Tanchjim Space PRO AT Edition's Review

 

General / Packaging / Build

Tanchjim Audio has been on a consistent run of well-executed releases that punch above their respective price points. I reviewed the Tanchjim Luna AT earlier and came away very impressed with what they can do with an IEM. Today, I have their dongle DAC/amp with me, the Space Pro, a successor to the well-regarded Space Under the hood you get dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips and very high power output to boot!

Packaging is the usual Tanchjim style and certainly not lacking in terms of presentation.

Build quality is genuinely impressive. The body is fully CNC-machined, finished with a transparent window on the front  that lets you peer into the internals.

Specifications and Key Features

• DAC/AMP Configuration: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs paired with Dual ES8262 Amplifiers

• Output Ports: 3.5mm Single-Ended and 4.4mm Balanced

• Input: Detachable USB Type-C interface

• Maximum Power: Up to 618mW @ 26Ω

• Frequency Response: 8Hz to 80kHz (-0.5dB)

• THD+N: 0.000206%

• Noise Floor: ≤1.14uVrms (Pitch black performance)

• Dynamic Range / SNR: 131dB

• SINAD: 113.7dB

• Output Level: 2Vrms (SE) / 4Vrms (BAL)

• High-resolution portable DAC/AMP architecture

• Integrated microphone support (CTIA Standard)

• Adjustable dual gain modes (High/Low)

• Fine-grained non-linear volume attenuation

• Ultra-low distortion for transparent signal reproduction

• Native DSD256 and 768kHz PCM decoding

• Efficient Class AB/H dual amplification stages

• Superior Signal-to-Noise Ratio performance

• Flexible 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectivity

• Simultaneous 4.4mm output and 3.5mm mic input capability

• Specialized app support for gaming and system optimization

• Instant loading for gaming audio profiles

• On-board virtual 5.1/7.1 surround sound processing

• System-level 10-band PEQ with cloud profile sharing

• Available in Standard and Asano Tanch Snowfall aesthetics

• Modular Type-C cable design

• Bundled with silver-plated single-crystal copper interconnect

App Features

• Supports PEQ 10 band, i personally am not a fan of EQ so i did not use the PEQ functionality, but it's a good to have feature in the event you decide to EQ your IEM/Headphone

• Gain adjustment: High or Low

• Amplification mode: AB/H (H for efficiency, A/B for better power)

• DAC filters ( i personally settled with NOS as i personally preferred the sound of this)

• Gaming EQ if you are using it for gaming

• DRE Optimisation ON/OFF

Gears Used for This Review

• Tanchjim Soda

• 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 Space Pro's stock signature is quite 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 Tanchjim Soda.

I put the Space Pro through approximately 30hours of listening before writing this. I would not say the sound changed dramatically, but the unit sounded consistent and stable throughout.

Tanchjim Soda Pairing — 4.4mm Balanced, High Gain, Class A/B

Plugging the Soda into the Space Pro via 4.4mm balanced in high gain, the immediate impression is of control and cleanliness. The Soda’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 Space Pro keeps the Soda'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 Soda is already good, and the Space 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 Soda'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 Soda's vocal presentation is already forward and expressive, and the Space Pro gives the mids excellent clarity and layering without pushing them further forward artificially. Male vocals carry a 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 Soda's BA timbre is naturally slightly dry in isolation, but the Space Pro's neutral transparency doesn't worsen this — it simply presents the Soda as it is, which for most tracks is very enjoyable. Instruments are well-separated with good air between them.

Treble: 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 Soda. 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 expansive and the background cleanliness and low noise floor give the Soda 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 Soda through the Space Pro renders the strings and bass swells with very good spatial coherence.

Comparison (Fiio KA15)

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 Space Pro has higher power output compared to the KA15

In practice, the differences are meaningful but not transformative. Out of the box, the Space Pro sounds slightly more refined and less edgy in the upper midrange compared to the KA15. The treble is a touch smoother on the KA15, bass has slightly more quantity compared to Space Pro.

In terms of treble performance, both are more or less similar while Fiio’s offering is slightly warmer in nature.

Final Thoughts

The Tanchjim Space Pro is a very compelling portable DAC/amp at around $120. Dual CS43198 done properly, pitch black noise floor, meaningful balanced output power, and the app's functionality and features all make for a package that is genuinely difficult to fault at this price point. Paired with the Tanchjim Soda, it is an excellent combination — the Space Pro's transparency lets the Soda's tribrid architecture express itself fully without adding unwanted colouration. Bassheads or those seeking source-induced warmth will want to look elsewhere, but for a transparent, honest, and feature-rich dongle with app-based customisability, the Space Pro is a very easy recommendation.

The Tanchjim Space Pro was sent over by Tanchjim for the purpose of this review. Big thanks for the support and opportunity as always.

Head over to their store if you are interested in getting one:

Tanchjim Space Pro — Non Affiliated