TFZ T2 Galaxy Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TFZ T2 Galaxy Review

 

The King of Budget IEM’s

 

About TFZ (The Fragrant Zither):

The company TFZ (The Fragrant Zither) is Chinese Company located in Shenzhen – China, which is specialized in the production of portable audio equipments like Earphones & In-Ear Monitors.

The TFZ T2 Galaxy which I will review for now for your is the latest model in the entry level category.

 

Disclaimer:

The TFZ T2 Galaxy IEM was provided to me by the company TFZ via Penon Audio for review purposes. I am not affiliated with TFZ or Penon Audio beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.

 

 

Price:

The MSRP price for the TFZ T2 Galaxy IEM is 59,00 USD and can be purchased under the following link.

Purchase Link: https://penonaudio.com/tfz-t2-galaxy.html

 

 

Package and Accessories:

The TFZ T2 Galaxy In-Ear Monitor is coming in a rectangular white cardboard box, which has a transparent plastic cover on the top that sports information such as brand and model description.

The box contains the following items;

  • 1 pair x TFZ T2 Galaxy In-Ear Monitor
  • 1 pcs x Detachable cable with 0,78mm 2 pin connection
  • 6 pairs x Silicone ear tips
  • 1 pcs x White Carry Pouch
  • 1 pcs x Shirt Clip

 

Design, Components and Build Quality:

The TFZ T2 Galaxy is an In-Ear Monitor that is producing the sound with a 12mm Double magnetic circuit Graphene driver and is available in four (4) different color options, which are silver/green, black, blue and gold.

The build quality of the T2 Galaxy is good and they are no unwanted quality issues such as burrs or openings.

On the front of the monitor housing is the metal faceplate in silver color that sports the TFZ logo and a little screw and small vent.

The main body of the monitor is made of a transparent green plastic material that has a nice appearance. You can find on the back of the main body the webpage of the company which is ww.tfzither.com and is printed in white color.

The main part of the monitor shell sports the sound nozzle that is slightly angled and has a metal mesh on the top to prevent the insertion of dust and earwax in to the monitor.

On the Top of this monitor is the 0.78mm female 2pin connection.

The cable that comes with the TFZ T2 Galxy has a nice twisted profile and is made of a 4 core, 5N purity OFC (Oxygen Free Cooper) wire material, which has a soft rubber like black coating. This coating is very efficient to avoid any possible microphonic effect.

The 2pin male connectors have a transparent hard plastic housing, where you can find the left and right markings that are very hard to read and which is male only complain about this otherwise beautifully made cable.

The cable has built-in ear guides near the connector for a better behind the ear comfort experience.

This cable has a Y splitter, which is made of a soft black colored plastic material that sports on both sides the new TFZ logos.

The 3.5mm unbalanced (3 pole) headphone jack has a straight profiled metal housing that sports also the TFZ logo.

 

Fit and Isolation:

The monitor housing the same shape that we know form other TFZ IEM’s, which are all pretty small and quite comfortable to wear. The performance in terms of isolation is on a average level.

 

Specifications:

  • Driver              : 12mm Double magnetic circuit Graphene driver
  • Impedance      : 16 ohm
  • Sensitivity        : 110 dB mW
  • Freq. response: 5 Hz一40 kHz
  • Lowest power  : 8 mW
  • Connectors     : 2-pin 0.78mm
  • Plug                 : 3.5mm
  • Cable length    : 1.2m

 

 

Equipment’s used for this review:

  • IEM’s                          : TFZ T2 Galaxy, Shozy Hibiki (MK1)
  • DAP/DAC/AMP         : Cayin N5II, Fiio M7, Audirect Beam, xDuuo XD10 Poke

 

 

Albums & tracks used for this review:

  • First Aid Kit – My Silver Lining (Spotify)
  • London Grammar – Interlud (Live) (Flac 24bit/44kHz)
  • Laura Pergolizzi – Lost On You “Live at Harvard and Stone” (Tidal Hi-Fi)
  • Minor Empire – BulbulumAltinKafeste (Spotify)
  • Leonard Cohen – You Wnt it Darker (Spotify)
  • Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
  • Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
  • Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Tidal Hi-Fi)
  • Alboran Trio’s – Cinque Lunghissimi Minuti (Tidal Hi-Fi)
  • Otto Liebert & Luna Negra – Up Close “Album” (DSF) – Binaural Recording
  • Lorde – Team (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
  • Massive Attack – Angel (Tidal Hi-Fi)
  • Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
  • Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
  • Opeth – Damnation (Tidal Hi-Fi)
  • Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
  • Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)

 

 

 

The Sound:

The TFZ T2 Galaxy is an In-Ear Monitor with a V shaped sound signature with a bass that is pretty fast and soft, a midrange that sounds quite lush and full bodied and a treble range that shows a fatigue free / relaxing presentation.

This review is written after a burn-in process of approx. 70 hours and I have used the stock silicone ear tips.

 

The Bass:   

The sub-bass of the TFZ T2 Galaxy are showing a good depth and extension for this price range, while the quantity and punch is on an average level.

The midbass of the T2 Galaxy have a strong and punchy presentation, without any remarkable negative midbass hump.

The overall bass presentation of the TFZ T2 Galaxy is tight, controlled and clean, without any remarkable hollowness, which could otherwise ruin the performance of this In-Ear Monitor.

 

 

The Midrange: 

The TFZ T2 has a V shaped sound signature where the midrange is slightly recessed. The midrange has a warm tonality and a pretty lush presentation.

The presentation of female vocals is sweet and soft and there is no ear-piercing sharpness du to the upper midrange tuning. The only remarkable negative situation of the overall presentation of female vocals is the slightly missing of transparency and extension.

Male vocals are detailed, have good depth and are thick, due to the lower due to the lower midrange tuning and there are no negative conditions such as hollowness, muddiness etc.

The instrument presentation of the TFZ T2 Galaxy is warmish and slightly bassy, while the overall performance in terms of clarity and separation is above this price range.

Instruments such as guitars are not bass shy and have a relative bright presentation, while I highly enjoy the definition and clarity of the T2 Galaxy. Some other instruments such as violas have a warm and emotional presentation, while pianos are slightly bright but soft in its presentation. The placement and separation of instruments is in general on a good level for a entry level In-Ear Monitor.

 

Upper Midrange and Treble:

The TFZ T2 Galaxy has a soft, not very pronounced and slightly recessed upper midrange presentation, which is quite controlled without any remarkable situations such as harshness or sibilance.

The only thing missing thing of the upper midrange is the emphasis and extension of the female voices and instruments such as flutes or violins.

The treble range of the TFZ T2 Galaxy is not as pronounced like the lower frequency region, because it’s slightly recessed and have a shorter decay.

The treble tuning allows the T2 Galaxy a fatigue free listening for long periods, which makes the T2 Galaxy pretty suitable for genres like trance or edm music. The overall tonality is soft and not ear piercing.

Instruments such as hi-hats and crash cymbals have better definition and detail in jazz music than in those of metal music.

 

Soundstage:

The TFZ T2 Galaxy has a suitable stage for a fairly precise instrument placement, while the sound stage of the TFZ T2 Galaxy shows better depth than its wideness. Moreover, the stage is not very airy because there is little space between the instruments.

 

 

Comparison:

Shozy Hibiki MKI versus TFZ T2 Galaxy

The Shozy Hibiki shows a sharp V shaped sound signature, while the TFZ T2 Galaxy has a mildly V shaped tuning.

The first difference is in the subbass area where the T2 Galaxy sounds fuller and with slightly better depth and quantity compared to the Hibiki, which shows also less warmth than those of the T2 Galaxy.

The TFZ T2 Galaxy has more midbass quantity and punch, while the Shozy Hibiki is faster and tighter in the bass department.

The midrange of both In-Ear Monitors is recessed compared to the los and the highs due to the V shaped sound signature that I mentioned before. The midrange of the Shozy Hibiki sounds dryer compared to those of the TFZ T2 Galaxy that shows also a bit more body in this area.

The Hibiki is more suitable for female vocals due to the more pronounced upper midrange; while the T2 Galaxy performs better with male voices due the lower midrange tuning that gives better depth to the presentation.

The general detail level and definition of the Hibiki is a little bit better than those of the T2 Galaxy. The TFZ T2 Galaxy sounds more airy and spacious and is softer and controlled in the upper midrange, where the Shozy Hibiki sounds a bit sharp in some test tracks such as in First Aid Kit – My Silver Lining.

The Shozy Hibiki is more pronounced in the treble region, which shows a brighter and more vivid presentation compared to those of the TFZ T2 Galaxy. The Hibiki In-Ear Monitor has better treble extensions, while the T2 Galaxy is more suitable for longer listening periods. The Hibiki sounds a bit harsh in this frequency region and where the T2 Galaxy is more controlled.

When it comes to the soundstage performance, both In-Ear Monitors are showing a pretty good performance for this price range. The main difference is that the Shozy Hibiki has slightly more wideness, while the TFZ T2 Galaxy has the upper hand in terms of depth.

 

VE Monk IE Smalls versus TFZ T2 Galaxy

The overall tonality of the TFZ T2 Galaxy is more natural than the Monk IE Smalls that has a quite warm presentation with noticeably less sparkle.

Both the T2 Galaxy and the Monk Smalls are showing a pretty noticeable sub-bass rumble, while the VE Monk Smalls shows more quantity but lower extension. The T2 Galaxy sounds also more controlled in this area compared slower bass response of the Monk Small’s.

The Monk IE Smalls has more bass impact than the TFZ T2 Galaxy, but sounds a bit too hot compared to the T2 Galaxy which has a more balanced and mature tuning.

When it comes to the midrange presentation, I can say that the TFZ T2 Galaxy sounds more transparent and natural and is also more realistic with both male and female compared to the Monk IE Smalls that sounds a bit veiled in this area.

The instrument clarity, separation and detail level of the TFZ T2 Galaxy is superior to the Monk IE Smalls that has some clarity problems.

The treble range of the TFZ T2 Galaxy is brighter and with more sparkle, while the Monk IE Smalls sounds noticeable warmer and less airy then the T2 Galaxy. The upper treble range of the Monk IE Smalls is softer than those of the TFZ T2 Galaxy, but shows less extension.

The soundstage of the TFZ T2 Galaxy is more successful in term of separation and positioning of instruments. The T2 Galaxy has also a wider and deeper soundstage presentation than those of the VE Monk IE Smalls.

 

Conclusion:

The TFZ T2 Galaxy shows a nicely tuned V shaped sound signature, lush lows and mids and relaxing/fatigue-free upper midrange and treble presentation, which makes this In-Ear Monitor to a nice option for the entry level category.

 

 

Summary (plus and minus):

  • + Clarity and tonality
  • + Good ergonomics
  • + Build quality
  • + Cable

 

  • – Upper midrange extension
  • – Needs slightly more transparency in the midrange

 

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