This is an independent review of the Xenns Mangird Tea2 which is a hybrid in-ear monitor consisting of a single dynamic and 6 BA drivers. It is priced at $349.99
Disclaimer: This is a sample that was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. We thank Linsoul for giving us this opportunity.
To learn more about Xenns Mingird products that we have previously featured on Headfonics you can click here.
Note, that this review follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read up on here.
The Xenns team has returned with the Mangird Tea2 IEM which is the successor to the original Mangird Tea. At $349, the Xenns Mangird Tea2 sits at the start of the mid-tier range of the IEM spectrum which is highly competitive.
The most critical aspect in this area is the price-to-performance ratio and an IEM’s ability to capitalize on this aspect to distinguish itself. The Xenns Mangird Tea2 is a bass and mid focussed IEM which should appeal to most listeners and represents fantastic value for money within this IEM category.
Tech Highlights
The Xenns Mangird Tea2 features a hybrid driver system housing 6 balanced armatures and 1 dynamic driver. At this price point, there is arguably a lot of technology squeezed inside.
The Xenns Mangird Tea2 has an impedance of 18Ω and 110db sensitivity however it is very easy to drive with a phone or DAP.
Design
The IEM shells of the Xenns Mangird Tea2 are individually handcrafted and are made from a German medical-grade resin. The result is a hard and acrylic-like shell that is highly durable and smooth to touch.
The shell is black and translucent. When placed directly under the light, the 6 balanced armatures and 1 dynamic driver become visible in all their glory. The faceplate melds into the shell and features a black background topped with specks of white, light blue, teal, and purple glitter along the edge.
The word “Mangird” is written towards the top of the faceplate in gold lettering which gives it a nice finish. The nozzle is fairly short in a small metal cylinder form factor. At the end of the nozzle, there is a circular mesh or filter.
At the top of each IEM shell, there is a bass vent indicated by a small red or blue circle which also acts as right or left side indicators. The overall finish of the shells is simple yet elegant and is not overdone.
Comfort & Isolation
The Xenns Mangird Tea2 has an ergonomic finish making it comfortable to wear. Due to its relatively short nozzle, the IEM needs to sit closely against the ear however when using the stock tips, there were no fatiguing issues or discomfort during the test period. Isolation was excellent with little to no sound leakage during use.
Tips
The Xenns Mangird Tea2 comes with a large selection of each tip of foam or rubber finish. There are 3 different sets of ear tips which include one foam set and 2 silicone sets.
The main difference between the 2 silicone sets is that one features a red and hard-core whereas the other is a black and soft-core. The silicone ear tips come in various sizes, small, medium, and large whereas the foam tips come in small and medium only.
Overall I preferred the black silicone ear tips the most because they produced the best overall sound and seal. The wide nozzle of the ear tips ensures that all sound frequencies leaving the drivers are undisturbed.
Stock Cable
The Xenns Mangird Tea2 is supplied with a 6N OCC Silver plated copper Litz cable featuring 8 wires and 25AWG gauging. Overall, this is a fantastic cable to complement these IEMs.
The cable is very soft to touch and has a shiny silver appearance. With this in mind, the cable is very flexible and is able to sit nicely on top of each ear when in use. During use or when they are placed in the box, the cable does not tangle easily making it convenient to use.
When the IEMs are in use, there is no microphonics or cable noise leading to undisturbed listening sessions. The cable braiding quality is excellent with even overlapping and just the right amount of tension to keep the braids in place.
The Y split and cable plug have a silver metal finish and blend in well with the cable itself. The cable slider is made out of clear plastic and does well to hold the cable in place. The cable is very lightweight and includes a Velcro strap to assist with packing it away and storing it neatly.
The cable is available in different configurations and it comes in 0.78mm 2 pin or MMCX connectors with either 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm plugs. The length of the cable is fixed at 1.2m or 3.9 feet.
Packaging & Accessories
The Xenns Mangird Tea2 comes in a black box and is fitted with a purple galaxy-themed sleeve. Within the box, you will find the IEMs, ear tips, a brown leather IEM case, an IEM cable clip, 2 adapters, a quality assurance certificate, and a VIP card.
The brown leather case is rigid and provides adequate storage space. The outside of the case is soft and smooth and the inside of the case has a suede-like finish.
Under the top of the lid, there is a small mesh compartment allowing you to store 1 or 2 small accessories such as USBC DAP/DAC dongle. I was, however, puzzled by the inclusion of 2 adapters; a 3.5mm to 6.6mm and a 3.5mm to double pin plug even though the cable supplied with the IEMs was a 4.4mm plug.
This would mean a new cable with a 3.5mm plug would have to be attached to the IEMs in order to use these adapters.
Sound Impressions
In relation to the overall sound signature, the bass and upper mids are forward and emphasized compared to the rest of the frequency response.
There is a slightly warm timbre which is noticeable from the vocal presence in the midrange. This is by no means a neutral or reference grade IEM but rather one which leaves the listener with a full-bodied and engaging sound that suits most mainstream music genres such as EDM and pop.
Bass
Overall, the sub-bass and mid-bass are quite forward and there is a large amount of the both of them. The Xenns Mangird Tea2’s thick sub-bass has the ability to dig deep and provide enough rumble when called upon.
It is not the deepest extension of sub-bass I have heard but there is definitely a large amount of it. In regards to the mid-bass, the bass texture is adequate at this price point and there is a slow decay and roll off. This leads to a boomy-sounding mid-bass which is not overdone and interestingly enough, did not bleed into the midrange.
Mids
The midrange of the Xenns Mangird Tea2 is the most forward aspect of the overall sound signature and its tuning is what produces the most enjoyment out of these IEMs.
The upper mid-range is thrown to the forefront and there is a high level of detail and resolution. Male and female vocals sound fantastic and come off with a hint of warm timbre to it.
Instrumentals are produced similarly with a high level of detail and texture allowing you to appreciate the overall cohesion of the bass and midrange.
Treble
The one area in the sound signature which is neither forward nor pulled back is the treble. Contrary to the bass and mid-range, the treble comes off as neutral and is not sparkly nor dark. It sits behind the bass and the mid-range and does enough to support the overall sound signature of the Xenns Mangird Tea2.
Treble detail is adequate at this price range. There is no sibilance or harshness coming from the treble leading to a non-fatiguing listening experience.
Staging
The soundstage of the Xenns Mangird Tea2’s is average and leans towards a narrow and intimate setting. The stage is wider than it is tall. This works well with the forwardness of the midrange as gives it a more personal listening experience.
Imaging and layering are average due to the fact that it is somewhat limited by the narrow soundstage. Both of these items could have been implemented with more finesse however at this price point is it sufficient.
Synergy
Efficiency
With 18Ω and 110db sensitivity, the Xenns Mangird Tea2 was surprisingly easy to drive with both the Cayin N8ii and Cayin N6ii Ti DAPs. USB-C dongles such as the Cayin RU6, Questyle M12, and the Luxury & Precision W2 also worked well. There was no hissing or background noise whilst the IEMs were in use with any sources during testing.
Pairings
Throughout testing, the Xenns Mangird Tea2 paired well with all sources. However, due to its midrange-focused tuning and slightly warm timbre, the better pairings were the ones that had a neutral tonality such as the Cayin N8ii and Astell&Kern USB-C DAC/Amp Cable (PEE51).
Sources that have a slightly warm tonality such as the Cayin RU6 paired well, however, did not produce the same smoothness and clarity in the midrange as a neutral source. The Xenns Mangird Tea2 sound scales better with higher quality sources with my favorite pairing being the Cayin N8ii DAP.
Select Comparisons
7Hz Timeless IEM
$220
Technical
The 7Hz Timeless IEM uses a planar-based driver which is different from the Xenns Mangird Tea2 hybrid configuration of 6 balanced armatures and 1 dynamic driver.
The 7Hz Timeless has an impedance of 14.8Ω and 104dB sensitivity which is lower than the Xenns Mangird Tea2. However, I found the Xenns Mangird Tea2 a lot easier to drive than the 7Hz Timeless.
Design
The 7Hz Timeless has a very unique design. It has a circular faceplate that is attached to a small nozzle. This makes it a bit harder to achieve a perfect fit compared to the Xenns Mangird Tea2 which follows a more traditional IEM structure where it is pre-molded to the inner shape of an ear.
Performance
Overall, the 7Hz Timeless leans more towards a V-shaped sound signature where the bass, upper mid-range, and treble are forward and more emphasized.
This is slightly different from the Mangird Tea2 where although the bass and midrange are forward, the treble is not and is rather presented in a neutral manner. Both IEMs have a slightly warm timbre.
The 7Hz Timeless sub-bass digs even deeper than the Xenns Mangird Tea2. However, the mid-bass is less boomy, and texturing comes off with better quality and detail on the Xenns Mangird Tea2.
The midrange of the 7Hz Timeless is more recessed, with less detail and texture compared to the Xenns Mangird Tea2. Midrange within the Mangird Tea2 is more forward in the overall sound signature.
Treble, as mentioned earlier, has more sparkle and comes off brighter in the 7Hz Timeless which contrasts to the Mangird Tea2’s treble which is more recessed in comparison and is neutral in its presentation.
The soundstage between the two IEMs is very similar however the Xenns Mangird Tea2 is slightly wider. Both have a soundstage that is wider than it is tall leading to a narrow and intimate setting.
Kinera Imperial Nanna (2.0 Pro)
$949
Technical
The Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro has an impedance rating of 60 ohms and sensitivity of 110 dB which makes the Nanna 2.0 Pro harder to drive compared to the Xenns Mangird Tea2. The Kinera Nanna Pro 2.0 is a hybrid IEM housing 2 electrostatic drivers, 1 balanced armature, and 1 dynamic driver.
Design
The Kinera Nanna Pro 2.0 IEMs are crafted in a similar fashion to the Xenns Mangird Tea2 where the overall shape is one that molds to the inner section of your ear.
The Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro features a dark blue and orange faceplate topped with small amounts of glitter giving it a galaxy-like finish. Both designs of the Xenns Mangird Tea2 and Kinera Nanna Pro 2.0 are gorgeous and eye-catching.
Performance
The Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro has a sound signature that emphasizes the upper midrange and treble frequencies. It has a slight sub-bass boost but not enough to lean it towards a traditional V-shaped tuning.
Compared to the Xenns Mangird Tea2, there is substantially less sub-bass and mid-bass presence in the Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro. There is more sub-bass extension, depth, and rumble within the Xenns Mangird Tea2.
Mid-bass in the Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro is presented differently where it is faster to decay, punchier, and with better texture. The Mid bass on the Mangird Tea2 is boomier, slower to decay, and more impactful hence your bass preference and appetite will determine which is better between the two.
The mid-range is forward within the Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro however it is not as far forward as the Xenns Mangird Tea2. Midrange resolution, quality, and texture are very close between the two however the Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro has the edge.
Both midranges on each of the IEMs are fantastic and are the main focus of the overall tuning. The treble on the Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro is brighter and more forward compared to the neutral treble presentation on the Xenns Mangird Tea2. Soundstage width and height are similar between the 2 IEMs whereas imaging and layering come off better on the Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro.
Our Verdict
The Xenns Mangird Tea2 IEM is a bass and midrange-focused IEM. At $349, it sits at the beginning of the ultra-competitive space of mid-tier IEMs.
Price to performance ratio is ever so important within this realm and on-lookers tend to fish for that one “all-rounder IEM” to pull them into the rabbit hole of the audiophile world. If you fancy a musically engaging IEM with very good value, then this will definitely pull you in – and in you shall go.
Xenns Mangird Tea2 Specifications
- Impedance ± 18Ω
- Frequency response range 20-36Khz
- Sensitivity 110±1DB
