TANCHJIM Space Portable Headphone Adapter Review

[herr.jemine]

maybe a bad batch

 

[sghound]

This is a review, listening test and detailed measurements of the TANCHJIM Space portable DAC and balanced headphone adapter. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $90.
View attachment 297498
I like the transparent window so that you can see the insides. There is an LED that lights up there when you reach the maximum volume control using the toggle buttons on the side. Speaking of those, they are some of the nicest ones I have used with very nice feel and action. You have the option of using 3.5 and 4.5mm headphone plugs. A neat, dual cable USB-C cable is provided as you see in the picture.

TANCHJIM Space Measurements
As is typical for this class of devices, the software I use to communicate with them doesn't work well so I can't run all the tests. But let's start with the dashboard that I can run:
View attachment 297501
Are you seeing what I am seeing? A portable dongle producing distortion below -130 dB??? Incredible. Going balanced, the output doubles to 4 volts but it would clip so I measured it one notch lower:
View attachment 297502

In another measurement I saw, it hadn't clipped so SINAD was improved. I will have to follow up with the company and understand what is going on. Using what we have puts the Space in entirely different class than other dongles, easily matching many desktop DACs:
View attachment 297503


View attachment 297504
Noise performance is superb regardless of class!
View attachment 297505

As is multitone:
View attachment 297506

There is tiny bit of jitter but otherwise, the response is again desktop class than any dongle:
View attachment 297507

The compatibility issue I have with testing causes the noise floor of these sweeps to be about 15 dB higher than they really are. So let's use them for computing max power:

View attachment 297508

View attachment 297509

These are very healthy numbers for a dongle. In case you have different impedance headphone, here is the sweep for that:
View attachment 297510

As seen, it gets unhappy around 12 ohm but higher than that works well. Even with 12 ohm, as long as you use an IEM or sensitive headphone, you should be fine.

TANCHJIM Space Listening Test
There just enough power to drive my power hungry Dan Clark Stealth headphone. It could do better but the last two notches on the volume control caused audible distortion. Switching to Sennheiser HD650, the Space had much easier time driving it and produced superb fidelity as long as you stayed away from the last two notches. In that regard, I think the output level was a bit lower than competing dongles that produce clean 4 volts of output.

Conclusions
First a confession: when the company reached out to me a few months ago, I had not heard of them and thought this would be a very low performing device. So I responded that I don't think it would do well. They assured me that it would and showed me measurements that were just hard to believe. They sent me a sample which unfortunately got lost. What you see here is the second sample. As you see, performance is just stunning. Use of dual DACs and excellent engineering has translated into a top of the line desktop class DAC but in a container that is the size of an America quarter! Functionality is excellent with nice tactile volume controls. And the thing manages to look attractive to boot! Other than finding out why it won't produce 4 volts, it is the most perfect headphone adapter I have tested!

It is my pleasure to recommend the TANCHJIM Space dac and headphone amplifier. I will be using it as my everyday adapter for my phone from here on!

-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

fantastic writeup.

did you manage to follow up with Tanchjim with regards to the clipping at 4 volts?

 

[danadam]

Now I only have 1V left !

What are you measuring it with? Why is the ADC Level always -4.8 dBFS, regardless if the input is 2 V or 1 V?

 

[Rja4000]

What are you measuring it with? Why is the ADC Level always -4.8 dBFS, regardless if the input is 2 V or 1 V?

The ADC is my usual RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE.

It has several input ranges: +1dBu, +7dBu, +13dBu, +19dBu and +24dBu.
I always use the lowest possible range for each measurement, for best ADC performance.

4V, 2V and 1V are, respectively, approx. -4.8dBFS on 19, 13 and 7dBu range.

The 2V measurement is 13dBu -4.8dB, the 1V is 7dBu -4.8dB.

 

[Rja4000]

The compatibility issue I have with testing causes the noise floor of these sweeps to be about 15 dB higher than they really are. So let's use them for computing max power:

I see @amirm also had some issues.

15dB higher noise is what I get here.
And his power vs level plot is very similar to what I get.

I don't know how @amirm achieved his 114dB SINAD and I can't replicate it.

 

[danadam]

I used the signal from the attachment (sin 1k, -0.2 dBFS, 24/44k):

• played with Foobar 2000, Primary Sound Driver, Win 11 Pro, 22H2
• captured with RME ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, 13 dBu (on Linux)

After trimming the triggers from the signal, REW shows:

• 107.3 dB with the laptop on AC power
• 109.6 dB with the laptop on battery power

 

[Rja4000]

I used the signal from the attachment (sin 1k, -0.2 dBFS, 24/44k):

• played with Foobar 2000, Primary Sound Driver, Win 11 Pro, 22H2
• captured with RME ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, 13 dBu (on Linux)

After trimming the triggers from the signal, REW shows:

• 107.3 dB with the laptop on AC power
• 109.6 dB with the laptop on battery power

View attachment 372676
View attachment 372677

Thanks
I'll give Foobar a try.

By the way, the RME is easy to feed from a Power Delivery powerbank as well, using a conversion cable worth 15€ or less.

 

[dcmabon]

Hello all, noob question. Just got this DAC amp but it’s not working with my iPhone 14 Pro (lightning). I tried getting a USB C to lightning adapter, and it turns on blue, indicating it makes a connection, however the iPhone still plays audio through the speaker. When I use the regular iPhone 1/8” to lightning dongle, it works fine. Is this is known issue or maybe I’m overlooked something simple? I tried google and looking through the thread but hadn’t seen any answers yet. Thanks

 

[staticV3]

Hello all, noob question. Just got this DAC amp but it’s not working with my iPhone 14 Pro (lightning). I tried getting a USB C to lightning adapter, and it turns on blue, indicating it makes a connection, however the iPhone still plays audio through the speaker. When I use the regular iPhone 1/8” to lightning dongle, it works fine. Is this is known issue or maybe I’m overlooked something simple? I tried google and looking through the thread but hadn’t seen any answers yet. Thanks

You need a special "OTG" cable to use external DACs with your Lightning device.

Different OTG cables will unlock different amounts of current draw from the Lightning port before your iPhone or iPad throws a "the connected accessory uses too much power" warning message and cuts the connection.

This cable has worked well for me and others: https://aliexpress.com/item/33009721024.html
You can find it on Amazon as well.

Tanchjim also make a cable specifically for the Space: https://hifigo.com/products/tanchjim-space-otg

 

[dcmabon]

You need a special "OTG" cable to use external DACs with your Lightning device.

Different OTG cables will unlock different amounts of current draw from the Lightning port before your iPhone or iPad throws a "the connected accessory uses too much power" warning message and cuts the connection.

This cable has worked well for me and others: https://aliexpress.com/item/33009721024.html
You can find it on Amazon as well.

Tanchjim also make a cable specifically for the Space: https://hifigo.com/products/tanchjim-space-otg

Awesome! Thank you so much

 

[SloPoke]

Is there a mac compatible firmware update tool/files for the Space?

I see a firmware update tool on the Tanchjim website but seems like its PC only?

Have read that can stop volume resetting to low default with firmware upgrade...

 

[GeorgeWalk]

Hello all, noob question. Just got this DAC amp but it’s not working with my iPhone 14 Pro (lightning). I tried getting a USB C to lightning adapter, and it turns on blue, indicating it makes a connection, however the iPhone still plays audio through the speaker. When I use the regular iPhone 1/8” to lightning dongle, it works fine. Is this is known issue or maybe I’m overlooked something simple? I tried google and looking through the thread but hadn’t seen any answers yet. Thanks

I hadn't used mine with my iPhone 14 in a while so I got it out and tried it. I had the same problem. I tried multiple cables and none would work. The unit worked fine connected to my Mac. I did some research and I found out that Apple recently made a change and the cables need to be Apple MFi (Made For iPhone). I plugged in my Apple Camera adapter and a USB cable and the dongle worked fine when connected to the iPhone.

So I ordered some new MFi certified cables on Amazon.

I hate paying this Apple tax.

 

[staticV3]

I hadn't used mine with my iPhone 14 in a while so I got it out and tried it. I had the same problem. I tried multiple cables and none would work. The unit worked fine connected to my Mac. I did some research and I found out that Apple recently made a change and the cables need to be Apple MFi (Made For iPhone). I plugged in my Apple Camera adapter and a USB cable and the dongle worked fine when connected to the iPhone.

So I ordered some new MFi certified cables on Amazon.

I hate paying this Apple tax.

Careful:
MFi does not automatically mean that the cable will work with USB-powered accessories.

For that you need a special "OTG" cable, like the ones I linked above.

97% of MFi cables sold on Amazon etc. will charge your device, will give you file transfer to your Mac, but will not make your iPhone power the Tanchjim Space.

This includes Apple's own, original Lightning to USB-C cables.

 

[Steven.]

i just bought this,but i can't even download the driver. it show on my setting but i can't found on my desktop and anywhere. and i can't volume up idk why. please help me.

 

[VientoB]

Is the firmware update worth installing?

 

[GeorgeWalk]

Careful:
MFi does not automatically mean that the cable will work with USB-powered accessories.

For that you need a special "OTG" cable, like the ones I linked above.

97% of MFi cables sold on Amazon etc. will charge your device, will give you file transfer to your Mac, but will not make your iPhone power the Tanchjim Space.

This includes Apple's own, original Lightning to USB-C cables.

I ordered a couple of different cables. I found this one worked.

Amazon.com

 

[VientoB]

Can anyone help with sourcing the windows driver and also the latest firmware update for the Space? I’m having trouble finding them.

 

[staticV3]

Can anyone help with sourcing the windows driver and also the latest firmware update for the Space? I’m having trouble finding them.

https://tanchjim.com/services/

 

[VientoB]

https://tanchjim.com/services/

Thanks. No idea how to install it though.

 

[staticV3]

Thanks. No idea how to install it though.

1. Download the .zip

2. Unzip the .zip

3. Double-click the unzipped .exe

4. Done