Introduction
It’s been a while that we have covered a TangZu product as they have been relatively busy with producing great higher end IEM like the XuanWu Gate and Nezha which have been received well globally for their unique yet competitive performance. With all the new releases churning out from China, a product that actually intrigued me is one that has a rarely seen blood red resin body with gold butterfly wings adorned on the faceplate is the rather new TangZu Xuan NV which is a tuning collaboration alongside the famed Hawaii Bad Boy (HBB) and this will be their second collab after the successful launch of the Heyday. They are equipped with an unique dual dynamic driver in an eye-catching all red design and they are premium to say the least all at an entry level price. A big thanks to TangZu for providing us with this red gem for an honest review. How will they perform in this budget arena that is getting more and more competitive each day? We shall find out here.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the TangZu Xuan NV;
- Unit Configuration: 10mm Ceramic Dynamic Driver Unit * 1 and 8mm PU + LCP Dynamic Driver Unit * 1
- Shell: 3D Printed Medical Grade Resin
- Sensitivity: 98dB at 1kHz
- Impedance: 8.5Ω at 1kHz ±20%
- Frequency Range: 7Hz – 20kHz
- Cable Material:Single Crystal Oxygen-Free Copper
- Cable Length: 1.2m ±5%
- Socket Interface: 2-pin 0.78 mm
Retail Price & Where to Get
The TangZu Xuan NV can be purchased at Red Ape Headphones Store and TangZu’s own website;
Packaging & Accessories
The Xuan NV comes in an average small sized box that has the usual flair of TangZu in the Chinese dynasty theme and has their own uniqueness that I adore as they truly embrace their culture. Inside we are greeted with the 2 sets, 6 pairs of Tang Sancai eartips in wide bore type and the balance type, a pair of AET07 size M eartips, a 4 core OCC cable in 3.5mm, a leather soft pouch, user manual and the earphones itself. A hard case is more welcomed instead of a soft case as they provide better protection but the inclusion of the Sancai eartips and the low asking price of the Xuan NV, they are acceptable.
Design
The Xuan NV is the typical 3D printed resin that uses a medical grade resin and they are polished very well as they are glossy and smooth. The colour theme here is eye-catching and unique in an all blood red colour that is rarely seen and their faceplate has what TangZu called a butterfly design inspired in gold. The combination of red and gold actually work very well here and they do look gorgeous and unique at the same time. The size of these earphones are on the larger side but they are lightweight and possess good ergonomics.
The nozzle size is medium with a slightly long nozzle and they are fitted with a fabric mesh in black.
Inside, the Xuan NV is packed with 2 dynamic drivers on each side working in tandem where a 10mm ceramic diaphragm is in charge of the midrange and the lower region while the other 8mm polyurethane + liquid crystal polymer dynamic does the higher range. A unique combination of 2 dynamic drivers that haven’t been done in a while.
There are a total of 3 vents on the Xuan NV, one the top back of the earphones which is the rear vent and 2 more vent on the front of each one of the drivers. It is a very well vented earphone as no driver flex is present and they are an airy sounding set.
The cable is a 4 core twisted OCC copper based cable with a standard 0.78mm pin with 3.5mm termination. They have a rubbery type of sleeve which dust might stick to them and is troublesome to clean but they are flexible and soft to the touch.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby FC6
Questyle M15
FiiO BTR7
Dunu Luna
TangZu FuDu
Hidizs MS3
Dunu EST112
Moondrop A8
Intime Sho DD
Rose Technica QT9 MK2
Intime Sho DD
Letshuoer S15
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Xuan NV is a balanced tuning that doesn’t really emphasise on any frequency and they have a warm, bright tonal balance with an almost harman-ish sound but an added thick overall sound. They are a very smooth sounding set of earphones but still possess great energy in the lower and higher regions that give users a jovial listening experience. Their technicalities are quite good with good details and amazing clarity in their overall sound. There is some coloration present for a sweeter sound but it is minimal and they are still able to sound natural with an organic sound.
Soundstage
The Xuan NV soundstage is good and they have a slightly diffuse field type of sound that disperse the sound around the ear but it still gives a mild focused, forward sound with a good intimacy. The soundstage has great width and height but due to their thick overall sound, soundstage size here may be perceived as average but they are airy nonetheless with a good medium size headroom that is very competitive in their price range.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is good on the Xuan NV and they are a well dual dynamic as they have no crosstalk present with great coherency with both the drivers working in tandem almost as good as a single driver doing the job. Timbre here is slightly bright and warm with a mellow sound that is invitingly pleasant to listen to with minimal fatigue. They have a natural sound even with the presence of mild coloration in the midrange and possess an organic overall presentation.
Drivability
Rated at 8.5 ohms with a 98 db sensitivity, they are slightly hard to drive but still need some power to perform at their best and they scale very well with a good source. A basic good dongle is sufficient for a casual listen and they have an adequate loudness due to their low impedance but it won’t do the Xuan NV Justice as their details and dynamics will be restrained sounding slightly dull at times. The Xuan XV on the other hand is not picky in the selection of files as they aren’t a real transparent pair of earphones and they sounded great on streaming or high bitrates files playback which is great for a casual listening.
The Bass (Low)
The bass present on the Xuan XV is a neutral bass that has a good mid bass lift to give a strong impact in the overall bass performance and they are still very controlled without being overpowered. The bass has a good amount of details present with a decent clarity without any muddiness or bleed present. Resolution here is great with a clean and clear bass with a mild tightness of bass. Texturing here is mediocre with certain underpowered sources but it gets better in their layering when being fed with some extra power. The Xuan NV bass has decent extension with a good amount of air present giving a wide dynamic bass presentation that also contributes to better air in the overall bass presentation. Sub-bass has an average amount but they do extend pretty deep and have a good, strong rumble that is typical of a good dynamic driver tuning. The bass amount here though is slightly strong, they do not do justice for those bassheads that yearn for a head banging amount of bass as the bass present here is more towards an immersive, fun bass type that is controlled without overpowering the other frequencies.
The Mids
Midrange here is a neutral warm mids with a slightly forward sound that is thick and lush. The amount of details here is superb but leaning more towards the macro details region while the micro details here are rather average. Clarity is great with everything sounding clean and clear across the whole frequency and coupled with a good transparency, they sounded natural and intimate at the same time. Resolution here is also superb as they have a vivid sound that has some mild coloration that gives music lushness for an enjoyable listening. Though there is a slight coloration present, they are still able to sound natural enough without being too coloured but that being said, the Xuan NV isn’t really for critical listening or monitoring but more towards a fun, casual listening. Vocal here is great for male vocals as they are thick with great depth and very emotional. Same can be said for female vocals but they do lack some top end brilliance and may come off as too warm at times. For instrumentals they are mostly great for their lushness and thickness but on some high staccato, they tend to lack bite on the higher notes.
The Highs
The high range present on the Xuan NV is a flat high range that has a slight brightness with a smooth sounding overall that has a laid-back style to them, making them an inoffensive high range that is fatigue free. Though being a tad polite, they are still able to give a good, lively sparkle with a touch of air but it does lack a crisp decay which makes them slightly unlively. Details here are good with decent clarity and they do sound full here without any issue but it certainly isn’t the Xuan NV strength here as they do sound too lean at times lacking some energy for my preferences. Extension on the highs here is great with an airy presentation that has a slow roll off at then end and they sounded natural. Resolution here is superb with a vivid high range that is clean and clear without any superficial, metallic high range. Transparency here is average but the Xuan NV is still able to give a true to sound high range that sounds natural with good clarity. Treble here has a balanced tone that has a mild intensity producing a slightly bright sound giving some too end brilliance to their overall sound while still being smooth and relaxing.
Comparisons
VS Rose Technics Star City Pro 5
The recent release from Rose Technics, the Star City 5 Pro and they are priced slightly cheaper than the Xuan NV. The Star City is packaged way better and possesses a better accessorised package with an extra USB C dongle with robust, ergonomic design but the Xuan NV does have a more eye-catching design with an all resin build. The Xuan NV has a more balanced sound with a warmer tone versus the V shaped sound of the Star City.
High region of the Xuan NV is leaner but still has a clean treble in a more forgiving way free of any offensiveness. Details are similar but clarity seems to lean towards the Star City 5 Pro. Extension in the high range is better on the Xuan NV along with an airier sound. Resolution here is also leaning towards the Star City along with better energy giving a livelier sound.
Midranges on Xuan NV have a more forward, thicker sound and they are lusher versus the slightly recessed midrange of the Star City. Details and clarity on the Dtar City is better in a very small margin. The midrange of the Star City 5 Pro sounds brighter with extra brilliance is produced giving a livelier vocals but the Xuan NV does sound more intimate and lush. Resolution is better on the Xuan NV while transparency is better on the Star City 5 Pro.
Bass quantity on the Star City is bigger and deeper along with a better extended sub-bass response. Star City Pro 5 bass do sound tighter and sharper while the Xuan NV bass sounds slightly leaner with better extension and texture. Bass energy on the Star City is better but the Xuan NV bass does sound more accurate and organic.
Soundstage on the Xuan Nv is slightly wider and taller but both possess an airy presentation.
VS TangZu X Divinus FuDu
The FuDu is also a release from the TangZu team and they are a collaboration with Divinus Korea eartips. They are packaged in a more premium way and the famous Velvet eartips is included in the package. The FuDu is priced slightly lower than the Xuan NV and they are equipped with 2 balanced armature and a dynamic driver with a smaller, lighter shell.
Highs on the Xuan NV are slightly stronger highs that slightly possess more presence than the FuDu with a crisper and has a more evident sparkle. Details and clarity is similar in both with the FuDu having better air and texture. Highs on the FuDu does sound smoother and they have better extension.
The Midrange of the FuDu has better resolving capabilities but transparency and clarity on the Xuan NV is slightly better. Xuan NV has a more forward midrange and possesses a cleaner, clearer tone but the FuDu has a lusher, more intimate tone to them. Vocals on the Xuan NV sound livelier while the FuDu has a more organic, analog type of vocal presentation.
Bass on the Xuan NV has a tighter slam and they have a slightly bigger bass quantity as well as in the sub-bass region. Bass texture is better on the FuDu by a small margin and they do sound more immersive with better extension. Details here on both are similar with both having a good degree of details but the Xuan NV does sound clearer.
Soundstage in the Xuan NV is wider, taller and airier but only by a small margin.
Synergy
FiiO Q7
The giant of FiiO’s portable DAC/amplifier the Q7 is a transportable powerhouse when it comes to driving power and they are packed with all the main features you will need making them an ultimate portable DAC amp. They have superb driving power and also a well controlled sound for in-ears and can bring out a lot of details for some IEM.
The bass the Q7 provides here is tighter, cleaner and clearer with a slight amount added with some extra rumble in the sub-bass region. The bass also does add some resolution into the bass response and they have an airier bass that is more enjoyable. Bass seems to sound smoother as well and it does extend deeper with a cleaner sub-bass amount.
Midrange sounded more open and had better overall performance with everything sounding clearer with a more balanced presentation. The overall midrange is a little more balanced and clearer and has better overall resolving capabilities. They still do possess the intimacy but coupled with the openness here, they sound way better with the added air.
High range has been smoothed out a little and they seemed to have a more evident sparkle and crispness while retaining a smooth high range. Extension is also better here in the highs and the Q7 is able to provide a livelier high range.
Soundstage is wider and taller with an accurate placement while increasing air.
Questyle M15
The Questyle M15 is no doubt still my favourite portable DAC/amplifier with Questyle’s signature direct current amplification and they are a neutral to bright sounding device that possess great efficiency with a decent driving power. The M15 does possess a great extension and they are packed with details on both ends displaying none of the Sabre chip glare.
Bass sounded clearer with added details and clarity along with a tighter response. The bass does not add in quantity but it has a cleaner overall response that sounded more natural. Sub-bass depth remained mostly the same but they do sound cleaner and clearer with a slightly deeper extension.
Midrange sounds are more spacious and they are able to give a cleaner sound while providing better transparency and resolution while retaining the warmth. Vocals sound more natural with a slightly more open with a lusher mids.
High range sounds mostly the same but has a better sparkle. Treble has slightly toned down in intensity and they sounded a little less lively than usual. Details seem to remain mostly the same but they do sound clearer.
Soundstage has increased in width and height and they do add some spaciousness.
Who Is It For?
The Xuan NV here is a suitable IEM for those who seek an engaging, warm and lush sound that possesses a great overall detail retrieving set. They are also a wide dynamic range IEM that doesn’t have a boxy sound and they are an organic and natural set to listen to. For users who seek a non-sibilant IEM but still having a good amount of high range, the Xuan NV might suit you. For bassheads, the amount of bass might not satisfy you as the bass has a correct amount without any extra impact but still has the presence without being muted. The midrange here is for those who seek some thickness with a warm sound for a more fun sound profile but not for those who want a clinical, sterile sound for critical listening. The Xuan NV does have the DNA of TangZu warm sound and has a quite balanced tuning with a fun twist.
Final words
TangZu indeed has their house sound set here with their releases and after testing most of their products, they indeed have that sweet, warm and intimate sound that envelops me into the music. The Xuan NV even though it is a collaboration with HBB, they are still able to convey their house tuning pretty well with a good twist of balanced tuning. The tuning is what I will call a safe, inoffensive tuning, but it is a smooth, thick sound that is easy to love as well. With sufficient power and a matching source, the Xuan NV will reward you with a more awesome listening experience. The shell design is no doubt beautifully crafted with a blood red aura that is eye-catching and it is very well built with a premium feel. Though the packaging with a small soft case and rubbery cable does look cheap, it is the product performance itself that matters the most for me and the Xuan NV is indeed another unique product from TangZu and HBB that might stand the test of time like the TangZu Heyday. Great job guys.
I would rate this product a 4 over 5 stars.
Pros
- Good overall technicalities
- Beautiful design and unique colour
- Good fit and lightweight
- Good width and depth soundstage
- High quality casted resin body
- Lush and warm tone
- Wide dynamic range
- Good cohesion and separation
- Decent overall details and clarity
- Good dynamic range and separation
- Great, immersive and organic bass
- Thick, intimate midrange
- Smooth and lively high range
- Airy overall sound
- Decent resolution and transparency
- Inclusion of both wide and balance Tang Sancai eartips
Cons
- High range a little polite and lack crispness
- Midrange mild coloration
- Packaging looks cheaper than its sibling FuDu
- Quite hard to drive
- Not for bassheads or treble heads
- Not clinical enough
- Soft case offers little protection and it is small
- Rubbery texture cable
