72 Hours Into the IEM Rabbit Hole — Now I Know Nothing. Help Me Choose Wisely

[rdscuba]

I’m looking for some seasoned perspective on my first IEM purchase.

I’ve spent the last 72 hours reading reviews, forum threads, and measurement graphs, and I can confidently report that I now understand less than I did before I learned what “IEM” even stood for. The deeper I dig, the more it appears there are approximately 16,500 models on the market — each described as “the best at its price point.” It’s impressive. It’s also paralyzing.

A little context:

I’m a home-theater hobbyist who appreciates good sound and tries to push my system just slightly beyond what my budget thinks is reasonable. For portable listening, I’ve been using 2022 AirPods Pro and Sony WH-1000XM3s. They’re convenient, but I’m curious what I’m missing.

My interest in IEMs is twofold:

I want more clarity, separation, and detail than I’m getting from my wireless gear.

I wouldn’t mind reducing Bluetooth/RF exposure when I can. I’m not wearing a tinfoil hat, but if wired gets me meaningfully better sound and less RF next to my head, that would be spectacular.

Music preferences: Gen X. Mostly 70s/80s rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, glam rock — all the way to the latest hits. Basically, everything except country.

Now, Part 2:

I also have a teenager who appears to have AirPods Pro 2 permanently installed (heavy emphasis on my RF/Bluetooth concerns above). I’d like to introduce her to wired IEMs as an alternative at home. The goal is simple: something that sounds so good she voluntarily reaches for them.

If there’s a compelling entry-level option that clearly outperforms AirPods in sound quality — enough to make a noticeable “wow” impression — that’s where I’d prefer to begin. I fully accept there’s a 50/50 chance this becomes an educational exercise for me instead of a conversion for her.

If you were introducing someone used to AirPods to “real” IEM sound, where would you start — and why?

At the beginning of this evening, I was fairly convinced that I had selected my top 3...

– Moondrop Blessing 3
– BA EP321 MEMS
– Softears Volume S

I assumed that I had to spend at least $300.00 for anything that would really impress me.

Now, here in this Forum and in a reply to my questions in another Forum, I'm being led to believe that the Truthear Gate for like $20 is where it's at. Can this be true?

Appreciate any guidance from those who have already walked this path and survived. Thank you in advance!!

 

[NTK]

Welcome to ASR!

I assumed that I had to spend at least $300.00 for anything that would really impress me.

You can get IEMs with excellent sound quality for 1/10 of $300.

Now, here in this Forum and in a reply to my questions in another Forum, I'm being led to believe that the Truthear Gate for like $20 is where it's at. Can this be true?

Apparently. A quick search of the review database will show you plenty of cheap recommended IEMs. Try some.

 

[staticV3]

A $20 IEM is totally worth a try. They're so good nowadays and the ROI from spending significantly more is debatable at best.

Sunk cost fallacy and the resulting confirmation bias call most reviews and subjective feedback into question.

That being said, I have not heard the APP2 or any modern $300 IEM.

I wholeheartedly prefer my Zero:2 to my ER4XR though (and to the GATE for that matter).

The thing with IEMs is that ergonomics are such a major factor both for long term comfort and sound quality, that obsessing over the one supposedly best IEM under $300 or whatever has little value if you can't wear them for more than 20min due to a nasty pressure point, or if they don't seal well to your ear canals and as a result you get no bass or annoying channel imbalance.

The point is that experimenting with a handful of different IEM models as well as various ear tips is paramount to get the best experience and with the quality of budget IEMs nowadays, trying lots of those just makes more sense.

Even if the $300 IEM would theoretically sound better, if it doesn't seal or can't be worn comfortably but the $20 one can because maybe it's your second or third model and it happens to fit nicely, well it's a foregone conclusion.

Regarding GATE vs Zero:2
Zero:2 has objectively smoother treble, to my ears more impactful bass, better build quality, and the upper midrange/ear gain region isn't as grating as it is (again to my ears) on the GATE.

Combined with absurdly low THD, it's my default recommendation for people getting started.

If it happens to fit and seal well, giving you that satisfying rumble and no channel imbalance, then you could honestly stop right there.

If none of the provided ear tips achieve a good seal, then trying some 3rd party tips is totally worth it.

And if it just doesn't fit well, no matter just move on to the next model. We're spoilt for choice as you've already noticed

 

[kemmler3D]

If there’s a compelling entry-level option that clearly outperforms AirPods in sound quality — enough to make a noticeable “wow” impression — that’s where I’d prefer to begin.

Hey, welcome to ASR.

The short answer is:

Truthear gate really is a great place to start.

I used to source IEMs at my previous job and the Gate blows away basically anything you could get at/under $100 5 years ago.

It may or may not be your endgame, otherwise good advice in this thread already, but I'll just say I bought 2 sets of the Gate after reading the review and I'm glad I did.

I would say try to get PEQ in there somehow (I use a tanchjim Stargate 2) to boost the low bass a little, and they really shine.

 

[DazST]

Regarding GATE vs Zero:2
Zero:2 has objectively smoother treble, to my ears more impactful bass, better build quality, and the upper midrange/ear gain region isn't as grating as it is (again to my ears) on the GATE.

Combined with absurdly low THD, it's my default recommendation for people getting started.

I completely agree with this. I've only recently gotten into IEMs myself and bought both the Zero:2 and Gate. I definitely prefer the Zero:2 for all the reasons outlined by staticV3.That's not to say I don't like the Gates, because I do. The good thing is, these are both so cheap there's really not much to lose by getting both and trying them for yourself.

 

[somebodyelse]

It's worth keeping in mind that the final frequency response is a result of the interaction between the IEM and your ear canal. The measurements are taken with a standard fixture that approximates the effect of an ear canal, and the target curve is an average for the population. It's a good starting point for personal adjustment that's probably pretty close for most people, not the final destination for everyone. It's also one of the reasons why you'll see so many different opinions about the same IEM - they genuinely sound different to different people. Provided distortion is low and there aren't any major resonance issues, EQ should be able to get you to a good personalised sound.

I'll emphasise the point about ergonomics too - you need to find something that's comfortable for you, seals well and doesn't keep falling out of your ears. Tips make a difference to the last two, but the first is down to the shape of the IEMs, and you might have to try a few to get one that's a good fit. This is where the low cost is a real advantage - you can try several without blowing the budget. You might also find you can't stand the feel of something sticking into your ears like this - particularly with the deep insertion tips that provide the best isolation.

Something you might not have thought about is cable microphonics - the transfer of mechanical noise from things rubbing against the cable to your ears. One of the reasons the usual cable routing is forward from the IEM then up and back over the ear is that the contact between the cable and skin damps this a fair bit, but some cables are still a lot better than others for this. how much it matters will depend on how much you'll be moving while listening. Clipping the cable to clothing can help with this too.

 

[nerdstrike]

I also have a teenager who appears to have AirPods Pro 2 permanently installed (heavy emphasis on my RF/Bluetooth concerns above). I’d like to introduce her to wired IEMs as an alternative at home. The goal is simple: something that sounds so good she voluntarily reaches for them.

Good luck with that! In my view, the thing that gets non-audio-nerds reaching for equipment is how nice it is. Nice can mean pleasingly made, right colour, least annoying, cool-factor amonst peers. You're up against it with an Apple product to compare against. The main tool in your arsenal is what it costs to replace the missing air pod when it is inevitably lost or breaks, and of course no battery charging.

While I have two sets of Truthear Gates (because they are cheap as chips), I cannot recommend their tactile qualities.

 

[Jiraya369]

I’m looking for some seasoned perspective on my first IEM purchase.

I’ve spent the last 72 hours reading reviews, forum threads, and measurement graphs, and I can confidently report that I now understand less than I did before I learned what “IEM” even stood for. The deeper I dig, the more it appears there are approximately 16,500 models on the market — each described as “the best at its price point.” It’s impressive. It’s also paralyzing.

A little context:

I’m a home-theater hobbyist who appreciates good sound and tries to push my system just slightly beyond what my budget thinks is reasonable. For portable listening, I’ve been using 2022 AirPods Pro and Sony WH-1000XM3s. They’re convenient, but I’m curious what I’m missing.

My interest in IEMs is twofold:

I want more clarity, separation, and detail than I’m getting from my wireless gear.

I wouldn’t mind reducing Bluetooth/RF exposure when I can. I’m not wearing a tinfoil hat, but if wired gets me meaningfully better sound and less RF next to my head, that would be spectacular.

Music preferences: Gen X. Mostly 70s/80s rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, glam rock — all the way to the latest hits. Basically, everything except country.

Now, Part 2:

I also have a teenager who appears to have AirPods Pro 2 permanently installed (heavy emphasis on my RF/Bluetooth concerns above). I’d like to introduce her to wired IEMs as an alternative at home. The goal is simple: something that sounds so good she voluntarily reaches for them.

If there’s a compelling entry-level option that clearly outperforms AirPods in sound quality — enough to make a noticeable “wow” impression — that’s where I’d prefer to begin. I fully accept there’s a 50/50 chance this becomes an educational exercise for me instead of a conversion for her.

If you were introducing someone used to AirPods to “real” IEM sound, where would you start — and why?

At the beginning of this evening, I was fairly convinced that I had selected my top 3...

– Moondrop Blessing 3
– BA EP321 MEMS
– Softears Volume S

I assumed that I had to spend at least $300.00 for anything that would really impress me.

Now, here in this Forum and in a reply to my questions in another Forum, I'm being led to believe that the Truthear Gate for like $20 is where it's at. Can this be true?

Appreciate any guidance from those who have already walked this path and survived. Thank you in advance!!

It depends

Firstly, IEMs are all about FR and distortion, the latter is a solved problem, the former is the issue. IEMs don't have any soundstage, so the FR is all that matters, most importantly, the FR that hits your ears as that's what you actually hear

we all have different HRTF, meaning until 3khz we have fairly similar hearing but after that in headphones and iems we all hear completely different stuff. Therefore we just do not hear the same things. Preference curves like Harman don't try to find out what's perfect for you, but what is preferred by the most amount of people, you could be part of the 30% that does not like it, it could be due to anatomy or due to different preferences

Anyways, the Gate is an inoffensive, cheap yet supremely comfortable IEM. It took me 40-50 hours of eq'ing to find my tastes but I was able to eq it to relative neutrality and now I've started using my headphones, the Hifiman HE1000 V2 Stealth less and less.

You CAN spend more, but do so for looks, whatever you find comfortable or if you know you will like that tuning. It's best not to listen to people who say that one thing is the best, because unlike with speakers, headphones and iems are a pretty gray area, one guy's neutral could be another man's dark and muddy and that could strictly be due to anatomy.

If you care only about sound, then i'd say you should try out 2 iems, the truthear gate and 7hz zero 2. Find out which you prefer more, then create preference based adjustments to those. EQ is the endgame, not buying more products.

 

[IsaacOscar]

A $20 IEM is totally worth a try. They're so good nowadays and the ROI from spending significantly more is debatable at best.

Sunk cost fallacy and the resulting confirmation bias call most reviews and subjective feedback into question.

That being said, I have not heard the APP2 or any modern $300 IEM.

I wholeheartedly prefer my Zero:2 to my ER4XR though (and to the GATE for that matter).

The thing with IEMs is that ergonomics are such a major factor both for long term comfort and sound quality, that obsessing over the one supposedly best IEM under $300 or whatever has little value if you can't wear them for more than 20min due to a nasty pressure point, or if they don't seal well to your ear canals and as a result you get no bass or annoying channel imbalance.

The point is that experimenting with a handful of different IEM models as well as various ear tips is paramount to get the best experience and with the quality of budget IEMs nowadays, trying lots of those just makes more sense.

Even if the $300 IEM would theoretically sound better, if it doesn't seal or can't be worn comfortably but the $20 one can because maybe it's your second or third model and it happens to fit nicely, well it's a foregone conclusion.

Regarding GATE vs Zero:2

I bought the original Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Blue and it was a bit big/heavy, so I would suggest getting something smaller?

I've also seen the 7hz Salnotes Zero, and 7hz x Crinacle Zero: 2 recommended here a lot, and they look cheaper and smaller than the Truthear Zero's so maybe consider these as well.

One thing to note is that if you're like me and find IEMs generally uncomfortable, you can consider getting foam tips instead of silicon (Comply makes really good ones, but expensive). Unfortunately these will drastically change the sound (often making the bass heavier), so you might want to consider the Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red which I recall reading was designed for foam tips? (someone more knowledgeable then me can probably give good advice)

Once you do have a set of IEMs, I suggest EQing them (e.g. using AutoEq to very inaccurately simulate other IEMs) so you can learn what parts of its frequency response can be improved.
Then get another pair that has a frequency response that looks good (which is what I did, and I bought non-cheap ones but they sound much better and are more comfortable).
This is very hard to do though, as the frequency response graphs and EQ are not very accurate. And there are so many possible EQs to do.
That's why Harman compliant IEMs (like the ones mentioned above) are a good starting point (The Harman curve has been designed to be pleasant to most people, so there's a good chance they will sound good, even if there's something non-harman that would sound amazing to you).

If only there was some place you can go to and actually listen to some IEMs (there were some stores near me that have around/on/over ear things, but not in-ears to try on; probably a hygiene issue).

 

[IsaacOscar]

EQ is the endgame, not buying more products.

My experience has certainly been different. I can definitely improve the sound with EQ, but a different pair of earphones/headphones without EQ can sound way better than anything I was able to come up with. Also, if you've already tried the new ones and know they sound better, it can save a lot of time and effort just buying them instead of trying to simulate them with EQ.

Of course I still add some EQ anyway to improve things, but the new product itself makes most of the sound improvement.

(And of course sound isn't the only thing that matters! Comfort, appearance, extra features like Bluetooth and noise cancelling, ...)

 

[AndyBell]

I’m looking for some seasoned perspective on my first IEM purchase.

I’ve spent the last 72 hours reading reviews, forum threads, and measurement graphs, and I can confidently report that I now understand less than I did before I learned what “IEM” even stood for. The deeper I dig, the more it appears there are approximately 16,500 models on the market — each described as “the best at its price point.” It’s impressive. It’s also paralyzing.

A little context:

I’m a home-theater hobbyist who appreciates good sound and tries to push my system just slightly beyond what my budget thinks is reasonable. For portable listening, I’ve been using 2022 AirPods Pro and Sony WH-1000XM3s. They’re convenient, but I’m curious what I’m missing.

My interest in IEMs is twofold:

I want more clarity, separation, and detail than I’m getting from my wireless gear.

I wouldn’t mind reducing Bluetooth/RF exposure when I can. I’m not wearing a tinfoil hat, but if wired gets me meaningfully better sound and less RF next to my head, that would be spectacular.

Music preferences: Gen X. Mostly 70s/80s rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, glam rock — all the way to the latest hits. Basically, everything except country.

Now, Part 2:

I also have a teenager who appears to have AirPods Pro 2 permanently installed (heavy emphasis on my RF/Bluetooth concerns above). I’d like to introduce her to wired IEMs as an alternative at home. The goal is simple: something that sounds so good she voluntarily reaches for them.

If there’s a compelling entry-level option that clearly outperforms AirPods in sound quality — enough to make a noticeable “wow” impression — that’s where I’d prefer to begin. I fully accept there’s a 50/50 chance this becomes an educational exercise for me instead of a conversion for her.

If you were introducing someone used to AirPods to “real” IEM sound, where would you start — and why?

At the beginning of this evening, I was fairly convinced that I had selected my top 3...

– Moondrop Blessing 3
– BA EP321 MEMS
– Softears Volume S

I assumed that I had to spend at least $300.00 for anything that would really impress me.

Now, here in this Forum and in a reply to my questions in another Forum, I'm being led to believe that the Truthear Gate for like $20 is where it's at. Can this be true?

Appreciate any guidance from those who have already walked this path and survived. Thank you in advance!!

Based on Amir’s reviews I got the TruthEar Gate and a Hidizs DAP for convenient ‘out and about’ listening.

I was (and remain) blown away by this combo. I haven’t tried the TruthEar Gate with my desktop setup yet, as I’m away from home, but I expect they’ll be just as good.

For just £15, there’s nothing to criticise with them - but to my mind they sound better than my Etymotic ER2XR’s, which I didn’t expect.

I did have to use 3rd party memory foam ear tips with them, but I’m allergic to silicone ones, so that’s not a criticism.

 

[Matias]

+1 on starting with the excellent 20 usd IEMs, find your preferred FR curve, and upgrade if needed. Truthear Gate or 7Hz Zero 2.

 

[Ype]

Everything has already been said but I have to put my first post somewhere.
Don't worry about music taste, all properly mixed music will sound great on good speakers, headphones and IEMs.
And there are always tone controls if the bass or treble does not sound right.

As I see it, the simplest solution would be to buy both the zero:2 and the Gate and see which one you prefer.
You can experiment with all the tips you get with them as well, for me the ones that came with the Gate work best.

One simply cannot predict what will be more comfortable and gives you or your teenager a better seal.
For checking the seal, I would use sensaphonic audio seal test:

Audio Seal Test

Audio Seal Test Sensaphonics earphones produce rich, smooth frequency response across the full audio spectrum. Obtaining this full response requires the isolation resulting from a full, tight seal. A poor seal will result in significant loss of bass response. Audio Seal Test Sensaphonics...

www.sensaphonics.com

 

[Matias]

Between the Zero 2 and the Gate, the frequency response below is very telling (I own both). In simple terms, the Zero 2 has more bass, the Gate has this 4-6 kHz boost that gives a little more shout and spatial cues.

Crinacle's 5128 Graph Tool | Hangout.Audio

Compare graphs from the world's largest public database of ITU-T P.57 Type 4.3 IEM measurements, maintained by Crinacle.

graph.hangout.audio

 

[Sebby]

Take it from someone who also owns IEMs that cost several hundred euros: as a first step, go for the Tanchjim Zero Ultima DSP (no 3.5 mm jack, only USB-C). They’re very comfortable and the sound keeps surprising me. They also have their own app with presets and a 5-band parametric EQ. I originally bought them as a gift for my little cousin, but after trying them I immediately bought a pair for myself and I’ve been using them a lot. The IEM comes with a Harman preset by default, but I set all the EQ values to zero because I think it sounds much better that way.


Just one note: the AirPods Pro 2 already have very good sound, so you won’t experience huge leaps in quality even with excellent wired IEMs. RF/Bluetooth signals are so weak that they’re essentially negligible and can’t even pass through human skin. At worst, you might locally increase the skin’s surface temperature by less than 1°C, but that would require very prolonged exposure and much higher power levels

 

[tokyo_blues]

I tried those Crinacle Zero:2 IEMs following a review on here and I returned them after two days.

They certainly sounded great, but the actual driver housing is huge and fought with my ears. Also that 'goes behind the ear' cable design makes wearing IEMs a chore for me. And the flimsy cable looked bound to break in a matter of months or so.

So I'm back to my Etymotics, which sound fine to me and fit me beautifully, and I'm happy. They also isolate much better than other headphones I've tried, and with no need for batteries. I love listening to quiet classical music passages in a busy street, in complete silence.

This is just to reiterate that if your plan is to buy a tool to listen to music, and not just to j*rk off over a FR graph, this particular sort of tool needs to fit your ears and make you want to use it. You'll need to get on well with the fit.

 

[bargainguy]

I have small ear canals, and wanted the Zero:2's to work - but like tokyo_blues above, just too honking big. Never got a good seal.

Found a pair of Shure Aonic 3's. These are diminutive and fit much better. I'm not looking for any more IEMs now.

 

[Robin L]

I’m looking for some seasoned perspective on my first IEM purchase.

I’ve spent the last 72 hours reading reviews, forum threads, and measurement graphs, and I can confidently report that I now understand less than I did before I learned what “IEM” even stood for. The deeper I dig, the more it appears there are approximately 16,500 models on the market — each described as “the best at its price point.” It’s impressive. It’s also paralyzing.

A little context:

I’m a home-theater hobbyist who appreciates good sound and tries to push my system just slightly beyond what my budget thinks is reasonable. For portable listening, I’ve been using 2022 AirPods Pro and Sony WH-1000XM3s. They’re convenient, but I’m curious what I’m missing.

My interest in IEMs is twofold:

I want more clarity, separation, and detail than I’m getting from my wireless gear.

I wouldn’t mind reducing Bluetooth/RF exposure when I can. I’m not wearing a tinfoil hat, but if wired gets me meaningfully better sound and less RF next to my head, that would be spectacular.

Music preferences: Gen X. Mostly 70s/80s rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, glam rock — all the way to the latest hits. Basically, everything except country.

Now, Part 2:

I also have a teenager who appears to have AirPods Pro 2 permanently installed (heavy emphasis on my RF/Bluetooth concerns above). I’d like to introduce her to wired IEMs as an alternative at home. The goal is simple: something that sounds so good she voluntarily reaches for them.

If there’s a compelling entry-level option that clearly outperforms AirPods in sound quality — enough to make a noticeable “wow” impression — that’s where I’d prefer to begin. I fully accept there’s a 50/50 chance this becomes an educational exercise for me instead of a conversion for her.

If you were introducing someone used to AirPods to “real” IEM sound, where would you start — and why?

At the beginning of this evening, I was fairly convinced that I had selected my top 3...

– Moondrop Blessing 3
– BA EP321 MEMS
– Softears Volume S

I assumed that I had to spend at least $300.00 for anything that would really impress me.

Now, here in this Forum and in a reply to my questions in another Forum, I'm being led to believe that the Truthear Gate for like $20 is where it's at. Can this be true?

Appreciate any guidance from those who have already walked this path and survived. Thank you in advance!!

This can be true. Try the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM.

7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM. It was kindly donated to me by a member and costs US $24.99. The cable is soft and longer than typical which I like. They take fair amount of effort to push it but then they make a reassuring...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[IngMishael]

I’m looking for some seasoned perspective on my first IEM purchase.

I’ve spent the last 72 hours reading reviews, forum threads, and measurement graphs, and I can confidently report that I now understand less than I did before I learned what “IEM” even stood for. The deeper I dig, the more it appears there are approximately 16,500 models on the market — each described as “the best at its price point.” It’s impressive. It’s also paralyzing.

A little context:

I’m a home-theater hobbyist who appreciates good sound and tries to push my system just slightly beyond what my budget thinks is reasonable. For portable listening, I’ve been using 2022 AirPods Pro and Sony WH-1000XM3s. They’re convenient, but I’m curious what I’m missing.

My interest in IEMs is twofold:

I want more clarity, separation, and detail than I’m getting from my wireless gear.

I wouldn’t mind reducing Bluetooth/RF exposure when I can. I’m not wearing a tinfoil hat, but if wired gets me meaningfully better sound and less RF next to my head, that would be spectacular.

Music preferences: Gen X. Mostly 70s/80s rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, glam rock — all the way to the latest hits. Basically, everything except country.

Now, Part 2:

I also have a teenager who appears to have AirPods Pro 2 permanently installed (heavy emphasis on my RF/Bluetooth concerns above). I’d like to introduce her to wired IEMs as an alternative at home. The goal is simple: something that sounds so good she voluntarily reaches for them.

If there’s a compelling entry-level option that clearly outperforms AirPods in sound quality — enough to make a noticeable “wow” impression — that’s where I’d prefer to begin. I fully accept there’s a 50/50 chance this becomes an educational exercise for me instead of a conversion for her.

If you were introducing someone used to AirPods to “real” IEM sound, where would you start — and why?

At the beginning of this evening, I was fairly convinced that I had selected my top 3...

– Moondrop Blessing 3
– BA EP321 MEMS
– Softears Volume S

I assumed that I had to spend at least $300.00 for anything that would really impress me.

Now, here in this Forum and in a reply to my questions in another Forum, I'm being led to believe that the Truthear Gate for like $20 is where it's at. Can this be true?

Appreciate any guidance from those who have already walked this path and survived. Thank you in advance!!

this - https://hangout.audio/products/crinear-daybreak
and get this DAC/Amp/DSP tool - Qudelix 5K

 

[Jiraya369]

a different pair of earphones/headphones without EQ can sound way better than anything I was able to come up with

dont take this the wrong way but it's 1 of 3 things
1.) complete skill issue, not being able to eq is a lack of skill, not many possess this ability, i only trust oratory.
2.) absolute placebo, you buy something new and based on the reviews/preconceived ideas, it sounds exactly how others describe it or something
3.) The FR of your preivous IEMs was so unbelievably bad it can't reasonably be eq'd to be that much better, least likely. You can get anything to sound good, just that in order to sound great you usually need a good base to start off with.

if you've already tried the new ones

there's no substitute to trying things out yourself, it's always best to do that. But even then, it's only a tuning made for the iem maker/the market, not one made for you, you can get something reasonably good but with iems/headphones you cant usually get something that's truly great for you. Unless you listen to something tuned neutral for your ears you wont understand what im talking about.