Overview

TANCHJIM, a Chinese audio manufacturer established in 2015 and primarily known for in-ear monitors, launched the SPACE in late 2022 as its first dedicated portable DAC/amplifier. The device features dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips in a fully balanced four-channel configuration, providing both 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs with switchable High/Low gain and a detachable USB Type-C input cable. Housed in a CNC-machined aluminum chassis with a transparent window exposing the internal PCB, the SPACE received the Japan VGP 2023 Award. Current market price is 89.99 USD.

Scientific Validity

Third-party measurements from Audio Science Review (ASR) confirm outstanding performance across all evaluated metrics [1]. SINAD on the balanced output measured approximately 115 dB, placing this portable dongle firmly in desktop DAC territory. THD+N on the single-ended output was confirmed below −130 dB (approximately 0.00003%); the manufacturer specifies 0.00017% for the balanced output and 0.00019% for the single-ended output [2], both consistent with ASR findings. SNR is approximately 130 dB A-weighted per ASR measurement [1]. IMD from multitone testing was described as low and linear at approximately −130 dB [1]. The manufacturer specifies frequency response from 6 Hz to 85 kHz [2], though independent ±dB deviation was not quantified by any third party. Crosstalk was not measured at ASR due to software compatibility limitations with this class of device. The ASR measurement suite was partial, but every available metric demonstrates excellent performance across all measured dimensions, with no indicator falling short of excellent thresholds.

Technology Level

The SPACE is an in-house design by TANCHJIM’s own R&D team, which operates a certified High-Precision Free-Field Anechoic Chamber (background noise 6.8 dBA, certified by Shenzhen Institute of Metrology & Quality Inspection) [2]. This earns credit for design ownership. However, all core technologies rely entirely on standard off-the-shelf components with no proprietary IP. The Cirrus Logic CS43131 was first released around 2015–2016 and, as of 2026, has been superseded — TANCHJIM’s own Space Pro (released 2024/2025) upgrades to a newer-generation DAC chip, confirming that the CS43131 is now one generation behind. The dual-DAC balanced architecture became widespread practice in the dongle segment by 2021–2022 and provides no remaining competitive differentiation; competitors have broadly replicated this configuration without licensing any technology from TANCHJIM. No TANCHJIM-developed patents or proprietary signal processing algorithms were identified; all relevant IP belongs to Cirrus Logic. Additionally, the specification of PCM support up to 768 kHz exceeds the CS43131’s native 384 kHz maximum (operation above 384 kHz requires USB-to-I2S resampling), and the “aviation-grade aluminum” designation is a materials marketing claim carrying no audible performance relevance. Both constitute specification inflation rather than technical advancement.

Cost-Performance

The TANCHJIM SPACE is priced at 89.99 USD [3]. A comprehensive search of all currently available portable USB DAC/amp dongles with confirmed third-party measurements was conducted, seeking products with equivalent-or-better measured performance and equivalent-or-better user-facing functions (USB Type-C input, 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, High/Low gain switching) at a lower price.

The closest candidate — the Fosi Audio DS2 at 59.99 USD — carries an ASR formally-measured SINAD of 109 dB [4]. This is 5.2% below the SPACE’s ASR-derived ~115 dB balanced baseline, placing it just outside the equivalence window and disqualifying it as a comparison target. Other candidates with confirmed third-party measurements (Hidizs S9 Pro, Tempotec Sonata BHD Pro, FiiO KA13) each showed SINAD or SNR values more clearly below the SPACE’s confirmed performance level. Products with manufacturer-only specifications claiming equivalent or superior SINAD — including the Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 (59.99 USD, claiming SINAD >116 dB) and Truthear SHIO (69.99 USD, claiming SINAD 117 dB) — were disqualified because the review target carries confirmed third-party measurement data; independent confirmation of equivalent performance is required for any comparison candidate to qualify.

CP = 1.0 (no cheaper equivalent-or-better product exists)

This result is provisional. It should be revisited if formal independent measurements are published for the Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 or Truthear SHIO, or if a comprehensive ASR SINAD test is performed on the SPACE itself under standard measurement conditions.

Reliability & Support

The SPACE’s compact all-hardware construction with CNC aluminum chassis and no moving parts is inherently resistant to mechanical degradation. However, the warranty period is 1 year on the DAC/amp unit only, with accessories excluded [3]. These factors offset each other at the 0.5 baseline. Support is provided primarily through authorized distributors (Linsoul, HiFiGo, ShenZhenAudio) rather than through a manufacturer-direct global service network. Firmware updates have been released — most recently a DAC optimization update (January 2024) and a WHQL-certified Windows driver (August 2024) [2] — but the cadence is infrequent. No independent failure rate statistics are available. Isolated user reports mention dead-on-arrival units exhibiting no audio output and a stiff included USB-C cable; no recalls or official service bulletins have been issued.

Rationality of Design Philosophy

TANCHJIM explicitly states: “quantitative evaluation based on high-precision measurement is the foundation for creating high-performance products” [2], and this philosophy is substantively reflected in the SPACE. The company operates a certified anechoic chamber for product verification, and the SPACE’s design centers on mainstream mass-produced delta-sigma DAC chips — no vacuum tubes, no R2R ladder topology, no occult audio claims. Cost allocation is primarily performance-directed: the dual-chip fully balanced four-channel architecture is the dominant cost driver and directly produces the confirmed desktop-class noise and distortion performance observed in third-party testing [1]. Product line progression is positive: the Space Pro (2024/2025) upgrades to a newer-generation DAC architecture with demonstrably superior specifications and added functional capabilities (virtual surround, microphone support, app-based control), demonstrating a clear iteration direction toward objective performance improvement. Minor negatives exist — the 768 kHz PCM specification exceeds the chip’s native maximum (no practical high-resolution content exists above 192 kHz), and “aviation-grade aluminum” is pure marketing language — but neither constitutes an explicit audibility claim. No AI, cloud, or advanced software integration is employed, and the dual-DAC balanced dongle approach was established industry practice by late 2022, limiting credit for innovation.

Advice

The TANCHJIM SPACE delivers measured performance that rivals desktop DAC/amplifiers in a compact portable form factor. SINAD of approximately 115 dB (balanced), THD+N below 0.00003%, and SNR of approximately 130 dB are all confirmed by third-party testing [1]. At 89.99 USD, no portable dongle with equivalent confirmed measured performance was identified at a lower price point.

The product carries no microphone input support and includes no DSP or EQ capability. Volume settings reset on each disconnection, which may require adjustment at every use session. The included USB-C cable has received mixed feedback from users; a quality third-party cable may improve connection reliability. Support is primarily distributor-based with a 1-year warranty.

Users requiring additional functionality such as microphone input, virtual surround processing, or app-based EQ should evaluate TANCHJIM’s higher-tier Space Pro, which upgrades the DAC architecture and adds these capabilities at a higher price. For users whose primary requirement is objective measured audio performance without additional features, the SPACE’s third-party-confirmed measurements make it a fully capable choice at its current market price.

References

[1] Audio Science Review - “TANCHJIM Space Portable Headphone Adapter Review” - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/tanchjim-space-portable-headphone-adapter-review.46231/ - accessed 2026-05-07; partial measurements (SINAD balanced, THD+N SE, SNR) due to software compatibility limitations

[2] TANCHJIM - “SPACE Official Product Page” - https://tanchjim.com/en/products/dac/space/ - accessed 2026-05-07

[3] Linsoul Audio - “TANCHJIM SPACE” - https://www.linsoul.com/products/tanchjim-space - accessed 2026-05-07

[4] Audio Science Review - “Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review” - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fosi-audio-ds2-portable-dac-amp-review.57063/ - accessed 2026-05-07; formal SINAD measurement 109 dB

(2026.5.10)