TangZu Audio Fu Du

A quick disclaimer
I am a reviewer from the PC Help Hub content team. I am glad to be able to bring you this review of the Fudu that I am doing as a part of the content creation program. The website is currently out of order, so I am publishing it here for now.

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Introduction:
I don't think anyone needs an introduction to who Tangzu is and where they came from, as I am already quite late to the party.
But I purchased this set myself, mostly because I was curious to as how it would sound, and also because I really wanted those awesome eartips.



Unboxing Experience:





Accessories:
So as we all know, the Fudu comes with 3 sets of Tangzu Sancai Wide Bore and Divinus Velvet eartips.

These eartips are highly regarded in the community as excellent eartips, for their comfort and quality. Which, after trying them for myself, not only on the Fudu but also my other IEMs(S8, Oracle, S12, Galileo) I can say that these eartips are definitely great for most people.

Except for the fact that my ears didn't like the shape of the Divinus. The rounded shape pressed against my ears, which caused it to hurt overtime, and this was the case for all my IEMs.

Sancai, on the other hand.. was super comfortable. I love the texture, although after wearing it for a longer period of time, sweat can make them a bit slippery but its not too bad.

I personally use the Sancai now on my S12's.

Now with all the GOOD accessories out of the way, let's get on to the rest..

First of all, the cable.

The cable is the absolute worst cable I've ever tried. It looks nice on pictures, but in reality, it's the lightest, most fragile, cheap feeling POS. Even my old stock cable for my Moondrop Starfield was better.

And lastly, the pouch.
It's a bit on the cheap side, and it's just a bit too small to use properly.

Comfort:
Good, given you have the right eartips on. If you use the wrong eartips, it might feel really loose on your ear, and the long ish nozzle base is the cause of that. Also the nozzle is a bit on the thick side.

Sound:
Sources used:
Ifi Zen Can Signature
Ifi Zen One Signature
Qudelix 5k
Running with a 4.4mm balanced cable

For the sound, I'll be comparing the Fudu against my Galileo, which are my 2nd favorite IEM to date.


Bass:

So first of all, the bass is nice, it's present. It hits nice and hard. Although, bass kicks don't have much texture to them. I can imagine someone coming from something like a Sony WF1000XM4 or AirPods, liking the bass on the Fudu, as it's nice and immersive. I wouldn't call the bass too controlled, because it does mess a bit with the mid-range. Subbass kicks feel satisfying and the midbass can certainly be heard, but it's not really too much.

To conclude the bass: Nice and thumpy subbass, and midbass could use some more strength

Midrange:

The midrange sounds mostly alright, unless you're talking about the upper mids. Just judging from 300hz to 1khz, it's alright, but as soon as you enter the upper mid range, things will sound wispy, it almost sounds as if the bass bled into the upper mids somehow, knocking down clarity and resolution by a few notches. Which is unfortunate. One thing I did notice is that female vocals didn't really sound pronounced. They were forward yet the Fudu didn't really give them any feeling.

Treble:
Average resolution for a price-range all-rounder, it doesn't really have a lot of air, the treble is not really fatiguing. Although it's still somewhat on the bright-ish side of things, but it's not really special either. If you're looking for a set with sparkly treble, this one isn't for you. There's also the treble wispiness I noticed, it's uneven and generally doesn't sound impressive and definitely is the biggest downside of this IEM.

Technical Performance:
What I immediately noticed when I heard the Fudu was the stage and separation. It wowed me because I didn't think it could get this good for under 100 bucks. The separation and soundstage pushes beyond its price point, meanwhile the imaging is only above average, but still good enough to not let down the other good things about the techs.

What is a shame though, that even though it has these qualities, the detail retrieval of the Fudu is below average, more in line with modern 50~ buck sets like the Zero:Red, 7hz Sonus, and EW200.

And because of all these technical quirks, the Fudu becomes an excellent set for gaming, comparable to even the Simgot EM6L, except the EM6L sounds more high-res and is just on the clearer side of things, meanwhile for gamers, the Fudu would be a more immersive sounding set due to the bass response.

Compared to Galileo:

A quick comparison to the Galileo results in this:

Female vocals are much better, much cleaner, they give you a feeling of involvement.

The amount of bass is reduced, but it's still reasonable, but not something that would please most due to the lack of volume. Despite that, the Galileo's dynamic driver is faster and has better bass quality. Lower midrange sounds less full and could be interpreted as thin by some people, but that is due to the reduced bass amount.

Treble on the Galileo is smoother, more well done, but noticeably more relaxing, and resolution is about the same, and cleaner sounding due to having a cleaner overall signature and a more competent treble response, while also lacking air.

The imaging and separation is slightly better on the Galileo's, but the stage is much more intimate, and technical performance is only slightly better as well, as the Galileo aren't exactly a resolving and technical set to begin with.

Conclusion:

I think that in 2024, you could pick up the Fudu, but it's not exactly the best pick you could make. If I had to give it an award, it would be "a good first iem" because the Fudu could help you figure out what you want more or less of. And it already comes with good ear tips so you won't need to buy any more of those if you're just starting out.

Review Of The TangZu Fudu Verse​

Introduction​

TangZu is a Chinese company that has gained widespread recognition for its audio products. One of their most popular products is the Wan'er S.G, which is an ultra-budget set of in-ear monitors. Other sets that have become popular include the Zetian Wu and Princess Chang Le. TangZu has also released a range of assorted eartips. Recently, they launched their flagship IEM, the NehZa. Today, I had the opportunity to review another recent release from TangZu, the Fudu Verse. This product is a collaboration between DIVINUS and TangZu. Yet, prior to that, I have to specify some details.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by Pritam Halpawat from Audio Store, I am very grateful for this opportunity. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to the IEM as “Fudu”
*I am using various eartips and sources for better judgement and versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Fudu. based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The Fudu in-ear monitors feature a multi-hybrid driver configuration with a single dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers, all custom-made by TangZu. The 10mm dynamic driver is responsible for handling the bass, while one of the balanced armature drivers handles the mid-range and the other handles the highs. The shells are made of medical resin, which feels sturdy and of premium quality. The faceplate is made of metal, and the comfort and fit are really nice as the shells are smaller than expected. The left side faceplate has DIVINUS printed on it, and the right side has TangZu printed. The IEMs come with a 4-strand high-purity silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable, which has a matte-colored rubbery texture that may feel cheap to some users. Other than the cable, the IEMs also come with other accessories like three pairs of Sanchai Eartips, three pairs of DIVINUS eartips of different sizes, and a carrying pouch. In terms of technical specifications, the Fudu IEMs have an impedance of 16 Ohms and a sensitivity of 106dB. The frequency response ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz, and the total harmonic distortion is less than 1%.

Sound​

I was surprised by how well-balanced and richly tonal the Fudu's sound is. After hearing the first song, I was certain that these IEMs, which had BAs in the vicinity of this price range, did not have any BA timbre. It sounds quite calming and pleasant thanks to the FUDU's outstanding range balance. Naturally, there are enough details to highlight subtleties. However, they have a greater proportion of those rounded notes and a dense response that is precisely adjusted to make the top frequencies seem wide and light rather than peaky or sibilant, while the bass notes sound thick. While most IEMs at this price range don't offer the same tuning or, if they do, they don't sound as smooth and pleasant as this one, the response seems real and spontaneous. Naturally, the technical specifications aren't exactly comparable to those of other items in this price bracket, but more on that later. Let's examine the sound more closely.

Treble​

While the Fudu verse sounds expansive, airy, and natural with enough details to bring nuances forward in the mix, most IEMs in this price range have bright tuning or dark response, which makes it seem sharp and detailed. The sounds aren't particularly sophisticated or detailed, of course, but they sound as authentic as possible without being offensive because to the rounded tones. Overall, the musical presentation is enhanced by the upper treble, which stretches quite far and seems airy enough to make the voices sound bigger and clearer. The instruments sound slightly muffled but cleaner than ambiguous. Both the instrumentation and the vocals have a clear, uncluttered tone without any hotness or peakiness. The lower treble adds more energy, but it doesn't come across as aggressive or forward in the mix; instead, it gives the notes enough room to sound tonally pleasing and more detailed and clear. Because of the peak in the 4k region, the instruments and voices provide a more forward approach than the treble, where the voices of the male and female balance. As a result, the treble region is presented in an expansive, airy, and musically pleasing manner overall.

Mid Range​

When it comes to the mid range, it sounds the smoothest of all the IEMs in this price range that I have heard. The notes in this range have a texture that is both detailed and silky, which keeps the notes from straying and preserves their integrity. The response is more forward in the higher mid range, yet it feels as though the same amount of energy is produced as in the lower treble. It sounds smoother thanks to this cogent answer that retains all the subtleties and doesn't sound grainy. Despite the female voices sounding a little "wisping," I think the vocals in the upper mid-range and lower treble sound balanced and attractive because of the 3k dip and the small peak in the 4k region. I do think that the notes have a less sharp and more dense response, but overall, the vocals' slight forwardness makes the instruments complement them. The vocals and instruments sound open and spacious, which helps them to sound mature and separate. Note dynamics also help individual instruments sound fuller and realistic. Because it adds warmth to the top frequencies and creates a rich, genuine tone, the lower mid range sounds hazy and dense—exactly how I like it. The instruments and voice feel warm and heavy, lacking any sense of expression. As a result, the mid-range region has an open, smooth, and organic appearance overall.

Bass​

To put it simply, the bass is warm and rich but still controlled. Although the bass's sound is not very smooth or textured, it does have an impact on the mix because of its useful approach. When listening to bass-heavy music, the emphasis is in the sub bass zone, which extends pleasantly and deep enough to cause modest, subtle rumbles in the ear canals. Punches are introduced by the sub bass, and while they don't hit hard or feel potent, they are sufficiently strong. The mid bass, on the other hand, has a more meaty presence and produces distinct, albeit weak, slams and thumps. The response, in my opinion, is neither very crisp nor soft, but it does contribute to the warmth, which reminds me that the mid bass also extends into the lower mid range. Ultimately, the bass area has a warm, meaty, and soft appearance overall.

Technical Performance​

Let's take a closer look at the Fudu's technical performance. It feels fairly mediocre because it doesn't excel in imaging or details, but its resolution, stage, and separation are excellent for an IEM in this price range.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The stage is sufficiently large and open to create a feeling of spaciousness, with the left and right sounding more like a 3D response than a stereo response. The response feels tonally natural, therefore it's a positive thing that the picture is clear but not very sharp or clear. The sound source is clearly separated and far away, as I can pinpoint its location.

Speed & Resolution​

The resolution is better than I had anticipated because the large elements are very expressive but the micro details struggle a little to show the response. The majority of the mix is extremely rich and bright, but it lacks vibrancy. The notes' attack and decay have a good pace—not too quick to elicit a definite answer, but not too slow to leave a disorganized one either.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - It sounded more expansive because the WM1A's sound was more soothing and pleasant, which made it possible for a more roomy and expansive response. Although it smoothed out the subtleties where they weren't as interesting, the treble made the sound more authentic. Despite being expressive, the midrange had a harmonic sound. Not much, but the bass felt more dynamic. Naturally, though, depth was much better.

Tempotec V6 - The sound was generally crisper and more dynamic while using the V6. To be honest, the vocals and instruments in the higher frequencies seemed forward and a little chaotic, but the bass felt more powerful and forceful. Unless the audio is really simple, I think I like the WM1A more since the bass gets really loud when the notes get louder and more distinct. Thus, it's a suitable response.

Tracks​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

In summary, the Fudu Verse is an extremely well-balanced IEM with a warm, open, and airy sound. This IEM seems to be perfect for those who like a stagey yet subdued response. To be honest, this IEM checks all the boxes for those searching for a safe tune. It seems to me that this IEM has a clear, natural sound. If I had to compare its sound to anything, it would be the Moodrop Aria, which has a more pleasing midrange and superior treble. I therefore recommend this IEM.

TLDR version on YouTube: TDLR - Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1

The Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1 have been sent to me by Linsoul in exchange for the publication of my review. Linsoul have not requested anything and, as always, I will do my personal best to be as unbiased as humanly possible.

You can find a link to the Fudu Verse 1 via Linsoul by visiting the version of this review published on my blog (link at the end of this review).

As with all the links I publish, it is a non-affiliate link, meaning I do not receive anything in exchange for clicks or purchases via the link.

To avoid being repetetive in my reviews, you can find all the info about how I create the reviews, equipment used, how I receive the products and how to interpret my reviews by visiting: About my reviews



Intro…

Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1… that is certainly a long name! Tangzu seem to have a tradition of adding verses and chapters to their IEMs, so my guess is that there will be a follow up to these IEMs (which I am going to refer to as Fudu for brevity).

I originally reviewed Tangzu before they were actually Tangzu (they were called T-Force at the time) and I have to say that they have made some interesting sets. I felt that the Tangzu Wan’er were a great set of IEMs in the sub 20€ bracket, well, they still are, although there is a lot of competition in that price bracket.

The Fudu are in a slightly higher bracket, selling for around 80€ on Linsoul at the time of this review, and while this puts them outside my personal ultra budget limit of 50€, they are still not an expensive set of IEMs.

The Divinus part of the name comes from the collaboration with the brand (Divinus) who make ear tips. I have never tried, or heard of, Divinus tips (until now) but it seems that they are well known amongst other IEM users.

So, let’s take a look at this latest release from Tangzu and see what we get from the brand that has given me positive vibes in the past.



Presentation…

Tangzu is pretty generous with the contents of (most of) their models, with packaging that usually focuses on traditional Chinese decor. In this case, we still get a hint of that Chinese traditionality on the box but much more subdued than their usual packaging.

A rather large black box is covered with a black sleeve showing greyscale clouds and birds in the background and white model name and branding on the front. This simple presentation does give the packaging a bit more of a more elegant look (in my opinion) than many other presentations from the brand.

Opening up the box, we find the IEMs in a cardboard and foam cutout in the center, with 3 sets of Tang Sancai tips and 3 sets of Divinus tips to the left. On the right we get a (faux) leather case with zipper closure that reminds me more of my grandmothers coin purse than an actual IEM case. Inside the case (purse?) we find the cable which, in my case, is terminated with a 4.4mm balanced connector, although 3.5mm unbalanced is also available.

The presentation in general is not remarkable but is good, with a selection of contents that may not be the most vast at the price point but does seem to be of quality.



Build and aesthetics…

The IEM shells are 3D printed resin with a very dark tint, allowing just a hint of the internals to be seen. On the front of the shell they feature a metal faceplate that shows Tangzu on the right earpiece with Divinus on the left.

The IEMs are small and light, using a pretty generic shape, which should work for the majority of people out there. Personally I have not experienced any discomfort. The faceplate has sloped surroundings that aim to a triangle in the center (where the branding is shown in white). I can’t say that they are going to win any prizes for their beauty but they are not overly dreary, just a little simple.

The included cable works fine but does have a bit of a cheap feel to it. It is also a little bit “springy”, although this may reduce over time with use. As I have been using them at my desk, the cable hasn’t really moved a lot, so it still has that new springyness to it.

The included Sancai tips are tips that I received with a previous set and find quite nice. They have a textured finish to them and, while they are not my number one preference, I have found that they work well with some IEMs that I find overly bassy. The Divinus tips have been a pleasant surprise and I feel that they work well with the Fudu (I haven’t tried them on other IEMs yet), improving the sound at both ends of the spectrum (to my ears).



Sound…

All tracks mentioned are clickable links that allow you to open the reference track in the streaming service of your choice (YouTube, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, etc.)

There is a noticeable difference between the 2 kinds of included tips, with the Divinus moving a bit of the low end presence towards the subbass region instead of the midbass (although midbass is still very present) and seemingly giving things a bit more sparkle in the upper ranges. These have been my preferred choice for the Fudu.

My measurements, as always, are taken with foam tips to keep consistency between models, so the frequency response will not match exactly with the included choice of tips but is still pretty close:



Starting off with the low end, here I found the tips to play quite a large role in the presentation. Well, tips always play a big role, but in the case of the Sancai vers the Divinus, I found that the latter placed a little more emphasis on the subbass ranges, making the midbass area seem a little less prominent, whereas the Sancai took a little away from the subbass, making the midbass be more of the center of attention in these low ranges.

Using my typical “Chameleon” as a test track, there is enough subbass with both of the tip choices, yet, as the Divinus move the attention a little further down, it doesn’t seem to be as overpowering as with the Sancai tips. Overpowering is maybe the wrong term, as it is not like these IEMs are bass monsters, but as someone who prefers a less boosted midbass range, I found the Divinus to work better in this regard.

The same goes for more electronic focused tracks, with things like “No Sanctuary Here” being more to my preference with the Divinus tips.

In general the bass range is rather smooth and relaxed rather than fast and detailed, something that holds true for the rest of the frequency ranges also, with these IEMs giving a more relaxed and rounded presentation in general.

I don’t find the midbass to be overly boomy but it is still a little north of my preferences on tracks like “Crazy” by Daniella Andrade. The bass region of the guitar is pretty smooth and while I would like a little more detail on other tracks, for this kind of music it is not something that stands out.

The midrange is pretty decent until we start to get into the higher end of it. There is a climb in the upper midrange frequencies that serves to bring the presence a little forwards, however, at the 2kHz mark it stops climbing, even rolling off a little, until suddenly we have a peak around the 4kHz mark.

The issue with this is that it brings vocals forwards so they are not lost (counteracting that additional midbass), however, that isolated peak at the 4kHz mark, followed by another prominent dip, makes vocals sound fragile to my ears. I found this to be the case both with male vocals, such as John Mayer in “Free Fallin’”, and female vocals, such as Daniela Andrade in the song “Crazy” that I already mentioned. In fact, on “Billie Jean” by The Civil Wars, both vocals (male and female) sound a little thin and fragile, even impacting the higher ranges of the acoustic guitar.

As we move into the higher frequencies, this is another point where the tips are most noticeable in their changes. Here I once again preferred the Divinus with the Fudu, as they make things sound a little airier and spacious in these ranges. With the Sancai tips I would say that the upper ranges are a little too rolled off for my tastes, yet with the Divinus I feel that they are much better balanced.

Sound stage is also improved with the Divinus, becoming quite decent for a set of IEMs. It is not a huge difference from the Sancai but it is noticeable and I would say that they are on the higher end of average with these tips.

One thing that is noticeable throughout the whole spectrum is that detail is not the forte of the Fudu. They have used that 4kHz peak to make things a bit clearer and also the Divinus tips help by making the upper ranges seem more alive, however, this just adds a false sensation of detail.



Conclusion…

I can’t say that there are any glaring issues with the Tangzu x Divinus Fudu Verse 1 (I’m glad I abbreviated it to Fudu throughout the review ) but I can’t say there is anything spectacular about them either.

They are a decent performing set of IEMs but, in my opinion, they have tried to make up for a lack of detail by using that 4kHz peak, along with a couple more peaks throughout the treble.

I really don’t think it was necessary for them to do this, as I don’t feel that all IEMs should be detail monsters. Sometimes we just want IEMs that are musical and provide us with enjoyment and I think the Fudu would be great for this if it wasn’t for things becoming “fragile” with that intent to seem more detailed.

Again, I can’t complain about them, I think they are a set of IEMs that can be very enjoyable with just a little tweaking of EQ (or maybe some kind of filter in the nozzle to tame that peak) but I also can’t say that they are amazing.

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As always, this review is also available in Spanish, both on my blog (www.achoreviews.com) and on YouTube (www.youtube.com/achoreviews)

All FR measurements of IEMs can be viewed and compared on achoreviews.squig.link

All isolation measurements of IEMs can be found on achoreviews.squig.link/isolation