TANCHJIM Space Portable Headphone Adapter Review

[TK750]

Virtualbox on ios?

Pretty confident they mean PC/Mac pre apple silicon/Linux (or any other x86 compatible OS) as they specified Android x86, which is a port for compatibility. I also don't believe VirtualBox is available on iOS

 

[Jimster480]

Pretty confident they mean PC/Mac pre apple silicon/Linux (or any other x86 compatible OS) as they specified Android x86, which is a port for compatibility. I also don't believe VirtualBox is available on iOS

Yea probably.
I checked on my business iPhone and I couldn't find anything like virtual box.
The app store recommended naughty chat apps and openai chatting lol.

 

[nightskyyozora]

Virtualbox on ios?

My apologies, on a Mac or Windows host device.

 

[yafengabc]

Crazy numbers coming from a dongle, and below $100 US. This really proves that the only frontier for innovation in DACs at this point is form factor and usability, and features beyond simply converting digital to analog.

As long as you believe the numbers, this thing has performance good enough to drive a $10K speaker system and be happy with the sound.

My one major beef, and this is common to MANY Chinese audio brands (almost all of them IMO), the name sounds goofy as hell to english speakers. The hell is a TANCH and what does it have to with my friend JIM? And why are they always all caps?

Note to any Chinese audio brand reading this: I have years of experience in consumer product branding, including in the audio space, and would be happy to consult on naming, western marketing localization, and brand positioning in general, for a moderate fee.

Angel Jimmy! This English name has a similar pronunciation to the Chinese Angel Jimmy.

 

[kemmler3D]

Angel Jimmy! This English name has a similar pronunciation to the Chinese Angel Jimmy.

Angel Jimmy... something to do with It's a Wonderful Life? Not sure this helps.

 

[Talisker]

Hi Alls and Happy new year
I'm currently build a "beside table" player with the TANCHJIM Space.
It's based on a BananaPI (Open Hardware/Source) BPI M4 Zero, This computer board have 2 usb-c 2Go of RAM and 8 Go of eMMC perfect for a silent and low powered solution...
So far so good

 

[blse59]

The fact that the volume level resets itself when you unplug/replug it makes it a no for me. My trusty Tempotec Sonata HD remembers volume levels. I was on the lookout for a better measuring dongle, but Tempotec seems to have gotten it right with the Sonata.

 

[CedarX]

The fact that the volume level resets itself when you unplug/replug it makes it a no for me. My trusty Tempotec Sonata HD remembers volume levels. I was on the lookout for a better measuring dongle, but Tempotec seems to have gotten it right with the Sonata.

It’s interesting because I actually prefer the volume to reset: I just hate the 110dB blast when something “remembers” that I was using a very inefficient HP/IEM the last time…

 

[nightskyyozora]

The fact that the volume level resets itself when you unplug/replug it makes it a no for me. My trusty Tempotec Sonata HD remembers volume levels. I was on the lookout for a better measuring dongle, but Tempotec seems to have gotten it right with the Sonata.

A firmware updates added this features, careful not to brick it though..

 

[vvs.angelo]

@amirm Can you publish more data on the unbalanced output? as Load(Ohm) vs THD+N Level, Impulse and Nyquist Filter?

 

[nameless13th]

Would it be possible to use this as a Dac only and feed into a headphone amp? If so, would I use 4.4 to a balanced input, and 3.5 to RCA for single ended? Anything else to keep in mind, like how to control volume?

 

[mc.god]

Would it be possible to use this as a Dac only and feed into a headphone amp? If so, would I use 4.4 to a balanced input, and 3.5 to RCA for single ended? Anything else to keep in mind, like how to control volume?

Yes, perfectly fine as a pure DAC with connection as you already sorted out 3.5 mm to RCA. [edited, see following posts]
I'd advice setting it's hardware volume just a bit under 100% (about -0.5db) since CS 43131 doesn't like much to go at 100%.
Volume regulation will be obviously done with the hp amp pot.

 

[CedarX]

Yes, perfectly fine as a pure DAC with connection as you already sorted out.
I'd advice setting it's hardware volume just a bit under 100% (about -0.5db) since CS 43131 doesn't like much to go at 100%.
Volume regulation will be obviously done with the hp amp pot.

Could you 100% confirm? It is highly discouraged on some balanced dongles due to the (high) risk of frying up the device due to ground issues….

It is fine on single-end dongles.

 

[mc.god]

Could you 100% confirm? It is highly discouraged on some balanced dongles due to the (high) risk of frying up the device due to ground issues….

It is fine on single-end dongles.

Uhm, no sorry, I don't have confirmation if the 4.4 output of the Space is actually connected to gnd, I always fall forgetting about this since I don't have any balanced device. So surely better to stay with single ended connection.

 

[SNRenjoyer]

I just got this gem and am using it on Archlinux (Kernel 6.7.5). It works plug and play up to 32bit 384kHz with pipewire audio and the volume controls work (you need to reconfigure pipewire to use the higher Hz https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PipeWire#Changing_the_default_sample_rate). Volume knobs change the volume inside the device and leave the systems volume unchanged. Audio quality is superb, but thats just my own subjective judgement. I leave linux volume at 100% and regulate output volume on the device.

 

[SNRenjoyer]

pw-top output with a 384kHz media playing:

 

[mc.god]

I just got this gem and am using it on Archlinux (Kernel 6.7.5). It works plug and play up to 32bit 384kHz with pipewire audio and the volume controls work (you need to reconfigure pipewire to use the higher Hz https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PipeWire#Changing_the_default_sample_rate).

Yes, Pipewire works like a charm playing any supported source sample rate without unnecessary resampling but without the limitations of direct hardware output.
Can you kindly post the output of this command?
sudo cat /proc/asound/card1/stream0

Volume knobs change the volume inside the device and leave the systems volume unchanged. Audio quality is superb, but thats just my own subjective judgement. I leave linux volume at 100% and regulate output volume on the device.

I advice you to always start playing without your headphones on, since there's always the remote chance of some type of glitch with the dongle resetting it's hardware volume to max. Or the other way, always start playing with linux volume at low and then rise it up to 100%.
I don't 100% trust devices with hardware volume buttons but without a display than can show me in advance at what level it is set (in fact i don't own any).

 

[SNRenjoyer]

Spoiler: Running the command with 384kHz media playing

$ cat /proc/asound/card3/stream0 TANCHJIM TANCHJIM-SPACE at usb-0000:26:00.0-1, high speed : USB Audio Playback: Status: Running Interface = 1 Altset = 3 Packet Size = 576 Momentary freq = 384049 Hz (0x30.0190) Feedback Format = 16.16 Interface 1 Altset 1 Format: S16_LE Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 16 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 1 Implicit Feedback Mode: No Interface 1 Altset 2 Format: S24_3LE Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 24 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 2 Implicit Feedback Mode: No Interface 1 Altset 3 Format: S32_LE Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 32 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 3 Implicit Feedback Mode: No Interface 1 Altset 4 Format: SPECIAL Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 32 DSD raw: DOP=0, bitrev=0 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 4 Implicit Feedback Mode: No

So maybe I could try for 768kHz, but I dont have any such media.
Starting with low digital volume is good advice, but the maximum volume with my Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red isnt too high so I could bear a few seconds. As you said, with $pw-top I can see pipewire switching sample rates depending on media source which is really nice

 

[SNRenjoyer]

For some reason my previous message need mod approval, so it might take some time until u see it.

 

[mc.god]

Spoiler: Running the command with 384kHz media playing

$ cat /proc/asound/card3/stream0 TANCHJIM TANCHJIM-SPACE at usb-0000:26:00.0-1, high speed : USB Audio Playback: Status: Running Interface = 1 Altset = 3 Packet Size = 576 Momentary freq = 384049 Hz (0x30.0190) Feedback Format = 16.16 Interface 1 Altset 1 Format: S16_LE Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 16 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 1 Implicit Feedback Mode: No Interface 1 Altset 2 Format: S24_3LE Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 24 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 2 Implicit Feedback Mode: No Interface 1 Altset 3 Format: S32_LE Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 32 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 3 Implicit Feedback Mode: No Interface 1 Altset 4 Format: SPECIAL Channels: 2 Endpoint: 0x01 (1 OUT) (ASYNC) Rates: 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 128000, 176400, 192000, 256000, 352800, 384000, 512000, 705600, 768000 Data packet interval: 125 us Bits: 32 DSD raw: DOP=0, bitrev=0 Channel map: FL FR Sync Endpoint: 0x81 (1 IN) Sync EP Interface: 1 Sync EP Altset: 4 Implicit Feedback Mode: No

So maybe I could try for 768kHz, but I dont have any such media.
Starting with low digital volume is good advice, but the maximum volume with my Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red isnt too high so I could bear a few seconds. As you said, with $pw-top I can see pipewire switching sample rates depending on media source which is really nice

Yes, it supports up to 768 khz, as advertised on official specs, using dual CS43131. It's usb bridge goes in Async mode, which is nice as confirmed by the good jitter measurements.