TFZ Series 2

Introduction                                                                   

TFZ started out in 2015 with a debut line up that consists of TFZ Series 1,3 and 5. Since then, they have come up with new products in Exclusive 1,3,5, King and Series 4. Recently, they have come up with their latest product in the TFZ Series 2. In this review, I will be reviewing the TFZ Series 2. I would like to thank Penon Audio and TFZ for this review unit. You can purchase the Series 2 from https://penonaudio.com/TFZ-all-models/TFZ-SERIES-2 . The TFZ Series 2 that I will be reviewing is black in colour.

Specifications

• Driver: 12mm dual magnetic circuit graphene driver
• Impedance: 16ohm
• Sensitivity: 105db/mw
• Frequency response: 5hz-40khz
• Lowest power: 8MW

Unboxing & Accessories

The Series 2 comes in a rectangular silver box with a transparent film protector that sports the words “12 Months Quality Guarantee” and “The Fragrant Zither. Focus On Hifi Audio-Visual Products”. You can see the iems through the transparent film. The iems are separated from the detachable cable. At the back of the box, you get information of TFZ company in different languages and a sticker showing the colour of the iem which is black with the code “009”. After removing the transparent film protector, there are 2 boxes. The white box contains the iem and the detachable cable while in the silver box, you get 2 sets of silicon tips (S, M, L), 1 soft carrying pouch, 1 shirt clip, 1 instruction manual and 1 warranty card. I feel that the accessories are sufficient and the package contents are organized neatly.

IEM Build & Design

The Series 2 has a glossy black faceplate with the model name ““TFZ Hi-Fi Series MONITOR SERIES 2” printed on it. The shell has the same colour as the faceplate and it is made up of plastic which contributes to its light weight. There is vent near the edge of the iem and it is golden in colour while on the inside of the iem, there is a vent too. At the back of the iem, there are words printed on it. On the left, it is printed “L http://www.tfzither.com” while on the right, it is printed “R http://www.tfzither.com”. It utilises 2-pin 0.78mm extruded socket for the detachable cables. The iem is not heavy at all and coupled with the design of it, I am able to get a comfortable fit. The nozzle is slightly angled and it prevents earwax from going in with a metal mesh. Overall, I find the Series 2 to be constructed well and it is comfortable to use.

Cable Build & Design

The cable is 4 core braided. On each of the 2 pin connectors, there is a L & R marking on the outside of the left and right respectively with strain relief too. There is a memory wire area and the cable is enclosed in a transparent heat-shrink tube which is very flexible. Moving on to the y-splitter, it is circular and matte black with the TFZ logo on it. Lastly, the jack is 3.5mm gold plated with strain relief. On the housing of the jack, there are 2 small rectangular metal plates with one sporting the words “TFZither.com” and another one sporting just “TFZ”. There is a smooth surface to the jack housing. Overall, the cable is flexible with minimal microphonics.

Sound Analysis

Lows

The sub-bass of the Series 2 has quite a good extension to it although it is not very deep. There is a quick rumble that helps to improve the overall dynamics and the speed is impactful. I find the sub-bass to have a good tightness to it. Moving on to the mid-bass, it has a decent slam and I personally find it easy to listen too. The quantity here is just nice and appropriate if one wishes to listen for a long session. The bass has a clean presentation but lacks the visceral impact. Bass texture is rendered rather smoothly and the smoothness aids in the overall bass presentation. The bass transits to the lower mids well but with more quantity, it can be better. The bass is clean and smooth with a good extension. It certainly helps to prevent fatigue.

Mids

The Series 2 has a splendid midrange that is capable of doing both male and female vocals justice. I feel that the lower mids has a good amount of body to it and male vocals are bring presented cleanly without sounding too dense. The upper mids has a good amount of forwardness to it and this contributes to the intimacy of female vocals. The midrange is empahsised nicely and there is no compromise on both male and female vocals. I find there is a very good control in the midrange and the midrange is being presented in a mature way. The lower mids is not too thick and upper mids is not shouty. The musicality is not sacrificed for technicality. Overall, the midrange is nicely done and is able to tackle both male and female vocals.

Highs

The treble is extended nicely and I feel the extension is just nice. It is very controlled and tight. The energy from it is existent but there is a lack of sparkle for extra bite. There is no sibilance and harshness which results in an easy listen. The amount of air present is sufficient and it aids the overall sound. There is clarity and details are being expressed with ease and confidence. However, there is a lack of crisp at the top end. The treble extension is nice and coupled with the amount of air, it is very engaging to listen to. The definition is good and it needs a slight sparkle for a more immersive listen.

Soundstage

The Series 2 has a good amount of width and depth for the soundstage. The width is sufficient to prevent congestion of tracks and the positioning of vocals and instruments benefits as such. The depth is not too close in and there is space. The stage is really immersive.

Comparisons

TFZ Series 2 vs TFZ Exclusive 1

The Series 2 has similar sub-bass quantity as the Exclusive 1 but with more extension. The extension is deeper and it operates in a more authoritative approach with an extra punch. This helps to improves the dynamics. In addition, the Series 2 decays quickly and bass is being controlled more tightly. Rumble on the Series 2 has the edge in pace and Exclusive 1 is sluggish in this aspect. Series 2 is more musical and details retrieval is better. Mid-bass on the Exclusive 1 has more slam and I feel the body makes the overall sound too dense. On the Series 2, there is mid-bass slam too and it does not overpower the other frequencies. The lower mids on the Exclusive 1 has more body and it is much thicker than the Series 2. The quantity compromises on the pace. Series 2 has a right amount and it synchronizes well. Series 2 is less congested than the Exclusive 1 and it is cleaner in its presentation. The midrange on Series 2 is on a higher technical standard yet retaining the musicality. The upper mids on the Series 2 is slightly more forward and the control is good to ensure that female vocals have a good level of intimacy which is just nice. The vocals is very engaging. Moving on to the treble, Series 2 has more extension and it is significantly apparent. The details presented are in abundance. Both iems show no signs of sibilance and harshness. The air on the Series 2 has more quantity and the airiness provides more space. Treble articulation on the Series 2 is more precise. There is just more clarity and definition on the Series 2. In terms of soundstage, Series 2  has the advantage in width and depth. I find the layering and separation to be better as there is more space. Resolution on the Series 2 is better and it outperforms Exclusive 1.

TFZ Series 2 vs Fidue A65

The Series 2 has similar sub-bass quantity as the A65. It is more extended than the A65 and the presentation is more clean and tight. I find the decay on the Series 2 to be slightly faster. Rumble on the Series 2 is quicker. The bass definition is more crisp with a smoother bass texture. The mid-bass on the A65 has slightly more slam and the dynamics is slightly better. The lower mids on the Series 2 has more body and the male vocals is being presented in a thicker way. This helps to improve the male vocals presentation. The upper mids on the Series 2 is as forward as A65 but I feel it is more organic due to the body. The A65 has the edge in crisp. In the treble section, the A65 is more aggressive and the Series 2 is more controlled. The definition on both is very similar. There is more air and sparkle on the A65. The A65 is considered shouty. Articulation on both is quite precise. In terms of soundstage, the Series 2 has the better width and depth. Layering and separation is slightly better on the Series 2. Resolution on the Series 2 is significantly on a higher level. Overall, I find the Series 2 to be more mature sounding in its vocal presentation but A65 has a slight edge in the energy.

TFZ Series 2 vs Mee Audio M6 Pro

The Series 2 has better sub-bass quantity and extension than the M6 Pro. I find that the mastery of the bass is more controlled and refined. The decay of Series 2 is quicker than the M6 Pro with more pacey rumble. The definition is superior to the M6 Pro. The bass texture on both is rendered quite smoothly. The mid-bass slam on both are very similar. The M6 Pro has a slightly thicker lower mids and it sounds dense with the note having more weight. The upper mids on the Series 2 is more forward and helps to contribute to the overall intimacy. Moving on to the treble, Series 2 has a better extension with more air. The Series 2 controls the treble more tightly and the technical performance is better. For soundstage, Series 2 excels in both depth and width which helps to improve vocals and instruments positioning. The resolution of Series 2 is better.

Conclusion

The Series 2 is TFZ latest iem and it delivers with a spectacular midrange that is capable of tackling both male and female vocals. In addition, it has a good control on its treble and it does not come across as shouty. The accessories are quite complete with a nice braided cable. The TFZ Series 2 is certainly an enjoyable iem and I look forward to more products from TFZ.

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