Tanchjim NORA VS Padsmith IEM

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Tanchjim NORA and Padsmith IEM use 1DD and 1DD+1Planar driver setups respectively. Tanchjim NORA costs $110 while Padsmith IEM costs $120. Padsmith IEM is $10 more expensive. Both score 6.6 from reviewers.

Insights

Metric Tanchjim NORA Padsmith IEM
Mids 6.6 6
Treble 6.6 4
Soundstage 6.6 8
Dynamics 6.6 7
Gaming capabilities 7 4.2

Tanchjim NORA Aggregated Review Score

Tanchjim NORA Average Reviewer Scores

Z-Reviews
IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

6.6

Cautiously Favorable


Padsmith IEM Aggregated Review Score

Padsmith IEM Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Z-Reviews Jaytiss

Average Reviewer Score:

6.6

Cautiously Favorable


Tanchjim NORA User Review Score

Tanchjim NORA Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Padsmith IEM User Review Score

Padsmith IEM Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Tanchjim NORA Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7

Gaming Grade

A-

Padsmith IEM Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

4.2

Gaming Grade

C-

Tanchjim NORA Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations.

Padsmith IEM Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

C-
  • Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
Mids B
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble C-
Average treble performance - present but lacking refinement. Some graininess or splashiness affects clarity.
Dynamics A-
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
Gaming C-
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical.

Tanchjim NORA Reviews

Tanchjim NORA reviewed by:

2025-09-04
Z-Reviews 6.2 * score normalized

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.

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Price: $109

Buy Tanchjim NORA on Hifigo

Tanchjim NORA reviewed by:

2025-09-04
IEMRanking AI 7 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
B+ Tech

Tanchjim NORA aims for a monitor-leaning, balanced presentation using a single dynamic driver (1DD) built on the brand’s fifth-gen DMT5 dual-magnetic, dual-cavity architecture. Official materials describe it as their first “HiFi monitoring” tuning with a balanced sound profile, and it launches at $109.99.

Tonally, NORA reads as neutral/monitoring with a tidy low end, even mids, and clean but non-piercing treble—bass is described as smooth with decent texture and good coherency into the mids, while micro-detail is fair for the price. Separation and layering are competent, giving a clear sense of placement without exaggerating stage width.

It’s easy to drive—rated at 16 Ω with high sensitivity—so phones and basic dongles are plenty, though a clean source helps it keep that “monitor” clarity. The trade-off is that while treble is well-behaved and non-fatiguing, ultimate air and micro-nuance trail some pricier single-DD peers.

Buy Tanchjim NORA on Hifigo (affiliate)

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Price: $119

Buy Tanchjim NORA on Aliexpress

Padsmith IEM Reviews

Padsmith IEM reviewed by:

Fresh Reviews 5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Padsmith IEM reviewed by:

Z-Reviews 6.8 * score normalized

Padsmith IEM reviewed by:

Jaytiss 6.3 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
C- Tech
Packaged like theiaudio iem... lol this hobby.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: B Treble: C- Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A+

Tanchjim NORA User Reviews

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