TFZ Series 4

General Information

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Kervsky

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great responsive bass, a balanced mid-range and treble, good amount of detail and clarity, smooth and non fatiguing, good fit, build quality and design, good set of usable accessories.
Cons: Lower mid-range can feel recessed compared to the forwardness of the upper mid-range, treble extension and clarity could be a bit better.


Introduction: The Fragrant Zither (TFZ) is a familiar name in audio circles having started back in 2015 with their eye catching designs and colors with the Series 1 to 5 and followed by their newer Exclusive series, King, Galaxy and their flagship, The Secret Garden. I'll be reviewing their Series 4 (Blue) today.

I would like to thank The Fragrant Zither (TFZ) and Penon for providing me with a review sample in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. You can buy the TFZ Series 4 at the Penon Store or locally if your retailer has them in stock.



Specification:
Driver: 12mm dual magnetic circuit Graphene
Sensitivity: 108dB/mW
Frequency response: 5-40kHz
Impedance: 16Ω
Connectors: 2-pin 0.78mm
Lowest power: 8MW
Cable length: 1.2M
Plug: 3.5mm

Even with a big driver, the low 16Ω impedance of the Series 4 allows it to be easily used on mobile phones and with the 108dB sensitivity, achieve a loud volume of approximately 99dB at max volume on my Xperia XZ Premium. Sound quality does scale when using better sources up to the level indicated in this review using my WM1a.





Unboxing: The Series 4 came in a charcoal black rectangular box made of hard cardboard with branding and information written in silver. Removing the top cover shows the level of dedication to presentation that TFZ gives it's products with a stiff card (with foam behind the area where the IEMs sit) protecting the inner contents and showing the company catchphrase for the Series 4. Under that lies the IEM, embedded in a plastic tray and a separate box underneath it that contains the accessories included.



TFZ Series 4 earphones
3x pairs of wide bore silicone tips
3x pairs of narrow bore silicone tips
1x pair of foam tips
A soft carrying pouch
A Silver plated Copper 0.78mm 2-pin cable
A velcro cable tie (fastened on the cable)
A shirt clip
User manual & warranty card (Which I completely forgot to shoot, but yes, it's comes with the package)

Overall the packaging is thorough and generous with the tips being as useful as the pouch and are all of good quality through and through.



Cable: The Silver plated Copper (SPC) cable is a mere 13 grams in weight, pretty light overall as well as quite flexible and smooth in texture. The cable is nicely braided and feels sturdy as you can stretch it a little bit due to the balanced braiding which aids in it's strength and flexibility. The 0.78 mm two pin connectors are simple transparent plastic pieces with a rather hard to see L and R letter mold to identify left and right. Those blocks hold the gold plated pins together and have an ear guide sheath acting as both strain relief and ear guide. The Y-splitter is a pendant type that sports the TFZ lettering and is made of blue translucent plastic.



The plugs are made of the same translucent material as the splitter and have a blue metallic plate on opposite ends that show the TFZ branding and website. There is a nice semi-flexible strain relief extending from the plug body and a nice looking gold plated 3.5mm plug. Overall the cable design is made to attract attention and impress, to which it does with the workmanship and aesthetics, though some may find this a little too much, your mileage may vary.





Build/Design: The Series 4 is a good fitting IEM that coupled with it's lightness can easily be worn for long periods of time and even sleeping with them in your ear. The metal like faceplate is quite near mirror like shiny and prone to fingerprints and it's where the Series 4 branding is printed on. The shell is a nice near transparent blue acrylic that is smooth and rather solid. There's a vent on the inner side near the nozzle and another on the faceplate. One helps with preventing driver flex when inserting and the other is the bass exhaust which is very likely one of the contributors for the Series 4's good bass dynamics. The nozzle is short but is slightly extended by an angled area from the base of the shell, there is a nice and prominent tip lip that allows for easy insertion of tips and provides a good secure tip connection. There is a metallic screen in the nozzle to prevent debris from falling into the Series 4. The 0.78 2-pin connector is embossed and surrounded by a clear acrylic block, insertion is easy and removal is moderately tight but not that hard to unplug. Dangling the Series 4 by the ear guide and bobbing it does not disconnect the connector to the IEM which is a good sign that it wont fall off easily.





Sound Analysis: Being the first TFZ IEM I'm reviewing doesn't mean it's the first I heard from the company, the S1 and S2 were particularly famous in the local audio scene with bass that was for the most part, a pretty good deal for the price and the rest on par for what you pay. Moving forward to the Series 4, I can't help but say that the bass is definitely better in quality and something that TFZ is really good at with tuning. So after running the Series 4 through several genres of music at over 200 hours, I'm ready to dive in and see how good this is. Note that the Series 4 was reviewed with the stock tips that came attached, it's quite comfortable and about as open as Symbio W,

Bass: There's a very good level of sub-bass extension on the Series 4 that gives Way Down Deep's pounding drums a deep feeling that rumbles pleasantly and with a good natural sounding linger or sustain for guitars like on Lithium, which sound smooth with a hint of crunchiness. Bass impact on the Series 4 is above average with a good punch that is a bit tightly controlled, rendering the bass line beats on Cheap Thrills palpable, punctuating and a bit quick. Bass on the Series 4 seems to be a something TFZ has mostly mastered, displaying a tuning that is almost the right amount of bass strength, quantity, control, decay and quality that will sound engaging, relaxing and playful though it won't be enough for true blooded bass-heads.



Mids: The Mids on the Series 4 is pretty darn good, there's a very good amount of detail retrieval with good layering and above average separation that gives the mids an understated greatness. The lower mids are a little bit forward with good clarity and average thickness, mostly thanks to the good amount of control with the bass. Male singers have a nice presence on the Series 4 giving Bohemian Rhapsody a good and clear presentation of the song. It's the upper mids that really shine on the Series 4 though, there's a boost that moves the upper mids forward giving it a bit more presence, air and results in a more intimate female vocal performance from the likes of Sarah McLachlan and Norah Jones; this incidentally also presents guitar strings in a crisp and clear manner. Some have mentioned that there's some shoutiness here but listening to my sources and with Jewel's songs, I hear none of it as there's pretty good control that results in an overall smooth mid-range performance.

Treble: There is a little above average extension with the Series 4 that sounds natural in reach, a treble presented with good energy and air but also controlled well enough that harshness and sibilance do not occur. Details are on the average side, the same as clarity which does give a bit of crisp and some sparkle to the music, lending a bit of fun into the highs. Overall there is a sense of natural tone, smoothness and control that gives a good non fatiguing performance.

Soundstage: There is a good level of stage with the Series 4 where the horizontal width is generally the same as the vertical depth. Sounds come from outside the ear canal and extends around 3-4 inches around the head. The front back of the head stage reaches around an inch. Overall there is a natural expansion of sound and a good feeling of space. Congestion isn't very apparent but can sound a bit close to each other on busy tracks. Imaging though not pinpoint accurate, is generally accurate.



Conclusion: The TFZ Series 4 is a good all rounder IEM that has great ability with bass, a good level of presentation with mids, specially with female vocals and really nice non fatiguing treble. There's a balance in the frequencies, and embellishments were applied to give a good listening experience in all genres but also found that the Series 4 does really well with Jazz music from the likes of Clair Marlo (Till They Take My Heart Away), Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, and the usual suspects like Norah Jones. There's a nice emotive way the music is rendered that is relaxing, enjoyable and engaging. Couple the sound with a good and eye catching design a a quite generous and very usable accessory set, the Series 4 is a sensible buy for someone looking for a good all rounder at this budget range.



Sound testing was done using a Sony WM1a (Primarily), a Hiby R6, Zishan Z1(for comparison), Audirect Beam (for computer convenience) and a phone (for checking driveability) volume matched to 90.X db of max volume for safe hearing below 8 hours of use and calibrated using a 1kh tone on a dedicated DB Meter, all sources patched through a switcher. More information will be available on the About Me page (once I find the time to write it up.)

B9Scrambler

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Nice build - Clean sound - Get lots of "stuff" for your dollar
Cons: Has no identity of it's own in TFZ's lineup - Heavy - Bulky jack
Greetings,

Today we're checking out the Series 4 from The Fragrant Zither (TFZ).

I've reviewed a slew of TFZ products to date, many of which share housings, packaging, and other aspects with the Series 4. You can only say the same thing in so many ways, and as a result many aspects of this review will sound familiar. That's because the Series 4 is familiar. There is a lot of redundancy in TFZ's lineup. That can be good in that you know you're getting a decent product. It's bad in the way that you've seen and heard one, you've kinda seen and heard them “all”. Feel free to skip to the sound section if you read my reviews of the Exclusive lineup or Series 2.

Let's take a look at the Series 4, yet another perfectly solid outing from TFZ.

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Disclaimer:

The Series 4 was provided free of charge for the purposes of a fair and impartial review. The thoughts here are my own and are not representative of TFZ, Penon Audio, or any other entity. There is no financial incentive for writing this review. The Series 4 currently retails for 99.00 USD over on Penon Audio; https://penonaudio.com/tfz-series-4.html?search=series%204

Source:

For at home use the Series 4 was powered by a TEAC HA-501 desktop amp or straight out of my Asus FX53V laptop. For portable use it was paired with an LG G5, HiFi E.T. MA8, F.Audio S1, or Shanling M1, all of which brought it up to listening volume without any effort.

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures in my headphones I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even and natural mid-range response, with reduced mid-bass. The HiFiMan RE800, MacaW GT600s, and thinksound On2 offer examples of signatures I enjoy.

Specifications:
  • Sensitivity: 108dB / mW
  • Impedance: 16 ohm
  • Frequency response: 5-40kHz
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Packaging and Accessories:

The Series 4 comes in the same elongated matte black cardboard packaging as the Exclusive 1,3, and 5. TFZ and Series 4 branding can be found on the front, and contact information for TFZ on the back, all printed in a contrasting silver font. Lifting off the lid you find a cardboard sheet backed in foam which is there to protect the Series 4's outer metal face plates from scratches while they are nestled in a plastic tray. Inside the tray in the cable, neatly tied up with a Velcro strap, along with the foam tips. There is also a smaller cardboard box containing the rest of the accessories. In all you get;
  • Series 4 earphones
  • 2-pin 0.78mm silver plater removable cable
  • 4 pairs of wide bore silicone tips (s/mx2/l)
  • 3 pairs of small more tips (s/m/l)
  • 1 pair of foam tips
  • Carrying bag
  • Shirt clip
This is a pretty extensive kit of accessories and should be pretty much everything you need to get going.

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Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

The Series 4 uses a very large, familiar shell that can be found in use on a number of other TFZ products, like the Series 2, My Love II, and the Exclusive King. The plastics are dense and durable, as is the metal faceplate. This thick metal plate and the hefty 12mm drivers within make the Series 4 surprisingly heavy, just like the King and the all-steel Exclusive 5. The shells are quite ergonomic though, which combined with an over-ear cable does a good job of spreading out the weight resulting in something that it still quite comfortable.

The cable is the same braided one found throughout the TFZ lineup, for better or worse. The cable itself is quite nice; flexible, fairly well-relieved, low on memory, and slightly thin and tangly above the y-split due to the built-in cable guides. The y-split is a massive hunk of rubber imbued with the TFZ logo. The straight jack is not particularly long, but is overly thick which will cause issues for those looking to use these with case protected cell-phones.

As with every other earphone using this shell, isolation was mostly just okay. Sitting at my desk at work, using them to passively block sound (no music helping out) I could clearly hear myself type, cars on the nearby road, people chatting as they walked through the parking lot, birds chirping, and everything else under the sun. Tossing on the included foamies boosted isolation to the point where I could hardly hear any outside noise. A pretty stark difference really. If strong isolation is important to you, I highly recommend picking up some extra foam tips at the time of purchase to get the most out of the Series 4's varied isolation capabilities.

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Sound:

Tips: The medium wide-bore tips seemed to give the most balanced sound whereas the small bore tips boosted mid-bass slightly. I stuck with the pre-installed medium wide bore tips since they provided the right fit and sounded good.

The Series 4 seems like a good entry to go with if you like the TFZ look, but have been turned off by reports of boosted treble. The Series 4 has similarly good extension at the King and Exclusive 5, but is a little harder to drive and shifts frequency emphasis around at the extremities, dialing back sub-bass umph and both upper and lower treble. While they definitely sound like they would slot naturally into TFZ's Exclusive lineup, they're a bit more relaxed and easygoing.

Treble is tight and quick with a smooth decay but comes across a touch dull, lacking the sparkle and shimmer of the Exclusive 5 and King. Detail retrieval falls just behind those two as well, more in line with what you'd get from the Exclusive 3, but without that model's more natural tone and timbre. The Series 4's presentation is less tiring though.

The Series 4's mid-range is typical TFZ, and that's a good thing. Set slightly back behind the treble and bass, it remains clear and coherent even during complicated tracks and with big bass threatening to bleed it's way up into the lower mids. The Series 4's slightly dry tonality makes them a little more suitable to male vocals in my opinion, as female vocals tend to lack warmth and fall a little empty.

Bass is mid-bass focused with good extension but too little sub-bass emphasis, at least for my tastes. Those who found the Exclusive 5 too sub-bass heavy should be right at home here. Bass here is a little on the slower side, especially when running up against the King and 5, but still punchy and well controlled and with the same amazing texturing you'll find everywhere else in TFZ's lineup.

Sound staging comes across spacious, but again, less open than what you'll get with the King or 5. Are you seeing the trend yet? Imaging is precise and layered with good separation of individual elements, but the more intimate nature of the Series 4's presentation takes away from those qualities ever so slightly.

Overall I find the Series 4 a good earphone and a nice listen, but compared to the equivalently priced Exclusive 5 and King it almost always feels a step behind.

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Final Thoughts:

The Series 4 is a good earphone and had I come across it as the first of the TFZ lineup, not one of the last, it undoubtedly would have left a greater impression because it's a fantastic all-rounder. However, it really doesn't do anything to make me want to choose it over any other TFZ. The Series 5 has more visceral, impactful and engaging bass. The King is more detailed and has a more expansive and capable sound stage. The Series 3 performs technically about as well but at a much lower price and via a smoother signature. The Series 2 and My Love II perform almost as well, but are much less expensive and as a result are the better value.

I just don't see where the Series 4 is supposed to fit because it does nothing to carve out a niche for itself in what is a very capable, but redundant lineup from TFZ. Unless of course that is the point. It's meant to be the ultimate do-all. I suppose my conclusion would be; if you're having a hard time deciding between a number of TFZ models, get the Series 4... It's is a little bit of everything without being the best at anything. It's the best form of “settling”.

Thanks for reading.

- B9Scrambler

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock - Skelethon (Album)

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (Album)

Elton John - Yellow Golden Brick Road (Album)

King Crimson - Lark's Tongues in Aspic (Album)

King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black (Track)

Supertramp - Crime of the Century (Album)

Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians (Album)

Infected Mushroom - Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (Album)

Massive Attack - Mezzanine (Album)

Fleetwood Mac - Rumors (Album)

Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels (Album)

The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy (Album)

Tobacco - screw*d Up Friends (Album)

Felt - Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bone) (Album)

crabdog

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Great design. Ergonomics and comfort. Decent eartip variety.
Cons: Shouty upper midrange
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TFZ is an audio company that has had a fast rise to popularity since they started with their Series 1, 3 and 5 earphones. I've been a long time fan, especially since I reviewed the TFZ Balance 2M which is a great sounding IEM. Recently their latest Exclusive series won the Japanese VGP authority awards 2017. Today I'll be checking out the TFZ Series 4 to see how it stacks up.

Disclaimer

This sample was provided for the purpose of an honest review. I'm not affiliated with the company and all observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.

The TFZ Series for retails for $99 at the time of writing and is available from Penon Audio: https://penonaudio.com/TFZ-SERIES-4

Specifications
  • Driver: 12mm dual magnetic circuit graphene driver
  • Sensitivity: 108dB / mW
  • Impedance: 16 ohm
  • Frequency response: 5-40kHz
  • Connectors: 2-pin 0.78mm
  • Lowest power:8MW
  • Microphone: None
  • Plug : 3.5mm
  • Cable length: 1.2M
Packaging and accessories

The Series 4 comes in a long, slender black box with the logo and model printed on the front in silver. After opening you see a long card with a couple of slogans on it. Lifting out the card reveals the earphones secured in a plastic tray and a smaller cardboard box beneath that. I quite like this unboxing experience. It's nicely presented and not over the top. Here's what you get inside:
  • TFZ Series 4 earphones
  • Shirt clip
  • User manual & warranty card
  • 3x pairs of wide bore silicone tips
  • 3x pairs of narrow bore silicone tips
  • 1x pair of foam tips
  • Soft carrying pouch
  • Detachable 2-pin cable
  • Velcro cable tie
It's great to see some different eartip styles included in the package. The shallow fit, wide bore tips are actually big enough for my large ear canals and of good quality and very comfortable.

While the carry pouch is good for storing the earphones it won't give much protection if you're carrying it around in a bag or pocket. A clamshell case would be preferred but of course a carry pouch is better than nothing at all and is a welcome addition.

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The included cable is an improvement over the one that comes with the Exclusive King. It's similar in style and build but is more substantial and thicker below the Y-split while retaining the same pliability. It comes with a pre-shaped, clear plastic tubing which I find a much better solution than memory wire. The Y-split is a circular, translucent plastic with the TFZ logo on it. It's a little large but I like it. Kudos to TFZ for having the balls to do things differently. Similarly the straight plug is made of the same translucent plastic. It's wider than average which might cause difficulty with some phone cases but for me is not an issue whatsoever. Strain reliefs are good from top to bottom.

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Build, comfort and isolation

This model comes in two color variants, gray and blue. Like all of TFZ's recent models the Series 4 is drop dead gorgeous for a UIEM. It's similar in size and shape to the Exclusive King and in my opinion looks better even than that. With it's transparent plastic housing and metal faceplate, both of which are immaculately joined together with a uniform and very tidy seam.

An angled nozzle with protective metal mesh protrudes from the housings and includes a proper lip to secure the eartips. All the edges on the IEM are rounded and smooth and there are no visible inconsistencies or flaws found anywhere. There's a nice weight to them that makes these feel substantial and premium. From the inner side you can clearly see the large 12mm dynamic driver.

Like all recent TFZ releases the Series 4 comes with detachable 2-pin 0.78mm cable which for me is a welcome change from the often unreliable MMCX type. Build quality overall is exceptional for an earphone at this price.

In terms of comfort I find the Series 4 to be really good. I can wear these for hours on end no problem at all. The shape of the housings with their smooth edges, angle of the nozzle and over-ear wear combine for a comfortable experience.

Isolation is about average for me personally but I feel that those with smaller outer ears will likely find them above average for blocking outside noise.

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Sound

Gear used for testing

Acoustic Research AR-M20

ATC HDA-DP20

JRiver/flac > Arcam irDAC-II

TFZ IEMs have always been easy to drive and the Series 4 is no exception with its 16 Ohm impedance and 108dB / mW sensitivity. These can be paired with any low powered device like a smartphone and still sound good.

The general signature of the Series 4 is a punchy but still linear bass with a boosted upper midrange and well extended treble. There seems to be a definite trend in a lot of Chi-Fi IEMs that boost the upper mids and reduce the bass to achieve a more "audiophile" type tuning but in a lot of cases it comes across as a cheap fix. Luckily TFZ gets it largely right but it's not perfect.

Note that my measurements are not 100% correct but you can get a pretty clear idea of the general frequency response.

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The bass is a high point in the Series 4, just as it was with the Exclusive king. It's fast and punchy without being overbearing or showing signs of bass bleed. The sub-bass in particular is really nice. It has a physical presence that you can feel in your ears but just like the mid-bass it's more linear and plays its role rather than trying to be the star of the show. Daft Punk's "Lose Yourself to Dance" is a great track to highlight the Series 4's fantastic sub-bass control. Overall it's tight and well presented with good texture.

Midrange has a nice energy for sure but that upper midrange emphasis can become fatiguing after a while. It gives an impression of extra detail but when things get busy in a track you can hear things becoming congested and layering is only average. There's a dip in the lower mids that can make it sound a little thin and anything falling into the upper midrange tends to dominate the overall sound which isn't always a bad thing, for example when people want to get close and personal with female vocalists. Clarity is excellent and what's particularly impressive is that despite the emphasis on upper mids there's very little to no sign of sibilance.

Treble has good extension and timbre but sits at the back of the upper mids so tends to get a little lost on occasion. This does however also mean that it is not harsh and has good control. The sheen of cymbals sound natural with some air and sparkle but the treble for the most part is a bit distant.

Soundstage is one area that TFZ does really well and that's the case again with the Series 4. It has more width than depth but feels pretty expansive for something in its price range. Listening to "Mob Mentality" by Earthside presents the vocals up front and center with instruments reaching out to the edge of the headspace. There's good spacing and positioning of separate elements making music immersive with touches of excitement.

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Comparisons

Kinera H3 ($99 USD)

The H3 is an interesting IEM with lots of potential but some drawbacks that make it ultimately mediocre. It has slightly less mid-bass and noticeably weaker sub-bass than the S4. It's just as comfortable if not even more so with its more rounded contours. The lower treble peak makes it quite sibilant and edgy to listen to. It's vocals are a little more recessed in comparison to the TFZ. While both are competent entry level IEMs The Series 4 has an edge in audio quality. The H3 does however have a more comprehensive accessory bundle including a very nice carry case and an excellent cable.

Toneking Nine Tail ($125 USD)

The 9T is more evenly spread across the frequency response making it less in your face but ultimately more relaxing and better for longer listening sessions as the Series 4 demands a little too much of your attention and can be fatiguing to listen to depending on the type of music. Bass levels on the 9T are a bit lower and it doesn't have the same reach in sub-bass nor is it as textured as the S4. Midrange has more body on the 9T and is more even without any noticeable peaks. Toneking's offering has better layering and separation and overall a more cohesive and organic sound as well as the custom tuning options provided by the various filter combinations.

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From bottom left to top right: TFZ Series 4, Toneking 9 Tail, Kinera H3

Conclusion

TFZ remains one of my favorite entry level earphone brands. With each new release their sound becomes more refined but the real standout is their impeccable style and build quality. They produce some of the best looking IEMs under $100 without a doubt.

The Series 4 is a great sounding earphone, particularly if you're a fan of boosted upper midrange. The bass is exquisite, carrying texture and authority while retaining a linear level and the sub-bass is among the best in its class.

Build, aesthetics, detachable cable and good accessory bundle - what's not to like? Simply put, the Series 4 is a perfect example of why TFZ is well deserving of their fast rise in the IEM market and I'm already looking forward to see what they bring out next.

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