Christopher Coke Posted: Aug 22, 2022 4:00 PM Category: Hardware Reviews 0
We review a lot of earphones at MMORPG, and often, they can cost a pretty penny to pick up for yourself. But for many of us, the idea of spending more than $50 on a pair of in-ear monitors is out of reach. So today, we’re visiting the more affordable end of the pricing spectrum with the Tangzu Shimin Li . Featuring a single dynamic driver design, full metal ear pieces, detachable cable, and clarity-focused tuning, they come to market at only $35. It’s an impressive offering for that price, but does it sound as good as it looks on paper?
We would like to thank HifiGo for providing the sample for this review.
The single dynamic driver craze is still going strong, and the Shimin Li are the latest earphones to adopt the design. As is often the case, sometimes it’s the simplest things that work the best, and we’ve seen impressive results from other brands, like the Moondrop Kato or Thieaudio Elixir . It’s also an effective way to keep costs down, which is why some of the best budget IEMs use single-driver designs. It’s biggest competitor is the Moondrop Chu , which retails for $19.99 and has been an absolute hit since it was released earlier this year.
One thing is for sure, the Shimin Li is out to impress. Despite its low price, it features full aluminum earpieces for added durability. Each earbud has a nice heft to it and feels solid in the hand, but is light enough to not weigh the ear down when you’re listening. It boasts a detachable cable, something the Chu lacks, which further increases its potential lifespan. If something happens to the cable, or you just fancy an upgrade, you can simply unplug it from the ear pieces and swap it out with any other standard 2-pin tether.
The earbuds also feature a very unique design. Available in silver or gold, they feature a glossy, mirrored finish. A flat pane slices diagonally across the middle and is flanked by a honeycomb pattern. To be honest, it’s not the type of design I would personally go in for, but it’s finishing ensures that it won’t chip like the painted earphones plentiful throughout this space.
Inside the shell, it uses a large 10mm dynamic driver. Tangzu doesn’t share details about the driver material, but describes it as being a dual-cavity design that uses powerful N52 magnets on either side. It’s clearly capable of producing a lot of sound and doesn’t take special equipment to drive. With an impedance of 18 ohms and a sensitivity of 109dB, you can connect this to any dongle or PC and be able to drive it to very loud volume levels.
The cable is actually quite decent, too. It uses a relatively thick 4-wire braid until the Y-split and then a coil up to each ear piece. It’s rubber coated and a touch grippy but isn’t bad at all. It also uses metal housing for the splitter and 3.5mm termination. The company says that it uses 5N oxygen-free copper and works very well to create a constant, static and distortion-free connection.
Also included in the box are two sets of silicone ear tips in blue and white. The two pairs are similar except for the bore. The blue tips have a moderately narrower bore, which will enhance their bass performance slightly.
Overall, the impression these earbuds provide is very good. They don’t seem like $35 earphones at all. Tangzu could have priced these at $50+ and by materials alone, they would fit right in with the competition at that price point. It’s a great first impression and is reassuring that the buds are made for daily use without fear of a bump or scuff causing them to fail early.
Let’s see how it holds up in fit and sound performance.
The Shimin Li have a unique exterior that at first looks like it may be uncomfortable. Thankfully, this is just the first impression and they're actually quite comfortable. The interior is traditionally contoured and smooth, so once they're fit, they don't cause any ear irritation or soreness.
They fall somewhere in the middle in terms of size. For having a single dynamic driver, I would have preferred if they were slightly smaller, but they're not overly large either. They should work well with most ears.
The nozzles are a bit wider than average, but I was able to use my usual combination of small (left) and medium (right) tips, so they don't veer too far from average.
Overall, fit is fine. They're not the most or least comfortable you'll find in this price bracket, but fit well and securely, and don't create problems with falling out from movement.
For this review, I conducted most of my listening using a simple CX-Pro dongle DAC. The Shimin Li are very eats to drive and don't require expensive gear to sound their best. As a budget product, they should be able to reach their potential on equally budget listening equipment and Tangzu nailed it here.
Bass: Bass is present but takes a back seat to the mids. There is alright reach, and you can feel it on tracks like D.R.E.A.M . by Jonny Craig where the rumble makes up the body of the song. Lesser sets render it almost inaudible, and the Shimin Li doesn't fall into the camp, but it's rolled off and quieter than it should be.
Bass comes in when needed to make sure songs sound mostly full, but this isn't a set for bass enthusiasts. The driver isn't the fastest. Kick drums and explosions in games sound slightly blunted as a result. There is also a lack of bass texture. Taken as a whole, the bass isn't bad, especially at this price, but has room for improvement on future models.
Mids: The mids are pretty good overall. Vocals have a cutting edge to them that makes them pop. At times, it can sound a bit too cutting, but isn't bad. Instruments in this range have improved detail compared to the bass, which makes them sound more lively (keyboards and acoustic guitars in particular).
Treble: Treble has a rolled off quality to it. There isn't any sharpness or sibilance here, which gives the set a relaxed feel. There is a lack of air and sparkle, which impacts how "bright" music and games sound. Upper register notes are quieter and the details are harder to hear as a result. But, this tuning has its place for listers who prefer a warmer sound signature.
Technical Performance, Soundstage, and Imaging: The Shimin Li has good technical performance for the price. The midrange details and brighter tuning make it slightly more revealing to listen to. But, that tuning carries with it a soundstage that varies from average for the price to sounding slightly compressed depending on the track or game. Imaging is fairly stationary, close in, and layering lacks space, but is clearly audible. For $35, it punches up in technicalities, closer to the $50 price point.
Gaming: I wouldn't recommend this set for gaming. While it will work "fine" to plug in and use, its limited soundstage and mid-centric tuning make it a second-tier choice for gaming alone. I wouldn't hesitate to plug these into a laptop to grind out a few levels, but for more serious gaming, keep a headset on hand.
While I have a few criticisms, the Shimin Li 's affordable price does a lot to soften the impact of its shortcomings. At only $35, the build quality is outstanding, so you're clearly getting your money's worth there. If you're willing to EQ, you can even address some of its sound quirks. If you're anti-EQ or don't want to worry about it, you'll find a mid-centric IEM with an enjoyable signature for pop and rock. Gaming isn't great, but doable, and the fit is surprisingly comfortable. Add in its detachable cable and you have a recipe for an affordable and enjoyable IEM.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Articles may include affiliate links from which we may earn a small commission to help support the site. Authors do not earn affiliate revenue or commissions.
Chris cut his teeth on MMOs in the late 90s with text-based MUDs. He’s written about video games for many different sites but has made MMORPG his home since 2013. Today, he acts as Hardware and Technology Editor, lead tech reviewer, and continues to love and write about games every chance he gets. Follow him on Twitter: @GameByNight
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