nothing special, so an upgrade may be in order.

Sonically, these IEMs live up to their name, with a playfully musical tuning. There's a mild V-shaped signature at play, with a mid-bass bump lending a pleasing warmth and weight. The low end shows decent impact and extension but skimps on textures.

The midrange takes on a natural timbre but lacks crisp clarity and detail due to the warmer orientation. Lower mids avoid thinning out, while an upper mid dip results in smooth, if not totally transparent, vocals. Treble is politely relaxed, losing sparkle and air but gaining listenability across a wide variety of tracks.

Technical performance is merely passable, with an intimate soundstage and average levels of imaging precision, detail retrieval, and resolution. The dynamic driver keeps up well enough but won't impress purists.

The Tangzu Wan'er SGs make sensible sonic sacrifices to deliver a smooth, fatigue-free listening experience well beyond typical budget offerings. If you value engagement over analysis for not much money, their charming sound should bring a smile to your ears.

Source(s)

• Conexant (CX-Pro) CX31993
  • Adds some brightness and sparkle in the treble.
  • Reduce a little bit of warmth in the midrange, making the bass cleaner.

Ear tips

• Acoustune AET07
  • Fairly neutral ear tips with a decently hard stem for a comfortable fit.

Packaging

• Comes with a decent amount of accessories
  • IEM.
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Wide selection of ear tips.
    • 3 pairs of narrow bore silicone tips (S, M, L)
    • 3 pairs of wide bore silicon tips (S, M, L)
  • Cable
    • Decent, thin and braided but tangles a little bit sometimes.
    • Should be a slight improvement over the clear/black version from what I remembered when I tried the Wan Er in my local store.

Build Quality

• Lightweight.
• Plasticky body.
• Build quality is only average and cheap.

Fit

• Nozzle width and length is average.
• Shell does not have an ergonomic design to complement the ear cavity shape like the Moondrop Aria or the Letshuoer x Gizaudio Galileo. Unfortunately, this does affect the overall comfort for me.
• I was able to listen on short period of time comfortably but it gets a bit uncomfortable and painful after extended use (3-4 hours).

Tonality

• Mild V-shaped.

Bass

• Bass is quite balanced with the mid bass taking a slight lead.
• Impactful, has good mid bass slam, decent rumble and depth, texture and definition is more on the average side but not bad by any means.
• However, the speed is a little on the slower side and it is not the most well controlled bass, which bleeds a little bit into the midrange but not necessarily a bad thing.
• Good amount of bass, very satisfying but never too overpowering.

Midrange

• Midrange is warm and natural.
• Vocals has a nice weight and body to the, which makes them sound full and lush.
  • Female vocals are a step more forward and energetic compared to male vocals, but is a little fatiguing and shouty to me after long listening sessions, depending on tracks too.
• Most of the instruments sounded natural, but due to the thicker note weight, strings like acoustic guitars is affected a little more by that thickness.

Treble

• Treble is sparkly on the lower region but rolls off in the mid and upper region.
• Overall, it is quite smooth and not harsh.
• However, it does lacks a sense of airiness since it doesn't extends well into the upper region.

Technicalities

Resolution

• Resolution is decent and competent for the price but not the best in this bracket.
• It sits somewhere in between the Truthear Hola and the 7hz Salnotes Zero, differences between the 3 are minor but noticeable in my opinion.

Soundstage

• Soundstage is average, which sounds a little compressed and in your head but not a huge problem for an IEM at this price point.

Imaging

• Imaging and accuracy is also average, I am able to tell where the instruments and vocals come from but only roughly.
• Gaming:
  • Apex Legends: Sound of footsteps and gunfire can be pinpointed in the correct direction but hard to pinpoint it exactly.

Separation

• Separation and layering is quite decent for a single DD budget set. Most instruments in busier tracks are layered well enough without feeling too overwhelmingly congested.

Conclusion

• Great starting point as a first IEM as it is very well balanced, versatile, and affordable.
  • Truthear Hola leans towards the warm and relaxing side.
  • 7hz Salnotes Zero leans towards the bright and sparkly side.

• This is my absolute favorite budget set of all. Fun, exciting, while being not too offensive at the same time. Very enjoyable, easy to listen tonality and decent technicalities, what else could I have asked for at this price range?
  • Have spent almost 3 weeks using the Wan Er daily and I genuinely enjoyed listening to it a lot.

Thanks for reading!

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Introduction​

TangZu has a tradition of naming their IEMs after notable figures from ancient China, with a particular emphasis on the Tang Dynasty. Previous names have included Shimin Li, Wu Zetian, and Li Yuan, and now the latest addition to the lineup is the Wan'er IEM, which is named after the renowned Tang Dynasty poet and princess, 上官婉兒, Shàngguān Wǎn'ér.


I think the Wan'er is a wonderful name to call this IEM since Wan'er was an author of literature. The Wan'er IEM shares Wan'er's expressive spirit by delivering rich, immersive sound that captivates the listener's senses, much like the way her poetic verses probably captivated the reader's imagination.



TangZu has opted to use plastic as the material for Wan'er, which may not provide the most premium sensation, but it does offer an aesthetic appeal. The choice of plastic allows for the dynamic driver to be visible, adding an element of intrigue and interest to the design. Additionally, the faceplate design is both attractive and artistic, contributing to the overall appeal of Wan'er. Between the available color options of black and white, I find the white ones to be more visually appealing. Some retailers are even offering both colors in a single pair, one on each side. Additionally, TangZu seems to be capitalizing on the popularity of Wan'er by planning to release a green version with an upgraded cable in the near future.

Information​

Driver setup: 1 Dynamic Driver (DD)
Price: US$19.00
Connection: QDC 0.78mm 2-pin
In Box:

• TangZu Wan'er S.G IEM
• White 4 core braided cable with 3.5mm straight termination
• 3x narrow-bore black silicon tips
• 4x wide-bore white silicon tips
• Cleaning cloth

Comfort and Fit: Good fit with decent isolation - no discomfort after long sessions.
Tips used: Spinfit CP145 (M)
Source: Ifi Zen DAC v2, Tempotec E44

Case: There is no case, enjoy a picture of the Wan'er instead.


Cable: The cable is nothing special, it tends to tangle easily and develop creases over time. It is however very light and braided well. Reminds me of KZ cables.


Packaging & accessories: Despite its price of $20, the IEM comes with an impressive packaging that includes a cleaning cloth and two different sets of ear tips: wide bore tips that provide enhanced treble energy and soundstage, or narrow bore tips that emphasize bass but narrow the soundstage. The packaging is beautifully presented, featuring a stunning box cover art that adds to the overall appeal of the Wan'er.

Sound​

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Bass​

Definitely not for bass-heads, the bass here feels very daring yet fragile - shallow rumbling and punches but lacks control. The Wan'er has a focus on the mid bass more that works well enough to give the whole presentation a dark energy. However, it lacks the technicalities that brings life to tracks, and I partly believe its due to the physical ability of the dynamic driver not being able to handle the tuning that TangZu has given it. While there is some texturing and bass bleed present, it is not the worst in this price range. Nonetheless, for a $20 set, the Wan'er offers a unique and daring approach to bass compared to other IEMs, and TangZu deserves credit for pushing boundaries and delivering a product that stands out in its price bracket.

Mids​

The mids on the Wan'er IEM are close to meeting my personal preference, with sufficient thickness to satisfy my needs. Although they are slightly recessed, they never feel missing, and the mid-bass emphasis contributes to a weighty note presentation. The upper mids are also pleasant, being slightly forward without becoming overly pronounced or overwhelming. Both male and female vocals are similarly powerful, providing enough energy and clarity to make tracks sound lush.

Treble​

As someone who is sensitive to overly bright treble, I am happy to report that the Wan'er IEM does not suffer from excessive brightness. However, I find the higher frequencies to be lacking in density and somewhat unbalanced with the lower frequencies. While some individuals may find the treble acceptable and sufficient, I personally feel that it lacks extension and air. Nevertheless, given the affordable price of only $20, it's hard to complain about these minor shortcomings. Overall, I find the Wan'er to be laid back and well-suited for those who are not treble enthusiasts, and they work well enough for my own preferences.

Technicalities​

The Wan'er IEM offers a decent amount of details and imaging, but its soundstage is somewhat narrow. Nonetheless, the overall presentation is warm and captivating. TangZu has clearly pushed the limits of a dynamic driver, and this effort shows in the daring tonality. However, there are some trade-offs in terms of technical aspects. Despite this, I believe that the Wan'er is definitely worth the investment, given its exceptional price-to-performance ratio.

Personal​

In conclusion, I would highly recommend the Wan'er IEMs to anyone on a tight budget or simply looking for an affordable set of earphones. These IEMs offer a wonderful mild V-shaped tuning at a very reasonable price, and they are well built too. They offer a fun and enjoyable sound without being annoying or fatiguing in any way. As someone who listens casually, I find these earphones to be amazing, and I believe that they will be a hit among casual listeners as well. Kudos to TangZu for creating such a fantastic product; I like these earphones even more than the 7Hz Zero, which has a more neutral tuning.

Test Tracks​

Background instrumentals seem faint while Justin and Khalid's voice comes in with sufficient heft and clarity. Bass punches and rumbles well in this track, but at times it overpowers the higher frequencies, resulting in an imbalance in the overall tonality. Generally well replayed but there is an imbalance here in terms of tonality.

Unholy (feat. Kim Petras) - Sam Smith, Kim Petras​

The bass is strong and deep, providing a powerful rumble. The vocals of both Sam Smith and Kim Petras are clear and forceful, and even the background cow bell can be distinctly heard. Apart from the lack of details, the track is reproduced without any notable flaws.




The Wan'er offers an overall pleasant replay with WeiBird's vocals delivering an emotional impact. The instrumentals exhibit impressive separation, complementing the vocals well. The track maintains a smooth sound due to the lack of a bass. However, the limited resolution leaves something to be desired.




The Wan'er performs well even in busy tracks without sounding cluttered or thin. However, the overall reproduction lacked a certain "fun" factor and the vocals were somewhat drowned out by the background instruments. Nonetheless, the playback was still decent overall.





This song is free from the piercing or fatiguing sounds that are common on brighter IEMs. The tonal balance is well-executed with no significant flaws. In fact, I found the replay of this song on the Wan'er to be particularly enjoyable, likely due to its darker treble signature.





The Wan'er performs well with my preferred genre. Although there is some noticeable mid-bass bleed, the bass is impactful, and the instrumentals have enough energy. The vocals still feel distant and lack technicalities. Overall, the Wan'er executes this song wonderfully.

Conclusion​

There are no major criticisms to be made about the TangZu Wan'er S.G, especially considering their price of just $20! If you're in the market for a fun and budget-friendly set of earphones, these are a fantastic option. With an eye-catching design and warm tonality, they are sure to be a hit among casual listeners, being a decently fun IEM. It's fitting that they're named after a Chinese poet, as they truly capture the essence of her name.