The Tanchjim MINO earbuds offer a compelling blend of audio quality and user customization, making them a strong contender in the budget-friendly market. This in-depth review delves into every aspect of the MINO experience, from its balanced sound signature and impressive EQ capabilities to its durable build and feature-rich companion app. We'll explore the strengths and weaknesses, examining the details that set these earbuds apart and ultimately determining whether they deserve a spot in your ears.Our analysis covers the MINO's sound performance, detailing its strengths and weaknesses across various frequency ranges. We'll also dissect the app's extensive customization options, including its unique Game EQ and incredibly detailed frequency band control. Finally, we'll assess the build quality, battery life, microphone performance, and additional features, providing a comprehensive overview to help you decide if the Tanchjim MINO earbuds are the right choice for your needs.
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Sound Quality and EQ Capabilities
The Tanchjim MINO delivers a balanced sound signature, pleasing to a wide audience. The default tuning provides sufficient bass without overwhelming the mids and highs. Vocals are clear and well-defined, sitting nicely in the mix. The app offers extensive EQ customization, allowing users to fine-tune the sound to their preferences.
Beyond the standard presets, the MINO boasts a unique 'Game EQ' feature, catering to various games (mobile, PC, Switch). While this feature is handy for gamers, it requires switching via your phone. The app also features an EQ forum where users can share and experiment with custom presets.
The app's custom EQ is incredibly detailed, allowing for granular control over frequency bands. It's arguably the most comprehensive custom EQ system I've encountered. This level of control offers nearly limitless customization possibilities.
Build Quality and Design
The MINO features a sleek, well-constructed design with a lid to protect the earbuds. This addresses the dust-collecting issues encountered with the open design of the MoonDrop Space Travel. Though the transparent case is prone to scratches.
The earbuds themselves are durable, having survived multiple drops without damage. The ear tips create a secure, passive seal, enhancing noise isolation. The overall build quality is excellent; the gold accents on the Asano Tanch edition add a stylish touch.
While the case doesn't include pairing buttons, requiring a longer press to pair, the overall build and design choices indicate thoughtful consideration.
App Features and Functionality
The Tanchjim app offers many features, including customizable single, double, and triple-tap functions. Users can even adjust controls independently for each earbud. This level of personalization is rare and quite useful.
While the app is excellent in many ways, there is a significant drawback: the Android app's difficult installation process. It needs to be sideloaded; it's not available on the Google Play Store, unlike the iOS version. This is a major usability problem.
Beyond the installation issue, the app excels in allowing users to customize the earbuds to their needs, making for a personalized listening experience.
Microphone Quality and Additional Features
The Tanchjim MINO features surprisingly good microphones. They are capable of handling calls even in noisy environments, with good noise cancellation. The ability to switch modes during calls is a standout feature, improving call quality.
Additional features such as wear detection and a long battery life (about 30-36 hours with the case) make these earbuds very convenient for daily use. However, the earbuds lack multipoint pairing and high-res codecs.
While low latency is advertised, it increases when using the Game EQ. Overall, it's still a decent performer for its price point.
Conclusion
The Tanchjim MINO offers excellent sound quality, impressive EQ customization, and a durable build. The app, despite the Android installation hurdle, is powerful and feature-rich. The addition of a comfortable fit and good battery life rounds out a great package.
However, the lack of multipoint pairing, high-res codecs, and the Android app installation issue hold the MINO back from absolute perfection. Despite these minor flaws, the MINO remains a strong contender in the budget-friendly earbuds market.
Overall, the Tanchjim MINO is a worthwhile purchase for users prioritizing a balanced sound signature, extensive customization options, and a comfortable fit. While not perfect, the pros significantly outweigh the cons for most.