Organic Technical Mastery

UnAbridged Audio made an impact earlier this year with the debut of the venerable Guangzhi, earning worldwide praise for its superb implementation of a single dynamic driver housed in a cute, compact shell. It remains one of the best budget IEMs on the market right now. Continuing their journey, the brand has released a sequel, a flagship IEM named ZhuanXu but this time, it’s a tribrid setup featuring a dynamic driver, two balanced armatures, and two planar drivers, all encased in a stabilized wood shell that oozes premium vibes. So, will UA Audio hit another home run with the ZhuanXu? We shall find out here.

A huge thanks to Wild Lee from VEclan for the sample pair of the UA Audio Zhuanwu for us to have an honest take. As usual, we are not affiliated nor taken any form of monetary exchange for this review and this review is solely an honest view of the product.

Functions & Specifications

Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the UA Audio ZhuanXu;

• Headphone Type: In-ear earphones
  
• Driver Type: 2 balanced armature drivers + 11mm custom beryllium-coated dynamic driver + 2 planar magnetic drivers
  
• Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz (±10 dB)
  
• Maximum Output Power: 500 mW
  
• Sensitivity: 106dB /1 mW
  
• Impedance: 19 Ohms
  
• Earphone Shell: Stabilized wood craftsmanship, Multi-layer lacquer finish, hand-polished with precision
  

The UA Audio ZhuanXu can be purchased directly from VEclan website and many other platforms worldwide.

https://www.veclan.com/phone/eac_phone_sel_one?eng_ApplianceVo.eac_id=115

https://a.aliexpress.com/_c3uWSkp3

The UA Audio ZhuanXu is the ideal pairing for the VE Galvatron. For a limited time, this highly recommended combination is available only as a special bundle purchase.

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging here is atypical of Venture Electronics products where they don’t put much into the packaging as one of their core beliefs is the quality of the product itself that matters most. They arrive with a similar packaging like the Guangzhi but with a genuine leather hard case that is truly premium. Inside we shall find 3 pairs of silicone eartips, a shirt clip and the venerable Vita cable in 3.5mm or 4.4mm choice.

Design

The design here is an eye catcher indeed. Built from a reddish stabilized wood that has undergone extensive polishing with multi layer lacquer and it is hand finished, giving a glossy, premium look suited for their flagship status. The size here is slightly thicker than the Guangzhi but it is quite small and lightweight, giving a comfortable fit that fits even smaller ears with ease. The faceplate has the UA Audio logo in gold and overall the presentation here is top notch.

Inside the ZhuanXu we will have a rather unique, modern tribrid setup that consist of VE in-house 11mm beryllium-coated dynamic driver, 2 custom balanced armatures and 2 planar magnetic driver that is tuned to be a low sensitivity, low distortion IEM that scales up with powerful sources such as the VE Galvatron, therefore explaining the bundle of the ZhuanXu and Galvatron.

The nozzles here are made of aluminum alloy with a maximum diameter of 6.5mm and they are fitted with a steel mesh to prevent dust and moisture from entering.

The vents are located near the 0.78mm connector with 3 pinhole vents for the breathing room for the dynamic and planar drivers. Driver flex is non-existent, which indicates a well vented product

The ZhuanXu has a standard flush 0.78mm 2 pin connection that is quite tight and they are plated in gold.

Cable provided is VE famed DIC Vita cable that is worth $69.80 itself, giving more value to them as well as a flagship sounding for the best performance right out of the box. They are a custom OFC cable with a unique DNA helix construction giving a rather thick and refined overall sound. Built here is exquisite, lightweight and it looks really premium with all metal parts used except for the plastic 2 pins.

Gears Used for Comparisons

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

The sound presentation of the ZhuanXu is a neutral presentation with a mild bass boost and a good amount of warmth in the midrange alongside a smooth yet lively overall sound. They are a tonally balanced IEM with a slight tilt towards a dark sound giving a highly technical, velvety smooth overall sound. These IEMs excel in their musicalities without skipping their technical chops and they provide an organic, analogue sound signature that is both fun and clean. Dynamic range here is wide with superb extension in the low region and an extended, lively yet inoffensive high range. The overall details and clarity here is sublime, providing a highly detailed sound that is full and rich.

Soundstage

The soundstage here is expansive with an expansive width and height, very competent even in their price range, besting most competitors. They also possess a 3D holographic spatial soundstage that is pinpoint accurate which makes a good IEM for gaming and movies as the sound placements are clear and accurate. They are slightly intimate with an immersive sound but the sound disperse in a rather diffused field style that projects sound around creating a large sized headroom with a good amount of air. The overall soundstage here is actually one of the strengths of the e ZhuanXu.

Separation and Timbre

Separation here is another strength of the Arnar with a wide dynamic range that gives a wide stereo sound with no crosstalk issues that is able to scale up better with balanced connectivity. Cohesion here is decent and the planar and balanced armature does blend rather well in tandem but there is some minor gap from the midrange towards the higher region. Timbre here is rich, warm and punchy possessing great energy especially in the low range. They have the technical prowess of a planar and are tuned to be natural sounding in their timbre and with the help of a Knowles balanced armature to extend their overall details in the higher region. There is a tinge of metallic timbre present but they are dismissible as they are very minor.

Drivability

Rated at 19 ohms with a 106 db sensitivity, they are easily driven by any source in terms of having adequate volume but they do need some power to perform to their best and they certainly do scale very well with high quality output source that gives better refinements such as details, soundstage and dynamic range. The ZhuanXu does not pick up noise easily for their lower sensitivity making them a good pair of IEM for casual usage. Source matching is highly recommended especially with a powerful neutral bright source but with some bassy source will actually make the bass a little too strong for my taste. The ZhuanXu is a quite revealing set of IEM and they are able to show some flaws in the recording, so a good mastered track or higher bitrates files will actually give a little cleaner overall sound. These are not stage or studio monitors but they are capable of doing the job and it is a pair of IEMs that excels for music enjoyment while still having the aptness to satisfy critical listeners out there.

The Bass (Low)

The bass is a neutral, almost flat bass with a focus on the sub-bass that gives an authoritative bass that has an immersive and powerful bass with a deep, punchy slam. The bass amount is accurate and natural that blends with the overall presentation without overpowering the other frequencies and they are suited for purists that seek accuracy in the lows without sacrificing the bass presence. The bass has great energy with great texture that excels in the level of detail that has a structural realism in the overall low frequency. The mid-bass lift here is lifted in a natural manner and the bass gives an enveloping feel with the capability to keep up with busy tracks with ease. Details and clarity here are superb, producing a clean and clear bass response with a vivid resolution. The lows here also excels in transparency with an organic, natural without being muddy nor bloaty while also having a good extension that gives an airy presentation. The sub-bass here is slightly higher than the mid-bass amount completing a fully extended bass response and the sub-bass rumble dives deep with a good impact.

The Mids

Midrange here has a neutral to warm sound that has an intimate sound and they are well balanced without any major emphasis with a good transition into the lower midrange and a lively upper midrange lift. The midrange has a good amount of warmth that gives a rich, full-bodied mids that is luscious and sweet. Details here are superb with solid macro and micro details retrieval capabilities with a clean and clear midrange. The body here has a good thickness that contributes to their full-bodied midrange with a superb resolution that has a very mild coloration that manages to stay accurate yet jovial. Vocal presentation is well balanced with the upper midrange peak that gives ample amount of brilliance and deep lower midrange. The smooth upper midrange does feel a little low on brilliance and bite but that gives a smooth, inoffensive sound that excels in musicalities. Instruments work well with lower range instruments but with some higher range instruments, they do tend to lack bite for my preference.

The Highs

The high range here is a neutral flat highs that has an airy extension from 20khz and beyond that gives a smooth type of high range that is lively yet fatigue free. Sparkle here is lively with a crisp decay that has a good bite, giving a good energy in the high range while managing to stay mostly inoffensive that may suit some treble sensitive users. Details here are great with high nuances presented in a clean way without any sibilance or hiss. The high range resolves very well with a vivid presentation and the pace here is quick, capable of playing well with piercing sound like piercy genres like ACG or metal. The ZhuanXu does possess an accurate timbre without any typical metallic overtones that are usually derived from planar drivers. The timbre here has a breathy, airy timbre that is highly transparent high range that shows the high notes just as intended. Treble here is balanced with a mild intensity that gives the ZhuanXu a mild boost in their overall clarity without being overly aggressive.

Comparisons

VS ZiiGaat Horizon (329USD)

One of my all time favourite tribrid with a similar setup of 2 micro planar, 1 dynamic and 2 balanced armatures and they are priced similarly with similar high quality accessories but the inclusion of the Vita cable on the ZhuanXu is better in sound quality albeit lacking the modularity on the Horizon’s cable. Built on the ZhuanXu looks more beautiful with their stabilized wood shell.

• Horizon has better presence and the highs are more piercy with bigger energy while the ZhuanXu is airier, smoother with a more natural amount
  
• Overall details are better on the Horizon but with clarity on both are similar
  
• ZhuanXu is warmer and thicker with a more intimate mids
  
• Upper mids on Horizon has a bigger lift with better brilliance
  
• Vocals on ZhuanXu sounds deeper while Horizon perform better on female vocals for the added brilliance
  
• Bass amount in ZhuanXu is bigger and authoritative with a tighter slam alongside bigger sub-bass rumble
  
• Overall bass on Horizon is more neutral and sounds more natural but not as immersive as the ZhuanXu
  
• Soundstage on the ZhuanXu is wider and airier
  

Vs Simgot SuperMix 5 (219USD)

One of the latest offerings from Simgot, the SuperMix 5 is a single dynamic driver, 2 balanced armatures, 1 micro planar and 1 bone conduction beast of an IEM and priced slightly cheaper than the ZhuanXu but the built on the ZhuanXu is more premium while the accessories of the SuperMix 5 is more complete.

• High range of both are smooth and inoffensive with an organic timbre but the ZhuanXu sounds more natural with more extension and a tad more air
  
• Treble on the ZhuanXu sounds more balanced and is more laid-back versus the slightly intense treble on SuperMix 5
  
• ZhuanXu mids is warmer and more forward while the SuperMix 5 has better space
  
• Both details and clarity are similar but the ZhuanXu is more resolving and transparent
  
• Vocals sounds more intimate and lusher on ZhuanXu while SuperMix 5 sounds more spacious
  
• The bass amount on ZhuanXu is bigger and meatier with more sub-bass amount alongside a more textured bass
  
• Soundstage on the ZhuanXu is wider and taller while airiness on both are similar
  

Synergy

Good synergy: Neutral balance, bright sources

Examples: 7HZ Artemis39, Qudelix T71, Hidizs S8 Pro, Questyle M15, VE Devastator, Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini, EPZ TP30

Not so good synergy: Bassy sources

Examples: FiiO Q15, FiiO KA5, EPZ TP35 Pro

Power requirements: Need some power for adequate volume with great scalability

Who Is It For?

Suitable genres: EDM, modern pop, metal, rock, hip-hop, classicals, jazz, ACG

Suitable Usage: Monitoring, gaming, movies, bassheads, casual to critical listeners

Not suitable genres: Certain female acoustics

Not suitable usage: Bassheads, treble heads

Final words

Ultimately, the UA Audio ZhuanXu delivers a compelling flagship experience that prioritizes organic musicality and velvety smooth technical performance over sheer analytical aggression. The stunning stabilized wood build and inclusion of the premium Vita cable add tremendous value, while the neutral with a touch of warmth tuning offers an expansive soundstage, authoritative yet well-controlled bass and fatigue-free highs that will satisfy both critical listeners and those seeking long-term enjoyment. Although it demands careful source pairing, thriving on powerful neutral bright sources and faces stiff competitions in this price bracket,, the ZhuanXu holds its ground as a beautifully crafted, highly resolving, and lush-sounding tribrid that proves UA Audio is far from a one-hit wonder. For listeners who value rich timbre, immersive staging, and a smooth yet detailed presentation, the ZhuanXu is an easy recommendation that is worthy of a flagship status.

4½ stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Pros

• Premium stabilized wood build with superb finishing
• Lightweight & ergonomic
• Superb separation, dynamic range, imaging, cohesive
• Neutral with mild warm and smooth tuning
• Organic, breathy timbre that is highly accurate
• Highly musical and technical
• Wide, tall and airy soundstage
• Great clarity and details
• Highly resolving and transparent
• Accurate, meaty, authoritative bass with great texture
• Mildly lifted sub-bass with great depth and immersion
• Intimate, full-bodied and rich midrange
• Smooth, fatigue free upper mids with some brilliance and liveliness
• Good high range presence with smooth, fatigue-free sound
• Natural, sparkly, crisp high range
• Well balanced treble
• High quality real leather case with Vita cable

Cons

• Not for bassheads and treble heads
• May come off as a little safe (nit-pick)
• Need some juice to perform to their best
• Slightly tame upper mids/lack bite (nit-pick)
• Shell a little thick (nit-pick)