IEMs

My current collection: IEMs (from top left corner): KZ EDX Pro X, KZ Dawn, KZ ZS12 Pro 2, KZ Duonic Bass \[1111\], Kiwi Ears Cadenza II, KZ Vader Pro \[1110\], Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast, Tangzu Wan'er S.G. Studio Edition, KZ Gale, KZ Decet \[0011\], Tangzu Wan'er 2 Red Lion, KZ AM16 Balanced, G.K Kunten, KZ ZSN PRO, KZ PRX, KBEar KB01, KZ Saga Bass, KZ ZA12, KZ Symphony, Juzear Defiant, Aful Performer 5+2, KZ Phantom \[1111\], 7Hz Elua Ultra, KZ Castor Pro Harman \[1100\] also, on second photo there's Moondrop Chu 2 and CCA Phoenix, ZiSin Vermilion Flame on third (forgot to put them on first photo). Also, Hifiman Ananda Nano, but i guess it don't resemble iem :D My DACs: TRN Black Pearl, Shanling UA7, Moondrop Dawn Pro 2, Nicehck NK1 MAX, random CX31993 dongle A lot of cables (not for sound but because they look good, would use with future iem purchases, all bought on sales below 20$) A lot of eartips for tip rolling, but my favorites are TRI Clarion I'm thinking about ~~burning money~~ purchasing Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch, because I suspect I'm a bit of basshead, so if anyone have experience with it, I would be interested in your thoughts

For the past 5 months I already bought 9 iems and 3 dacs. I arranged the boxes from smallest to largest and here are the list: - GK Kunten (Top) - Crinear Protocol Max (dac/amp) - Kiwi Ears Cadenza - Simgot EW200 - Simgot EA500LM (from my wife) - ZiiGaat Odyssey - Punch Audio Portazo - EPZ K9 - TangZu Wan'er 2 (Bottom) Recently bought the Kefine Klean SV (Unboxing post coming right up) and Nicehck Octave (bought it to compare the protocol max since octave has the ES9039Q2M dac chip) - unboxing post to follow For now, I need to take a vacation from buying things in this hobby.

It all started with the fact that I needed a pair of earphones for long editing sessions and audio recording on film sets. Then I discovered IEMs. THEN I found out about all the different signature tunings and suddenly I needed more than one pair. IEMs in the photo: - Inawaken dawn Ms - Kiwi Ears Belle - Tripowin Vivace - Moondrop Chu 2 - Tangzu Wan'er - Simgot EW300 x HBB - Letshouer S08 My favorite so far is the Letshouer S08, I have tiny ears and they fit perfectly. The Tangzu Wan'er surprised me the most, so much power packed into a budget price. I don't know if any of my other small ears people experience this but the ear hooks on literally every single one of these IEMs fit wayyy too big. The top parts that goes behind the ears kinda portrude forward (attached a photo). Overall, I'm happy with this new hobby of mine.

Been a big fan of cadenza, fingers crossed for this one! Update: Love these! I used to think cadenza has more base compared to my Simgot EA500, but these are much warmer, better overall base and definitely very nice. Although one thing, I like the cable as opposed to ton of youtubers. But the only IEM cable that I have ever found comfortable is the Tripowin Zonie, so that's what I'll be using. Even the cable with these pinches the top of my ear from behind - maybe a bit of hair dryer would help but nobody got time for that. Simply used a zonie that I had on other ones. Update 2: I noticed they sound so much sweeter with Jazz, thanks to Bernie (in the comments below), I got a nudge to listen to Jazz after a long time. Also, I guess maybe its obvious but these sound so much wider with hifi muse m4 compared to the wire 3.5mm to usb c DAC. A good clean DAC triples the value IMO

\*used AI to format so you wouldn't be bombarded by a wall of text. Content is all mine. \*using Tri Clarion eartips, FiiO KA11, Tempotec Variations V1, loseless files, stock and balanced cable. I've seen two other posts here in the past two days that were a bit lukewarm towards the Truthear Hexa, so I'm here to pile on the constant glazing once more. I got my Hexa yesterday, and I finally realize why y'all have been hyping up this IEM for the past few years. **My Context:** My audio experience has been limited to ultra-budget stuff. I own the Moondrop Lan, GK Kunten, NiceHCK EB2S Pro, Koss Porta Pro, KSC75, Moondrop Old fashioned, a bunch of KZs, and some Bluetooth gear from FiiO and Moondrop. I also own some cheap, jerry-rigged shelf speakers. **The Step Up:** The Truthear Hexa absolutely blew away everything I own. For a while, it felt like something was always missing with my technicalities; my music always felt smeared, and certain sounds just didn't cut through the mix. Like many, I was introduced to the scene by a budget chi-fi company and was entranced by the marketing that "more drivers = better performance." Buying the Moondrop Lan three years ago disproved that myth for me, and while I loved the Lan, I still wanted more. Enter the Hexa. Upon first listen, the first thing that popped into my head was: *this set sounds right.* It sounds correct. It is incredibly controlled and clean, but what really blew me away was its performance on busy tracks. Stuff like Yoasobi’s "Idol"—despite being compressed as hell—sounds better because everything cuts through the wall of sound. Now I know why some shady manufacturers keep shoving drivers in their budget iems for marketing purposes, it turns out, when done properly, it can actually do wonders **Bass and Treble:** Because it handled chaotic tracks so well, I tested it with well-produced catalogs from Michael Jackson and Daft Punk. It sounded even more amazing. Despite the common gripes with the Hexa's bass, the basslines on the Daft Punk tracks were noticeably tighter. It wasn't just a blob anymore; I could actually hear the notes and the texture. Another complaint I've seen is its bright-leaning tuning. Admittedly, I did notice a very small tinge of scratchiness in the treble, but I understand that this is the tradeoff required to achieve the Hexa's best traits: its detail, separation, and imaging. **Conclusion:** Everything sounds clear and separated. I can easily pick out a sound and keep track of where it is relative to the rest of the mix without it getting drowned out. This is alone could be the sole reason for getting the hexa. If you are still snooping around the sub 80 usd price range for a technical set, I recommend taking a leap to the hexa to save you some money (if you are fan of the kind of tuning). At this point, I'm fully on the hype train. I understand it now.

dap: hiby r3 ii iem: truthear hexa ear tips: dunu s&s (L size) really happy about it. heard a lot of hate around hexa, but to my taste of music it scratches the spot) and since i swapped stock tips to dunu s&s, it gave me +15% of pleasure) should i swap the cable to smth fancier, and 4.4, or this is a myth about sound stage expansion and yada yada? what would you recommend?

Hey everyone, the other day I got my first pair of IEM's the Truthear HEXA. I've seen around that thee arent the best first buy for someone with no experience with IEM's, but I love these. Only problem is I already feel the need to get more and try out all the different soundstages they have to offer...my wallet is not going to be happy :)

It took me a while to get a more precise equalization in IEF Preference, but when I did, I simply felt like I was there in the studio listening to the recording. I really enjoyed using them with the Dunu S&S earrings. I tried them with other earrings, but they didn't stay in place well on my ear. And since it's the younger brother of the Hexa, it has the full capacity to reach very detailed treble notes and that airiness that I imagine are more characteristic of the analytical sound of the Hexa. I don't think I understand IEMs very well or have that much experience with them, but I could publish a review at some point.

I'm looking for IEMs less than $50 that sounds just as "full" and "bassy" as the AirPods Pro 2. I like the "ear-tickling" bass I get from the APP2 that I can't seem to get from other IEMs like Moondrop Chu 2 or KBEar Rosefinch. CURRENTLY EYEING: 7Hz Elua Ultra, Truthear Zero: RED

I'm not as well versed in the audiophile scene as the average iem user. I used to buy whatever was popular like the KZ zsn, Moondrop Chu, Tuthhear Zero blue and so on.. I wanted to keep upping my budget so I had decided to buy myself these bad boys and couldn't help but feel disappointed, it didn't feel as exciting as the rest did Fast forward to the current trend, I jump on the GK Kunten wagon. As I wanted to feel my first IEM (KZ) experience again, so I bought it. Indeed it is fun and bassy, but it lacked something, detail. Details and clarity I could only experience from the Artti T10, so now I see myself appreciating these bad boys a lot more than I did before ❤️ Long story short, no more buyer's remorse and I now have a 2 pairs of IEMs that I really like 🙂‍↕️

Hii, i need an opinion here, right now I've been using moondrop chu2 dsp for a year, and I'm thinking to buy another one, for now i saw online shows up the cvj vivan, is it worth it to switch to that or just stay with my moondrop chu2? Tell me your opinion or your suggestions/advice so i can make decisions... thank you💜

which one would choose for a first time iem buyer like me. Idc about bass so i excluded Kzs. Also if someone here owns moondrop chu 2 dsp then please tell me about its moisture issue. currently my fav ranking is chu2,sg2,zero2. I am complete newbie and don't know much as I never owned one. Also, budget wise I would prefer buying a type c one I won't have to buy a dac ig, like chu 2 dsp.

Hi guys. I recently bought the GK KUNTEN in the Ali official store. Bought it for $6 USD. I really liked this. I actually prefer this over my Kefine Klean (that most people recommend under $50 USD). I decides to make some upgrades to make the Kunten more "premium", so i bought the CVJ VS400 cable and the HE SONIC eartips. UPGRADES: - CVJ VS400 QDC cable ($2 USD) - HE SONIC eartips ($1 USD) In total, i spent less than $10 USD and i am loving it. If someone needs a recommendation under that budget, there it is.

It’s been almost a year since I got the **Kefine Klean**, and honestly, this is one of those IEMs that quietly stayed in my rotation longer than I expected. The market moves fast and new sets keep dropping every month, but the Klean still holds up surprisingly well. For around the $50 range, it delivers a very complete package with good tuning, solid technicalities, comfortable fit, and a sound that just works with almost everything. # Build & Comfort The Klean has a very clean and elegant shell design that still looks premium for the price. Fit is excellent for long listening sessions and I never had comfort issues with it. The replaceable nozzle system is also a nice addition, though personally I never found the difference between the nozzles to be massive. The black nozzle sounds slightly brighter to me, while the silver one feels a bit smoother. # One thing after long term usage: After around a year, the white **paint/design** on the shell has started **fading slightly** in some areas. Nothing major structurally, but worth mentioning for people who care about long term cosmetics. # Sound The Klean goes for a balanced fun tuning with strong subbass presence, punchy midbass, and energetic treble. It’s one of those sets that sounds engaging without trying too hard. # Bass Bass is probably still my favorite part of this IEM. The DLC driver gives bass notes a very satisfying weight while still keeping things reasonably fast and controlled. Subbass rumble is excellent and midbass punch gives drums and kick sections proper impact. It handles fast metal drumming surprisingly well and never turns into a muddy mess. # Mids Mids are clean and natural overall. Male and female vocals both sound good, though vocals sit slightly behind the instruments for my personal preference. It never sounds hollow or distant, just mildly relaxed. For casual listening though, this tuning works really well because it avoids shoutiness and fatigue. # Treble Treble has good sparkle and energy without becoming harsh. Cymbals and higher frequencies have enough bite to keep things exciting, while still remaining controlled during busy tracks. Extension could be a bit better for my taste, but overall the tuning comes together nicely and sounds musical. # Technical Performance For the price, the Klean still performs very well technically. * Good imaging * Decent layering * Clean separation * Handles complex tracks better than expected It’s not trying to be ultra analytical, but it gives enough detail to stay enjoyable even after long term use. # Final Thoughts After 1 Year The biggest compliment I can give the Kefine Klean is that I never felt the need to “replace” it. Even after trying many newer sets, the Klean still feels like a safe recommendation because it simply gets so many things right. You get: * Fun balanced tuning * Great bass performance * Comfortable fit * Good build * Nice accessories * Replaceable nozzles * Strong value for money For newcomers, it’s an easy recommendation. For experienced hobbyists, it’s still a very enjoyable set to keep around. A year later, the Klean still cleans up nicely

I just started using IEMs, was originally open back only. AD700X and HD560S. I only got my feet wet with the Kefine Klean, and I'm super impressed by the overall detail and sound, and actual BASS compared to using the open back headphones. What if any IEM should I get as an upgrade. If anyone could answer that here, I'd really appreciate! These were only $50, and I wouldn't mind spending a bit more if there's something out there the would really highlight IEM's for gaming. Budget $80-$150 (maybe more if really worth it) I'm using the SMSL SU1 DAC and Magni Heretic Amp by the way. Thanks In Advance!

Hey everyone! I’m pretty new to the IEM world and have been watching a ton of videos and reviews. My budget is around 50€, and I’ll mainly use them at Work - Mostly music (Spotify Wrapped says: hip-hop alt, R&B alt, electronic, indie; artists like Drake, $uicideboy$, Kanye, Fred again..), plus work calls (I’m a designer so the micro is not that important but at least 1 should have). Home - FPS gaming (CS, etc.). I’ve done way too much window shopping and now I’m completely indecisive. These are the sets I’m considering: * 7HZ x Crinacle Zero:2 — 22€ * KZ ZS10 Pro 2 — 48€ * Kiwi Ears Cadenza — 31€ * TANGZU Wan’er S.G II — 18€ * KZ Vader Pro — 27€ * SIMGOT EW200 — 40€ * TANGZU YuXuanJi — 43€ * KZ Duonic — 15€ * Kefine Klean — 43€ * TANCHIJIM Bunny — 27.5€ * 7Hz Elua Ultra — 27€ AliExpress bundle I’m eyeing: * KZ EDC Pro — 5€ * KZ Castor Pro (Bass) — 10€ * 7HZ x Crinacle Zero:2 — 18.5€ I’d love recommendations and help narrowing it down would be very appreciated. Thanks! Ps: I do like bass and currently my daily is the JBL live 660nc but i fell that they are too muffled and in CS they arent good at all.

So after days and days of videos, reviews, chats, research, learning a bit (a lot actually) i went for two IEM’s taking advantage of the 11.11 sale on Ali: - Xenns Mangird Tea Pro - Tangzu Waner SG II Jades I got those 2 one for the best I could afford and the other for beaters and with mic so I could use them at work. I got the Tangzu’s yesterday was a bit disappointed because i felt no bass at all. After a little bit more research i tried bigger tips to get a better seal and wow, it changed a lot! I actually enjoyed them! I haven’t had them for long but felt pretty good… Now, today the Tea Pro’s showed up. Holly molly!! This things are beasts!!! The Bass!!! Went for the same size i used on the waner’s and from first try, “wow” is all I can say. I’ve been hearing my regular music and I am listening to sounds I’ve never heard before! I want to keep trying with some more music but as for now I’m actually amazed!! As for now I am just starting, got this DAC for the iPhone and they sound pretty amazing. The Dunu tips are still sealed, will test them later. Wanted to first thanks this community for everything and also ask for advice, tips, and suggestions of maybe a better DAC? Better tips to take more advantage of my first and humble setup? Any input is really appreciated! Thanks again!

So I've been trying to upgrade from my favorite iem of all time the tangzu wan'er studio edition. the wan'er is pretty neutral set where vocals are forward, it veers bright but vocals have just enough body and weight/ warmth to hit a really sweet spot for me. Yesterday, i finally decided to try the hexa as an upgrade to the wan'er. I listened to songs mostly drake's new album that I like. "whisper my name", "dust", "too hard for the radio". the instrument separation stood out right from the jump, i liked how clean it was. i listened to it for roughly 30 minutes total. I sounded pretty good, and right up to my taste. I didn't like how small the soundstage was and how instruments and vocals sounded very close to each other. the treble at times felt a little shrilly but it was pretty good, all things considered. I decided to buy it. took it home unboxed it and listened to all of favorite songs on it. I've since concluded that it's very boring and sterile. it does everything pretty well but I don't enjoy what I hear at all. It's like the meme where a girls doing jumping jack on a dude and he looks uninterested lmao. I bought it from someone that had brought an extra unit like 8 months ago. i have everything that came in the package including the plastic film. i used a razor blade to cut just enough for the box to slide out. i wonder if shenzhen audio would accept it, if i return it to them. the used market where i live is pretty dead for iems, so I can't even sell it without waiting an eternity. any suggestions for what to do in this situation, or how I could avoid the same thing again will help greatly. Edit: Overall I really like the Hexa, i feel like it's soo close to being perfect tuning wise for me. i actually like the flat tuning very much. but it's like couple dbs here n there from being perfect. and I'm using the medium/narrow bore that comes with it that gives me a deeper pointy fit which makes it very enjoyable now. thanks for the suggestions. I'm def keeping it. Edit: Another day and weirdly enough i still like how the songs i mentioned sound. they sound pretty nice. but the rest of my library however does sound sterile and unengaging. I've only been listening to the hexa for the last 2 days but it got bad enough that i had to bring out my wan'er studio edition again. I've concluded I'm not bothering with the Schrodingers good sounding iem that's the truthear hexa. a little bit vocal texture and forwardness, a little bit of bass and a little bit more incisive treble and it'd have been perfect.

The Tangzu Wan’er series has been a favorite among budget audiophiles for good reason. Now Tangzu has released the Wan’er 2 Red Lion Edition, a bassier and warmer take on the original formula. At just $23, this IEM aims to deliver more punch and musicality while maintaining the value proposition that made the original popular. **Perfect For:** * Budget buyers wanting engaging, musical sound under $25 * Bass lovers who still want some control and texture * Fans of warm, smooth tonality for long listening sessions * Instrumental music listeners who enjoy rich, colored presentation * Hip-hop, EDM, jazz, and soul genre enthusiasts * Anyone wanting premium aesthetics at budget pricing **Not Ideal For:** * Vocal purists who demand perfect accuracy * Those wanting neutral, reference-level sound * Treble-sensitive listeners even though it’s not harsh * Competitive gamers needing maximum clarity * Listeners who prefer lean, analytical presentations Full Review: [Tangzu Wan'er 2 Red Lion Review](https://technologyandtricks.com/tangzu-waner-2-red-lion-review/)

I bought these 5 cheap dacs over 6 months from local market instead buying a single good 10$ dac . These 5 total costs 12$ i could get a good dac in that price 😭.I bought my first iem salnotes zero 2 in last year August and was trying to find a dac under 6$ but can't find I good one so I tried cheap dacs and wasted my money on these useless dacs . Now I have 15$ can anybody suggest a dac for this price which works good with my ipad 11 generation.

My Love-Hate Relationship with the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 I need to get this off my chest about the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2. It’s a complicated relationship, one defined equally by audio heaven and sheer frustration. Let me start with the good, because it’s genuinely brilliant. I work as a radio engineer, and my benchmark for sound has always been that natural, unforced clarity you get from old Etymotics. I don't want "wow." I don't want boosted bass or screechy highs. I want a half-analytic window into the recording—a truthful, honest representation. And in that regard, the Zero 2 is an absolute masterpiece. Its tuning is a classic; it’s balanced, clean, and effortlessly natural. For critical listening and for my work, it’s perfection. It’s the sound I’ve been searching for. Now for the bad. The part that makes me want to pull my nose hair out. I am on my fourth pair. Let that sink in. I didn't just get a single dud; I have had three pairs die on me in less than six months. And it’s not the cable—I’ve tested that thoroughly. It's a faulty driver or an internal connection that just gives up. One of them even had a dead connector straight out of the box. The failure rate, in my personal experience, is unacceptable. The quality control is, to put it bluntly, meh. It’s a devastating paradox. The sound is built on a foundation of reliability and honesty, but the physical product is fragile and unreliable. There is one glimmer of hope in this whole mess, and it’s the connector. As someone who’s now thinking about making my own cables and maybe even my own IEMs, I have to admit: this 0.78mm 2-pin connector is fantastic. It’s like MMCX, but done right—secure, robust, and top-tier. It’s the one part of the hardware that doesn't feel like a compromise. So, here’s my final take. The 7Hz Zero 2 taught me what my ideal sound signature is. It was my affordable gateway to audio nirvana. But it also taught me a hard lesson about build quality. I’m done buying them. Instead, I’m going to take that perfect sound memory, my appreciation for that excellent connector, and my skills as an engineer, and I’m going to see if I can build something myself that captures the heaven without the meh.

I wanted to share my experience using the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 for the first time. Recently, I decided to replace my Beyerdynamic DT770s (which cost me about $160 back then) and get into IEMs. I bought a pair of KZ Castor Bass just to test them out and see if they were any good, but I found their default tuning to be very aggressive. Despite that, they sounded almost 70–80% as good as the Beyerdynamics if they’re properly equalized. Now I’ve bought the Zero 2 with Dunu eartips and a cable for a better look. No complaints—the moment I tried them, I felt they didn’t even need equalization. They sound very natural and good enough to replace my Beyerdynamic DT 770; I’d even say they sound better. I’m so satisfied that I’d even say for my next IEMs I’d go for some 7Hz x Crinacle Divine or Crinear Daybreak—I don’t feel the need to spend between $40 and $100 just for a minor improvement. Totally recommended!

# Disclaimer Just want to start by saying I am not an audiophile, just someone who religiously listens to the Jade Green ones (they’re one of my favorite IEMs along with the Tanchjim Bunny). Here’s my **initial** thoughts on the IEMs as well as a comparison to the Jade Green version: # Accessories Absolutely beautiful packaging! Includes a case, microfiber cloth, two sets of eartips (Tang Sancai Wide Bore and Sonic Eartips), the new cable (which is noticeably thicker than the ones included in the Jade Greens) and the IEMs themselves, all in red. # Sound (vs the Jade Green version) If you’re not familiar with the Jade Green version’s sound, they’re a vocal-forward IEM that is kind of a mild v-shaped one (correct me if I’m wrong). **Bass:** Now, I find the Red Lions to have punchier bass than the Jade Green ones. I feel the thump lol. I’m not a basshead so if you’re one, I do feel that our opinions might differ. I thought that the Jade Greens lacked bass especially when I’d listen to R&B, so this was a pleasant surprise. I’d say it’s arguably punchier than the Zero 2s. **Mids:** Vocals still really clear and forward, like the Jade Green ones. **Treble:** treble feels nice, same as the Jade Greens honestly. Brighter than the 7hz zero 2s, but not as bright as the Tanchjim Bunny. It’s not sibilant (unless you’re extremely treble sensitive), I find it rather smooth actually. # Conclusion If you’re contemplating on buying these, JUST BUY THEM. For 23$ (or less! I got mine for 16), IT’S A STEAL, and I find the sound signature very enjoyable. Even if you don’t like the IEM, you still get a 2-pin cable in red (for your other red IEMs if you have any), as well as two sets of high quality eartips, also a microfiber cloth to clean your other IEMs. I HIGHLY recommend this for anyone who wants a FIRST IEM.

Alright so I decided to buy my very first IEM the “Aful Explorer” and this is my honest experience. I will be comparing it to my TWS beoplay ex and my headphone sony WH-1000xm4. About clarity, I could definitely there are a LOT more compare to the muddy WH-1000xm4. However I think that it is on par with the beoplay ex, might due to the warm/smooth tuning on the aful explorer or the price difference (100 for the aful and 400 for the beoplay). About bass, it is not as “punchy” as the xm4 but decent bass quality. Definitely better bass than the beoplay EX since the beoplay tuning is rather flat. I also find that the smallest tip that comes with the case hurts my ear canal a bit and build up pressure after a while of listening makes me a bit nauseous. So I will be trying a smaller tip to see if the fit changes the sound quality.

Just got the Aful Explorer, arrived today. Managed to get them only 80€ on AliExpress from hifigostore. Still a lot of money for me. I put in the cable on the left side, all good no problem. I try to put the cable on the right one, suddenly it's like it hits a wall half way. I did some gentle wiggling and got it pretty deep but when I tried playing music no sound came out of it. Cold sweat. Sound got out only when I like pushed the connector to the side a little and that would work only when it's half way in?? I also tried cables from 2 previous iems I've had the exact same issue. It's so weird to me because on the left iem even when I touch the 2 pins to their holes sound comes out right away before I even push it in. If there's ANYTHING I can do about this please help me out I spent too much on this (at least the left side that works sound great)

Instead of staying satisfied with my AFUL Explorer, I decided to buy even MORE iems to expand my collection. I only wanted the Moondrop headphones to match my Retro Nano but got the other stuff on a whim. It doesn't matter cause it'll be my birthday in 3 weeks. Might as well spoil myself since I'm far too frugal in real life (yes I'm coping and now I'm broke) As a college student in computer engineering, is there a way I can gaslight myself into thinking that this was a good purchase? I'm not sure if I even want to even return it regardless of how it sounds. I tend to buy random stuff and just hoard them. I'm sort of a collector and a minimalist. I'm still waiting for my GK Kunten btw.

AFUL Explorer is not new. Not even close. I’m skipping a wordy lead up and unboxing by hitting a few main points. - Love the case. Puck style with a zipper. The suede material to the case is very nice to the touch. - The cable is ok. Not cheap feeling but I chose a 3rd party cable as you can see in the photo. - Eartips. Good enough selection especially if these are your first IEM. I chose to use a set of modded tips (I’ll get into that a little further down) The photo does NOT do these IEM justice. I was taken aback when I opened up the box and able to look at the IEMs in person. The rich blue tones with the sparkles really is eye catching. These are not a large IEM and likely to fit most ears. My only issue with the build. Same issue i have with the Performer 5+2, as well as Truthear Hexa. There is NO FILTER at the nozzle. The openings to the sound tubes are completely “unguarded” which triggers my paranoia. This may do the same for some of you also. MY solution is to use ear tips that are equipped with “gunk guards” I chose AZLA SednaEarfit tips, specifically the ASMR Max. I like these shorter ear tips on my IEMs because they provide a deep ear fit. As I mentioned before, this specific set of tips are modded. I have used foam from a set of foam ear tips to fill the space under the umbrella or cap. Resulting in a short, filtered hybrid tip…perfect for my use and sound preference (with this set) Sound: The Explorer is a revelation. I’ve seen and read up on every review I got my hands on before buying. Each review said the same things… “warm” “smooth” “relaxing” “unique” I wholeheartedly agree with all those opinions. I think what does get missed is the details these can still reveal in a well mixed/mastered track. The soundstage is not wide, but the imaging is still superb. The bass is quite obviously notable. However, I prefer a bit more bass with this warm presentation. This is where those short hybrid tips come into play. The deep insertion plus the foam helped bring more “warmth” to the table. The resulting sound is NOT muddy nor was the treble veiled (which goes back to the details and imaging) The mids, specifically vocals, some of the tracks I listened to…the vocals seemed a little recessed. Enough for me to take notice, but not enough to prevent me from enjoying the music with this set. The Explorer IS that nice warm IEM you can sit on the couch or in bed to relax to. Is it my first choice if I want to do some critical listening? No. Is it a set I’ll pick up to vibe with my tunes…ABSOLUTELY. They perform well across genres: rock, pop, hip hop, edm, METAL! They are smooth and warm enough that JPOP and K-POP can be enjoyed at higher volumes without fatigue. Film scores (the good ones…😅) can come across as cinematic, particularly Hans Zimmer’s F1 and the two Dune sound tracks. The warm lush sound is not my preference for classical pieces nor jazz pieces. BUT, that’s just me. I really enjoy the vibe this set brings. It is my go-to for my listening session before I go to sleep. Definitely a good set to add to your collection if you have several others. If this is a prospective first set…then it’s a safe first purchase. Especially if you’re coming from TWS that are quite generous in the low end.

Heyy so I’m looking for some advice for anyone who’s heard what the Martilo, Explorer & Arcadia sound like (or other basshead iems.) I love my Explorer especially the way it does the rumble, textures, imaging, bounce and smoothness and i wanted something similar just doing what I’ve already mentioned even better and with much more bounce. Originally i went with the Martilo because it’s got good bass and good resolution and whilst it’s very good at what it does i find it sounds more like a better Defiant than anything similar to the Explorer. At this point I don’t know whether to be impressed with the Defiant and underwhelmed with the Martilo or what as i originally didn’t think much of the defiant especially when comparing it to the explorer but now I realise how much they must be punching above their weight to sound so similar to the martilo. Basically here comes my question after doing a bit of research I’ve landed on the Arcadia as it has an L shaped signature like the Explorer and wanted to know how close they actually sound to the explorer?? Also do they have better or worse rumble? Still smooth? As full bodied? Resolution, textures and imaging in comparison? Does it scale well or does the treble become a problem? Or are there any other iem that are closer but that just does everything better with more oomph? My issue with the Martilo is that it just doesn’t have the same rumble or note weight. Its resolution is nice and clear but the bass is very pointed in one specific area that gets fatiguing quickly and is both not enough and yet too much. I think i need a meatier signature something thick with mad rumble but with smooth treble. I know theres also the TMSR Armour but I’ve been hesitant to order from penon but if you think they’d fit better any info on that would also help! Detailed comparisons and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!! PS Defiant lovers who want to upgrade def get the Martilo as you certainly won’t be disappointed!

I recently bought juzear defiant and since for me it's quite an expensive purchase i want to use it for as long as possible so if i keep my iems like this in the photo, after use, that is just by closing the box lid without closing the chain(I have kept one dessicant sillica gel and also oxygen absorbent sachets), will there be any problem on the sound quality or overall lifespan?? Or do i have to keep it sealed in the given box after use all the time I use it daily as my primary iem So plz let me know your thoughts, i would love to get some advices on this

Okay, for preface - My current IEMs: KZ EDC Pro Music I listen to: Rock (eg. Twenty One Pilots, also J-Rock) Pop (eg. Caroline Polachek) Rap (eg. Kanye) Orchestrals (eg. Grand busy soundtracks) Anime soundtracks (eg. Music with Complex, chaotic harmony) What I liked in music: Warmth of the lower mid range Sparkle Technicality and details (sitting down and listening for every single detail in music is a big hobby of mine) Air and Soundstage (LOVE IT) So far, the JUZEAR Defiants, the Truthear Zero:Red and Zero:Blue2 and the TruthEar Pure. I've been through the megathread and the pinned recommendations. The main problem for me is that I've NEVER looked into the 100$ price range of iems, so reading people talking about these iems and saying "it's good for the price, the bass is good for its price" blah blah makes ZERO sense to me. I would love it if someone could tell me how much of a difference I can expect if I'm jumping from 10$ iems to 100$ iems. Thanks a lot!!

**TL;DR:** While it performs admirably for its price, it doesn't break the "budget ceiling". **Just a heads up:** *I’m just an enthusiast, not a pro. My opinions are 100% my own and unbiased by any sponsorships. Take my words with a grain of salt! Please treat this review as one person's opinion rather than a definitive technical analysis.* **My setup/testing gear:** * **DAP:** Oilsky G88, TRN Black Pearl * **Eartip:** HE Sonic Galaxy Edition * **IEMs:** **GK Streak**, **Letshuoer S15**(200-300$), Tangzu Wan'er 2(20$) **Pros:** * Great tuning * Good sound detail and clarity * Fits great in my ears **Cons:** * Sound stage is not good for me * vocals feel slightly recessed I think **Sound Review:** **Bass:** Very good. The bass has a strong impact, but it remains remarkably clean without any muddiness. However, I'm more vocal&mid guy so sometimes I feel a bit too much bass. **Mid&Vocal:** Sometimes I feel the vocal is "recessed". **Treble:** The treble can be a bit sharp at times, but it’s not a deal-breaker for me. **Soundstage:** Soundstage is definitely the weak point of this IEM. It feels quite cramped compared to my Letshuoer S15, and even seems narrower than the Wan'er 2 (though I haven't done a side-by-side comparison with the latter to be 100% sure). **Overall:** I can't deny that this iems is great for its price. I didn't expect this sound quality from 20$ class. However, I won't say this iem is like giant killer, like "You won't need 200$ iem lol haha" kinda thingy. It is clear that the Streak falls short of true mid-range iems when it comes to soundstage, etc. While the S15 has great sound stage and a calm, warm-neutral tuning, the Streak is much more energetic and fast-paced. Maybe some people will prefer more the Streak, but I like my S15's calm-chill sound. Any questions are welcome! Sorry if my writing sucks cuz I'm Japanese.

Try a liquid silicone eartips like Nice HCk co4 or the Angelears AE1000, spinfit w1 Alternative iem with small shell is s12 ultra

So I can see eveyrone is meming without actually giving advice. It's your first IEM and I get it, sounds great. I was impressed when I got my KZ SN10 years ago. I didn't really get an idea of their failures till I tried some other headphones. My main use case is riding on the motorbike. I had my KZ at 95db and didn't really notice a problem till I was listening indoors in a quiet room. They were painfully loud. After this I got some better isolating ones, reduced the volume to safe levels and heard so much more detail in the music. This was my Letshoer S12 Pro's. They were fine on the motorbike until I went on the motorway and the isolation can't keep up. My newest pair is a Kiwi Ears Orchestra. They isolate me from outside noise by an unbelievable amount, and have incredible detail as well. If you are happy with what you have, enjoy. If they lack in some areas, you can read reviews and move to a better pair. The market is ever shifting with expensive tech ending up in the cheapest headphones. You really can get exceptional sound out of very cheap chifi headphones. The hardest part is picking one to buy.

My first ever KZ or GK product, I've been purposely avoiding them because of potential QC Issues. Finally decided to pull the trigger on my first KZ IEM, a KZ PRX so I could compare side by side to my Artti T10 and Letshouer S12 Pro which I'm very familiar with. I was surprised how minuscule and basic the KZ packing was but that was expected for such low price. Immediately switched stock cable and ear tips as well. I put TRN Sea Serpent with a 4.4mm plug and Tri-Clarion TRN ear tips (L). At the beginning, I had like a little distortion like a constant popping/crackling sound on the right shell, a couple of minutes after it was gone. I'm pairing my KZ PRX with 1-bit discrete DAC (Cayin RU7) and K13 R2R DAC's, working at 43% of internal volume for RU7 and 35% for K13 R2R. Audio quality compared to my Artti T10, I could safely say it brings 90% of the Artti T10 in terms of sound clarity and detail and about 80% of my S12 Pro. I tested it with my complex latin tracks which use multiple percussion instruments, brass, piano, bass and male-female voices simultaneously. Not bad for $20 bucks. Next, I will be probably trying other KZ products like CCA Hydro and KZ Symphony to see how they compare with similar priced products like Dunu Kima 2, Simgot EA500LM and FiiO FH3. Just in case I bought KZ PRX on my dime so I'm not conditioned to say anything positive about it. **Update on 2026-04-04**. After my initial test, constant popping sounds came back on next day and it's annoying and unbearable specially under ballads, soft rock, acoustic or unplugged albums. Tried 4 different cables, both 3.5mm and 4.4mm, tried 7 different ear tips, and even audio sources, both my Mini PC's, a MBP, a Samsung S25Ultra, S25FE, A52 5G, tried also with 7 different Portable DAC's, issue remains. I contacted KZ seller(a highly reputable seller) and he responded me the first time, and has been ghosting me for the last 4 days after I replied. I requested a replacement for the right shell on my dime (shipping expenses only) or to buy a KZ ZS12 PRO X IEM, so he can combine shipment. I don't want to escalate to AE again. So far, out of 25 purchases in the last 2 months, only 2 had issues, the other one was a DOA cable for a TRN IEM. If worse comes to worse, I'd still buy another KZ PRX from Amazon this time, since I really like KZ PRX sound signature with a balanced connection and R2R DAC's. I guess, KZ potential QC issues are not a joke, or maybe I should start playing the lottery. **Update on 2026-04-05:** After 4 days with no response from Seller, I decided to escalate to AE after I carefully explained it on detail to AE customer service(bot), they approved a RMA with prepaid shipping label right away, I guess it matters when you spend regularly on AE and have zero(0) returns on your file, now my surprisingly good KZ PRX is going back to China. I was going to order last night, another KZ PRX, KZ ZS12 PRO X and KZ AM16 balanced sets from another seller, but decided to hold on future KZ purchases, what are the odds I got another KZ IEM with QA issues?, possible higher than ordering TRN IEM's. I took the plunge and ordered a full line up of low cost Planar IEM's instead: Hidizs MP143 Salt, Sgor Luna and TRN Rosefinch. https://preview.redd.it/ctr75ptu8mrg1.jpg?width=2286&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a789f41beded2123cb7bd7fd54cb81a864e96f17

IEM = ThieAudio Monarch MKIV (Stellashot) DAC/Amp = FiiO KA15 I’ve technically been in the IEM game for about 7 years or so (?) since buying my first pair of Campfire Andromedas. I travel a lot for work (gaming/content) so I usually like having a high quality audio experience while on planes. While I still own the Andromedas, I realized I needed something with more emphasis on bass and a better canvas for EQ. These are very, very good IEMs. Especially for electronic music. Incredible detail. I did think it a bit of an impulse buy given the fact that, in this hobby, I’m sure there’s ones that sound nearly as good for a fraction of the price. But, I was far too curious to not say screw it. The giant electronics store in Tokyo (Yodobashi Akiba) had an entire section of one of their floors full of every IEM and Headphone under the sun, so I spent a little time trying out a number of them. The very close runner up was the ThieAudio Origin (wow) but I figured if I’m gonna have a potential endgame IEM, I might as well go for the flagship. Unboxed them on the Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka and enjoyed them thoroughly while traveling. Also settled on the “Hip Hop” EQ on the KA15 as I’m sensitive to too much treble. Happily re-exploring my collection mainly on Spotify Lossless but also a few local files as well. Funnily enough, I thought I had bought the Kaleidoglow style but I opened it to find Stellashot but they looked really nice regardless. My only itch now is that I need an endgame over-ear headset as well so I never have to buy another one again. Was looking at HIFIMAN but can’t decide between Arya, Organic/Stealth, HE10000, etc. Kinda confusing so I’ll have to do some more research lol. Special thank you to /u/crinacle for his videos but also for personally answering my Twitter DMs with his recommendations given my tastes. I hope to try his products at some point in the future as well :)

My small but curated collection of iems. I recently acquired my dream iem, U12t, which feels like a full circle moment because it’s the one to start me on the journey of trying high-end gear. This is it for me for a while. I have had the opportunities to try many different iems and tunings but these are the ones that have stayed (and taught me plenty about my preferences). Even though the U12t is my dream iem, my favorite is the Softears Twilights (🌟), they are spot on for what I what in a tuning and vocals are just…🤌🏼 \*If anyone owns the Monarch Mk3, please suggest me some iem tips that would work well with them. I like the tuning on them but man the fit…gets rough after about 30 minutes. iems from left to right, top to bottom: * Thieaudio Monarch Mk3 * Symphonium Audio Meteors * Softears Twilight * 64 Audio U12t (2025 rev) * Symphonium Audio Helios

A couple of months ago I posted my collection, and I was challenged by some commenters as to the why I had what I had. I actively started diving deeper into what I want out of my collection. Sold a few and this is where I have landed thus far. From top down: Ziigaat Arcanis: kept this over the Luna two incredible offerings but the DD and tuning on this makes it much more punchy and I knew I was aiming for one of the other BA sets in my collection. Next up the YU9 Que: it is ridiculous in the best way. Felt like I was listening to songs I know so well for the first time. The way strong instruments sound on this absolutely melts my mind. The fact that you can get this sound out of a 400 IEM is insane to me. On to the Softears RSV MK2: the BA set I was looking to land, showed up yesterday so still finding its sound. Loving the way it is sounding thus far, tuning is great. Bottom row stars with the HiSenior Mega5est: great sound and resolve. I like it a decent amount for sure but given the sound of all of these other pairs, I am looking to move this one down the road. Though would be an awesome one and done for those looking to spend under 500 on a pair. Next to that the Symphonium Meteor: my fun bass set, that also scales and sounds great! Nothing worse than being bass heavy with no mids. The meteor does not suffer from this issue. And last but definitely not least Thieaudio Monarch MK3: my go to set for just clean resolving pair that makes sure I won’t miss anything in the recording. Only real issue is that it makes bad recording sound that much worse. Next pair on the way Aful Dawn X, I loved both the Performer 7 and Explorer. So very excited to see what magic the Dawn X holds.

I have been rocking the monarch mk2 for few years now. And recently some of my friends want to get into this hobby and suggest them an endgame iem, and without a doubt i just recommended them this. Some of them own some iems under 100usd and the look of their face when they tried the monarchs are so satisfying. I told them i am still keeping this despite having tried many iems that cost few times of this, and 2 of them bought this thing home from a shop that was doing clearance for mk4. Anyone still loving and owning their mk2?

Kz Castor Pro with Kz XZ10 bluetooth module, she is happy with her Bluetooth iems, i have simgot ew300 and castor pro’s quality sounded great for a double driver iem, bluetooth module is great too i think i am going to got myself one and the switch for frequency’s is very good idea i was a little jealous when i learned that. If looking for cheap but nice iem castor pro is good but i didn’t like the ear tip’s and cable’s quality you will want to change those. Overall of each product: KZ Castor Pro Pro’s -Nice quality -Switch’s for changing frequency’s of low and mid-high -Good price for its quality Con’s -Bad ear tip’s and cable quality -No bag to carry KZ XZ10 Bluetooth Module Pro’s -Quality decreasing is very low -Battery capacity is great for multiple driver iem’s Con’s -Just for C Pin’s -Box is too big to carry in pocket

Just bought my first iem 2 months ago because my earbuds from apple keeps failing in like 1 year of daily (kinda harsh; dont really care) use. I don't really do research, I just bought it because I really like the way it looks. I was planning to buy a dac 4.4 mm too. But.. nope, until today I just plugged it directly into my phone, laptop (sometimes with an external audio interface), nintendo and I think I don't really need a dac. and yes, it has much better audio and build quality than apple earbuds. I hope this iem can last long. \- iem: KZ PR 3 \- cable: Xinhs Dusk 4.4 mm \- ddhifi 4.4 to 3.5

I'm not as well versed in the audiophile scene as the average iem user. I used to buy whatever was popular like the KZ zsn, Moondrop Chu, Tuthhear Zero blue and so on.. I wanted to keep upping my budget so I had decided to buy myself these bad boys and couldn't help but feel disappointed, it didn't feel as exciting as the rest did Fast forward to the current trend, I jump on the GK Kunten wagon. As I wanted to feel my first IEM (KZ) experience again, so I bought it. Indeed it is fun and bassy, but it lacked something, detail. Details and clarity I could only experience from the Artti T10, so now I see myself appreciating these bad boys a lot more than I did before ❤️ Long story short, no more buyer's remorse and I now have a 2 pairs of IEMs that I really like 🙂‍↕️

After 12 days of profusely checking the tracking app my new pair of IEMs finally arrived. As mentioned in my previous post i bought them for \~122 USD. This is my 3rd pair in my IEM career (1st was Kbear KS1s, and second were this little gremlins, one if which you can see on the right(kz zsn pro x + trn bt20 pro)(Dankpods propaganda was successful lol)). Short review of the kz combo: They're good for the money. Sounded clearer than my long lost Samsung buds FE, but moondrop chu II probably would be a better choice. I'll probably write some feedback after I unpack those shiny new fellas. lil update: Those feel ***strange***\*.\* I need to listen more to them to tell what gives me this feeling. I've tried white, and white 'n blue eartips(I forgot what kind of **hell** it is to switch them). I've mostly listened to breakcore flacs I downloaded while waiting for them(sewerslvt - self destruction broadcast worldwide, newlove, Joyless - Be Normal.) The bass and sub bass(if it's there), are kinda amazing. It makes me feel like they have hella of soundstage. I've listened to a little bit of punk rock, and guitars sound like a whole new instrument after the kzs. I probably will be back, cuz i need to put my finger on wording to give to describe them. Day 3: I've already left, some review of their sound in comments below(answer to [MichaelJosephGFX](https://www.reddit.com/user/MichaelJosephGFX/)). Only thing I'd add is that they aren't really for bass heads. Slight audio imbalance appeared. Noticeable especially in drums ,and vocals. It isn't BIG, but enough for me to walk all pissed(I've double checked by switching to mono, and dropped a bag of silica in their case, to rule out the moisture variant). I used them extensively, but didn't drop 'em ,nor made them contact water or fluids. Idk maybe I'm going insane, or have to clean my damn ears.

Just wanted to share my current daily driver portable setup that I've been absolutely loving. After a lot of contemplation (and maybe a little too much time on Head-Fi), I landed on this combo, and it truly feels like "it." The Setup: IEMs: Sennheiser IE 600 DAC/Amp: iBasso DC-Elite First Impressions & Why I Love It: Sennheiser IE 600: The build quality alone is insane – that ZR01 amorphous zirconium feels indestructible not alike the IE 900 and it looks unique. Sonically, they're everything I hoped for. Punchy, articulate bass without bloat, a super clear and resolving midrange, and highs that extend beautifully without being fatiguing. They're incredibly detailed, and the soundstage, while not massive, is precise. They just disappear, letting the music shine. iBasso DC-Elite: This "dongle" is a beast. Coming from other dongles, the DC-Elite is on another level. The power is desktop-class, easily driving the IE 600s with authority. The most impressive aspect is the sheer blackness of the background and the incredible transparency it brings. The ROHM DAC chip and that precise stepped attenuator volume control are just chef's kiss. It feels incredibly premium, matching the IE 600's build perfectly. The Synergy: This pairing has been fantastic. The DC-Elite's clean power and detail retrieval perfectly complement the IE 600's resolving nature. There's no harshness, just pure, dynamic, and engaging sound that makes my music collection feel new again. It's a truly coherent and immersive listening experience. What are your thoughts? Anyone else running this combo or either of these pieces individually? What are your experiences? Curious to hear what others think about the IE 600, the DC-Elite, or if you have a similar "endgame" portable stack! Happy listening!

I've been looking for a good pair of iems to get great audio quality from my Mz-n707 minidisc player (yes retro thank you MDs are hifi). I've tried expentive headphones (Sennheiser Momentum 4s, Bose QuietComfort, QC Ultras) that got returned and more affordable IEMs (Crinacle Zero-2, Juzear x Defiant, GK Kunten with QKZ T1 cord with Dunu tips) which I ended up going 20%deaf in my right ear for a week somehow and none of them sound any better than the AKG corded buds that came with my Galaxy S10. I refuse to believe I would need to buy $200+ for like a Senn ie200s (which I hear are pretty basic on their own) to get something even remotely better. Where am I going wrong?

Hi everyone, I’ve had the Sennheiser IE300 since it came out — it was a fairly expensive IEM at the time. But now the IEM market has grown a lot, and there are many more options available, some at really attractive prices. I’m curious about how the IE300 stacks up against current competitors. I know it’s not the absolute best out there, but I’d like to understand: How the IE300 compares to newer IEMs in terms of sound quality and overall performance How much money people would have to spend to get something at least similar or noticeably better than the IE300 Basically — is the IE300 still worth it today, and what are some recommendations in different price ranges if I wanted an upgrade?

Honestly if the chu 2 a small shell hurts your ear then maybe check the sennheiser ie200 they are smaller than the chu 2 and more lightweight the iem shell shape is very smooth nothing sharp or weird. As for gaming they have nice imaging being a balanced/neutral tune not bass or treble focus so understand this is by no means a bass iem at all it is wuite lacking in that department as well as the cable is a bit mid for the price so might think of buying a new cable if you don’t like the stock

This year I got hooked on that IEM goodness (before this, I owned the Hexa, but it was a bit too bright for me). I started with the Moondrop DUSK and was just floored by how good it sounded. After a while, I got annoyed with the DSP cable and got curious about what else was out there. I've bought: * **Aful Explorer:** Amazing! Mind-blowing. Still can't believe that thing cost me $85. I will never sell it. * **Truthear Pure:** Very pleasant and cohesive, though it has very large nozzles. * **7Hz Zero:2:** Cool stuff for the price. * **Letshuoer S12:** Too bright. It was fun, but I sold it. * **Letshuoer S08:** Cool, I guess. It shines if you EQ the bass to stupid levels. * **Aful Performer 5+2:** Surprisingly smooth considering the amount of treble, but too bright. Selling it. * **Softears Volume:** Shouty as hell. I can understand the hype—incredibly SOLID sound—but I couldn't listen to it. INSTANTLY SOLD. * **Odyssey 2:** A bit shouty. Very interesting bass presentation, but shouty. INSTANTLY SOLD. * **Crinear Daybreak:** Very clean, but shouty; treble is harsh. For this price, it's very compelling, but if it were $20 more, I would instantly sell it. But I love the overall accessories and cable package, so I'm keeping it. * **ThieAudio Hype 2:** Incredibly detailed and smooth treble response, best treble I've heard so far. But at the same time, too aggressive/too much treble. And finally, about a week ago I bought a used Tea Pro. **DAMN.** I just love it! At first, I liked it but wasn't impressed (tried it with a cheap dongle). But then I tried it on the K13 R2R and KA15—and OMG it's amazing (treble presentation gets more controlled, less harsh, and the bass control is nuts). The DUSK is still better in some ways, but as an overall package, the Tea Pros are the best thing I've heard so far. It got me to sell the Hype 2 and Aful Performer 5+2, and I'm considering selling the DUSK. Where do I even go from here? I don't think the Xenns Top Pros are for me; I prefer a warmer, thicker sound. I'm basically resistant to MUD :D. All I just want to say is: I loved the journey so far, it was all worth it to get to this point. I'm reducing my collection and hitting the pause button on IEMs (maybe after trying the upcoming Tea Pro SE?) :)

Hey everyone! I’m pretty new to the IEM world and have been watching a ton of videos and reviews. My budget is around 50€, and I’ll mainly use them at Work - Mostly music (Spotify Wrapped says: hip-hop alt, R&B alt, electronic, indie; artists like Drake, $uicideboy$, Kanye, Fred again..), plus work calls (I’m a designer so the micro is not that important but at least 1 should have). Home - FPS gaming (CS, etc.). I’ve done way too much window shopping and now I’m completely indecisive. These are the sets I’m considering: * 7HZ x Crinacle Zero:2 — 22€ * KZ ZS10 Pro 2 — 48€ * Kiwi Ears Cadenza — 31€ * TANGZU Wan’er S.G II — 18€ * KZ Vader Pro — 27€ * SIMGOT EW200 — 40€ * TANGZU YuXuanJi — 43€ * KZ Duonic — 15€ * Kefine Klean — 43€ * TANCHIJIM Bunny — 27.5€ * 7Hz Elua Ultra — 27€ AliExpress bundle I’m eyeing: * KZ EDC Pro — 5€ * KZ Castor Pro (Bass) — 10€ * 7HZ x Crinacle Zero:2 — 18.5€ I’d love recommendations and help narrowing it down would be very appreciated. Thanks! Ps: I do like bass and currently my daily is the JBL live 660nc but i fell that they are too muffled and in CS they arent good at all.

I'll just give my opinions because I own the Timeless 2 and and the Odyssey original, and I have heard the Deuce. In short, I like the Odyssey more, but I love the timeless. I use the Odyssey at my desk, and the timeless on the go. I don't really know what holographic soundstage is like, so I can't speak to that. The Odyssey just sounds very correct in my opinion. I have heard about 50 sets of IEMs by now, and the Odyssey serves up a natural sound that is still exciting without coloring it much. The bass thumps just enough, voices sound natural and smooth, and nothing is offensive. I pair these with Penon Liqueur tips for an ideal experience. I listen to music, play video games, and watch TV with these in equal measure and they are excellent for that. The timeless offer a beautiful and neutral sound. They serve up a lot of trebble, and while I am sensitive, I can listen to these all day easily. The vibe these serve me is detailed and crisp while also being natural. They also present bass in an accurate way, but they are missing the thump that a DD can deliver. When I EQ in a bass shelf, the quantity increases, but that thump is still missing. However, the Timeless are incredibly comfortable in my ear, they come with a killer set of accessories that allow you to customize the sound and the cable termination, and the metal shells make them durable. I pair these with the ePro horn tips to lean in to that treble, and I love to listen to music and podcasts with these when I am traveling. The Deuce are a fun set. I only listened at a CanJam so I got three songs on them, but they deliver lots of bass heft while still sounding reasonable. I feel like I would buy these because I am a basshead, but I remain content with the aforementioned 2 IEM rotation.

Their impact can't be overstated. In my country, Costa Rica, they quickly became super popular with musicians and regular folk alike (even if they are not flat IEMs lol). To the point where musician friends would comment on my KZ ZSN PRO, ask where I got them, and such. Random people such as bus drivers and pedestrians would comment and mention they knew how good they were. Bang for the buck when they came out was unmatched in the mainstream. Personally, after an awfully disappointing buy in the Shure SE-315, I lost faith in IEMs. The KZ ZSN PRO were way more fun to listen to for 1/10 of the price. Then I got the CCA CRA and was marveled at what could be achieved for twenty bucks in the IEM world. I gifted a friend a pair of CCA CRA, and they became their gold standard. No wireless earbud they have had since then has compared to those CCA CRA. KZ is responsible for me now owning my endgame, the 7Hz Timeless II. I am probably not going any deeper in the rabbit hole but you can bet your ass KZ got me gifting IEMs to my friends who use shitty wireless buds lol.

Someone told me to go with the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite because it has zero sibilance ! AFUL Performer 8, Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim and THIEAUDIO Hype 4 MKII ? I WANT : maximum isolation ! No sibilance when KISSES go HARD ! Great IMAGING for the 3DIO "SKSKSKSKSKSKS" and "TKTKKTKTKKTKTKK" around my ears ! Max IMMERSION so a little bit bass needed but just enough for Max IMMERSION ! THANKS !

I somehow found these 1 in 200 limited edition Unique Melody MEST Indigo pair for £700 on eBay, what a super rare find I had to grab them immediately. On arrival the craftsmanship of the shells, stock cable and case was absolutely stunning. Especially jumping straight from IE600 which I know is absolutely insane. The build quality alone makes this feel like a different league. Unique Melody clearly put extra love into the limited editions. The shell design, premium cable and case all feel like they belong to something special rather than being a colour swap of the standard MEST. I actually chose these over the MkIII and got them at almost half the price, which is mad. I ran these on my Shanling m3 plus and on my D90SE/A90D desktop setup, even off the DAP they sounded incredible. Sound-wise, the bone conduction driver is no gimmick. First time I took them out walking through a park in London, the spatial depth and separation genuinely caught me off guard. Instruments have their own space, sound in the background actually sound distant and there’s this physical sense of depth. The bone conduction adds something you don’t realise you’ve been missing until you hear it - it’s like the music has a third dimension. I listened to quite a variety of genres and what I noticed was a lot more immersion, depth and most excitingly, emotion. What stood out to me was a couple interstellar tracks, “Worm Ride”, “2049” and “A Place in the Sky” by Hans Zimmer. The way these render spatial and orchestral content felt surprisingly comparable to a Dolby Atmos surround sound setup. The bone conduction driver gives everything this physical, three-dimensional quality and impact which is exactly the reason I was after bone-conducting IEMs. “Desejo” by LevyM also blew me away with its punchy, layered bass and sub-bass while keeping the instrument separation completely clean. No muddiness, no competition between frequencies, just everything sitting exactly where it should. That said, the treble can be a bit too bright but only with certain song at loud volumes. I noticed it most on “Mice on Venus” where the piano notes had a sharpness and piercing quality that was a bit fatiguing. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means and it might settle with a slight EQ dip in the upper treble, but it’s worth mentioning if you’re sensitive to hot treble. For the vast majority of what I’ve thrown at these it hasn’t been an issue though and is actually super impressive and engaging.

I plan to have to my last forever absolute endgame iem that I will use for the rest of my life. The one that will impress me everytime I use it for all kinds of music, games, movies and so on. Here is what I would want for it: All-round sound Holographic wide soundstage Detail technicalities NOT FATIGUED NOT SIBILANCE Effortlessly pleasing The IEM that I found: 1. Unique Melody Mest mk2 2. Xenns Top Pro 3. Hisenior Mega7 4. Yu9 Que 5. Isn Audio EBC80 Obviously the one that I should choose is Mest Mk2 but, I still want to spend less than that, and i found the rest of the candidates. All of your opinions would be highly appreciated by me soooooooooo muchh because I'm so serious about it this time since I thought my previous Ziigaat Odyssey will be my end game.

I think if the MK2 is your king it should be stay that way until it isn’t. There have been a lot of incredible releases since the MK2. It is just such a subjective thing. I have owned a lot of different IEM’s and right now. My Monarch MK3 and Dawn X are getting the most in ear time. I have the UM Mest MK2 and FIIO FX17 headed my way and am interested to see if they unseat either of the other ones.

# I WILL STOP SENDING THE LINK SINCE SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THIS IS AN AD. IF YOU WANT TO BUY THIS, JUST SEARCH IT ON THE INTERNET, AND THINK TWICE BEFORE SPENDING YOUR MONEY ON A FAKE. IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT ON THE HOBBY I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DO NOT BUY A FAKE PRODUCT. # I AM A DUMB NOBODY THAT BOUGHT A CHEAP FAKE OF A $1K IEM JUST FOR FUN, AND I WROTE THIS REVIEW SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTED. I AM 100% NOT SPONSORED WITH ANYTHING ALTHOUGH I REALLY WISH I WAS (FREE STUFF IS AMAZING) ***\*This review was written purely out of curiosity and for the sake of the funny. I am not encouraging people to buy any type of replica products.*** ***\*I do not own a genuine IE900 at the moment, I might make a follow up post after visiting an audio store to compare it to a genuine one.*** ***\*I am not very experienced, let alone a professional, to deliver an accurate / in-depth review of the sound, so please take all of this with a grain of salt.*** ***Price:*** $49 *(Usually $59, got it on sale)* ***Driver configuration:*** 1DD *(Seller claims that it uses the same 7mm X3R DD that Sennheiser uses, but when I asked them they confirmed that it's not the same driver as the real IE900. I'm suspecting it's the driver from IE600 or IE300.)* ***Included accessories:*** Carrying case, 7\* Sillicone eartips (3 sizes), 3\* Foam eartips (3 sizes), cable of your choice (3.5 or 4.4, standard MMCX connector) ***Setup:*** Stock 3.5mm cable, Stock foam eartips, Fiio KA5 hooked up to a PC ***PROS:*** \- Actual full aluminium shell for a relatively low price \- One of the most comfortable IEMs I have ever tried *(Because it's an IE900 clone)* \- Solid balance, soundstage, separation, details and bass for the price \- Decent highs / treble ***CONS:*** \- It's a fake product, so purchasing it is morally (and possibly legally) wrong \- Poor QC (Some nicks and scratches on the shell, damage on the nozzle mesh, etc) \- Mediocre quality of accessories \- Subpar mids ***Conclusion:*** DO NOT BUY THIS, TS SO ASS!!!!! (wink wink)

As I have been in this hobby for 5 years now, I like to keep my collection simple (I usually own 3-4 pairs max at a time). Now that I have 2 of my favorite IEMs of all time on my desk from 2 different country of origin, I am now curious of which IEMs this community would award the Gold/Siver/Medal from each country (I am not interested in the discussion of the parts actually coming from China etc.) So theoretically if I were to own the gold medal IEMs of each country (that makes IEMs), it would be these (note that these are just a dream collection for me and its subjective, and I consider the aspect of comfort and price to performance because it would be easy to put the Fugaku for Japan and Myticraft Hex for Malaysia but that would not be fair in my mind): U.S. - 64 Audio U12T 🥇 Germany - Sennheiser ie900 🥇 Japan - Sony IEZ1R 🥇Final Audio A8000 🥈 China - Thieaudio Valhalla 🥇UM Maven II 🥈 Malaysia - Mysticraft Myth 🥇 Australia - Prisma Lumen 🥇 And so on and so forth So now I am curious of your choices. Let me know how you would build your collection if you could only pick one (or three if you want to do per medal) from each country.

IE900 is one of those IEMs you put on and instantly feel there’s something special going on. The bass is insane… lots of body, punch, and a super clean rumble. You can easily notice the micro variations in kick drums, short hits vs longer decays, all very well defined, never muddy. Mids are a bit recessed, but sound very natural. Vocals come through clean and well-resolved… you can pick up breathing, lip details, all that micro stuff without effort. Not forward, but very well done. Treble is a highlight too… very extended, detailed, and with a strong sense of realism. Cymbals and wind instruments sound very convincing. Stage is open, with good separation and layering. The MEST MK2 is still more holographic, but the IE900 isn’t far behind at all. Overall, I’d say it follows a similar path to the MEST, but more natural and refined. In A/B, the MEST can sound a bit more “artificial”. Another thing: it scales A LOT with source. On the Fiio JM21 it sounds kinda flat, but on the DC-Elite it completely transforms, more dynamic, more impact, more alive. Fit is also insane… it just disappears in your ear. First IEM I could comfortably use lying down on a pillow. Not the most relaxed set for every situation, but when you want impact, texture and realism, it really delivers. Following a similar tuning and moving up in price (based on what I’ve tried so far), I’d rank them like this: ZiiGaat Estrella < Hype 4 < Top Pro < MEST MK2 < IE900 \*\*God bless!\*\*

\[update\] okay so i bought them. the seller seemed so trustworthy to me a just winged it. i talked to him now after sending the money and i dont think i made the wrong decision. i guess i wont know until they get here though (if they get here😅) so i guess i will update you guys when i recieve them! TL DR: Found a killer IE 900 deal for 440€, but cant tell if they are original or knockoff. Please help. Hey, i was scouring listings in my region for an IEM upgrade. I wanted to spend something arround 200€ for a pair of a used IEM to make the most of my money. And than i stumbled upon this listing. It is a IE 900 for 440€. Its almost too good to be true but i have a lot of experience buying used so i went in not expecting anything. The man selling the IEM feels like the most trustworthy seller ive ever came across. He answeres in detail without anything shady, is an actual audiophile it seems and just overall presents himself like a nice person who doesnt feel the need to make a profit off a pair of IEM he himself bought used. I looked on the internet to see how to spot a counterfeit non original knockoff IE 900 and they seem to be OG to my eyes. The deal is so good its hard to just pass and ignore but its so much money for me i dont want to get scammed. What do you guys think? Is it legit? Any opinions/insight will be greatl appreciated.

I blind purchased this IEM because I had a lot of people recommending it to me. I’m not huge on music and definitely not an audiophile, but I’m going to try to give my thoughts on this IEM for new buyers, especially in the perspective of a treble-sensitive person Sections: (1) The music that I like (2) How AFUL explorer sounds with them (3) Other thoughts (1) I have mild sensitivity to treble, and loud noises affect me more than others as I can get headache from them. That probably affected my music preferences. I like R&B and Folks. I also like “GNX” by Kendrick Lamar & SZA, as I would still consider it to be less harsh. (2) AFUL explorer sounds interesting. It has great detail in its treble, without any kind of sibilance or piercing noises whatsoever. The Bass, while not subwoofer quality, is still responsive, nice and “filling” Due to how everything is smoothed out and comfortable, if I’m listening to a guitar, I don’t feel the texture of the guitar at all - almost as if it’s just there. Apparently this is called “Transient attack”? It’s the running theme of me and this IEM. I can open the most melancholic, cynical and disturbing tracks I know but I can only experience the sounds in quite good detail, but not really “feel” it. I can’t really describe it, but there is always a distance between the me and the song, wearing this. Though, it doesn’t feel that terrible because the detail makes up for it. (3) (a) It doesn’t have a mesh filter on top, which adds a layer of complexity to maintaining this entry level IEM. (b) It’s less mid-forwards than I expected. (c) It’s good at electronic music, EDMs and decent at R&B, meh at Folk (which I really like) (d) I really recommend a proper DAC/AMP for this IEM. I compared Moondrop Dawn vs JA11, and there is absolutely no contest. (e) This IEM is outright unusable at orchestras. It gets very muddy to the point where I can only describe it as torture. (f) It’s definitely a requirement to put the volume up a bit if you’re planning on focusing at all to the music. Overall, I still think this wasn’t a terrible purchase. It love the sound, and still think it’s worth every penny. However, if you’re anything like me - give Performer 5 a try first. This text was made by a human.

Hello everyone, HifiGo has once again asked me to reveal a new release, in this case the sequel to the very well acclaimed Aful Performer 8, the Performer 8s, with a configuration of 1DD, 6BA, 1 microplanar, and 1 passive radiator, which can be tuned physically via adjusting it's exahust giving two different bass tunings (and apparently textures.). It is currently available on the HifiGo website for 389.99 usd. Everything about this looks incredibly promising given Afuls track record of great iems, I have one coming in for review in the next couple of weeks, so if you have any questions for me or Hifigo as well as any suggestions or things you would like to see in my review please do tell, I will respond to the best of my abilities. Thank you very much and have a very nice day.

Hello everyone, HifiGo has once again asked me to reveal a new release, in this case the sequel to the very well acclaimed aful performer 8, the performer 8s, with a configuration of 1DD, 6BA, 1 microplanar, and 1 passive radiator, which can be tuned physically via adjusting it's exahust giving two different bass tunings (and apparently textures.). It is currently available on the HifiGo website for 389.99 usd. Everything about this looks incredibly promising given afuls track record of great iems, I have one coming in for review in the next couple of weeks, so if you have any questions for me or Hifigo as well as any suggestions or things you would like to see in my review please do tell, I will respond to the best of my abilities. Thank you very much and have a very nice day.

Warning: This is a non audiophile post ive only tried out cheap Iems like EW300, 7hz Zero2, Hexa, Kefine klean and KZ EDX Pro haha I recently won an Aful P8s giveaway hosted by Hifigo on this sub and just got them like 20 mins ago, have been listening to them since. This post wont be a full review ill just answer some question if you have them! Its a clear upgrade for me from EW300 which were already so good and i wouldnt have upgraded really If i didnt win these on giveaway haha. The first thing i noticed would be the clarity, i can hear a few microdetails which went unnoticed with my prev IEMS and the instrument sounds different on these compared to EW300 in a good way. The Bass is There and it is PLENTY, maybe im just not a bass head but these have enough bass for almost any EDM track. Mids are great! It solved a LOT of the issues i had with EW300. It always sounded kinda messy when the tracks got busy like im listening to a blob of instrument clumped together, P8s does a good job in separating the instruments. Its a treat to listen to JRock on these! The separation of guitars in Yorushika's haru was what i noticed instantly. Trebble are good, it sits right around the great and OK region for me, and Although i like spicy trebbles it can get sibilant with higher volume. P8s doesnt sound sibilant with even higher volumes and i like that but i cant help wanting a lil more trebble with them. Mind you i havent EQed them at all, and listening to them as the came which is The Passive radiator hole bing covered with a sticker! Tldr; Pretty solid 8/10. Would be worth it at Full price but a Steal if you can get these during sales. Last thing tho, THESE LOOK PRETTYYYY! Im not much of a photograpger and i really think the photos dont do justice to P8s they look wayyyy prettier IRL. The cables that comes with these are good quality as well if i has to price them id keep them at around 30-40$ very good considering they are stock Please feel free to ask any question in the replies, will be answering them in about an hour after further listening to Aful Performer 8s!

As I have been in this hobby for 5 years now, I like to keep my collection simple (I usually own 3-4 pairs max at a time). Now that I have 2 of my favorite IEMs of all time on my desk from 2 different country of origin, I am now curious of which IEMs this community would award the Gold/Siver/Medal from each country (I am not interested in the discussion of the parts actually coming from China etc.) So theoretically if I were to own the gold medal IEMs of each country (that makes IEMs), it would be these (note that these are just a dream collection for me and its subjective, and I consider the aspect of comfort and price to performance because it would be easy to put the Fugaku for Japan and Myticraft Hex for Malaysia but that would not be fair in my mind): U.S. - 64 Audio U12T 🥇 Germany - Sennheiser ie900 🥇 Japan - Sony IEZ1R 🥇Final Audio A8000 🥈 China - Thieaudio Valhalla 🥇UM Maven II 🥈 Malaysia - Mysticraft Myth 🥇 Australia - Prisma Lumen 🥇 And so on and so forth So now I am curious of your choices. Let me know how you would build your collection if you could only pick one (or three if you want to do per medal) from each country.

My small but curated collection of iems. I recently acquired my dream iem, U12t, which feels like a full circle moment because it’s the one to start me on the journey of trying high-end gear. This is it for me for a while. I have had the opportunities to try many different iems and tunings but these are the ones that have stayed (and taught me plenty about my preferences). Even though the U12t is my dream iem, my favorite is the Softears Twilights (🌟), they are spot on for what I what in a tuning and vocals are just…🤌🏼 \*If anyone owns the Monarch Mk3, please suggest me some iem tips that would work well with them. I like the tuning on them but man the fit…gets rough after about 30 minutes. iems from left to right, top to bottom: * Thieaudio Monarch Mk3 * Symphonium Audio Meteors * Softears Twilight * 64 Audio U12t (2025 rev) * Symphonium Audio Helios

Peak value is probably $30. Thats the price at which iems play the music and the sound quality is good enough for the music to be enjoyed. I say that while owning a few totl pieces. The gems at <$50 do 80% of what the best of the best do. There is a review where a bunch of people enjoyed a kiwi cadenza more than some IEMs all the way to $2k. One of my favorites the u12t was in that comparison. So peak value is at those prices. The improvements are not as big as the price for casual listening.

Hey all! I recently moved from Seattle to Portland, and am excited to be in a city where there are several IEM makers (Campfire Audio in Portland, as well as 64 Audio and FiR Audio in Vancouver). I happen to own two second-hand units from these companies: **64 Audio**'s A12 and **FiR Audio**'s M5. Both had issues, and I decided to check in with the two companies in-person to see if I could get some work done. \--- First I went to **64 Audio**. The A12 is a custom-fitted IEM, and it was veeery close to fitting my ear perfectly. However, I wanted to ask if they could make the adjustments to make it snug. I went into their space, and spoke with the receptionist. She didn't seem to know much about IEMs, but was very sweet, and did her best to answer my questions, and direct me to the appropriate staff member. She was trying her best, and any lack of knowledge was because she wasn't trained to answer my question (which was, "Why is the 64 Audio Duo not displayed? Has it been discontinued?"). The man she summoned walks in, and I ask him about adjusting my CIEMs, to which he scoffs, and tells me this would require remaking the entire IEM. This isn't true, I knew it wasn't true, and I hope he knew it wasn't true. I followed up, and said it fits well, but just needs some adjustment. He scoffed again, and said he can't do anything. That's fine. If that is company policy, 64 Audio doesn't need to do anything. Thankfully, the impossibility of adjusting the CIEM to fit my ear was a lie, and I got an aftermarket company to fit the A12 to my ear for less than their 64 Audio's dedicated service for original buyers. \--- Second I went to **FiR Audio**, and they treated me like a king. I went in with a M5 with a dislodged MMCX connector on the right side. The receptionist immediately sympathized, and said she'd get someone on it. She offered me some time in their listening studio, where I sampled their entire current selection (Rn6, Ne4, Kr5, Xe6, e12, e10, and Project K), as well as some of their Audio RIF IEMs. This was an incredible experience, to be able to try everything they had on my own devices, without feeling any sales pressure. Hats off! I walked out of the room, thanked the receptionist, and in a week, I had my M5 back. They didn't charge me, they didn't ask questions about where it came from, they didn't demand a receipt. This is a company that sells a premium product, and treats the owner of their product extremely well, regardless of whether it is first or second hand. I wish more companies were like FiR Audio. \--- My experiences with 64 Audio and FiR Audio were dramatically different, and for two companies that come from the same location, I was surprised how differently I was treated. Any company can choose to treat their customers however they want; 64 Audio did not treat me as well as FiR Audio did, and FiR Audio could have treated me as poorly as 64 Audio. That's fine, companies can make their choices. But FiR Audio was incredible and so nice and respectful; after coming from 64 Audio's dismal customer service, I need to shout them out for being as awesome as they are. **Thank you, FiR Audio! You rock!**

Hi guys !! New to this sub and in the IEM in general so i share with you my experience. My roommate and best friend has all her CDs on her computer with ITunes so she can play them on the iPad OG. What a good idea. I started doing the same , with the idea of permanently cutting out my sub to deezer. Here in France, you can borrow some CDs from the library, for free. So I make my little selection and with my existant collection, rip them all in ALAC. I found an old iphone 6 a client gave me, who's spleepin for years in a drawer. This thing has 64go and work perfectly ! I jailbreak it to use EQE, economy batterie setting and the app VOX with my recently bought EW200 + apple DAC. (It's not broken ahah, i just protect it with electrician tape because thoses are fragile af). I listen many genre, old school metal, electro, punk, rock, us rap... The EW200 are a bit too bright sometimes but with the right Eq that's a go. I've already ordered some quality tips. I was born in 97, im a child of the 2000s. I grew up with a CD player and an iPod shuffle, so going back to the old ways was a great decision. I have serious attention problems, and using a smartphone can be a real handicap for me on a daily. Having a separate device for music, like before, allows me to appreciate music better and escape the fog of negative flow. We live in uncertain times, and today I find comfort in that. Simple time was the best.

Hey everyone! I’m pretty new to the IEM world and have been watching a ton of videos and reviews. My budget is around 50€, and I’ll mainly use them at Work - Mostly music (Spotify Wrapped says: hip-hop alt, R&B alt, electronic, indie; artists like Drake, $uicideboy$, Kanye, Fred again..), plus work calls (I’m a designer so the micro is not that important but at least 1 should have). Home - FPS gaming (CS, etc.). I’ve done way too much window shopping and now I’m completely indecisive. These are the sets I’m considering: * 7HZ x Crinacle Zero:2 — 22€ * KZ ZS10 Pro 2 — 48€ * Kiwi Ears Cadenza — 31€ * TANGZU Wan’er S.G II — 18€ * KZ Vader Pro — 27€ * SIMGOT EW200 — 40€ * TANGZU YuXuanJi — 43€ * KZ Duonic — 15€ * Kefine Klean — 43€ * TANCHIJIM Bunny — 27.5€ * 7Hz Elua Ultra — 27€ AliExpress bundle I’m eyeing: * KZ EDC Pro — 5€ * KZ Castor Pro (Bass) — 10€ * 7HZ x Crinacle Zero:2 — 18.5€ I’d love recommendations and help narrowing it down would be very appreciated. Thanks! Ps: I do like bass and currently my daily is the JBL live 660nc but i fell that they are too muffled and in CS they arent good at all.

Hello everyone! I mainly listen to electronic and hip-hop music, but also acoustic, so Im looking for a bass focused iems and here are the options that I found: 1) Simgot ew200 2) Simgot ew300 3) Simgot ea500 4) Kefine Delci Would like to hear any other suggestions (budget ≤100$) I had a Truthear x crinacle zero blue 1st before, and it had an alright amount of bass (could be better), but it lack highs.

I finally pulled the trigger on the **FiiO Jade Audio JA11**. This is my first-ever DAC purchase, and I am honestly stunned. I’ve paired it with my **KZ EDX Pro**, which has been my first and only pair of IEMs for the last two years. Up until now, I had been using the basic dongle that came with my Mi 11x Pro. I’d read many reviews claiming that "any DAC does the job" for budget IEMs and that your DAC shouldn’t cost more than the IEMs themselves. Because of that, I never thought buying a dedicated one would make a difference. Recently, I started looking into buying a second pair of IEMs in the ₹3,000–₹5,000 range and had shortlisted the **Simgot EW200** and the **Kefine Klean SV**. I realized then that I probably needed a proper DAC to go with them. After narrowing it down to the JA11 and the JCally JM6, I chose the FiiO. The difference in detailing and clarity is night and day. If you're on the fence about getting a DAC for "budget" IEMs, don't hesitate it’s a total game-changer # The Comparison I spent 1-2 hours doing a side-by-side A/B test between my standard 3.5mm phone DAC and the **FiiO JA11**. I tested everything from Pop, Rock, and Classical to Filmy tracks and honestly, everything sounded beautiful. I couldn't bring myself to stop listening. Things I noticed * **Detailing:** I’m hearing tiny textures in vocals and instruments that were completely muffled before. It’s like a layer of "fuzz" has been lifted off the music. * **Clarity:** The separation is excellent. The highs are sparkly without being piercing or "painful," and the bass feels much tighter and more controlled. Power & Volume: I tested the volume range from 40% to 70%. Anything beyond 70% is actually painful because the JA11 has so much more power than my old dongle. Since I usually stay around 60% or 65% max, this is perfect for me. I used [this track](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=vRrvRtnlqvM&list=RDAMVMvRrvRtnlqvM) for my initial comparison. Now, I genuinely can't wait to get my next set of IEMs and pair them with this DAC. I liked EW200 over KK SV, hopefully EW200 would be my next IEM **LBNL (Last But Not Least):** A huge thanks to all the Redditors who helped me narrow down my DAC list!

Soooo i’ve been using IEMS for quite some time now (i bought my first ever pair back in december 2024 as a christmas gift, they were the Tangzu Wan’er but they literally had so many problems, especially because i didn’t treat them well and i live in a pretty humid area, with well over 90% of humidity during winter). Recently, in october 2025, i was called to play live (i’ve been playing guitar since i was 5, now i’m almost 17) and i needed a pair of IEMS that could do the job, so i chose KZ-ZS10PRO2 because they were really isolated and because of the switches, a feature i liked on castors. so basically, fast forward, i became to actually like wearing iems, so yesterday i decided to buy the Apple dongle to use them instead of my Earpods and GOSH IF THEY SOUND GOOD!! So basically now my setup is: Zs10pro2 connected to the apple dac and to my iphone 16e that i’m using with apple music lossless. The only downside is that i could only find the EU version of the dongle (i live in italy) so, yea, i’m stuck at 0.5v, which is not a problem because i’m not driving crazy expensive iems or headphones. Btw, i know it’s not a lot but i’ll be satisfied for quite a long time… i mean, listening a lot > having crazy expensive gear. If you have any suggestion, idea, tip or anything else please please share it w me hahahahaha, i’m listening to The Dark Side of The Moon and it’s so amazing.

What are your favorites under (USD) $100, $250, $350, $500, and $1000 range? $100: KZ ZS10 Pro $250: KZ Sonata $350: INAWAKEN Twilight-DS $600: Currently looking for one at this range $1000: Currently the EBC80 (at this price range I'm eying the Archangel, TSMR Shock, and the Shanling Regal).

I just got the Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro 2 as my first IEM’s, without much research. I am not an audiophile or anything and i can’t understand how they feel better than my Airpods pro 3 or Sony XM6 headphones which are several times more expensive. Maybe they have different features that make them worth it, but i am truly blown away by the sound of these IEM’s, are all IEM’s like this ?? Truly amazed with these ngl.

I’m looking to replace my old headset with something more comfortable, so I started checking out IEMs for gaming. Would it be a good idea to use them for CS2 and other competitive games? How good are they for hearing enemy positioning and footsteps? I’ve seen people suggest stuff like the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero Blue 2, KZ ZS10 Pro, and ZS10 Pro 2. My budget is around $50 just to test the waters, and if I end up liking them I’ll probably upgrade later.

A couple of months ago I posted my collection, and I was challenged by some commenters as to the why I had what I had. I actively started diving deeper into what I want out of my collection. Sold a few and this is where I have landed thus far. From top down: Ziigaat Arcanis: kept this over the Luna two incredible offerings but the DD and tuning on this makes it much more punchy and I knew I was aiming for one of the other BA sets in my collection. Next up the YU9 Que: it is ridiculous in the best way. Felt like I was listening to songs I know so well for the first time. The way strong instruments sound on this absolutely melts my mind. The fact that you can get this sound out of a 400 IEM is insane to me. On to the Softears RSV MK2: the BA set I was looking to land, showed up yesterday so still finding its sound. Loving the way it is sounding thus far, tuning is great. Bottom row stars with the HiSenior Mega5est: great sound and resolve. I like it a decent amount for sure but given the sound of all of these other pairs, I am looking to move this one down the road. Though would be an awesome one and done for those looking to spend under 500 on a pair. Next to that the Symphonium Meteor: my fun bass set, that also scales and sounds great! Nothing worse than being bass heavy with no mids. The meteor does not suffer from this issue. And last but definitely not least Thieaudio Monarch MK3: my go to set for just clean resolving pair that makes sure I won’t miss anything in the recording. Only real issue is that it makes bad recording sound that much worse. Next pair on the way Aful Dawn X, I loved both the Performer 7 and Explorer. So very excited to see what magic the Dawn X holds.

First off the unboxing is S tier. I really adore the idea of having a serial number under 1000. #557 baby. I definitely "over paid" at 799usd on sale. if you look at my 3rd picture where this is graphed against my RSV2 it's actually wildly different in person with the RSV going sicko mode in person and honestly this set feels balanced, even bass capable neutral to me. Like a somehow even more detailed orchestra lite. Without the venting issue. This is a BA set but whatever relief they built in works. And with actual bass levels usable in rap and EDM although not enough to rave to. For one of the very few times ever I can in fact hear the sound stage. Id describe it as sounds that would normally just be left or right to me on my other sets can be heard as "forward and to the left about two people away" not just mid volume left. I wonder if the subwoofer levels of bass in my other sets prevent this somehow. Is it worth it? Hell no. (Also yes! freaking gorgeous and a rarer set)But I'm happy because I wanted a higher ohm less picky iem and this is actually a good break away from the bass forward approach of the sister softears RSV MK2 that will be its partner in crime for the foreseeable future. Detail retrieval is on fire 9/10 Bass is sufficient 7/10 Vocals are crazy good. 10/10 I did actually wonder wtf a better focal sounds like. There is a naturalness and width to the voice when carried on the prismatica that feels new to me even on tracks I listen to often. Best I've personally owned. Treble is great it can hit so sharp and with a lot of volume and just NOT be sibilant which is fantastic because that's what makes an iem dumpster food for me lol. Im listening as I type and I wonder if the overall width of the staging is what makes it feel so... Flat compared to the RSV or the orchestra, like the bass is good. The treble get way up there. But it's like stretched out. IDK. Please comment, share your first experiences of great vocals, or soundstage. I've reached bass Nirvana. And now I'm branching out to seek unique, more "mature" tunings. I'm off to tip roll these bad boys. 🙏 I pray for the health of everyones favorite set!!!

This year I got hooked on that IEM goodness (before this, I owned the Hexa, but it was a bit too bright for me). I started with the Moondrop DUSK and was just floored by how good it sounded. After a while, I got annoyed with the DSP cable and got curious about what else was out there. I've bought: * **Aful Explorer:** Amazing! Mind-blowing. Still can't believe that thing cost me $85. I will never sell it. * **Truthear Pure:** Very pleasant and cohesive, though it has very large nozzles. * **7Hz Zero:2:** Cool stuff for the price. * **Letshuoer S12:** Too bright. It was fun, but I sold it. * **Letshuoer S08:** Cool, I guess. It shines if you EQ the bass to stupid levels. * **Aful Performer 5+2:** Surprisingly smooth considering the amount of treble, but too bright. Selling it. * **Softears Volume:** Shouty as hell. I can understand the hype—incredibly SOLID sound—but I couldn't listen to it. INSTANTLY SOLD. * **Odyssey 2:** A bit shouty. Very interesting bass presentation, but shouty. INSTANTLY SOLD. * **Crinear Daybreak:** Very clean, but shouty; treble is harsh. For this price, it's very compelling, but if it were $20 more, I would instantly sell it. But I love the overall accessories and cable package, so I'm keeping it. * **ThieAudio Hype 2:** Incredibly detailed and smooth treble response, best treble I've heard so far. But at the same time, too aggressive/too much treble. And finally, about a week ago I bought a used Tea Pro. **DAMN.** I just love it! At first, I liked it but wasn't impressed (tried it with a cheap dongle). But then I tried it on the K13 R2R and KA15—and OMG it's amazing (treble presentation gets more controlled, less harsh, and the bass control is nuts). The DUSK is still better in some ways, but as an overall package, the Tea Pros are the best thing I've heard so far. It got me to sell the Hype 2 and Aful Performer 5+2, and I'm considering selling the DUSK. Where do I even go from here? I don't think the Xenns Top Pros are for me; I prefer a warmer, thicker sound. I'm basically resistant to MUD :D. All I just want to say is: I loved the journey so far, it was all worth it to get to this point. I'm reducing my collection and hitting the pause button on IEMs (maybe after trying the upcoming Tea Pro SE?) :)

I have the Softears Volume S paired with the Moondrop dawn pro. The combo sounded heavenly for a couple of months. I was playing LOL and suddenly my iems sounded very bad. Like very loud all of a sudden and like the sound came from a toaster. I already swapped the dac and the dac wasnt the problem. The thing is i have the Softears from ebay. There wasnt a problem for couple of months and suddenly that. Could it be a Windows uptade mistake. I really hope the problem is not my iems. The were very expensive and i cant return them. I dont understand the problem, please help me guys. Its hurting to my ears man.

NiceHCK F1 Pro is my third planar IEM this year, after the MP145 (returned) and the Artti T10 (which I gifted to my girlfriend). The F1 Pro looks stunningly beautiful and is very lightweight. It impressed me with its wide soundstage, good resolution and detail retrieval, solid bass, and just a little brightness. The cable looks and feels premium; I prefer it over the MP145 and T10. The T10 cable smells plasticky and cheap compared to the F1 Pro, and maybe NiceHCK really is a pioneer when it comes to accessories. The IEM case is solid and quite large, easily accommodating bigger IEMs, and the F1 Pro also comes with a bunch of eartips that I have yet to explore. I paired the F1 Pro with NiceHCK’s Octave DAC, and together they bring a lot of joy to my ears. It is somewhat similar to what I experienced with the MP145, and I am very happy with this purchase. I kind of like it more than the T10, which is a little harsh in the treble, though I was able to tame that with PEQ. I got both the F1 Pro and T10 for the same total price as a single MP145 (109 USD). I absolutely recommend the F1 Pro over the T10 if they are listed at the same price, or even if the F1 Pro is a bit more expensive. Happy New Year, everyone 🎆

Just saying that a lot of kids won't know their limits when it comes to volume and when it's a sealed iem it can't be real sketchy. If you check Amazon you can find the nicehck ydsmall. Being that flatheads are unsealed they're a little bit safer.

Dude, check out the NiceHCK Tears. It’s $30 for the 3.5mm version, or $36 for the USBC/DSP version. It legit does soundstage. I don’t know what black magic NiceHCK enchanted this thing with, but it projects music around the head. I mean “around” as in “outside of but close to”. I have four IEM sets that can present a coherent soundstage, with stable imaging. In a recording like the Starkey Cetera Virtual Barbershop, they can all paint the scene, present changes horizontally, and convey distance. Only one of them, the cheapo Tears, can present specific position and movement, vertically and horizontally. In terms of sound, these are warm, with a heavyish tilt. They’re still very clear and have fantastic separation. As noted, the soundstage is befuddlingly good. The accessories package is also pretty solid. NiceHCK is normally known for cables and their C04 and 07 tips, so they do not disappoint.

Nice review and that tracks. I've got a fair share of portable dongle dacs and the only ones that sounds really off are CX31993 ones (I have BGVP t01s and Nicehck NX1). Not sure if its the op-amp but they do something funky with the FR and makes all my iems sound a bit wonky. With that said can't go wrong with Cirrus Logic. I have the JM98MAX and it sounds fantastic even when compared to my desktop setup.

For a while, Aria 2 was my favorite IEM, the best sound I've heard in a long time. But well, recently I've started having problems with its mids, I feel like they're a bit too much for me. Plus, I miss the bass, even though I'm not a basshead. I listen to many musical styles, I like a balanced sound, not too low, not too high. And the most important thing for me, NATURALITY and TECHNICALITIES, which is something that Aria 2 didn't leave me wanting for, if it weren't for its mid-range, I would certainly stick with it. That said, what are your favorite IEMs in the $50 to $150 range? I'd love to read some reviews to guide my next purchase.

At first, I wanted a 3.5mm like the Moondrop Aria 2 to use with my new RedMagic. But since I’ve been staying home a lot lately because I’m addicted to Where Winds Meet, I decided to go with the Moondrop Rays instead, since I’d mainly be using them for gaming. I got them for $60 with a discount on Shopee. I’ve been using it for two days now and it’s been really good. I’ll probably end up getting another one soon anyway. Maybe the Meteor or the Blessing 3?

Finally got the red lions, and I can say I'm decently impressed, I use my aria 2 as my daily, so I think I can compare them pretty well. I mainly bought the Red Lion for the accessories but dang do they sound decent for the price, I also get a way more comfortable fit with them, they don't fit as deep as the aria 2, which is nice for me. Bass: Clearly the red lion has more *BASS*, it's decent, but lacks a bit of something, I'm not an expert so I can't say what exactly. Mids: Honestly pretty much the same, but I don't really get as much separation from the highs with the Red Lion, overall the mids sound pretty much the same. Highs: The Red Lion's highs are a bit too much, I'll probably play with eq to lower them, but I think I'm just sensitive to highs as the aria 2 is just like the limit for me. Gaming: Can't say much as I'm a casual gamer, but as in most iems I can hear where footsteps are coming from very clearly, in rhythm games/osu they perform very well, I can hear all necessary details in the song that I need to get good accuracy. Comfort: Clear win for the Red Lion, same shape as the waner 2, which I still remember (my first iems), can wear them for hours on end, the aria 2 hurts my ears after a while or when I'm talking for too long. I'm taking the cable from the red lion any day, the ear hooks are like made for my ears, very lightweight. Rhythm Games: RoughSketch - Kingdom Come: Decent outcome, shoutier on the red lion, but I can feel the rhythm same as on my aria 2. Shiki - Pure Ruby: I lose the highs on the red lion somehow, the bass eats them up, clear win for the aria 2. Streetlight Manifesto - Everything Went Numb: Didn't even have to play this one, just by clicking on the song I immediately noticed the hi-hats are there but in the background, in osu the map has a lot of keypresses on them, so not the best for rhythm, again clear win for the aria 2. Kafu - Lethal Weapon-chan: A slight win for the red lion, I can feel the rhythm on ougi's Ultra difficulty better than on my aria 2, relies a lot on vocals/bass for the rhythm. II-L - Sputnik-3: A shit ton of rhythm changes, this one is a tie as it uses all frequencies for the rhythm as far as I can tell, some parts are better on the aria 2 and some on the red lion, tie. t+pazolite - Gumbarlzo: Extremely fun song to listen to on both, rhythm is the same on both too, the aria 2 just has a bit more clarity, I'll say a tie. Overall I can say the red lion is a ultimate starter honestly, for 15-20$ I haven't heard better sounding ones for this price, also a very safe universal fit, even my small-eared gf can wear them with no issues, with two full sets of eartips to play around with, amazing for beginners, they probably won't replace my aria 2, but they do sound better in songs that are tamer. Ask me anything if you want to know more, I'll also update on the noise cancelling as I'm gonna take them out on the bus today.

The Aria 2 and Chu 2 still gets mentioned from time to time, but aside from that they just got outdone by the competition. I like their house sound but it's not the "meta" anymore.

Do you mean earwax clogging? If so, there's an easy way to stop that. If it's just general build up, look at the TRN Conch, it's an excellent budget iem that has removable filters that you can take out and clean if necessary.

Here's my [standard recommendations](/r/iems/comments/1dw6c4l/what_are_your_top_recommendations_for_eartips/lbspp1t/). I have a number of KZ IEMs and I use TRN T-Tips on all of them. The downside of T-Tips is there's no multipack, but they're so cheap you can actually just buy a few packs to get the different sizes and it's still cheaper than a lot of tips. Despite being so cheap they're one of the best tips you can get. And KZs seem to be very tip-insensitive, so I just always use them because they're super comfortable, and they don't cost more than the IEM.

Depends on the connection. KZ sells some but they are all QDC iirc. If you have 2 pins, go for TRN.

what I am looking for * my budget is £200 * I live in the uk * I need a USB-C DAC dongle as my phones built in 3.5 jack audio isn't great (samsung a31) and doesn't sound nearly as good as my pc's audio from the motherboard * I am mostly going to be using the iems to listen to binaural ASMR that includes ear cleaning, oil ear massage, ear blowing, ear eating and whispering aswell as music but the main focus is for asmr * I will be using them mostly in bed so needs to be decently strong as I do move around alot in bed but not enough to where it would cause issues with cable * total for both the iems and dac combined must be within the £200 budget * also at the moment i am looking at getting the Final A4000 but have not set my mind on a particular pair of iems yet * noise cancelation NOT REQUIRED * I would like the usb-c DAC dongle to ideally match or exceed the audio quality of my pc which has a gigabyte B560M elite motherboard and i use the built in headphone jacks on my motherboard

Maybe something from Final Audio? I hear they are good I just don’t have the personal experience with them.

I’ve been chasing a sound I experienced with the Final Audio Heaven IEMs and I’m struggling to articulate exactly what made them special, so bear with me. The best words I can come up with: natural, smooth, silky, organic. Notes decay in a way that feels lifelike rather than processed. Instruments (especially strings, woodwinds, and vocals) have a texture and body to them that sounds like the real thing rather than a Hi-Fi reproduction. I believe this is often called “timbre accuracy” or “tonal naturalness,” but I’m open to correction. Anyway getting back into wired IEM’s after a longtime away and ordering a new DAP and overwhelmed with the amount of choices now compared to 10 - 15 years ago. Edit: Didn’t put the model I was referring to. it was the Final Audio Heaven II. They were the entry level model.

So after days and days of videos, reviews, chats, research, learning a bit (a lot actually) i went for two IEM’s taking advantage of the 11.11 sale on Ali: - Xenns Mangird Tea Pro - Tangzu Waner SG II Jades I got those 2 one for the best I could afford and the other for beaters and with mic so I could use them at work. I got the Tangzu’s yesterday was a bit disappointed because i felt no bass at all. After a little bit more research i tried bigger tips to get a better seal and wow, it changed a lot! I actually enjoyed them! I haven’t had them for long but felt pretty good… Now, today the Tea Pro’s showed up. Holly molly!! This things are beasts!!! The Bass!!! Went for the same size i used on the waner’s and from first try, “wow” is all I can say. I’ve been hearing my regular music and I am listening to sounds I’ve never heard before! I want to keep trying with some more music but as for now I’m actually amazed!! As for now I am just starting, got this DAC for the iPhone and they sound pretty amazing. The Dunu tips are still sealed, will test them later. Wanted to first thanks this community for everything and also ask for advice, tips, and suggestions of maybe a better DAC? Better tips to take more advantage of my first and humble setup? Any input is really appreciated! Thanks again!

This year I got hooked on that IEM goodness (before this, I owned the Hexa, but it was a bit too bright for me). I started with the Moondrop DUSK and was just floored by how good it sounded. After a while, I got annoyed with the DSP cable and got curious about what else was out there. I've bought: * **Aful Explorer:** Amazing! Mind-blowing. Still can't believe that thing cost me $85. I will never sell it. * **Truthear Pure:** Very pleasant and cohesive, though it has very large nozzles. * **7Hz Zero:2:** Cool stuff for the price. * **Letshuoer S12:** Too bright. It was fun, but I sold it. * **Letshuoer S08:** Cool, I guess. It shines if you EQ the bass to stupid levels. * **Aful Performer 5+2:** Surprisingly smooth considering the amount of treble, but too bright. Selling it. * **Softears Volume:** Shouty as hell. I can understand the hype—incredibly SOLID sound—but I couldn't listen to it. INSTANTLY SOLD. * **Odyssey 2:** A bit shouty. Very interesting bass presentation, but shouty. INSTANTLY SOLD. * **Crinear Daybreak:** Very clean, but shouty; treble is harsh. For this price, it's very compelling, but if it were $20 more, I would instantly sell it. But I love the overall accessories and cable package, so I'm keeping it. * **ThieAudio Hype 2:** Incredibly detailed and smooth treble response, best treble I've heard so far. But at the same time, too aggressive/too much treble. And finally, about a week ago I bought a used Tea Pro. **DAMN.** I just love it! At first, I liked it but wasn't impressed (tried it with a cheap dongle). But then I tried it on the K13 R2R and KA15—and OMG it's amazing (treble presentation gets more controlled, less harsh, and the bass control is nuts). The DUSK is still better in some ways, but as an overall package, the Tea Pros are the best thing I've heard so far. It got me to sell the Hype 2 and Aful Performer 5+2, and I'm considering selling the DUSK. Where do I even go from here? I don't think the Xenns Top Pros are for me; I prefer a warmer, thicker sound. I'm basically resistant to MUD :D. All I just want to say is: I loved the journey so far, it was all worth it to get to this point. I'm reducing my collection and hitting the pause button on IEMs (maybe after trying the upcoming Tea Pro SE?) :)

First off, this is not a post about the sound. It's about marketing and potential mis-information. I own the OG Tea Pros and enjoy them a lot. I have seen several reviews stating one of the pros (and cost increase) of the Tea Pro SE is the metal shell vs. the resin shell of the Tea Pro. When I saw this in several reviews, I was like "WTF!, my Tea Pro has a metal shell!!". I then looked at Linsoul (they own Xenns) and sure enough they list the Tea Pro as having a resin shell and specifically that the Tea Pro SE has a metal shell. This is not accurate. In fact, the OG Tea Pro had gotten a lot of flack when it came out due to condensation issues with the metal build. I tap my Tea Pro with a metal screwdriver and it's definitely metal (seems aluminum, it's not magnetic). I did more research and sure enough I was right, they both have metal shells with Resin faceplates, as I had thought. You can even use AI to ask and they will report the OG has a resin build and the SE has a metal build. When I tell the AI I don't think that's correct, it digs deeper and says I'm right and corrects itself. I am pretty sure this is due to the AI doing a marketing search first, then a deeper search (older reviews, comments, etc) when I challenge it. This may be a innocent marketing error. It may be fishy and Linsoul trying to drive sales to the more expensive Tea Pro SE. Who knows. It's also possible they revised the OG Tea Pro to be all resin. I've not seen anything that would confirm this is the case and it would change the sound, so I doubt it. Regardless, I think it's worth pointing out so that people are aware. The OG Tea Pro is still an excellent IEM and many folks prefer the tuning against the new SE version and it can be bought for quite a bit cheaper. It's almost always on sale. I got mine for less than $250 USD during the 11.11 sales. Sure the SE is probably great as well and it the packaging and accessories look amazing. People should just know what they are paying for with either set. https://preview.redd.it/py4121sre0hg1.png?width=2276&format=png&auto=webp&s=3f1093dbe5673d92b45e8997d817abfd85b7eac7 https://preview.redd.it/fo6oasmme0hg1.png?width=2406&format=png&auto=webp&s=e10d89375413318ebd343cb507a33f2f8e482ac5

Hey everyone, I’m looking to buy my first serious IEM and my budget is around $300. I could also consider used IEMs that originally retailed for around $400 if they’re available used closer to $300. I’ll mainly be using them for single-player gaming campaigns, movies, and TV shows, and of course music. I listen to a wide variety of genres, so I’m looking for something versatile. My biggest priorities are soundstage and imaging since I really want that immersive feeling and good positional cues in games. Right now I’m strongly considering the **Softears Volume S**, and maybe the **Mangird Tea Pro** if I can find one at a good price. From what I’ve read, they both seem like solid all-rounders with good technical performance. I’ve read through the community-made IEM tier list already, but I’m really looking for more personal opinions and experiences from you guys, especially for my specific use case. I’m very open to other recommendations if there’s something in this price range that does soundstage and imaging better, especially for immersion. Would really appreciate any suggestions or comparisons. Thanks.