Tanchjim NORA VS Hidizs mk12 x Ducbloke

Tanchjim NORA lands as a monitor-tuned set: a single dynamic with dual magnets aimed at mixing/mastering, not Friday-night fun. The presentation is flat, neutral, low-energy—the “plain hamburger” of IEMs—delivering the track as-is without sauce, sparkle, or party tricks. Expect honesty over hype: music quality and recording flaws show up immediately.

It’s very sensitive, revealing amp hiss on noisier chains yet taking power without complaint; bass stays dead flat and the treble avoids harshness while refusing to sweeten anything. This is a homework IEM: great for students or engineers who need a budget reference to judge balance, timbre, and mix decisions rather than to vibe out. Pleasure listening isn’t the brief; accuracy is.

Build is neat: a tiny, see-through shell with a glass back, a big nozzle for the size, and an interchangeable-termination cable (balanced or single-ended) that’ll puzzle some studio folks but proves handy. Fit can be quirky—small body/large nozzle means tip rolling, with even SS tips included for smaller ears. At around $120, it’s a respectable, purpose-built tool: boring by design, and the right kind of boring when the job is to tell the truth.

Z-Reviews original ranking

Hidizs MK12 x DucBloke arrives as a limited-edition single-DD collab with a 12 mm pure magnesium diaphragm, dressed in a striking red shell/nozzle. Pricing sits around $260 (about $240 on pre-order). The package is handsome: a plush, roomy case, a red flat 2-pin cable with clear L/R indicators and a tidy Y-split, plus a 3.5 mm option. Swappable nozzles exist for the MK12 line, but the supplied red nozzle is the standout for the mids—and the one trusted by multiple ears in the scene. Comfort is strong, the shell is vented, and it ships with Divinus Velvet tips.

Tonally, this is an organic, warm, downward-sloping tuning with a thumpy, fun bass, generous width, and an overall rich timbre. It suits R&B and hip-hop especially well; stage feels broad and “concert-like,” vocals come across analog and full. Treble is agreeable rather than flashy—on tracks like “Thriller” the cymbals could use a touch more bite—yet detail retrieval and resolution remain respectable. Not a dead-neutral monitor; more a musical, engaging daily driver for listeners who embrace warmth.

Against peers and prior Hidizs sets, MK12 x DucBloke carries the brand’s better traits with cleaner treble energy than some earlier efforts and a bass shelf that avoids muddle. It echoes the warmth of certain high-end references while adding a bit more upper-treble air. EQ is a playground here: presets like Sparkle (air lift), Neutral (slight sub-bass bump), and Hard-Hitting (more bass, more linear) all work well, and the Jaytiss-tuned profile adds extra air without breaking balance. Final take: a solid “A” fun set with 9/10 bass & dynamics, warm-leaning mids, polite treble, big stage, and strong technical underpinnings—an easy recommendation for those wanting a rich, vented, EQ-friendly single-DD in a gorgeous red suit.

Jaytiss original ranking