Tansio Mirai 10th Anniversary Limited Edition or How Do We Brave the New World Order?
Well now, even though my IEM world has been turned upside down by hearing the Estrella, the wheel keeps turning and we move onward. After a many months sojourn and odyssey, two IEMs I made a swap deal for arrived at my door. The first up is the TSMR-X a $399 2+4 hybrid. Lets talk about a solid mid-tier IEM and why you might want it.
Songs to Listen to and Follow Along:
As usual, I’m going to write my thoughts in generalities, but I’ll give you a sample of songs that I listen to, that will relate to the concepts I write about. Feel free to ask for specifics, if you don’t keep up with my thought processes.
Playlist
Swashers/Bubbles - Yosi Horikawa (For imaging/detail retrieval (:00-1:00 Swashers), general technicalities check (both), soundstage depth/dynamics/layering/separation (:00-:30 Bubbles))
The Speedwalker (Live at Madison Square Garden) - The Fearless Flyers (For bass elements, particularly sub-bass/mid-bass interplay, drum kits, soundstage/layering)
DISINTER MY HEART - TRAILS (For treble response and resolution, male vocals, midrange response)
Savior - Rise Against (For rock bass elements, male vocals, layering and imaging, treble clarity :38-1:30)
When I Fall (Outta Love) - Kevin Olusola (For Imaging/detail retrieval :00-:07, tonality, timbre, male/female vocal interplay)
Fundamental Elements of Madness - Dax Johnson (For soundstage width 1:10-1:26, piano tonality)
Purple Hat - Sofi Tukker (For vocal separation :40-:47, tonality, male vs. female vocal tonality throughout, sub-bass versus midbass response within mix 1:11-1:32, resolution check 1:11-1:42)
1 Thing - Sophie Powers (For sibilance, harshness/shoutiness, high volume listening check 1:28-2:01)
Wire & Guns - KID DAD (For general tonality (warmth vs. brightness) and note weight :10-:35, for high volume listening 1:34-2:08)
Dusty Blue - Charles Bradley (For soundstage width, imaging and layering :11-:45)
Hide & Seek (Rema remix) - Stormzy (For sub-bass check throughout)
Resynthesis 3D (Binaural Version - Headphones only) - Max Cooper (For bass elements, imaging/layering elements throughout)
THE SOUND
Ooh I’m sorry, sorry that you love me; Change my mind up like it’s origami
Exes - Tate McRae
(IEM Tuning Style: Bass-Tuck (Full-Harman) Style (123 Setting))
The TSMR-X is absolutely a Harman-style IEM, in the truest sense of the word. It comes with 3 switches that alter the bass level and tilt of frequency. You can get a big bass presence that can warm up the sound or you can really lean it out and get a more upper-midrange focused sound. I found the latter to be too shrill and harsh for my tastes so I opted to use the bass settings. I found the sound I got with all the switches up (123 setting) to be my preference so all thoughts will be based on that setup.
Make no mistake about the bass, it’s all about the subs over the mids. When it’s there you can get deep, driving bass and pretty good rumble overall. There is almost enough quantity of midbass but it is not a great quality. The bass, as a whole, is good bordering on very good but my preference leaves me wanting a bit.
The lower midrange does carry good body, though, from the bass. There have been many times that sets going for this bass tuck have been too shrill or harsh. Sets like the Khan and Zero were non-starters for me because of the lack of true weight to the sound. TSMR-X doesn’t make that mistake and gives proper body to everything. It is still open with space from the bass but it is presented acceptably to my preference. The upper midrange is a mixed bag: At low-to-mid volumes, vocals and harmonics are presented with good energy and add good dynamics to the sound. It isn’t too dry, nor too overwhelmed by the bass. At higher volume, the upper mids become too much and are harsh and unenjoyable. If you are a high volume listener, these do not scale, full stop. The treble is mostly nondescript; it is there and does provide good resolution but it is not top of the line or more than class-average.
The soundstage is enough, although unremarkable: It’s wide enough, and has a little depth but it isn’t a standout in any significant way. The technicalities have more going for them, to me. TSMR-X produces good dynamic range. Bass hits are satisfying and the difference between loud/soft, thin/heavy comes across very well when playing a song like Bubbles. Layering and separation, as well as imaging are fine but do not hold a candle to a heavy hitter like Estrella.
THE GOOD
- Harman target tuning done right for my preference
- Big sub-bass quantity (if you’re looking for it)
- Warm, meaty lower midrange
- Inoffensive at low-to-mid volumes
THE BAD
- Lacks midbass quantity/quality if that matters
- Big sub-bass quantity (if that’s not your thing)
- Upper-mids are way too much at high volume
WHO IS THIS SET FOR?
- Someone who wants an inoffensive IEM for mid-volume or lower listening
- Someone who wants a high amplitude, sub-bass focused presentation
- Those who want a Harman-style tuned IEM but haven’t found their one
WHO IS THIS SET NOT FOR?
- The anti-Harman crowd
- Anyone who prefers midbass over sub-bass and cannot sacrifice the former
- The people who want a daring IEM that takes risks
- High-volume listeners
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
What it means is that TSMR-X is a good IEM. I wouldn’t really call it a basshead IEM, as some have described it, but there are times where that description makes sense, when a song drops deep because you can get rattled by the bass. It’s a better presentation of Harman-style tuning than most I’ve heard that try it, but it may still not be the set that converts you if you’re a Harman-skeptic. The times I’ve tried to turn the volume high I’ve almost wanted to throw them out the window, but when I let them be what they are, on my best desktop gear, they make an audio argument to stick around long-term. But for me personally, I can’t get all the way past those moments when they’re too hot, too intense. There are too many IEMs out there for me to have to play it that safe, but I cannot argue that these don’t have merit. It’s just when they get a little too spicy, I have to be more careful with them than I’d want to have to be. I can’t say that you might not like that heat if you give them a shot, though. And that’s going to be it for this review. Enjoy your days, and take care till next time!
Rank for Tansio Mirai 10th Anniversary Limited Edition: B
Rank With Personal Bias: B
Recommendation Level: Lukewarm Recommendation Relative to Other Options (Bass Tuck (Full-Harman) Style
Rank As a Food: Unseeded Jalapeño
), and like the tuning on 010.
I find the bass easily gets bloated with anything more than 020, and 123 is the absolute maximum bass setting.
