W80

Hi all Bit of a throwback — I used to run a pair of Westone UM3X with a FiiO E7 back in the day. What I really loved about that setup was the super forward, intimate vocals and more of a “singer right in front of you” feel. I used to live in Hong Kong so I had the privillege of going into a shop where it stocks every IEM and you can try them out, this is no longer possible now that I live in the U.K. I’m looking to get back into IEMs in 2026 and was wonderin What would be the modern equivalent of that kind of tuning? Not sure what the equivalent modern budget is but for rules sake lets say anything from 200 - 500 pounds? Not necessarily stuck to Westone — open to anything — but ideally looking for: similar vocal intimacy maybe a bit more bass than the UM3X overall better technical performance vs older BA setups Also curious on the source side — are people just running dongles now, or is it still worth getting a dedicated portable DAC/amp like the old FiiO units? Would appreciate any recommendations or even just pointing me in the right direction

Westone Mach 80. These sound the closest tonally to flat in room speakers than any other iem I have ever used. 99% of iems sound wrong/weird to me, and these are the only iems I use without wanting any eq.

Genuinely overwhelmed with the vast amount of options in the IEM space these days. I am looking for something that can do well in most categories and sound good while doing it. I don't need a top-tier model, but I'm willing to pay for the right model. Looking for the following: * I am a musician, so attenuation is critical. Need ≥ 25db of isolation * Personal (music) and professional (office/work/meetings) use for 4+ hours daily - low fatigue * Don't need reference models, as I'm not mixing audio enough to worry * Looking for a smaller profile IEM. Outer ear isn't super deep, so looking to avoid large models * Have only had experience with BA drivers, and am open to other options * would prefer something without 2-pin connection, but am willing to compromise * Will use regularly without a headphone amp, so need solid performance when connected to audio interfaces/wireless transmitters I have had CIEMs before and most recently had a pair of Westone X50s, so I know that my needs can be met in the UIEM space with proper tips. Hoping you all have some wisdom to share, as this current IEM market is incredibly overwhelming. I also have zero access to try any of these out beforehand, and I am aware that every comment will contain large amounts of subjectivity.

Denon PerL Pro. I've absolutely loved my Westone B50s for 6 years, even added a Fiio UTWS5 (two different versions) just to keep them modern. Once they're dialed in using the Denon app, I have to concede that that the future is here. I'll keep my Westone's around until they break but for pure convenience I can't ignore the PerL Pros.