TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
4.5 STARS - The Tanchjim Echo may not be loaded with features, but this is one great, clear, and natural-sounding wireless earphone.
Tanchjim Echo specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX Adaptive and AAC codec
5-6 hours playtime on a single charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 7 times
Comes with six ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$100 - Check price on ShenzhenAudio or AliExpress
Below this Tanchjim Echo review, you will find comparisons of the Tanchjim Echo vs Moondrop Sparks, Sennheiser CX, Nuarl N6 Pro2, and Fiil T1 Lite.
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Design, comfort and battery life
From the form factor, it's easy to see Tanchjim is more of a specialized audio brand than an all-around tech company. The case and earbuds are unorthodox. The Echo's charging case looks like and even has the size of hand soap, with its thickness and rounded corners. It's too big to carry comfortably in a jeans pocket, but it does enough to make it right.
Just below where the sturdy lid closes, there's a subtle LED bar that glows from whiteish yellow to orange, depending on the remaining battery in the case. The light pulsates when you're charging the case; whether you charge via USB-C or charge wirelessly - it looks neat. The battery capacity itself is tremendous as well: a fully charged case can recharge the earbuds seven (!) times before needing new power itself. Open the lid, and you'll even hear e neatly designed 'ta-tick' to let you know the buds are ready to use.
Each charge will give the earbuds up to 6 hours of playtime on iPhone with the AAC codec automatically activated, and up to 5 hours with the AptX codec on Android. That's below average, sadly. The IPX4 waterproof rating protects the earbuds against light water splashing and some sweat.
The earbuds follow the shape of wired Tanchjim IEM's, and their white-grey color scheme looks cheap nor premium. Both earbuds have a different description on them, but both have a speaker-like grille with a LED light underneath them, which happily doesn't blink when you're wearing the buds.
The Echo comes with short and regular rubber ear tips, each in different sizes. When you apply the regular ones, the buds stick out of your ears a bit. They are comfortable to wear, however. The shorter tips may look better and come as standard, but they make you feel more plastic in your ears and diminish a bit of comfort - although your mileage may vary, of course.
Controls and connectivity
The center part of the grey area on the Tanchjim Echo functions as the touch panel. It responds well and makes operating the earbuds easy. The control scheme is minimal:
Tap L or R to play/ pause music
Double-tap R to skip to the next song
Double-tap L to return a song
Triple-tap L or R to activate the voice assistant
It's impossible to activate ANC, a Transparency mode, or gaming mode - as all these features miss on these audio quality-focused earbuds. Unfortunately, you also can't change the volume from the earbuds.
Overall connectivity on the Echo is good. The earbuds pair and connect quickly after you open the case, and the Bluetooth signal holds well up to 9-10 meters away from your device. The connection between the two earbuds is strong too. You can always switch from listening to one to two earbuds and around, yet the music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out. Unfortunately, there is no multipoint connection - the Bluetooth connection can only exist with one device at a time.
Calling and watching movies
Phone calls and video calls are perfectly doable with the Tanchjim Echo. You sound loud and very clear, yet without the typical thinness that sometimes comes with clear earbud voices. Your voice actually sounds rather natural and is pleasant to listen to.
Some sudden background sounds like chatter and accelerating vehicles are audible in video calls but reduced well in phone calls - although they can dampen your voice a bit when they occur. As your voice is so clear out of itself, it still stands fine under these circumstances. A pleasant surprise for this music-quality focused pair.
Video playback is flawless on both iPhone and Android, with perfect synchronization between audio and video. The Tanchjim doesn't have a gaming mode - and the delay in sound effects in games can be noticeable.
Also read: The best sounding wireless earbuds
Sound quality of Tanchjim Echo: Airy
What separates the Tanchjim Echo from many other wireless earbuds is, well, its separation.
You'll immediately notice the clarity of the Echo. The treble has a slight upper hand in the music, and brighter male and female vocals are upfront and sound clear, with plenty of audible nuances in both lower notes and higher vocal outbursts - in Björks test case It's Oh So Quiet, for instance. Even though there's a bit of a smooth approach to vocals, details like breath-gasps are easily picked up in high-quality recordings. It's only at louder-than-average listening volume on songs with accentuated highs, where the treble can become a bit too hot, then bordering on thin.
On the other end of the spectrum, the bass performs tight. The mid-bass has a steady thump that doesn't overpower the music. It rolls off quite quickly and doesn't bloat, although rapid bass-strike succession can result in a bit of muddiness. The pacing is good, and both electronic basses and drums have a nice impact. The sub-bass [the darkest bass tones you can feel as much as hear] rumbles controlled but doesn't sound very deep - as shown by James Blake's Limit to Your Love.
Most characteristic of all, the Echo has a convincing airiness, a wide soundstage in which the different frequencies and instruments have their own place. It's easy to pinpoint the lead vocal in front of you and different instruments on your left and right, but that's not all. The lows, mids, and highs work together naturally without interfering with each other. The bass never bleeds into the lower-mids, and typical center-mid like guitars and piano play are proper center-mids, not tuned too brightly so they tend towards the treble.
That said, lower-mids aren't the most pronounced. The lower-mids stand on their own, and while darker electronic tones and piano play, cello's, or lower male vocals are represented well, they're cut so loose from the bass that they can lack some warmth. Lana del Rey, Lorde, and Elbow sound cleaner, colder than average. Another thing to note: it's possible to pick up a white noise floor in some easygoing musical parts.
Overall, music sounds great on the Tanchjim Echo - full of airiness, detail, and clarity. The separation between both instruments and frequencies gives music a very natural and clean presentation.
Tanchjim Echo comparisons
Tanchjim Echo vs Sennheiser CX
Pitted against another great-sounding TWS under $100, the Sennheiser CX convinces with features. It has app support with sound equalization and boasts up to 9 hours of battery life, opposed to Echo's 6 hours. Out of the box, the Sennheiser sounds much warmer than the Tanchjim, with longer-lasting mid-bass, deeper and harder-hitting sub-bass, and heavily elevated lower-mid tones. The Echo sounds flatter, cleaner, and brighter - as it extends highs further. The Tanchjim has an opener, wider soundstage than the more closed-in Sennheiser, but both do a great job of positioning instruments around you.
Tanchjim Echo vs Moondrop Sparks
The Moondrop Sparks' treble is more aggressive than the Echo's. The Moondrop extends highs further and shows more texture in brighter vocals and cymbals, at the risk of more stabby harshness on higher volume levels. The Moondrop puts more weight on lower-mids, putting male vocals more forward and presenting them with more detail. Sub-bass dives deeper and is more layered. The Tanchjim has more air in the higher frequencies; it sounds flatter and cleaner. The Echo is the more usable everyday earphone of the two, with a functional waterproof rating, a more powerful charging case, and convenient call quality.
Moondrop Sparks review ($100)
Tanchjim Echo vs Nuarl N6 Pro2
The Tanchjim Echo and Nuarl N6 Pro2 are close to each other sonically. The Echo emphasizes upper-mids a little more, pronouncing brighter vocals and giving a slightly brighter sound. That said, the Nuarl isn't devoid of spaciousness itself, and the added sub-bass depth and more fluent transition between bass and lower-mids give the Nuarl a bit more warmth - in what is a natural and balanced sound overall. The Echo is more affordable, easier to control, and has better call clarity; the Nuarl comes with app support that lets you choose from two well-balanced sound equalizers.
Nuarl N6 Pro2 review ($150)
Tanchjim Echo vs Fiil T1 Lite
The Fiil T1 Lite is a contender to all wireless earbuds on the market, especially since the globally available Fiil app now supports the model and adds a wonderful bass equalizer to this $35 treat. Not only does this equalizer provide a strong and engaging mid-bass and deep yet controlled sub-bass rumbling - both stronger than on the Echo; it also tops off the otherwise harsh highs from the T1 Lite. The Tanchjim sounds opener and brighter than the Fiil, with more airiness and better control over highs like vocal peaks and cymbals. Brighter vocals are more prominent on the Echo; darker vocals have more weight on the Fiil. T1 Lite's bass performance is also more engaging - but the Echo is cleaner and more natural.
Fiil T1 Lite review ($35)
Verdict
The Tanchjim Echo may not be loaded with features, but this is one great, clear, and natural-sounding wireless earphone.
4.5 stars - Great
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Check price on ShenzhenAudio
I received the Tanchjim Echo from the manufacturer to test and review. My reviews are unsponsored and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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