RE-400

After a couple of years in this rabbit hole, I’ve finally found the sound signature I’ve been dreaming of. Sure, I had to start by buying those $20 IEMs like the Chu 2s, Tanchjim Bunny—you name it. But it was well worth it in the end. Truthear Hexa – Perfect for listening in crowded areas. It has really good isolation on top of its neutral-bright tuning, which I’ve gotten used to and really enjoy. Snowsky Retro Nano – My second DAC, replacing the Moondrop Dawn Pro (which is all battered up and barely working). Compared to the Dawn Pro’s clean and neutral sound, the Retro Nano sounds somewhat warmer, but it doesn’t negatively affect the listening experience. Overall, it’s a fun addition and very enjoyable. Alas… HIFIMAN HE400se – I know this is an IEM-only subreddit, but I just can’t help mentioning it since I consider it the best gear I own right now. Bottom line, it’s not for everyone. 1. It’s an open-back headphone, meaning it leaks sound both in and out. 2. It uses planar drivers, which some people may not be used to. 3. It almost always requires a good DAC/amp and a 4.4mm balanced cable to reach its full potential. 4. Portability: 2/10 (obviously). However, if you mostly listen in a quiet room or by yourself and overlook the points mentioned, then I would absolutely recommend getting your hands on it. If you're new to planar headphones or IEMs, you're in for a blast. P.S. I’m not saying this is the best gear money can buy—these are just the ones that offer the best price-to-value ratio in my opinion, so it’s all subjective. Find and explore what suits you best. Hope you guys have a good read and have a good day/night.✌️

Totally right about a lack of true neutral these days, everything has boosted subbass. People don’t even know what neutral actually sounds like unless they’ve heard old sets or… …Etymotic ER4SR are the most neutral around your price range, $225 on Drop. Or could get the ER3SE/XR or ER2 for even less. edit: my faves that would be considered neutral are the HiFiMan RE600. Only ~$70. https://i.imgur.com/PBeCdF3.png

Hi everyone, I’m trying to make a final decision on a pair of bullet-style IEMs for my iPod Video 5.5, and I would really appreciate some opinions from people who have heard these. I'm choosing between: **- HiFiMAN RE400** **- HiFiMAN RE800 Silver** They would be used only from the iPod’s (5.5 gen.) 3.5 mm jack, with Rockbox and FLAC songs. My music is mostly 90s rock, older hits, vocals, guitars, and slower/more emotional songs. I’m not looking for a studio/monitoring sound or something overly analytical. I just want something that sounds clear, natural, and enjoyable, without feeling muddy, dark, cramped, or “old” in quality. The things I care about most are: **1. Sound** This matters the most to me. I’m not a professional audiophile and I probably won’t notice very small technical differences in sound. I’m mainly looking for something normal, natural, and enjoyable, so I can just listen to music without it sounding bad, muddy, harsh, or low-quality. **2. Comfort** I know this is very personal, but I’d like to avoid anything that many people find uncomfortable. I’m fine with changing tips if needed, but I want something I can use for longer listening, walking, and relaxing at home. **3. Isolation** I currently use regular Apple EarPods, so almost anything with proper eartips will probably isolate better. Still, better isolation would be useful for walking outside, using them in the car, and listening at home when there is TV noise in the background. I don’t really care about looks, color, cable length, age of the model, or price. I mainly want the best choice for sound, comfort, and isolation. I also have the **Final E4000** as a possible **third option** if you think it would actually suit me better than both HiFiMAN models. Any comparisons, personal experience, or warnings would help a lot! Thanks!

Sennheiser are typically top notch for build and quality control. The less expensive Hifiman units can feel a bit cheap, especially the headbands. But the Arya is a good one. I actually really like it as it's light and very comfortable. I've had several Hifiman over the years, Sundara, Ananda, Arya, HE6SE, HE1000 Stealth. I've never ever had an issue with a pair.