Brise Audio Tsuranagi Review

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Sound

In today’s market where we have incredible TOTL DAPs and good mid-range offers, where does the Tsuranagi stand? Does it make sense to pay a huge cash for a portable IEM amplifier, or is it complete nonsense? That’s a question I wouldn’t answer for you since everyone has different expectations and budgets. But I can give my two cents about this rather mysterious unit, so you’d have a certain idea.

The Tsuranagi is a true reference-sounding amplifier in my opinion. Its sound is so good, that you, in time, become obsessed about trying it with every possible high-end IEM in your possession. It lays down a fantastic picture of sound in a wide sound stage with an incredibly nuanced and effortless presentation. Simply put, this is by far the best-sounding portable amplifier I’ve ever tested. I couldn’t get the type of performance I get from the Tsuranagi from TOTL players’ output alone. I of course don’t count the likes of DMP-Z1 or Lotoo Mjölnir in super high-end.

Next Level

You can reach beyond the capabilities of a sole DAP with the Tsuranagi. It takes your sound to that maximum and proves that, in this hobby, you’ll always come across the law of diminishing returns. But when you want to go to the next level, that is, unfortunately, the price to pay.

Reference

The unit delivers an exquisitely balanced sound, boasting exceptional control, dynamic range, and speed. Its output remains uncolored, granting equal prominence to every frequency range, and displaying finesse and precision. The presentation is expansive and airy, enveloping the listener in a vast auditory space.

Tsuranagi excels in providing a spacious rendition of each element, maintaining its reference sound without excessive enrichment. The overall delivery is effortlessly clean and natural. When you listen to music through the Tsuranagi, you can distinctly place each instrument or sound within the audio space, experiencing a refined and separated audio presentation.

High-End

Tsuranagi embodies the pinnacle of ‘high-end’ portable audio, showcasing exceptional imaging, refinement, and separation. Its overall balance is outstanding, offering meticulously controlled bass with remarkable texture and depth. The mid-range delivers a reference-quality sound, exhibiting minimal colouration or elevation. The treble is impeccably clean, boasting excellent articulation and extension without any harshness or excessive smoothness—Brise Audio has truly struck the perfect balance.

What sets the Tsuranagi apart is the lifelike size of instrument notes and the natural timbre it delivers. Despite its reference and neutral sound, it maintains a pleasing musicality and avoids being overly analytical or cold. This balance between accuracy and musicality makes it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking a high-fidelity sound without sacrificing emotional engagement or warmth in their listening experience.

Technical Performance

Power and Matching

Tsuranagi does not have a huge power output. This is mainly an amplifier to use with high-end IEMs. However, it can drive some full-size headphones, including my beloved Sony MDR-Z1R. You might argue that that is not a hard-to-drive headphone, but I would counter with it having huge drivers that need proper voltage to be controlled in the bass region. It scales very well, despite the common opinion about it being an easy headphone to drive.

So driving full-size headphones is doable with the Tsuranagi, but you shouldn’t expect a full-size amp performance. Otherwise, the best match for the Tsuranagi is harder-to-drive IEMs such as the mighty Annihilator 2023. That IEM matches fantastically well with the unit. Another fantastic match is the Noble Viking Ragnar. That pair results in pinnacle portable audio performance which is summit-fi at present, in my opinion. I also liked the Vision Ears VE10 pairing, which provides an exceptional presentation, especially in terms of soundstage. But the VE10’s sensitivity comes into play and you hear a background noise with that setup.

Conclusion

The Brise Audio Tsuranagi portable amplifier emerges as a top-end offering in the portable high-end audio market, albeit a relatively lesser-known gem in this domain. Crafted by Brise Audio, renowned for its high-quality cables, the Tsuranagi exemplifies the company’s dedication to excellence, serving as both a test bed for its cables and a standalone masterpiece.

The Tsuranagi reveals a fantastic sonic refinement. It elevates the music-listening experience to new heights. It amplifies not just sound but the very essence of high-fidelity portable audio, offering an immersive, accurate, and engaging sonic journey for the audiophiles willing to spend that kind of cash to explore the summit in portables.

In the end, if you want to hear the best possible sound experience from your high-end IEM, the Tsuranagi is what you’re looking for. The eye-watering price might be worth it for its exceptional sound depending on your luxury to spend that much. 

The Brise Audio Tsuranagi is a recommended unit for the reasons above, so it goes to our Best Amplifier Recommendations. However, I only recommend it if you already have a summit-fi IEM and the luxury to afford one of these units. I suspect its obscurity will remain unless a more affordable version comes out, but that doesn’t sound likely.

Pros:

• Impeccable, reference sound performance
• Flawless technicalities
• Sturdy build and pro-looking design
• Japanese expertise and ”refreshment plan”

Cons:

• Incredible price bracket
• No case included for a premium device
• The front panel is quite busy with inputs/outputs

Page 1: About, Packaging, Build Quality, Design