Truthear Nova VS TANCHJIM x Effect Audio Force

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Truthear Nova reads like a remix of Truthear’s hits: the bass weight of the HOLA, the clean technicals of the Hexa, and the lively treble sparkle of the RED. Tuning tracks a preferred target by about 95%, with a tasteful sub-bass lift and a mild extra push around 4–6 kHz that adds clarity without harshness. Resolution and detail feel a step up from prior budget favorites, delivering an “easy listening” tonality that still holds up for gaming. Across a broad library, the Nova comes across as balanced, energetic, and impressively refined for the price.

Build and accessories punch above class. The smooth, shiny shell fits comfortably; nozzle diameter measures about 5.1 mm (vs. RED ~5.6 mm, Hexa ~5.0 mm, HOLA ~4.4 mm). The new case is a favorite—soft interior with a practical clip—and the tip kit is generous: six sets total (3 silicone, 1 foam, and 2 double-flange, the latter being new to the lineup). Fit proves secure and ergonomic, with overall build quality comparable to bigger-name sets while staying compact enough for daily carry.

On graphs and in practice, Nova feels like a “leveled-up RED” with fewer quirks (no impedance adapter shenanigans) and more perceived resolution, while also edging the Hexa in sub-bass authority and upper-mid/low-treble presence. It’s a strong pick for newcomers and Truthear fans alike: great tone, good tech, and an all-rounder character that suits most genres. Final verdict: a confident 92/100 and an easy recommendation in its bracket.

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The Tanchjim x Effect Audio Force is a dual dynamic, semi–open-back IEM around $280 that leans decisively mid-centric. Accessories are standout: a hard leather case, two silicone tip sets (wide/narrow bore), and a genuinely nice Effect Audio modular cable with 3.5 / 4.4 / USB-C terminations. Build mixes a CNC-milled aluminum faceplate with a 3D-printed resin shell; isolation proves surprisingly solid despite the vents. Fit seals well but sits a bit tall, preventing a very deep insertion. Sonically, bass is light to moderate—clean but short on slam and sub-bass rumble—while upper mids push forward, putting vocals front and center and occasionally edging into “too clean” territory at volume. Treble is smooth, extended, and airy, staying safe in the lower treble while adding breathable sparkle up top.

Technicalities read as clean, resolving, and especially articulate through the mids. The USB-C plug unlocks the Tanchjim app with multiple profiles plus a 5-band parametric EQ that saves directly to the dongle—great for tailoring the bass and easing the upper-mid bite. Versus Truth Ear Nova, Nova digs deeper in bass and runs closer to a Harman-style balance; compared to Tanchjim Fission (and Origin), the single-DD options sound fuller, more natural, with better timbre and separation, and a more comfortable fit. Hybrid alternatives like AFUL Performer 7 and ZiiGaat Odyssey bring punchier low-end and relaxed upper mids for a more fun tilt. Recommended for listeners who want clean, vocal-forward tuning, lighter bass, and the flexibility of a premium modular cable plus on-dongle EQ; not ideal for those sensitive to upper-mid energy or craving a warmer, weightier mid-bass foundation.

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Truthear Nova takes a very safe Harman route: clean, well-separated bass with neutral mid-bass and not enough sub-bass to deliver that bouncy, textured thump. The result is a vanilla low end that stays in the background—great for clarity, not for slam. Midrange is open and sweet for female vocals, while male vocals can feel a touch light. Treble is a highlight: smooth, well-extended, and free of awkward peaks—more refined than sets like Performer 5 and some planars, and less boosted (thus less fatiguing) than EM6L.

On technicalities, Nova sits around EM6L tier with slightly better separation and perceived clarity, trading away sparkle for ease. It keeps its composure in busy mixes like rock and metal, but the missing mid-bass weight dulls drum and bass-guitar impact. For pop, ballads, acoustic and cleaner libraries, the signature is inoffensive, smooth, and tidy—pretty much the “don’t offend anyone” take on Harman (aside from bassheads).

Comparisons: for a warmer, fuller and punchier listen, Performer 5 (and similar “Fudu” style sets) bring more impact but give up treble cleanliness. EM6L is a more energetic, slightly warmer Nova with hotter upper-mids; sensitive listeners will prefer Nova’s restraint. Kara plays smoother, airier, and scales at higher volumes but isn’t as resolving. Heyday adds treble detail and mid-bass for liveliness (planar timbre caveat), while Hexa and Sonus feel similar in bass (also vanilla) with Nova bringing more detail. Think of Nova as a mini Blessing 3 with a touch more sub-bass, not a Variations understudy. Best use cases: upgrading from cleaner budget sets (e.g., 7Hz Zero) for better technicalities, or adding a clean Harman-neutral piece to a collection. Skip if the library leans hip-hop, EDM, rock/metal, or if a Hexa/Sonus is already on hand.

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Truthear Nova arrives as a budget hybrid built to spar with Moondrop’s Variations: a 1DD + 4BA set in that signature blue shell, anime-clad packaging, and a surprisingly nice-feeling stock cable that, unfortunately, is plagued by heavy microphonics and a rigid ear-hook. Tuning skews Harman-ish and very close to Variations, but with tweaks for a slightly more balanced presentation. Bass quality is excellent—clean sub-bass rumble and tight mid-bass punch—yet overall bass quantity sits a touch low versus the prominent upper mids, making the Nova better for low-to-medium volume listening and less ideal for bass-centric EDM or modern pop. Mids lean on the lighter side: lower-mid warmth is restrained, so male vocals and cellos can lose body, while female vocals and acoustic strings cut through with clarity. Treble impresses for the price—crisp, detailed, and generally non-sibilant—though ultimate air and openness are limited.

Where Nova truly struts is technical performance. Perceived resolution is standout for the class, pulling background cues forward and rendering percussion texture and micro-details with ease. Separation is strong on simpler passages, imaging is precise (left/right/center and angles lock in), and speed & dynamics keep the presentation lively; in complex mixes the smallish stage (especially depth/height) can bunch things up, tempering “real” resolution. Taken against Variations, it’s a blow-for-blow trade with the big differentiator being price—Nova undercuts significantly, making it the more sensible recommendation. With a cable swap to fix microphonics and a touch more low-mid/bass level, a hypothetical “Nova Red” could dominate sub-$200. As it stands, this is an affordable technical king for J-pop/K-pop, anime OSTs, and anything that thrives on clarity over heft.

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The Nova comes in with a hybrid setup (1DD + 4BA) and a look that echoes the old Truthear Zero—glossy lacquer over a plastic shell that feels more budget than its $150 tag suggests. The semi-custom shape is chunky and fills the concha; isolation and security are excellent, but comfort depends on ear volume. The nozzle is narrower than past Truthear sets, yet the body’s size still dominates fit. The included cloth cable behaves well and is a bit longer than average, though it’s mildly microphonic; the shortened earhooks have firm edges that can rub the back of the ear.

Tuning is a near dead-match to Harman: elevated sub-bass, a carved lower-mid trough, and smooth upper presence. In practice that reads as thin, dry, and polite—inoffensive and free of sibilance, but not very engaging. Kick-driven tracks without deep sub content feel light due to the scooped mid-bass; when sub-bass hits, it can come off a bit droning. Vocals are clean and forward, occasionally bordering on shrill, while treble is well-controlled and easy on the ears. Technicals tick up slightly over HEXA with better imaging and a touch more 3D placement, yet overall resolution and separation remain more competent than exciting.

Against Truthear’s own HEXA, the Nova offers a small technical bump but gives up HEXA’s richer, more relaxed tonality and nicer-feeling build—while costing roughly twice as much. Versus Tanchjim Kara, performance feels broadly comparable: Kara has fuller bass but softer definition; Nova is smoother up top but still on the lean side. As a by-the-book Harman execution the Nova is fine, but for musicality and value, alternatives in and below the price class remain more compelling.

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Truthear Nova comes in as a 4BA + 1DD hybrid around $150 with a resin shell that’s a touch more ergonomic than Zero, plus an iridescent blue faceplate. The stock “shoelace” cable is light and comfy but tends to tangle, fixed to 3.5 mm. The kit is generous—case with clip and a spread of tips; foam tips get a slight nod for comfort, though performance differences for competitive play are minor.

On performance, Nova presents a brighter, airier, more open tuning with de-emphasized mid-bass, trading thump for clarity. Imaging, depth, and verticality are strong, and positional cues are easy to map in chaotic moments; however, compared to the Truthear x Crinacle Zero, Nova’s cues feel less urgent—footsteps and distant gunfire don’t slam as hard. For gaming tiers, Nova makes the Wall Hack Certified list but sits below Zero for tactical shooters and Apex-style titles. If a cleaner, more sterile-leaning presentation is the goal, Nova delivers; if maximum cue emphasis is the priority, Zero keeps the edge.

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The TANCHJIM Force goes for a “vented open-back” vibe—don’t expect true openness, but those rear vents give the presentation extra air and size. Inside are dual dynamics: a 10 mm PU-suspended titanium driver for low end and an 8.2 mm PU-suspended beryllium-coated unit for mids/treble, blending so cleanly it feels like one big, exquisitely tuned DD. Stage is wide with a clear sense of distance between singers and instruments; bass is deep, textured, and superbly integrated, with zero awkward crossover tells. Tip-rolling matters (silicone tightened things up more than foam), and source pairing shows typical dynamic-driver scaling—push it and it rewards.

Build and kit are peak Tanchjim: a light, clear shell showcasing the drivers, a huge but rigid case, two sets of silicone tips, and even a bundled USB dongle for plug-and-play. The Effect Audio co-designed cable is a pleasant surprise—properly sized, not a garden hose, with interchangeable right-angle plugs and neat touches like matching mesh and an angled slider. Sonically it’s the “big-stage + big-bass” experience done right—energetic, cohesive, and a little addictive. Priced around $279, the package feels worth ≈$320 on sound and accessories alone, making this an easy, emphatic YES for anyone chasing a lively, spacious DD signature without BA weirdness.

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Tanchjim Force packages dual dynamic drivers (10 mm titanium-dome + 8.2 mm beryllium-dome) behind an open-back style shell and a modular Effect Audio cable with DSP support and a microphone. The stock analog tuning reads as a modern neutral-bright: a leaner bass shelf from a dipped mid-bass, a single-peak ear-gain region for vocal energy, and a fast upper roll-off to tame fatigue. The second DD carries real treble extension and clarity, giving a hybrid-like presentation with cleaner separation and a slightly thinner note weight in the mids.

As a package it is engaging but also conflicted. The analog cable sounds clean yet a bit lean, while most DSP presets push sub-bass and blunt the clarity that makes Force special; the result feels more like a do-it-yourself EQ project than one polished voice. Stage size benefits from the semi-open design and extended top end, and detail retrieval is strong, but at $280 there should be a clear default that clicks out of the box. Force shows the right ideas, just without the focused, finished tuning that would fully exploit the excellent drivers and cable.