Best 'Bang for your buck' IEM - Poll

[InfiniteJester]

To me the Delci were a bit glary and way too bright, I think is the shallow fit/short nozzles I even asked Kefine for a new set filters which they graciously send me at no cost (just shipping) but same result, I tried EQ and mesh filters with bad results then as a last resort I punched a hole in the filter and surprisingly it worked then I added a 200 mesh filter on top and that tamed the brightness and glare for me (with out affecting too much the rest of the FR... I think), I love the sturdy, small and light weight design plus they are the most comfortable IEM I have ever tried. I had the same problem with the Zero:2 which are also a shallow design but with those I gave up trying to EQ or filter them after a while and stopped using them.

The EW300 look very good on paper but I'm afraid it can have the same issues for me, is the fitting close to the Delci or are the nozzles longer?

I couldn't get a good fit with the Zero:2s no matter how many different tips I tried. But I get a good fit with the Delci and the Simgots. Looking at them side by side, the Simgots seem a tiny, insignificantly portion larger, but the angle is different enough and, in fact, I find the angle of the Delci more comfortable.

I do use gigantic tips with them (I don't know the name of the tips, there are just black XL generic tips).

The Simgots are less bright than the Delci above ear gain/4KHz up to 10-12KHz, the Simgots do seem to have an accentuated "air" due to the way the piezo has been implemented, and it can be a little "artificial" or "exaggerated" some times, but I didn't find the Delci too bright with most tracks. Consider that I use an IR with them most of the time that made them warmer. None of these IEMs hurt me the way that Zero:2s, Quintets or FH9 hurt me with their unrelented brightness.

The surprising thing is that the new Simgots measure really close to the Zero:2s, but the later sound incredibly wrong for me. Like truly terrible: distant, bright, congested, claustrophobic... Probably because it is impossible for me to get a good seal with them.

 

[markanini]

I couldn't get a good fit with the Zero:2s no matter how many different tips I tried. But I get a good fit with the Delci and the Simgots. Looking at them side by side, the Simgots seem a tiny, insignificantly portion larger, but the angle is different enough and, in fact, I find the angle of the Delci more comfortable.

I do use gigantic tips with them (I don't know the name of the tips, there are just black XL generic tips).

The Simgots are less bright than the Delci above ear gain/4KHz up to 10-12KHz, the Simgots do seem to have an accentuated "air" due to the way the piezo has been implemented, and it can be a little "artificial" or "exaggerated" some times, but I didn't find the Delci too bright with most tracks. Consider that I use an IR with them most of the time that made them warmer. None of these IEMs hurt me the way that Zero:2s, Quintets or FH9 hurt me with their unrelented brightness.View attachment 388533
View attachment 388534
The surprising thing is that the new Simgots measure really close to the Zero:2s, but the later sound incredibly wrong for me. Like truly terrible: distant, bright, congested, claustrophobic... Probably because it is impossible for me to get a good seal with them.
View attachment 388535

I drives home a point I've been making for some time. It's not easy to diagnose what you like, or dislike, about an IEM only by looking at a graph. Best to trust your ears in the end.

 

[muza_1]

For the EW300 I think the silver nozzle is more to my preference. Also I'm waiting for the TRN White Tiger real world measurements out of curiosity to see if they are similar.

The curious thing with the Delci is that compared to the CCA Trio the brightness difference is way too much specially in cymbals, in the Delci (no mods) are way too high in level and there is a marked metallic timbre also some mid-high notes made wince, the measurements suggest that the Trio should be brighter and more forward but in comparison the treble sounds almost subdued (but the tone sounds just right) just female vocals seem a tiny bit forward, presentation is different the Delci are more spacious (and light), I prefer the bass on the Delci.
I am using the modded Delci for now.

*I use UDUD switch configuration on the Trio, it has a bit less lower-bass and a bit more mid-bass than this graph (is a bit closer to the Delci from 50Hz to 500Hz).

 

[muza_1]

I drives home a point I've been making for some time. It's not easy to diagnose what you like, or dislike, about an IEM only by looking at a graph. Best to trust your ears in the end.

Yes indeed, I learned this the hard way (by collection a ton of IEMs I never use) the graph just gives you a general idea of the tuning the rest you have to try for yourself.
Now I just buy (mid priced and up) with a good return policy either that or I ask first if is all right to return it.

 

[Sombreuil]

My pair of Chu II died in less than 24 hours, so the question that I've got, is there a brand or a specific pair that is more reliable in the $30 price range?

 

[InfiniteJester]

My pair of Chu II died in less than 24 hours, so the question that I've got, is there a brand or a specific pair that is more reliable in the $30 price range?

The other day I tried again my Zero:2s, after comparing their FR with the one from the excellent EW300, as I did a few messages ago, with new, bigger tips that came recently, to see if at last I could get a good fit with them, and, to my surprise, the right monitor is dead. I used them very little, because I can't get them to sound good, so they have died with less than 10 hours of use.

So, not those.

I would pay a little more for the Kefine Delci. I bought them for 57,83€, but I think that they are stellar and built like a rock. They have a lot of hours, because it is the set that I use when travelling, they have come with me for thousands of kilometers in train and bus and I have experienced zero issues. They don't have even a scratch, and the cable sits well inside the monitors.

The MP145 is starting to have the issue of the left monitor slightly detaching from the cable from time to time, and the Zero:2s have literally fell in the past due to detachment from the cables, so that seems to be a problem with some IEMs.

This is how the Delci graphs compared to the Chu II in terms of FR:

The Ziigaat Nuo sits in your price preference, and they seem to work after many months sitting in my drawer, but I think that, despite being relatively well built, their sound totally sucks. They even have a very faint hiss when I connect them to my PC, although that may be an impedance/sensitivity thing.

Although many people love the Nuos, so maybe you would like them, their distorsion seems to be good (cortesy of jeromeoflaherty):

Even better than the one from the Chu II:

I was wrong about this. The Nuo was measured at just 82.4 dB, whereas the Chu II was measured at 94 dB.

Other measurements put the Chu II and the Nuo closer in terms of FR. I have sometimes found Wasabi's FR different than the rest of measurements of a given set.

 

[Jimbob54]

The Simgots are less bright than the Delci above ear gain/4KHz up to 10-12KHz, the Simgots do seem to have an accentuated "air"

Are the ew300 actually available? I had to preorder but sounds like you have them?

 

[InfiniteJester]

Are the ew300 actually available? I had to preorder but sounds like you have them?

They have been available for some time, I believe.

I didn't buy them from Linsoul, though.

It is a situation like with the Hydro, which I got before it was supposedly available.

Just search obscure Chinese shops. In fact, the name of the shop that appeared in my bill is not even the name of the shop where I bought them.

China is a really strange country. I don't think my IEMs are fake, but who knows.

 

[mc.god]

yes, at Aliexpress they appear readily available from various sellers, Linsoul official included:

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005007543694300.html

And looking at preorder info on Linsoul site, it seems it is only for the DSP version:

Pre-order Period: 3 working days for the DSP version

 

[Jimbob54]

Ah, I did indeed order the DSP.

 

[InfiniteJester]

Ah, I did indeed order the DSP.

Me too.

 

[markanini]

The other day I tried again my Zero:2s, after comparing their FR with the one from the excellent EW300, as I did a few messages ago, with new, bigger tips that came recently, to see if at last I could get a good fit with them, and, to my surprise, the right monitor is dead. I used them very little, because I can't get them to sound good, so they have died with less than 10 hours of use.

So, not those.

I would pay a little more for the Kefine Delci. I bought them for 57,83€, but I think that they are stellar and built like a rock. They have a lot of hours, because it is the set that I use when travelling, they have come with me for thousands of kilometers in train and bus and I have experienced zero issues. They don't have even a scratch, and the cable sits well inside the monitors.

The MP145 is starting to have the issue of the left monitor slightly detaching from the cable from time to time, and the Zero:2s have literally fell in the past due to detachment from the cables, so that seems to be a problem with some IEMs.

This is how the Delci graphs compared to the Chu II in terms of FR:

View attachment 388748

The Ziigaat Nuo sits in your price preference, and they seem to work after many months sitting in my drawer, but I think that, despite being relatively well built, their sound totally sucks. They even have a very faint hiss when I connect them to my PC, although that may be an impedance/sensitivity thing.

View attachment 388749

Although many people love the Nuos, so maybe you would like them, their distorsion seems to be good (cortesy of jeromeoflaherty):

Even better than the one from the Chu II:

Other measurements put the Chu II and the Nuo closer in terms of FR. I have sometimes found Wasabi's FR different than the rest of measurements of a given set.

View attachment 388750

How do you rank the IEMs you've tried so far, tuning wise?

 

[InfiniteJester]

How do you rank the IEMs you've tried so far, tuning wise?

I don't know whether is honeymoon phase or whatever, but the EW300 is by far my favorite at this point in time.

From all the sets I own, I would only recommend the EW300, the MP145 and the Kefine Delci.

For my tastes, the EW300 is almost perfect.

 

[InfiniteJester]

I'm listening to this in Apple Music while switching IEMs, and the EW300 DSP just sound clean, pretty, correct...

I don't know how the DAC or the drivers would measure in terms of SINAD and THD, but to my ears the sound is just clean and perfectly balance. It is extraordinary to get this sound for 80€.

I paid 600€ for the FH9 and almost 300€ for the terrible, goddamn awful, Quintet...

 

[sulfuriq]

Try Simgot EW300 with Pentaconn PTM01 COREIR

 

[InfiniteJester]

Try Simgot EW300 with Pentaconn PTM01 COREIR

50€ for two pairs of tips?

Have you read the title of the thread?

 

[sulfuriq]

50€ for two pairs of tips?

Have you read the title of the thread?

It's €13 per pair, better than Spinfit OMNI

 

[InfiniteJester]

It's €13 per pair, better than Spinfit OMNI

Not in Spain.

Also, the EW300 doesn't need more bass, at all.

The L tips from a 48 for 6€ pack would be enough for most users to get a good fit. I have very big ears (I'm tallish with a huge head) and I get a good fit with these:

 

[sulfuriq]

Try Online Shopping "Shopee" if they can ship to Spain. Look for Stars Picker Audio Library.

 

[mc.god]

I have very big ears (I'm tallish with a huge head) and I get a good fit with these:

If in need you can give a try to Tri Clarion large

they are pretty large and very comfortable to me, also very cheap (at least to Italy)

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005093854071.html