The Tanchjim Bunny comes in a transparent shell. Photo: Tanchjim
Most contemporary mobile devices don’t come with headphone jacks (unless it's a Sony Xperia 1 VII), so the only way to get audio out of them (apart from their built-in speakers), is to use wireless headphones. Happily, most mobile devices do have USB-C ports, which makes them perfect for the Tanchjim Bunny DSP IEM.
Tanchjim might be a name unfamiliar to most readers, but it’s a household name amongst IEM enthusiasts. The Bunny DSP is one of its most affordable offerings and is one of a new breed of IEMs that uses DSP technology to improve its frequency response.
The idea is simple. Instead of physically designing an IEM to hit its target frequency response, companies are turning to DSPs (digital signal processors) to digitally modify the output so that it achieves the desired frequency response.
Inside is a single dynamic driver. Photo: Tanchjim
The main upside to this approach is that it’s easier for manufacturers to achieve their target tuning, which saves time and money. Ultimately, this means affordable IEMs with better frequency response.
This is exactly what the Tanchjim Bunny DSP is. It costs under S$40 and it features a built-in DAC in its USB-C cable. The DAC not only features the DSP but also enables it to support high-res audio of up to 24-bit/96kHz.
Inside its attractive transparent shell is a single “dual-chamber” dynamic driver that has a titanium-coated dome diaphragm. A rear “maze structure” within the shell helps improve low-frequency response.
It's also available in a non-DSP version that connects using a standard 3.5mm audio cable. Photo: Tanchjim
Considering how much it costs, the Bunny sounds impressive. It could do with a tad more bass energy and the drivers aren’t the most detailed, but its tonality is smooth and balanced. It also sounds remarkably open and spacious. It is a fantastic way to get better sound out of your mobile device without spending much money. You have to spend a lot more to get comparable audio performance from a typical wireless headphone.
And because it uses DSP to achieve its tuning, it means you can easily EQ it to meet your own personal preferences. For the Bunny, this can be done using the Tanchjim app. However, one important thing to note is the app only works with Android devices and not iOS ones. Happily, since settings are saved to the Bunny’s DAC, you can get around this by borrowing an Android device to apply EQ settings to your Bunny before using it on your iOS device.
Availability and pricing
The Tanchjim Bunny DSP is available now and is S$38.99. There is a non-DSP version that connects via a standard 3.5mm cable and goes for S$34.99. You can find both versions on Lazada,
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