TANCHJIM SODA

Sources split on quantity, not quality. Nearly everyone calls the bass clean, controlled and textured, with no bleed into the mids. One camp hears deep sub-bass with real weight and calls it Tanchjim's best low end. The other finds it light and polite, with too little mid-bass punch or physical weight, and wanted more. The measurements show a shelf close to the target but slightly short of it in the deep bass.

Sources split. Most hear forward, clear and natural vocals, with the upper-mid lift kept just short of shouty. A substantial minority find the ~3 kHz push too intense over a lean lower midrange, making vocals sound thin or coarse. Even some fans would turn the upper mids down a couple of decibels.

Sources split. The majority call the treble smooth, controlled and non-fatiguing — easy for treble-sensitive listeners, though some wanted more air and sparkle. The rest hear mild-to-moderate sibilance from the 8 kHz region, or a top octave that rolls off too early.

Sources split on the overall character. A slim majority describe a lean, bright-tilted, vocal-forward sound with light note weight. The rest hear Tanchjim's most balanced tuning yet, a neutral-with-bass Harman take done well, and a few even call it warm.

Mostly positive: wide and tall, with average-to-good depth. Several reviewers note it's wider than it is deep, one calls it about average, and one critic heard it small and crowded.

“The soundstage is wide with noticeable height and depth, even if the latter sits at average levels rather than exceptional ones.”

Headfonics

“The result is a stage that feels wide and tall, but also somewhat shallow.”

B9Scrambler (Head-Fi review)

The clearest agreement in the record: precise, almost pinpoint placement and strong separation. Even the SODA's harshest critics single out its imaging as its strength.

“The staging and imaging are easily the strongest aspects of the Tanchjim SODA, elevating the entire listening experience.”

Headfonics

“What I liked about the soda is the imaging or the positional cues.”

Gizaudio (video)

Mostly positive: clear, resolving and better than its smooth treble would suggest. A minority rate its technical ability only average for $310.

“That brightness pays off in vocal and instrumental detail, capturing nuances with impressive clarity.”

Headfonics

“Detail levels are surprisingly good despite it not having a ton of treble energy.”

Audio-In Reviews (video)

Sources split. Some hear fast, sharp transients and a lively presentation. More hear soft transients, light note weight, and a smoothness that costs it bite and engagement.

Mostly positive: small, very light shells that many wear all day. The nozzle is long and fairly wide, though, so the fit depends on tips. Some found the stock tips slipped or failed to seal, and one reviewer found the shell wouldn't sit flush and couldn't be slept in.

“These things are incredibly comfortable.”

Prime Audio Reviews

“For long listening sessions, the SODA remains serviceable but not particularly comfortable.”

Headfonics

Mostly positive: the clear resin shells, internals on show and accessories are widely liked. The cable divides people. Many call it one of the best stock cables around, while Super* Review, Gizaudio and Audio-In find it stiff, springy and memory-prone. Tanchjim's 2-pin plugs are longer than standard, so the stock cable may not seat fully in other IEMs; standard cables fit the SODA.

“Build quality is excellent; transparent resin shell shows thoughtful internal design”

Ianbanz (Head-Fi review)

“the cable itself is just unfortunately really memory prone and quite stiff.”

Super* Review (video)

Sources split, and fit explains it. Reviewers who got a good seal call isolation above average. Headfonics, whose shell sat away from the ear on the long nozzle, found it poor, and Redcarmoose notes the vent lets in more noise than a sealed all-BA set.

Sources split. One camp calls it a fair price, or an easy recommendation, for the imaging, detail, kit and cable. The other says Tanchjim's cheaper Fission or Bunny get much of the way there, or that rivals near $300 add more weight and engagement — buy it on sale, which Reddit shows happening at $190–250.