Best 'Bang for your buck' IEM - Poll

[Honken]

Buy and try them all, or buy an airplane ticket to Singapore to try them out in person in his store. Really, there's no getting around it, if you wish to know how IEMs sound to you, you have to try them yourself. Yes, measurements do tell you a lot about the sound, but not everything. Fit is very important, as is upper treble which measurement rigs struggle to capture in a way that translate to what you actually hear yourself.

Personally, I'd try two cheaper outlier IEMs, maybe one with (comparatively) weak bass and one with a strong pinna gain. This way you might get a feel for what you like, and what you don't like, in IEMs without having to pay the price for an airplane ticket.

Also note that the frequency response can be adjusted via EQ for most IEMs, but it is hard to adjust the upper treble by looking at graphs since the graphs in that frequency area are inherently inaccurate.

Personally, I look for IEMs with a mild treble response on the graphs and then use shelf filters to taste if I find that I want either more or less energy there. IEMs that measure hot in that 8-10k region tend to be harsh sounding to me no matter what I do with EQ. And bass can be added with EQ for most IEMs.

 

[mc.god]

KZ EDX Lite arrived today, with all the limits due to the actual time for swapping iems, in an AB switch with EDC Pro they sound identical (both with Kbear 07 large tips) as one would expect from graphs. Given they are identical in shape and fit too I can assume they are the same product with just a tad fancier aesthetic and maybe better stock tips on EDC Pro (can't really say as I immediately changed them along with cable). For around 3 €, if you already have tips and a cable, for the performance offered as an all-rounder u-shape they are practically unbeatable as bang for buck.

 

[mc.god]

Coming back to this thread, I'm considering getting the new Tangzu Wan'er 2, they now come with a nice cable with straight connectors and 3.5 mm or 4.4 plug at choice and with a set of Tangzu Tang Sancai tips, that for the cost is a very high bundled value.
Sound signature should be practically the same than original model, I never listened to it but surely a good all rounder that with that bundle comes nearly free.

 

[markanini]

In 2025 it's still Truthear Hexa for me. It might not work for you if you listen at low volume for background ambiance. Or if you chase a short-term wow effect. For me, long sessions at moderately loud SPL, it's close to perfect. I only reduce the upper treble a bit with a physical filter attachment (Y3). The only issue is finding a replacement should it become discontinued-that would be a mistake.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

Best bang for the buck must be the KZ Saga Balanced at 8,99€ that I paid. I would feel Karen-ish to make any complaint....metal shells, good tuning, ample bass and treble.....it actually sounds very good .

Zero 2 at 16€ and Wan'er SG at 15€ are also honorable mentions.

Sometimes I'd like to make blind tests without having any reference about pricing or brand. I bet results would be interesting.

 

[TabCam]

Nice that you paid $8.99, (no sarcasm intended) but as the normal retail price is about ten times that much, how is that the best bang for everyone else?

 

[InfiniteJester]

Nice that you paid $8.99, (no sarcasm intended) but as the normal retail price is about ten times that much, how is that the best bang for everyone else?

Ten times? What are you talking about. I just checked and they cost 11,79€ with shipping.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

13,69€ with free shipping, just checked now in Ali. Still totally worth imho.... maybe he's ordering from the US with the tariffs ?

 

[InfiniteJester]

13,69€ with free shipping, just checked now in Ali. Still totally worth imho.... maybe he's ordering from the US with the tariffs ?

Given your name and currency, I imagine that you are also from Spain. Cataluña? I saw the 13,69€ one, but if you scroll a little, you will find the sale I mentioned.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

Given your name and currency, I imagine that you are also from Spain. Cataluña? I saw the 13,69€ one, but if you scroll a little, you will find the sale I mentioned.

Si, soc 100% pixapí .

I sold the Saga balanced and bought the Zero II again as it had more relaxed treble…. But still the Saga bal stands as the best bang for the buck in my list…

 

[JanL]

Of the ones that I personally owned the best bang for the buck is the Artti T10 with about 5 bands of EQ. I got it for around $55.00. Out of the box it's a little thin sounding, but a small re-arrangement/shift of the ear gain region and a boost of the mid to upper bass (low bass is good out of the box) turns it into a world class IEM. I know the measurements show elevated harmonic distortion around 6kHz, but it's not offensive if it's even audible with normal music material. I reach for it more than I reach for the Dusk and about the same as my 64 Audio Nio. Basically most of my casual listening at home is done with the T10, while at work I split my music listening time between the Nio and Audio Technica ATH-R70Xa.

 

[Alexium]

I've been away for a while, what IEMs released in the last ~1.5 years under $100 are the most noteworthy? I've got TCZ and Shuorer S12, both are fantastic. Is there anything today for <$100 that could be even better? And I understand there's some hair-splitting involved, as both of the models I have are already objectively and subjectively very good.

 

[Somafunk]

I've been away for a while, what IEMs released in the last ~1.5 years under $100 are the most noteworthy? I've

The Juzear Defiant seems like the latest sub £100 iem to try out, I don’t need any more iem’s but if this goes on sale at any point this year I’ll buy one.

 

[wavetechie]

KZ EDX Lite arrived today, with all the limits due to the actual time for swapping iems, in an AB switch with EDC Pro they sound identical (both with Kbear 07 large tips) as one would expect from graphs. Given they are identical in shape and fit too I can assume they are the same product with just a tad fancier aesthetic and maybe better stock tips on EDC Pro (can't really say as I immediately changed them along with cable). For around 3 €, if you already have tips and a cable, for the performance offered as an all-rounder u-shape they are practically unbeatable as bang for buck.

What was your initial impression of the cable on the KZ Edx Lite?

 

[wavetechie]

Coming back to this thread, I'm considering getting the new Tangzu Wan'er 2, they now come with a nice cable with straight connectors and 3.5 mm or 4.4 plug at choice and with a set of Tangzu Tang Sancai tips, that for the cost is a very high bundled value.
Sound signature should be practically the same than original model, I never listened to it but surely a good all rounder that with that bundle comes nearly free.

I had the Wan'er 1 and liked it a lot but the cable was in my opinion horrendous. I probably would buy the Wan'er 2 but I just can't get over how much I on a subjective level dislike the design regarding the pattern on the outside of them. I wonder if there's an iem that has a very similar sound as the Tangzu Wan'er 1 or 2 but with a more neutral design? Do you have any thoughts since you maybe just researched iems with that sound signature?

 

[mc.god]

What was your initial impression of the cable on the KZ Edx Lite?

I immediately disposed it, I can't stand cables with angled 2 pin connectors (qdc or what they are called), i can never get proper seal with them since they prevent rotating the iems to the right angle for my ears. Anyway it is pretty bad at touch and feel imho, but for 3€... I'm using them (and EDC Pro) with this:

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005006619307014.html

i got a couple of them (straight 2 pin version), with and without mic, super cheap and surprisingly soft and flexible for the money, no microphonic at all and ear-hooks are not stiff.

I had the Wan'er 1 and liked it a lot but the cable was in my opinion horrendous. I probably would buy the Wan'er 2 but I just can't get over how much I on a subjective level dislike the design regarding the pattern on the outside of them. I wonder if there's an iem that has a very similar sound as the Tangzu Wan'er 1 or 2 but with a more neutral design? Do you have any thoughts since you maybe just researched iems with that sound signature?

Can't be of help, i personally don't own and never listened to Wan'er and I don't care at all about aesthetics, I barely remember what iems looks alike

 

[XaviMartinez55]

ZVX pro a bit better than Saga balanced. No so Harman tuned, so mids pop out a bit more (and a bit better treble). Like a Zenith-lite. Good bang for the buck I’d say. Sold the Zenith though.

Nowadays I’m using the Aful Explorer but still not convinced about them. Very good (and clean) bass, nice and present treble, but man…. Mids are wayyyy back. Not a low volume listening set.

EW300 DSP and Tri Draco on the way…. Let’s see.

Absolutely best bang for the buck (to my ears) is still the Zero 2. Slightly boxy, but it’s the only iem where I am not constantly fiddling with EQ.

 

[Chyżwar]

Simgot EW100P

 

[Alexium]

Good bang for the buck I’d say

That's not a very useful thing to say when it costs 10 bucks. How does it compare to the Zero 2? Is there some aspect in which the ZVX Pro excels?
I also ordered one because it's so cheap and a few people with big IEM collections recommended it.

 

[Sebby]

A few days ago I decided to buy the Hexa and the first thing I said to myself was "why didn't I buy it before?!"