Pros: Tidy but full bass,comfort and isolation, price
Cons: Original cable can be troublesome
I bought the Tennmak Piano from the Tennmak store on Aliexpress. So far that’s the only place I have seen them available, though some of their other products such as the Dulcimer and Pro can be bought on Amazon and some other AE stores. It’s currently priced at $25.99 but I got mine slightly cheaper during the big AE anniversary sale in March 2016.
Company info (from their website):
http://tennmak.com/
Tennmak Brand
Our unwavering appreciation for design motivates us to develop visionary audio products that deliver a “never heard before” experience; one that shatters expectations and leaves the listener wanting more. As one of the music industry’s most sought-after innovators, we’re obligated to provide our customers with a premier product suite for both professional and home use, with an emphasis on sleek design, high-quality materials and incredible longevity. Our products set the tone for audio ingenuity, and take user experience to another level.
Build and accessories:
The Tennmak Piano are an over-ear IEM with a single dynamic driver. They’re available in black, red, blue or a combination of red and blue. I have the black version.
The earphones came with 9 pairs of whirlwind eartips in S,M,L sizes in a silver metallic case. As of June 10th they will come with a soft, black carrying case.
*The cable on the Piano has good and bad points. It’s designed to be worn around the neck so the right side above the Y-splitter is significantly longer than on the left. On the left side is an in-line microphone with a single button that can be used to answer or end phone calls, pause music and skip or go back tracks. The button has a tactile click and feels sturdy.
The cable itself is slightly thicker than average and is a greyish brown color. While it feels reassuringly strong it does retain some kinks and bounces around a bit and can sometimes be a little unruly. At the end is a 45° gold plated, 3.5mm connector.
*Keep in mind as of 20th July they will come with the new cable.
The earphones themselves are made of plastic, are well put together and feel very strong. There is a L/R marking in white print along with the Tennmak name on each side.
Click on pictures for full size
Specifications:
Cable length
1.2m
Sensitivity
98+3dB
Frequency range
20-20000Hz
Impedance
16Ω
Driver unit
Unknown
Housing
Plastic
Fit and ergonomics:
The Tennmak Piano is very comfortable for me and I can wear them all day long without discomfort. I’ve actually fallen asleep while wearing them and didn’t realize until I woke up in the morning. They’re worn over the ear and like most custom style earphones they have a low profile and don’t protrude out the side very much.
The included whirlwind tips give a good seal but I’ve been able to use several tips from my own collection without any problems as the nozzle size is standard.
The isolation is average using silicone tips. I’ve not found any foam tips that fit me yet so can’t comment on those.
Click on pictures for full size
Sound:
I mostly use these with my XDuoo X2, Benjie K9 and Galaxy Note 5.
I have clocked in many, many hours on these since I’ve had them and I continue to use them almost every day for my commute to and from work. Because of their design and good isolation, they are ideal for outdoor use and noisy areas.
The sound signature of the Piano is V-shaped. They’re more prominent on the low end but don’t fall short in other areas as a result.
Bass:
Fantastic fast, punchy bass that is tidy and pushes the beats along effortlessly. As stated above its slightly boosted but certainly not bass head level. The sub-bass on these is just incredible. It rumbles deep and is intensely satisfying but always controlled. Probably the favorite of all my sub $50 IEMs in this department. It reminds me a bit of the bass on the Shozy Zero but is a bit cleaner and faster.
Midrange:
The midrange is fairly neutral as far as I can tell and remain mostly unhindered by the bass. Vocals sound natural with good tones for both male and female. Orchestral strings sound rich and full and musical so there’s plenty of emotion there. The Piano seems to have less of the more common coloring of the mids which most IEMs in this price range tend to do, which enables a bit more detail to come through.
Treble:
The treble has a slight boost but is never edgy or intrusive while retaining good detail and clarity with fairly good extension. The result is a laid back but clear sound that doesn’t cause any fatigue.
The soundstage is fairly wide and quite impressive, with good 3d positioning throughout. They even manage a certain degree of height in the sound.
Conclusion:
The Tennmak Piano are in my opinion an amazing IEM for their relatively low price, coming out on top of pretty much everything I have tried in the sub $30 price range (note here that my collection is still rather modest). The sound is crisp and detailed yet still remains musical with just the right amount of tasty goodness spread over the frequency range.
For some the lower mid-bass might be a little too prominent but for me personally it’s just how I like it as I listen to a lot of electronic and hip-hop music. The treble while not harsh or too exaggerated gives a good energy and some sparkle to the high end.
These have not gained the recognition of Tennmak’s other models and since I don’t own any of those yet I can’t say what the reason is. I do plan on getting the Pro very soon and am really looking forward to doing a comparison.
To sum up, the Tennmak Piano is a stellar performer in the $20-30 price range especially considering it’s a single dynamic and I heartily recommend that people consider them if they’re looking for a comfortable IEM with fun yet tidy and detailed sound signature.
