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

[IsaacOscar]

Thanks for the links but that is exactly my point. Why buy something cheap then spend same amount for some "upgrade".

Of course, if you can get better earphones that also come with USB-C, do that.

Even then, the Moondrop Chu 2 is only AU$41 and the cable is detachable, so worse case scenario, you waste the AU$4 extra for the chance of getting better earphones

I was actually considering doing something similar (buying earphones just to use the cable), but I couldn't find anything as the actual earphones I want to use them with have a slightly non-standard connector (Sennheiser's modified MMCX).

With gaming EQ is not important, so PEQ is not mandatory.

PEQ absolutely can make games sound much better (good sound is very important for a good gaming experience!). Although if your earphones/headphones already sound great, PEQ is probably not that important (which is what I thought with my old headphones, but discovered with PEQ that they weren't actually that good, my new headphones however are only slightly improved by PEQ).

 

[inselwissen]

Thanks for the links but that is exactly my point. Why buy something cheap then spend same amount for some "upgrade". The worst part of Chu 2 is the cable itself
With gaming EQ is not important, so PEQ is not mandatory.

Well, then you'd have an IEM that you like the sound of with a good cable. And if the IEM craps out because of shoddy build quality, you'll still have that cable and you can use it with whatever IEM you want to use with your Switch 2.

Seems like a sound investment to me.

 

[Mr. Reeee]

Let me quickly add for OP's sake that while Etys can sound awesome if their dry, analytical presentation floats your boat, they perform best when deeply (and I mean deeply!) inserted.

I owned the ER2XR for a while and couldn't make them work for me. My ear canals started itching after 20 minutes of wear with both the double flange and triple flange tips. They are a love it or hate it kind of product and a good return policy is a must when trying them IMHO.

I definitely wouldn’t call Etymōtics dry. Accurate, detailed, NOT fatiguing. Great for complex music!
I’ve been liking the ER4XR with a bit more bass, which seems to open the soundstage a bit, too.

I liked the dual flange better, but switched to Comply memory foam eartips and they’re massively better!
Much more comfortable. No itch. I can wear them for an entire transatlantic flight with no issues.
They seem to isolate better than the Etsy silicone tips
The sound quality seems improved, too.

 

[Mort]

I just spent two weeks on the road with Moondrop Blessing 3, EQ'd to crinnacle on a Qudelix 5k (plus a small bass boost).
The weight and form of the moondrop 3 is good. With shorter after-market cables, it packs nicely into a little DCF bag.
I wish the Qudelix 5k had a slightly bigger battery.

 

[zonk]

I have a Truthear Zero Red which I liked, but I need something with usb-c so I can use with my Switch 2 without having to use a dongle, so I bought another Moondrop Chu 2.
Boys the quality difference is there and very noticeable. Chu 2 seems cheaply made. It sounds good, a lot of clarity but once you hold them in your hands it is clear as day.

So my 2¢ is to pay a bit more for build quality. 50-70$ seems to be a good range for both worlds

The "Simgot EW300 DSP" is a nice set.

 

[delta76]

Of course, if you can get better earphones that also come with USB-C, do that.

Even then, the Moondrop Chu 2 is only AU$41 and the cable is detachable, so worse case scenario, you waste the AU$4 extra for the chance of getting better earphones

I was actually considering doing something similar (buying earphones just to use the cable), but I couldn't find anything as the actual earphones I want to use them with have a slightly non-standard connector (Sennheiser's modified MMCX).


PEQ absolutely can make games sound much better (good sound is very important for a good gaming experience!). Although if your earphones/headphones already sound great, PEQ is probably not that important (which is what I thought with my old headphones, but discovered with PEQ that they weren't actually that good, my new headphones however are only slightly improved by PEQ).

I agree and disagree. Many cheap IEMs already perform really well without PEQ. You might notice a difference between a good vs very good FR during critical listening sessions. During gaming I really doubt your brain have time to recognize the difference

 

[inselwissen]

I definitely wouldn’t call Etymōtics dry. Accurate, detailed, NOT fatiguing. Great for complex music!
I’ve been liking the ER4XR with a bit more bass, which seems to open the soundstage a bit, too.

I liked the dual flange better, but switched to Comply memory foam eartips and they’re massively better!
Much more comfortable. No itch. I can wear them for an entire transatlantic flight with no issues.
They seem to isolate better than the Etsy silicone tips
The sound quality seems improved, too.

"Dry" may be too vague of a term. I'm talking about the substantial rise in the mids from 1 kHz on towards the lower treble most Etymotic IEMs share. That tuning is great for performing music, but a bit too forward/in your face for me to enjoy music on them.

I'm a singer and I would have loved it if the comfort profile of the ER2XR worked for me because that sort of presentation really helps with pitch and phrasing. It's not a presentation I would seek out for general use, though. The balance is off by just a tad to my ears.

Etys sound competent and resolving, but I'm always a little baffled that people like them so much for music listening. Different strokes, I guess.

I much prefer a midrange tuning that hews closer to the JM-1 population average curve. That still has all the clarity and seperation I want but doesn't come across so "in your face". But Etymotic IEMs sure are worth a try for someone who has only heard the "safe" tunings dominating the budget segment nowadays.

Tried foam tips on the ER2XR. They also make my ears itch, but in a different way. I could never get on with foam tips.

 

[Ype]

Of course, if you can get better earphones that also come with USB-C, do that.

Even then, the Moondrop Chu 2 is only AU$41 and the cable is detachable, so worse case scenario, you waste the AU$4 extra for the chance of getting better earphones

I was actually considering doing something similar (buying earphones just to use the cable), but I couldn't find anything as the actual earphones I want to use them with have a slightly non-standard connector (Sennheiser's modified MMCX).


PEQ absolutely can make games sound much better (good sound is very important for a good gaming experience!). Although if your earphones/headphones already sound great, PEQ is probably not that important (which is what I thought with my old headphones, but discovered with PEQ that they weren't actually that good, my new headphones however are only slightly improved by PEQ).

Been using that cable for a year and a half before the cable gave out on one channel on the USB-C side inside the little dongle.
Just checked the cable, the problem is definitely inside the rubber housing.
Edit: and taking it apart non destructively is not easy, I managed but I am not going to try and resolder and blob it with some hot glue, I will just replace it.

Thinking of giving the Tanchjim Zero Ultimate a shot and see how the USB-C cable is on that one, as the CHU and CHU2 are the only recent IEM's I've had where one earpiece just died.

Any other USB-C cable/dongle I should be looking at?
I am aware of the FiiO Melody but then I still don't have a cable and another device to carry around when powering my Truthear Gate.

 

[delta76]

Been using that cable for a year and a half before the cable gave out on one channel on the USB-C side inside the little dongle.
Just checked the cable, the problem is definitely inside the rubber housing.

Thinking of giving the Tanchjim Zero Ultimate a shot and see how the USB-C cable is on that one, as the CHU and CHU2 are the only recent IEM's I've had where one earpiece just died.

Any other USB-C cable/dongle I should be looking at?
I am aware of the FiiO Melody but then I still don't have a cable and another device to carry around when powering my Truthear Gate.

Like my jcally jm20 max a lot. Plenty of clean power to drive my Zero:Red to very loud

 

[IsaacOscar]

Any other USB-C cable/dongle I should be looking at?
I am aware of the FiiO Melody but then I still don't have a cable and another device to carry around when powering my Truthear Gate.

Personally I use the FiiO Tiny A: it s very compact, lets you charge simultaneously, has PEQ, support in-line buttons & microphone, and has enough power to to drive my HD600 when listening to music (with volume normalisation off, otherwise it's too quite):

(The Tiny B replacses the USB-C port with a 4.4mm one, but it provides the same power as the 3.5mm port, so it's pointless)

So unless your device has two usb-c ports, or you get a usb-c splitter, a Tiny + 3.5mm cable is better than a USB-C cable.

 

[Ype]

Thank you for all the rapid responses!

Personally I use the FiiO Tiny A: it s very compact, lets you charge simultaneously, has PEQ, support in-line buttons & microphone, and has enough power to to drive my HD600 when listening to music (with volume normalisation off, otherwise it's too quite):
View attachment 518108
(The Tiny B replacses the USB-C port with a 4.4mm one, but it provides the same power as the 3.5mm port, so it's pointless)

So unless your device has two usb-c ports, or you get a usb-c splitter, a Tiny + 3.5mm cable is better than a USB-C cable.

Interesting! Will keep it in mind, but then I will still need to replace the cable.

Like my jcally jm20 max a lot. Plenty of clean power to drive my Zero:Red to very loud

Much appreciated but as far as I know it does not have PEQ.
Always good to hear personal experiences though, thank you!

 

[DazST]

Personally I use the FiiO Tiny A: it s very compact, lets you charge simultaneously, has PEQ, support in-line buttons & microphone, and has enough power to to drive my HD600 when listening to music (with volume normalisation off, otherwise it's too quite):
View attachment 518108
(The Tiny B replacses the USB-C port with a 4.4mm one, but it provides the same power as the 3.5mm port, so it's pointless)

So unless your device has two usb-c ports, or you get a usb-c splitter, a Tiny + 3.5mm cable is better than a USB-C cable.

I use one of these too and it really is a very good, practical device especially for the low cost.

 

[Ype]

Cheers, will just need to find a replacement cable for the Truthear Gate then with microphone or just buy those again if there are no good cheap cables.

Cable that came with it wasn't my favorite, so gave I gave it away together with my zero:2's.
It is a shame that not all cables fit well on all in-ears, the cable on my zero:red also died and currently using the cable that came with the zero:2 for it.

 

[IsaacOscar]

It is a shame that not all cables fit well on all in-ears, the cable on my zero:red also died and currently using the cable that came with the zero:2 for it.

Tell me about it... I've had to superglue a cable on because the connector jutted out slightly too much and kept disconnecting, despite claiming to support my earphones...

Heres the 0.78 2-pin version of that cable:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008697151932.html

It's not cheap, and it's quite chunky (I'd guess it's three times the thickness of the Zero red cable). The microphone isn't shown on any of the pictures, but the black one looks identical to the Truthear Gate one (I can't tell if they're the same size though). The same AliExpress store also sells versions with even more strands (for more money)!

(Personally, I wanted a thin black nylon cable with a microphone and l-angled plug, but it was impossible to find)

 

[Ype]

Good to know I am not just failing in my searches but yeah I am finding cables that either do not fill me with confidence or are more expensive then just buying a new set.
Could have tried to return my chu:2 set but I just gave up on that manufacturer.
Still open to suggestions, will make a decision and buy something later, there is no hurry.

 

[inselwissen]

Cheers, will just need to find a replacement cable for the Truthear Gate then with microphone or just buy those again if there are no good cheap cables.

Cable that came with it wasn't my favorite, so gave I gave it away together with my zero:2's.
It is a shame that not all cables fit well on all in-ears, the cable on my zero:red also died and currently using the cable that came with the zero:2 for it.

That's funny. I think the Truthear cables are exemplary. Thin, flexible, low shape memory, low microphonics. What was your issue with them?

 

[Ype]

With the zero:reds, that they broke on the piece over the ear while only being used indoors.
As for the Gate, it was a bit thicker and woven or twisted compared to the very thin cable that came with the zero:2's that I was already using with my zero:reds.
I still had the USB-C cable that came with the chu:2 which I used with my Gates until it broke.

The cable that came with the Gate was a great fit for the zero:2 though so I gave it away as a set.

Nothing wrong with the cable that came with the Gate, was just not my preferred cable for my current use cases.
If they had a USB-C option I would have bought that.

 

[inselwissen]

With the zero:reds, that they broke on the piece over the ear while only being used indoors.
As for the Gate, it was a bit thicker and woven or twisted compared to the very thin cable that came with the zero:2's that I was already using with my zero:reds.
I still had the USB-C cable that came with the chu:2 which I used with my Gates until it broke.

The cable that came with the Gate was a great fit for the zero:2 though so I gave it away as a set.

Nothing wrong with the cable that came with the Gate, was just not my preferred cable for my current use cases.
If they had a USB-C option I would have bought that.

That sucks. I've had a few Truthear IEMs and never had any problems. Maybe it was a fluke? I actually bought a set of Gates with inline mic just to have that cable w/ a microphone for calls.

If you can get on with a dongle (or something like the FiiO Tiny adapter) that might be the move. The mic on the Gate cable sounds great.

 

[Ype]

That sucks. I've had a few Truthear IEMs and never had any problems. Maybe it was a fluke? I actually bought a set of Gates with inline mic just to have that cable w/ a microphone for calls.

If you can get on with a dongle (or something like the FiiO Tiny adapter) that might be the move. The mic on the Gate cable sounds great.

Yeah that is the plan, feels like free IEMs with the cable at those prices.

As for Moondrop, I've owned the Chu and the Chu2, the only in-ears where it was not the cable that broke over time but the IEM's themselves had issues.
The spring tips are also the only tips that ever failed on me, my mates experience with the spring tips is the same with them breaking apart over time.
Might just be bad luck on my part but not going to take another gamble on those.

I actually liked the USB-C cable but from what I can tell the connection broke inside of the housing.
Taking it apart cannot be done non-destructively but I was careful, looks like the cable itself is fine but a solder pad came loose internally.
That makes sense though, the wire is in my pocket so it will get stresses as I walk around with it.

 

[Ype]

I found the original DSP cable I was using that I know would fit the Gate but it was less then 10 euro's cheaper then trying the FiiO Tiny A.
So I will try that first, ordered from Amazon just in case I don't like the software or I come across some other weird issue.

Also ordered another Gate as I know that the cable will fit and I was surprised how difficult it is to find a good cheap replacement cable.
That is also my first and only real complaint when it comes to the Gate, the connectors are sank deeper into the housing.
I have zero minijack cables and had only one USB-C cable that fits.

The USB-C cable that should fit the Gate in case someone is curious, the MOONDROP CDSP.
It looks identical the the one I got with the Chu:2.

Don't mean to hijack the tread but if I was reading this I'd want to know.
Edit: removed AliExpress link, should be easy enough to find.