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Best IEMs between $200 and $300?

Enthusiasts would probably recommend Aful Performer 5 in that price range. However if you are new to IEMs there nothing wrong with trying a few popular budget sets to get a feel for what you like. Cheap IEMs are not necessarily worse than expensive IEMs, just different.
 
HI

My experience with under $60 IEMs, has been a revelation (TRUTHEAR ZERO, Red, Blue, 7Hz). This has led me to realize that >$70 is the threshold for diminishing returns or no return. IOW you spend more than that, you are not getting much. You may prefer some presentations more than other but .. You may quickly find out that you can find such below the $60.oo. IMO, spending more than $100 on an IEM, is not a good investment.
YMMV.

Peace.
 
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Balanced armatures are special, I haven't heard any BA-IEMs that I can handle, somehow everything always sounds wrong to me, for comparison I would be interested in the KZ AS24 with 12BA hybrid drivers, my previous BA IEMs are in the drawer and I don't want to put them in my ears. The MP145 are perfect for me.
I hardly use my HD 6xx (HD650) anymore, the MP145 has a better soundstage and sounds more precise and detailed. The HD 6XX sound boring even with EQ.
 
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Balanced armatures are special, I haven't heard any BA-IEMs that I can handle, somehow everything always sounds wrong to me, for comparison I would be interested in the KZ AS24 with 12BA hybrid drivers, my previous BA IEMs are in the drawer and I don't want to put them in my ears. The MP145 are perfect for me

In my limited experience with Kiwi Ears Quintet (2 BAs per side), FH9 (6 BAs per side) and CCA Hydro (8 BAs per side), BAs are cool if you are trying to achieve a surgical unnatural sound where things seem to emerge for slightly different places. They are interesting for things like electronic music, but they don't seem to be very useful if your purpose is to replicate the effect of speakers in a room or a live performance. ARTTI R1 (3 DDs per side) and, particularly, and obviously, MP145 (1 Planar per side) are the best at creating this illusion in my, again, limited experience. There seem to be something about planar drivers, because I was recently listening to music with the HE400se (lately I have been using IEMs almost exclusively) and, at some point, one weird effect in the song I was listening to scared me, because I thought that it was a noise in my room. I'm tempted to try the LetShuoer S08, but that treble roll-off doesn't seem right.

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I'm tempted to try the LetShuoer S08, but that treble roll-off doesn't seem right.
Apart from a few YouTube videos, I can't find any information about this new IEM, it looks nice. I've now found a spec page, they are 13mm planar drivers, probably similar to the KZ PR3? Because planar fascinated me, I've now got myself a Hifiman Sundara and am listening to it a lot ;)
 
I doubt there is anything special about balanced armatures. I bet those who tend to use them tune the IEM in the same way speaker makers using planar and ribbon drivers do--to make them sing "listen to me, I'm a ribbon!"

Yes. I also suspect that. That the difference is mostly due to spicy tunings to make you believe that you are hearing some "high-res" audio.

I will I could blind myself to determine whether the weird separation (audio coming from slightly different places) I hear with multiple drivers is real or just suggestion.
 
I doubt there is anything special about balanced armatures. I bet those who tend to use them tune the IEM in the same way speaker makers using planar and ribbon drivers do--to make them sing "listen to me, I'm a ribbon!"
Etymotic popularized them way back in the day because they were used in hearing aids and the founder of the company came from an audiology background. And the small size that makes them useful for hearing aids also works well for designing a tiny deep insertion IEM. But many years later Ety managed to design a dynamic driver small enough for that form factor that can deliver the goods, and I believe that nowadays the ER2XR is the best IEM they make.
 
Yes. I also suspect that. That the difference is mostly due to spicy tunings to make you believe that you are hearing some "high-res" audio.

I will I could blind myself to determine whether the weird separation (audio coming from slightly different places) I hear with multiple drivers is real or just suggestion.
It could also be imperfect crossovers, since most IEMs aren't that sophisticated.
 
It could also be imperfect crossovers, since most IEMs aren't that sophisticated.

Yes, that what also what I had in mind.

But it is not necessarily a bad effect, just unnatural. With some music is interesting.

I was meditating to try the Davinci to see if 5-way crossover was noticably different.
 
JUZEAR BUTTERFLY 61T $220
Tone Deaf Monk consider it super natural/balanced.
But 6.52mm bore is comfortable?
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My current favorite is the Hidizs MP-145, for around US$120 (when on AliEx sale), very closely followed by the ARTTI T10, for around US$55 (when on AliEx sale). Both are planars. Both are well tuned. Both are nicely accessorized (cables, tips), though the MP145 comes in a leatherette bag in lieu of a case.

The MP-145 has a larger, exquisitely machined & anodized alloy shell that may pose problematic fitment for smaller ears. The T10 has a plastic shell and is both compact and light, making fitment a breeze and long-wearing sessions a joy. In this regard, the T10 is not winning any visual design awards.

The T10 is a unique planar insofar as sounding to me like a properly tuned and cohesive DD/hybrid, but with the speed of attack and detail retrieval of a classic planar.

The MP-145 carries a unique 14.5mm planar driver and its tuning is exquisite; enjoyable across my eclectic choice of genre.

The T10 is the winner on price/performance; while I prefer the design and build of the MP-145 for my own ears. As for sound preference, maybe the MP-145...but it's a photo finish in my book.

Frankly, with these two IEM's in my collection, I find it hard-pressed to spend more than $150 on any IEM these days. These two are that good, imho.
I also have the Artti T10. However, I wanted a little more precision and treble and bought the Nicehck F1 pro. It's also a planar IEM and I think its sound is exactly what I've been looking for: dynamic, clear with good resolution and accurate bass. I only paid 79 euros for it. Its frequency response is very similar to the Simgot EW 200 I own, which seems to have almost the same frequency response as the new praised Simgot Supermix 4 IEM.
 
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Simgot SuperMix 4, simply sublime. deep impactful bass, warm liquid midrange, immensely impressive highs, 3D sound field. Only US$120 to 150
Tone Deaf Monk does not like SIMGOT SuperMix 4 and EM10.
 
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