Today we have the sibling of the famous brand Tin Hifi here for review. We are going to be looking at the TKZK Wave which is TKZK Debut model. It is an interesting one because it is a considerably well tuned neutral IEM at only $40USD.
This unit was sent by a tour within Singapore. Thanks to those who made this possible.
The TKZK Wave is a 1DD+1BA IEM. It was released not long ago and as mentioned earlier is a sister brand to Tin Hifi.
Packaging:
The packaging was simple. It just came with a pouch, papers, 3 pairs of tips which suck so I didn't use them, and a cable which easily gets tangled. Time to up your game TKZK. Even KZ switched their stock cable.
Sound:
First impressions: A super neutral set. Something very uncommon in the sub $50 price range.
Bass: The bass on the Wave is not strong but that's expected of a neutral set. It is definitely not going to be able to satisfy bass heads. It is adequately punchy and has a good amount of rumble and rolls off nicely. It has got good texture and detail.
Mids:
Mids are pronounced as with most neutral sets. People who like prominent mids will like this. However, on certain sources, the Wave can sound shouty or when used at higher volumes. It also does come across as overly thin on certain occasion. Female vocals sound great but male vocals tend to lack a bit of warmth on the Wave. Instruments here have good amount of detail and it is quite impressive.
Treble:
Treble extension here is really good. It is well extended without exhibiting any form of sibilance or harshness for me however, I think it might come across as so for other uses. This is also highly dependent on the tips you use so I highly recommend trying out different tips before purchasing the Wave.
Technical performance and soundstage:
Technical performance at the price is quite impressive. I have no complains. It definitely is quite above average. It has got good detail and resolution for the price. Soundstage is rather intimate but still decent. Imaging capabilities are decent for the price.
Conclusion:
The Wave is indeed a unique piece within its category, however, I can't say that it's something that I would crave for. As you may have noticed, there are really not many neutral sets at such low prices. Why? Because neutral IEMs are rather flat and most of the time flat IEMs are used in studios for recording and making music and that sort of stuff since it does not emphasise any particular frequency hence coming across as boring. I definitely for one, would not buy a studio monitor that is cheap and has poor technical performance. While the Wave is a well tuned neutral set, technical performance is no where near professional level even though it is good for the price. At $40USD, I would probably be looking for a daily driver and not a professional monitor. Hence, while the Wave is good, I'm not entirely sure what purpose it serves at this price. It is a neutral set, technical performance is good but not as good compared to studio IEMs, and it is rather boring. If you are one who likes neutral tuning, this is something I can recommend. However if you are looking for something to just enjoy, there are plenty of other options at the same price. Nonetheless, the Wave is still an impressive IEM at its price.
留言