General / Packaging / Build
EPZ Audio has been on a consistent run of well-executed releases that punch above their respective price points. I reviewed the EPZ P40 earlier and came away very impressed with what they can do with an IEM. Today, I have their dongle DAC/amp with me, the TP35 Pro, a successor to the well-regarded TP35 and EPZ's most feature-complete portable source to date. Under the hood you get dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, 112mW single-ended and 262mW balanced output at 32Ω, PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256 support, and Walk Play app compatibility. All of that for around $70. Let's see how it holds up.
Packaging is clean and professional compact black box with the TP35 Pro's image up front and specs on the rear. Open it and the unit sits in a foam cut-out, with the USB-C to USB-C cable and USB-C to USB-A adapter tucked underneath. The included cable is a braided silver-plated OFC design that looks and feels noticeably better than the copper cable bundled with the original TP35. Not the most generous accessory package, but everything you need is there.
Build quality is genuinely impressive. The body is fully CNC-machined from 7-series aviation-grade aluminium, finished with a tempered glass window on both faces that lets you peer into the internals and shows the LED indicator. The Golden Hour colourway I have here is a shimmering blue-to-yellow gradient that looks far better in person than any photo can capture. It's one of the prettiest dongles I've held. The two side buttons are tactile and clicky. At roughly 20g, the TP35 Pro is light and pocketable without feeling cheap. Build is a clear A+ for the price.
Features/Specifications
DAC Chip: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43198
Output Power: 112mW SE (3.5mm) / 262mW BAL (4.4mm) @ 32Ω
PCM Support: Up to 32-bit/384kHz
DSD Support: DSD64/128/256
SNR: ≥131dB (SE) / ≥133dB (BAL)
THD+N: <0.0005% (SE) / <0.0006% (BAL)
Volume Steps: 60 steps (hardware volume control)
Gain Modes: Low / High (short press both buttons simultaneously)
PCM Filters: Fast Roll-Off, Fast Roll-Off Phase Compensated, Slow Roll-Off, Slow Roll-Off Phase Compensated, Non-OS
UAC Mode: UAC 2.0 default / UAC 1.0 for PS5, Switch, Xbox (hold + button while plugging in)
Microphone support: 3.5mm SE output
Walk Play App: Android and Windows (10-band PEQ, firmware update, PCM filter selection, gain adjustment, mic monitoring, balance control)
The app is genuinely one of the most compelling selling points of the TP35 Pro and the thing that separates it clearly from the original TP35. The 10-band PEQ is intuitive to use once you've registered an account, and importantly, any PEQ preset you build saves directly onto the unit itself — meaning your custom settings travel with the dongle across any source device without needing the app open. That is a meaningful practical advantage. My personal go-to for the P40 pairing is the Non-OS filter with a very slight sub-bass shelf of +1.5dB — it adds just a touch of organic warmth without sacrificing the TP35 Pro's inherent clarity.
The only real limitation is app support for iOS users — the Walk Play app is Android and Windows only. iOS users have to access the web app via browser, which is functional but less seamless.
Gears Used for This Review
EPZ P40 (1DD + 3BA tribrid, reference listening IEM)
Apple Music, Tidal, foobar2k (FLAC, 24-bit/96kHz and above)
Aune AR5000 Headphone
Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone's ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far.
Sound Impression
The TP35 Pro's stock signature is neutral and transparent leaning — clean, precise, and notably free of any obvious colouration. The dual CS43198 implementation here presents music in a very honest manner: what your IEM sounds like, this will faithfully reproduce, without adding warmth, without smoothing over roughness, and without artificially elevating any frequency region. It is the kind of source that functions as a clean studio window rather than a flattering lens. The noise floor is pitch black throughout — not once did I detect background hiss with the EPZ P40, which is a sensitive IEM with multiple driver types, and that speaks well to the separation between analog and digital stages.
I put the TP35 Pro through approximately 100 hours of listening before writing this. I would not say the sound changed dramatically, but the unit sounded consistent and stable throughout.
EPZ P40 Pairing — 4.4mm Balanced, High Gain
The EPZ P40 is a 1DD + 3BA tribrid configuration with an 8mm liquid silicone dynamic driver handling bass duties alongside two Knowles balanced armatures for mids and one additional BA for highs. It is a lively, slightly W-shaped set with a forward midrange, punchy bass, and crisp BA treble. Sensitivity is moderate, scaling noticeably with source quality.
Plugging the P40 into the TP35 Pro via 4.4mm balanced in high gain, the immediate impression is of control and cleanliness. The P40's already energetic presentation is given a firm, organised backbone — bass tightens up, the midrange gains better layering, and the treble BA sits precisely without glare.
Bass: The TP35 Pro keeps the P40's low end taut and fast. The dynamic driver's mid-bass punch comes through cleanly without any looseness or added warmth. Sub-bass extension on the P40 is already good, and the TP35 Pro lets it rumble with authority when the track calls for it. Listening to Slipknot's People = Crap!, every kick drum hit is rendered with tight definition — each hit lands and clears quickly without smearing into the following beat. The bass does not bleed into the mids at all. Those looking for a source that adds warmth or bass weight to the P40's low end should look elsewhere or use the PEQ, but the stock presentation here is tight, honest, and very satisfying for fast-paced metal and rock.
Mids: This is where the pairing genuinely shines. The P40's vocal presentation is already forward and expressive, and the TP35 Pro gives the mids excellent clarity and layering without pushing them further forward artificially. Male vocals carry good body — Zhao Peng's baritone sits full and textured, positioned roughly 3-4 steps in front of you. Female vocals are open and articulate, Faye Wang's delicate phrasing comes through with natural timbre and no trace of hardness in the upper registers. The P40's BA timbre is naturally slightly dry in isolation, but the TP35 Pro's neutral transparency doesn't worsen this — it simply presents the P40 as it is, which for most tracks is very enjoyable. Instruments are well-separated with good air between them.
Treble: The P40's BA tweeter has decent extension and sparkle, and the TP35 Pro surfaces that quality faithfully. Hi-hats and cymbal strikes come through with crisp definition and natural decay. There is a slight analytical crispness to the overall presentation in stock mode — detail retrieval is very good, micro-details are more audible compared to a basic dongle — but it never crosses into harsh or sibilant territory with the P40. Those sensitive to upper-frequency energy may want to try the Non-OS PCM filter or tame a dB or two around 6kHz via PEQ.
Soundstage and Imaging: Soundstage is not dramatically expanded by the TP35 Pro, but the background cleanliness and low noise floor give the P40 more room to breathe. The stage feels more organised and spacious compared to a basic entry-level dongle. Imaging is solid — instrument placement is precise and stable, layering is convincing, and separation during complex passages holds up well. Hans Zimmer's Why So Serious is a good test, and the P40 through the TP35 Pro renders the strings and bass swells with very good spatial coherence.
Comparison (EPZ TP35 Original)
The original TP35 is the natural reference point here. Both units share the same dual CS43198 DAC chip configuration, CNC aluminium body, and fundamentally similar tuning philosophy — neutral, transparent, and clean. On paper, the TP35 Pro is primarily an upgrade in output power (150mW → 262mW balanced) and the addition of Walk Play app support.
In practice, the differences are meaningful but not transformative. Out of the box, the TP35 Pro sounds slightly more refined and less edgy in the upper midrange compared to the original. The treble is a touch smoother while retaining the same level of detail. Bass has marginally better control at higher volumes.
The real differentiator is the Walk Play app. The ability to apply 10-band PEQ that saves to the device itself is a practical game changer that the original TP35 simply does not offer. If your listening is done exclusively at stock settings, the original TP35 is still a solid performer for its price. But if you plan to EQ at all, or want UAC 1.0 gaming mode, mic support, or more power headroom, the TP35 Pro is the obvious choice. The asking price gap is justified.
Final Thoughts
The EPZ TP35 Pro is a very compelling portable DAC/amp at around $70. Dual CS43198 done properly, pitch black noise floor, meaningful balanced output power, and the Walk Play app's PEQ all make for a package that is genuinely difficult to fault at this price point. Paired with the EPZ P40, it is an excellent combination — the TP35 Pro's transparency lets the P40's tribrid architecture express itself fully without adding unwanted colouration. For a more forward and energetic pairing, the Non-OS filter with a modest low-end PEQ lift is all you need.
It does lean analytical stock, so bassheads or those seeking source-induced warmth will want to spend time with the PEQ before judging it. But for a transparent, honest, and feature-rich dongle with app-based customisability, the TP35 Pro is a very easy recommendation.
The EPZ TP35 Pro was sent over by EPZ Audio for the purpose of this review. Big thanks to Vicky and the EPZ team for the support and opportunity as always.
Head over to their store if you are interested in getting one:
EPZ TP35 Pro — Non Affiliated
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